GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 9, 2019 16:36:35 GMT -5
Several times today he got the ball too far out from the hoop then forced something. Spots where a pass out, repost lower then pass back in would have worked. Seems like he doesn’t want to do it. It would add so much to his game. Or...he can't. At least not against strong post players. At some point he just doesn't have the lower body strength to operate consistently down low.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 9, 2019 14:37:52 GMT -5
Our center was not very effective...not sure what the statistics tell. Weird game for our team. Some stepped up, some stepped down. Agreed. God forbid Govan and Pickett play well in the same game. Mac and James haven’t clicked offensively at the same time, but I think they need to work through that. hm The two plays that get me are the drive by Baldwin where Jessie backed off and is out of bounds. The shot went up and Fowler got the offensive board, putback and one and Jessie is still standing out of bounds. I mean, pursue the play. It's the opposite of LeBlanc. The second was his choice to take the jumper one-on-one at the end. We got exactly what we wanted and instead of going at Fowler and drawing a foul or getting the bucket he just settled for his security blanket jumper. I know he is out of time to become an aggressive player, but I just wish he was.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 8, 2019 7:24:08 GMT -5
You're so beautiful, you could be a part-time schmodel...
The whole reason this thread is off the rails is how removed these simple models are from actual basketball. Great for gambling but not real relevant to actual gameplay.
Butler's efficiency has taken a hit in conference because you can actually affect it. They rely so heavily on Baldwin to make them go that teams have figured out a bit that if you do not let him get to the rim at will, plan b is some combo of bad two-pointers or random wrong people shooting threes. Now some of those threes go, because Butler can generally shoot, but you can't let Baldwin take your heart out.
We only did an OK job at that the first time despite the win. Good game to see how much this team has improved on defense.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 6, 2019 22:21:49 GMT -5
41% from three in conference play now and 4th in blocks.
Three and D. Just don't turn it over JP!
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 4, 2019 22:29:11 GMT -5
If you love Mackinjo, imagine MaCoJo.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,487
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 3, 2019 14:14:41 GMT -5
Brutal game for Jessie. Seems like a couple of touch fouls destroyed him. He's knows he's gotta be mentally tougher than that. Very disappointing!! I'd hate to be Nova next time we play them. he'll show what he's made of. Can only feel for him. And somebody tell Tim Brando he can praise Trey's effort without roasting Jessie. Hope he uses it as motivation.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 2, 2019 22:12:19 GMT -5
Interesting to hear Brett Brown talking about the Sixers focus against the Warriors. When the Warriors take more than 32 threes (regardless of how many they made) they are 25-4. So the goal was to play the three first and force them to take 2s or adjust the threes they take. Its not "limit the damage" of threes but just sell out to the three.
I think with this Nova team it might be the same gameplan for the Hoyas. Just sell out on the perimeter. If they beat you any other way, fine. But this is not the multi-dimensional wrecking crew of Nova teams past. They live and die by establishing the three.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,487
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 2, 2019 17:43:29 GMT -5
Small note for the front page. Appreciate the NET updates and the green, yellow, red but we should probably define those.
Highest Big Six RPI left out in the 68-team era: 49
Lowest RPI to make it: 67
So 1-48 should probably be green, 49-67 yellow, and 68+ red. Just noticed it went abruptly from green to red and looked up what the range would be. Not exactly shocking the upper bound is almost exactly 68.
Corrected--thanks.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 1, 2019 7:02:23 GMT -5
After the sloppy start (4 TOs in 4 mins) only 3 TOs the last 36 mins. I could have never imagined that happening just a few games ago. Winning that battle allowed us to withstand losing on the boards and an uncharacteristic 3 point shooting performance from Xavier. If you can get Xavier to shoot 25 of 58 shots from deep, you've done your job executing the gameplan defensively. Of course, they had to bank in two key threes and hit one from Bethesda with 10 seconds left because its the Hoyas but they stuck to the plan and limited Xavier in the post and didn't let them get to the line.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 31, 2019 17:40:33 GMT -5
I like that Pat clearly has a point of view on how he wants to recruit. I don't get the feeling he will recruit higher ranked square pegs and try to change them. He will recruit slightly lower-ranked cultural and stylistic fits and develop them.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 28, 2019 22:00:47 GMT -5
Even if Mourning can pass, that's not all that useful when the guy seems to take a shot every time he has the ball. Yes, I know that's an exaggeration, but he shoots too much for an inefficient player. If Mourning played within himself, he'd be a serviceable backup for 5 minutes a game, but he tries to do too much and fails. What if he keeps shooting because he has the green light from Pat? We don't know what's going on in practice and, until someone asks Pat in the press room, we will not know. Don't get me wrong, I would take some mpg from Trey, but we need him to back Govan or Josh, because we're thin in the position and Pat will not play Carter. To be clear I like Trey's jumper, but not when he is trying to make his best impression of Govan with a defender on his face. I don't want him to take it upon himself to score. I want him to be the fourth or fifth option on the court. Agreed and he's gotten 26 minutes in his three games since his return. Its pretty clear if we're not at a size disadvantage Kaleb is getting the backup 4 minutes primarily and Trey spells Govan. This weird "Trey is getting too many minutes" narrative is about eight weeks stale. That said, we need experienced size and he's all we've got. So if we need some beef against Xavier to bump Hankins and Jones into the third row, Trey is the guy.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 15, 2019 18:58:23 GMT -5
This is mostly attributable to the increased tempo. We are actually scoring less points per possession this year compared to last year. In conference play? Because he's clearly talking about conference play.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 15, 2019 18:03:31 GMT -5
Have to say, Yurt is one of the most exciting recruits. Third team All-ACC as a 19-year old and will be 21 with a couple years not only working with Pat but learning from Jessie. And of course, the team around him matures as well.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 12, 2019 23:29:47 GMT -5
As for Cooley and the fouling when up by three thing - I am sure Providence fans are irate (and I know Cooley said they were trying to foul McClung, at least) but analysis essentially shows that fouling or letting your opponent shoot is virtually a 50-50 situation with a slight edge to not fouling. It didn’t work out tonight for Providence, but not fouling isn’t the type of mistake people claim it is (in my opinion not a mistake at all) especially when you’ve got 13-14 seconds left as we did. I don’t know the exact odds, but the odds that Providence would choose to defend twice and lose the game like that in two overtimes is extremely low. I also note this because I’ve given Ewing flack for blowing games where we had high chances of winning. At the end of overtime Providence was nearly 99% to win and lost, and about 94% at the end of the second overtime to win, and we pulled it out anyway. So that’s a credit to Ewing and our players. We got extremely lucky today and extremely unlucky against St Johns with the foul not being called on Blair. It happens in college with non pros and questionable officiating. But...having Mac affects both finishes. Mac doesn't lose that ball versus St Johns even getting killed. And yes Mac got lucky from 35 but he needs to be athletic enough not to be fouled and get that look in the first place. This conference is so tight you need to have all options available to give tiny edges in every game. You'll also get a ton of heartbreakers/miracles. It's fun, but also leads to a lot of hot take overreactions.
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GIGAFAN99
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 12, 2019 20:43:18 GMT -5
Extremely important for Jessie to have his entire arsenal ready and his big boy pants on on the defensive boards. Should be another heart attack.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 12, 2019 19:35:15 GMT -5
Jessie's 33 points and 4 blocks have been mentioned, but FOURTEEN rebounds! For all the grief he gets from some posters, he was a man out there today. Hats off to the crowd, especially the students. They showed up and were into it. So Govan shows up and plays D at the level he should have been for the last 2 years and we want to give him a medal. I think he showed today he can defend with a little effort instead of playing every defensive possession as if he had 4 fouls. He played great today ,we should count on seeing it more often . Actually, sure. Give him a medal, bake him a cake, or kick his ass. Whatever he responds to. We don't have the personnel to be a great defensive team this year. If we want to be passable though, Jessie has to give 100% effort knowing the result is just going to be mediocre. We don't have plan B if Watson comes out and owns Govan like today. The only option is to look Jessie in the eye and tell him "We start 3 freshmen, a sophomore, and you and Ed Cooley thinks you're the weak link on defense. Are you going to prove him right or wrong?" Its so important to this team for Jessie to be as much an anchor as he can be on D. Leblanc and Pickett can be disruptive. The guards will all be about matchups since they are all flawed in some way. But Jessie is it for us down low and he has to play that way for us to be at least OK. The offense has a chance to be good. The defense is just going to be all about the fight and that starts with the senior in the middle.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 2, 2019 23:00:57 GMT -5
Some observations and opinions. Malinowski is who the prognosticators and media predicted Joe Cremo was going to be. How's that working out for you, prognosticators? I recall over the past year or so people on this board questioning Ewing's judgment for bringing in Malinowski. I recall respected members of this board who, unlike me and a few others, were not impressed with his performance in the Kenner League and thought he would get limited minutes at best because of concerns of him being "Big East" caliber. I think all of those doubts have finally been debunked tonight if they weren't before this game. Another reason to trust Ewing's judgment. Three or more weeks ago some individuals were claiming that McClung should come off the bench. But he kept getting better and then put up 38 points in a win and suddenly Hoya fans were worried about how detrimental to the team his absence would be. Now after two victories without him, folks are wanting him to come off the bench again. Enough of fans making lineup decisions; thst's tiring. I'm going to trust Ewing's decisions on this matter. Now there are increased calls for Pickett's removal from the starting lineup. Again why do some of you feel you know better than the coach? If he feels such a move is necessary for the team he'll do it, but from my vantage point Malinowski is gonna to get minutes regardless. And no getting off to a great start with him in the starting lineup is not as important as sustaining strong play when he is arrives on the court. Although if Pickett awoke from his coma and McClung keeps improving his outside shooting this team could beat any other team in the nation. Ewing puts players in a position to put up points. Did it with Derrickson and Govan last season and doing it with Govan and a bunch of other dudes this season. If someone has the hot hand Ewing's offense will adjust to accommodate them. Major difference from III's days in which even future NBA guys didn't put up many 20 points game because of the offensive philosophy and a more slowed down approach. The Hoyas have played three true on-the-road games and looked very good each time out. Should be 3 and 0 right now on that front with a win over Syracuse. I think our guys like playing in front of enthusiastic albeit hostile crowds. Blair is getting less minutes but is still producing. I'm old enough to recall people stating, after so many close wins against inferior opponents, that this team would struggle to get 4 Big East victories. Well...the team is 3 away from that ceiling. Well said. Agree 100%. Agreed especially about lineups. Greg didn't win a game of paper, rock, scissors to start for Mac; Pat chose him intentionally to do so. Its his third start of the year. People act like after 15 years in the NBA, Pat doesn't understand that "fancy number language" and he's just being stubborn and old school not starting Greg. Uh, no. He's looking at matchups and development for where we want to be late in the year. Probably should trust him as he tries to build this program. Over .500 in conference for the first time since 2016. A little ray of hope for the Hoyas tonight. Welcome sight.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Dec 27, 2018 20:27:02 GMT -5
I seem to recall that JT Jr. was opposed to the 3 point shot when it was first instituted. I think he said something somewhat facetiously that you should get 3 points for a layup because it was either the result of a fastbreak or a good pass. Might have made those remarks at a Hoya Hoop Club basketball awards banquet which I attended every year through the Esherick era. Yes, a good pass could lead to a 3 as well but I sort of see JT Jr's point. I don't get the pushback against the three. Creating the the three point line rewards highly skilled players over sheer size and force, which I think is good for any game. Who wants a game where there is only one way to win? Where only the genetically advantaged have any value? In addition to this basic benefit, creating the three point line also stretched the defense out. No more collapsing down low. It opens up space in the defense, allowing for more drives and more open play. It actually makes post play easier. Removing the three point line would bring the game back to a plodding, collapsing, defensive mush. No one should want that. What should be done is to move the college line back a bit. It'd open up more space but also reward the actual good shooters and stretch some differences between players. I'm not sure how far is right, but the line right now is too easy, I think. That said, it will leave openings for things like the pack line to become more dominant against teams that are affected by the deeper line. And the pack line makes basketball boring. The pro distance is not bad, but one thing I would do -- but will never happen -- is widen the court to allow for a true arc. The corner three is far too easy for pros. At least make all three 23'9". If people are missing big man play, the real culprits are easy: one, AAU ball that is so up and down that big men aren't given enough touches or taught properly; the way officials let fouls go very easy against big men. Start putting big men on the line regularly like they do James Harden and watch as it becomes a more efficient option. That is so key. Officiating has caused the imbalance. You can hit a big man with a chair but you can't swear at a live ball handler. Posting up is a skill and properly doing so should be rewarded.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Dec 4, 2018 7:17:46 GMT -5
Whats funny is that the Hoyas have become a sneaky competent shooting team. We're not throwing them in from the parking lot like Creighton but there are signs of improvement. Akinjo and Maclung look much more comfortable than their 5/38 from three start to the season (and their careers) and thats made a huge difference that teams have to respect them.
Step two will be not taking that shot and making the extra pass for easier catch and shoot attempts (looking at you Pickett, Blair, Malinowski). Would go a long way Saturday especially as we look to beat the zone down the floor and get some early open looks.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Dec 3, 2018 12:16:32 GMT -5
The pacing of this game should be interesting. Our adjusted tempo is 31 of 353, whereas Liberty's is 334. Our average possession length on offense is 15.8 (52nd ranked), whereas Liberty's is 19.2 (330th ranked). I have not seen Liberty play, but based on those stats, it seems like they must be very deliberate on offense. All of which means that focused and patient defense is more important than ever. It also means that there are likely going to be fewer possessions so turnovers have to be minimized. Or we press and try to speed them up and make them uncomfortable.
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