Tyler Crawford...

[Frank Black]

It seems like Reed still embodies too much of the old regime. Out of control drives to the basket, bad shots, poor free throw shooting, just general lack of discipline. Crawford seems to not have as many issues there. Also, he's hitting over half of his shots and that is tremendous. Kid can play. What a recruiting class! I guess we can thank Esh for that.

[GPHoya]

It is a great sign of coaching when a bench lengthens over the course of a season. It means that players are learning and earning time by how they practice. Tyler and AKD are supplying depth and even though DJ and Roy are struggling, we still have more answers and less vulnerability to foul trouble than at the start of the conference season.

Tyler played primarily as an undersized 3 against BC and Rutgers. Though he played a great game against BC, Dudley was able to take him to the goal and I expect he would have trouble with Gay as well. That said, his energy changes the pace of the game in the same way that Watson changes the pace for BC. Because of the position he plays, Crawford will be up against all four of our recruits for playing time next year as well as Wallace, Cook and Reed. To win that competition, he may need to stroke it a bit better from the 3, but his court sense and experience will give him an edge over the freshman. His slashing style, sense of spacing, and nose for the ball make him our answer to Josh Pace. His dramatic improvement makes it appear unwise to offer DJ a fifth year given scholarship pressures.

AKD has rebounded and defended solidly and allows us to maintain a physical presence. If we don't add a big man, his continuing development will earn him playing time next year as well.

Add Ray Reed's general improvement and we suddenly have some bench options. How Ray stacks up next year with Thornton and Sapp added to the mix remains an open question.

I am happy for the team to have the rest this week, but we can not come out stale or flat against West Virginia which will be more of a test than some may assume. MCI should be energized with a 4 pm start that allows for adequate preparation. I am looking forward to being there for my annual trip to MCI and the Senior parents auction. I need to even my in-person record after the BC loss last weekend.

[HoyasSkins]

I wasnt saying that reed should get 30 minutes a game. I still feel like crawford is a far better option at this point. I think reed should get somewhere around 5-10 minutes so his defense and energy can be used.

I wonder how well Esh would have done with this class. Granted, it wouldn't have been as good as JT3, but it still would be interesting to know.

Go Hoyas!

[SirSaxa]

Frank said:

What a recruiting class! I guess we can thank Esh for that.

Yes, I think we can too. Out of the 4 kids Esh brought in, three look like keepers -- and Green is obviously a star. No way to assess Guibunda.

But I don't believe they would have been anywhere near as successful with Esh as coach. And esh couldn't keep a lot of kids either.

Cook and Bowman were Esh recruits also, but they are playing far better under JT3.

JT3 lucked out walking into a situation with Green. But JT3 deserves all the credit for putting these kids in a situation in which they can flourish.

[Omega3]

yada, yada, yada--- All you computer coaches need to just stop! This team is being coached by the BE COY yet some of you want to complain about player rotation.

It never ceases to amaze me how u computer coaches know the team better than the real coach. Question: how many practices have u been to? Better yet, if you have such a good feel for the team, why did the Admin do a coaching search-- they should have just hired all the computer coaches and left JT3 at Princeton.

Crawford isn't getting burn because JT3 said so! It could be practice habits, it could be he's having a difficult time adjusting academically, or some other issue. Of I forgot, it tht was the case all u computer coaches would know because u know the team better than JT3..................

[FOTP]

I'm not saying Reed shouldn't play 5-8 minutes a game and he does bring something to the table.

All I'm really saying is that he should not be on the floor at the end of the game. He's too out of control and doesn't hit free throws.

Things worked out, but it kind of scares me in general.

Reed deserves some minutes, but I think Crawford should steal a few of those at this point.

[Eurostar]

i was saying the same thing FOTP. why was reed in the game in the last few minutes. now that i think back on it though, we couldnt do anything to break the press and reed may be the best ballhandler/dribbler we have on the team.

[kghoya]

reed did a nice job on the offensive glass last night..he was also in at the end of the game b/c some of the players werent capable of breaking the press...

[the_way]

Its obvious some people just don't like Ray Reed, for whatever reason. Ray Reed can never do right in their eyes for whatever reason. Tyler and Reed play two different positions, and BOTH were in the game at the end last night because BOTH were contributing to help this team get a W in a tough place. I just don't understand the obsession. Oh well. We won last night and our chances are improving game by game as a team. I think that is what we all need to obsess about: getting into the NCAA tournament.

[TBird41]

I see Reed as someone who has improved a lot since last year (from out of control 100% of the time to out of control 50% or less of the time). If he continues to improve (which I'll assume he will under JT3) he will be a nice contributer off the bench next year and give us depth. If Reed sees 5-10 minutes a game, depending on how he's playing, that's fine and it helps rest Cook and Wallace and give us an infusion of speed and quickness.
That said, do I ever want Reed on the court at the end of a game where we're trying to ice the game with free throws? NO.

[bmartin]

Reed and Crawford are very different players and who plays depends on the situation and the matchup. Reed came in late against Seton Hall and Rutgers to help break the press. He did the job when he came in against SH after a couple of turnovers let them close the gap, so JTIII went to him again in a similar situation against Rutgers. He may have missed the shots, but he got 4 offensive rebounds in 10 minutes. Reed is coming in for Wallace or Cook. The only time all three are on the floor is late in a game trying to hold a lead against a press.

Crawford is playing more often with two of Cook, Wallace, Reed in a three-guard look, usually when the game is being played in the half-court. He makes better cuts than anyone else, so he is definitely learning the offense. JTIII is more concerned about the defensive matchups than anything. I think he goes with Crawford to guard a tall shooting guard, but with Reed to guard a quick penetrating guard. SH had small quick guards that Cook, Wallace, and Reed guarded pretty well without fouling for most of the game, so that may be why Crawford did not come in. Then when he might have been used later in the 2nd half, SH was pressing and JTIII went with Reed.