Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2008 10:13:12 GMT -5
Look, I love Wright already. He can open things up the way Wallace and Sapp can't. But his potential absence will not be the reason this team doesn't make it back to the Final Four. For people to suggest otherwise is beyond ridiculous, especially with a so-called All-American manning the 5, a Wooden candidate at the 2, and a highly touted and March Madness-tested crop of forwards.
To date, the Hoyas have failed in replacing the BIGGEST cog in last year's wheel, Jeff Green. When he declared, too many people on this board were too quick to all but shrug off his departure, pointing to a returning and "improving" Roy and the arrival of two McD AA's.
Yet as of today, as far as I am concerned, the part of their game holding the Hoyas back the most is the inability of Ewing, Summers, Freeman and Macklin to replicate the skill set Green brought to the table. Yes, individually some of the aforementioned players can pass, rebound, score... but when you need a few players to do the job of one, you're a lesser team for it.
All this team needs is for Wallace and Sapp to return to last March's form and a modest improvement by Rivers for the backcourt to be Final Four-worthy again (as it was last year)... on top of that, having Wright would be a fantastic bonus, mostly because I see him being the one backcourt player that could have the biggest impact on Roy, who REALLY needs to step it up in the absence of Green.
But Roy needs help, and his "struggles" cannot be solely placed at his feet. The backcourt can do a better job of opening things up for him, getting him the ball sooner (which is where Wright's absence will be felt most, in my opinion) and in the proper position. Roy can, in turn, make it easier on them by establishing position sooner, and being more physical in the post when warding off defenders trying to front him, get a hand in the passing lane, etc.
But what could REALLY open up the offense for both the guards AND Roy is improvement from the aforementioned 3's and 4's in the lineup. This team needs A LOT more out of Summers, Ewing and Macklin to be considered elite and have a shot at San Antonio... especially considering THEY are replacing the aggregate of what Green brought to the table. I hesitate to include Freeman just yet because as a freshman receiving limited minutes throughout the early stages of the season, I believe he's played rather well... and his role will only increase, hopefully to the point where the combination of Freeman-Summers will start commanding the sort of attention that frees up the guards and Roy a bit more, and can take control of a game when either the guards OR Roy have an off day.
But until then, battle hardened vets like Summers, Ewing and Macklin (two of which are supposedly highly touted and talented recruits) need to give this team more... significantly more. Once they do, watch how things open up for the guards to do their thing, whether it be scoring, running the offense into Roy, whatever.
Once THAT happens, sit back and watch Roy dominate...
EDIT: I of course temper all of this with the understanding that III-coached Hoya squads tend to improve dramatically over the course of the season, and I expect that to be the case with this squad as well. I just happen to think the 3's and 4's can be the biggest contributors to that improvement and the success that would likely follow...
To date, the Hoyas have failed in replacing the BIGGEST cog in last year's wheel, Jeff Green. When he declared, too many people on this board were too quick to all but shrug off his departure, pointing to a returning and "improving" Roy and the arrival of two McD AA's.
Yet as of today, as far as I am concerned, the part of their game holding the Hoyas back the most is the inability of Ewing, Summers, Freeman and Macklin to replicate the skill set Green brought to the table. Yes, individually some of the aforementioned players can pass, rebound, score... but when you need a few players to do the job of one, you're a lesser team for it.
All this team needs is for Wallace and Sapp to return to last March's form and a modest improvement by Rivers for the backcourt to be Final Four-worthy again (as it was last year)... on top of that, having Wright would be a fantastic bonus, mostly because I see him being the one backcourt player that could have the biggest impact on Roy, who REALLY needs to step it up in the absence of Green.
But Roy needs help, and his "struggles" cannot be solely placed at his feet. The backcourt can do a better job of opening things up for him, getting him the ball sooner (which is where Wright's absence will be felt most, in my opinion) and in the proper position. Roy can, in turn, make it easier on them by establishing position sooner, and being more physical in the post when warding off defenders trying to front him, get a hand in the passing lane, etc.
But what could REALLY open up the offense for both the guards AND Roy is improvement from the aforementioned 3's and 4's in the lineup. This team needs A LOT more out of Summers, Ewing and Macklin to be considered elite and have a shot at San Antonio... especially considering THEY are replacing the aggregate of what Green brought to the table. I hesitate to include Freeman just yet because as a freshman receiving limited minutes throughout the early stages of the season, I believe he's played rather well... and his role will only increase, hopefully to the point where the combination of Freeman-Summers will start commanding the sort of attention that frees up the guards and Roy a bit more, and can take control of a game when either the guards OR Roy have an off day.
But until then, battle hardened vets like Summers, Ewing and Macklin (two of which are supposedly highly touted and talented recruits) need to give this team more... significantly more. Once they do, watch how things open up for the guards to do their thing, whether it be scoring, running the offense into Roy, whatever.
Once THAT happens, sit back and watch Roy dominate...
EDIT: I of course temper all of this with the understanding that III-coached Hoya squads tend to improve dramatically over the course of the season, and I expect that to be the case with this squad as well. I just happen to think the 3's and 4's can be the biggest contributors to that improvement and the success that would likely follow...
