b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Mar 2, 2022 13:53:56 GMT -5
It's quite clear that Reed needs to go along with Ewing. Agree. This is clown show, national embarrassment type behavior. I don’t know what we, as a program, care about, but it is clearly not winning basketball games. I read I Came as a Shadow recently - great book - and JT2 made clear that he played by the rules, emphasized academics, challenged the players, etc., but winning basketball games came first. He wasn’t bringing AI on campus unless the kid could ball. He wasn’t going to be given the opportunity to make a difference in kids lives unless he could win. The University’s prestige wouldn’t rise unless he could win. We just had the worst season ever in the BE (by definition) and have been bad and getting worse every season under Pat. There is objectively no reason to think the program will get better. What are they even doing? At this point I have lost all faith in the program. Even if they fired Ewing at some point, there is no reason to think they will bring in a good coach. I might be done with the Hoyas until further notice.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Feb 28, 2022 17:59:53 GMT -5
There is a very plausible chance that this scenario happens. More than plausible. This is almost certainly what will happen. It would be unreal if they keep Ewing. What plausible reason could there be to keep him. After 5 years - an eternity in today’s coaching world - we have the worst team in Georgetown history and it isn’t a blip. It is a trajectory. What hope is there? What light at the end of the tunnel? The only way forward is to fire him promptly and turn the keys over to new blood. Any other choice should be unacceptable to the fans, and likely will be. Respecting the standards JT2 set requires a full house cleaning. I love Ewing, but I just isn’t tenable for him to be our coach any longer.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Feb 28, 2022 13:22:39 GMT -5
I fully expect Ewing to be the coach next year. I don't see him walking away from the money he's owed and don't see the University spending for a buyout and a new coach. Because of this I have stopped donating money, and soon my time, to this program. It's a real shame it has come to this. If there is a buyout in place that prevents Ewing from being fired, then I think real questions need to be asked of the AD as to how that happened, and his job security should be brought up for debate. The team and program have gotten worse every year he has been the coach. If anything his contract should be expiring with no buyout.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Feb 28, 2022 7:48:11 GMT -5
Good article and I appreciated reading it. I wonder if the take away though isn’t and indictment of RT or administrators, but rather Ewing’s ineffectiveness as head man. First, before taking our head job Ewing had never been the head coach anywhere or ever been in charge of a program. He likely never had anyone report to him and was responsible for little in terms of logistics. It may have been, and be, that someone like RT was needed to keep the program running with Ewing’s lack of experience. Secondly, the fact that conflict within the organization may have led some to leave reflects poorly on Ewing’s leadership, if true. Regardless, there needs to be a full house cleaning at this point.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Feb 25, 2022 16:08:19 GMT -5
I completely disagree with Pat on this. The handshake line is done in all sports at all ages to show sportsmanship. Coaches that can’t refrain from punching others during the process, should not be coaching. Izzo's post says it all. As a parent and long time HS teacher, I know that there are challenges we would like to make quick business of but this is certainly not one of them. So, something is hard, annoying, challenging -- the response cannot be to simply stop the practice. You do the messy, hard work and struggle through it, and hopefully learn something important in the process. The end of game handshake is essential, one small gesture to remind us that being civil to each other is more important than winning or losing, and despite the frustration or jubilation one feels in losing or winning, we need rituals that keep things in perspective. That's when sports can be more than just a game and teach our kids, our students, our fans that we don't get to ditch respecting someone just because we're in a bad mood or overly arrogant. That and, in helping kids through the ups and downs of winning and losing, we help them face adversity better and become more empatheic, something that will serve them well in their adult lives. Keep the handshake line! I could not agree more with this or with Izzo. The idea of getting rid of the handshake line because we are worried adults won’t be able to behave themselves and show a modicum of class and respect is absurd and condescending. As Izzo said, it’s unfortunately the response to too many things these days. Instead of expecting people to meet the bar, folks look to get rid of it.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Feb 11, 2022 15:08:49 GMT -5
I watched the Auburn and Arkansas game earlier this week. Neither team put a big man on the floor who couldn't switch in the pick and roll or shoot the three point shot. Arkansas has a 7'3" big man who didn't play a minute because he can't guard on the ball. Teams have gotten very, very good at exploiting immobile big men.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Feb 10, 2022 10:42:59 GMT -5
The time for debating if Patrick needs to go has passed. Any coach, at any program, who is facing a season like this in his fifth year would, and should, be fired. I actually think that the circumstances should make it an amicable parting -- Ewing was given a full and fair opportunity to succeed at Georgetown and, for whatever reason, he objectively has not. He should recognize this. This is not a case of a middling coach wearing out his welcome.
In terms of timing and direction, I would let him go immediately after the season, so we are prepared to go after a new coach aggressively. I think we need someone with a fresh perspective from outside of the Georgetown "family". It needs to be someone with their own identity and approach, and the school needs to let him operate beyond the shadow of JT2.
I actually have a lot of hope. Coaches can turn around programs very quickly, and I think that Georgetown continues to be a great job and have a lot to offer. Unfortunately, Ewing couldn't make it work, and it is time to move on.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Jan 26, 2022 17:23:45 GMT -5
Especially in today's basketball environment, a coaching change no longer means a couple of years of "rebuilding". A coach with a vision is usually able to bring in transfers immediately who can sustain (or improve) play while they build the bridge to high school recruiting. Hurley has done it at Uconn. Musselman has done it at Arkansas.
I really want Ewing to succeed, but at the end of this year I think a full assessment needs to be made, and I would support a decision to move on.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Apr 9, 2021 12:54:15 GMT -5
Arkansas just got a commitment from transfer Stanley Umede from South Dakota. He joins Chris Lykes from Miami and Au'Diese Toney from Pitt. Three guys with experience who each averaged 14+ PPG for their teams. That might be the best haul for any single team in the transfer market this year. Not surprising as Musselman has been successful in the portal since he joined the college coaching ranks.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Mar 25, 2021 20:52:15 GMT -5
I have no idea why Q is leaving. I had nothing but respect for him while he was on the hilltop and am sorry that he doesn’t think GTown can provide him what he needs. I would have thought the opportunity to be the centerpiece at a school like GTown under the tutelage of Ewing with a PG like Harris and the recruits coming in would be appealing. Not to mention that we just won the BET. And the degree he could earn would likely be worth much more than that received any institution he might consider transferring to. But what do I know. And like I said, I’m not close to the program or this situation. Wish Q the best - I honestly do - but sad for him and the program.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Mar 16, 2021 8:15:42 GMT -5
A few thoughts about this game, mostly about the Hoyas as I haven’t seen Colorado play:
- I think a lot of people dismiss stuff like “they wanted it more” or “they out hustled them”, but that is what I saw in the BET from the Hoyas. Of course it is more than a mindset - our guys were conditioned to play hard for 40 minutes 4 days in a row as others have noted. That “NBA level conditioning” allowed them to translate their desire to outwork their other team into stops on defense and rebounds. Kudos to the staff and kids for putting in the hard work to get there.
- We had our fair share of good luck. Being perfect against Nova from the line. Bad shooting from Creighton. Not to diminish what the team did, tourney success requires some good luck, but my expectations for the tourney are tempered by the realization that things might not continue to break our way. But if they do, we can beat anyone.
- Our team played with tremendous confidence. You could tell they believed. The fight in the Nova game was amazing. Blair has always, for better or worse, been an irrational confidence guy. We are now an irrational confidence team, which is definitely for the better, and somehow making it more rational.
- They key to the Colorado game will be defensive effort (which I am confident will be there) and keeping Q on the floor (will need the refs to cooperate). Many moons ago we beat Davidson if the refs don’t handcuff Roy with terrible foul calls. They can take tough and physical players out of a game, especially in the tournament - let’s hope they don’t do that to us.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Jan 20, 2020 11:21:40 GMT -5
The hard hedge is the main problem. It's given shooters open look off of the forced rotations from the corner defenders. Open threes. Skip passes to open threes. Scrambles to open threes. Not saying it would be perfect without the hard hedge, but it wouldn't be worse. You are 100% correct. On the very first possession, the hard hedge led to defensive scrambling that left an open three and it kept happening time and time again. I just don't get why they don't try another strategy. I’m not sure we have a lot of other options. We don’t have the personnel to switch and if you don’t hedge you give the ball handler a clean look on the other side of the screen or a driving lane to the hole. Maybe it is just a question of the strength of the hedge or mixing up looks, but unfortunately it’s a tough thing to defend with a traditional big man.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 23, 2019 11:12:29 GMT -5
At no point was I trying to disparage him or his play. Would love to see him in the NBA - he absolutely has the talent to play and score there. - but who plays like him in the NBA now? My comment was just that I don’t see a prototype for him. 10 years ago, I would have said Tim Duncan - he reminds me of Tim Duncan - but I don’t see that in the nba now. Please let me know if there are guys like that. And yes it is totally selfish for me to say come back. I think you can make an argument a masters degree helps you - but I fully acknowledge there are millions of arguments against it too If he reminds you of Tim Duncan then he will make a lot of money in the NBA. I realize the game has changed in the NBA, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that Duncan could succeed in today’s NBA (or any era of basketball). He is arguably the greatest power forward of all time. I would say that Yurts game translates to being something like a Marc Gasol in the NBA. Would expect to see more stretch shots from him at the next level. His importance in the game is diminished from 10 years ago, but he did just start for the NBA champions. There is still a place in the league for a skilled center (just have to be able to shoot and defend the pick and roll).
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 23, 2019 11:00:50 GMT -5
I wonder how good last years team could have been if he had been granted eligibility. With him down low and Govan popping 3s. I hear you, man. I, for one, really thought the NCAA would have mercy on us and the Kid, and let him play immediately. Still can't figure out why he was not given immediate eligibility. With the increasing number of transfers, the clearing process is something that the NCAA needs to look at changing. It is opaque and decisions are often made that don’t seem to reconcile. Some guy will be given clearance to play at Gonzaga or Kansas, and another guy with almost identical circumstances at Georgetown or Illinois won’t be allowed to play.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 23, 2019 8:39:36 GMT -5
I would love for Yurt to come back, but I don’t think he will and I am not sure he should. At certain times this year, he has looked like an NBA player playing with college students. He is probably the most polished low post player in college basketball, has range out to the 3 point line that he has rarely shown and can run the floor and finish in transition. The only question mark at the next level will be his defense, and I think in the proper situation he will be fine.
We should stop nit picking this dude or worrying about next year and start appreciating the fact that we have a polished pro playing for the Hoyas right now. All the passing, good play from Allen and Mac, etc. has been huge, but without Yurt this team is treading water instead of having a real shot at making some post-season noise.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 17, 2019 22:06:54 GMT -5
Only on HoyaTalk does anyone assume Ighoefe or Wilson are going to get redshirted. Who in their right mind cares about the 2023-24 season? It’s a long season and there’s a good chance either Wilson develops in practice and earns PT or there will come a night where the team needs minutes and fouls. T he RS fixation is silly given the complete lack of precedence for Gtown. Also Pickett was icing his calf after the injury. Looked like a cramp from the good seats. He bent over to pick up the ball to inbound and seized up. Needs to hydrate more. What a long time coming - beating the spread and running away with victory. Also Mac needed to let the game come to him tonight and not force it. Too much dribbling. You're right it's silly for fans to expect Gtown to move into the 21 century in terms of how programs are run... Is this accurate though? I haven’t done a study, but it seems like red shirts are used a lot less often than in the past across basketball.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 16, 2019 17:38:27 GMT -5
That is a great story. The third photo of a young James smiling is touching. Hope he finds what he is looking for out there and I hope he succeeds in basketball and life. I don’t know how James feels, but every Hoya I know had nothing but love for him while he was here — an absolute warrior.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 16, 2019 13:20:58 GMT -5
Akinjo was 8-33 from 3 this year. I think you are seeing a better percentage both because those shots are being redistributed to better 3 point shooters and because the offense is creating more good 3 point shots generally. The difference may be exaggerated some because of our hot shooting, but I don’t think the percentage in the first 7 games is indicative of what this team’s average will be. I would add that not only are we shooting much more efficiently, we are taking many more. The percentage bump alone doesn’t reflect the improvement, as the raw number of threes we have taken has gone way up.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 16, 2019 13:19:07 GMT -5
Akinjo was 8-33 from 3 this year. I think you are seeing a better percentage both because those shots are being redistributed to better 3 point shooters and because the offense is creating more good 3 point shots generally. The difference may be exaggerated some because of our hot shooting, but I don’t think the percentage in the first 7 games is indicative of what this team’s average will be.
|
|
b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
|
Post by b52legend on Dec 15, 2019 9:03:39 GMT -5
We are seeing passes from this team that we simply have not seen. The pass up the floor. The skip pass. The hockey assist. It is beautiful at times.
Blair had a few great passes to Yurt. Let that sink in.
We still are not over passing though — everybody is willing to take the shot when they have it — and it didn’t result in too many turnovers. This balance is not easy to achieve.
Yurt is so important to this team. He has the potential to dominate offensively and so teams have to pay attention to him. This attention is in part why we have seen so many open perimeter looks.
The entire team is fearless. I was getting tight in the last 7 minutes while sitting on my couch. The guys didn’t. Reflection of Ewing I believe.
Free throw shooting is a huge plus.
The rotation is short now. We may lose a few games because of it. But we may win a few as well. This unit can play, and they will be on the floor 35 minutes a game. Lots of teams only go 7-8 deep. Blair, Wahab and George are competent backups, with Blair and Wahab obviously offering big upside in any single game.
Proud to see Georgetown across the chest of each guy who played for us yesterday. They have been representing themselves and our university well. This group has the chance to make some real history.
|
|