kbones17
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,186
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Post by kbones17 on Nov 15, 2019 16:00:58 GMT -5
Our rebounding as a team has been pretty good. Pickett seems more engaged in that area than last year. So that’s something.
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drquigley
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,377
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Post by drquigley on Nov 15, 2019 16:07:42 GMT -5
Mosley and Pickett look much improved. And I've been saying for 2 years that we need to play a lot more zone defense.
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Post by iheartdurenbros on Nov 15, 2019 17:15:42 GMT -5
Taking a stab at this, since I didn't have nearly the same reaction as most to last night's game. They didn't play well, I agree. But I see a bunch of guys getting used to playing together and many of them in college for the first time so that my expectations were tempered (especially after the opening game). And, many of the players on PSU have been playing together for years, and that's a huge advantage in early season games.
Here goes:
It's the third game of the season. Ewing has a good record of getting his players to improve, and he coaches them all. See the improvement of Mosely and Pickett. In past seasons, we watched individual players improve during the course of the season. And, the beginnings of the season have been rocky, with weird substitution patterns. The Jamaica trip last year was really bad. I get the frustration, because we want to see improvement, but let's wait until the end of the season before we call for the end of the Ewing coaching era.
Pickett and Mosely have improved. I don't know how many of you had access to Ben Standig's article on the Hoyas, but Pickett really responded well to the tough love given by Ewing last season. He said that the talk of his potential had gone to his head, and he learned that he needs to work harder. I'm willing to give Ewing the benefit of the doubt regarding the handling of Josh.
Like most of you, I want to see Josh start, more zone defense, the end of hockey substitutions, and more creative use of the press. And someone has to start hitting threes consistently. The pack line defense is kryptonite if we can't get those to fall. But, I still have faith based on past record.
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Bigs"R"Us
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,641
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Post by Bigs"R"Us on Nov 15, 2019 17:28:04 GMT -5
If Mac can start hitting shots that would go a long way in opening things up for others. He has a nice pull up off the drive, which should be money at this point. Also, needs to drive the baseline and attack or dish.
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hoyainla
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Suspended
Posts: 4,719
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Post by hoyainla on Nov 15, 2019 18:46:36 GMT -5
Galen, Jagan. Pickett and Leblanc all look like capable shooters. The problem is I think all are worried that if they miss a couple they will be pulled. The wrong players on this team seem to have the no fear mentality. This should be on coach to tell them to not be afraid to take open shots.
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Post by Ranch Dressing on Nov 15, 2019 18:51:12 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. This is a violation of the thread. Positive thoughts only!!!
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Elvado
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Elvado on Nov 15, 2019 19:09:36 GMT -5
Only 26 games left.
That’s good news.
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hoyaduck
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Hoya Saxa
Posts: 1,447
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Post by hoyaduck on Nov 15, 2019 19:21:35 GMT -5
Only 26 games left. That’s good news.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Nov 15, 2019 19:42:52 GMT -5
I am not sure if this qualifies as positive, but I do think it’s a worthy exercise to consider what the team can do other than the obvious - playing better. Here are some ideas:
1. Teach defense differently. Whoever has taught defense for the last two+ years hasn’t done a very good job. This isn’t about placing blame, it’s about figuring out something different.
Man to man simply isn’t working. Why not try zone (Louis Orr had some decent defensive teams as a coach), or pack the line? Long term I think the team needs to bring in an assistant who can teach defense like the Texas Tech defense virtuoso. The little bit of zone we’ve used under Ewing has been horrible but it might be worth a try again.
Unfortunately, implementing changes now is probably tough, but a few years ago Duke was awful defensively, they changed to zone and did a lot better. We don’t have the athletes they had but we have to do something different.
I’m not sold on the press. I think it looked comparatively better only because our half court offense was about as bad as I have ever seen.
1.a. One of the major issues is defensive rotations. McClung has been jumping all over the floor and almost always out of position. So is almost every other guard. This needs to be better. There’s an element of skill, sure, but there’s also an element of basketball IQ and these kids do not seem to have it. I think LeBlanc gets it innately but that’s about it. These kids can work as hard as they want but if they don’t play smarter they aren’t going to get anywhere.
This is where the mass substitutions hurt too. You can’t expect a cohesive defensive approach when everyone is pulled off the floor every so often. In the modern game if you can’t help and rotate you are going to give up open threes.
2. Shoot more threes. This is self evident. It’s a major part of the game and we don’t do it.
3. Don’t play Yurtseven like a 1980s center. Let him get looks from three and let him shoot 40% percent like he did at NC State.
4. The corollary to #2, as a policy don’t shoot long twos. Ever. We shoot several 18-20 foot jumpers a game and can easily stop. Just don’t take them.
5. Start LeBlanc. Tighten the rotation.
6. Don’t be obsessed with being uptempo. Sure bring the ball up fast (if you can do it without turnovers), and there’s nothing wrong with running but take time to find a good shot. There’s no benefit to being frenetic. JT3 got a lot of crap for slow tempo (which actually wasn’t that slow in his later years), meanwhile we are basically playing at a blazing pace and we are playing terribly. Ease up slightly if needed.
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Post by Ranch Dressing on Nov 15, 2019 20:37:08 GMT -5
Only 26 games left. That’s good news. Take your snide, snarky cynicism to another thread!!! Not allowed here! Hahahaa
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Hoyas4Ever
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
A Wise Man Once Told Me Don't Argue With Fools....
Posts: 5,448
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Post by Hoyas4Ever on Nov 15, 2019 22:40:33 GMT -5
I know and get why Coach Ewing wants to establish Yurt7 on the box because he's very effective but it's time to also open up the play book. Start running more pick & pop with Yurt7 and some side PnR with not only Ackinjo & Yurt7 but with multiple players to give multiple looks to the defense. The team has looked over focused on getting the ball inside telegraphing passes into the post while ball watching. Need more weakside action if only as a distraction to absorb the focus of their defenders...
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Post by Gold Coast Hoya on Nov 16, 2019 5:56:56 GMT -5
I just have one question. How many times over the last 20+ years has it been written that the HOYAs have good athletes that just can't shoot? This yesr seems to be more of the more of the same.
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dchoya72
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,488
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Post by dchoya72 on Nov 16, 2019 7:29:35 GMT -5
I was impressed by Gardner's play! Apart from shooting a couple of airballs he has played hard nosed defense, handled the ball well, and is a very physical player! He will get his shot under him soon!
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calhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,351
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Post by calhoya on Nov 16, 2019 7:48:53 GMT -5
McClung is not likely going to be a good outside shooter but he is going to be better than 18% from deep. Likewise Blair is a lot better than 12.5% from deep. Both just need to settle down and stop forcing the shot. Better ball movement will open shots. Look at McClung in the 2nd half of Game 1.
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Loyal Hoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Member is Online
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Post by Loyal Hoya on Nov 16, 2019 9:34:34 GMT -5
Some additional positive thoughts:
Jagan has played well.
Last year, McClung got better as the season progressed. He may still wake up.
The distribution of minutes is not unreasonable. Akinjo 27, Yurt7 24, Pickett 24, Mosely 24, Mac 21, LeBlanc 18, Allen 15, Alexander 14, Wahab 14, Blair 13, Gardener 10. (Note: LeBlanc is a two-game avg compared to three for the rest)
Just get LeBlanc up to 24 mostly at the expense of Mac & Blair, and we are almost where we should be.
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jwp91
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,998
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Post by jwp91 on Nov 16, 2019 9:36:40 GMT -5
It is mid-November. The idea is to peak in March and not before December.
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HOYAPLAYA
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
IT'S TIME FOR A RUNNNNNNN!!!!!!
Posts: 1,329
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Nov 16, 2019 11:04:10 GMT -5
Here is my attempt.... 1.) We will not see this level of play from our SG position for the entire season and I suspect we will start to see it turnaround this Sunday.
2.) Yurt appears to be every bit of the best big man in the Big East and although there have been a few rebounds that I was struggling understanding how he didn't get, he has pulled down more than that in traffic that I didn't think he had a chance at.
3.)Leblanc continues to be my favorite Hoya since upperclassmen Trawick was roaming the court.
4.)Moseley's play on both sides of the ball has been phenomenal and those that can't appreciate that just don't understand good basketball fundamentals.
5.) Pickett has been very good as well and needs to have some more plays run his way. He is going to have turnovers just like everyone else on the roster but his rebounding, defense and outside shooting is just what this team needs.
6.)Alexander is my early season pick (slightly ahead of Gardner) for someone who is going to be most improved production from November to February. I like his game and think additional reps at this level are going to improve his production.
We have played about as poorly as we can for 4 out of 6 halves and our record is 2-1. We need to start showing improvement on Sunday and just go from there.
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Bigs"R"Us
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,641
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Post by Bigs"R"Us on Nov 16, 2019 12:00:44 GMT -5
Lucky to have Yurtseven, so solid. Get Josh starting again. If McClung and/or Blair find their shot, things will run a lot smother.
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saxagael
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,894
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Post by saxagael on Nov 16, 2019 16:07:05 GMT -5
Last year McClung was making a lot of changes to his game and it took a month to so to really get going and by early spring was really good. Again McClung has made a lot of changes to how he plays, body type changes, and shooting form so thinking this year could be like last.
Once Leblanc is out of the doghouse things should start gelling for Akinjo, MaClung, Leblanc, and Yurtseven. That has potential to be a really insanely tough 4, but they aren't playing together much.
Wahab has shown he can step in and contribute.
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Post by ewingitrust on Nov 16, 2019 18:49:21 GMT -5
I'm not throwing away the season after 3 games either. We all want/expect the Hoyas to be at their best 100%. Changes/Adjustments will/have to be made and I trust that the staff will do that. All of us are passionate about the Hoyas because we feel should be elite with the best of the best. But some of the hot-takes after the penn st game were a little outta control.
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