beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Jan 6, 2016 8:50:46 GMT -5
Looking at the talent on the team, individually...yeah its probably a 5 seed in the Tourney. However, the TEAM is out hustled and out executed on a regular basis....looks like an NIT team to me. I don't agree. I have real faith in this team and I think we'll find a rhythm at some point and make a run I would hope you are correct and I am wrong!!!
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Jan 6, 2016 0:14:27 GMT -5
We're gonna make the NCAA Tournament. At some point, this team is going to put it together and make a nice run Looking at the talent on the team, individually...yeah its probably a 5 seed in the Tourney. However, the TEAM is out hustled and out executed on a regular basis....looks like an NIT team to me.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Jan 5, 2016 23:09:23 GMT -5
I know these are talented kids who are giving their absolute best effort. But we have consistently been outhustled, outrebounded, and out executed this year.Shocking to see, and hard to imagine it will change.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Jan 5, 2016 22:58:55 GMT -5
Amazing shot by Jesse. But we are not getting any easy looks.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Jan 5, 2016 22:53:55 GMT -5
Cope had 3 foul shots if he just faked and shot that three -- he had his man in the air. How often does anyone on the Hoyas, other than DSR do the fake and draw the foul. Or drive and draw a foul?
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 31, 2015 11:23:15 GMT -5
By his senior year, Hank was a very polished college big man. Could pass, handle, shoot from 16 feet, in addition to the rebounding and defense. Love everything Hayes is doing for us this year, but no comparison between the two in terms of overall offensive game. And further...Great win over Depaul!!! I think Hayes compares pretty favorably, actually. In his senior year, Sims averaged 11.6 ppg and 6 rpg on 46.3% from the field. Hayes is currently averaging 9.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg on 53.8% from the field. If anything, we just need Bradley to get more post touches. Good points. Should not have said "no comparison". I really meant that Henry was a much more polished and diverse player, with the good handle, passing and outside shooting. Bradley is actually probably better in the low post in terms of scoring.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 31, 2015 10:58:47 GMT -5
By his senior year, Hank was a very polished college big man. Could pass, handle, shoot from 16 feet, in addition to the rebounding and defense. Love everything Hayes is doing for us this year, but no comparison between the two in terms of overall offensive game.
And further...Great win over Depaul!!!
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 26, 2015 19:33:15 GMT -5
The big question is ......when will the Hoyas get another Hall of Famer...after AI gets in.
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 21, 2015 22:49:05 GMT -5
I must be an easy mark. I read Lurker and buy what he is selling. Than SF comes along, and I buy what he is selling. I wish we'd start winning again!
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 20, 2015 23:21:19 GMT -5
Criticizing III for individual aspects of his coaching is not unmoored from logic. But calling for his firing after a couple of crappy games is. I have yet to see a strong logical argument for firing. III's defenses have ranked 107, 42 and now 125. That's pretty terrible and I agree that if III has a key tactical failing right now, it's been an inability so far to adapt to the rules. That said, 42nd is not a joke. It's not elite, but it was good enough to take a limited offensive team and be a 4 seed. Duke's defense is ranked 40th. We played mediocre defense last year, under the new rules, giving 20 minutes to Josh Smith, giving a ton of time to freshman, giving 40 minutes to everyone's favorite defensive whipping boy in DSR. I think it is entirely valid to ask III what he has done to change to the new rules and I'm curious why someone like Ben Standig hasn't asked. Or anyone at the open practice. I've been wondering for a couple of years. It has to get fixed -- but firing III isn't the only way to fix it. I'd also argue that there's NO reason this team shouldn't be closer to 42 than 125 -- and we were until the last two games. Those same last two games where it looked like NO ONE wanted to be playing defense. Logic tells me this: the difference between THIS defense at 125 and a 42nd ranked defense is effort and focus by the players. The difference between and an elite defense may be personnel and Xs and Os. But there's no way that this team is this bad on defense purely on coaching. We've seen most of these players play so much better, even this year. Think back to the defensive rotations versus Syracuse. SOOO much better. We had weaknesses last year, but we actually had completely different liabilities last year, and they were mostly offensive. If Isaac or DSR wasn't hitting, our team was done. Josh would have some good games but he could be double teamed easily (see Hayes). Despite this, DSR and Isaac managed to hold us afloat because we did have good defensive effort, and not just from Trawick and Hopkins, but DSR and Copeland and Peak and everyone. This year our issue is mostly defensive. What you are describing isn't some secret formula to attack us. How have people beaten us? They've shot incredibly well from 3, which forces perimeter defenders out. But our defenders are not keeping people in front of them, so they get in the lane. But our back line is slow and aside from Derrickson, incredibly daft in terms of moving to a spot, so they rarely help. No one rebounds except Hayes, who is usually out of position anyway. In short, we are bad at everything. But it's worth noting that it starts with a team that hits from the outside. We're just a bad defense that smartly can defend when we can pull back. When we can't, our weaknesses are exposed. But that isn't always true. It's just been true the last couple of games. I don't know if we have a winning plan. But energy? I can't put primary blame on the coach. And I can't really see if the plan works if no one cares to try to execute. This is the kind of "logic" that I abhor. People who have hated III mostly since Day 1 have claimed he can't adjust. Yet he constantly has adjusted. The offense changes constantly. Despite people ignoring it, he's instituted a press this year. In differing years, he's had the team push the ball much more (and even Ronnie Thompson noted that this year's team looked like the players were the ones who didn't want to push). He's had years with dominant man and dominant zone teams. He's adapted to Monroe and Wright and Josh Smith. We mostly run pick and rolls and a ton of things to push penetration. There's a ton of evidence that he adapts all the time. What you and the other commenters on the point really mean to say is: "I want him to press and run and the team to look like the 80s." That's not adapting or adjusting. People just complain that he doesn't do what they want. He hasn't figured out the new defensive rules. That's true. But let's not pretend he doesn't change what he runs. He does moreso than many other more successful coaches, like Bo Ryan, Tony Bennett, K, Boeheim, Pitino, etc. Is that the way to counter it? The pack line has been the most successful defense over the last three years and it's THE EXACT OPPOSITE of what you recommend. It's obvious III wants to play his zone -- the one that was so good with Otto -- but that this team can't seem to learn their assignments. That defense was awesome at cutting off passing lanes and protected subpar rim defenders while not leaving the 3pt line too open. And we are pressing more than we have in many years. We get a couple of minutes of energy. Then it's back to the same lazy play. But you are right -- we do need energy. We saw it against Syracuse. It exists. Why it only comes sometimes is the big issue here. The emotional and illogical part of the path you are taking is somehow acting as if the current losing streak is a consequence of III failing to adapt. If we're getting 4 seeds, the logical thing to me is to see if the coach can improve, not fire him. There's no logical evidence that III has gone from the coach he was last year to a coach of the team that plays every game like we did against Monmouth and UNCA. There's a huge effort issue here, and claiming it is an Xs and Os thing is illogical and emotional. I am certainly not one of the commenters who has constantly been on JTIII or calling for some 80s revival. I have defended him for years both on this board and to friends who have absolutely trashed the guy for the last 5 years. I agree, its not entirely an Xs and Os thing. But to say that effort is not an issue of coaching is to not understand a huge element of coaching. III's teams have never been high motor. But more and more that is necessary now. Your point is taken regarding pack line defenses. But JTIII isn't trying that out either. I am not a proponent of a strict style---I am a proponent of if it ain't working, try something else. THIS isn't working. We don't necessarily need to be Bennett or Shaka, or even JTII---but if you continue to believe its emotional or silly or whatever to believe these complaints are just about a couple of games, than you are blinding yourself due to some sense of allegiance to the Thompsons. We have seen these same problems growing the last few years. We have hoped/prayed/assumed that JTIII would fix either via coaching or the right personnel or both these issues. But its abundantly clear that his teams have not shown the capacity to adjust. Appreciate the effort to post all of this. Think I agree with ya!
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 19, 2015 17:31:57 GMT -5
Too sick to the pit of my stomach right now to engage in any banter. Maybe we are just too young and are experiencing growing pains. I will say it again, these other teams have lots of chemistry, can shoot from everywhere on the court, and play defense. Hopefully, none of our guys bolt for the NBA anytime soon and allow some chemistry to set in. Folks keep talking about guys "bolting for the NBA". Where does that come from? Are there really guys on this team, playing close to NBA level right now?
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 19, 2015 17:29:40 GMT -5
I don't think any of us are remotely smart enough to have an answer to this question.
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 17, 2015 23:28:28 GMT -5
I am a HUGE Otto fan, and watch the vast majority of unwatchable Wiz games, just to follow Otto. There is no denying that , despite being given a ton of playing time and opportunities, he is NOT shooting the ball well, especially from three point range. He has rebounded well and passed and defended solidly. Honestly, he has been a bit of a disappointment so far...not bad, but not as good offensively as I had expected. If you watch the games, he does miss quite a few wide open threes created by Wall, every game. He has to hit them, to be a legit starting three in the NBA.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 17, 2015 11:02:41 GMT -5
Darn. I can't turn to any section of Hoyatalk to find anything fun to read...NBA Hoyas, Recruiting, JTIII on Hotseat etc etc.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 16, 2015 19:21:21 GMT -5
Yep...try as we will...there is no possible spin in the world to feel good about that loss last night.
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 16, 2015 14:18:51 GMT -5
Folks, from a geezer perspective what seems to be happening is that we are playing old school basketball at a time when the game is changing dramatically. Big Man U is an anachronism. This is a guards game today. Penetrate, kick out shoot 3's. Run the court. Our guys are listless because they realize that spending 25+seconds working the ball for a possibly good shot and then having to fly back down the court to defend guys who could care less about all the cuts and back doors and just want to get a guy open for a 3. They are having fun while we are working our butts off. UNC Wilmington and Monmouth are the future. They may never be national champions but they will always give teams like ours fits. Guys like Govan and Hayes are great but against teams like these they are as useful as male nipples. JT3 has to realize this and dramatically change his game plans (and personnel) when playing teams like this. As a fellow geezer, I think this is an interesting take. Not sure if you're right...but another thing to contemplate.
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 16, 2015 10:05:05 GMT -5
I have tried to settle down since leaving the game last night, but I'm still beyond belief at what I watched last night. Sure, I figured last night would be a close, tough game, that's why I went for an unusually interesting mid-December game. May as well get a little bit of extra value for my tickets before conference play starts. Frankly, and I'm sure this has been stated elsewhere, it was abysmal and an embarrassment. It's not an aberration to work through, it's a habit and it's who JT3's teams will always be. Losing to Radford AT HOME and now Monmouth (no matter how good they are) AT HOME BY 15 POINTS is not an off night. Monmouth had already beaten a top-25 team and 2 other Big 5 teams; there wasn't a lack of tape or a lack of motivation. There was a complete lack of anything and that's not on the players anymore. It's happened too many times. As I watched and waited for something to happen, no timeout was called. No fire from JT3, no semblance of if there was ever a time to lose your lid and impart on the players something other than "everything's fine, keep doing what has you down 15 points" you realize something. You realize that after 10+ years of watching JT3 coached teams, it just isn't there. We will win 20+ games mostly every year. We will make the NCAAs 75% of the time if not more. And maybe once every 25 years, we will catch lightning in a bottle and make a Final Four. The delusions we have of somehow being an upper-echelon program, for me anyways, were completely dashed last night. The peers we claim to have lose the occasional game to Radford. They come back and not let it happen again. They play Cinderella opponents, take their best shot, and win tough close games and go on to dominate the rest of their season. It's become a hallmark of this program, and in particular this coach, to accept crippling losses on a regular basis. We can sabermetric the hell out of our NCAA tournament history, but at some point the Ohios, the FGCUs, the VCUs, the Radfords, the ODUs, the Monmouths, they just become the level you are at and not some statistical aberration. I love this program, I support this program, and I love and support JT3 as the coach for this program. What I realized watching last night is that what that entails for me is a major recalibration of the expectations of this program. There is absolutely no reason with the talent this team has, and the talent we continually recruit that we should not be a perennial top-25 team who makes the Sweet 16 at a minimum twice with every 4 year class. That's not insane, it's not unreasonable when you recruit top 25 classes and primarily mature annd grow those classes beyond the churn of many top-flight programs. Yet, we are levels below that, and that falls squarely on JT3. The only reason the JT3 hot seat talk is nonsense is because we basically have to accept all of the lowered expectations in exchange for basically being minimally competitive every year. I shudder at the thought of a new direction for this program, because I suspect going for the flavor of the week will be a complete and utter disaster for the long-term success of the program. It is unquestionable to me that we are on the verge of being exactly what we asked to be: a small Catholic basketball school who will be satisfied with some national name recognition, our academic success, and the occasional (and I mean really occasional at this point) special basketball season. I accept that now. This season will read like so many others, beat Syracuse, almost beat UMD and Duke (and in other years, fill in the blank of 2-3 Top-10 opponents we played close and ultimately lost to), and maybe won BE title before losing to a high-seeded Power 5 team or upstart mid-major. We will continue to be stubborn in our ways, generally under-prepared and unadaptable in difficult games, and lacksidasical and uninspired when such traits are most needed. Those are imprinted on this program by now under JT3's leadership. And in spite of that, I will continue to support the program, I will continue to buy my season tickets. I just know we're not now and never going to be who we think we ought to be on any regular basis. Long live Hoya Saxa, long live JT3, and long live the supporters of this program, may we have the wisdom and understanding to accept a different paradigm of success. I'm sure you will take a lot of heat for this post...but it could not have summarized my feelings any better.
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beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by beenaround on Dec 15, 2015 20:50:25 GMT -5
Obviously, we need a lot of stops to get back in the game. Not looking like we can stop em.
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 12, 2015 16:46:48 GMT -5
28pts in the 1st half............50+pts in the second...............what in the he!! happened? I can't break it down for you technically ( not that knowledgeable). But UNCW seemed to really go into overdrive the last 5 minutes, pressing, rebounding, running the court, and Hoyas became scared zombies.
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beenaround
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Post by beenaround on Dec 12, 2015 16:36:56 GMT -5
A lot of folk are much more impressed with this Hoyas performance than I am. Obviously, we are much bigger, deeper and talented. But these guys are out hustling us, out rebounding us, getting more steals, and beating us down the court.
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