Chest Pounding

[blueandgray]

Another thing I love about this team is whether we win or lose we always exercise great sportsmanship, we play with dignity, and play with a level of class that is representative of the university they play for. At one point during the broadcast, Bilas highlighted the fact that the team doesn't chest pound, plays with class and is understated in their approach...just like JT3. I was glad he recognized us for that.

By contrast, shortly after Bilas made the observation, Jeff Adrian fouls...(scrtach that) i mean ties up Sapp on the press for a jump ball. It became UCON possession and Adrian starts pounding on his chest and talkin smack all because he forced a jump. That team, and that program has as little class as any I know. I;m lad we let our play to the talking.

[CAHoya07]

As I stated in another post, when you're playing with fire, sometimes you do need to let out some emotion: scream, pounding on the floor, or a chest bump (I do it sometimes in the stands). I don't have a problem with that, as long as it's not all the time. In fact, I'd rather have that than have the team come out flat.

I do have a problem with it when it becomes too much, when it's an attempt to show up your opponent, and when it makes you lose your focus and discipline. Our guys never do that, and I'm very thankful for that. They're extremely well-coached. Thank you, III. It's a fine balance between emotion and discipline, and I think our team and program does it very well.

[Boz]

Dec 30, 2008 11:24:58 GMT -5 blueandgray said:

By contrast, shortly after Bilas made the observation, Jeff Adrian fouls...(scrtach that) i mean ties up Sapp on the press for a jump ball. It became UCON possession and Adrian starts pounding on his chest and talkin smack all because he forced a jump. That team, and that program has as little class as any I know. I;m lad we let our play to the talking.

Actually, the best part about that was that Adrian committed a foul after we took the ball away on the very next possession.

(In all honesty, I really think he was just trying to fire up his team, so I'm not going to say too much bad about his screaming....except that he looks like an extra from Gears of War or something -- and I'm not talkin' about the good guys).

[alleninxis]

I loved when Adrien starting yelling and pounding his chest.

He then turned the ball over and committed a foul.

[SFHoya99]

I still smile when I think of Fields chest bumping in the Garden.

[kchoya]

Dec 30, 2008 11:40:04 GMT -5 CAHoya07 said:

As I stated in another post, when you're playing with fire, sometimes you do need to let out some emotion: scream, pounding on the floor, or a chest bump (I do it sometimes in the stands). I don't have a problem with that, as long as it's not all the time. In fact, I'd rather have that than have the team come out flat.

I do have a problem with it when it becomes too much, when it's an attempt to show up your opponent, and when it makes you lose your focus and discipline. Our guys never do that, and I'm very thankful for that. They're extremely well-coached. Thank you, III. It's a fine balance between emotion and discipline, and I think our team and program does it very well.

Exactly - I think a little emotion is good, and JT3's teams seem to strike the right balance. Like Monroe showing some emotion last night after hitting his first three, which lead to a UCon timeout. That's fine.

Also, anyone else see Austin Freeman smiling at the ref on the out-of-bounds ball on the baseline. I think that's the first time I've seen him smile (or show any emotion at all).

[JohnnyJones]

Dec 30, 2008 12:11:15 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

I still smile when I think of Fields chest bumping in the Garden.

Or how about the Pitt chest bumping at midcourt at the 8 minute mark or so of the game at Verizon 2 years ago when they got up about 10? That one didn;t turn out so well for them.

[williambraskyiii]

The Fields chest-bumping was during the Final Four year at Verizon Center with 8 minutes to go, no?

Also, kc, I agree AF doesn't show much emotion, but he did let out a shout after he went up and under for the AND 1 in the second half last night...the camera cuts away just as he is getting fired up!


edit: JohnnyJones beat me to it.

[vcjack]

I like when Bilas was comparing the chest pounding differences, he quickly added "no one on Georgetown, except maybe Wright"


If our swagger is mostly internal, Chris will still be there to remind the other team at the appropriate times

[blueandgray]

I get that chest pounding can be used to pump up your team and i'm sure all Adrian wanted to do was get his team to rally behind him. It becomes a problem however when that mentality spills over into your style of play.
A prime example of this is that UCONN had 9 blocked shots yesterday and they didn't capitalize on a single one. Instead of Thabeet or Adrien blocking the shot, keeping it play, and trying to get a transition game going... they seemed happier to swat the ball as hard as they could out of bounds... and proceed to stare down the shooter. Our guys could care less that they were swated, we kept possession of the ball, and proceeded to take it at them again. There is a fine line between swagger and stupidity.

[TBird41]

Dec 30, 2008 12:31:41 GMT -5 vcjack said:

I like when Bilas was comparing the chest pounding differences, he quickly added "no one on Georgetown, except maybe Wright"


If our swagger is mostly internal, Chris will still be there to remind the other team at the appropriate times

Jesse Sapp. Jared Dudley and those amazing ACC athletes on BC.

That is all

[sleepy]

Dec 30, 2008 12:47:28 GMT -5 blueandgray said:

I get that chest pounding can be used to pump up your team and i'm sure all Adrian wanted to do was get his team to rally behind him. It becomes a problem however when that mentality spills over into your style of play.
A prime example of this is that UCONN had 9 blocked shots yesterday and they didn't capitalize on a single one. Instead of Thabeet or Adrien blocking the shot, keeping it play, and trying to get a transition game going... they seemed happier to swat the ball as hard as they could out of bounds... and proceed to stare down the shooter. Our guys could care less that they were swated, we kept possession of the ball, and proceeded to take it at them again. There is a fine line between swagger and stupidity.

That was what was so great about that game. We didn't seem affected at all by all those blocked shots. We didn't let them get in our heads, showing our mental strength. We could have easily became a three point chucking team in that second half, but instead we just kept going at them and kept getting fouled.

[Dhall]

At one point last night, Monroe was actually doing a bit of excited screaming and I swear I saw Dajuan take him aside and tell him to calm down a bit. I'm not a lipreader but I think I saw Dajuan say something like "watch your emotions". That's solid leadership there.

[Hoya TMF]

Dec 30, 2008 12:47:28 GMT -5 blueandgray said:

I get that chest pounding can be used to pump up your team and i'm sure all Adrian wanted to do was get his team to rally behind him. It becomes a problem however when that mentality spills over into your style of play.
A prime example of this is that UCONN had 9 blocked shots yesterday and they didn't capitalize on a single one. Instead of Thabeet or Adrien blocking the shot, keeping it play, and trying to get a transition game going... they seemed happier to swat the ball as hard as they could out of bounds... and proceed to stare down the shooter. Our guys could care less that they were swated, we kept possession of the ball, and proceeded to take it at them again. There is a fine line between swagger and stupidity.

I totally agree. Those blocks were ridiculous. And despite UConn's best attempts to intimidate, our guys kept attacking. That was great.

[blueandgray]

I saw that... that was awesome.

[SirSaxa]

Dec 30, 2008 12:58:47 GMT -5 TBird41 said:

Dec 30, 2008 12:31:41 GMT -5 vcjack said:

I like when Bilas was comparing the chest pounding differences, he quickly added "no one on Georgetown, except maybe Wright"


If our swagger is mostly internal, Chris will still be there to remind the other team at the appropriate times

Jesse Sapp. Jared Dudley and those amazing ACC athletes on BC.

That is all

Exactly!

[SirSaxa]

Dec 30, 2008 13:09:55 GMT -5 Dhall said:

At one point last night, Monroe was actually doing a bit of excited screaming and I swear I saw Dajuan take him aside and tell him to calm down a bit. I'm not a lipreader but I think I saw Dajuan say something like "watch your emotions". That's solid leadership there.

I recall Jeff doing the same thing for a freshman Summers who was trash talking opponents early in the season.

Summers has really grown up and his game has too!

[CO_Hoya]

Dec 30, 2008 12:26:29 GMT -5 JohnnyJones said:

Or how about the Pitt chest bumping at midcourt at the 8 minute mark or so of the game at Verizon 2 years ago when they got up about 10? That one didn;t turn out so well for them.

Here are some highlights from that game - the chest-bumping is about 1:10 in.