DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 31,997
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 2, 2006 21:20:11 GMT -5
Keep it in bounds or posts will be pulled without warning.
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Post by JohnJacquesLayup on Dec 2, 2006 21:21:43 GMT -5
We're 7-0 at the half. Too bad there are two of them.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 2, 2006 21:24:03 GMT -5
Good point JJL. Guards are not there yet, nor are Green and Hibbert. The first half was very well-played, but the offense unraveled when Duke turned up the defensive pressure. As someone pointed out (it may have been the non-ranting RDF), this offense doesn't work well until the players get to where they are going on instinct rather than thinking.
Hope Rivers' ankle injury is just a sprain - he has really played well of late and this team needs all the ballhandlers it can get. Sapp has flashes of good play then goes way out of control - like the last two times he handled the ball in this game and threw up wild shots.
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,901
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Dec 2, 2006 21:25:17 GMT -5
I thought the first half was excellent. Second half Duke made some adjustments and we did not (I know it sounds cliche but it is true). We still looked a heck of a lot better than we did at Oregon. Definite improvement, definitely not a top 25 team, but a better effort than our past games.
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Post by JohnJacquesLayup on Dec 2, 2006 21:27:12 GMT -5
We just didn't look smart out there at all in the second half especially. I guess you're right, we start overthinking and underplaying. So frustrating to lose a game you had in your grips. Three of them now.
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
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Post by RDF on Dec 2, 2006 21:29:19 GMT -5
18 points in a HALF?? Are you kidding me? A Half of basketball and all you can get is 18 points? It's unreal, unwatchable, and not winning basketball--and don't even see Macklin or PE JR? Why wouldn't they get run? To watch Hibbert get outrebounded by a 6'1 guard or ball taken from him? To Watch Jeff dribble at 3 pt line and do nothing?
Simply terrible is all I can say--and this is with the players who have been here for 3 years--what the heck is going on at practice? Nobody understands how to move within an offense--movement is NOT SPACING THE FLOOR--it's moving and cutting without it and NOT STOPPING--we don't rebound, we don't attack, and we just play scared, confused and with ZERO URGENCY.
I thought these days left when Esherick was fired--obviously I was wrong. This is as painful to watch--at least we saw people throw up some bricks and miss shots during the Esh/Pops debacle teams--this team doesn't even get a shot for 4/5 straight possessions and run about 4/5 minutes off clock in between.
Hibbert plays like a 5'4 guard down low--no strength and aggression.
Green is as lost as I've seen him--clueless on court and thinking--which is going to lead to mistakes.
Wallace killed team with a crappy pass, which was an awful decision and then with a bad shot where he had no shot to make it over McRoberts.
Duke stinks as well--these were two mediocre to below mediocre teams going at it--and changes better come of this offense of you won't see many wins--you have to let kids play ball--as we saw in First Half--and in 2nd we ran the "system" and it was UNWATCHABLE, losing basketball.
Take the system, dump it in the potomac, and let kids play some ball as we saw in First Half--where they would look to score and fire on open shots.
Last year's Duke-GU game was one of best in terms of style of play and free flowing offense, this year was painful. Guys can't dribble, can't pass, don't move, stand and watch, don't rebound, and don't do anything but stand, watch, dribble and make unforced turnovers.
YUCK is only word to describe this game and offense I saw in 2nd Half and lack of toughness I saw from team. A year of this and you won't see another recruit heading to Hilltop unless something changes. Now I know what NC State fans felt like in their misery of Sendek's "system".
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afirth
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 289
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Post by afirth on Dec 2, 2006 21:29:24 GMT -5
can you say unranked?
i'm going to go slit my wrists now.
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Post by manilahoyafan on Dec 2, 2006 21:29:42 GMT -5
Both teams displayed their youth. Big homecourt advantage maybe was the difference...the emotion and the change in momentum proved too much for our youngsters.
Hoyas' first half is a glimpse of what we might become this year.
Unfortunately, the 2nd half is a reflection of where this team is at right now.
Still, we saw a clear display that the potential of this team CAN be realized. Need more game experience...which is assured. I'm not giving up on these guys.....
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 2, 2006 21:29:45 GMT -5
We just didn't look smart out there at all in the second half especially. I guess you're right, we start overthinking and underplaying. So frustrating to lose a game you had in your grips. Three of them now. It's the sign of a young team. It should improve as things move forward. I am surprised RDF has not ranted yet about Dookie V soiling himself with excitement about Coach K. That was tough to listen to.
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TigerHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by TigerHoya on Dec 2, 2006 21:31:05 GMT -5
At least my bet with the wife was to shave my goatee, something I was already planning on anyway.
Harder to put up with Dickie V combined with her squawking.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 2, 2006 21:31:17 GMT -5
RDF - the first half the same players that played in the second half played in the system you want to throw in the river. In the second half, Duke adjusted on D and they could not solve it. There is clearly work to be done.
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Massholya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by Massholya on Dec 2, 2006 21:31:56 GMT -5
I'm not trying to jump on anyone specifically, but we are definitely lacking a "presence". Certainly one would think this would come from our juniors (who actually played better tonight) but it is clear that this element is not part of their game. I am increasingly finding myself in the school of thought that leadership by example is no leadership at all. Unfortunately, those are the types of personalities that we have on this team right now. Things is it works great when you're up big. But when we're down, we don't have the personalities to put the team on their backs and compel them to win. I guess I think we're soft. Lots of talent, but too many guys afraid to make a mistake and thus playing tentatively.
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Post by JohnnyJones on Dec 2, 2006 21:32:21 GMT -5
What a missed opportunity. This is not a very good Duke team. Notwithstanding that fact, this would have been a real nice win on the resume for later in the season.
We are not going to win many games when we are down more than 2-3 points in the last few minutes because we appear to refuse to modify the approach on offense to address the particular circumstances. How maddening is it to watch us run through the usual offense for 15-20 seconds when we are down 6 with 60 seconds left?
Very frustrating night.
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EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by EasyEd on Dec 2, 2006 21:33:26 GMT -5
This game shows we can still play against man defense but have a long way to go against zone.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 31,997
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 2, 2006 21:33:38 GMT -5
JJ - my condolences. This team is going to take a little time.
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Joe Hoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
You're watching Sports Night on CSC, so stick around.
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Post by Joe Hoya on Dec 2, 2006 21:34:20 GMT -5
I haven't commented this season on our games because frankly, I haven't been able to see one. Having watched this game, I had flashbacks to the second half of the BET Semifinals last season. All-around second-half beatdown; we played stupid basketball at times, and we couldn't overcome it.
What is the obsession with shooting threes? We took three consecutive three-point attempts with over 20 seconds remaining on the shot clock in the middle of the first half with a lead (I believe it was 13-6 at the time). That's ridiculous; go to the basket!!! Your center is nineteen feet tall!!!
I think Denny Green said it best...we saw them in the early part of the season...the Blue Devils are who we thought they were! I mean, if you wanna crown 'em, then go ahead and crown 'em. But Duke is who we THOUGHT THEY WERE!!
And we let 'em off the hook!
(My 1,200th post...and I paraphrased Dennis Green. Yikes.)
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Dec 2, 2006 21:36:17 GMT -5
RDF - the first half the same players that played in the second half played in the system you want to throw in the river. In the second half, Duke adjusted on D and they could not solve it. There is clearly work to be done. I think that's exactly right. I'd add that we dont know how to come back once we go down. Wallace tires to carry us but hes not talented enough although I love him. Its Green and hibbert that have got to lead us back when we are behind. I thought Jeff tried tonight with about 5-6 mins left but he failed. He got frustrated, committed a few turnovers, and that was that. Game over.
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afirth
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 289
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Post by afirth on Dec 2, 2006 21:36:53 GMT -5
offense has got to become more adaptable for specific situations. so frustrating to be down by only a few points with 3 minutes left, and not changing anything at all - making bad passes, worse shots.
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Post by essex on Dec 2, 2006 21:36:58 GMT -5
18 points in the 2nd half thanks to that sterling P-offense. Folks, we're going backwards instead of forwards...now for a speech on "needing more time"...and on to more humiliating losses.
We look more and more like an Ivy League team each outing...what a shame!!!
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hoyaboy1
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by hoyaboy1 on Dec 2, 2006 21:38:20 GMT -5
I am increasingly finding myself in the school of thought that leadership by example is no leadership at all. Unfortunately, those are the types of personalities that we have on this team right now. Things is it works great when you're up big. But when we're down, we don't have the personalities to put the team on their backs and compel them to win. It has little to do with personalities - we just don't have anyone that can create a shot consistently. It's hard to come back when it takes us 20 seconds at minimum to get a shot every possession.
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