OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 11, 2010 17:39:10 GMT -5
With Bennimon now the first 4 off the bench this team is legitimitly 7 deep. This kid is a JT2 throwback. He reminds me of a shorter Don Reid with a better handle and stroke. The series where he grabs defensive rebound and clears out Walker with elbow to the cheek, gets offensive rebound on other end and scores, then gets defensive rebound on other end to start fast break was classic JT2 ball. Henry coming in to give Vaughn a blow at the 5 position rather than the 4 for about 8-10 minutes will be gravy.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 11, 2010 15:56:20 GMT -5
He looks like the 2nd coming of Vernon Macklin without all the hype.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 11, 2010 15:44:17 GMT -5
"I'll always feel with good coaches like John and good systems like Georgetown, they'll get their player in the right spots," Calhoun said.
The above is a quoate from Calhoun in the Hartford Currant after the game. It always amazes me when these coaches belittle and berate JT3's system when they are talking to recruits behind closed doors,. but when they get their butts whipped by that coach and his system they publicly tell the truth of why they lost(good coaching and players executing a good system). Also in this same article, Calhoun threw Kemba Walker under the bus as being the reason the Huskies did not play well in 2nd half. Even though he had the power to replace him at anytime he wanted to just like he did with Dyson at beginning of game. I cannot see JT3 doing that to one of his players, especially a 19 year old sophmore. I wish Roscoe well and I hope he has thick skin when his HOF coach with a 3 year extension on his $3mil/yr contract puts blame for Huskies lost on him not living up to his potential rather than the coach and team having a bad day.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 9, 2010 22:27:43 GMT -5
I don't think this kid had any reason to handle the timing of his announcement the way it was done. He said he really liked all the players and coaches. JT3 had recruited him the longest. He had no reason to "dis" Georgetown on the eve of their game against UConn. Calhoun on the other hand, well. I suspect this kid had made up his mind weeks ago, but Calhoun told him to keep it quiet until the night before UConn game. Calhoun probably thought it would deflate the coaching staff, players and fans. If it had something to do with the Hoyas lackadaisical first half, the Hoyas certainly shook it off and kicked butt in the 2nd half. The kid wearing a UConn sweatshirt during the dunk contest recentlyshould have told us a lot.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 9, 2010 18:18:36 GMT -5
Does anynoe believe as I do that his team plays better when they are consistently pushing the ball up floor. I don't know if this was a directive of JT3 today in 2nd half ,.but definitely they played more aggressive offense and defense when the game was being played at a faster pace. The faster pace however dictates a longer bench than 2. I would have liked to have seen Sims get some PT today especially in 1st half when everyone else was stinking up the court. Dee could not have looked any worse than Clark did in the 1st half either. A longer bench would let these guys run without tiring before the game ended.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 9, 2010 17:42:23 GMT -5
If there is criticism of Monroe it has to be his lack of aggressiveness in the first half. As we saw in the second half, many of his shots will get blocked or altered for misses when he is playing a team with athletic big men like UConn has because he does not have great hops and he has not developed a right hand to get shot off clean if defender has taken the left hand shot away. JT3 must have stressed to him at half that it does not matter if you get your shot blocked. What matters is what you open up for your teammates when you make aggressive moves to the basket. The defense will have to respond to a 6'11" big man driving to basket. This will open up Freeman,.Wright, or Clark/Thompson for an open shot., He was more aggresisve the 2nd half, and although he still got shots blocked, he did make more than were blocked and it opened things up for other players., This kid just has to force himself to move to get the ball on the wing when he is playing the 4., with his ability to put the ball on the floor he can blow past the initial defender, which means the defense has to contract, and with his passing ability he can hit the open man., Simple game Greg, but you have got to be more aggressive Big Fella!
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 9, 2010 14:25:39 GMT -5
I loved Jeff Green's play at Georgetown but This performance by Freeman tops Jeff's because he dominated this game from the 2 guard/3 forward positions when the Hoyas really did not have an inside presense. I give monroe credit for bieng more assertive in the 2nd half,. but UConn's big men for the most part either blocked or altered most of his attempts. This team belongs to Chris Wright and Freeman. JT3 has got to tweek this offense to take advantage of these guys skills from start of game rather than in desperate, down by 20 times.,
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 8, 2010 15:29:24 GMT -5
I think we're in for a game, but, more than anything, I want to see how this team responds to a disappointing loss and how well they can put the MU game behind them. I'm also curious to see whether we have a "chip on our shoulder" and play with some needed aggression. IMO, this team still has a lot to prove, and I'm not confident yet that a bounce back is surefire or even likely (more like 50/50). UCONN is a tough match for this team if UCONN is anything like Calhoun's normal UCONN teams. They'll attack the glass, punch you in the mouth, pressure the perimeter, and try to take us out of our halfcourt stuff. Man, I was enjoying the hype until your post brought me back to reality., This will be a tough game and on top of the height and depth advantage UConn has, they also have the motivation advantage. The Hoyas have beaten them 3 times in a row. Calhoun will use it to motivate his team. How many times has his teams lost 4 straight to a BE conference foe. Monroe and Vaughn will have to take it to the UConn bigs. Its about time an opposing big man got in foul trouble trying to guard a Hoya big man.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 7, 2010 17:20:37 GMT -5
Just win this game. I don't care how, I don't care by how much, just WIN. Often, the simplest statement is the best. Saturday's game will tell us a LOT about this year's Hoyas. Even more importantly, it will tell the team a lot about themselves. Agree wholeheartedly. A win this game legitimizes the Hoyas as being back from the depths of last year. In this league road losses are to be expected even once and a while to an inspired lower eschelon team. But legit contenders for the BET hold serve at home. I don't care how(Monroe scores 2 points but Hollis goes for 30) just win. Do they have the mental toughness to come out AT HOME against a top 15, conference foe and make sure they WIN this game? I have no doubts our guys have the ability to win this game. We have to bring our "A" game, and our "A" attitude. Can we? We shall see. I envy all you folks who will be in the Verizon Center on Saturday! Go Hoyas! Take it to UCONN! Just Win the damn game!
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 7, 2010 12:08:38 GMT -5
The best news...Monroe (if he does not want to watch NBA games from the end of the bench) needs at least 2 more years. We're headed to 4-5-or-6 in the Big East...and a win or two in the NCAAs. Hopefully a loss to UC doesn't start a tailspin. I'm hoping that Monroe will get stronger as the year goes on. I think most of us on this board had projected him as a power forward in the NBA, but I am not so sure his not gaining any noticeable bulk and strength over the summer may because he sees himself as a 3 in the NBA ala Robert Horry of Rockets/Laker fame. Have noy seen any proof that he can hit the 3pt shot like Horry but he does have ball handling skills.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 7, 2010 1:05:13 GMT -5
UConn can throw a lot og big bodies at you. Greg and Julian will have to be judicious with their fouls. Hope the Hoyas zone defense has gotten better because it is tough keeping Dyson out of the lane with the man-to-man defense.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 6, 2010 22:54:28 GMT -5
Did not see or listen to game but from reports on the board , this is the Freeman we have been waiting to see for 3 years. Monroe will get more aggressive as year goes on like Green did. He still understandably defers to upper classmen when they are going good like Freeman was tonght. But he will realize in the end like Green did in Vanderbilt game, that this team will go only as far as he will take them at the end of a tough game. As Raferty would say "Go up strong big fella". Did Vaughn get hurt?
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 3, 2010 20:43:06 GMT -5
Did not see the game, but Chris's stat line is becoming more consistant as the season goes on. His last 3 games have been 34,18,and 18 points. The only sour note today was that he had 4 TO to 3 assists. Team had 12 TO's but he and Greg had 8 of them, but they are the distributors of this team so some are expected. He really seems to be playing within the system rather than trying to do everything himself. The fact that the light seems to have switched on in his head about this offense in his junior year really makes you appreciate John Wallace a lot more . He seemed to be able to master it from day one. To be fair to Chris though, he came in with more talent than JW and therefore he could score in more ways and take over games. So he has had to learn how to throttle it back and take the high percentage shot in the system the majority of the time rather than forcing his shots. Markel seems to have same body build as Chris, does he have the same game? If so, nice to have him playing with Chris for one year so that he can show him how to use his many talents within this system.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 2, 2010 12:51:29 GMT -5
Henry at this stage of his development should be judged by the old addage "do no harm". If he can stay on the court and do positive things like good defense, rebounding, and passing then any scoring by him is gravy. In the St John's game the 1st half had positive minutes on a whole and the 2nd half had negative minutes on a whole. JT3's insertion of him as the 1st substitute off the bench in the 1st half is a positive sign that JT3 believes that Henry will be able to give extended positive minutes. Remember, Henry is a 6'11" 19 year old cast to play the 4 position rather than the 5 position. He is being asked to do what only two other greatly talented 6'10"guys(Green, Monroe) have been asked to do in JT3 system. Bowman was 6'9" and Summers was 6'8".
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 2, 2010 10:44:57 GMT -5
Chris had a good game in all three catagories offense, defence and leadership. I was most impressed with his leadership. Besides the comments attributed to him by JT3 in the huddle near the end of the game, I was struck by his not forcing the issue in the 1st half when he clearly was the hot man. He kept running the offense and only taking his shots within the offense. Even when Clark shot a contested 3 and missed when the situation called for him to pass to Chris who was wide open for a corner 3pt shot he did not try to force the next possession. The team will need this same leadership throughout the year.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Jan 1, 2010 15:22:41 GMT -5
Really important win and I loved the battling under the boards. Julian is becoming a beast. Particularly loved his fighting for the rebounds during the last seconds of the game. A negative: Greg must be the worst layup player I've seen in a long time. He simply has trouble putting the ball in the basket when he's just under it. His stats look good after a game but he could have 20 a game if he could just make layups. Needs to stand close-in in practice and do it over and over - and over and over. And over and over. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Greg wear contacts? I mention this because a lot of his misses seem to be of a kind where the player has a problem judging the correct distance from the basket.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Dec 31, 2009 22:28:01 GMT -5
Good win. Remember it was the Hoyas who had to exorcize the demons of last years 2 losses to this team that returned 9 members from those wins. I think this played a large part in their confidence, especially hitting all those contested 3s. Will someone please remind me who Hollis Thompson is. Where is the slashing small forward that can drain the open 3. St Johns game plan was to make the Hoyas put the ball on the floor. The drive to the basket was there all night. Chris, and Freeman took advantage of it, but Clark and Hollis seemed scared to drive toward the basket. Clark has fallen in love with his 3pt shot, without any evidence of why he should. I agree with others who think Vee and Jerrelle have to get more time or the starters will be worn out by the end of the season.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Dec 24, 2009 13:32:02 GMT -5
Transfers are expected in D1 basketball but certain players with minimum talents transfering for lack of playing time is surprising. I don't believe JT3 is promicing these young men that they will be starters or that they will be guaranteed an amount of playing time. These young men are making a conscious decision, based on his system, that they will be able to get a certain amount of playing time. Nikita coming into the program was said to be a 6'8-9" wing player with decent ballhandling skills and a very good 3pt shooting touch. Now, that skill set matches "The Princeton Offense" of Pete Carril, but the JT3 hybrid of that offense has the ability to play at a faster pace and the switching man-to-man defense imployed by JT3 requires abilities that Nikita just does not have. JT3 tried to make use of Nikita's projected 3pt shooting ability last year by making him a starter over Sapp. For whatever reason for half a season last year and to this point his ability to hit the wide open 3pt shot with D1 profficientcy just did not materialize. If you can't run on the wings as a small forward and you are a defensive liability, then you must be profficient at being a zone busting 3pt shooter to earn a niche on this team. For all of us who wanted to upgrade the preconference schedule, we realize that the tougher compitition means less garbage time , if any, in these types of games for the Nikitas, Benimoms or Sims to get extended runs. The players have to realize this also.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Dec 21, 2009 23:28:51 GMT -5
Oh and not to mention the 5 is typically the last line of defense if our perimeter players get beat. Henry has been out of position on D WAY too much to trust him to anchor the D, IMHO. Well, how do we know he has no post moves and that he can't play the 5 position? I did not see him play in high school, but if I had to bet my money would be that at 6'11" he played the 5 position on his high school team. Look this young man may not be a good center, but at this stage of his development he knows more about the basics of playing the 5 than the 4. As I said before playing the 5 position exclusively right now may reduce his time on the court, but I would rather see him playing confidently and positively at the 5 position for five minutes than to see him play indecisively at the 4 for ten minutes .
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Dec 21, 2009 21:25:41 GMT -5
Someone on this board suggested that Henry's role be limited. Put me in that corner. I don't remember Vaughn playing anything other than the 5 position last year and so far this year. Monroe plays the 4 whenever Vaughn is in the game and the 5 when he is not. Henry on the other hand plays the 4 position exclusively when he is in the game. He just has not gotten the position down pat yet. I would rather see Henry at the 5 position exclusively for a while like Vaughn. Let Monroe remain at the 4 spot when Henry replaces Vaughn and when Monroe needs to rest bring Hollis/Benimon in with Vaughn replacing Monroe and Henry. For those who have said he is not a good passer, you are correct if you mean passing from the wing like a 4 does, but I have seen him make very good passes into Greg from the top of the free throw lane, normally from the 5 position. This kid has talent and JT3 knows that, why else would he put him at the 4 position when Vaughn is in the game. He knows that Henry at 6'11" has a better chance of handling the 4 position than Vaughn at 6'9". Though it may limit his minutes for the near future, and increase Benimon's, I believe it will let him regain his confidence if he is listed as backup center only for the time being.
|
|