calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 10, 2020 15:28:09 GMT -5
The mistake was in recruiting both and then trying to turn McClung into the shooting guard. I always thought that they should not be on the floor together but then that would have been another point of conflict. Hopefully, the coaching staff learned something about recruiting for chemistry and not just talent. You could see a less talented group with Blair, Allen and Mosley produce a better quality of basketball than the McClung, Akinjo, Mosley trio, after the transfer/injury. They functioned more as a unit than any group we have seen since Ewing arrived. Even though Blair can shoot you into and out of games, as well, he was more committed to defense, than McClung. Allen was a better distributor than Akinjo. Mosley was the heart of the team in ways that were not as evident when saddled with the game-by-game competition between the two younger guards. I think that much of this is due to maturity and would not be surprised if both McClung and Akinjo do not evolve into less selfish and more complete players. If they don't then college will be the pinnacle of their careers.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 10, 2020 12:50:14 GMT -5
I think the only way we are going to beat top teams this year is to shoot the 3 well. We can’t trade 3s for 2s with Nova like we have tried in recent years. I think this is a game where Q needs to be limited (despite playing well against them last year), and we play a smaller lineup for longer stretches. Agreed. We also can’t foul like crazy. Nova is great at playing scrappy, hard drives and forcing teams to foul. We need to play smart, move our feet on defense and hopefully our rim protectors can step in and help. Think we are going to see a steady dose of Bile as a defender and rebounder for the Hoyas. If he can hit a couple of threes...that won’t hurt either. Hopefully the rim protectors will allow the Hoyas to extend their perimeter defense either in man or zone to guard against the 3 point shot.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 9, 2020 13:06:54 GMT -5
If the Hoyas do not play better perimeter defense or cut their TOs by at least 10 this will be a very ugly game.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 8, 2020 21:17:53 GMT -5
Outstanding game for Pickett. Very sloppy performance by Blair. Got to get Wahab to pass out of the double team. Like the shorter lineup but this team needs much more from the three transfers. Each has flashed a skill, but none has shown he’s ready to perform the role he’s been given in this offense. Where was Tim I? Nice to see Sibley get some time. Berger showed more than expected. Dante Harris not lacking for confidence but really needs to distribute more. Holloway did not get much of a chance. When the ball moves we have an offense. When it doesn’t we have a pickup game. Still no semblance of a perimeter defense as Coppin St. missed so many open shots—that will not happen on Friday.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 8, 2020 7:41:46 GMT -5
Players get better by actually playing in games. There are things you just can’t simulate in practice. You sit the freshman, you pay for it later. We are giving a ton of minutes to grad transfers who we’ve rented for a year at the expense of four-year players. These aren’t easy decisions as you want to win games, but they do impact players arcs, attitudes and team chemistry. Yes it is very worrisome. As one of the few who wanted to see evidence of improvement/development this year as a measure of Ewing's coaching chops, it will be virtually impossible to know anything if the rotation stays tight and is dependent upon 5 seniors, 2 sophomores and a freshman. Even if this is to be a lost year record-wise, there has to be some development going on or else we are locked in a cycle of starting over each year. In this new era of college basketball, kids who sit, can easily transfer. Whose to say what the impact of a "redshirt" season will be on players not getting significant time. Still early and I understand that the coach wants to win now, so let's play it out a little longer. But if a kid cannot get playing time against UMBC, Navy or Coppin State, it is going to be difficult to see it coming against the BE--unless it is in garbage time.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 7, 2020 12:33:09 GMT -5
It's Hoya PTSD. With everything that has happened to this program in recent years, including the chaos of last year that did not end until McClung's surprise move this summer, who can blame anyone for being paranoid. Not a comment on Ewing, Sibley or anyone playing ahead of him, but when the highest ranked recruit comes in and cannot get a minute of playing time in pre-conference games on a team that is clearly "rebuilding," it is going to make people nervous and fuel the speculation.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 7, 2020 12:27:32 GMT -5
Just a few musings from a guys who follows, but doesn't post all that much. I too am happy to see that the kids gave everything they had yesterday against WVU. They played hard on offense and defense...by and large one of the better defensive efforts I have seen in awhile. Tough on the boards and blocking shots. But the offensive talent is just so limited. Not a single all around player who can shoot , pass and has a legit handle. Bigs who cannot catch the ball or shoot beyond 5 feet. Wings who really cannot create their own shot. Hopefully we will steal a few wins with great effort combined with other teams looking past us. Regarding coaching, I have supported PE from day one. But Hard for me to say he is anything but a mediocre coach, based not only on the results, but the fact that I have rarely seen great in game adjustments, especially in the crucial final minutes of games. Anyway...the fact that the loss actually felt satisfying, is a bit weird...but think I need to get used to it..at least for the time being. There was a time when no Hoya fan would have been satisfied, even happy in several instances, with a good effort against a nationally ranked opponent on our home court. Yet, here we are, relieved that it was not a blowout loss, happy the team played hard and searching desperately for reasons to be positive. It is the state of the program.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 7, 2020 8:19:39 GMT -5
We had the individual talent to compete at a high level at the beginning of last season. Player retention is important. It’s hard to ask role players to step up and become stars. Yes agree with these comments, but would add that what has yet to be determined is whether Ewing can combine talent with on court chemistry. While his recruiting has been inconsistent, he has found talent. Yet, questions arise as to how he has used that talent and whether he can develop it into a cohesive unit. His decision to give McClung and Akinjo the green light during their time in the program totally disrupted the on-court chemistry. But for the transfers and injuries, Allen and Blair were afterthoughts during games and Mosley and Pickett were on the floor but more as bystanders. Still wanting to see if the transformation last year from "me" to "we" was only by necessity or part of what will be come Ewing's coaching mantra.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 6, 2020 21:45:19 GMT -5
Much improved in the effort department. At least this loss showed progress unlike the Navy game. The PG position is clearly going to be an issue all year. Neither Harris is a complete player and J Harris simply must play under control if the Hoyas are going to have a chance. His Harris counterpart needs to have some shots fall for other teams to respect him on the offensive end. If Carey isn’t getting some shots his value is greatly diminished as he is clearly not a PG and not great on defense. Blair is streaky but like Pickett needs to settle down a little and not chuck up some wild shots which can take the Hoyas out of their game. Pickett has been defending and rebounding well, but still would prefer him at the 3 and not the 4. Too sleight to play against the bigger posts. Bile? Still not sure what he brings. Seems pretty undisciplined for a senior but willing to see if he settles down and into his role. Flashes rebounding and aggressiveness but questionable decision making. Neither post has impressed me on the offensive end but both showed their value as rim protectors today. So far, Ewing’s substitutions are not a good reflection on this recruiting class. For a team that suffers from poor shooting, apparently none of the Freshmen can solve that problem. Are we to assume that Clark, Holloway, Berger and Sibley will have no role this year? Liked Ewing’s use of timeouts today and clearly had this team prepared. Maybe I am grasping at air but today gave me some hope that this team can improve if it can only find some shooters.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 5, 2020 17:23:10 GMT -5
His comment to the media supposedly referenced a difference between the Hoyas and the Raiders as being that on his current team guys hang out together which was not the case at Georgetown. Considering that the rest of his recruiting class had gone by season’s end I assume that his reference was to the entire team and not just his fellow recruiting class. In any event good luck to him. He was an exciting player to watch and he brought attention to the program. Wish he had stayed but better to have the kids who want to be here. Will say that down the stretch he was the biggest cheerleader on the bench when out with his injury. Stark contrast to the pouting from others.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 4, 2020 15:48:02 GMT -5
Me too. Loved those kids, their heart and their effort. Made me feel that perhaps Ewing is the right coach, after all. Particularly watching them play team ball, seemingly unconcerned with who was the hero and who took how many shots. The 2nd half collapse in the BE tourney caused some doubt that maybe this hope was not warranted. Then came the recruiting misses, signing a series of unheralded prospects with assurances that they are all vastly underrated, with athleticism that will provide the style of play that the coach wants to implement. COVID hits and all hell breaks loose --limited practice time, 9 new players, no fans (well that is unfortunately something the Hoyas have been getting used to) and a delayed schedule all added to my confusion as to what to expect. Still we had promises of a cohesive team, without massive egos and with a chip on its shoulder to prove to all the doubters that this program is still worth investing the time, money and emotion in supporting. Not a good start at all and for reasons that have little to do with practice time. Effort, intensity, team ball--all lacking after two games. Team and coaches seem overmatched against the quality of opposition they will face. Some here have written them off already and I certainly understand why. I can't and still hope, perhaps irrationally, that the posts will suddenly evolve into much more complete players, the ball movement from last season can return, the intensity will return and while defeats are almost guaranteed, it will not be because the team played without heart or effort. I want this coach to justify the accolades given him when he was recruited for the job by the Administration and seize the opportunity he still has to restore some pride to a program that has become irrelevant to all but a handful of us. I want that, but my doubts are growing and it seems unfair to take shots at any fans here who look at the situation and see no hope without yet another change in leadership. It is too early to write them off after 2 games. You have experienced players but in expanded roles. That is an adjustment. You have experienced but new faces on the roster who have to find their role on the team. Then you got the freshmen. I don't know what the restrictions are for practice due to COVID, but even without it....the team would still need time to jell. You can't do all of that even in practice. You also need live action to do it. On top of that, if we aren't a talented team and we haven't jelled, the outcome might be ugly. We all know what happened last year with the transfers. The magnitude of those departures was too great to overcome a program like ours trying to get back on its feet. Maybe at Kentucky or Duke were they just reload every year, but not us. Ewing doesn't have to justify anything. He just has to win games. People get hired with the hope they succeed. There is no guarantee. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Perhaps the word "justify" sent the wrong message. Ewing was a major risk hire. No prior college coaching experience. No head coaching experience at any level. No experience recruiting high school kids. Then given a salary higher than or equivalent to that of many more successful and experienced coaches. Ewing should not be evaluated on the basis of his play on the court or his commitment to the school. He should be judged based upon the results as a coach. As you say there are no guarantees.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 4, 2020 9:06:56 GMT -5
How about rooting for the team when the program is on hard times. Some of my favorite Hoya teams didn't necessarily win big or go to the final four. Last year's team of a 6-man rotation made me proud as a fan. Seeing those guys fight and work as a team. Didn't win too many games, but they showed a lot of heart.If anything, hopefully we can see that same grit and fight this year with this squad. Me too. Loved those kids, their heart and their effort. Made me feel that perhaps Ewing is the right coach, after all. Particularly watching them play team ball, seemingly unconcerned with who was the hero and who took how many shots. The 2nd half collapse in the BE tourney caused some doubt that maybe this hope was not warranted. Then came the recruiting misses, signing a series of unheralded prospects with assurances that they are all vastly underrated, with athleticism that will provide the style of play that the coach wants to implement. COVID hits and all hell breaks loose --limited practice time, 9 new players, no fans (well that is unfortunately something the Hoyas have been getting used to) and a delayed schedule all added to my confusion as to what to expect. Still we had promises of a cohesive team, without massive egos and with a chip on its shoulder to prove to all the doubters that this program is still worth investing the time, money and emotion in supporting. Not a good start at all and for reasons that have little to do with practice time. Effort, intensity, team ball--all lacking after two games. Team and coaches seem overmatched against the quality of opposition they will face. Some here have written them off already and I certainly understand why. I can't and still hope, perhaps irrationally, that the posts will suddenly evolve into much more complete players, the ball movement from last season can return, the intensity will return and while defeats are almost guaranteed, it will not be because the team played without heart or effort. I want this coach to justify the accolades given him when he was recruited for the job by the Administration and seize the opportunity he still has to restore some pride to a program that has become irrelevant to all but a handful of us. I want that, but my doubts are growing and it seems unfair to take shots at any fans here who look at the situation and see no hope without yet another change in leadership.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 3, 2020 8:31:37 GMT -5
Where’s that article that listed GU as the most (or 2nd) coveted head coaching job in the Big East? I would like to see Pat succeed at GU all the way to fulfilling his NBA head coaching dream, but the evidence points in another direction. Don’t be afraid. Yeah, I'd like to see that article because I don't think it's really all that coveted a position for most coaching candidates. Like I can't see a Hurley or Miller or Will Wade want to come here before they got the jobs they did. I think it might be different now. Easy to understand why someone outside the Thompson circle would be reluctant to take on this job with Big John sitting in the gym during practices and fans constantly drawing comparisons. All that has changed now. The dwindling fanbase just wants to see the program restored to relevancy. The Thompson influence will always remain (hopefully) but almost certainly be nowhere near as strong. It is still one of the highest paid coaching positions in the nation, located in a basketball hotbed and frankly expectations are so low that I can see any number of quality coaches willing to take the chance. Let's hope that a new coach is not needed, but the fact that the topic is even raised tells you a lot about the current state of the program.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 2, 2020 10:40:09 GMT -5
I know that I did not dream the style of play that briefly appeared for the last half of last season with a very limited team and no bench. That gave me hope that Ewing was the right guy after all. But nothing I have seen two games resembles the improvement I believed had occurred in year 3. He assembled these players--was it just to fill out a roster when he missed on preferred options or did he believe that these are hidden gems? Start of the Game. The team was flat from the start. Yet despite being outhustled to every loose ball or rebound there was no substitution to bring in someone who might generate the energy needed until well after the first timeout. Do we not have that player on this team? The team's strategy was apparently to force the ball in to a center who was double and triple teamed, and yet not willing or able to make the kick out pass to an open shooter. As a sophomore who has now played for several years that should just be automatic. Coach complained about after the game, but that should have been addressed immediately and if the player cannot do it, then find someone who can or change the strategy. Defense. This is a recurring problem for the past 3+ years. Lot's of different players, lot's of athletic players. Same inability to stop the opponent's 3 point shooting. Post Play. Neither of the two posts who play has shown any improvement on offense from last year so far in terms of developing a shot more than 3 feet from the basket. Wahab ends up with nice stat line against a short team, but this strategy makes it easier for a shorter team to defend and yet at no point did the Hoyas try going small against Navy and come up with a quicker, more versatile lineup. Is it a matter of not having the players who can do that? Where's the discipline? The team reverted to playing undisciplined, out-of-control ball on offense, reminiscent of watching the start of last year and the year before when guards would selfishly just chuck up shot after shot without running an offense and looking for the open man. It's still early, but newcomers, like Bile, should have been coached to play within a system instead of going into isolation mode on offense. Same for Carey trying to force a drive into the lane and charging. Does this team have more than 1-2 players who can drive and dish? Ball movement. There are three kids on this team--Pickett, Blair and Carey (as well as the mysterious Berger, who may or may not ever play this year)--who can hit the outside shot and yet on offense the ball movement to get to the open man that we saw when the Hoyas had only 5-6 players last year has still not reappeared in the first two games this year. Small sample size but have to assume that this is something the coach wants to do. Are the players just going mind numb out there? What the hell happened at the end of the game? Down in the last minute of the game but still within 5, why did so much time run off before stopping the clock? Even announcers wondered if they conceded. Did the players give up? Did their coach? It's not a young team and these kids should know how to lengthen the game by now. Why would you not fight until the end particularly with a new team that is trying to develop an identity. No offense have you been under a rock all of 2020 or did you really buy into AIs practice tirade? What do you expect 2 games in with 9 new players with virtually 1/4 of a regular offseason. Things take time to gel....yes you did see correctly. Ewing coaches them up. It takes time....for example Bile looked very shaky last night but you can tell he was rusty and moving too fast and too excited. The potential is there for some players, it’s time to dig in. I’d be willing to bet Blair and Pickett don’t go out without a fight... Believe me I want to share your optimism. Not at all interested in starting over yet again with a new staff and another change in direction. But from under the rock in which I live I believe that there is a difference between execution and effort. Execution improves with practice as you correctly point out. I hope that after 10 games we see that improve. But effort should not require practice. Coming out flat and being outhustled is not something that is explained away by lack of practice. Tactics that involve forcing a ball inside and never kicking the ball out is not a practice issue, that is a coaching strategy and should have been addressed when it was clear it was not working. Players abandoning ball movement and going iso is not a practice issue but a composure issue. Knowing how to extend the game is not something that these kids needed to practice. It may be a new team but the starting lineup consisted of 2 seniors, two senior transfers and a sophomore. As for Pickett and Blair, you cannot find someone who appreciates and roots for these kids harder than me. I think both deserve tremendous credit, even while acknowledging their flaws. Using timeouts to stop another team's momentum is a coaches decision, not dependent upon practice. You are clearly a passionate supporter of the team and someone whose defense of the current regime often counters the negativism that many of us feel when watching the product on the floor. We both want this team and this coach to succeed. He is an all-time great Hoya and you can tell he wants to win. But the problems after two games are not new for the most part. The faces are new, the lack of defense is not. Let's both hope for the evolution you expect to occur. Let's hope for Ewing to have a long career as the coach. But that does not change the fact that he needs to earn the job and we need to see the style of play we saw last year when he was up against incredible odds.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 2, 2020 8:27:21 GMT -5
I know that I did not dream the style of play that briefly appeared for the last half of last season with a very limited team and no bench. That gave me hope that Ewing was the right guy after all. But nothing I have seen two games resembles the improvement I believed had occurred in year 3. He assembled these players--was it just to fill out a roster when he missed on preferred options or did he believe that these are hidden gems?
Start of the Game. The team was flat from the start. Yet despite being outhustled to every loose ball or rebound there was no substitution to bring in someone who might generate the energy needed until well after the first timeout. Do we not have that player on this team? The team's strategy was apparently to force the ball in to a center who was double and triple teamed, and yet not willing or able to make the kick out pass to an open shooter. As a sophomore who has now played for several years that should just be automatic. Coach complained about after the game, but that should have been addressed immediately and if the player cannot do it, then find someone who can or change the strategy.
Defense. This is a recurring problem for the past 3+ years. Lot's of different players, lot's of athletic players. Same inability to stop the opponent's 3 point shooting.
Post Play. Neither of the two posts who play has shown any improvement on offense from last year so far in terms of developing a shot more than 3 feet from the basket. Wahab ends up with nice stat line against a short team, but this strategy makes it easier for a shorter team to defend and yet at no point did the Hoyas try going small against Navy and come up with a quicker, more versatile lineup. Is it a matter of not having the players who can do that?
Where's the discipline? The team reverted to playing undisciplined, out-of-control ball on offense, reminiscent of watching the start of last year and the year before when guards would selfishly just chuck up shot after shot without running an offense and looking for the open man. It's still early, but newcomers, like Bile, should have been coached to play within a system instead of going into isolation mode on offense. Same for Carey trying to force a drive into the lane and charging. Does this team have more than 1-2 players who can drive and dish?
Ball movement. There are three kids on this team--Pickett, Blair and Carey (as well as the mysterious Berger, who may or may not ever play this year)--who can hit the outside shot and yet on offense the ball movement to get to the open man that we saw when the Hoyas had only 5-6 players last year has still not reappeared in the first two games this year. Small sample size but have to assume that this is something the coach wants to do. Are the players just going mind numb out there?
What the hell happened at the end of the game? Down in the last minute of the game but still within 5, why did so much time run off before stopping the clock? Even announcers wondered if they conceded. Did the players give up? Did their coach? It's not a young team and these kids should know how to lengthen the game by now. Why would you not fight until the end particularly with a new team that is trying to develop an identity.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 1, 2020 21:22:58 GMT -5
Slow down folks. As someone who hated the “process” by which Ewing was hired and openly questioned whether loyalty to a former great alum should be rewarded notwithstanding a compete lack of head coaching or college coaching experience, it is still too early to nail the coffin shut. I want Ewing to have this year to prove that the flashes from last season were real and reflect his future as a coach. I do not want him to be given more time than this season, but i think that as pathetic as this game was, lets see what changes are made and whether the coach can elevate the play of some of the transfers and figure out a substitution pattern that won’t kill momentum. Hustle, rebounding and intelligent team play would be a minimum expectation for the next few games. If these first two games become a trend, i will be a loud but sad voice calling for change. After the chaos of last year, which is admittedly partly Ewings fault, he deserves the chance to show he can bring the program back. There is nothing magical about the BE this year.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 1, 2020 19:58:06 GMT -5
When a team is this bad coaches bear responsibility. It’s a failure in preparation, recruiting, tactics, game substitutions or all of the above. No excuses. This must be a prove it year for Ewing. He did not inherit this team, he put it together. Transfers are part of basketball. Still hoping that he turns it around this year but this a horrible start. No defense. No hustle. No rebounding. No chance.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 1, 2020 19:45:19 GMT -5
The sad fact is that this team is undisciplined and I have seen nothing from the three transfers to justify any hype. Not impressed with any player tonight and the two bigs are nowhere near as advanced as I had hoped.
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calhoya
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Post by calhoya on Dec 1, 2020 19:37:43 GMT -5
Still turning opponents into 3 point superstars.
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Post by calhoya on Dec 1, 2020 19:01:30 GMT -5
I realize that expectations are low but this is simply bad basketball. Really hard to enjoy watching this on any level. No one is guarding the shooter on Navy. Some of the mistakes are just not understandable. Carey takes himself out of the game with two charges. Inability to pass the ball into the bigs, neither of whom has any range on their shot. I can accept players missing their shot—it happens. But to be outhustled by a smaller team to rebounds. There is no one on this team that is not Ewings player and watching the lack of intensity has to be killing him. Have to believe he saw something in each of these recruits but right now its hard for me to see how this gets better any time soon.
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