WHAT is going on with this team? Will it learn?

[RDF]

I'll get the good news out of the way:

1. Jon Wallace took great shots all night--his FGA's were "Jon" like and that was nice to see.

2. Roy getting ball in stretch of 2nd Half produced the only thing that resembled an offense for Hoyas.

3. Rivers defensive stop at end.

4. Officials being nauseated by game and bailing out Hoyas giving them chance to win it--Jon for having respect for viewers/fans to end this atrocity.

Now to the question marks--I'd call them problems but we're beyond that:

1. What are the coaches doing right now? I love III/Staff and appreciate their hard work to get this team back to respectibility but what have they done with this team to make it better? The team ran no offense for the majority of the game and combined with 2nd Half of Louisville game and scoreless stretch of tonight has gone nearly an entire game worth of time without a FG. Without a FIELD GOAL. Why?

2. Is it really that difficult to tell your kids to feed Hibbert? When tv announcers, fans at home, fans at the arena, opposing teams, all know he's a focal point and weapon and will PASS IT BACK OUT--why does the team ignore him for stretches-particularly when Hoyas have lead?

3. I'm done commenting on the pathetic approach to breaking LIGHT pressure--this wasn't even all out press. Bilas, Raftery, and McDonough hammered that home enough--just as Jay did a year ago. It's JUNIOR HIGH like approach and just disgusting. That is on the staff to improve and it's not.

4. There was no energy in the team--nothing. They continue to play DOWN to the level of opponents and that doesn't win against good teams. I've yet to see them raise their game for an entire 40 minutes--or even 35 minutes. It's not that difficult to get up to play and you should be improving as season moves along.

5. Nova outshot Hoyas from field in 2nd Half 32 FGA's to 15--FIFTEEN FGA's for a Half? Come on--that is awful. How many good shots out of the 15? How many possessions without a FGA when Hibbert was out of the game?

6. Substitution pattern. Tonight--Hoyas get up by 12 and then decide to take Hibbert out of game--literally and by freeze out from teammates for some reason. Why does this happen?

7. Was that an offense being run in the last 3 minutes of game? How does Roy not even touch the ball until he's 35 feet out top with shot clock running down?

I thought team would be improving. I mean if you are satisfied with any win--I'm not trying to rain on the celebration. I just am shocked at how stubborn this team is in terms of making the GAME HARDER for them. I don't know what else to say because it's all they are doing--and you could hear it in Bilas/Raftery's voice as they talked about the game.

I'll admit I'm hard on the team but nobody can deny this team isn't playing well. They play down to the level of the team they play-they don't sustain anything, and have no identity on offensive end of court-because guys still don't understand how to play off a big--at least Wallace did tonight--he moved and got good looks-they didn't fall but they were "Jon" shots--not step back goofball shots like Reynolds attempted tonight on baseline.

However--who was more goofy tonight? That game tape should be burned by fans--and watched all week by Hoyas. It was a clinic in how to not play with a lead or on offensive end with a 7'2 center who was scoring/drawing fouls at will against Nova. Nah--let's ignore that and hoist and foul on other end since Nova was shooting 4-31 from Field in 2nd Half. Nobody's perfect--but that is low basketball IQ and with the amount of kids on this team who have played in big games--not what is expected.

What would you do with this group? I mean how do you improve this team to see better level of play. I could care if they win-I just don't want to watch this junk much longer. It's bad basketball.

[jgalt]

jsut as a note and because i have no where else to put it, the rutgers-tenn. womens game was decided the exact same way tonight

now back to your regularly scheduled RDF rant

[hoyabluethruandtru]

Except that was a really great call by the ref in Rutgers-Tenn.

I'm SO sad that I know that.

[drjimcooper]

Definitely a LOT of boneheaded plays by Hoyas tonight (especially Ewing and Summers with stupid fouls) and I couldn't agree more with the criticisms of our "press break." In some cases we were pausing and waiting for the Nova player to step closer to our guards, then pick up the dribble and pass it BACKWARDS to the other guard. Simply crazy!!

On the other hand, there were definitely moments that we played with heart and intensity, even when we weren't playing smart basketball. I don't know if fatigue played a factor, but we have been hurt by the quick Saturday-Monday turnaround before.

I still can't get over our inability to streak a man to the high post to get the offense started. ANY man will do! Flash to the high post, give the good entry, and work from there. Almost every offensive set last year started with Jeff flashing to the high post. Even a player with a lesser skill set that Jeff will be able to draw the defense down enough to open up the passing lanes and find an open shot. I just don't get it...

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Hey guess what? We are still the best team in the best league in the country. Wallace woke up, Roy had a good game, and DaJuan did his thing. I personally would like to extend handshakes, milkshakes, and sandwiches to everyone.

Lighten up RDF, you're going to hurt yourself.

[jerseyhoya34]

A couple of thoughts on this --

1. I think this team may need a little work in the hoops IQ and recognition department. When you look at SHU and Nova, we gave them a ton of points at the free throw line for what? I like aggressive defense, but overcommitting on the perimeter and reaching defensively is not what you want to give away 2 points for. Make Nova (2 player offense) beat you from the field.

2. On the same note, we don't necessarily show a grasp of how to win at tip-off, but every game there is a time where something works for a good stretch, and we go away from it. Toward the end of the first half, PE2 did a great job getting in the middle of the zone and hit the wings well. Yet, we didn't see this approach much for the rest of the game and opted for the "hard way." Why?

Other than that, this team has to continue its FT work. Many of our games are going to be won at the margins, and missing front ends could kill us.

[vcjack]

We had a one day turnaroud after an ugly performance, Jessie injured himself early in the first half and had to sit, the refs weren't letting us get into a rhythm, we ALWAYS play poorly against Nova.

We'll hear a lot of about this game but take it, work hard all week and get ready for the toughest road game of them all

[jgalt]

Feb 11, 2008 22:17:05 GMT -5 StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) said:

I personally would like to extend handshakes, milkshakes, and sandwiches to everyone.

no bananas?

[pkhoya03]

Agree on all your points, RDF. Count me in the group that wants to see growth, not stagnation.

Our starting backcourt had 10 turnovers tonight. The focal point of our offense had 6 shot attempts to go with what seemed like only a handful of touches.

Most importantly, there's a lack of passion and hunger. Kind hard when you are already on top of the best league of the country, but with the way they have won these games, there should be a lot more.

IMO, we're not an EE or FF team right now... and if we keep playing this way, we are setting ourselves up for a heart-attack inducing first few rounds.

[HoyaChris]

Feb 11, 2008 22:00:06 GMT -5 RDF said:

I'll get the good news out of the way:

1. Jon Wallace took great shots all night--his FGA's were "Jon" like and that was nice to see.

2. Roy getting ball in stretch of 2nd Half produced the only thing that resembled an offense for Hoyas.

3. Rivers defensive stop at end.

4. Officials being nauseated by game and bailing out Hoyas giving them chance to win it--Jon for having respect for viewers/fans to end this atrocity.

Now to the question marks--I'd call them problems but we're beyond that:

1. What are the coaches doing right now? I love III/Staff and appreciate their hard work to get this team back to respectibility but what have they done with this team to make it better? The team ran no offense for the majority of the game and combined with 2nd Half of Louisville game and scoreless stretch of tonight has gone nearly an entire game worth of time without a FG. Without a FIELD GOAL. Why?

2. Is it really that difficult to tell your kids to feed Hibbert? When tv announcers, fans at home, fans at the arena, opposing teams, all know he's a focal point and weapon and will PASS IT BACK OUT--why does the team ignore him for stretches-particularly when Hoyas have lead?

3. I'm done commenting on the pathetic approach to breaking LIGHT pressure--this wasn't even all out press. Bilas, Raftery, and McDonough hammered that home enough--just as Jay did a year ago. It's JUNIOR HIGH like approach and just disgusting. That is on the staff to improve and it's not.

4. There was no energy in the team--nothing. They continue to play DOWN to the level of opponents and that doesn't win against good teams. I've yet to see them raise their game for an entire 40 minutes--or even 35 minutes. It's not that difficult to get up to play and you should be improving as season moves along.

5. Nova outshot Hoyas from field in 2nd Half 32 FGA's to 15--FIFTEEN FGA's for a Half? Come on--that is awful. How many good shots out of the 15? How many possessions without a FGA when Hibbert was out of the game?

6. Substitution pattern. Tonight--Hoyas get up by 12 and then decide to take Hibbert out of game--literally and by freeze out from teammates for some reason. Why does this happen?

7. Was that an offense being run in the last 3 minutes of game? How does Roy not even touch the ball until he's 35 feet out top with shot clock running down?

I thought team would be improving. I mean if you are satisfied with any win--I'm not trying to rain on the celebration. I just am shocked at how stubborn this team is in terms of making the GAME HARDER for them. I don't know what else to say because it's all they are doing--and you could hear it in Bilas/Raftery's voice as they talked about the game.

I'll admit I'm hard on the team but nobody can deny this team isn't playing well. They play down to the level of the team they play-they don't sustain anything, and have no identity on offensive end of court-because guys still don't understand how to play off a big--at least Wallace did tonight--he moved and got good looks-they didn't fall but they were "Jon" shots--not step back goofball shots like Reynolds attempted tonight on baseline.

However--who was more goofy tonight? That game tape should be burned by fans--and watched all week by Hoyas. It was a clinic in how to not play with a lead or on offensive end with a 7'2 center who was scoring/drawing fouls at will against Nova. Nah--let's ignore that and hoist and foul on other end since Nova was shooting 4-31 from Field in 2nd Half. Nobody's perfect--but that is low basketball IQ and with the amount of kids on this team who have played in big games--not what is expected.

What would you do with this group? I mean how do you improve this team to see better level of play. I could care if they win-I just don't want to watch this junk much longer. It's bad basketball.

I would add to RDF's good news

1.) We played truly exceptional defense.

That said, I second each and every one of RDF's criticisms.

I believe, hope, that this is some strange phase that we are going through, but I must confess that this is the most frustrated I have ever been with a Hoya team in my 34 years of watching.

I can't even imagine how I would feel if we weren't 20-3 and leading the Big East.

[RDF]

It's more tiring to make the game more difficult for yourself--and offensively this team makes an open book test look like a pop quiz on first day of an advanced class. Why? What isn't getting through to the kids? They nervous? Are they not listening to coaching? Are they being selfish and ignoring Hibbert? Are they worried about point totals? What is the issue on offense because outside of DePaul and ND games-this offense has been very average/below average. (I didn't see SJU game--which obviously was their best performance)

Defensively--they work hard and play great. I love the intensity/effort but it looks like Aaron Gray's Pitt teams-and if you can't put the ball in the hoop, you WASTE great defensive efforts. NCAA play is also officiated differently on that end of court as well.

I mean it's great to be 20-3--but I'd rather have the record Hoyas had last year--and be playing as they were in Mid February then what I've seen this year. I know-I'm "too negative" but it's not a team that is playing confident or with any clue at all on offensive end.

Happy for Wallace--and he did a fine job of taking GREAT SHOTS. I'll live with those looks and was glad he took them. Thought he also played great defense for most part as well.

I'm done blaming the guards for how Hoyas approach breaking pressure. That is on the Staff and it's painful to watch. Jay Bilas wanted to vomit and I can't blame him--he said same thing a year ago at Verizon and I was with him every step of way tonight.

I'd like to introduce Roy Hibbert to the rest of the team on offensive end. You know as in the fact he makes the GAME EASIER FOR YOU IF YOU GIVE HIM THE BALL. He'll pass it out and get opponents in foul trouble--so if you decide to drive--they can't body you--you can go strong/draw fouls.

Oh well--I'll take the gift--but man do these guys seem intent on making the game harder for themselves.

[chep3]

I disagreed with RDF in the pregame thread but he's right on in this one. The game was absolutely infuriating. We might deserve to be the #8 team in the country on the basis of our results this year, but the way we are playing, I wouldn't pick us to get past the Sweet 16 this year.

I just can't understand why Roy didn't get the ball more. He was fouling out every Nova player in the arena. But then he goes to the bench, and for some reason, no one realizes that he comes back onto the floor. I feel like JTIII should call a timeout every single time he wants to reinsert Roy into the game to let the rest of the team know that he is there.

What also frustrates me about this team is how careless it is with the ball. It seems apparent at this juncture that we're not going to be a great offensive team. If we are hitting our shots or getting the ball to Roy, we are a good offensive team. If we can somehow do both consistent, we could be a great offensive team. But I haven't seen that this year.

So what burns me is that we don't play like a team that understands how good a defensive team it is. In football, when you have a great defensive team, you make sure not to waste possession, not to turn the ball over, because that kind of stuff will end up killing you. It's better to be a little more conservative as long as you are maximizing what your defense can do.

If we want to take forever to break the press, that's fine, I think that's the way it's going to be for the rest of the year. Just please stop turning the ball over. We had Nova done with, up 12, but back to back to back turnovers later, the lead is down to 4. We keep doing this. We just need to play a very conservative offensive game (namely, not turn the ball over and make sure Roy touches it every possession) and who cares about the result. That kind of play will at least ensure that we don't waste a great defensive effort. Seeing all the over the top passes go, well, over the top of the receiver, and seeing guys just chuck it at each others feet, it's frustrating.

[adm1hoya]

Feb 11, 2008 22:25:57 GMT -5 RDF said:

It's more tiring to make the game more difficult for yourself--and offensively this team makes an open book test look like a pop quiz on first day of an advanced class. Why? What isn't getting through to the kids? They nervous? Are they not listening to coaching? Are they being selfish and ignoring Hibbert? Are they worried about point totals? What is the issue on offense because outside of DePaul and ND games-this offense has been very average/below average. (I didn't see SJU game--which obviously was their best performance)

Defensively--they work hard and play great. I love the intensity/effort but it looks like Aaron Gray's Pitt teams-and if you can't put the ball in the hoop, you WASTE great defensive efforts. NCAA play is also officiated differently on that end of court as well.

I mean it's great to be 20-3--but I'd rather have the record Hoyas had last year--and be playing as they were in Mid February then what I've seen this year. I know-I'm "too negative" but it's not a team that is playing confident or with any clue at all on offensive end.

Happy for Wallace--and he did a fine job of taking GREAT SHOTS. I'll live with those looks and was glad he took them. Thought he also played great defense for most part as well.

I'm done blaming the guards for how Hoyas approach breaking pressure. That is on the Staff and it's painful to watch. Jay Bilas wanted to vomit and I can't blame him--he said same thing a year ago at Verizon and I was with him every step of way tonight.

I'd like to introduce Roy Hibbert to the rest of the team on offensive end. You know as in the fact he makes the GAME EASIER FOR YOU IF YOU GIVE HIM THE BALL. He'll pass it out and get opponents in foul trouble--so if you decide to drive--they can't body you--you can go strong/draw fouls.

Oh well--I'll take the gift--but man do these guys seem intent on making the game harder for themselves.

We seem to take the ivy league approach to breaking the press. Just content with getting the ball over half court. One would think we had a team comprised of ivy league type athletes, instead McD's AA and athletic forwards. Why have depth if you are content with taking the air out of the ball at EVERY opportunity.

[Filo]

I agree with your posts, RDF. It is real frustrating, and I kept thinking during the game that this on the coaching staff now to get the players out of this funk. They seem like a confused bunch, and are not doing much right on the offensive end. I know it's not JTIII's style, but I think the time has come for him to start showing some emotion out there - whether at the refs or at his players for bonehead plays, or both.

I've said it before, I think expectations need to be put aside and we all just need to deal with the fact that what you are seeing may be what you are going to get. And what I have right now is a damn headache.

[mchoya]

Feb 11, 2008 22:10:23 GMT -5 hoyabluethruandtru said:

Except that was a really great call by the ref in Rutgers-Tenn.

I'm SO sad that I know that.

Except it wasn't. Sportscenter showed that it took 1.6 seconds in real time for .2 secs to come off the clock

[jacko]

Feb 11, 2008 22:00:06 GMT -5 RDF said:

3. I'm done commenting on the pathetic approach to breaking LIGHT pressure--this wasn't even all out press. Bilas, Raftery, and McDonough hammered that home enough--just as Jay did a year ago. It's JUNIOR HIGH like approach and just disgusting. That is on the staff to improve and it's not.

Remember that play when one of them commented on our "great diagonal passing" as we threw the ball out of bounds? I do, ha.

One thing that's really concerned me as of late is GU's passing and catching (let's forget the dribbling for now).

I think our team takes these two things (passing/catching) for granted as of late - not only breaking pressure, but also in simple halfcourt scenarios, the ball squeezes out on a catch or the pass isn't right where it needs to be. These are things that GU usually does so well that it's downright impressive, but it hasn't been impressive as of late. That's all a matter of concentration in the little things you do in between massive dunks/hook shots/alley oops/backdoor layups - so bottom line, I think concentration is lacking a little bit on offense, in addition to whatever problems we're having with our sets, schemes, etc.

[SFHoya99]

Feb 11, 2008 22:00:06 GMT -5 RDF said:

I'll get the good news out of the way:

1. Jon Wallace took great shots all night--his FGA's were "Jon" like and that was nice to see.

2. Roy getting ball in stretch of 2nd Half produced the only thing that resembled an offense for Hoyas.

3. Rivers defensive stop at end.

4. Officials being nauseated by game and bailing out Hoyas giving them chance to win it--Jon for having respect for viewers/fans to end this atrocity.

Like HoyaChris, I thought our defense was outstanding.

Now to the question marks--I'd call them problems but we're beyond that:

1. What are the coaches doing right now? I love III/Staff and appreciate their hard work to get this team back to respectibility but what have they done with this team to make it better? The team ran no offense for the majority of the game and combined with 2nd Half of Louisville game and scoreless stretch of tonight has gone nearly an entire game worth of time without a FG. Without a FIELD GOAL. Why?

2. Is it really that difficult to tell your kids to feed Hibbert? When tv announcers, fans at home, fans at the arena, opposing teams, all know he's a focal point and weapon and will PASS IT BACK OUT--why does the team ignore him for stretches-particularly when Hoyas have lead?

My impression of JTIII is that he leaves play to play decision-making to the players. He tries to teach them decision-making and lets them choose.

I may be wrong.

But if I'm right, the question becomes -- will these players learn to go through Roy; learn to keep moving without the ball, etc? Without Jeff, we have almost nor margin for error.

And if they don't, will III take tighter reigns come tournament time?

3. I'm done commenting on the pathetic approach to breaking LIGHT pressure--this wasn't even all out press. Bilas, Raftery, and McDonough hammered that home enough--just as Jay did a year ago. It's JUNIOR HIGH like approach and just disgusting. That is on the staff to improve and it's not.

100% agree. I don't understand it at all.

4. There was no energy in the team--nothing. They continue to play DOWN to the level of opponents and that doesn't win against good teams. I've yet to see them raise their game for an entire 40 minutes--or even 35 minutes. It's not that difficult to get up to play and you should be improving as season moves along.

I don't think it is energy -- on defense they are moving everywhere. I think it is concentration. They make sloppy passes, make sloppy FTs (Roy is awful at this -- he misses his first FT so often because he just tosses it up there).

Either way, it isn't helping.

5. Nova outshot Hoyas from field in 2nd Half 32 FGA's to 15--FIFTEEN FGA's for a Half? Come on--that is awful. How many good shots out of the 15? How many possessions without a FGA when Hibbert was out of the game?

Sloppy, sloppy passing.

6. Substitution pattern. Tonight--Hoyas get up by 12 and then decide to take Hibbert out of game--literally and by freeze out from teammates for some reason. Why does this happen?

7. Was that an offense being run in the last 3 minutes of game? How does Roy not even touch the ball until he's 35 feet out top with shot clock running down?

The freeze out is the bigger issue. The first thing is to get Roy the ball when he's in and worry about the minutes later.

I thought team would be improving. I mean if you are satisfied with any win--I'm not trying to rain on the celebration. I just am shocked at how stubborn this team is in terms of making the GAME HARDER for them. I don't know what else to say because it's all they are doing--and you could hear it in Bilas/Raftery's voice as they talked about the game.

I'll admit I'm hard on the team but nobody can deny this team isn't playing well. They play down to the level of the team they play-they don't sustain anything, and have no identity on offensive end of court-because guys still don't understand how to play off a big--at least Wallace did tonight--he moved and got good looks-they didn't fall but they were "Jon" shots--not step back goofball shots like Reynolds attempted tonight on baseline.

However--who was more goofy tonight? That game tape should be burned by fans--and watched all week by Hoyas. It was a clinic in how to not play with a lead or on offensive end with a 7'2 center who was scoring/drawing fouls at will against Nova. Nah--let's ignore that and hoist and foul on other end since Nova was shooting 4-31 from Field in 2nd Half. Nobody's perfect--but that is low basketball IQ and with the amount of kids on this team who have played in big games--not what is expected.

What would you do with this group? I mean how do you improve this team to see better level of play. I could care if they win-I just don't want to watch this junk much longer. It's bad basketball.

I definitely happy they won.

But this may have been their worst game of the year. They aren't improving, they aren't playing very smart, and no one is really stepping up as a permanent second to Roy.

I think it can happen -- it isn't too late and I KNOW these guys can play better. I think they practice hard, but it is frankly mind-boggling some of the decisions on the court.

[jerseyhoya34]

I am not sure that it is concentration or energy as much as it is having negative energy and overall nervousness. We seem to waste too much in doing the little things and maybe that contributes more visibly to these issues of concentration and lack of energy, which are related to wasted energy. It is hard to put my finger on it... Maybe somebody sees what I am seeing and can expand.

[prhoya]

I'm with RDF on this one. Feed Roy! Learn how to break the press with smarter play. Make front-ends.

[RDF]

It was just the looks on faces of the kids at times on offensive end too--looked like 5 guys who just met each other at an open gym. Problem is--they then go on a good run--ball movement, playing off Hibbert and you think "here we go-that is how to play" and then they ignore him--and start doing stupid things and have awful spacing/no ball movement and odd shot selection.

III looked frustrated. He looked clueless as to what he was seeing. He looked like a coach who hadn't prepared his team well and was hoping they would get "through it". I think he needs to adjust his offense a bit--and his thinking. This is NOT a great shooting team. We have kids who can shoot--but they aren't great shooters--because no matter how a game is being played--GREAT SHOOTERS hit shots. It's a team who is still learning to play in the best method to give them opportunity to win.

Defensively--Hoyas are fine--but it's a shame to waste great defense with such inconsistent/stubborn offense. When you play this great of defense--how does it not CREATE at least 2 hoops per half? Tired of seeing team struggle to get to 50 points while locking up teams. You hold a team to 4-32 shooting in 2nd Half and were only down a point at Half--and win by 2 pts on grace of a call by officials. That's just not good--in any way you shape it.

III/Staff need to get back to drawing board and figure out how they think this team can maximize it's potential as an offensive basketball team. If that means Roy playing point guard and Sapp posting--do it. If that means playing Wattad some minutes to get a shooter--do it. If that means going more conventional on offense and not running the "Georgetown" do it. Whatever works best for this group as a team--adjust it and get them confident on offense--because right now it's mass confusion and hesitant play. When we do see good results-the kids go away from it as if they are ignorant players--which we know is NOT the case.

Just dont' want to see the team play so careless, clueless, and make the game so much harder then it should be/has to be.