Just Cos
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Eat 'em up Hoyas
Posts: 1,509
|
Post by Just Cos on Feb 7, 2015 21:29:51 GMT -5
I don't want to make this thread about ND but I believe ND is going through issues right now just like Georgetown is. The last three games their defense looks terrible and the FGs% show it. They went up early on a terrible BC and almost lost that game in the second half.
Also you also have to factor in that Providence is a top 25 RPI team and Pitt isn't even in the top 50.
To bring it back, Georgetown still has a very strong resume and controls its fate to make the dance. This was kind of where I would have expected us to be at this point.
|
|
tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,577
|
Post by tashoya on Feb 7, 2015 21:50:32 GMT -5
Yeah. I couldn't care less about ND and wouldn't be afraid to face them if the Hoyas are playing well. And there's the rub. The loss to Villanova is forgivable and forseeable. The manner in which we lost, however, is less so and, at the least, concerning. Giving away the Providence game is nearly inexcusable in light of the performance today in that there doesn't seem to be the necessary sense of urgency. That could be for a number of reasons to which none of us is privy. Could it just be a freshman wall? I guess. But this team needs to, at minimum, have less of a conscience during games. Keep taking the shots the offense is offering whether you hit the last one or not. The guys we have have the ability. They have to continue to give ability and opportunity a chance to meet. Josh can't be Josh if defenses can continually sag and the shooters can't shoot if Josh can't stay on the floor and be a threat. I'm not as down as many but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned about the direction in which the past 3 halves seem to be pointing.
|
|
guru
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,654
|
Post by guru on Feb 7, 2015 21:51:41 GMT -5
Have definitely reached the point of apathy with this group. Obviously hope for the best and will root like hell for it, but I'm not expecting this year's team to accomplish much. It's not a bad place to be, actually.
|
|
drquigley
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,397
|
Post by drquigley on Feb 7, 2015 21:53:01 GMT -5
Look, we have lost 3 straight to probably the three best teams in the conference. Let's see what happens from here on out. Not giving up on them yet. That said, I can't wait until I don't have to see Mikael Hopkins in a Hoya uniform.
|
|
tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,577
|
Post by tashoya on Feb 7, 2015 21:57:05 GMT -5
Have definitely reached the point of apathy with this group. Obviously hope for the best and will root like hell for it, but I'm not expecting this year's team to accomplish much. It's not a bad place to be, actually. This just makes me sad. And makes me think I don't actually know what "apathy" means.
|
|
beenaround
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,476
|
Post by beenaround on Feb 7, 2015 21:58:10 GMT -5
Lot more going wrong here than Mr. Hopkins.
|
|
|
Post by FrazierFanatic on Feb 7, 2015 22:02:08 GMT -5
Look, we have lost 3 straight to probably the three best teams in the conference. Let's see what happens from here on out. Not giving up on them yet. That said, I can't wait until I don't have to see Mikael Hopkins in a Hoya uniform. Wait - the Creighton win doesn't count??
|
|
hoyazeke
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,837
|
Post by hoyazeke on Feb 7, 2015 22:04:13 GMT -5
The issue as I see it is the regression of the two freshmen. Paul and LJ are struggling and our future depends on their development. DSR is not the type of player that can consistently carry a team to victory against good teams. Personally I don't think a team can be great with DSR as the #1 option. I don't know what happened to Paul and LJ offensively. Paul missed a routine left hand layup today and LJ can't hit a three to save his life. My expectations are much lower for this year. Make the tourney and win one game and hope Paul and LJ get some confidence along the way.
|
|
tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,577
|
Post by tashoya on Feb 7, 2015 22:04:51 GMT -5
I think there are rotations that could be more effective than ones that we're running a lot of the time but that's very much dependent on Joshua and Hop being able to avoid stupid fouls. Hop has been better at that than Josh. And, IMO, there are very few situations where I think they should be playing together for reasons not having to do with fouling issues. But if Joshua picks up his first foul in the first 30 seconds of a game, you can pretty much mark it down as a long day.
|
|
tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,577
|
Post by tashoya on Feb 7, 2015 22:06:33 GMT -5
The issue as I see it is the regression of the two freshmen. Paul and LJ are struggling and our future depends on their development. DSR is not the type of player that can consistently carry a team to victory against good teams. Personally I don't think a team can be great with DSR as the #1 option. I don't know what happened to Paul and LJ offensively. Paul missed a routine left hand layup today and LJ can't hit a three to save his life. My expectations are much lower for this year. Make the tourney and win one game and hope Paul and LJ get some confidence along the way. I could be completely wrong but I think what happened to LJ offensively is LJ defensively. LJ has worked MUCH harder on the defensive side than he did early on. I don't think he's conditioned well enough to go hard on both ends for 26-27 minutes every game just yet.
|
|
guru
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,654
|
Post by guru on Feb 7, 2015 22:13:58 GMT -5
Have definitely reached the point of apathy with this group. Obviously hope for the best and will root like hell for it, but I'm not expecting this year's team to accomplish much. It's not a bad place to be, actually. This just makes me sad. And makes me think I don't actually know what "apathy" means. Ha. Probably a little contradictory, yes. Let's just say my expectations have been lowered significantly these past two weeks. Hoping just to hold on and make the tourney at this point.
|
|
tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,577
|
Post by tashoya on Feb 7, 2015 22:19:49 GMT -5
This just makes me sad. And makes me think I don't actually know what "apathy" means. Ha. Probably a little contradictory, yes. Let's just say my expectations have been lowered significantly these past two weeks. Hoping just to hold on and make the tourney at this point. I hear what you're saying. I even get it on a certain level. If I could bring myself to be more apathetic (not just with the Hoyas!), I'd probably be a much better adjusted individual. On the flip side, it's fun being able to use a sphygmomanometer like a video game shooting for new high scores. Nobody really wins but it's entertaining in a masochistic kind of way.
|
|
|
Post by michaelgrahmstylie on Feb 7, 2015 23:01:40 GMT -5
The issue as I see it is the regression of the two freshmen. Paul and LJ are struggling and our future depends on their development. DSR is not the type of player that can consistently carry a team to victory against good teams. Personally I don't think a team can be great with DSR as the #1 option. I don't know what happened to Paul and LJ offensively. Paul missed a routine left hand layup today and LJ can't hit a three to save his life. My expectations are much lower for this year. Make the tourney and win one game and hope Paul and LJ get some confidence along the way. Heck, the way I see it is that they were all struggling out there today. I don't like the expression that I saw on a couple of their faces. I just hope the confidence isn't slipping.
|
|
drquigley
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,397
|
Post by drquigley on Feb 7, 2015 23:06:42 GMT -5
Look, we have lost 3 straight to probably the three best teams in the conference. Let's see what happens from here on out. Not giving up on them yet. That said, I can't wait until I don't have to see Mikael Hopkins in a Hoya uniform. Wait - the Creighton win doesn't count?? Totally forgot about that game. I guess the last two loses have so scarred me mentally that they erased my geezer memory. BTW, for anyone who's counting, we are ahead of Nova by 4 total pins.
|
|
OldHoyafan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,387
|
Post by OldHoyafan on Feb 8, 2015 1:41:46 GMT -5
I think Denny and others are correct when they say that this team is flawed because their two main stars Smith and DSR are flawed. DSR is a decent player but not BE POY. He is not the type of player that can consistently carry a team. He will have his days when he can't miss, but will have more days when his outside shot is not falling and he lacks the speed and hops to put pressure on the defense by blowing by his defensive guy. Smith is really ineffective greater than 5 feet from the basket. Donny Marshall criticized him in an earlier game that he put the ball on the floor when he was just going 2 ft. He does get fouled a lot but his constant nonchalant attitude is staring to wear on me. He has to be more intense, show some fire. Nova was ready for this game and played like it. They totally out played the HOYAS today. Had to laugh when Wright would call a timeout in 2nd half everytime the lead got below 20 pts. I bet he beat that 20 pt loss to the HOYAS over the players head for the past two weeks.Trawick tries to provide the intensity, but lacks a reliable handle and 3pt shot. Teams simply play him for the drive and therefore he gets ball slapped away 2-3 times a game when he attempts to go to the basket. I love III, but he is reaping the result of a deemphasizing the importance of a true point guard for several years. It has cought up with the team.
|
|
DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 32,091
|
Post by DanMcQ on Feb 8, 2015 2:02:15 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2015 4:26:47 GMT -5
Well first of all this team relies a ton on Freshman which is hard enough when you're Kentucky and even harder when your Freshman arent all in the top 10 of their class. Also, while DSR and Smith are both very talented they are also flawed in some ways and the type of players you kind of have to build around. Smith's weaknesses are well known at this point so I don't think we need to get into them. But I will say they he probably relies on having a bunch of spot up shooters on the perimeter that can space the floor, which is one of the things this team lacks. DSR, for all his attributes, actually isn't a BE POY type to me because that type of player, in recent years, is a guy like Green, Blair, Porter that can score at all three levels and also create to make his teammates better. Honestly, the more I see DSR, I think of him as a very very good complimentary player but he's just not "the guy." I could see Copeland being "the guy" eventually but not quite yet. Anyway, DSR probably needs a different kind of system to be run for him to really maximize his talents and even at that he is a streaky player. Anyway, I think i think this team is a classic less than the sum of its parts group although there is still enough talent in there to win an NCAA game if we get the right matchup and fire on a few cylinders.... I agree this team will be a 7 or 8 seed and has a "chance" to win a first rd game. The better question is...is this something to be proud of as a Hoya fan? if the answer for you is yes....you are luckier than I. On one other point, I do not agree we are a young team. We start 3 seniors and a jr. In addition to the three frosh who do play a fair amount off the bench, we have a fifth yr senior. Youth and health (two common excuses for underachieving teams) aren't factors here. I'm not satisfied with 1 NCAA win but I'm trying to look at this team in context. This is the first recruiting class I've liked in four years so I'm trying to see the long-view. If we only win one now so that we can win two and then three/four in subsequent years I'll take that trade. Yes, we start three seniors, but I think they all have glaring deficiencies, especially Smith and Trawick. Both players are pretty one-dimensional and are easy to game plan against and that's hurting us right now.
|
|
KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,901
|
Post by KHoyaNYC on Feb 8, 2015 7:29:12 GMT -5
I agree this team will be a 7 or 8 seed and has a "chance" to win a first rd game. The better question is...is this something to be proud of as a Hoya fan? if the answer for you is yes....you are luckier than I. On one other point, I do not agree we are a young team. We start 3 seniors and a jr. In addition to the three frosh who do play a fair amount off the bench, we have a fifth yr senior. Youth and health (two common excuses for underachieving teams) aren't factors here. I'm not satisfied with 1 NCAA win but I'm trying to look at this team in context. This is the first recruiting class I've liked in four years so I'm trying to see the long-view. If we only win one now so that we can win two and then three/four in subsequent years I'll take that trade. Yes, we start three seniors, but I think they all have glaring deficiencies, especially Smith and Trawick. Both players are pretty one-dimensional and are easy to game plan against and that's hurting us right now. The goal every year MUST be to make the NCAAs. Last year, we were a borderline candidate at best to make it because the talent level wasn't deep enough. This year, we absolutely have the right level of talent to comfortably make the NCAAs. And, as January closed, we were exactly where I think many people thought we would be --- strong BE record, strong overall record, Top 20-25 team, 5 seed or so projected in tournament. So, through January, everything was on target. These last two games, not so much. Hopefully it's not the beginning of a February slide that would make this season an underachieving one.
|
|
mfk24
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,759
|
Post by mfk24 on Feb 8, 2015 8:58:02 GMT -5
I think a lot of the lofty expectations came with our preseason ranking of 2nd in the BE based on the expectation of an overall weak conference, some close losses to good teams, and some good wins. But all of that was predicated on major contributions from freshman because without them we're actually no better and I'd argue probably worse than last year. We've had enough time to see this season that DSR is probably better as option number 2, but we lack a viable option number 1 and don't have consistent production elsewhere to be a team like Nova without a "superstar" but all 5 starters average double figures. The talent everyone is so high on is mostly youth on the bench, not to say DSR isn't talented or Smith isn't talented but they're one dimensional players. I can't remember what game it was but one of the commentators said Georgetown can't decide what kind of team it wants to be and I think there's a lot of truth to that. We play a completely different brand of basketball with and without Smith. We can get out and run when he's not in the game, we focus less on getting the ball in the paint, our wings are more aggressive offensively but we lack any threat of an inside game without him and our perimeter shooting is so streaky. I don't know what the answer is.
|
|
|
Post by FrazierFanatic on Feb 8, 2015 9:45:07 GMT -5
Well first of all this team relies a ton on Freshman which is hard enough when you're Kentucky and even harder when your Freshman arent all in the top 10 of their class. Also, while DSR and Smith are both very talented they are also flawed in some ways and the type of players you kind of have to build around. Smith's weaknesses are well known at this point so I don't think we need to get into them. But I will say they he probably relies on having a bunch of spot up shooters on the perimeter that can space the floor, which is one of the things this team lacks. DSR, for all his attributes, actually isn't a BE POY type to me because that type of player, in recent years, is a guy like Green, Blair, Porter that can score at all three levels and also create to make his teammates better. Honestly, the more I see DSR, I think of him as a very very good complimentary player but he's just not "the guy." I could see Copeland being "the guy" eventually but not quite yet. Anyway, DSR probably needs a different kind of system to be run for him to really maximize his talents and even at that he is a streaky player. Anyway, I think i think this team is a classic less than the sum of its parts group although there is still enough talent in there to win an NCAA game if we get the right matchup and fire on a few cylinders.... I agree this team will be a 7 or 8 seed and has a "chance" to win a first rd game. The better question is...is this something to be proud of as a Hoya fan? if the answer for you is yes....you are luckier than I. On one other point, I do not agree we are a young team. We start 3 seniors and a jr. In addition to the three frosh who do play a fair amount off the bench, we have a fifth yr senior. Youth and health (two common excuses for underachieving teams) aren't factors here. I guess it is a matter of semantics. I am ALWAYS "proud" of the Hoyas as long as they are young men who represent the program and the university with integrity, respect and good grace. We are fans - wins and losses, postseason appearances, conference titles can make us happy, content, even ecstatic, while the converse can disappoint and frustrate. But I for one do not confuse those feelings and results with pride or lack thereof.
|
|