Rate the Hoyas on hunger, passion, and athleticism

[michaelgrahmstylie]

These are the three keys to a successful run in the tournament in my opinion. And, in my opinion, we simply did not have much of the first two--hunger and or passion. Yes we are a young and inexperienced team, but could we have overcome that with a little bit more tenacity and spirit?

[michaelgrahmstylie]

Must say I am sort of enjoying this stress-free slugfest going on across the country. My blood pressure is down, my heart is beating normally, and I am getting some work done.

[tashoya]

Considering you can't gauge the first two because you don't know the guys, I guess this is about athleticism? I'll go with above average for next years team. Kentucky always has great athletes. Some of whom aren't very good at basketball. I'll take strong fundamentals and high BB IQ over elite athleticism if given the choice. You don't need to run like a gazelle or jump out of the gym if you're agile and can move your feet on D and be set to shoot when receiving the ball on O as opposed to having to set them after receiving it.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Mar 25, 2016 21:46:01 GMT -5 tashoya said:

Considering you can't gauge the first two because you don't know the guys, I guess this is about athleticism? I'll go with above average for next years team.

Exactly. There's just no way for any of us to know the hunger and passion these guys have. Sure, some guys like Trawick show a lot of fire and passion, but other people have different personalities. That doesn't necessarily they don't have passion or hunger for the game.

I hate discussions of "passion" and "hunger" in sports because it's usually lazy baseless speculation used to explain the difference between winning and losing, when in almost all cases, it is attributable to something else.

[kchoya]

Mar 25, 2016 20:48:43 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

These are the three keys to a successful run in the tournament in my opinion. And, in my opinion, we simply did not have much of the first two--hunger and or passion. Yes we are a young and inexperienced team, but could we have overcome that with a little bit more tenacity and spirit?

I think I'd probably rate talent as the #1 key. Don't know how you'd disagree with that.

[michaelgrahmstylie]

Mar 25, 2016 22:04:29 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Mar 25, 2016 21:46:01 GMT -5 tashoya said:

Considering you can't gauge the first two because you don't know the guys, I guess this is about athleticism? I'll go with above average for next years team.

Exactly. There's just no way for any of us to know the hunger and passion these guys have. Sure, some guys like Trawick show a lot of fire and passion, but other people have different personalities. That doesn't necessarily they don't have passion or hunger for the game.

I hate discussions of "passion" and "hunger" in sports because it's usually lazy baseless speculation used to explain the difference between winning and losing, when in almost all cases, it is attributable to something else.

Of course, we are talking perceptions here, not knowing. I am just saying that watching the tournament--and trying to understand why they are there and we are where we are--these are three of the perceived qualities of teams that win. Some people would say, "It's the team that wants it more," while others would say, "It is the one who is the most hungry." When you watch these remaining games, just keep this thought in mind, and post me later.

[michaelgrahmstylie]

Mar 25, 2016 22:04:29 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Mar 25, 2016 21:46:01 GMT -5 tashoya said:

Considering you can't gauge the first two because you don't know the guys, I guess this is about athleticism? I'll go with above average for next years team.

Exactly. There's just no way for any of us to know the hunger and passion these guys have. Sure, some guys like Trawick show a lot of fire and passion, but other people have different personalities. That doesn't necessarily they don't have passion or hunger for the game.

I hate discussions of "passion" and "hunger" in sports because it's usually lazy baseless speculation used to explain the difference between winning and losing, when in almost all cases, it is attributable to something else.

"lazy baseless speculation." Come on, now. Give this some serious thought before you respond. This is an attempt to seriously analyze and diagnose what's ailing us.

[tashoya]

Mar 26, 2016 10:12:00 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

Mar 25, 2016 22:04:29 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Exactly. There's just no way for any of us to know the hunger and passion these guys have. Sure, some guys like Trawick show a lot of fire and passion, but other people have different personalities. That doesn't necessarily they don't have passion or hunger for the game.

I hate discussions of "passion" and "hunger" in sports because it's usually lazy baseless speculation used to explain the difference between winning and losing, when in almost all cases, it is attributable to something else.

Of course, we are talking perceptions here, not knowing. I am just saying that watching the tournament--and trying to understand why they are there and we are where we are--these are three of the perceived qualities of teams that win. Some people would say, "It's the team that wants it more," while others would say, "It is the one who is the most hungry." When you watch these remaining games, just keep this thought in mind, and post me later.

If we're talking speculation, I'd say whining, complaining and flopping has worked pretty well for Duke. Those things and hitting shots. It's a guess but, from watching him in person and on TV, it seems to me that LJ is as competitive as they come. Reggie too.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Mar 26, 2016 10:12:00 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

Mar 25, 2016 22:04:29 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

Exactly. There's just no way for any of us to know the hunger and passion these guys have. Sure, some guys like Trawick show a lot of fire and passion, but other people have different personalities. That doesn't necessarily they don't have passion or hunger for the game.

I hate discussions of "passion" and "hunger" in sports because it's usually lazy baseless speculation used to explain the difference between winning and losing, when in almost all cases, it is attributable to something else.

Of course, we are talking perceptions here, not knowing. I am just saying that watching the tournament--and trying to understand why they are there and we are where we are--these are three of the perceived qualities of teams that win. Some people would say, "It's the team that wants it more," while others would say, "It is the one who is the most hungry." When you watch these remaining games, just keep this thought in mind, and post me later.

Therein lies the problem. I don't think "It is the one who is the most hungry," or "It's the team that wants it more" is good analysis. I think those are sports cliches put forward by announcers. The NCAA tournament has 68 teams in it. Don't you think almost all of those teams want to win really badly? Some may show it more strongly than others, but I am pretty confident most of those teams really want to win badly. You can want it more than anybody in the world, and if you don't execute and perform, it's irrelevant because you will lose.

Don't get me wrong - I thinking having a good attitude and bringing focus and passion to the game is a very positive thing, but I don't think that comes anywhere close to talent, athleticism, and execution when it comes to winning.

[HometownHoya]

DSR was regularly in the gym by 5 am last offseason...if that's not passion for improving your craft, I don't know what is

[lichoya68]

need alot more of each for ALL six am for EVERYONE all come back work hard and YOU NEVER KNOW.

[michaelgrahmstylie]

Mar 26, 2016 12:35:16 GMT -5 lichoya68 said:

need alot more of each for ALL six am for EVERYONE all come back work hard and YOU NEVER KNOW.

That was a mouthful, but well said.

[kchoya]

Mar 26, 2016 23:21:28 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

Mar 26, 2016 12:35:16 GMT -5 lichoya68 said:

need alot more of each for ALL six am for EVERYONE all come back work hard and YOU NEVER KNOW.

That was a mouthful, but well said.

Hahahaha

You said to hoyasaxa2003: "Come on, now. Give this some serious thought before you respond."

Then you said to lic: "well said"

That's hilarious.

[michaelgrahmstylie]

Mar 27, 2016 7:00:40 GMT -5 kchoya said:

Mar 26, 2016 23:21:28 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

That was a mouthful, but well said.

Hahahaha

You said to hoyasaxa2003: "Come on, now. Give this some serious thought before you respond."

Then you said to lic: "well said"

That's hilarious.

Well it was all said kind of tongue in cheek. Unlike many on the board I don't take too much discussed on the board too seriously. Even my post are mostly meant to generate mostly philosophical and--yes, even speculative--conversation about our team.

[lichoya68]

awwww please be careful if you put your tongue in your cheek be sure you dont bite it THAT COULD BE A YOGIISM wright ?

[jester]

"Hunger" can be annoying as a term...but having watched UNC consistently grab away rebounds and Cuse win against zags and seeing Nova come up with late steal) these teams brought that extra energy and focus to constantly battle and win these games, when the other teams had Talent and or/great coaching. Truly all things matter but when it comes down to it those extra plays and the energy you give your teammates can make a difference.

[michaelgrahmstylie]

Iverson said, "I played every game as it was my last!" Emphasis mine. And case close!

HUNGER, PASSION, AND ATHLETICISM!

[tashoya]

Apr 4, 2016 22:20:39 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

Iverson said, "I played every game as it was my last!" Emphasis mine. And case close!

HUNGER, PASSION, AND ATHLETICISM!

The level of competitiveness that AI has can't be taught. It's a non sequitur when trying to prove any point about the current squad. Allen is a once in a generation type of athlete that could impose his will on his opponents. What made him great can't be bottled and sold or replicated just by trying to do so. There are reasons that he's the best 6'0" (being a little generous) basketball player in the history of basketball players and almost none of that has to do with coaching. You could recruit your butt off for the next 50 years and not land a guy as innately gifted as that man.

I'm very happy for him that he's been inducted into the HOF. It's the first time in a long time that I've seen positive press about him and, while I know he's had his downs, it's nice to see him have an up. When I heard him talking today about his mark on the game, the people that were influential in his life, and that he had spoken to Big John not long before his ESPN interview, it made me think of what might have been if Big John hadn't taken a chance at Allen's mom's asking. I know that it makes headlines talking about all of the ways in which AI messed up. But I wondered today what would the headlines have been had he not formed that bond and trust with Big John. I wish AI was bathing in money and had a squeaky clean personal life for his sake but I also didn't grow up where he did in the situation that he did and didn't have the turmoil that he did. Today, I was very thankful to hear that he is still in contact with JT2 and that Allen looks great and reflects thoughtfully on his career and on his life and recognizes the impact his coaches had on him. His life could have easily gone a very different way. I'm very happy to know that it didn't. He's honest to a fault in interviews and wears his heart on his sleeve. I very much respect that about him as a human being. Here's to hoping that he's found a semblance of peace in his life and that he's as successful at whatever he chooses to do next as he was in his BB career.

[upstatesaxa]

Mar 26, 2016 0:32:00 GMT -5 kchoya said:

Mar 25, 2016 20:48:43 GMT -5 michaelgrahmstylie said:

These are the three keys to a successful run in the tournament in my opinion. And, in my opinion, we simply did not have much of the first two--hunger and or passion. Yes we are a young and inexperienced team, but could we have overcome that with a little bit more tenacity and spirit?

I think I'd probably rate talent as the #1 key. Don't know how you'd disagree with that.

Well, consider Pete Rose.  Universally acknowledged to be modestly talented -- throughout the course of his career he was forced to change positions multiple times.  Yet, achieved all he did via ""hunger and passion" which was labelled at the time as "hustle."

As far as GU goes, certainly C Josh Smith demonstrated considerable "hunger"

[hoyasaxa2003]

Apr 5, 2016 12:29:34 GMT -5 upstatesaxa said:

Mar 26, 2016 0:32:00 GMT -5 kchoya said:

I think I'd probably rate talent as the #1 key. Don't know how you'd disagree with that.

Well, consider Pete Rose.  Universally acknowledged to be modestly talented -- throughout the course of his career he was forced to change positions multiple times.  Yet, achieved all he did via ""hunger and passion" which was labelled at the time as "hustle."

As far as GU goes, certainly C Josh Smith demonstrated considerable "hunger"

Pete Rose was extremely talented. "Hunger and passion" alone doesn't take you from modest talent to being one of the best hitters ever. That doesn't mean he didn't hustle or work hard, but a lot of other guys do too, and they don't get 4,000+ hits.