lurkerhoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,182
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Post by lurkerhoya on Feb 21, 2009 19:32:19 GMT -5
I put this one on composure, or lack thereof, and the turnovers resulting from it. I'm hesitant to say leadership was the issue because I don't know who's supposed to lead guys into not chucking away 3 straight possessions throwing bounce passes into MU's hands. And I can't fault leadership for Dajuan forgetting that he has no moves to the hoop, but simply that he didn't have the composure to know better.
This was the typical Hoya loss of the season. Outshoot the other team 51-48% and somehow manage to lose. To me, it's the mark of a young team with room to grow. They don't need a player to lead, they need a coach hovering over their shoulder to tug their ear whenever they're about to do something stupid.
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Dhall
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,679
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Post by Dhall on Feb 21, 2009 20:21:53 GMT -5
Leadership starts with the actual leader of the team - Coach John Thompson, III. He's done a bad job this year, no two ways about it. Picked by coaches to finish 7th in the Big East with fans thinking that was maybe a bit low, the Hoyas will be fortunate to finish 12th if they win the games they'll be favored and lose the underdog games. He's not the guy who makes or misses the shots obviously, but when a team underachieves or lacks leadership you have to look at the coach's performance first and then the 18-21 year old kids.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,471
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Post by DanMcQ on Feb 21, 2009 20:23:16 GMT -5
Having seen the game in person, I do not agree that there was a lack of leadership. There was a lack of execution down the stretch. Multiple turnovers, passing up shots near the basket to throw passes out to guys on the baseline at the three point line, etc.
This team looks a lot like the UConn team from two years ago that went to the NIT, although this team still has a (slim) chance to get to the NCAA tournament.
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Post by fsohoya on Feb 21, 2009 20:44:06 GMT -5
Anyone who wants to blame Coach is welcome to, but it is baseless unless you watch practice and follow all the decision making. Even more importantly, you have to forget that MU is a very good, senior-laden team. We've lost some games we should have won, but really not that many (SHU, 2 Cincis, WVU). Maybe those you can try to pin on coach, but the fact of the matter is we are very young and make lots of young mistakes in a conference that is very experienced.
Maybe we've been spoiled by all the success Coach had WAY before anyone would have predicted when he took the job.
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Filo
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,906
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Post by Filo on Feb 22, 2009 0:19:12 GMT -5
Having seen the game in person, I do not agree that there was a lack of leadership. There was a lack of execution down the stretch. Multiple turnovers, passing up shots near the basket to throw passes out to guys on the baseline at the three point line, etc. This team looks a lot like the UConn team from two years ago that went to the NIT, although this team still has a (slim) chance to get to the NCAA tournament. Completely agree. The team is playing pretty well right now. They just did not execute down the stretch. For the first time in a long time, I am feeling pretty good about the team. Unfortunately, it may be too late now and there is no margin for error any more, but I do expect this team to win the next four games. That's right, I think they handle Louisville and I think they take 'Nova at 'Nova. We'll see...
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 23,240
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Post by prhoya on Feb 22, 2009 10:26:17 GMT -5
I'm hopeful too, but I just don't see that we have a defensive answer to the Nova guards. But, we can wish them a bad shooting night.
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NCHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,923
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Post by NCHoya on Feb 22, 2009 11:03:52 GMT -5
We have a better chance against UL than Nova. I think UL is vulnerable to a bad shooting night and their guards are not the quality we saw with MU or will see at VU. Hopefully we get a little luck and our opponent turns the ball over more than 6 times, MU is good. Simply do not beat themselves (exception USF game)
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