A Tale Of Two Teams

[dee]

Less time touring the San Francisco Giants ballpark and more time in practicing teaching boxing out, rebounding drills, footwork, communication on defense, etc. it's great to have superior athletes on your team. But relying solely on your athleticism to win games is not sustainable in the long run.

Nice comment about the ballpark tour. Seeing the WS Trophy and getting a talk from a pro athlete is never a bad thing.

Plus they are only given a certain amount of practice time. Reading these boards between the rebounding, FT shooting, a defense they had no time to plan for Doolin

As much as I think the touring in San Francisco was in its own way educational, I do think it took the edge off the team in reference to preparing for the game. I recall John Thompson years back bringing his teams to the NCAA tournament and putting them in hotels away from the arena and media so that they could focus on the game to be played. I know the tournament has a different level of excitement and tension than an early game against a non-conference opponent but with the condition this program has been in, winning has to be a top priority. It is time to turn things around and not just around but totally around. No more tours. These players must practice, prepare and WIN WIN WIN

You got it coach! I'm sure after visiting Alcatraz they said winning this game is nothing. We got to see a National Park!
How is your Vanderbilt squad looking this year?

Vandy has a football team going to the Music Bowl and is in a rebuilding mode for its basketball team due to graduations.As an SEC team they are rolling in football money. I believe two of their graduates are now in the NBA from last year's class. They just beat Xavier in overtime and Stallings stresses defense.
As for the touring that I mention in a prior post, I still think it effected the team's performance. It was a nice touch and for the students/players I am sure they had a great time but it is time to get serious. This school has lost a great deal of prestige since the Pittsburgh fiasco and we still havent recovered. We have fallen from the ranks in all time wins to other schools who have since passed us. We have trouble beating a nothing team from New Jersey. It is nice to get some talented players but they have to mold that talent to play defense and play smart on offense by not taking quick shots Personally, I am tired of losing. Very tired. So I dont want to read about tours, I want to read about practices and Wins.

 

[Moose]

Less time touring the San Francisco Giants ballpark and more time in practicing teaching boxing out, rebounding drills, footwork, communication on defense, etc. it's great to have superior athletes on your team. But relying solely on your athleticism to win games is not sustainable in the long run.

Nice comment about the ballpark tour. Seeing the WS Trophy and getting a talk from a pro athlete is never a bad thing.

Plus they are only given a certain amount of practice time. Reading these boards between the rebounding, FT shooting, a defense they had no time to plan for Doolin

As much as I think the touring in San Francisco was in its own way educational, I do think it took the edge off the team in reference to preparing for the game. I recall John Thompson years back bringing his teams to the NCAA tournament and putting them in hotels away from the arena and media so that they could focus on the game to be played. I know the tournament has a different level of excitement and tension than an early game against a non-conference opponent but with the condition this program has been in, winning has to be a top priority. It is time to turn things around and not just around but totally around. No more tours. These players must practice, prepare and WIN WIN WIN

You got it coach! I'm sure after visiting Alcatraz they said winning this game is nothing. We got to see a National Park!
How is your Vanderbilt squad looking this year?

Vandy has a football team going to the Music Bowl and is in a rebuilding mode for its basketball team due to graduations.As an SEC team they are rolling in football money. I believe two of their graduates are now in the NBA from last year's class. They just beat Xavier in overtime and Stallings stresses defense.
As for the touring that I mention in a prior post, I still think it effected the team's performance. It was a nice touch and for the students/players I am sure they had a great time but it is time to get serious. This school has lost a great deal of prestige since the Pittsburgh fiasco and we still havent recovered. We have fallen from the ranks in all time wins to other schools who have since passed us. We have trouble beating a nothing team from New Jersey. It is nice to get some talented players but they have to mold that talent to play defense and play smart on offense by not taking quick shots Personally, I am tired of losing. Very tired. So I dont want to read about tours, I want to read about practices and Wins.

I'm sure no other team in America has kids tour a city they are in for a period of days. What a pathetic decision on our administrations part to do such a thing.

 

[logen]

Less time touring the San Francisco Giants ballpark and more time in practicing teaching boxing out, rebounding drills, footwork, communication on defense, etc. it's great to have superior athletes on your team. But relying solely on your athleticism to win games is not sustainable in the long run.

Nice comment about the ballpark tour. Seeing the WS Trophy and getting a talk from a pro athlete is never a bad thing.

Plus they are only given a certain amount of practice time. Reading these boards between the rebounding, FT shooting, a defense they had no time to plan for Doolin

As much as I think the touring in San Francisco was in its own way educational, I do think it took the edge off the team in reference to preparing for the game. I recall John Thompson years back bringing his teams to the NCAA tournament and putting them in hotels away from the arena and media so that they could focus on the game to be played. I know the tournament has a different level of excitement and tension than an early game against a non-conference opponent but with the condition this program has been in, winning has to be a top priority. It is time to turn things around and not just around but totally around. No more tours. These players must practice, prepare and WIN WIN WIN

You got it coach! I'm sure after visiting Alcatraz they said winning this game is nothing. We got to see a National Park!
How is your Vanderbilt squad looking this year?

Vandy has a football team going to the Music Bowl and is in a rebuilding mode for its basketball team due to graduations.As an SEC team they are rolling in football money. I believe two of their graduates are now in the NBA from last year's class. They just beat Xavier in overtime and Stallings stresses defense.
As for the touring that I mention in a prior post, I still think it effected the team's performance. It was a nice touch and for the students/players I am sure they had a great time but it is time to get serious. This school has lost a great deal of prestige since the Pittsburgh fiasco and we still havent recovered. We have fallen from the ranks in all time wins to other schools who have since passed us. We have trouble beating a nothing team from New Jersey. It is nice to get some talented players but they have to mold that talent to play defense and play smart on offense by not taking quick shots Personally, I am tired of losing. Very tired. So I dont want to read about tours, I want to read about practices and Wins.

I'm sure no other team in America has kids tour a city they are in for a period of days. What a pathetic decision on our administrations part to do such a thing.

Agreed Mosse. I mean what were they thinking???

 

[beast of the east]

Without going into any further wordy analysis, it is clear that Lavin recruits a certain type of athlete, very talented and athletic guys that fit into a system that puts a lot of pressure up top, and can run an opponent into the ground. We saw what Lavin meant to an experienced bunch of losers with moderate talent - pushed them to number 8 in the rankings before an injury to Brownlee cooled them off to a 1st round exit.

Looie like point guards who didn't turn the ball over, teams that played man, and consistently recruited the best of the rest, picking up a super blue chip local every few years. If you couldn't play in control, you sat on the bench (see Curtis Redding, Larry Washington). If you could learn to play in his system under control your minutes soared (see Bernard Rencher).

Lavin's style will pay dividends once this team matures, and we get to a point where mature players are augmented by talented (and still reckless) freshmen and sophomores. It will likely begin next season. Until then, enjoy the ride of some up and down nights, often filled with lots of excitement, but with a fair share of disappointing losses.

 

[docbutler]

Let's hope you're right about that Beast, although from my perspective, we're sacrificing a lot of games with an eye towards the future. I believe that he has the goods to be a winner "now". The pressure up top is making our defense porous and creates compromises that often feed into the strengths of certain opponents. If the likes of San Francisco can exploit what we're doing, what will happen when we meet experienced and talented squads in the Big East. I feel this current defense makes us exploitable. I believe a change in defensive approach would change that. Branch is supposed to be an accomplished defensive player. It entirely possible that a clever and quick guard at the top might make the current defensive scheme more effective. But right now, Harrison, Greene, and Pointer cannot provide the lateral quickness to make the current defense effective. We are playing "stupid". Other teams know this, and there is a book on St. John's that most teams will be trying to emulate. Obviously, they would have to start with talented guards, or at least a creative and quick point guard. We'll see...I'm hoping you are right.

 

[Section3]

Let's hope you're right about that Beast, although from my perspective, we're sacrificing a lot of games with an eye towards the future. I believe that he has the goods to be a winner "now". The pressure up top is making our defense porous and creates compromises that often feed into the strengths of certain opponents. If the likes of San Francisco can exploit what we're doing, what will happen when we meet experienced and talented squads in the Big East. I feel this current defense makes us exploitable. I believe a change in defensive approach would change that. Branch is supposed to be an accomplished defensive player. It entirely possible that a clever and quick guard at the top might make the current defensive scheme more effective. But right now, Harrison, Greene, and Pointer cannot provide the lateral quickness to make the current defense effective. We are playing "stupid". Other teams know this, and there is a book on St. John's that most teams will be trying to emulate. Obviously, they would have to start with talented guards, or at least a creative and quick point guard. We'll see...I'm hoping you are right.

You make some good points Doc but here is my take and I am admittedly just a very long time fan...

D-Lo is "slow of foot" and needs to work very hard at on-ball D

Greene is quicker but seems to lack the focus on "D"...I almost imagine a "bubble" above his head filled with thoughts other than "I am gonna shut this guy down"...with proper focus I think he should be quick enough to be a good enough defensive player

Pointer absolutely has what it takes to be great defensive player but needs to "pick his spots" (for a steal) better...I think he needs to know when to hold 'em so to speak in order be in a position to force his man to give the ball up

I think half the battle is acknowledging the gap between current performance and excellence...which is why it was encouraging to hear Amir admit that the defense was exposed (in a recent article)...Hopefully this will translate to increased focus, awareness and improved results...

I was bummed by recent performance but once I got over it...took a step back to recognize that we are still a work in progress and on a path forward...