all these posts about the offense..

[vcjack]

But nothing on the defense. The fact that even bad teams can kill us on simple dribble drives is far troubling than taking too many 3s. And the worst part is I don't know if this correctable, to my eye we lack the lateral quickness to recover from penetration.

[hoopsmccan]

Last year we were slower of foot, but had a big guy in the middle that could block or at least disrupt the shooter. We played sounder team defense, people knew their roles and limitations and were able to make it work...well.

This year, we are quicker, but it hasn't translated to turnovers and fast break points. Instead, its just people running around, out of position. And there are at least two players...Wright and Summers...who really only seem to care what happens on the other side of the court.

A complete mess.

hm

[sleepy]

We have never ever been a good solid on man defensive team. What we have been is a great of ball help team that forced the offense to areas where help was available . the rotations both in zone and in man this year have been glaringly defecient. and not just the last few games but all year. I really thought by now we would see improvement but it seems to be getting worse. dont know its a function of more bench minutes but its not getting any better.

[hoyaboy1]

Yea, we can't defend on the perimeter at all and Roy isn't around to cover up mistakes.

[lichoya68]

onla few weeeks ago we had a great half court d yup wed double up steall the ball with quickness so something has happened to that had it a t uconn etc soooo it WAS there but i think it regressed i actually called it the best half court d in gu history SO GET IT BACK HOYAS NEED IT go hoyas beat ciincy

[NCHoya]

Defense is being greatly impacted by the offensive struggles. Bilas like to make the point most teams always play inspired defense after good things happen on offense. This likely explains the drop-off, we are just down and out right now mentally.

[mrsixer123]

"we are just down and out right now mentally."

I agree 100%. I also think a lot of focus is on the O because that is the strength of III via his years at princeton.

[unclebeets]

Jan 25, 2009 22:29:06 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

"we are just down and out right now mentally."

I agree 100%. I also think a lot of focus is on the O because that is the strength of III via his years at princeton.

Can't agree based on what I saw today. They could score 150 points and Chris Wright would still be an atrocious perimeter defender -- the SH guards blew by him easily while he just waved his arms. Freeman not much better, no lateral quickness whatsoever. And Monroe is getting Hibbertitis, chasing smaller players 20 feet from the basket and leaving people open for layups.

Today's game was a depressing reminder of the SJU fiasco during Esherick's last year, when the Redmen's roster was a motley mix of regulars, intramural guys and a couple of graduate assistants from the English department. Granted, SH put a better team on the floor, but the Hoyas' dead legs, lazy reliance on three-point shooting and overall careless play looked very similar to what I saw in NY that night.

I'm not suggesting JTIII and Esh are in the same boat or even close to it. But I do think this is JTIII's first Hoya team with serious issues between the ears.

[FLHoya]

All these posts on this thread...

...and nothing on transition points.

Could have made it much harder for SHU to break out in transition off defensive rebounds. Turnovers leading to baskets is one thing, but letting an opponent get 3-on-1 or 3-on-2 breaks with such frequency is another...particularly in a game in which they were 0'fer from three point range and had nothing offensively except dribble penetration.

Far too many "cheap" points for my liking. When you think about it, SHU got plenty of three-pointers, they just didn't have to make a basket from behind the arc to do so.

[bmartin]

We miss Roy on defense, but we miss Pat Jr. even more. He would have shut down Butler Thursday night and he would have made a big difference today.

[lichoya68]

they werelike zero for thirty and they still won cause they then went INSIDE adn we dinot game set match GO HHOYAS GO INSIDE IF THE THREES AINT WORKING ESPECAILY AT MONEY TIME please please pleas e step it up for cicnncy NEED THIS ONE BAD BAD BAD GO HOYAS HOYA PRIDE PLEASE ;D

[lichoya68]

SORRY ZERO FOR THIRTY FROM THREE I MEANT TO SAY

[prhoya]

Jan 25, 2009 22:51:20 GMT -5 unclebeets said:

Jan 25, 2009 22:29:06 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

And Monroe is getting Hibbertitis, chasing smaller players 20 feet from the basket and leaving people open for layups.

I think you meant Thompsonitis. Hibbert did that because it was part of JT3's defensive scheme. I don't think a player would do it twice after getting burned the first time and the coach telling him not to go there because your place is to defend the paint.