bostonfan
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Post by bostonfan on Feb 27, 2018 8:45:45 GMT -5
Another frustrating loss in a game they had in their hands. The team shows so much mush promise for extended periods of games when they play with great purpose on both ends of the floor, but they struggle to do it for a complete 40 minutes. There were times last night when they were so clearly the better team and seemed in a position to run away with the game but don't seem to understand yet what it takes to finish other teams. It seems that every game the Hoyas have lapses for anywhere from 2 -5 minutes and they let other teams back into the game. These lapses usually revolve around poor decisions with the ball and getting away from their defensive principles for that game.
Marquette is not a great team, but they have some great shooters, and not finding those guys early in every possession, is a lack of focus on the players part. There were long stretches where Georgetown stayed connected and forced Marquette to take tough shots (and they made some tough shots last night) but then at other times they seemed to lose their intensity and allow way too many easy shots for Marquette, and they are too good a shooting team for that to happen. Clearly they were coached to find the shooters early because when they were executing their defensive game plan well they made it tough for Marquette, but being able to get your entire lineup to do that for every possession for 40 minutes is about building strong habits and improving that confidence and intensity. It has improved a lot for early on this year, but it still has a ways to go.
Hopefully they can put a full 40 minute display on at the BET and steal a win or two and end this season on a high. I still believe it is going int he right direction but it has to be getting tough on the players to lose so many close games. It is hard to keep them working really hard every day and only come away with moral victories.
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sleepy
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Post by sleepy on Feb 27, 2018 8:45:54 GMT -5
Was about to go ballistic last night sitting up here in CT. Ready to attack Patrick for another game ending flame out. I get a texts from one daughter on her way back after the game to Va. "There has never been a more encouraging and frustrating season in all of college basketball." soon followed by another in NY in response to my own calling for the immediate removal of xxxxEwing. Stating they got 2 good shots from their best player. He just didn't deliver. Calmed me down.
Upon reflection we have 2 players who are legitimate starters at this level. As far as I am concerned the overall defense has improved by leaps and bounds over what we had seen over the past 3 years or so. Yes we did a pitiful job of guarding the line last night. 18 threes on 30 odd shots many if not most uncontested. But it's some of the same old mistakes by the usual suspects. Gambling on steals while leaving open 3s failure switch on screens and the inability to find open men on a semi-fast break by the opposition. Never mind what should be quick weak side rotations back when we put on the press. over the entire season I've seen the coach blow up time after time at the continued mental lapses.
Yes I'm still encouraged but even more frustrated.
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Post by glidehoyas (Inactive) on Feb 27, 2018 8:46:06 GMT -5
I actually think Ewing’s defense approach has been good. If you notice, games aren’t ending with a parade of the other team going to the line. That was what drove me crazy the last few years. And, I’m hoping we’ve corrected that. It’s just that the players are so bad at switching/executing. You would have to think that if we just had 1-2 decent defensive recruits, perhaps the other team wouldn’t have wide open shots even in the last minute. Call me crazy. Well, I guess we aren't fouling, but we aren't making stops either. Team can get just about anything they want when it matters most. So, do great defensive teams recruit better defenders than everyone else? Is that how it works? Or is it a combination of things. Again, I look at Nova. Great team, but don't necessarily look like world-beaters athletically. Great defensive working great defensive drills every practice because they know defense wins championships. I've posted the close out drive videos as well.
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GUJook97
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Post by GUJook97 on Feb 27, 2018 8:52:20 GMT -5
I know it’s dime store analysis, but I do think not fouling is a huge part of it. The shooters we are facing aren’t world beaters, and if we can keep them from the rim into difficult shots, more often than not, it will be effective.
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Bigs"R"Us
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Post by Bigs"R"Us on Feb 27, 2018 8:52:49 GMT -5
Pat has coached this team up. Players have gotten better. We just need more talent and players that get after it. When was the last time we dove for a loose ball? We need to own the 50-50 balls.
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saxagael
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Post by saxagael on Feb 27, 2018 8:54:23 GMT -5
Two players who stood out last night for good games are Juggy and Mulmore.
Juggy played within himself and didn’t rush shots nor plays. He still had some ballhandling flubs, Ned’s to vastly improve his passing with more zip, and needs to see the court much better. For me he went from deeply frustrating to watch and wondering why he is on the court at times to doing really good things. His shot was good rhythm not rushed and ran plays well off ball. His defense was rather good as well, much of the time. This needs to continue and start improving other aspects. If he ousts in the work he could be quite good.
Mulmore defended well, was making shots, and plays. His mad dash and finish to get to overtime was fantastic. His nasty block on Rowsey’s fast break pull-up three attempt was one for the highlight reel.
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GUJook97
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Post by GUJook97 on Feb 27, 2018 8:55:15 GMT -5
Was about to go ballistic last night sitting up here in CT. Ready to attack Patrick for another game ending flame out. I get a texts from one daughter on her way back after the game to Va. "There has never been a more encouraging and frustrating season in all of college basketball." soon followed by another in NY in response to my own calling for the immediate removal of xxxxEwing. Stating they got 2 good shots from their best player. He just didn't deliver. Calmed me down. Upon reflection we have 2 players who are legitimate starters at this level. As far as I am concerned the overall defense has improved by leaps and bounds over what we had seen over the past 3 years or so. Yes we did a pitiful job of guarding the line last night. 18 threes on 30 odd shots many if not most uncontested. But it's some of the same old mistakes by the usual suspects. Gambling on steals while leaving open 3s failure switch on screens and the inability to find open men on a semi-fast break by the opposition. Never mind what should be quick weak side rotations back when we put on the press. over the entire season I've seen the coach blow up time after time at the continued mental lapses. Yes I'm still encouraged but even more frustrated. Agree. It’s just dumb mistakes from not good players. Mosley checks down to double in the post, and he completely loses his guy, who moves to the corner for a wide open 3. You can’t make those half asssed commitments.
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kghoya
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Post by kghoya on Feb 27, 2018 8:58:54 GMT -5
Jahidi's an aau coach, yes? Don't know. He had courtside seats (near where DiGioia typically sits) and was cradling a small baby. That was Xavier McDaniel.
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KHoyaNYC
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Feb 27, 2018 9:20:00 GMT -5
I couldn’t watch the game last night but reading through this thread I have now seen the following blamed for our loss:
Poor defense Poor rebounding Poor offense Poor coaching decisions
So, is it all the above? If yes, perhaps it is because we are a notch below the majority of the conference in terms of talent?
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bostonfan
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Post by bostonfan on Feb 27, 2018 9:22:06 GMT -5
Two things I noted last night that have been issues all year.
1) The Hoyas don't have any one who can break down a defense with his dribble and cause the other team to have to rotate/help to stop him. The lack of that ability pretty much takes Pickett out of the game at the end of games. While he has shown great improvement all year, he is still pretty much a spot up shooter at the end of games because he does not seem to completely trust his handle in traffic yet. Without someone to break down the defense and force someone to help off of Pickett he can't get shots and is not of much help. He is one of their best players at this point but needs help to get his shot off. Would like to see if the Hoyas could start running some pick and pop action like Marquette did last night with Rousey and Houser that kept getting Houser that open three in the corner. I think that is something Pickett could excel at if we had a guard who could cause the defense to react like Rousey does.
2) The Hoyas seem to have a couple of times in every game when they look like they relax and are taking a deep breath and getting a feel for where they are in the game. It seems to happen after they make a strong run and build a small lead and start feeling a little better about themselves. Instead of taking that deep breath they need to double down on their intensity and bury teams when they can. It is almost like they are not sure how to handle success during games. Hopefully that is a habit that Coach Ewing can instill in them next year.
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SSHoya
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"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
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Post by SSHoya on Feb 27, 2018 9:31:24 GMT -5
Don't know. He had courtside seats (near where DiGioia typically sits) and was cradling a small baby. That was Xavier McDaniel. Ah, two of us thought it was Jahidi. Thx for the correction.
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mfk24
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Post by mfk24 on Feb 27, 2018 9:59:45 GMT -5
I actually think Ewing’s defense approach has been good. If you notice, games aren’t ending with a parade of the other team going to the line. That was what drove me crazy the last few years. And, I’m hoping we’ve corrected that. It’s just that the players are so bad at switching/executing. You would have to think that if we just had 1-2 decent defensive recruits, perhaps the other team wouldn’t have wide open shots even in the last minute. Call me crazy. Well, I guess we aren't fouling, but we aren't making stops either. Team can get just about anything they want when it matters most. So, do great defensive teams recruit better defenders than everyone else? Is that how it works? Or is it a combination of things. Again, I look at Nova. Great team, but don't necessarily look like world-beaters athletically. I don’t think Nova is all that good defensively though. They generate a lot of steals on individual effort plays by guys like Bridges and Divincenzo, but a lot of their games are shoot outs. UVA is a better example of your point though. They are a great defensive team because of their pack- line defense. It seems like they’ve finally gotten some athletes who can score too.
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This Just In
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Bold Prediction: The Hoyas will win at least 1 BE game in 2023.
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Post by This Just In on Feb 27, 2018 9:59:57 GMT -5
So are the players just not listening? Do they not have the technique or ability to close out quickly enough? Why is a team that is coached by one if the most intense defenders in NCAA history so BAD defensively??! Why do many great players make bad coaches? Not saying this is the case with Ewing, but success as a player doesn't automatically translate to success on the court as a coach. Possibly this is where Ewing's NBA coaching experience differs from the college game? I would suspect college teams run more defensive sets than in the NBA? Ewing played in the NBA when only man-to-man defense was allowed. He coached when they changed the rules in the NBA, but I'm not sure if NBA teams really mix things up like they do in college. Maybe somebody knows the numbers on that. What are top defensive teams doing in college right now? The teams that are consistently good at defense? What do they run and how do they recruit?The #1 defensive team in the country and currently ranked #1 team in the polls, Virginia uses the pack the line defense. I don't know if they have NBA lottery picks or NBA level players on the team.
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This Just In
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Bold Prediction: The Hoyas will win at least 1 BE game in 2023.
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Post by This Just In on Feb 27, 2018 10:05:06 GMT -5
People are posting after a loss, the board gets a little testy. I am sure both will accept your apology. LOl what's going on here. I think DCHoya was really give us our props in asking a decent question I answered it. I don't think Dchoya was comparing or saying anything about you and I @yaboynyc. I can only do my best in telling what I do or don't know. No tripping out here. lol DChoya72 was not talking about me at all... I just responded. In error, Yabonyc was thinking that DCHoya72 was making a negative remark towards him and you, but DCHoya72 was asking a legitimately honest question. That is why I said after a loss the board gets a little testy as questions being asked by posters may be taken the wrong way.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 10:06:13 GMT -5
Was about to go ballistic last night sitting up here in CT. Ready to attack Patrick for another game ending flame out. I get a texts from one daughter on her way back after the game to Va. "There has never been a more encouraging and frustrating season in all of college basketball." soon followed by another in NY in response to my own calling for the immediate removal of xxxxEwing. Stating they got 2 good shots from their best player. He just didn't deliver. Calmed me down. Upon reflection we have 2 players who are legitimate starters at this level. As far as I am concerned the overall defense has improved by leaps and bounds over what we had seen over the past 3 years or so. Yes we did a pitiful job of guarding the line last night. 18 threes on 30 odd shots many if not most uncontested. But it's some of the same old mistakes by the usual suspects. Gambling on steals while leaving open 3s failure switch on screens and the inability to find open men on a semi-fast break by the opposition. Never mind what should be quick weak side rotations back when we put on the press. over the entire season I've seen the coach blow up time after time at the continued mental lapses. Yes I'm still encouraged but even more frustrated. Agree. It’s just dumb mistakes from not good players. Mosley checks down to double in the post, and he completely loses his guy, who moves to the corner for a wide open 3. You can’t make those half asssed commitments. Plus Marcus had Hauser in check, you can't leave Rousey there. Jagan is a smart kid and I'm sure he will say the same thing when he watches the film. Another big play was Marcus sticking with the ball handler too long, Rousey, on a pick and pop in the final minutes of regulation. That lead to a wide open 3 from Hauser, who had already nailed 6 of them. Don't know what was up with Doc but looked like he was limping at times yesterday. He had that sleeve over his knee, maybe he was a bit banged up and that made a difference. Either way that's a play he got beat on a couple of times and will get on himself for in film session. After that Pat changed his scheme, and decided to switch all screens. That's why Marquette started to run a weave to force switches until they got a matchup they liked. Most of the time it ended up with Marcus guarding Rousey but ironically Marcus had more success in those situations than guarding the pick and pop. One time they did get a situation where Marcus Howard was being guarded by Jessie and he drilled a 3 over him to cut the lead to 1 in ot. That just basketball, it's a simple game. You make a decision to take something away and it leaves you vulnerable in other areas. We just didn't make enough plays late to win last night.
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Post by glidehoyas (Inactive) on Feb 27, 2018 10:21:40 GMT -5
LOl what's going on here. I think DCHoya was really give us our props in asking a decent question I answered it. I don't think Dchoya was comparing or saying anything about you and I @yaboynyc. I can only do my best in telling what I do or don't know. No tripping out here. lol DChoya72 was not talking about me at all... I just responded. In error, Yabonyc was thinking that DCHoya72 was making a negative remark towards him and you, but DCHoya72 was asking a legitimately honest question. That is why I said after a loss the board gets a little testy as questions being asked by posters may be taken the wrong way. Right...
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NCHoya
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Post by NCHoya on Feb 27, 2018 10:25:50 GMT -5
I am glad that this conversation has turned to defense, versus nit-picking the offense. We did score 86 points, I feel like that should be enough to win.
That said, the defense is tough to watch sometimes. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the scheme. I think it is communication, but it is more so an athletic talent problem. So many teams I watch play horrid defense just like the Hoyas BUT they have the long athletes that can make up for mistakes. We simply do not have that at any position. We have no plus defenders, so who is going to make up for the inevitable mistake? Pickett and Walker can become good defenders with time, but otherwise I do not see anyone with that athletic ability to recover from their own or a teammate's mistake.
When I feel frustrated, I just think about last year at this time and compare the two situations. There is no doubt this team is so much more fun to watch and the overall direction of the program is pointing up.
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saxagael
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Post by saxagael on Feb 27, 2018 10:36:08 GMT -5
Pat has coached this team up. Players have gotten better. We just need more talent and players that get after it. When was the last time we dove for a loose ball? We need to own the 50-50 balls. The hustle and scrapping isn't always there. Mulmore gets to the floor quickly and was down there 2 or 3 times in this game and Blair often is down there. Govan got on the floor this game or last, which was great to see. The 50/50 balls need to be a focus. The Hoyas poke the ball out a lot and, good at getting deflections, and tap out rebounds (often muffed rebounds) which creates a lot of 50/50 opportunities, but they are often late to break to the ball and don't get to the floor enough.
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s4hoyas
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Post by s4hoyas on Feb 27, 2018 10:40:35 GMT -5
Just a little perspective...in the last 3 games we have unfortunately caught all 3 teams coming off poor games (X getting thumped at home by Nova, Prov. losing at home to SH, and Marquette losing on the road to DePaul)...IMO we then faced angry, hungry teams that arguably played their best (or at least among their best games of the year)...just look at Marquette's 3 pt shooting (their most important weapon in winning) against DePaul and versus us...I don't have the #s in front of me, but their % against DePaul was woeful (I think under 30%) and against us it was almost 60% (18 for 31 I believe, and Depaul is no defensive juggernaut)...similarly, we always get "local" kids (Marshall for X, Watson for Prov) career games as they "come home" in front of family, friends,etc..for the most part we played well enough to win all 3 games, except for a few lapses that all teams have to some degree, and an inability to execute on the offensive end at the game's end.This is not designed to be excuse making...we came up a tad short...but I guarantee you that none of these teams want to see us again when they know that had to play their very best to squeek past us...We still have some things to clean up, but we are very close to being competitive with almost all the teams in the league...just gotta make a play or two near the end of games..
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TC
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Post by TC on Feb 27, 2018 10:40:48 GMT -5
Upon reflection we have 2 players who are legitimate starters at this level. You can't really say that when we have three guys that probably make some form of All-BE team (Govan, Derrickson, Pickett). The problem is that they're all in the frontcourt and our backcourt is pretty far below BE-standards. If we could just add one more BE-quality guard next year with McClung, it would do wonders.
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