Sims?

[SFHoya99]

I like Sims, but I think the reason he hasn't played much recently is matchups.

He's a big man defensively. He's not ready for the Greg/Julian role offensively, which means he'll see most of his time at PF.

He can't guard someone like Lazar Hayward. He's slow to the corner in the zone right now as well (though the whole team is).

And he's not a great offensive rebounder and not a good enough post player yet to punish a guy like Hayward on the other end.

I suspect this is at least part of the reason.

I suspect he'll play himself into more run.

[hoyaheaven]

So why recruit him??

[NCHoya]

Feb 1, 2009 8:43:58 GMT -5 hoyaheaven said:

So why recruit him??

This sums up the attitude on this board. Listen, if you want freshman to come in and all of them to be superstars from the first tip, you are following the wrong sport.

SF makes the best point to explain the lack of PT for Sims, he simply is not good enough to play against a team like MU. He is not good enough to demand his own match-up which makes him a liability. And you know what? There is nothing wrong with that, it is his first year! The opposing players are seniors and juniors!

I am shocked by the expectations of this board. I mean if a guy cannot consistently deliver a double-double as a freshman, according to some of you we might as well pull his scholarship! Ridiculous.

[EtomicB]

Feb 1, 2009 7:33:07 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

I like Sims, but I think the reason he hasn't played much recently is matchups.

He's a big man defensively. He's not ready for the Greg/Julian role offensively, which means he'll see most of his time at PF.

He can't guard someone like Lazar Hayward. He's slow to the corner in the zone right now as well (though the whole team is).

And he's not a great offensive rebounder and not a good enough post player yet to punish a guy like Hayward on the other end.

I suspect this is at least part of the reason.

I suspect he'll play himself into more run.

So what were the reasons he didn't get any run in the Seton Hall or Cinnci games? What matchups on those squads were too tough? Why did he see time in the Cuse game? They have a tough physical front line. You have to admit it's puzzling

Not to bash Julian but he's not ready for the role offensively either so why not take a chance? We all got to see small glimpses of a nice chemistry between Henry and Greg in the Prov/Cuse games so I don't get why the coach has not gone back to it during this slide?

[michaelgrahamfan]

As soon as Julian was put in the MU game I started screaming watch for the turn overs. He provided 1 30 seconds into his stay and 2 more before he left before half. He does not have a handle and worst of all he thinks he does. He needs to learn his limitations and improve in practice, not by killing momentum,

[HoyaSC]

Jan 31, 2009 23:28:37 GMT -5 hoya137 said:

From the little we've seen of Sims, and given our recent struggles, I agree that it seems like he could help the team.

at the same time, if we agree that:
1) JTIII and our assistant coaches aren't oblivious
2) JTIII and our assistants don't play favorites

then it's reasonable to believe that the coaches have a rational reason why Sims isn't playing.
our coaches see these guys practice every day -- to me they've earned the benefit of the doubt with who gets PT.

One thing to put out there...III has always preached "run our stuff" on O, and fundamental, position defense. While I know this hasn't been producing results over the past 6 games, with the more mature teams of the past few years, we've seen it produce outstanding results. So maybe III knows he could change his style, and have a better shot of winning in the short term. But maybe he's more concerned about the long run -- about the team getting better the way he wants them to get better. And maybe III hasn't seen Henry show in practice that he can "run our stuff" and play fundamental position defense. The blocks and dunks get noticed by us (the fans), but good offense and great defense requires much more than that.

Outstanding post. I think this nails it.

I see the 6'10" athletic-looking guy, and I see the team's need for a big man who can defend and rebound. From my limited perspective, this means round peg fits into round hole. But there's more to it than that.

[hbone13]

Some of you are missing the point. I'm saying that Wattad and Nikita, whether playing well or not, are not getting the job done, while Henry has in limited minutes. What is so great about the current rotation. No, he isn't Zo or Hibbert, but let's see what he can do. Are these other line ups running the offense? I see an offense that stinks. Why not play him some? I think we win the Seton Hall game if he plays in the second half. Omar and Nikita can't defend and rack up fouls.

[fburghoya]

Without Sims in the lineup we have lost most of our games (Pitt, ND, Marquette, Seton Hall, WVU). It wouldn't hurt to see what he can do and the experience would be crucial for him.

[strummer8526]

I want Sims to start over Wright. We get some size and we put the whole team at the same speed. Wright plays at a speed and with a recklessness that the rest of our guys just can't get in rhythm with

[detmut]

Feb 2, 2009 9:02:53 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

I want Sims to start over Wright. We get some size and we put the whole team at the same speed. Wright plays at a speed and with a recklessness that the rest of our guys just can't get in rhythm with

so are you saying a sapp, freeman, summers, sims, and monroe starting 5?

[Filo]

I'd like to see Sims take over at each position, and the Hoyas just go one-on-five. I mean, after all, he hasn't shown that he can't do it, right?

[FrazierFanatic]

Feb 1, 2009 11:51:32 GMT -5 hbone13 said:

Some of you are missing the point. I'm saying that Wattad and Nikita, whether playing well or not, are not getting the job done, while Henry has in limited minutes. What is so great about the current rotation. No, he isn't Zo or Hibbert, but let's see what he can do. Are these other line ups running the offense? I see an offense that stinks. Why not play him some? I think we win the Seton Hall game if he plays in the second half. Omar and Nikita can't defend and rack up fouls.

Henry has had a couple of nice blocks, but to be honest, I have not seen him play D any better than Omar or Nilita. Maybe we should just trust that Coach will play Henry when Henry has shown he is ready to contribute what we need.

[the_way]

Sims is not ready yet.

it takes a longer time to develop for some players. Hopefully that is the case with Sims. i'm hoping this isn't another Cornelio, Thorton or Tay Spann situation or Macklin situation.

[strummer8526]

Feb 2, 2009 9:34:08 GMT -5 detmut said:

Feb 2, 2009 9:02:53 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

I want Sims to start over Wright. We get some size and we put the whole team at the same speed. Wright plays at a speed and with a recklessness that the rest of our guys just can't get in rhythm with

so are you saying a sapp, freeman, summers, sims, and monroe starting 5?

Yes, that would be my 5. And then we throw Wright in at the 4-5 minute mark, maybe at the opposition's second string PG or just to really catch them off guard with a huge speed increase. He could be this year's Pat.

[FrazierFanatic]

Wow - take a young undeveloped kid whom the coaches don't appear to think is ready for consistent play in this league, and drop him into the starting lineup. That would have to help.

[strummer8526]

Feb 2, 2009 12:07:10 GMT -5 FrazierFanatic said:

Wow - take a young undeveloped kid whom the coaches don't appear to think is ready for consistent play in this league, and drop him into the starting lineup. That would have to help.

Yeah, our current lineup has been working so well, I guess we shouldn't change it.

[FrazierFanatic]

Not solely for the sake of change - and not with a kid who clearly is not ready.

[mrsixer123]

"I am shocked by the expectations of this board. I mean if a guy cannot consistently deliver a double-double as a freshman, according to some of you we might as well pull his scholarship! Ridiculous."

Why is it ridiculous when freshmen ALL OVER THE COUNTRY contribute from day 1. If III insist on being married to his
"System" then he needs to stop recruiting athletic players who have played in wide open systems their entire playing career. The ideal scenario is III adapting to the talent he has from team to team, but trying to hammer a square peg into a circle has not, and will not work.

Adjustments need to be made ASAP!!!!!!!!!! Either in recruiting or coaching

[RBHoya]

The heart of this matter is that people are assuming that Sims' height/length is going to translate into rebounds and defense. Erroneous. It COULD, but there's a good chance it wouldn't and I think if people really realized what type of player he is they'd realize that.

His day will come... organically, in time. Our current lineup has lost a few games but they've shown they've got the ability to win too. To me, saying that we should start a guy who isn't even getting PT is a big stretch. Should he get a few minutes off the bench? I'd like to see it, but I can almost guarantee you that the idea that he's gonna change the game or be the difference maker is off base. He isn't ready for that yet. We all may like to THINK that he could be that guy, we may all WISH that he was that guy, but he isn't, yet. For now he's a raw big man with more of a perimeter oriented game, who doesn't have the girth to bang with the big boys nor the quicks to stay with the smaller guys.

[FrazierFanatic]

Feb 2, 2009 12:56:00 GMT -5 mrsixer123 said:

"I am shocked by the expectations of this board. I mean if a guy cannot consistently deliver a double-double as a freshman, according to some of you we might as well pull his scholarship! Ridiculous."

Why is it ridiculous when freshmen ALL OVER THE COUNTRY contribute from day 1. If III insist on being married to his
"System" then he needs to stop recruiting athletic players who have played in wide open systems their entire playing career. The ideal scenario is III adapting to the talent he has from team to team, but trying to hammer a square peg into a circle has not, and will not work.

Adjustments need to be made ASAP!!!!!!!!!! Either in recruiting or coaching

It is ridiculous to demand that EVERY freshman be an immediate big-time contributor. Monroe is, Austin was, others have been and will be - but no staff recruits with the plan that every single frosh is going to throw up double figures right from the start. If you don't see improvement after 2 years, then maybe there are some questions - but let's see where we go this year and next before we scream for a new recruiting strategy. 3 McD AA's in 2 years seems pretty effective recruiting to me.