|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 14, 2015 14:51:29 GMT -5
Be honest - who had Lavinwood winning at the Cintas Center? SJU looked very good.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 10, 2015 0:39:44 GMT -5
This team still needs to do a lot wrong to miss the tournament. I know the 8 losses are more than we would like to see but there are 0 bad losses on the resume and the computer numbers are crazy good given the record. The committee, in the past, loves to reward teams with a great schedule, specifically Non-conf. Coming down the stretch, need to win the home games and steal at least 1 on the road. If we do that and win a game or 2 in the BET, think this team will settle in the 6 seed range. Totally agree with the notion this game is more important for confidence though. If they play the rest of the way like their season average, they're in the tournament. If they play like they have the last two weeks, they'll be playing in the NIT. They have to do a lot wrong, sure, but they've definitely shown they can do a lot wrong lately. This team is giving me flashbacks to 2008-09 starring Smith and Hopkins as the oft-maligned DaJuan Summers, Trawick as the city-tough guard not quite ready for senior leadership Jessie Sapp, DSR as Wright and Freeman, DSR as the talented but not quite ready to carry a team Wright/Freeman backcourt, talented freshman Isaac Copeland who might not be ready physically to play the post Greg Monroe, and the freshmen supporting cast of White/Peak/Campbell for Clark/Sims. That team was a computer tiger as well, finished a game over .500 and 34th in Pomeroy's rankings. Also one of the most memorably, bafflingly frustrating teams I've ever had the misfortune of watching. So hopefully they turn it around. That '08-'09 season was agony. One painful loss after another. Pure torture. You know things are bad when the highlight of your season in on December 29 (or thereabouts).
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 8, 2015 9:15:36 GMT -5
This raises a good point. Our offense is based upon principles that could more closely be labeled read and react. It places alot of responsibility upon the players to evaluate the opposing defense and make the decision as to what to do with the pass, dribble drive or shot. There is supposed to be a lot of cutting and high screens, including some pick and roll. But it is not a pure version of the Princeton offense and has not been. It has changed over recent seasons--thankfully. The problem is simple this year--the Hoyas do not have the personnel to run their offense. Neither post is a threat away from the basket, thereby allowing the opposing team to clog the lane and deny the cut. No one cares when Smith or Hopkins goes out to the high post as there is virtually no chance either will attempt the shot from there. Only Copeland and possibly White present this threat. Moreover, the presence of Smith has changed the team's approach with entry passes. Even when the entry pass is good--something that has not been a constant--there is only one sequence that will occur. Smith attempts to back in to the basket and take a shot. If he brings the ball down or puts it on the floor, there is a high likelihood of a turnover, which explains his team leading turnover numbers. Smith rarely will make the pass out to the perimeter to the open man and even when he does this is a low percentage shooting team with only DSR considered a threat. Opposing teams stay on him and collapse on Smith leaving other shooters, like Trawick and Peak unguarded. Peak is not a good shooter and Trawick passes it up too often. Hopkins gets blocked easily or also turns the ball over when he attempts to dribble into traffic around the basket. The team is woefully poor at shooting from beyond 10 feet. In fact, they rely upon two shots--the shot under the basket and beyond the arc. We seem to have no intermediate game. Shockingly, we miss a substantial number of shots within 5 feet and 3 point shooting is poor at best. For whatever reason Trawick will pass on the open shot, Peak needs alot of work, Bowen is not a good shooter and despite some nice moments, neither is Tre. When they play a quick transition game they look better, but often lose their discipline. Watching DSR pull up for a 24 foot attempt on a 3 on 1 was very poor judgment, but no more so than watching Tre and Peak repeatedly drive to the basket on transition offense and throw up wild, shots yesterday. Peak's numbers are misleading as he misses alot of shots from under the basket. It's frustrating but it is who the Hoyas are this year. Granted it was about the NBA, but I just read an article yesterday that said that smart teams take all of their shots from under the basket and beyond the arc. The intermediate game is a thing of the past. The article was focused on the fact that Knicks fans are hoping Phil Jackson is the savior, but he is old school and the Knicks take by far the most "intermediate" shots of any team in the NBA. We see how many games they are winning with that approach.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 7, 2015 18:39:14 GMT -5
Not sure if it is a good or bad thing (lean towards bad), but the Hall is going to be as desparate as we are (if not more) for a win. They are in their own tailspin at the moment.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 7, 2015 16:03:49 GMT -5
Let's be a little realistic here. We aren't as good as they are, and we're not playing very well. That's a deadly combination. Correct. Funny that so many people thought (because of one lopsided home win) we "match up well" against Nova.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 6, 2015 0:36:32 GMT -5
Jeff Green was in Seattle, Washington in 2008, and the University of Central Florida was never a BE stalwart. Jeff was at the Verizon Center for an away game and saw JTIII in the hallway. It was reported that they had a brief exchange about it being February and Georgetown's month. And no, Central Florida was never a BE stalwart, but (a) I was obviously being sarcastic, and (b) they still beat us. On the Florida point, I think he was referring to the fact that the University of South Florida (USF), rather than the University of Central Florida (UCF), was the school in the BE. But we all knew what you meant.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 5, 2015 10:53:28 GMT -5
My positive takeaway from this game. Despite some early foul trouble for DSR, I am so happy that we no longer have to question what is wrong with DSR. He has come to play for a while now, and last night he was terrific - no turnovers, the only Hoya trying to do something with the ball, the steadying 3 point shooting, without DSR we are a lost team and he continues to get in the passing lanes. My biggest player concern is the diminishing play of Josh Smith since the Marquette game. He was been pretty bad on defense and not proactive on offense. He can be better, and I am hoping he comes out of his slump soon. I am very disappointed by his play considering this is it for him in college ball. Where is the urgency? My biggest coaching concern is III's hesitation to call a TO and run a play to at least get an open shot when the team hits the inevitable drought. It is OK to call multiple TOs even if the other team is not on a run, you get 5 of them. We also have depth, so why not use it to break a drought? How about we throw Bowen in there or Campbell? Neither of those two are intimidated and sometimes that is what we need most on the court. Bowen is a playmaker - good and bad. If we are in a rut, at least give him a shot to make something happen. That is better than to watch other pass the ball around the perimeter. DSR has been much better of late, but IMO he needs to be even more aggressive on offense - not in pushing things, but at least in not passing up open shots. It is really becoming more and more frustrating watching our shooters (and I am including all regular rotation players other than Smith, Hopkins and Bowen) pass up wide open threes. PC was repeatedly inviting us to take that shot with no pressure and we refuse to take it. Instead we hold the ball over our heads - wait 3 seconds (for the zone top adjust and take a breather) - and then pass it to the next guy who does the same thing. I would fine if most of our offensive possessions end with DSR taking a shot.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 5, 2015 1:40:15 GMT -5
A win Saturday makes the swelling go down but it won't remove the bruise from this loss. It is not that Providence is a bad team. Those last ten minutes were terrible and this loss will have ramifications when the regular season is over. Like I said before, this is nothing compared to throwing a slant pass at the one yard line on 2nd down with 40 seconds left in the super bowl when all you had to do is give Lynch or Wilson the ball and jump over the goal line. Puts things in perspective. Like we all thought the first time you said it, this is a Georgetown Basketball message board. No one really gives a about the Seattle Seahawks.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 4, 2015 17:36:49 GMT -5
Like others have said, it is time for STUDENTS to step up. Nova game was only home game that they have so far. This game is HUGE and if we can't fill up student section then maybe we don't deserve a BE championship. Good student turnout for Butler as well. After Xavier, I honestly have no hope for tonight. Too bad. But fortunately student section turnout is not a factor in determining a BE champion.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 3, 2015 19:07:47 GMT -5
Gene Smith's utter domination of Kentucky's Dickie Beal as Beal tried to bring the ball upcourt in the second half of the national semifinal win against Kentucky. At one point, after knocking the ball out of bounds, Smith turned to Billy Packer and winked. Tom Scates going full Dr. J.with a one handed scoop shot across the lane against Penn at the Palestra in 1979. On a much smaller scale obviously, but I always remember how Dwayne Bryant and Mark Tillmon defended Dana Barros in the quarters of the 1989 BET. That was fun to watch.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 1, 2015 1:20:02 GMT -5
I hated UVA's end of game strategy. Down 3 with a 10 second differential, IMO you HAVE to foul and extend the game. You play it out and the other team scores -- game over. Horrible. Not quite Esh and the 4 second differential, but still so painful to watch.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Feb 1, 2015 1:11:07 GMT -5
Agreed......while a sweep on our part is a lot to ask, it is really important we don't get swept. Have to take care of business at home, then you never know at Nova. Yes. Wednesday is the key. Really need that one.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 31, 2015 18:59:52 GMT -5
Dan - you are very creative opening up new game threads.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 31, 2015 18:58:53 GMT -5
We should all thank SFHoya and the gang for commandeering CenturyLink and willing our men to victory! And we didnt even get asked to leave. Chill victory. Wasnt really ever in doubt. Were just more talented. Kinda surprised at this thread -- i get creighton isnt great but twenty seven points on the road is twenty seven points. There is no better feeling than travelling to see the Hoyas and being rewarded with a dominating win. Have fun tonight!
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 31, 2015 13:17:21 GMT -5
*- home team AT HALFTIME #5 Wisconsin 42, Iowa* 36 IN THE FIRST HALF St. John's* 33, Providence 27 (3:33 to play) Xavier 33, Seton Hall* 30 (2:28) Pittsburgh 37, #8 Notre Dame 33 (1:28) #17 West Virginia* 30, Texas Tech 14 (5:41) I know it is early to be worrying too much about this, but I really want SJU and SHU to win these early games today for BE standings purposes (and BET seeding tie break purposes wrt Xavier).
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 30, 2015 8:38:04 GMT -5
Since only Nova has been dumb enough not to play zone against the Hoyas, it is going to be critical to get a scoring threat in the high post. This can never happen with Smith and Hopkins playing together. One interesting fact about this year's Hoyas is that the two starting posts lead the team in turnovers--not unique, but certinly not that common. Of course this happens when both try to put the ball on the floor, a skill neither possesses or when the entry pass is not perfect. Poor entry passes can usually be attribued to the passer, but when the target is not mobile or quick, like Smith, it makes the pass that much more difficult. I am becoming convinced that the addition of Smith will never be the positive I expected--though his play is vastly improved--because it is totally dependent upon other players being on their games. What I never expected was the inconsistency of DSR and Trawick this year, as well as the failure of Hopkins to improve at least a little on the offensive end. I admit to thinking he would take at least a little Simms-like step as aa senior. He certainly has on defense, but that is not what is hurting this team. Xavier played mostly man to man against the Hoyas Tuesday night.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 28, 2015 20:42:41 GMT -5
On the positive side, there is now a guy dressed up in some type of pig or cow outfit on the band side of the floor that is organizing coordinated efforts to distract free throw shooters. Several free throws by opponents have been missed and I would like to think the efforts of the students played a part in that (although of course I cant be sure that such actions have caused the missed free throws for those of you focused on such matters!)
As someone who has been to every home game but for 3 (12/31/11, 12/7/13 and 1/3/15) in the last 3.5+ seasons, I have never really had an issue with the effort of the students and other fans who do show up. I just wish there were more people there for many of the games. As I noted last week, I thought the crowds for Butler and Nova were great. When the lower two bowls are filled or nearly filled, it can be a tremendous atmosphere. I think we all need to accept that, for now at least, filling the lower two bowls (or coming close) is a good crowd. I suspect that would certainly change with a year or two with a top 10-15 team.
Having said all of that, I continue to believe that Gtown made a horrible mistake not figuring out a way to get a new 7K seat arena on campus. I am well aware of all of the difficulties - I just wish they could have figured out a way to get it done.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 28, 2015 14:46:22 GMT -5
If you read between the lines I think the reason we are so upset at this loss is that we all thought THIS TEAM wouldn't play like this. I know I sure did. I just thought we had too much talent to experience another of those huge scoring droughts. We were too fearless to be unable to come back from large deficits. And our foul shooting wouldn't tank. But we aren't there yet and probably will experience more games like this. Hopefully, we will return to Nova/Marquette form and not spoil our NCAA chances. I still have hope for a surprising NCAA run. I was wondering if you were going to reassess all of the easy road wins still on our schedule after last night.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 28, 2015 13:47:06 GMT -5
I thought the zone press with Copeland at the front of it looked good. We never actually turned them over on it, but we were close and they were rattled (and had a few near 10 second calls). I wish we had stayed with that longer to try to turn them over and change momentum. I agree with this. I think there's potential there. The one thing we need to add to it, is when they make a pass to just get over the line, we need to be ready to trap that guy and use the line as another defender. Twice they managed to get the ball to a guy just past half court and he was allowed to turn and face and look for the next pass with out any pressure really. Exactly right.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyJones on Jan 27, 2015 23:56:21 GMT -5
Can we all agree that you can't rush the court and then not show up the next game? Half full student section after a big win is a terrible thing. And half of them sitting the whole game. Not sure what Hoya blue or the school needs to do, but there is a serious lack of student support at the moment. We have a lot of bandwagon fans (especially students) who are pretty unknowledgeable about how college basketball works. Always have, always will... I'm not sure the current student body even has bandwagon fans - bandwagon fans would have been there tonight?
|
|