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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Nov 10, 2007 15:32:24 GMT -5
Although they weren't go to guys in the offense I was very impressed with both Chris and Austin - I didn't see Austin as seeming lost - he usually looks slightly disinterested, but that shouldn't be confused for his actually being lost. Chris did a very good job on defense as well.
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Post by nomer on Nov 10, 2007 15:47:36 GMT -5
There was no reason that I could tell - he came to the scorer's table at the end of the first half but did not get subbed-in. Also, there were some atrocious calls by one particular referee today (white hair, loves to call offensive fouls), he got hit in the face by a ball coming out of bounds because he was not watching the game. I'm pretty sure he was on the floor at the very end of the first half. I think he got "a trillion." Yeah, he played approximately 1.5 seconds defending a W&M inbounds pass/desperation 3 at the end of the first half.
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Post by schiavoed on Nov 10, 2007 15:48:13 GMT -5
while jessie did put up good numbers and had some good spurts, he looked pretty terrible during the beginning of the second half...no energy and bad turnovers.
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vcjack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by vcjack on Nov 10, 2007 15:50:50 GMT -5
Just got back, I'll write some more later but I'll give my highlights right now... - There is no doubt that this is Roy's team, he is now a completely automatic 2 when posting up against smaller players and was blocking shots left and right - We didn't do a good job defending the three, but NICE HUSTLE, I like the spirit our guys showed, whether it was Pat/Vernon/Jon trying to intercept a passing lane - Props to W & M, it takes guts to come in a shoot the lights out. Their interior game ain't all that bad either but they abandoned it for jacking up threes late - Mr. Referee, that was NOT A CHARGE on Jon. The zebras were itching to use the new "Bench Decorum" rule. JTIII imediately adjusted as was carefull not to get another T - Good thing we don't have to rely on our freshmen yet, they still need a game or two to get the jitters out - I suck at life (If you were at the game, you should know who I am )
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mapei
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by mapei on Nov 10, 2007 16:00:25 GMT -5
while jessie did put up good numbers and had some good spurts, he looked pretty terrible during the beginning of the second half...no energy and bad turnovers. I think I agree with some of that . . . He had 18, but except for one spectacular "and one" play, they seemed to be a kind of quiet 18. I didn't see any of those great bullet passes we saw from him at the end of last season, in particular. Our passing in general left something to be desired . . . I think there were several turnovers trying to get the ball to the interior of W&M's zone. The lob to Roy was the only pass that was working with regularity. I don't think I remember a single dunk? Not that I care especially, but it does seem unusual.
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Post by nomer on Nov 10, 2007 16:02:28 GMT -5
A lot of people are down on Pat, I think he had a decent game. He took only one shot, but we have a lot of guys on this team who don't seem like they want to be the guy to score on offense and are content to watch others. Plus a lot of his production last year didn't come until the second half and most of his points came from open looks from 3 or amazing Jeff Green passes. His defense today was pretty good by his standards, 28 minutes, no fouls and 3 steals. He fouled at such a ridiculous rate last year that he would have fouled out in under a half (20 minutes) of PT last year so this is an encouraging sign. In a perfect world he'd be a 6th man and an energy guy off the bench, but this game wasn't a total waste for him. I am not sure what to think about Macklin, I feel like whenever he replaces Roy the team suffers greatly (even last year it seemed we were better off in games without jeff because of pat or whoever than when macklin was in for roy). Macklin isn't much on offense unless it's an athletic putback, but he did try hard on defense today and really couldn't do much about 3's sailing over his head.
Dajuan was terrible defensively in the first half and picked up 3 very quickly. He is going to have to play against some very good players this year but he definitely improved in the second half. I think Jessie was a bit lacking as well, I feel like he takes advantage of the less athletic teams and although he was an offensive show today I think he got lucky with his threes (3-7 is above average for him, normally he's the 4th best shooter on the team behind pat, j-wall and summers and probably 5th at least when wright's healthy) I think he is still a little "unrefined" on offense with an occasional ill-advised turnover or drive. I hope Wright's foot is still bothering him significantly, because he looked out of it on both ends today and even got crossed up by Schneider at midcourt once.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Nov 10, 2007 16:06:16 GMT -5
I think that's a little hard on Wright - it was his first game in college. He has talent, he will improve.
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vcjack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by vcjack on Nov 10, 2007 16:26:57 GMT -5
A note on Vern, he wasn't much on the offensive board but I think he's progessed in his D game. He wasn't getting blown by less athletic players, he was hustling and anticipating passing lanes by the second half, and he was finally using his size as an advantage. Maybe when we have a team that doesn't crowd the paint we'll see some of his O game
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Nov 10, 2007 16:32:30 GMT -5
I had a lot of problems with the game today: 1) we need to get some production from the 4 spot. Pat or vernon needs to step up. 2) especially in the first half, we were not playing our game. It looked like and entirely different team. we were forcing things, and not taking shots in the flow of the offense. We jacked up 3s way too much. 3) we need to do a better job of boxing out and rebounding. 4) defense, we were over rotating in our zone. We were being overly aggressive and pushing it more than necessary.
Luckily there was plenty to be happy about: 1)Jessie really stepped up and played well not just the points but 6 rebounds and 6 assists. He's really improved his shot, and I don't think it's a fluke. 2) Dajuan as very good rebounding and dong some little things. I think he's trying to be like jeff and do a lot of the little things. He had some unfortunate foul trouble that slowed him down. But he had several jeff like plays today. 3) Wallace, very steady very good today. 4) roy absolutely beasted. He's unstoppable.
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HoyaFanNY
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Never throw to the venus on a spider 3 Y banana!
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Post by HoyaFanNY on Nov 10, 2007 16:45:15 GMT -5
games like this are about finding a comfort zone with the players and rotation for later in the year. while i didn't like the rebounding or turnover numbers, i learned last year not to get carried away with early season struggles. michigan will be a test, as they will be able to match us athletically.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Nov 10, 2007 16:46:03 GMT -5
Here are my thoughts in advance of the usual recap from FLHoya, who had several great insights into W&M during the course of the game.
1. My nomination for most improved on the team is Jessie Sapp. He's showing more confidence in his jumper and continues to be the team's workhorse on the floor. Although he had 4 TO's today, consider also that he had 6 boards and 6 assists to go along with his points. His reads offensively are also underrated. Consider what he does in the short period when the defense is trying to settle into the half court. Sapp is outstanding at finding the seams.
2. Looking at the HOYA Preview and other articles, I sometimes scratch my head when JT3 says Roy could become the best player in the world. It seems like his misses came on a single possession today, and he got fouled anyway. Excellent ball skills and a quasi-underhanded hook which is unstoppable. Looking at the team, I wonder whether we should run the offense through Roy when we see man defenses. If Roy is in the high post, teams will collapse, which will open up cuts and shooters.
3. Summers wasn't outstanding or terrible today but perhaps was just trying to do too much. I like that he's being more attentive on the glass. Six boards in 23 minutes is a good stat for him.
4. Wallace's line today is typical and what we've grown accustomed to, but I didn't think he had his best game. As FLHoya pointed out during the game, he seemed to have some trouble defensively. Good idea at the end of the first half in trying to draw a call.
5. I've posted my thoughts on Wright/Freeman and would only add that Wright may have had the highlight of the game with how he set up Hibbert with a beautiful bounce pass. Textbook stuff that not everybody can do. I also think these 2 guys come better than advertised on the defensive end. Wright is very tough on the ball and will only improve, as he was a step or two slow today due to his foot.
6. I thought the crowd was outstanding today. The students kept a good energy level and came out in droves. I'd love to know how many were up in the 400's. I passed by one of the bracelet stations (manned by HB volunteers), and this year's system seemed to work smoothly on take 1.
7. The new Jumbotron video is special. Hopefully somebody will put it up on YouTube or the folks in McD will post it somehow. It looks great on the screen and perhaps the only thing missing is footage from the tournament last year.
8. I am a bit concerned about Ewing in the sense that he's not the best offensively when he's off the ball. He is fairly stagnant and finds his way into the corner just praying for the kickout. If we're not going to run the offense through him, maybe he's best coming off the bench in an ideal world.
9. I thought the team played its best with Rivers on the floor. He was a little tight in the first half, but I thought he settled in nicely and added significantly on the defensive end. He's best in a man defense, as he was a little slow to close out defensively in the zone.
10. I think W&M showed its first sign of weakness when the Coach took the bench technical when they were ahead. If I'm W&M and ahead of GU, I'd put rubber cement in the coaching box.
11. W&M may not be a world beater, but they are a tough out in an opening contest for the simple reason that they are committed to the stuff they run on both ends of the floor, and they run it vigorously. The ball movement/cutting was strong, and it took us a little while to crack their defense.
That's all I have off the top of my head.
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mchoya
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Post by mchoya on Nov 10, 2007 16:49:18 GMT -5
7. The new Jumbotron video is special. Hopefully somebody will put it up on YouTube or the folks in McD will post it somehow. It looks great on the screen and perhaps the only thing missing is footage from the tournament last year. Agreed. That video was great and got me pumped for the start of the year!
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Nov 10, 2007 17:12:11 GMT -5
Maybe PEII was uncomfortable not coming off the bench.
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sleepy
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Post by sleepy on Nov 10, 2007 17:17:59 GMT -5
Well after going back to last years boxscore against Hartford and the post-game thread from that year and Vanderbilt there seems to be a pattern. All three years their was a major complaint with too much three point shooting. We ended 6-23 from three point range against Hartford. People said many were taken out of the flow of the offense and our passing was also mediocre. Last year none of the freshman scored in the first game, and Jeff, Jon and Roy were the high scorers. This year the freshman combined for 2 points and the major scorers were Roy, Jon, and Jesse. There are however a few positive differences. Last year Roy couldn't finish around the basket and everyone seemed to be complaining about his lack of aggresivness against smaller players. Does not seem to be the case this year. Last year Macklin didn't play at all and Ewing contributed no positives. Just a little comparison of the two first games so we can see how much you can really take away from the first game.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Nov 10, 2007 17:21:15 GMT -5
I'll throw this one out there, but I think this team should be pressing more. We did press in the first half after made free throws, but it is just a simple man press. Could we add a zone press or something that will get us a few turnovers, especially against these relatively unathletic teams? Need to force some of these guys to make quick decisions.
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Nov 10, 2007 18:25:38 GMT -5
Looking at the team, I wonder whether we should run the offense through Roy when we see man defenses. If Roy is in the high post, teams will collapse, which will open up cuts and shooters. That's an excellent suggestion imo, especially after seeing Roy drill that beautiful shot from the high post in the first half. If he proves a real scoring threat from there, it'll only add to the options avalable. Which got me thinking in the second half: W&M moved so precisely, they cut and passed so well. I kept wondering when we were going to see our team run our offense. Were there any quality attempts at a backdoor pass? As much as I love seeing Roy or DaJuan drag 3-4 guys through the lane, a more athletic opponent isn't going let us get away with that.
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lichoya68
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OK YOUNGINS ARE HERE AND ARE VERY VERY GOOD cant wait GO HOYAS
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Post by lichoya68 on Nov 10, 2007 18:28:12 GMT -5
agree with the pooint that macklin was much better defensively and in position screens and such on o think austin rimmed his first two long threes and then hit a two glad he made one he CAN shoot ..and kinda agree about patrick think he has more energy off the bench but coach knows and i looked a way and was told tyler played for like 20 seconds not sure what thats about again go hoyas rough start but looking good at the end when we remembered we had a SEVEN FOOTER YUP A SEVEN FOOTER OUT THERE FIND HIM EARLY FOLKS TSH TSH ONLY 90% ROY COME ON BABY STEP IT UP go hoyas go roy be ready for beilein adn michigan folks be ready.. ps congrats to the air force on veterans day weekend that litlle five eight guy is FREAKING AMAZING and also hate to say this feel kinda bad for notre dame go hoyas
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Post by ilovescruggs on Nov 10, 2007 18:41:49 GMT -5
Sleepy, great comparison. That's some really intersting stuff.
Most of the on the floor stuff has been touched on, but I'll throw a few quickies out there.
Dajuan has been spotty as a face-up defender. Last year he was getting torched ever possession in the ND game in the BET. Today wasn't that bad, but conversely he's a great off-the-ball defender. He seems to anticipate well and get into the passing lane. I foresee several several passes broken up by DaJuan leading to breakaway dunks by PE Jr. this year.
Wholeheatedly agree with HSB on the zone. I'm not really sure why we were trying to double team their guards on the wing. We'd usually get burned when they got an open look. Fortunately the percentages caught up with them in the second half.
Last nitpicky note is that we still struggle to get the ball to Roy down low at times. They did not have much height and we couldn't get many decent looks to him until the second half, even then it seemed like we were ad-libbing. Don't we have some stock plays to get him some entry passes when he's being fronted?
Off the court I thought things were really interesting. GREAT to see an open upperdeck that was probably a third to half full. I can't remember the last time the upper deck was open for a game of little consequence like this one.
That intro video was bad ass. Does anyone know who does that rap? The student section should amend its pre-game rituals to use the We Are -- Georgetown cues at the end of the video.
I also love that we are now the proud owners of a Final Four banner in the rafters of the Verizon Center. With the Caps and Wiz stinking ... and the Skins will get there eventually ... the Hoyas could be D.C.'s sports team this Fall/Winter. I like the way this is building.
Ronny Thompson was in the audience today with his family. Anyone know what he's up to now? Does he have a position anywhere?
And VC, if you are who I think you are, then I hope you spend that $25 on something nice for yourself. If you're not him, then your suckitude was safe from my gaze anyway.
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Nov 10, 2007 18:44:01 GMT -5
Looking at the team, I wonder whether we should run the offense through Roy when we see man defenses. If Roy is in the high post, teams will collapse, which will open up cuts and shooters. That's an excellent suggestion imo, especially after seeing Roy drill that beautiful shot from the high post in the first half. If he proves a real scoring threat from there, it'll only add to the options avalable. Which got me thinking in the second half: W&M moved so precisely, they cut and passed so well. I kept wondering when we were going to see our team run our offense. Were there any quality attempts at a backdoor pass? As much as I love seeing Roy or DaJuan drag 3-4 guys through the lane, a more athletic opponent isn't going let us get away with that. Our "offense" is really only workable against a man defense. The key to something like a backdoor cut is that theoretically a defender is supposed to move with the offender. When there is an overplay or the defender turns his head, we can go backdoor. In a zone, something like this has no effect since another defender picks up the cutter. See what happened in the second half when Jessie tried to throw a backdoor pass.
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Post by williambraskyiii on Nov 10, 2007 18:54:18 GMT -5
A note on Vern, he wasn't much on the offensive board but I think he's progessed in his D game. He wasn't getting blown by less athletic players, he was hustling and anticipating passing lanes by the second half, and he was finally using his size as an advantage. wow - good to hear "he wasn't getting blown by less athletic players" -- would hate to see that...seriously.
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