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Date Posted: Thursday, January 15, 11:35:51pm
Author: oldtimer#1
Subject: Re: Please God
In reply to:
Gray Poll
's message, "Please God" on Thursday, January 15, 07:51:15pm
Here goes...
#1) I can excuse anyone who has not been to the last few games for their criticisms but if you have been to the last several, beginning with the Seton Hall game (sans Wesley), and don't think that this is a tremendously improved team since last year or early this year then you don't know basketball. The simple truth is that we don't have enough prime time players to match up with most other teams. Wesley, Nick, and Ryan can play with anyone in the league. However, our other players are decent and hopefully improving but are not of the quality other team starters possessed.
#2) The players. Wesley is still not playing well offensively. Haven't checked the stats but again missed many from the outside. He has been off all year. On the other hand, his steals, defensive play and rebounds were key tonight. His defense was tremendous but his 18 pts. were quite deceiving. Ryan Bacon continues to improve as his confidence grows. Wants the ball, knows what to do with it etc. The best big man on the floor offensively and defensively the last several games. Has an outside chance for All-MAAC but his first few games this year and the fact that he's playing on a lower level team will hurt his chances. Hopefully not a star in the making but a star that has arrived.
Stats will show that Nick played an average game but what they will not show was that Nick handled the ball for us most of the time. Also not in the stats was the fact that their super quick guard and defensive specialist, Allen, guarded Nick all night from baseline to baseline. Only once did Allen get his hands on the ball but Nick recovered to keep posession. Also not in the stats was the fact that Nick not Brandon Hall guarded Han all night. Double duty! Don't know Han's final stats but I do know that four of his points came on fast break layups and several on necessary fouling in the last few minutes. Bottom line is that Nick has outplayed Lewis of Niagara (a potential 1st team All-MAAC), outplayed Loyola's decent point and without getting into a debate held his own with Han. IMO Nick like Bacon has arrived. One of the most underrated players in the league.
#3) Coaching/Offensive Flow and the rest of this ongoing debate. First, let me say straight out (lest some misintrepret or alter). John Dunne will most likely be judged by his record at contract renewal. In that I agree with Gray Poll and others that a losing record is a losing record, period. However, if anyone can't see that the guy can coach then... SPC Fan mentioned a few weeks ago that JD outcoached Gonzales. IMO he at least held his own with coach M of Niagara, did a better job than Pastos and more than held his own against Fairfield.
So what's all this offensive flow stuff? Truth is that most of our problem is not having the players. Funny how our offense improved when Ryan Bacon became a legit scoring threat. Still don't think we have very good offensive flow because we still need another shooting and scoring threat. Ryan Bacon's performance has made that flow look better and so will another shooter. Wesley and Nick can't play 35-40 minutes per game all seasom long and when one or the other is on the bench we are hurting. Play's??? Anybody notice the backdoor cuts and alley op passes the last several games?
A final word about our current coach. He was criticized by some for lack of player development. We can put that puppy to bed now. His bench coaching (timeouts, substitutions, instructions) have been mentioned positively by several posters. We also do not play like a beaten team with a horrible record. Anyone who has ever played sports on any level should know that reflects directly on the coach and staff.PS We've had several good performances in a row. Every team has it's stinker's (including Siena, Niagara and Fairfield), we are due. However, the team's look and performance has shown more than just marginal improvement.
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Re: Please God -- figgyprez, Friday, January 16, 12:42:36am [1]
Some thoughts on tonight. Guard defense was generally good. Allen made a few that hurt, but Han was controlled. Evanovich became Larry Bird, but all his looks were wide open. A beef I had was that he kept getting the same open shot. Defenders did what they might ususally do, sloughing off to double down or help on the driver who then kicked it to Evanovich wide open. Give him credit, he drilled them, but at some point I think we needed to adjust and stay in his shirt rather than helping. When is Wes going to get a call? The kid is wise enough to know his perimeter shot's not there, so he drives it and gets bumped or held without any call. Not just tonight, but for last several I've noticed.Costner needs to shoot more, he can do it and get about 10-12ppg. Team is playing hard, really competing, just not good enough yet to beat teams in top 5 of league. Still want to see us vs Manhattan, Iona and Marist. Agree with Cindy that at least now on most nights I feel we have a chance. Not that that's good enough but it is progress.
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Re: Please God -- oldtimer#1, Friday, January 16, 07:33:30am [1]
Good point about Wes. He gets bumped and handchecked all the time. Yet few are called. Don't know who was guarding Evanovich but I can understand somewhat the thinking on the first few he made. Don't know his listed height but he is big. Not an excuse for our defender but Evanovich was standing in deep 3 territory (well behind the line) while their center was a definite force offensively (20 pts./13 rebounds). Think Evanovich was being neglected to give help down low. However, after one or two, you have to take notice. JD did and was yelling to get up on one particular play I noticed.
With the exception of Wes shooting better think the team has played as well as they could the last several games. Particularly impressed when they lost the lead with Loyola and yet hung tough. Just don't think we have the firepower. We are getting to be a good defensive trapping team with several steals and pop outs on their guards. We run the floor pretty well but don't have that rebounding power to start the break as of yet. If I had to pick a negative to improve upon most of our players are too stationary on offense waiting for designed plays instead of constantly moving. Probably nit picking on my part but it is noticable.
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Re: Please God -- loyal, Friday, January 16, 07:41:52pm [1]
I am very happy to see some signs of life....in particular Nick and Ryan have really improved since the Wagner and Monmouth debacles.
Have to credit the staff for this improvement.
I still think Jenkins will come around......though the shooting slump is way beyond that at this point. He's been too good a shooter for too long for this to be permanent.
Now....if the recruiting can follow suit.....
Much more fun watching this club now, even if a Play in game is in the offing in early March.
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