RDF
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DSR
Jan 9, 2013 14:21:39 GMT -5
Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 14:21:39 GMT -5
Even the most loyal of Hoya supporters would point out that this past Kenner League was the worst they've seen. Scoring against a team that actually suits up Arne Duncan is not impressive. It's also not his fault--he can't help that the entire league was terrible.
Have some of you who think he's just going through FR stuff seen him play prior to Georgetown? If so, what's different about his game? The statement that he can get his own shot off is something I've never seen. The guy is horrendous at that--he can force bad shots up but he rarely gets by anyone and if he does, he's swallowed up by bigger/more athletic players.
Defensively is where I'm beyond disgusted with him. If you have games recorded (believe me if you have deleted them I understand) or have ESPN3, go watch the time he's in and just watch him on defense--that is how coaches evaluate/grade film and you'll notice the team has 4 guys trying/playing hard and DSR is going at it like it's an AAU practice session. It's unacceptable and he's still getting minutes. That's what leads to a decline in team morale and decline in play.
I'll also admit to this--I've got some personal info about him from a coach who had the family of DSR try to get his program to recruit him. What they said to the coach and his boss was so delusional that he was immediately told that it won't work out and the small interest they had disappeared. Does that probably add a bit to how critical I evaluate his play? I'll admit that. Thing is--you would too if you knew what was said to the coach and who that program was.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 12:08:51 GMT -5
This team just beat Cincinnati on the road. It's going to be ugly--but Hoyas just need to embrace that and try to win ugly. Quit pretending they are a skilled/shooting team and just focus on winning-not how it looks. If that means playing more people or changing rotation, fine. If that means that you don't have any center on the court at times or 2 of them, fine. Just get people on court who are physical and going into a game with mindset it's going to be a long night but find a way to win. If Hoyas play as they did against Marquette, they'll have a shot to win against most teams in BE. If they play as timid offensively (36 FGA's in a game is heinous) they have no chance.
Obekpa is going to play how Hoyas used to play.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 12:00:13 GMT -5
One thing that will help the offense is the IAC, because I think it will help recruiting. Also, Indiana has played well defensively thus far this yr. No they haven't--they have played bad teams and their stats are favorable. If they play the better teams in Big 10 and hold them down scoring wise, I'll give them credit but their schedule is awful for a top 10 team. The teams who have some talent have all pushed them--GTown, Iowa, even UGA who has athleticism but isn't very good, and they blew out UNC by being better at the faster game--which they are this year then Heels. The Butler loss-Butler got any shot they wanted and look no further then last possession--the iso play run for a walk on to get Hulls in space and that's type of thing I'd love to see our staff do--look for matchups and attack--but other then Oladipo, this Indiana team is a poor defensive team.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 11:52:27 GMT -5
I'm of the belief if more guys were given the opportunity these things would happen:
Morale goes up--which means practice sessions are better/more intense as guys are fighting for minutes and not just hoping to get in for 30 seconds at end of a half or garbage time.
You'll find some player who surprises you with his performance
You'll have tape to show the other guys this is why you aren't ready for a bigger role--but at least they will understand as you gave them a chance. Now that it's conference season, this is less likely for some, but it should be done early in season because same rules apply.
Majority of players understand talent. Some are clueless and think they are better then they are, but most understand who is better. What confuses players is when you see a teammate who hasn't done anything rewarded with time when he's not producing anything. He screws up the same stuff they get on guys not playing at practice or in their limited time and yet there minutes stay same. That is when things get a bit ugly on a team. Not saying that is case but I'd be questioning why 2 guys on this team continue to get steady rotation minutes and really haven't done a thing to earn them if I were a player.
We've heard how "difficult of a system" this is to learn. That is my only problem with III. Great coaches adjust to what they have and more importantly make the game easier to allow their players talent to be showcased. The baskets count the same if a guy is athletic/fast and makes a play as they do when you draw one up with pattern. Just too rigid and we seem to have this discussion every season and why? By now--you know what you want in terms of recruiting to a system, why is it taking this long? Why not make it easier for the guys if they are struggling to pick it up? Or if you believe so strongly in the system, why recruit players who don't fit to it?
Believe this team will/can get better but frustrated it took painful loss last night to wake up the coach a bit. Saturday was frustrating but expected-you don't play for 2 weeks and league opener on road where team has struggled. They stunk too--and game was up for grabs. Just lost it. Fine--was not fun to watch but I can live with that because team fought/battled, and just came up short doing what they do. Last night was brutal. Unprepared. Unmotivated. Got beat by same stuff Pitt has run against them for 6 years now. Pitt hasn won last 3 trips to Verizon by no less then 12 points. Last night was a record setting low. That was sad to watch and type of loss that you start wondering if the players are doubting the approach. This team can win games--just admit who this group is--a struggling offensive team who needs to win ugly and low scoring. Get some easy hoops off their defense, and really believe if 2-3 more kids would get in rotation--I'm for Moses, Domingo (you got him here early--might as well let him shoot his way out of this) and Bowen-we heard at banquet he's one of the hardest workers or hardest worker on team--that needs to be rewarded and giving him some more time could do it. If he stinks--then you at least gave him a shot to play his way out of minutes and showed rest of team that if you work hard-you get a shot to play.
After the season--how you play, who you recruit, who recruits for you all need to be addressed but as of now--that's not going to help this team improve. Just try to be the prettiest "pig" you can be and slop out a few wins--starting this weekend which will be a sloppy/ugly game as SJU is scrappy/loose with ball but will press/be tough--I will prepare you now-we're going to see a lot of Hoya shots blocked/altered by Obekpa and anyone around rim has to go strong/dunk it because kid is basically what Pops thought Moses would be for Hoyas. Now that stench has worn off last night--time to rally around troops and get them over the hump and record wise could care less--just get better.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 11:31:55 GMT -5
Rdf, I'm not sure I share your sentiment with regard to DSR. He may not be the best athlete, but he is a threat on offense and teams are forced to guard him. Without him, it feels like we are playing 2 against 5 on offense. Our problem isn't our defense, our problem is rebounding and scoring. DSR can contribute in at least one of those areas. He was brought in to help create space and make teams respect him offensively. In 13 games, we've seen Hoyas struggle to score in 5-6 of them. Against good competition, he's brought nothing other then fact when he gets in game the guy he is defending or area he's defending (and using that word is a stretch considering level of effort he gives) is exploited immediately. Domingo/Bowen can't be worse--but problem is that someone in program is convinced DSR can be a point guard. That's going to get him minutes at a position he's even less suited to play at this level.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 11:27:28 GMT -5
It worked alright against Indiana and UCLA. Maybe those were anomalies but things can work. Zanna, Taylor & Adams negated any length advantage we had/have. Rebounding is just bad this year and that is just about positioning and effort. FWIW, I think Robinson & DSR are equally inept. I at least liked how he went to Bowen at the 12 min mark and played Ayegba. Gonna be a frustrating BE season. Indiana and UCLA are bad defensive teams--you can get looks against them all day. Howland's reputation is obviously defense but look how he adjusted (then again his job status was on line) and they just try and outscore you and it's worked. Defense is great and will be needed to win a title-but you have to rebuild things when they fail but playing faster, emphasize scoring, and both of those programs have done that--and in Indiana's case their recruiting is improving as their program has won and done so in a style that attracts talent. Agree completely on Robinson/DSR which is why I stated that in their recruiting threads.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 11:21:29 GMT -5
Brent is usually drunk or "Buzzed" by halftime and if people are offended, the NCAA should be by the fact he routinely mentions status of players/their pro status and with his brother being an agent that might be slight issue and more of an issue with NCAA, he is always mentioning the point spread in games--and referring to the "guys in Vegas". That's part of the Brent package. Personally--they should just give the top assignment to Nessler/Blackledge and they would have their best crew working but that's not for me to decide.
I'm not an ND fan at all but this crap about "they didn't deserve to be there" coming from people AFTER the game is laughable. They played Stanford at home, in a low scoring game that went to OT and won. The team EVERYONE now wanted to see play Alabama played Stanford at home, in a low scoring game in OT and lost. ND went undefeated, nobody else did. They earned the shot. This wasn't an overrated crappy Oklahoma getting in ahead of USC in ''03, or '08, or a bad Nebraska team going to Rose Bowl to fill seats and take a beating against Miami. This was a team who earned their trip and just got outclassed. That can happen and it did.
Sign of the mismatch was there--fact both teams played Michigan around same time of year and one destroyed them, other needed 6-8 turnovers to win by a TD. Pitt gashing ND on the ground in a style of offense that is similar to Alabama's approach--with far less talent obviously but Chryst operates an offense that Bama would probably watch the most on film as they want to run and in that game Teo really had some busts and struggled. Besides you want to see the game where a team similar to you had a lot of success. I just thought ND bailed on the run too early--and we saw UGA could run on Bama, LSU ran on them well too. Not like this was a vintage Alabama defense-they were young/talented but nothing like what we saw last year (nor should it be expected, few will ever be that great).
SEC is clearly the best league right now, they've proven it on the field and this "I'm sick of them" attitude is understandable as long as you can also acknowledge they've earned right to keep bragging and playing until some teams knock them off.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 1:37:09 GMT -5
Who says Hoyas aren't record setting? Had a friend there that said the "gift bag" at the game resembled a GU Barf Bag-as he tweeted to me--be thankful I don't have to see this debacle in person.
Will III tell the truth and acknowledge the need to change some things for the best interests of this year's team or will we get "We can shoot, we're just having some odd things happen" BS again?
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 1:32:30 GMT -5
gotta say RDF, I'm very frightened by this loss....this was kind of scary, like an "it is what it is with this team" kind of loss You're a gentleman for saying you're "frightened". I am ill from watching that garbage.
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 1:25:56 GMT -5
The guy is just overmatched athletically at this level and if he isn't scoring, it's playing 4 on 5--but problem is--with this year's team depending on who is out there with him--it could be 1 or 2 on 5. Just have never seen what was attractive about his game? He doesn't defend, you make him go off the dribble and he has no mid range game other then a fadeaway jumper from FT line. Put a more athletic defender on him, he can't get a shot off. He's not explosive or big enough to finish at rim but has no mid range game or floater? So he's 1 dimensional and his defense is about as putrid as it gets. He's at least tried to stay engaged for a few seconds instead of none--but it's really bad watching a game on DVR and going over a play and seeing him stand straight up and giving up penetration, easy shots, forcing teammates to rotate and be out of position which leads to easy hoops or offensive rebounds, and get teammates in foul trouble too. So not a lot to like in my opinion but then again I've seen him do this for years, so it's frustrating to wonder why anyone hasn't made him change or seen him do that prior to bringing him in?
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 1:13:29 GMT -5
Yep, I'm sure some will cry fair weather fan, but I bet this team lost a lot of us with that performance. Life's too short and busy to invest time and emotion into a team that clearly doesn't care all that much, at least right now. Give me a break. This is a good group of kids who hustle their butt off on defense but struggle on offense. To suggest they are lazy or don't care simply means you are a hater. Agree about this for most part. I think they are playing hard (minus DSR on defense who is the single worst Hoya I've ever seen when it comes to quitting on defensive end or failing to stay engaged-but he is doing what he did in HS and AAU so this isn't any surprise and the tape is there to watch-count how many times he ends up standing straight up on defense, loses his man, his guy ends up getting by him with ease and either getting a great shot/pass for easy shot, or causing a teammate to foul to bail him out--it's pathetic). I was told this wasn't a rebuilding year. I think it is and that's fine. I'm not upset one bit about that. Team has a lot of weaknesses, but I'm also not asking for much other then to be entertained and see progress. Making excuses and lying to your team and it's fanbase about "it's just one of those nights" when you are a team who can't score is not going to get that done. Just admit what type of team you have. Doesn't mean you can't win--just means it's going to be ugly and the team is going to struggle to score. Do I think this has a chance to be the best team since '07 like Daytona? Hell no. But I do think they can play far better then this and have shown that as well. Just enough with the "we're a good shooting team...just one of those nights" when nothing has shown this is a very good offensive team this season. Some good players-but overall, they are ugly to watch.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 0:59:28 GMT -5
Hopefully this is a wakeup call to the team in general, but also a wakeup call to coach about giving more minutes to DSR and Moses. Theres no use in playing a 6 man rotation if we are looking at a bottom half finish in the Big East. Might as well develop your bench. If you play DSR a lot, you likely won't win any games. The kid is in over his head, not good enough for this level of competition. Besides anyone who plays as half assed on the defensive end as he does, doesn't warrant taking the warmups off. Moses getting to play was the only positive from this crappy night.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 9, 2013 0:55:57 GMT -5
So, it's clear the players have abandoned the offense. I just wish they had replaced it with something. Apparently, they've given up on help defense as well. It's time to blow this offense up and start over, the kids can't run it and even worse they don't seem to believe in it.. Changes have to be made JT3 and his staff shouldn't go home tonight until they figure out a new way of doing things My option for the offense is to quit using it with this group. Nobody is a threat at high post as a facilitator or shooter, so just play a guard oriented offense. Oh wait--III doesn't believe in positions as being of value, so we have "players". My question is where are they? Outside of 3 people, nobody on this team is a threat to score. Those 3 aren't elite scorers either. So what does that say about the other players? If they are rendered useless and banished to the bench, why not find a way to get some use out of them and see what they can do? Athleticism and speed aren't a bad thing--yet this program views it as such. Never will understand that, but that's why the Princetown boys get the big bucks and so far, I'm laughing to keep from crying at this offensive mess.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 8, 2013 11:18:10 GMT -5
Georgetown hasn't beaten Pitt at Verizon since '07 (realize that scheduling plays a part because you don't play everyone twice, but still annoying).
Players don't get better because you publicly support or compliment them. You always have your teammates back or players back if you coach/play with them. You get better by adjusting to what your team does well and if that means the team has 3 people who should take 90% of the shots--so be it--Lubick can score off easy looks, and Trawick will score now and then, but Porter/Whittington/Starks should take 9 out of 10 shots attempted on this team unless Hopkins is wide open for a soft layup, or Moses for a dunk. DSR--hard for a one dimensional scorer who is easy to defend (run him off the 3 by making him put it on the floor) to score but he should get looks as Pitt's guards stink.
Just need to find a way to win this game. For some reason I see a game this year approaching the '09 Sr Day level of misery (DePaul--game in 30's until we caught "fire" and scored some FT's late by Summers/Sapp) and just hope it's not more then one or this one tonight.
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Post by RDF on Jan 8, 2013 11:07:24 GMT -5
In the pregame video JT3 suggested the team would look to get more easy points in transition and to get more second chance points. III's also said that for his entire tenure "'we'll look to get more points in transition.....we just need different personnel to do this...." and only time it happens is in non conference and then conference play starts and you see "the hand go up" Hoyas walking it up and then another promise to play faster and the pleas to recruits that they "really want to be more aggressive". Markel Starks attacking on his own was the team's best offense. Throwing the ball to a center to play point in halfcourt is great when that player is an offensive weapon who can hurt a defense from the high post. If that isn't on the roster--do something else. Coaches who continue to try and prove that something will work or make a team adjust to how they want to play are making things harder for everyone. Just time to realize this team isn't a good shooting or passing team overall (as bad as Hopkins gets criticized for passing, Porter and Whittington biggest weakness is passing as well) and try to increase possessions to counteract the empty trips.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 6, 2013 21:25:04 GMT -5
Let's quit whining about who doesn't come here. The way the program has peformed on the court and how boring their style of play is as big of a factor as anything. If you talk to kids and they go off the record--that is brought up 95% of the time and yesterday sure as hell didn't help the cause for guys who this board is putting a lot of false hope into thinking they can land. Kids want to PLAY BASKETBALL--not pattern ball. We can talk about guys getting paid until we're blue in the face, but Georgetown's play hasn't helped it's cause and when you have announcers spreading your message of "they want to run.....they'll push it when they can" and you are involved in a game in the 40's, it's not going to hold much weight--especially when you have been involved in 3 games like this already this season.
Want to get elite players--win games, win championships, and win in March. That worked for III when he was first hired and players fell in line. He didn't do what was said (we're going to play faster/press, etc..when we get the personnel) and it's hurt in recruiting--along with some assistants who just don't get it done on the trail. Not liking me or what I'm saying is fine-but the results or lack of speak for themselves with certain staff members, especially one who has accomplished nothing to this day in area of recruiting.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 6, 2013 0:16:32 GMT -5
Will the new Catholic 7 league offer networks a chance to invest in "throwback" games where peach baskets and ladders are utilized?
Today was 2 hours I'll never get back, and the loss made it more painful. Had hopes that Marquette fouling another #2 on a 3pt attempt would result in same ending in OT for Hoyas but not meant to be and really a disturbing trend of offensive ineptitude. At least we know the new "go to" mantra or propoganda the program is pushing. Last year it was China Trip Fight "bringing them together" and this year it's "Georgetown likes to push the ball and run....everyone says.....but they really like to get out and go". Sure they do, lol.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 3, 2013 11:00:45 GMT -5
Honestly, I struggled to find a comparison because he reminds me of a ton of average players I see in college ball every day. How about Josh Hairston? Also, I'm not sure that Gavin is THAT athletic. Does he hustle? Yes. But he doesn't seem exceedingly quick or a great leaper. I just don't see that much potential with him. Comparing him to a 6'11 Screech lookalike who is the dirtiest player in Big East isn't fair though. Think you're right in your assessment but nobody should have to be compared to Maurice Sutton--and can't wait for the game someone decides to show Sutton how things got handled in the old Big East and breaks his nose, knocks his teeth out. Screech is a dirty player and deserves to get his ass handed to him--other then on the court where he's a complete joke.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jan 3, 2013 3:18:29 GMT -5
Maurice Sutton is an awful comparison for Schilling. You sure you have the right player? Schilling is a strong/athletic forward--kind of looks like Kris Humphries did before he started his workouts. works hard and is physical player. Runs the floor and will play above the rim. Not the most skilled guy--but a guy who flashed in EYBL games against good competition. Played with Mac Irvin Fire and had some nice moments against great competition. Role player initially but has some potential.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Dec 31, 2012 0:05:28 GMT -5
I'd take Smith because I don't want to see them wait and lose another battle--especially when it was mentioned who was recruiting Johnson.
Organic Arts--I understand your take but these kids talk a bit differently and more open when you've known them for a long time. I'll leave it at that and hope that Henry changes his mind but as of now-it's beyond a longshot.
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