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Post by Ranch Dressing on Nov 15, 2019 13:03:54 GMT -5
This thread is being created for posters who can believe in the phrase "it always seems darkest before the dawn."
While my yellow caution lights are blinking like mad after the Penn State loss last night and the 2 lackluster performances against MSM and UCA, I refuse to throw in the towel and become unflinchingly negative on the coaching, players, and outlook for the season after 3 games.
My positive is that the press seemed to work last night because it utilizes the best attributes of our team - length, quickness, and athleticism. Think about trying to dribble and pass your way up the court against the combination of Myron, Jamorko, Galen, Josh, and Omer.
Taking this to the next step, a very positive outcome could be that the coaching staff recognizes that an aggressive 2-3 zone would be a very effective defense for the Hoyas because it plays to our strengths. James and Mac are limited with their size and length, but subbing 1 of them out at the 12-minute mark for a player of length (Galen) and immediately switching to a zone could be a very effective change of pace, especially if we are struggling in man defense. It also is a little less risky than the full-court press which if broken can lead to easy buckets at the rim.
Recognizing this thread might be met with crickets (Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...?), if anyone wants to post something positive, please do so below (and it would be nice if the cynical/snide posts go elsewhere). Anyone else up for posting something positive/constructive?
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SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,204
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Post by SSHoya on Nov 15, 2019 13:08:22 GMT -5
Would it make sense to open with a press to kick start the team given its lethargic starts? If so, Mac would be coming off the bench, perhaps.
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njhoya78
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,760
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Post by njhoya78 on Nov 15, 2019 13:12:39 GMT -5
This thread is being created for posters who can believe in the phrase "it always seems darkest before the dawn." While my yellow caution lights are blinking like mad after the Penn State loss last night and the 2 lackluster performances against MSM and UCA, I refuse to throw in the towel and become unflinchingly negative on the coaching, players, and outlook for the season after 3 games. My positive is that the press seemed to work last night because it utilizes the best attributes of our team - length, quickness, and athleticism. Think about trying to dribble and pass your way up the court against the combination of Myron, Jamorko, Galen, Josh, and Omer. Taking this to the next step, a very positive outcome could be that the coaching staff recognizes that an aggressive 2-3 zone would be a very effective defense for the Hoyas because it plays to our strengths. James and Mac are limited with their size and length, but subbing 1 of them out at the 12-minute mark for a player of length (Galen) and immediately switching to a zone could be a very effective change of pace, especially if we are struggling in man defense. It also is a little less risky than the full-court press which if broken can lead to easy buckets at the rim. Recognizing this thread might be met with crickets (Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...?), if anyone wants to post something positive, please do so below (and it would be nice if the cynical/snide posts go elsewhere). Anyone else up for posting something positive/constructive? Too soon for me...but maybe I'll feel better after the Georgia State game.
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Post by Ranch Dressing on Nov 15, 2019 13:16:17 GMT -5
Would it make sense to open with a press to kick start the team given its lethargic starts? If so, Mac would be coming off the bench, perhaps. That's a really solid idea. I think if you started Josh over Mosely, you immediately get a lot longer and athletic. My sense is that Mac will continue to start for the time-being, but if he's your first sub out and replaced by either Galen/Myron, you have incredible length and positional flexibility to execute high-pressure defense, either in the full-court or the half-court. One conundrum with your idea of starting the game with the press is that it is very taxing on the players, so you have to be willing to give more minutes to your bench. That runs counter to a lot of us who are hoping the rotation tightens up and Ewing keeps his best players on the floor for more minutes during the game.
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Post by Ranch Dressing on Nov 15, 2019 13:18:48 GMT -5
This thread is being created for posters who can believe in the phrase "it always seems darkest before the dawn." While my yellow caution lights are blinking like mad after the Penn State loss last night and the 2 lackluster performances against MSM and UCA, I refuse to throw in the towel and become unflinchingly negative on the coaching, players, and outlook for the season after 3 games. My positive is that the press seemed to work last night because it utilizes the best attributes of our team - length, quickness, and athleticism. Think about trying to dribble and pass your way up the court against the combination of Myron, Jamorko, Galen, Josh, and Omer. Taking this to the next step, a very positive outcome could be that the coaching staff recognizes that an aggressive 2-3 zone would be a very effective defense for the Hoyas because it plays to our strengths. James and Mac are limited with their size and length, but subbing 1 of them out at the 12-minute mark for a player of length (Galen) and immediately switching to a zone could be a very effective change of pace, especially if we are struggling in man defense. It also is a little less risky than the full-court press which if broken can lead to easy buckets at the rim. Recognizing this thread might be met with crickets (Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...?), if anyone wants to post something positive, please do so below (and it would be nice if the cynical/snide posts go elsewhere). Anyone else up for posting something positive/constructive? Too soon for me...but maybe I'll feel better after the Georgia State game. Haha. Give it a try, it feels good! Give me one positive outlook, NJ. C'mon. C'mon. C'mon...
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madgesiq92
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by madgesiq92 on Nov 15, 2019 13:24:00 GMT -5
Patrick moving away from 100% man to man defense and starting to mix in zones would be a positive for sure. He hasn't wavered for 2+ years, so it would be nice to see adjustments made to what clearly is not working.
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SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,204
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Post by SSHoya on Nov 15, 2019 13:25:00 GMT -5
I am looking forward to Georgia State to see the resilience of the team! Press from the start! Be intelligently aggressive and under control!
Go Hoyas!
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DudeSlade
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I got through the Esherick years. I can get through anything.
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Post by DudeSlade on Nov 15, 2019 13:28:51 GMT -5
I'll give you two positives: 1) Josh still seems to be Josh. Much more limited minutes to look at, but he seems to not have gotten bit with whatever got everyone else on the team. He's still causing lots of disruption, hustling hard all the time, getting rebounds he shouldn't, and he even made a 3 in a very smooth confident motion against Penn State, which would be huge if he could add to his game. 2) Pickett looks much better than last year. More like his frosh year. He's playing strong defense (comparatively to the rest of the team), seems more confident offensively, is not as sloppy with his handles as last year, and goes after rebounds defensively (though I'd love to see the same on offense where he seems to wait for the ball).
I think at this point, the 5 best looking players are Akinjo, Mosely, Pickett, LeBlanc, and Yurt. I'd go with that as a starting 5. Be long and more difficult to score over and rebound over, let Josh cover up when Yurt gets pushed around, still have Pickett to help rebound and even Mosely who would be a good rebounder as a guard (though not as much as a forward). I know you supposedly sacrifice spacing and scoring without Mac in the starting 5, but with him shooting terribly, it's not happening anyway. Would rather make us hard to score on, look to defend/rebound and get out on the break and get easy baskets down low, with Akinjo and occasionally Pickett providing the shooting.
So positive: Josh & Pickett are the 2 players that seem to be at the same level or better than last year.
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zxhoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by zxhoya on Nov 15, 2019 14:27:12 GMT -5
I'll give you two positives: 1) Josh still seems to be Josh. Much more limited minutes to look at, but he seems to not have gotten bit with whatever got everyone else on the team. He's still causing lots of disruption, hustling hard all the time, getting rebounds he shouldn't, and he even made a 3 in a very smooth confident motion against Penn State, which would be huge if he could add to his game. 2) Pickett looks much better than last year. More like his frosh year. He's playing strong defense (comparatively to the rest of the team), seems more confident offensively, is not as sloppy with his handles as last year, and goes after rebounds defensively (though I'd love to see the same on offense where he seems to wait for the ball). I think at this point, the 5 best looking players are Akinjo, Mosely, Pickett, LeBlanc, and Yurt. I'd go with that as a starting 5. Be long and more difficult to score over and rebound over, let Josh cover up when Yurt gets pushed around, still have Pickett to help rebound and even Mosely who would be a good rebounder as a guard (though not as much as a forward). I know you supposedly sacrifice spacing and scoring without Mac in the starting 5, but with him shooting terribly, it's not happening anyway. Would rather make us hard to score on, look to defend/rebound and get out on the break and get easy baskets down low, with Akinjo and occasionally Pickett providing the shooting. So positive: Josh & Pickett are the 2 players that seem to be at the same level or better than last year. Agree completely, I love Mac but it's time to re-insert Josh back into the starting lineup and keep Mosley, the bigger and better defender in the lineup.
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blueandgray
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Post by blueandgray on Nov 15, 2019 14:35:17 GMT -5
Josh LeBlanc is our ray of sunshine. Clearly, this team needs his energy as a starter. By the time he comes in we are down double digits.....it’s insane!
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hoyaduck
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Hoya Saxa
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Post by hoyaduck on Nov 15, 2019 14:43:02 GMT -5
Yurt7 is a beast in the paint. If he takes a little more time and stops rushing his shots, he's going to do a lot of damage.
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Post by HoyasAreHungry on Nov 15, 2019 14:47:22 GMT -5
If the team was losing games due to missed shots or another team getting hot it would be one thing. They're not being put in a position to succeed by the coaching staff. Period.
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hoyaduck
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Hoya Saxa
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Post by hoyaduck on Nov 15, 2019 14:48:54 GMT -5
If the team was losing games due to missed shots or another team getting hot it would be one thing. They're not being put in a position to succeed by the coaching staff. Period. Um, sir. This is the ray of sunshine thread.
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Post by HoyasAreHungry on Nov 15, 2019 14:50:29 GMT -5
If the team was losing games due to missed shots or another team getting hot it would be one thing. They're not being put in a position to succeed by the coaching staff. Period. Um, sir. This is the ray of sunshine thread. Apologies. I meant to say we're POSITIVELY in big trouble
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Nov 15, 2019 15:02:32 GMT -5
Watch out for the falling sky while you are at it.
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Hoyas4Ever
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A Wise Man Once Told Me Don't Argue With Fools....
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Post by Hoyas4Ever on Nov 15, 2019 15:18:19 GMT -5
Would it make sense to open with a press to kick start the team given its lethargic starts? If so, Mac would be coming off the bench, perhaps. BINGO! I was going to post the same thing after reading Ranch's post!
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Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Nov 15, 2019 15:22:51 GMT -5
I think we are a few player tweaks away from being competent. We are a few coaching adjustments away from being average. We have the talent & pieces. That is all I have.
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Hoyas4Ever
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A Wise Man Once Told Me Don't Argue With Fools....
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Post by Hoyas4Ever on Nov 15, 2019 15:23:57 GMT -5
If the team was losing games due to missed shots or another team getting hot it would be one thing. They're not being put in a position to succeed by the coaching staff. Period. You must be missing the first 10 minutes of all three games this season...
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Hoyas4Ever
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A Wise Man Once Told Me Don't Argue With Fools....
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Post by Hoyas4Ever on Nov 15, 2019 15:33:24 GMT -5
Even in a small defeat a longtime victory can be found. I think Coach Ewing and staff may have found something when Yurt7 is out in going small (a combination of Alexander, Gardner, Mosely LeBlanc, Pickett, & a PG) with LeBlanc on the back end and pressing like crazy.
Qudus has shown a lot so far but if/when this team gets behind or the matchups allow/favor, maybe the staff will go small more often taking advantage of this groups quickness, length, and athleticism...
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guru
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Post by guru on Nov 15, 2019 15:37:23 GMT -5
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Wahab’s play.
.................
That’s pretty much all I’ve got.
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