Ewing and Macklin Must Step Up!

[bowhoya]

Ewing and Macklin must step up. We need them. Both are athletic and mobile enough to make a difference on the boards and on defense. In some match ups, we will really need to rely on their skills. Memphis is the type of team that presents a problem for Hibbert, because their front line is very athletic and mobile. If you noticed, Hibbert played well against Gray of Pittsburgh last season and also played well against Oden. Both were less mobile around the goal and more traditional post men. In addition, opposing teams are more likely to only play one man on Hibbert if the height match up or talent is more even. In those cases, Hibbert is more effective.

[hoyaboy1]

I really don't understand what happened to Ewing's rebounding after he left Indiana. He's currently 8th on the team in defensive rebound rate (2nd on offense though).

[JGM0509]

macklin needs to know how to be aggressive and actually take it to the hoop. He had to have been like that sometime in his high school career i just dont get it. he plays scared and it Editedes me off. him and rivers playing together are the worst combination and i just dont get it. not to question thompson, but that lineup is just horrible when macklin, ewing, and rivers are all in together.

[prhoya]

Yeah, I noticed that lineup's lack of control. That's one of the reasons I think JTIII is tinkering with lineups and combinations in preparation for the BE.

[the_way]

Actually, Hibbert needs to step up.

Macklin and Ewing are support players.

Hibbert is supposed to be "the man" this year, instead of being the support player he was last year, and Jeff being "the man".

You see, thats how Ohio State beat G-town last year. Let Hibbert get his, and shut down Jeff.

Now, Hibbert has to become Jeff in a sense, instead of being complimentary player. Can he do it? We shall see.

What you are asking of Ewing and Macklin, they really aren't capable of. They are more support and role players, not even complimentary players.

Of the two, maybe Ewing can. Macklin is still got some growing to do in terms of his basketball development. I think he is coming along nicely, and will improve.

Fast and Athletic teams will always give Hibbert, and G-town in general, a problem.

I think the guy in the front court that could become "the man" is Summers. But not Macklin or Ewing.

[ichirohoya]

I thought Pat had himself a decent game yesterday. 10 points. 3-4 from the field. 4-4 from the line as per espn.com's boxscore. Of the starters, i'd label him our 5th scoring option and 10 points from your 5th option ain't too shabby.

[SFHoya99]

I hate it when I agree with the_way.

[HoyaFanNY]

roy didn't show up. it's that simple. pat is a role player and macklin is a work in progress. roy is a freaking all american. time to start playing like one.

[Deleted]

hoyafanny said:

roy didn't show up. it's that simple. pat is a role player and macklin is a work in progress. roy is a freaking all american. time to start playing like one.

My sentiments (and _way's) exactly.

Roy still has far too many of the tendencies he exhibited in his first Kenner League years ago. Don't get me wrong... I think he's improved as much as ANYONE can during four years of college ball, but he's still got a ways to go if he wants to take his game up a couple notches.

[bowhoya]

A major part of Hibbert's problem is that he is now the center of attention of opposing teams. Defenses are designed specifically to stop him. Therefore, it is very important for the other front line players to step up and fill the void. I'm not necessarily talking about points, as much as I'm talking about rebounding and defense. A player does not have to be gifted to play good sound defense and to block out and hustle for rebounds. This is what we are missing against the more athletic mobile front lines. We need to develop the toughness on defense and in rebounding. I see Hibbert and Summers as our offensive forces up front. However, both need to give more on interior defense and in rebounding. Stronger defensive rebounding will limit those second chance shots by the opponents. That is what "killed" us most against Memphis. Finally, foul shooting can kill a team's chances of winning. I hope the coaches are working to change the mechanics of Macklin's foul shooting delivery. He does not have a smooth release.

[blueandgray]

I too agree that JT3 is still tinkering with the line up. I frankly believe that while we are going 9 deep... I'd like for #8 and #9 in the depth chart to be limited to 5 minutes a game or so. Granted, the lion share of the minutes need to go to (1) Hibbert (and yes... its time he get angry and do something about it....), (2) Summers, (3) Freeman, (4) J wall, (5) Ewing, and (6) Sapp. From there, Rivers and Wright should share roughly the same amount a time.... depending on whether we need an offensive (Wright) or defensive (Rivers) presence. And finally, Macklin. I rather suck it up and go with a 3 guard line up than having Macklin out there. All the man can do is dunk and pass. He is at the point where he is avoiding contact under the basket so as to keep him away from the line... he's not a great rebounder... and he limits our options on offense. Unless he can start hitting at least half of his free throws... we need to bench him. We should reserve Macklin for foul trouble only. After having watched him his freshman year... "he is who we thought he is!!".

[youngjeezy]

we're not going to bench macklin. no way. we don't have enough big men to be doing that. not to mention, you don't bring in mcdonalds all-americans to have them sit on the bench - ESPECIALLY when his major weakness is cured by practice practice practice.

may jt3 make him shoot free throws until his arms fall off, but for the love of god, unless we want hibbs wearing himself down and picking up 4 fouls in the first half every game, we are not benching macklin.

[blueandgray]

youngjeezy said:

we're not going to bench macklin. no way. we don't have enough big men to be doing that. not to mention, you don't bring in mcdonalds all-americans to have them sit on the bench - ESPECIALLY when his major weakness is cured by practice practice practice.

may jt3 make him shoot free throws until his arms fall off, but for the love of god, unless we want hibbs wearing himself down and picking up 4 fouls in the first half every game, we are not benching macklin.

Point taken...I see where I may have over reacted with Macklin... I just am dumbfounded that you can have a McDonald's all-american who can only hit 25% of his free throws. I know Shaq broke the mold... but Mack is no Shaq.

If we are going to play Mack... it has to be with a line up where we have plenty of fire power. At one point, we had Macklin, Ewing, Sapp, Rivers and Summers on the floor. It was really tough. I don't think you can have Mack and Rivers on the floor at the same time. At a minimum you need J Wall, Freeman and Summers out there with him. In the end, Mack continues to be a major work in progress... this is not what I thought we were getting in a 5 star recruit.

[calhoya]

I think that Macklin has improved greatly over last year and although he has a long way to go, he will never get there on the bench. As for Ewing, he is what he is--a high energy 6th man--not a power forward who is going to get a lot of rebounds. The real issue is whether Hibbert can become more aggressive with the ball. How many times against Memphis did he fail to take it to the basket when in close. He could have been blocked a couple of times but he would have fouled out their front line. What is also missing is the consistent 3 point shot. When the Hoyas hit it the other team cannot sit back on Hibbert.

[mrsixer123]

blueandgray said:

youngjeezy said:

we're not going to bench macklin. no way. we don't have enough big men to be doing that. not to mention, you don't bring in mcdonalds all-americans to have them sit on the bench - ESPECIALLY when his major weakness is cured by practice practice practice.

may jt3 make him shoot free throws until his arms fall off, but for the love of god, unless we want hibbs wearing himself down and picking up 4 fouls in the first half every game, we are not benching macklin.

Point taken...I see where I may have over reacted with Macklin... I just am dumbfounded that you can have a McDonald's all-american who can only hit 25% of his free throws. I know Shaq broke the mold... but Mack is no Shaq.

If we are going to play Mack... it has to be with a line up where we have plenty of fire power. At one point, we had Macklin, Ewing, Sapp, Rivers and Summers on the floor. It was really tough. I don't think you can have Mack and Rivers on the floor at the same time. At a minimum you need J Wall, Freeman and Summers out there with him. In the end, Mack continues to be a major work in progress... this is not what I thought we were getting in a 5 star recruit.

mack is what he is. a athletic horse than beats his man up the court for a dunk or put pack slam. mack is actually better suited for the run and gun memphis team than our structured system. he still doesnt have a full grasp of the O, but he is working hard and that is all you can ask

[mrsixer123]

blueandgray said:

youngjeezy said:

we're not going to bench macklin. no way. we don't have enough big men to be doing that. not to mention, you don't bring in mcdonalds all-americans to have them sit on the bench - ESPECIALLY when his major weakness is cured by practice practice practice.

may jt3 make him shoot free throws until his arms fall off, but for the love of god, unless we want hibbs wearing himself down and picking up 4 fouls in the first half every game, we are not benching macklin.

Point taken...I see where I may have over reacted with Macklin... I just am dumbfounded that you can have a McDonald's all-american who can only hit 25% of his free throws. I know Shaq broke the mold... but Mack is no Shaq.

If we are going to play Mack... it has to be with a line up where we have plenty of fire power. At one point, we had Macklin, Ewing, Sapp, Rivers and Summers on the floor. It was really tough. I don't think you can have Mack and Rivers on the floor at the same time. At a minimum you need J Wall, Freeman and Summers out there with him. In the end, Mack continues to be a major work in progress... this is not what I thought we were getting in a 5 star recruit.

im sorry, but when rivers is playing pg, every one's game takes a step back.