Norfolk State Highlights

[stafford72]

I will be attending tonight's (only reason I got the damn tickets was because it was going to be an afternoon game that I thought was kind of a tradition for the Christmas season) game. The Howard game as well--both courtesy of a New Jersey season ticket holder who has provided me the opportunity to get tickets at cost for games he cannot attend. Great seats about 4 rows behind the bench. Tonight I'm joining my Freshman year roommate. We try to see at least one game together each year.

Consequently, I will offer opinions on the games themselves as well as trying to get a feel for JTIII's coaching personna. Look for my analyses Wednesday and Friday mornings. Let's hope that the games provide an opportunity for Guibunda and Crawford to get some serious minutes.

The "crowd" tonight will most likely be miniscule. Maybe a high school band will be there to provide some enthusiasm. Howard normally brings an excellent band, but I don't know what will happen given the Christmas break period. In any event, I am anxious to see what so many of you have been talking about thus far.

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

THought it was interesting that the tix have 1pm printed on them and the schedule that I printed up off of Guhoyas.com had it listed at 1pm as of 11/18.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

I think this one was a change that resulted from the cancellation of the NHL (at least this part of the season). Something in the NHL bargaining allows the Caps to release the arena for 6 weeks out, and I think this change was made just after the tickets were printed.

[EasyEd]

Stafford - looking forward to your analysis.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

Sounds about right!


I said to a friend on the way out of MCI that I just learned the answer to the question: "What's the worst you can possibly play without losing?"

[stafford72]

At least they won. Roy was not impressive. He was slow to react to passes and the action around him. He was called for 2 offensive fouls, that although tacky, were a result of his just backing through an opponent.
He was a non factor. He did show a good confident stroke from the line, however.

No significant minutes from any of the bench warmers.
Damn!!

Owens played pretty well and was open much of the night. He hit some good threes.

Too much perimeter play and not enough driving and dishing. When Cook or Reed or Bowman did drive, there were opportunities to dish off for easy layups.

Cook took over at the point some tonight. His long three near the end of the game was the biggest basket of the night for Gtown. He displayed confidence and the players did not panic, nor did JTIII, who spent much of the night on his feet.

Wallace did not wake up till late in the game. He showed some poise, but seemed a step slow at times.

Green played well in flashes and showed good hands and obvious athletic skills. He was not as involved in the offense as I would like to see. He had a few bad turnovers. He does have good hands and smoothness around the basket. There were glimpses of good ball movement and interior passing. MOre pressure on both ends could have gotten Norfolk State into foul trouble.
Their interim coach and players did a good job of staying in the game. I though they should have gone for the win (a three) at the end of regulation. Numbers 15 and 5 could hit the long shot.

Bowman did a lot of good things. He should cut down on the 3 point heaves though. Norfolk State offered little quickness or athleticism in their frontcourt, but they did shoot the ball well. They extended their defense and applied some ball pressure. We did very little pressing until late in the game. The defensive intensity was not there.

Not a bad crowd for the opponent and a Tuesday night after Christmas. Not a whole lot to cheer for at times though. Please, Gtown--get rid of the lame activities during the course of the game.

The refs were not bad. Reggie is very competent. A few calls were not made on both sides. Green and Hibbert could easily have had at least one more foul called on them.

They will need to play better to win on Thursday. Almost no fast break baskets tonight until the overtime.
Too many threes and not enough pnetrating. Too many offensive boards given up, especially in the second half.
Not enough movement to the boards--a lot of stqanding around. Cook did have a couple of good rebounds though. I guess it's going to be that kind of year.

[ahoya3]

I think your analysis was right on. The number of Norfolk State offensive boards was 14 but it seemed like they were playing volleyball off the boards in the second half. Up front we are not too strong or big; tough to think what may happen with a Criag
Smith. Big thing, no loss of poise except for Cook's Braswell like charge and heave at the end of regulation