GUHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,083
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Post by GUHoya07 on Nov 24, 2004 17:54:27 GMT -5
I disagree with the landing at another D-1 school thing. It was very obvious that his decision also had a lot to do with being homesick. He clearly wanted to be at home again and I think he wanted to play with his brother. I have no doubt that Causey could have landed at another D-1 school. I'm not saying he was ever gonna be great but he did have some talent and it may just have taken him a while to get used to the level of play. Plus, you dont know how other things in his life could have affected his play. His final game as a Hoya impressed me though.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,791
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Post by SFHoya99 on Nov 24, 2004 18:30:01 GMT -5
Talk about some revisionist history...Causey was a Great distributer an definitely more "talented and basketball savvy" then the point guards on the current roster. Let's be realistic about Mr. Causey. He showed absolutely nothing that should make anyone here think that he was going to ever be anything more than a decent backup pg. He's not as good as any of the three on the current roster. I think Bethel is the name that you should have inserted here, but then that would have killed your argument about comparing last year's squad to this year's squad. If Causey was that good, he would've landed at another D-1 school. I don't know about Cook, but I think it was pretty obvious Matt was a better passer than Ray, and a better ballhandler. And as for Wallace, well, maybe he'll turn out better, but it is interesting to me how much love the guy has gotten for a 20% shooting and not much in the way of assists. Ashanti is still better than the crew, but Causey was better than Ray and Wallace, if you off last night's performances. Ray is obviously more athletic and probably a better scorer, but Matt was a very good passer. And had one of the lowest turnover rates on the team. I don't know that the comparison is invalid.
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by hoyarooter on Nov 24, 2004 19:02:35 GMT -5
I know I'm going to hate myself in the morning for writing this, but I'm inclined to agree with the_way (I think that's the second time that's happened). This team is mostly a carryover from the best shooting team Esherick ever had. Yes, a new system is being implemented, and yes, we should, as we mature, be much stronger inside this year than we were last year, but in terms of the outside shooting, I will only believe it will be better when I see that it's actually better.
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Nevada Hoya
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Nov 24, 2004 19:47:00 GMT -5
Let's put your "exodus" in perspective. There were twice as many transfers on average in the last years of JT2 than in Craig's years. Prior to the exit of the Montrose Christian trio of Thomas, Hall and Bethel, there had been only two transfers since 1999: Jason Burns and Demetrius Hunter. That means the only Nevada guy, who stuck it out on the bball team, is now racing cars for a living.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,607
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Post by DanMcQ on Nov 25, 2004 7:50:39 GMT -5
What's the deal with the attack on the new coat of paint for McDonough? This is the third or fourth post I've seen making a similar type of comment. Don't get me wrong - anything done to improve McDonough is a positive. The "new coat of paint" is symbolic - they actually DID give the offices/etc a new coat of paint (and have said so in several venues), but it is going to take more than that to bring the practice facilities up to current standards. What they have now is small and cramped and antiquated. When a top recruit visits, of course he's impressed with MCI as a venue and probably with the campus as a whole. But the players spend the majority of their practice and workout time at McDonough. THAT venue pales in comparison to most of the facilities that schools GU is recruiting against have. It screams out for improvement. That should be (and I think is) a priority, more so than an on campus arena, because it can be done without the hindrances of local permitting and the cash outlay that would be required to build a new on campus arena.
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HOYAPLAYA
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
IT'S TIME FOR A RUNNNNNNN!!!!!!
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Nov 25, 2004 9:52:37 GMT -5
I disagree with the landing at another D-1 school thing. It was very obvious that his decision also had a lot to do with being homesick. He clearly wanted to be at home again and I think he wanted to play with his brother. I have no doubt that Causey could have landed at another D-1 school. I'm not saying he was ever gonna be great but he did have some talent and it may just have taken him a while to get used to the level of play. Plus, you dont know how other things in his life could have affected his play. His final game as a Hoya impressed me though. Gimme a break. You can be homesick and if you have enough talent, then other coaches will come like a wild pack of dogs once they hear that you are looking to transfer. Especially down in the heart of SEC country, where the rules aren't always followed when it comes to tampering with other teams players. I just want to know what he showed that impressed some of you here. He was a point guard in the truest sense of the word, meaning that he looked to get his teammates involved which is what we need. However, he wasn't quick enough to get by defenders off the dribble, he didn't display a touch from 3-point range and he wasn't strong enough to defend other pg's in the league. On top of that, he dribbled himself into a corner on a number of occassions last year. I'm just saying that he is at best, a backup pg on a big east team. I haven't seen them play yet, but let's wait until the end of this season and see if Wallace is better than Cook. As for Ray Reed, I don't think he's a better pg than Causey but as a total package he's as good if not a better player than Causey. His defense and speed or his best characteristics and he just needs to get it all under control
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HOYAPLAYA
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
IT'S TIME FOR A RUNNNNNNN!!!!!!
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Nov 25, 2004 10:00:08 GMT -5
I don't know about Cook, but I think it was pretty obvious Matt was a better passer than Ray, and a better ballhandler. And as for Wallace, well, maybe he'll turn out better, but it is interesting to me how much love the guy has gotten for a 20% shooting and not much in the way of assists. Ashanti is still better than the crew, but Causey was better than Ray and Wallace, if you off last night's performances. Ray is obviously more athletic and probably a better scorer, but Matt was a very good passer. And had one of the lowest turnover rates on the team. I don't know that the comparison is invalid. Matt Causey shot 19% in Big East play last year and averaged 0.9 pts per game. I don't want to sound like I'm picking on the kid, because I liked his energy and enthusiasism, but let's not make him out to be better than he was. The fact is that Reed and Causey are different players and both showed nothing last year that should make any of us think that they can play pg full time in this league. I'm hoping Reed can prosper with better coaching and a more structured offense. I think if he slows down a bit, we might find his shooting ability and ability to penetrate a valuable asset on this team.
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DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by DFW HOYA on Nov 25, 2004 12:15:17 GMT -5
It's difficult to say how good Matt Causey was or wasn't, given that he entered the 2003-04 season with a foot injury. Footwork is essential in good shooting and his stats at the NAIA level this year (six games, 20.3 ppg, 42% from field, 5.7 apg) are more representative.
The same "what if" could be directed at RaMell Ross, who averaged 20.7 per game as a high school junior in 1999 junior and has scored only 47 points in the last five seasons combined (senior year of HS and four years at Georgetown). His injuries have held him back, not his talent.
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hoyanick
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by hoyanick on Nov 25, 2004 13:56:51 GMT -5
I started this whole fracas about Causey, so I guess I'll add another 2 cents.
It is obvious that Cook should be playing the 2. While he is not really tall enough for the position, I think he feels much more comfortable as a shooting guard than as a distributor.
Had Matt not transferred, he would have been paired in the backcourt with Cook, and he would have taken over Point guard duties. This would have allowed Cook to slide over to his natural position. Now, Wallace would have the opportunity to overtake him as time went on, but I think Matt would have been a good facilitator for this new offense. He a very smart player, and a scrappy defender.
Now that Matt is gone, though, I think that we should go with a larger lineup, with Cook playing the point, Owens the 2, Bowman on the wing, and Hibbert and Green in the paint. If Owens would focus and play with confidence, he could even handle the ball more. A six-foot-six dude handling the ball would throw defenses off.
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HOYAPLAYA
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
IT'S TIME FOR A RUNNNNNNN!!!!!!
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Nov 26, 2004 7:33:21 GMT -5
It's difficult to say how good Matt Causey was or wasn't, given that he entered the 2003-04 season with a foot injury. Footwork is essential in good shooting and his stats at the NAIA level this year (six games, 20.3 ppg, 42% from field, 5.7 apg) are more representative. The same "what if" could be directed at RaMell Ross, who averaged 20.7 per game as a high school junior in 1999 junior and has scored only 47 points in the last five seasons combined (senior year of HS and four years at Georgetown). His injuries have held him back, not his talent. C'mon DFW. You can't possibly believe that his stats at a NAIA school are more representative than what he did he last year. The level of talent isn't even close so why would that comparison even matter in this discussion. That's like saying I only averaged 2 yards per rush against Division 1-A competition but I started the season with a foot injury and then coming back and saying now that I'm averaging 8 yards a carry at a Divisoin II school, it is more representative of my ability. Listen, I loved the kid's enthusiasm and energy and I believe that he would have been a positive influence on the team over the next 4 years, but I just don't believe that he is the long-term answer at point in the big east or that he is a better Big East pg than Cook(who everyone knows is an off-guard). As for Ross, his career has been hampered by injuries. The big difference is that Ross hasn't looked or statistically been in over his head against good competition when he has been able to play. I just think we tend to either overrate or underrate the players that transfer out of here and Causey is currently being overrated. Hell, Drew Hall was a more capable point guard in this league.
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MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by MCIGuy on Nov 26, 2004 10:15:08 GMT -5
HOYAPLAYA, an opinion is an opinion. That is all. Your opinion is no better than DFW's and vice versa. You guys just happen to differ on the evidence you viewed with your own eyes.
I liked Hall. Plenty of people didn't think he was BE worthy either but I thought as he got more experience he would be one hell of a backup point guard, one capable of logging many minutes. He was not great at penetrating halfcourt defenses but in terms of keeping his head up, shooting a good percentage when open, passing during fast breaks, height, free throw shooting, dribbling capabilities (especially against a full court press) and defense he was worthy of a scholarship.
Causey had a proven track record against high AAU competition and summer camps. He was ranked in nearly everyone's top 100 and was the MVP I believe for the game he participated in the Capital Classic. Unfortunately he suffered a severe knee injury in the summer before his first year at Gtown. It was so bad that there were rumors spreading he would have to get a medical redshirt. So its safe to say that for much (if not most or all) of the season he was not at full speed. Not to mention he had to get adjusted to the level of play. Considering that, considering he played for a team that was just lousy and seemed to quit on its coach, considering that the coach seemed over his head, considering he didn't have the benefit of playing with a Sweetney as Hall did and considering he got very little time I don't know how you can come to any conclusion that suggests he wasn't BE starting material. Not saying you're wrong but just that was quite a leap you made.
I can't say for sure if Causey would have done well either but I think he could have. He had a very good handle, was the best passer on the team, could run a break better than anyone on the team, played with a lot of energy and heart and had the makings of being a very good spot shooter from behind the arc. He also had a fantastic basketball IQ based upon the decisions he made on the floor. Plus his last game, in the BE tourney, was easily his best and gave us a glimpse of what could be. Of course his height, athleticism, defense and speed wasn't the best but...
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HOYAPLAYA
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
IT'S TIME FOR A RUNNNNNNN!!!!!!
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Nov 26, 2004 16:13:46 GMT -5
MCIGuy, I see your point but also remember people making a lot of off the wall predictions on how good Cook would be based on one game in the BE tourney. All I'm saying is that we seem to exaggerate on how good some players are after they leave when they have potential, but seem to discount players abilities that are still on the squad that have shown just as much if not more potential.
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MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by MCIGuy on Nov 26, 2004 16:51:14 GMT -5
I see where you're coming from. Point well taken.
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