sleepy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,079
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Post by sleepy on Jan 10, 2009 23:41:51 GMT -5
I think right now its obvious we are still trying to figure things out and put things together. Just from reading the boxscore and looking at some of the stats and watching the ND game, we seem to be focusing on improving weaknesses, rebounding and bench, and the last two games both have improved. The only problem is some of our strengths, offensive cuts, defense, foul shooting and attacking the basket, all seem to suffering. Now that our bench is playing better our starters seem to be struggleing. To me, this is exactly what should be happening with a team this new, they are figuring things out, growing, struggleing. The key is putting it all together at the right time. I think people forget that its January 9th, and we have only played 13 games. To put it into perspective the 06-07 team on January 9th was 11-4, having just lost at home to Nova( a worse loss than either @ Notre Dame or home versus Pitt) and still had a road loss to Pitt coming in a few days and they ended up fine. Right now we don't look very good, but it doesn't mean we can't get there.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on Jan 11, 2009 1:08:00 GMT -5
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idhoya
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,177
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Post by idhoya on Jan 11, 2009 1:24:28 GMT -5
After his follow dunk the other night I now refer to him as Big Bank Hank!
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,218
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Post by hoyarooter on Jan 11, 2009 3:48:40 GMT -5
And Clark, not ClarkE as in Ron Clarke.
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Post by hoyawoodhoopster on Jan 11, 2009 9:04:30 GMT -5
I agree with much of what has been said above, but since I only get to see a few games live pre-BET (the geography is a pain), and was at Verizon yesterday, a few random observations: (1) While DeJuan didn't have a great game, what may not have come across was his intensity, particularly in the second half. It was great to see. As for his being pulled late in the second half (and four fouls aside), what also probably wasn't apparent if you weren't there is that he appeared to have gotten kicked in the groin (and to be in some pain) midway through the first half. Quite possibly affected him all afternoon. (2) We have got to get Greg more touches! While I don't agree that the PC match up zone was all that passive, and they were jumping up on Greg when he got the ball, we just didn't seem to work hard enough to get it to and through him in the first half. What happened when we did in the second half is obvious. Greg is such an extraordinary passer that he needs to get the ball whether or not he is in a position to shoot. (3) I'm not as down on either Freeman or Sapp as are some other posters, although neither has been effective of late with his own shot. Still, Jesse was key to forcing turnovers, and to the turn around, in the second half, when he led the step up in defensive intensity. As for Austin, he had 18 even though he couldn't throw it in the ocean from outside. Why? Because he does something that is key in our system: he moves beautifully without the ball. We need great passers (and passing) in our system, but we also need people to receive and finish. Austin excels at that, and yesterday is Exhibit A for that case. (4) I hope that the transformation of Henry Sims was as apparent to those not in the arena. Numbers aside, his poise, intensity, and interaction with Greg was beyond surprising. I expected this sooner or later from Jason Clark, but I think (and admittedly, we'll have to see) that yesterday was the beginning of something special for Henry Sims. (5) I know it's early, but the week to come seems to me to be critical; I'm surely not saying we have to win both games -- and I dislike both opponents so thoroughly I'm not sure which one I'd like to beat more, although producing Orange pulp is much more important -- but I do think that our team is so young that performing well is essential. This week will tell a lot, but I am encouraged after yesterday.
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lichoya68
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
OK YOUNGINS ARE HERE AND ARE VERY VERY GOOD cant wait GO HOYAS
Posts: 17,440
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Post by lichoya68 on Jan 11, 2009 9:29:01 GMT -5
ITS NOT HENRY SIMMS OR SIMS ITS oh henry baby its OH HENRY yesterday was his coming out THE YOUNGINS HAVE ARRIVED AS OF YESTERDAY GREGORY AS COACH CALLED HIM , MR. CLARK BAR,, AND OH HENRY,, YUP IL ET ARRIVE OR HOWEVER THE FRENCH WOULD SAID ,,and mr. GREGORY monroe is mr. good and plenty,,, GET THAT QUADRUPLE DOUBLE SOON,,, MR GOOD AND PLENTY GREGORY,,, YUP beat the cuse ,,, no BEAT THE CUSE ,,austin WILL get tweny five soon maybe vs. the cuse would be nice
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Post by RockawayHoya on Jan 11, 2009 11:03:32 GMT -5
I agree with much of what has been said above, but since I only get to see a few games live pre-BET (the geography is a pain), and was at Verizon yesterday, a few random observations: (1) While DeJuan didn't have a great game, what may not have come across was his intensity, particularly in the second half. It was great to see. As for his being pulled late in the second half (and four fouls aside), what also probably wasn't apparent if you weren't there is that he appeared to have gotten kicked in the groin (and to be in some pain) midway through the first half. Quite possibly affected him all afternoon. (2) We have got to get Greg more touches! While I don't agree that the PC match up zone was all that passive, and they were jumping up on Greg when he got the ball, we just didn't seem to work hard enough to get it to and through him in the first half. What happened when we did in the second half is obvious. Greg is such an extraordinary passer that he needs to get the ball whether or not he is in a position to shoot. (3) I'm not as down on either Freeman or Sapp as are some other posters, although neither has been effective of late with his own shot. Still, Jesse was key to forcing turnovers, and to the turn around, in the second half, when he led the step up in defensive intensity. As for Austin, he had 18 even though he couldn't throw it in the ocean from outside. Why? Because he does something that is key in our system: he moves beautifully without the ball. We need great passers (and passing) in our system, but we also need people to receive and finish. Austin excels at that, and yesterday is Exhibit A for that case. (4) I hope that the transformation of Henry Sims was as apparent to those not in the arena. Numbers aside, his poise, intensity, and interaction with Greg was beyond surprising. I expected this sooner or later from Jason Clark, but I think (and admittedly, we'll have to see) that yesterday was the beginning of something special for Henry Sims. (5) I know it's early, but the week to come seems to me to be critical; I'm surely not saying we have to win both games -- and I dislike both opponents so thoroughly I'm not sure which one I'd like to beat more, although producing Orange pulp is much more important -- but I do think that our team is so young that performing well is essential. This week will tell a lot, but I am encouraged after yesterday. Great observation about Dajuan, Hoyawoodhoopster. I noticed his limping too, but couldn't pinpoint exactly when he got hurt. Not sure it drastically affected him, but he clearly wasn't 100%.
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mapei
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,088
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Post by mapei on Jan 11, 2009 14:09:30 GMT -5
Is anyone besides me concerned that we had extreme trouble getting the ball inbounds against PC's press? I'm sure that won't get un-noticed by our opponents with better talent than PC.
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bmartin
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,459
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Post by bmartin on Jan 11, 2009 15:29:25 GMT -5
You aren't going to have the same kind of cuts and backdoor opportunities against a zone that you have against man defense. The man offense works well with Monroe getting the ball at the top of the key, but against zone he has to get it at the elbow or the block to force the defense to overcommit and leave a lane or baseline cutter or a shooter open. I agree with the comment that Henry was the best entry passer from the wing, just throwing it over the wing defender. Entry passes are the one skill that everyone needs to work on.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Jan 11, 2009 17:11:00 GMT -5
And Clark, not ClarkE as in Ron Clarke. Ooh, somebody mentioning the great Australian distance runner!
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tashoya
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Post by tashoya on Jan 11, 2009 17:38:10 GMT -5
Our inbounding is AWFUL. Anyone else for Greg being the inbounder?
DaJuan did seem to take one in the nads. Loved to see how fired up DaJuan was when Greg stuffed that one on the little chump after the blow-by.
Nice job by Clark especially. I'm trying to think of reasons why Sapp is still starting over him.
Great game by Greg as per usual. The kid just gets better. He really seems to get fired up about his passing game which is fantastic. At our best yesterday, we looked quite a bit like Louisville last year except Monroe would eat Padgett's lunch for him.
GO HOYAS!!! Big games coming up!!!
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,218
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Post by hoyarooter on Jan 12, 2009 2:55:42 GMT -5
And Clark, not ClarkE as in Ron Clarke. Ooh, somebody mentioning the great Australian distance runner! That's what happens when you're of a certain age. He was the first person named Clarke who came to my mind.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Jan 12, 2009 3:55:43 GMT -5
Ooh, somebody mentioning the great Australian distance runner! That's what happens when you're of a certain age. He was the first person named Clarke who came to my mind. hmmmmm... we do have the post beat writer for the Hoyas... Liz Clarke. That's the first one that came to my mind. Then there's former National Security specialist Richard Clarke.
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EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
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Post by EasyEd on Jan 12, 2009 9:54:01 GMT -5
Jason is more like Clark Kent.
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