b52legend
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Post by b52legend on Nov 19, 2016 16:07:57 GMT -5
I have a vision for Georgetown basketball -- wins. A mid-season coaching change would be the wrong move. Lots of basketball to be played this year and hopefully get the ship righted. If that doesn't happen, then I think at the end of this season, Georgetown has to take stock of what other coaching options are available and go from there. I wouldn't say we have to make a coaching change, but the recent track record of JT3 certainly would warrant a serious look at other candidates.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Nov 18, 2016 12:38:51 GMT -5
John Calipari was on Jim Rome yesterday and said some things that I took note of, especially after last nights debacle:
- His intention is for practice to be so tough, and so hard, that when the kids get to games, they feel like it is a respite. - If you don't play defense, you don't play, regardless of what you bring on the offensive end. - He doesn't have an "offense" - he plays whatever is going to work and will even take ideas from the opponent when scouting them.
I don't like Cal, but I do like all of these ideas. I haven't seen our practices, but what are they like. Are the intense? Do we create situations where guys are fighting for the right to play? We seem soft in games and I wonder if that is a result of practice.
I used to think we were soft on defense because we didn't have the right personnel to deal with guards in today's rules environment. I now think its because we don't emphasize it enough.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Nov 13, 2016 19:35:32 GMT -5
Blue & Gray - 76 Gross Flag Mishmosh - 72
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Apr 4, 2016 12:02:34 GMT -5
Bottom line is that you need either (i) a great TEAM or (ii) a transcendent player (e.g., Buddy Heild) with a good team around them. We notice good guard play when watching the tournament because in most offenses, those are the guys who have the ball in their hands the most. But look at the rebounding from UNC, which ND had no answer for. Last year in the tournament, Townes and Kaminsky were dominant. Villanova, despite not having a typical frontcourt, has really skilled big men who more than held their own on the glass and defensively. Do you need good guards? Of course. You need good players at every position. That's a great recipe for success. But, in the case of Villanova, who is that transcendent player? There's another recipe for success in March and that is strong play and leadership by your upperclassmen and good overall balance. Wright has done a great job of continously feeding that balance and leadership. I would have put Nova in the great team category. The 5 they put out there can all play defense and all shoot the ball. Against a team dependent on one guy (who admittedly had an off night), they showed that a great team almost always beats a player every time (although to anyone who has ever been involved with basketball to any degree, that comes as no surprise).
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Apr 4, 2016 11:59:40 GMT -5
This is a huge get -- congrats to Jagan and welcome to the family. I have never seen this kid play, but I'm going to go ahead and say that next years back court has the potential to be better than this years. Tre, Jagan, LJ and Kaleb -- let's play some defense and push the pace. I love DSR (and he brought a lot to the squad - obviously), but those were his two weaknesses. I think this team will play best if we play fast and we play intense.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Mar 28, 2016 15:31:35 GMT -5
Bottom line is that you need either (i) a great TEAM or (ii) a transcendent player (e.g., Buddy Heild) with a good team around them. We notice good guard play when watching the tournament because in most offenses, those are the guys who have the ball in their hands the most. But look at the rebounding from UNC, which ND had no answer for. Last year in the tournament, Townes and Kaminsky were dominant. Villanova, despite not having a typical frontcourt, has really skilled big men who more than held their own on the glass and defensively.
Do you need good guards? Of course. You need good players at every position.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Mar 23, 2016 18:01:38 GMT -5
Isn't this a generalization? For every doctor that recommitted to a in-city hospital, you've got an attorney who moved his practice to an office park and sends a first-year associate to file papers. And outside of state capitals and the DC area, the number of cities with "lobbyists" could probably be counted on one hand with some fingers left over. Generalizations can be broadly true/accurate. I totally agree with this. Its easy to poke holes in any generalization/stereotype that is thrown out there, but that doesn't necessarily negate the factual premise of the generalization/stereotype. Generalization/stereotypes often times are true (as such) and help us to better understand trends in the world around us. Undercutting them by stating what they are -- generalizations/stereotypes -- seems to be about as helpful as relying upon anecdotal evidence in the first place. If the premise of a generalization/stereotype isn't true, that is another story.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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LJ
Mar 23, 2016 11:36:02 GMT -5
Post by b52legend on Mar 23, 2016 11:36:02 GMT -5
A bit of a sad commentary that he won't learn this until summer league pick up games.... Would have hoped two seasons of coaching might have done the trick. Im hoping next year is the LJ show. Sad commentary? What a stupid statement. Because we never hear about players (college and NBA) learning a new skill over the summer. All improvement must take place during the season! Thanks kc. Glad to know that you thought my comment was "stupid". Way to contribute to the discussion, because clearly I was implying that players never learn anything over the summer. I would have thought not committing fouls at a rate that put you in the top 10 in the country was more the type of skill you would have learned through two years of coaching and practice and not in kenner league games, but who knows, maybe its exactly the same as the corner three or left-handed dribbling.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Mar 23, 2016 11:29:22 GMT -5
Tweeting multiple times that "God is good" just after dozens of people were murdered? Too bad none of the dead and wounded had the protection of your god. Not trying to flame or start a theological discussion, but this is Georgetown -- Do you disagree with the premise "God is good" or the timing of the statement? In my view, there is not better time to be reminded of the love and goodness of God than following a man made tragedy like the tragic happenings in Belgium. God can provide comfort to the families of those who have experienced loss and those who were injured. God is hope, and hope is something that keep humanity going forward, hopefully toward a better being.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Mar 22, 2016 13:04:53 GMT -5
JT3 has at least 1 or 2 years left in the tank. If we miss the tourney in the next 2 seasons, then the writing is on the wall that JT3 has to go. In that situation, is it possible that any of the following happen, (i) JT3 gracefully steps aside, (ii) JT2 makes some sort of statement supporting the University in its search for a new coach/supporting said new coach or (iii) we get a homerun hire?
I think that one of these HAS to happen for it to be a successful transition that doesn't bury the program. Is it realistic to think that any of these could happen? Maybe all of them?
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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LJ
Mar 17, 2016 8:18:46 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by b52legend on Mar 17, 2016 8:18:46 GMT -5
I hear you, but he also had a ton of charges... Yep, he has a few charges LOL. He'll learn this summer to stop and pull up when he's aggressive attacking the basket. A bit of a sad commentary that he won't learn this until summer league pick up games.... Would have hoped two seasons of coaching might have done the trick. Im hoping next year is the LJ show.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Mar 5, 2016 21:00:37 GMT -5
Good post, but we, as fans, can't really do anything to help the program. JT3 needs to coach better. The players need to play better. Staff needs to recruit better. I love the team, and will continue to support them, but don't have illusions that donating some money, watching some games, or attending some events will do anything to change what we have seen on the court this year. Real change needs to come from the inside.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Mar 3, 2016 20:44:57 GMT -5
None of our prior terrible teams make me currently sad. This one does.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Feb 27, 2016 13:00:54 GMT -5
A whole week off, I think they practice how to turn the ball over and over. This is embarrassing. And you all think that PG will like to play this terrible style of basketball. Six turnovers already. I got a bit ridiculed about starting a thread about "practice". Stuff like this game is why I question what the heck we are doing.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 453
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Post by b52legend on Feb 22, 2016 9:24:39 GMT -5
I have asked the question a couple of times in various other threads, but I thought I would start a new thread to discuss "practice...we talking about practice?". Has anybody been a witness to the team's practices? I would be very interested in knowing what exactly we spend time practicing and what JT3's philosophy is. Do we spend a lot of time going through offensive sets and what the "correct" read is? Does he ever just roll the ball out and let the guys play full court? Are practices physical and intense or more subdued/ intellectual exercises? Are defensive sessions reffed, so that they player's get feedback about what is/is not a foul? I fully believe that any person or team can get better at something with the appropriate amount and type of practice. This team is making me question that mantra, as we don't appear to be getting better at any number of basketball fundamentals. Considering Akoy, Hayes and White we're injured in "practice", I don't think they are just walking around memorizing offensive sets. Maybe Coach lets them be too physical then? Maybe this contributes to why we seem incapable of not committing a foul on every defensive possession -- coach lets them injure each other in practice.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by b52legend on Feb 21, 2016 17:50:35 GMT -5
I have asked the question a couple of times in various other threads, but I thought I would start a new thread to discuss "practice...we talking about practice?".
Has anybody been a witness to the team's practices? I would be very interested in knowing what exactly we spend time practicing and what JT3's philosophy is. Do we spend a lot of time going through offensive sets and what the "correct" read is? Does he ever just roll the ball out and let the guys play full court? Are practices physical and intense or more subdued/ intellectual exercises? Are defensive sessions reffed, so that they player's get feedback about what is/is not a foul?
I fully believe that any person or team can get better at something with the appropriate amount and type of practice. This team is making me question that mantra, as we don't appear to be getting better at any number of basketball fundamentals.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by b52legend on Feb 21, 2016 17:43:03 GMT -5
Both of these guys ended up having really nice careers....for other teams. We went through a bad period of losing guys who could have grown into upper class contributors. The bench has gotten longer this year. Don't know why we couldn't find a regular place in the rotation for these guys. Benimon ended up being a much better player than Nate IMO, because he at least ended up being able to play both ends of the floor. Both were in the rotation, particularly Jerrelle. He played a full ten mins per game as a frosh and a soph. Whitt and Otto came in the next year so maybe he saw the writing on the wall. Vee got a handful of minutes virtually every game as a frosh and a soph. Not as many but he was playing behind Wright, Freeman, and Clark, so there just weren't many available. His second year, Markel entered as a frosh, one year behind him. So he got non insignificant minutes despite the existence of other good options (three of whom were juniors or seniors). And would have gotten a lot more the next year with Chris and Austin gone. Sure, Markel would have gotten a lot too, but Vee would have played a bunch. So, if wasn't (or shouldn't have been) a PT issue with him. I don't think you can blame playing time while they were here for either of the transfers. Maybe just telhe existence of better players, and that will happen. The way things ended up with Vee and Benimon, I'm not sure we had a number of better players on the roster. In any case, you won't do a lot of consistent winning if guys transfer when they feel there are 2 or 3 better players on the roster. You need depth for games and competition in practice. Coach has to find a way to make every player feel like they are developing and an important part of the team -- he has done a better job of that since the rash of transfers I think.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by b52legend on Feb 21, 2016 17:38:15 GMT -5
Both of these guys ended up having really nice careers....for other teams. We went through a bad period of losing guys who could have grown into upper class contributors. The bench has gotten longer this year. Don't know why we couldn't find a regular place in the rotation for these guys. Benimon ended up being a much better player than Nate IMO, because he at least ended up being able to play both ends of the floor. I said the same thing about Benimon over Nate, but some posters insist it is only because Benimon played against inferior talent at Townson Benimon got a serious look by the NBA - and might have even been on a couple of rosters for a bit - so I think that pretty much debunks the argument that he just showed out against inferior talent.
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b52legend
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Post by b52legend on Feb 21, 2016 14:19:43 GMT -5
I have thought a lot about this season and about this team. I think it boils down to a failure to recruit the right pieces. Game to game, with the exception of a few teams, I think we generally have more "talent" on the floor than the other team, but the talent we have simply has not coalesced into a good team. We have 4 guys who I think could potentially see time on an NBA floor (Govan, Derrickson, LJ, Ike). I won't get into the details of why these pieces don't fit, as I think we can see it on the floor -- poor communication, lack of guard play, poor passing, etc.
The failure by JT3 then IMO has been largely a failure to assemble the right pieces. Despite recruiting individual players well, he hasn't assembled a good team. This happens to all coaches - Calipari's Kentucky team which flamed out in the first round of the NIT, the UNC team that missed the tourney (with a losing record I think) - but here it is disconcerting because this team's failure is reflective of a team composition that we have seen JT3 pursuing since he took the job. We have a number of "long" guys who are skilled at many things, but perhaps great at nothing. In particular, they are not great (nay, terrible), at guarding smaller and quicker players. We had the same issues last year, but we had Bowen and Trawick who could be slapped on the other team's penetrating players to try to mask our deficiencies. Even then, Utah beat us on the back of a 32 to 9 free throw discrepancy. Dunk city beat us largely because of inability to contain their guards. This year we have nobody. LJ is a good defender, but hasn't ironed out the details.
My main concern at this point is that JT3 is too stubborn to change. I think he is our best option to right the ship and get us winning games again, but we are at a crossroads where the program is in desperate need of real leadership. Here's hoping that he can provide it.
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b52legend
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by b52legend on Feb 11, 2016 19:14:15 GMT -5
Both of these guys ended up having really nice careers....for other teams. We went through a bad period of losing guys who could have grown into upper class contributors. The bench has gotten longer this year. Don't know why we couldn't find a regular place in the rotation for these guys. Benimon ended up being a much better player than Nate IMO, because he at least ended up being able to play both ends of the floor.
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