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Post by Churchwell on Nov 18, 2009 12:13:51 GMT -5
Wow. As a loooonnnggggg-time lurker who almost never posts, I have to say i am surprised. It's taken just one stinker of a game - the second of the season at that - for all the boo-birds, negative nellies and couch potato coaches to dissect everything that is wrong with this team and pretty much write the team and/or the system and/or recruiting completely off.
And to think, I usually wait until February before I stop reading this board.
Seriously. Let's all just take a deep breath and wait to pass judgment. There are three perfect times to do it when it actually makes sense:
1) Immediately following the Washington game on December 12. We will have just played 2 VERY good teams in Butler and UW and we'll know a lot more about what this group is capable of.
2) On January 9, right after we play UCONN. We will have just finished playing a mixed bag of average teams and faced a major test by a team that ought to be in the Sweet 16. We'll see how much they've grown from Butler/UW.
3) January 30. That's when Duke comes to town. We will have just finished a stretch that includes Nova, Pitt and Syracuse. This team will pretty much be who we think they are at that point in the season.
I remember the Hoyas getting WAXED by Arkansas in the first game of the 1994-95 season - looking unbelievably inept - and we made it to the Sweet 16 that year. Heck, in 2005-6 we lost our home opener to Vandy by stinking up the joint in the 2nd half and we all know how that season turned out. Illinois took us apart as well a couple weeks later. Let's not forget ODU the following year. At home. In McDonough. Or Oregon after that. We don't know if this year is a reprise of 2008-9 yet, but we will soon enough.
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Post by Churchwell on Apr 7, 2009 9:06:24 GMT -5
I gotta disagree with you, too the_way (respectfully, of course). Let's look at Summers' and Monroe's stats - Monroe the freshman vs. Summers the freshman and Monroe the freshman vs. Summers the Junior: Stat Categories MPG PPG FG% 3% RPG APG SPG A/T Summers (FR) 26.4 9.2 41.2 33.1 3.7 1.1 0.8 1/1.9 G. Monroe (FR) 30.9 12.7 57.2 33.3 6.5 2.5 1.8 1/1 Summers (JR) 29.4 13.6 47.4 38.5 4.1 1.3 1.1 They may be in the same ballpark, but Monroe clearly had a bigger impact as a freshman. Maybe that's why the BE coaches named him the Rookie of the Year. In fact, with the exception of Summers' 38.5% three-point shooting and slight edge in points, Monroe's Frosh stats are the same or better than Summers' Junior season stats. Obviously time will tell...we know how Summers played out. If Greg stays, we'll see what happens next year. I contend he has a much bigger upside than Summers - which easy for me to do from the over here in the cheap seats. ;-)
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NCAA
Feb 28, 2009 17:20:59 GMT -5
Post by Churchwell on Feb 28, 2009 17:20:59 GMT -5
Here's where things stand after the Nova Win:
Team RPI SOS Hoyas 40 1 San Diego State 53 58 Cincy 54 21 Temple 47 55 St. Mary's 51 38 Texas A&M 35 35 Penn State 64 84 Miami 45 10 UAB 44 57 USC 52 12 VT 56 41 Michigan 46 11 Providence 72 36 Maryland 58 24
Obviously there's more to it than RPI and SOS, but if we win our last two and one in the BET we're in the mix. Win our last two and two in the BET and we're off the bubble.
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Post by Churchwell on Feb 12, 2008 10:52:27 GMT -5
While I hate to win a game like that almost as much as I hate to lose it, I completely agree.
Imagine if there had been 3 seconds left. The ref has no choice but to either call the foul or whistle Wallace for a turnover for going out of bounds - giving Nova plenty of time to get a shot off to win the game. If that had happened Hoya fans would be going nuts because it's clear from the replays that the contact led to Wallace going out of bounds. If there were a couple seconds left we'd all fell very differently about a no call there (as would, I suspect, Jay Bilas).
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Post by Churchwell on Dec 19, 2007 14:14:35 GMT -5
Tiger fans have an interesting discussion going on about comments Mike DeCourcy made on some local radio show - apparently he said the Hoyas have the deeper bench (or something to that effect). They find that hard to believe. I don't...we have three McDonald's All Americans coming off the bench (Freeman, Wright and Macklin). We also have our best on-the-ball defender (and perhaps the most improved player so far this season) coming off the bench (Rivers).
Not that this means anything, but I think Chris Wright won the three point shooting contest in the McD game last year. I also believe Freeman was the runner-up in the McD slam dunk contest (to Griffin). I'm sure the Memphis bench is deep, but it is THAT deep? You could say our bench is young, but I doubt there are too many teams that are better - including Memphis. We'll find out Saturday. By the way, I'm not suggesting that success in the dunk/three point contests translates into success on the court...only suggesting that our bench players were big-time, well-known recruits who have performed on a big stage.
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Post by Churchwell on Sept 14, 2007 15:29:51 GMT -5
I have it on fairly good authority that with the exception of a few single seats, the entire lower bowl has been sold to season ticket holders (student and otherwise) and has been for weeks. There is indeed a wait list and you have to pay just to get on it. I believe they may have even opened up some of the 400 sections up above for season tickets (I may have that wrong, however). I don't know the formula, but we have reached the season ticket threshold where the Big East will allow us to put put the seats allotted to opposing fans up in the nosebleeds (they used to be on the wings). Needless to say, we ought to have the best home court since moving to the Verizon Center. Opposing fans are going to have to obtain seats from season ticket holders if they want to be close to the action.
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Post by Churchwell on May 23, 2007 13:22:07 GMT -5
I don't want to split hairs because too finely because obviously our everything flowed much better with BOTH of them in the game. I probably didn't make my point effectivele enough. IMHO Roy's defensive presence and his offensive efficiency are tougher to replace than Green's intangibles (if I had to chose between the two). I know Green made everyone around him better, but Roy is such an anchor (if he can avoid foul trouble). I just recall everything being more fluid with Roy in the game--although I readily admit Jeff was the glue.
FWIW, in our four 2007 losses, it's hard to make a definitive case that it was Green's ineffectiveness that did us in:
Nova - Roy didn't attempt a shot and made 2-6 freethrows. Green was 2-5 and 3-3 from the line. They both stunk up the joint but Nova played great defense. Green had 4 fouls. Call this a draw in shouldering the burden for the loss.
Pitt - Roy was 5-6 and 1-2 for 11, Green was 6-13 and 1-2 for 15. Neither was in foul trouble. We played a perfect game and got beat by a team that played better that day.
Syracuse - Roy was 3-4 and 0-0 from the line. Green was 3-13, 2-3 (10 rebounds, however). Neither in foul trouble. This one maybe makes your point...Green struggled offensively and we lost.
OSU - Roy was 9-13 / 1-4 for 19 with 4 fouls. Green was 4-5 / 1-2 for 9 and 4 fouls (12 boards as well). I guess if Green got more involved we might win but it's not like he had a terrible game.
Let's be friends.
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Post by Churchwell on May 23, 2007 12:41:15 GMT -5
Wow....we all wish Green were staying, but Roy is key because he's so tough to defend. We have a couple of guys who might be able to fill Jeff's shoes--we have nobody who can replace Roy right now. Recall how much our offense stagnated every time Roy had to sit last year.
This team will be a disappointment if it doesn't make the Sweet Sixteen and we could be a top ten team come January. Thanks for getting the Hoyas back on top Jeff. We'll miss you (and your mom).
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Post by Churchwell on May 21, 2007 15:31:40 GMT -5
We're putting cover sheets on all of our TPS reports now. Didn't you get the memo?
It's "WG" people--"W" followed by "G"
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Post by Churchwell on May 11, 2007 17:18:30 GMT -5
Brilliant post FLHoya - pretty much sums it up.
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Post by Churchwell on Mar 28, 2007 14:48:13 GMT -5
The thing that's frustrated me about the way the media (and Carolina fans, for that matter) have been treating this is the way they seem to dismiss a 10 point lead with 6 minutes to go as insurmountable. It certainly felt that way at the time, I guess, but it's not like they were up by 20!
We basically cut their 10 point lead in half in 2 minutes--from the 6 minute mark to the 4 minute mark by holding them scoreless on three possessions and scoring on all of ours. That's pretty much all it took--three solid defensive possessions--and then at 5 points it was anybody's game. I think that's the point where JTIII switched to exclusively to zone as well, which gave them fits.
Heck, we only scored 2 more points than they did over the last 3 minutes and 30 seconds...until JWallace's three-pointer. Yes, they took some ill-advised shots, but I think it was our zone, combined with the fact that Roy had 7 blocks, that forced them into it..
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Post by Churchwell on Mar 27, 2007 17:54:40 GMT -5
mm - I totally agree with you. Against BC and again vs Vandy I felt like Georgetown did not play their best ball. I thought we would beat UNC simply because I couldn't see the Hoyas playing too many games in a row without breaking out the good stuff we've all seen so many times this season. Outside of giving up WAY too many offensive rebounds, and perhaps not doing enough to change the initial pace of the game, I do think we played one of our best games against UNC (our box score was just sick). If the Hoyas bring their A game Saturday, they'll beat tOSU--just ask everyone outside of Syracuse. NY who's played us over the past three months. If we do get by Oden, Conley and Lewis, it's FLA that worries me...I'm not sure the A game is enough against those guys. They're like the bizarro Georgetown...they have an equal and opposite starter to match everyone of our key guys (with the exception of perhaps DaJuan) and with their up-tempo, aggressive, emotional style it could be like a clash of two worlds (not to get ahead of myself ).
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Post by Churchwell on Mar 15, 2007 10:18:46 GMT -5
I won't lie...it's actually man-love. "A Good Walk Spoiled" made me cry.
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Post by Churchwell on Mar 15, 2007 9:59:51 GMT -5
Jeez....when will this negative fixation with Feinstein stop. I listened to this interview and I thought he was very complimentary of the Hoyas and the direction of the program. He was on the program in the midst of a feature discussion about whether the Hoyas were on the brink of another dynasty.
I don't think it's a stretch at all to suggest the JTIII is a better coach at this point in his career than his Dad. In fact, it would make a nice discussion thread right here on Hoyatalk (not saying I agree that the son is better than his hall of fame father, but it's worthy of discussion). I did not get the impression that Feinstein was taking a shot at Pops--he was complimenting JTIII on the way he prepares his teams to play and his in-game adjustments.
As far as recruiting, the comment about Green and Hibbert being Esh recruits was in the context of whether or not JTIII is the total package--great coach and great recruiter. Feinstein was making the point that we need to wait to see how his recruits do before we anoint JTIII as the total package. In fact, Czab had just commented about how awful Esh was at in-game coaching. From my perspective Feinstein was trying to throw Esh a bone by reminding people that Green and Hibbert were his guys.
So Feinstein has some bad history with they Hoyas...I think the reaction to this thread is emblematic about why he's right about being the guy to cover us in Winston-Salem. There's probably nothing that he can do at this point to appease those Hoya fans whose bile builds up every time he opens his mouth. Why should he write about the Hoyas? We'd find something to crucify him for not being effusive enough. I don't think there's any love lost with the Tar Heels either, which is probably another reason why he's not there.
Not a Feinstein apologist...just trying to be fair and balanced. Go Hoyas! ;)
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Post by Churchwell on Feb 10, 2006 0:08:17 GMT -5
I sat near one of the groups of GW supporters and it made thew evening a little spicier (and I'm not talking about the fact that one of the girls was smoking hot). Some highlights:
1) The girl from GW whose face was painted with "WG" (with the G actually backwards!) because she painted it on while looking in the mirror and of course it looked right to her at the time.
2) The guy who kept yelling "It doesn't work...I got into Georgetown and turned them down" every time the students would chant "safety school" at them.
3) The other guy whose best comeback when the students reminded them of the drubbing they took at the hands of NC State (their only game against a team that's actually going to the NCAAs) was "They're better than you." Clearly not a student of the transitive property of college basketball.
The GW fans just looked so dejected all night...they started off cheering madly for St. Johns, but that kind of lost its luster--especially in the second half when it took 9 minutes before St. Johns scored more than 2 points (seriously...the Johnies still had 20 pts with 11:00 left in the game). I admit that took balls, but boy did they ever pick the wrong night to make their point. I think even they left thinking that maybe a matchup against the Hoyas in the tournament might not be such a good idea.
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Post by Churchwell on Jan 19, 2006 10:44:20 GMT -5
I am a local alum and have had season tickets for 12 years now. I am a relatively quiet, reserved guy in my normal life but a total homer idiot when it comes to Hoya Basketball. If you sit anywhere near the floor in section 110 you've probably heard my high-pitch screams of agony or witnessed my fist-pumps of elation (usually accompanied by a Howard Dean-esque squeal...not that I'm proud of that).
Over the past couple of years I've witnessed two opposite trends:
1) the student support has surged and it is truly awesome to observe the faith and interest that you guys have in the program. Your optimism is well-founded and I hope the team, the coach, the program and the administration continue to fuel that fire.
2) despite this year's ticket sales, the active, vocal butts-in-your-seat alum support has waned. I know the tickets are being bought, but I just don't think we alums are going.
My opinion is that #2 is simply because we don't have a winning, ranked, exciting program right now. We have a ton of potential, and a reason to be optimistic about the future, but this team hasn't proven anything to anybody this year other than an ability to compete. We must win some games against top competition if we want to create the excitement that's going to get people to the games. An unranked Hoyas squad playing scrappy USF just isn't going to bring people in the door. A ranked team coming off wins over Duke and Notre Dame (allow me to dream...) hosting Cincinnati will probably find a pretty packed house at the MCI Center.
On a related note, as important as the "young" alumni are to fan support, I actually think it's the older guys (35+) who are buying up all the HHC tickets (this is a guess, I have no data to support this assertion). I buy tickets with a group of 5-6 guys who all purchase multiple tickets so we can bring friends and family to the games. Many of us have young children, however, and really demanding jobs. As much as I love the Hoyas, where in the past I wouldn't miss a home game for anything at all, these days I have to choose very carefully, because I simply don't have the time to attend every home game. So I skip the crappy opponents and show up only for the ranked teams and key rivals. Could I give tickets away for Fairfield or Savannah State coming off losses to Vandy and Illinois? Not a chance. Unless this team is ranked nobody who isn't a die hard fan is going to care.
My $.02...
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Post by Churchwell on Feb 23, 2006 15:46:44 GMT -5
According to today's SI.com "Truth & Rumors" Jefferson may still be at large. I can't find any confirmation to this, but here is the blurb: "An Internet report that highly touted forward Davon Jefferson has committed to USC is incorrect, a source said. USC still has not committed its fifth and final scholarship for next season. -- Los Angeles Times" sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/02/23/truth.rumors.college/index.html Maybe someone more industrious than me can chase this down...
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Post by Churchwell on Jan 4, 2006 15:29:05 GMT -5
Good Guys - 77 Bad Guys - 55
Five players in double figures in a blowout. The wheels come off Providence's bus on the way from the airport.
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Post by Churchwell on May 16, 2005 14:04:28 GMT -5
I don't know that the debate is "pointless and hurtful." I think it's just the off-season and there is very little relevant for die hard fans to talk about and debate, so stuff like this becomes a full-blown discussion. That said, from the "we don't know what the situation is" camp...
What if Wallace is already on an academic or similar needs-based scholarship? Do you fix what ain't broken?
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Post by Churchwell on Apr 29, 2005 9:24:11 GMT -5
I don't know how reliable the source is, but according to Hoopscoop he is GW-bound. Here's the link (http://www.hoopscooponline.com/visitors/scoop-free.html), with the caption is below...sounds like they know what they're talking about. Looks like GW is doing its part to put DC basketball back on the map:
"Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin tells us that 6'4 Mike Spadafora from Warminster (Archbishop Wood) PA has signed with Maryland-Baltimore County and 6'4 Noel Wilmore from Chester (H.S.) PA has signed with George Washington. Wilmore, who was ranked #17 in the area on Rubin's latest rankings, apparently has dramatically improved, because the Colonials had to beat out schools like, Georgetown, Wisconsin, and Northwestern for Wilmore's services. Wilmore always has been an excellent 3-point shooter and a good defender, but he's a better slasher now and, as a result, should fit in perfectly with the Colonials' recruiting class, which already includes 6'8 Robert Diggs from Gywnn Park (Brandywine) MD and 6'7 Montrell McDonald from North Bridgton (Bridgton Academy) ME and is tied at #121, along with St. Joseph's, St. Bonaventure, Florida International, Towson, Boston College, and Temple, on our list of the Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2005. Obviously the connection for getting Wilmore is George Washington assistant coach Roland Houston, who not only is Philadelphia-native, but also is one of the best recruiters in the area after having served as an assistant coach at La Salle for five years prior to moving into a similar position with the Colonials a year ago. However, George Washington's best new player next year promises to be 6'8 Soph Regis Koundjia, who sat out last season after transferring from LSU to GW. Not only are we talking about a ridiculous athlete, but also somebody who was good enough to be ranked #21 nationally in the Class of 2003 when LSU signed him when he was a senior at Laurinburg (Institute) NC. Spadafora not only is versatile enough to play the one, two, and the three, but he also was the MVP in the Philadelphia Catholic League this past season.
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