Georgetown - American 12/28/19 Discussion

[RockawayHoya]

Dec 28, 2019 15:53:33 GMT -5 drquigley said:

Dec 28, 2019 15:42:22 GMT -5 RockawayHoya said:

For one, Yurt is shooting 59% from the field and 60% in his last 6 since the beginning of the roster turnover. Not sure there's a whole lot more he can do consistency-wise to convince you that getting him paint touches and letting him operate inside of 12 feet is a formula for success for us going forward.

On top of that, with all those post-ups he's drawing fouls which is getting us into the bonus quicker. As an excellent FT shooting team (34th nationally), this is a huge part of our offense that doesn't necessarily show up in his stat line.

Perimeter shooting comes and goes, even for the best teams. We got on a hot streak ourselves for a few games and now have regressed to the mean. If anything, we should be more concerned with closing out on shooters/defensive rotations, hitting the glass, and cleaning up the turnovers (i.e. things we should be able to control) rather than worrying about running into a perimeter-oriented team that may or may not have a good day from outside.

Again, as Pitino proved 30 years ago, trading 2s for 3s can take you a long way. I agree about drawing fouls but when I look at how the game is played today and how many times we have been burned by teams that get on one of those "occasional" hot steaks I just wish Yurt had a better feel for the double team. Going forward he will find himself playing against a lot better big men (visions of Seton Hall's Gill and Ojabwe getting 15 blocks against Maryland) and his ability to decide when to pass out of the double team (and our ability to swing the ball and hit the open 3) will probably determine if we are a tourney team this year.

In our last 10 games, we are 8th nationally for adjusted offensive efficiency. The outcome of the season will not be determined by whether or not Omer can pass out of a double team.

How far this team continues to progress defensively will determine the ceiling.

[bigskyhoya]

We should acknowledge the possibility/probability that Pat's game plan against overmatched opponents was for Yurt to overpower his defender in the post, which he has done with deadly accuracy. His game plan against BE opponents will likely involve more passes out of the post to avoid the double team.

[DallasHoya]

Dec 28, 2019 15:03:13 GMT -5 DFW HOYA said:

Dec 28, 2019 14:29:57 GMT -5 RockawayHoya said:

Mac injury was indeed a bad break; did not seem to be much intent there from the American player who was just going for the ball. Really could have done without all the negativity (and really, all game long) from Elmore and Graham though. Those two have been atrocious to listen to the last 2 games.

Elmore was paired with Wayne Randazzo last week and Scott Graham this week.

In both cases, however, I appreciate Elmore's analysis because of his experience--as a former collegiate All-America and NBA veteran, he has little patience for big men that aren't giving it 100% and that's where Pickett is right now. The Eagles were DOA in the second half, Mac was out of the game and Yurt played six minutes--Pickett should have dominated and instead shot 2 for 6 in 19 minutes, missing three of six free throws. For the third leading scorer on the team, Pickett wasn't playing like it today.

As analysts go, former coaches seem to do the best, though not all--Pete Gillen seems to be channeling Al McGuire in his rat-a-tat-tat cadence. But I'll take a Harvard Law grad like Len Elmore anytime over a generic analyst from the Newhouse School of Communications.

Agree 100% on Pickett. Coach called his number about half a dozen times in the second half, as he had a big size and skill advantage on his defender and we've needed him to develop as a third scorer.   He wasn't very successful.  At this point, he is what he is, and his and Blair's ability to hit threes will be a big determinant in the Hoyas' success this year.

Question for the board - I got a new big screen TV. Is my color a little off or did Mac go a little blond on us?

[HamptonHoya]

Dec 28, 2019 16:30:51 GMT -5 DallasHoya said:

Question for the board - I got a new big screen TV. Is my color a little off or did Mac go a little blond on us?

Funny and correct!!!

[biggmanu]

I want to say Mac changed his hairdo after Christmas break last year too. Showed up as buzz cut headband guy. It also didn’t work out well.

[kettlehill]

OK, I will post what I have been thinking: while Nelson's flagrant foul on Mac might not have been intentional or a cheap shot- it was surely a stupid, dangerous play by an accomplished senior who should know better. "Going for the ball".....the ball wasn't within 2' of his hand. Mac was by him. Am I alone in seeing Mac getting regularily smacked in or around the head? Not saying some bad intentions, more likely Mac has that explosive first step that leaves them in the dust. It would be nice if the refs could protect him a bit more. We know he is a tough kid, and would never complain, but a serious injury could ocur, Sure hope it hasn't.

[tashoya]

Dec 28, 2019 15:53:33 GMT -5 drquigley said:

Dec 28, 2019 15:42:22 GMT -5 RockawayHoya said:

For one, Yurt is shooting 59% from the field and 60% in his last 6 since the beginning of the roster turnover. Not sure there's a whole lot more he can do consistency-wise to convince you that getting him paint touches and letting him operate inside of 12 feet is a formula for success for us going forward.

On top of that, with all those post-ups he's drawing fouls which is getting us into the bonus quicker. As an excellent FT shooting team (34th nationally), this is a huge part of our offense that doesn't necessarily show up in his stat line.

Perimeter shooting comes and goes, even for the best teams. We got on a hot streak ourselves for a few games and now have regressed to the mean. If anything, we should be more concerned with closing out on shooters/defensive rotations, hitting the glass, and cleaning up the turnovers (i.e. things we should be able to control) rather than worrying about running into a perimeter-oriented team that may or may not have a good day from outside.

Again, as Pitino proved 30 years ago, trading 2s for 3s can take you a long way. I agree about drawing fouls but when I look at how the game is played today and how many times we have been burned by teams that get on one of those "occasional" hot steaks I just wish Yurt had a better feel for the double team. Going forward he will find himself playing against a lot better big men (visions of Seton Hall's Gill and Ojabwe getting 15 blocks against Maryland) and his ability to decide when to pass out of the double team (and our ability to swing the ball and hit the open 3) will probably determine if we are a tourney team this year.

Keep in mind, those teams, likely, won't be doubling him.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

Dec 28, 2019 18:16:23 GMT -5 tashoya said:

Dec 28, 2019 15:53:33 GMT -5 drquigley said:

Again, as Pitino proved 30 years ago, trading 2s for 3s can take you a long way. I agree about drawing fouls but when I look at how the game is played today and how many times we have been burned by teams that get on one of those "occasional" hot steaks I just wish Yurt had a better feel for the double team. Going forward he will find himself playing against a lot better big men (visions of Seton Hall's Gill and Ojabwe getting 15 blocks against Maryland) and his ability to decide when to pass out of the double team (and our ability to swing the ball and hit the open 3) will probably determine if we are a tourney team this year.

Keep in mind, those teams, likely, won't be doubling him.

True, though with the arc on that fade-away, they won’t be blocking it either in single coverage.

[hoyafan2014]

Dec 28, 2019 17:57:34 GMT -5 kettlehill said:

OK, I will post what I have been thinking: while Nelson's flagrant foul on Mac might not have been intentional or a cheap shot- it was surely a stupid, dangerous play by an accomplished senior who should know better. "Going for the ball".....the ball wasn't within 2' of his hand. Mac was by him. Am I alone in seeing Mac getting regularily smacked in or around the head? Not saying some bad intentions, more likely Mac has that explosive first step that leaves them in the dust. It would be nice if the refs could protect him a bit more. We know he is a tough kid, and would never complain, but a serious injury could ocur, Sure hope it hasn't.

It was such a fast play. I think that Nelson’s reaction was normal. Mac’s face unfortunately took the blunt of it.

[HamptonHoya]

Didn’t Nelson have 16 at half? He finished with 17. He didn’t appear to be as aggressive in the second half, perhaps our defense really picked up on him.

I know this was a tune up , but for the first game back after a week long break, it is what I expected. It was nice to see Allen being a little more assertive. I like Pickett attempting to do more these last couple of games, hopefully it will pay off. As others have said in the past, these guys can try to find their rhythm. Unlike before, when they made a mistake, they were being pulled. Or they were giving the starters a breather. Come on, no injuries and no foul trouble. This is the best I have felt about the team going into conference play in a long time.

[augustusfinknottle]

If you really want to see a blond Hoya check out Greg Malinowski's recent Instagram posts.

[SSHoya]

Dec 28, 2019 19:50:46 GMT -5 HamptonHoya said:

Didn’t Nelson have 16 at half? He finished with 17. He didn’t appear to be as aggressive in the second half, perhaps our defense really picked up on him.

I know this was a tune up , but for the first game back after a week long break, it is what I expected. It was nice to see Allen being a little more assertive. I like Pickett attempting to do more these last couple of games, hopefully it will pay off. As others have said in the past, these guys can try to find their rhythm. Unlike before, when they made a mistake, they were being pulled. Or they were giving the starters a breather. Come on, no injuries and no foul trouble. This is the best I have felt about the team going into conference play in a long time.

I think he had 13 at the half.

[drquigley]

Dec 28, 2019 15:57:09 GMT -5 RockawayHoya said:

Dec 28, 2019 15:53:33 GMT -5 drquigley said:

Again, as Pitino proved 30 years ago, trading 2s for 3s can take you a long way. I agree about drawing fouls but when I look at how the game is played today and how many times we have been burned by teams that get on one of those "occasional" hot steaks I just wish Yurt had a better feel for the double team. Going forward he will find himself playing against a lot better big men (visions of Seton Hall's Gill and Ojabwe getting 15 blocks against Maryland) and his ability to decide when to pass out of the double team (and our ability to swing the ball and hit the open 3) will probably determine if we are a tourney team this year.

In our last 10 games, we are 8th nationally for adjusted offensive efficiency. The outcome of the season will not be determined by whether or not Omer can pass out of a double team.

How far this team continues to progress defensively will determine the ceiling.

Gotta disagree. Obviously improving our defense will be important. But our BE opponents know that if you stop Yurt you have gone a long way to beating the Hoyas. I expect Yurt to see lots of double teams as we start the BE season. Face it, Pickett is our only other big man scoring threat now and as we saw today that's one horse that you don't want to hook your wagon to. The ceiling this year will be determined by how well we perform on the perimeter.

[smokeyjack]

Dec 28, 2019 14:09:42 GMT -5 jwp91 said:

Tim looked better than Q today

In person there today and unless Q was sick there is no comparison between the athleticism and quickness of the two. I understand Q has played more hoops and is more polished, but Tim has a way, way higher ceiling athletically.

[beenaround]

Qs best strength so far has been his ability on the offensive glass ( eye test, anyway). And I like his hustle. Obviously very unpolished. Tim looked much better today, but was also playing in garbage time ag AU. Qs had some good moments ag better teams.

So... will be interesting to see how it plays out. We can use contributions from both, for sure!

[jwp91]

I like what Q is doing. He has become more selective with his shots. The key for him is not forcing shots when he is off balance.

[dchoya72]

Dec 28, 2019 21:35:26 GMT -5 smokeyjack said:

Dec 28, 2019 14:09:42 GMT -5 jwp91 said:

Tim looked better than Q today

In person there today and unless Q was sick there is no comparison between the athleticism and quickness of the two. I understand Q has played more hoops and is more polished, but Tim has a way, way higher ceiling athletically.

Are you sure that Tim has played more ball than Tom? I think Tim has played a lot against international competition. I think his experience is richer than Qudus. We are lucky to have them both.

[smokeyjack]

I don’t know their back stories, so I suppose Tim could have played lots of international ball. But if so, he was very poorly schooled re post moves and technique. My point was that it’s very obvious in my opinion that Tim is a vastly superior athlete with better bounce and quickness. I suspect Q was first man up because he actually does have some post polish. What Tim has in my opinion can’t be taught. I know Q has had some very commendable moments (Texas jumps to mind) and had an unusually poor game against American. But I still think Tim, though raw, looks like a much more tantalizing prospect.

[mapei]

To me, both Tim and Q look like they have a long way to go. They look very awkward out there. I know some of you are talking upside, and that may very well pan out for one or both, over time. But for now, I really, really want Yurt to stay out of foul trouble.

[daveg023]

Dec 29, 2019 18:26:10 GMT -5 mapei said:

To me, both Tim and Q look like they have a long way to go. They look very awkward out there. I know some of you are talking upside, and that may very well pan out for one or both, over time. But for now, I really, really want Yurt to stay out of foul trouble.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. It was nice to see Tim dunk and grab some boards but he was far from a polished product out there. It’s almost as if he was a novelty act at the end the game.

As far as Q, I was really impressed how he looked early on (specifically at MSG) and his FT stroke was really a thing of beauty. Since then he has hit a wall, and looks jumpy out there and his foul rate has been off the charts.

Both guys have the physical qualities and have shown flashes that can contribute (and be future starters in upcoming years), but we are not going to be successful if we are counting on either for significant minutes this year. Our success begins and ends with Yurt this year.