Cal State Northridge, Mon. Dec. 5, 6:30pm, FS1/970

Crazy to say about a 6pt victory over CS Northridge, but this felt like a good win. Any crazy, wishful fantasy we had about this team shocking the basketball world are long gone. We know we're a team with two good, young freshman guards and tons of room for improvement everywhere else. LoVett not playing and Ponds getting able to officially step into the go-to guy roll was my biggest takeaway. I feel like we just saw him take a step forward in his development tonight. He's going to be a real good one for us.
Click to expand...

Without Lovett, I would have been very happy to have gotten out of Dodge with even a one point win.

As frustrating as Owens and Amar can be at times, I thought those two sparked us on D the last 6 or 7 minutes. I also think Ellison played much better in the second half, and thank you God for Mussini's first half hot streak.
Click to expand...

I've been very hard on Ellison but I've gotta give credit when it's due. Much better tonight. I wish he'd hit his FT's down the stretch (and don't understand why staff seems to like him crunch time) but he looked more composed and that drive he finished with like 4 minutes left felt like a big bucket. Hopefully he keeps it up.

Okay now I'm going to unload on Ahmed though...I like that he gets to the line and is one of the few guys who have a nose for rebounds but I'm not a fan. I know we're not very deep and he's one of our better scoring options at this point but I wonder if a player like him is even good for this team. Sure all want to win as many games as possible but I question if his style of play is hurting the development of our young guys when we're trying to build a culture. He's out of control and I'd call his play selfish. He misses so many open guys, picks up terrible fouls and turns the ball over way too much. I'd take a couple more L's in a building year if the guys are playing better team ball. Or maybe I'm being too harsh...
Click to expand...

Just home, happy obviously for win. Ponds is so special, poised & gifted.

Ahmed is becoming a black hole. Pass him the ball & it is going up, often head down, wild drives. Early, but I think he has no ability to think situationally, seems not to care about passing when he should & often breaks team rhythm. The concept of letting game come to him seems off his radar. Yes he can draw fouls & make FTs, but there is a lot more to the game. Hope he learns soon.
 
Why are Tariq and Ali handling the ball on the perimeter/ why is Ali even in the game?
Click to expand...

Exactly.
Click to expand...

I realize he's a good kid and good teammate and I hate to slam him, but if I ever see him on the floor again it'll be too soon.

He has zero court awareness and basketball IQ, is a turnover machine, a terrible shooter, an even worse passer, an awful defender, a foul-giving machine, and doesn't seem to grasp that you can't move when setting a pick. I just cringe when I see him on the floor. Thank God that Owens has been a surprise contributor to the forecourt. Otherwise we'd really be in really big trouble.
Click to expand...



He's a foul waiting to happen. Can someone tell him to move his feet on defense and not jump towards his man. And please keep him on the bench.
 
Why are Tariq and Ali handling the ball on the perimeter/ why is Ali even in the game?
Click to expand...

Exactly.
Click to expand...

I mentioned this last week, I don't agree with it but many coaches do that against man to man because it brings the other teams center away from the basket, opening driving lanes.

I don't love it, but several times tonight Owens did a handoff and then set a pick way up top and Ponds or Ellison were able to turn the corner and finish bc there was no rim protector sitting under the rim.

Watch how empty the lane is when Owens is at the top of the key. That's the plan. Again, I don't love it... but many teams do this.
 
Where did CSun score their points tonight? Anyone remember them hitting many outside shots? If Sima and Yakwe don't improve their low post defense we will be annihilated by Big East centers. Is their any worse hands in college basketball then Sima and Yakwe? Thank God for Owens, the one guy who fights for position. Excellent game for the big guy.
Where the hell was Mussini in the second half? Did one of the coaches wake up Mullin to have him inserted at the 1:33 mark. Hello, anyone home? Breaking news Mullin he can shoot foul shots.
Ponds is certainly the real deal. Only a freshmen, really.
Click to expand...
I don't think hit many outside shots. When you consider fact that they had 7 assists, Tells you they pretty much took us off the dribble at will
 
Did anyone else hear the postgame interview with Mitch Richmond?

Very enlightening. He told BT they had a "come to Jesus meeting" down in NO before the Tulane game. Said they were able to air a lot of grievances and the team felt much more relaxed and themselves after that.

Also mentioned that the trip was good because nobody's aau coach, or daddy or uncle was in their ear the whole time (like in the Bahamas maybe?).
 
Where did CSun score their points tonight? Anyone remember them hitting many outside shots? If Sima and Yakwe don't improve their low post defense we will be annihilated by Big East centers. Is their any worse hands in college basketball then Sima and Yakwe? Thank God for Owens, the one guy who fights for position. Excellent game for the big guy.
Where the hell was Mussini in the second half? Did one of the coaches wake up Mullin to have him inserted at the 1:33 mark. Hello, anyone home? Breaking news Mullin he can shoot foul shots.
Ponds is certainly the real deal. Only a freshmen, really.
Click to expand...

It's not just the interior defense, we consistently let guys blow by us from outside. that's where the big guys get in trouble because they have to switch and cover because we can't shut down penetration. I'm not defending our interior defense against opposing bigs because it needs work, our defense in general is poor.
 
This was a good win that could have just as easily been a loss at home were it not for gifted freshman Shamorie Ponds who displayed all the skills I saw last year as a high school senior but who has only scratched the surface of how good he can be once his defense catches up to his offense. The Stat line shows 25 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds but without him on the floor this was a double digit loss. Except for Marcus Lovett everyone else on this team can't carry Slick's jock strap.
Had CS Northridge not been so pitiful from the 3 point line even Ponds would not have saved St. John's from another loss to a lesser opponent.
Mullin is now 2-0 against former NBA greats now coaching in the college ranks this season but he doesn't look happy. No coach would when your 6'11 center plays as soft as the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the Kassoum Yakwe [strike]David Russell[/strike] is playing more like Alpha Bangura every game. Both their stats were too meaningless to mention.
Again, if Tariq Owens were 20 pounds heavier he would be taking most of the minutes now going to Yakwe. Tonight he took both Sima's and Yakwe's minutes.
Richard Freudenberg got some burn and did not score but he moved the ball well.
Which leads us to the erratic play of Bashir Ahmed who has been a turnover machine who played like a bull in a china shop tonight. Mullin tried his best to settle him down but the kid looks like a player on roid rage at times. Settle down and play within the offense!

20120207170045%2521Bull_in_a_China_Shop.jpg
Click to expand...
[/quote]Ahmed unable to finish at rim
 
Did anyone else hear the postgame interview with Mitch Richmond?

Very enlightening. He told BT they had a "come to Jesus meeting" down in NO before the Tulane game. Said they were able to air a lot of grievances and the team felt much more relaxed and themselves after that.

Also mentioned that the trip was good because nobody's aau coach, or daddy or uncle was in their ear the whole time (like in the Bahamas maybe?).
Click to expand...

Yeah I did Desco & was equally impressed with his candor. So refreshing instead of usual coach speak pap so often the norm.
 
Not pleased with this game. 12+ point favorite, we escaped tonight. Sima and Yakwe way too soft and ineffective. Owens deserves the bulk of the time over Sima. Amar at least throws his body around. If they can work with him so that he doesn't foul out so quickly, it would help.

Let's get some payback versus Fordham.
 
Just got home from the game tonite and I have to tell you CM was more engaged in the game than I have seen in the past year! Nice to see!
 
Not sure if this was mentioned already, but according to Kussoy at the NYPost, Lovett is day to day with a sprained ankle suffered in practice.


So, doesn't sound too bad. Probably precautionary
 
Not pleased with this game. 12+ point favorite, we escaped tonight. Sima and Yakwe way too soft and ineffective. Owens deserves the bulk of the time over Sima. Amar at least throws his body around. If they can work with him so that he doesn't foul out so quickly, it would help.

Let's get some payback versus Fordham.
Click to expand...

Anyone who bet on the game was sabotaged by LoVett's injury. We won a game we could have just as easily lost so I'm OK with it in spite of all the defensive shortcomings.

Like you said, Let's get revenge on Thursday.
 
Where did CSun score their points tonight? Anyone remember them hitting many outside shots? If Sima and Yakwe don't improve their low post defense we will be annihilated by Big East centers. Is their any worse hands in college basketball then Sima and Yakwe? Thank God for Owens, the one guy who fights for position. Excellent game for the big guy.
Where the hell was Mussini in the second half? Did one of the coaches wake up Mullin to have him inserted at the 1:33 mark. Hello, anyone home? Breaking news Mullin he can shoot foul shots.
Ponds is certainly the real deal. Only a freshmen, really.
Click to expand...

It's not just the interior defense, we consistently let guys blow by us from outside. that's where the big guys get in trouble because they have to switch and cover because we can't shut down penetration. I'm not defending our interior defense against opposing bigs because it needs work, our defense in general is poor.
Click to expand...



You are absolutely right. Remember in the Bahamas they let the guards penetrate and pop 3 feet jumpers. If Mullin doesn't get a defensive coach next year then .........
 
Did anyone else hear the postgame interview with Mitch Richmond?

Very enlightening. He told BT they had a "come to Jesus meeting" down in NO before the Tulane game. Said they were able to air a lot of grievances and the team felt much more relaxed and themselves after that.

Also mentioned that the trip was good because nobody's aau coach, or daddy or uncle was in their ear the whole time (like in the Bahamas maybe?).
Click to expand...

Interesting....

At Atlantis, I know Owen's dad & sis, Lovett's parents and Ponds parents, along with Elllison's mom and older sister were there (no Pervis). All seemed like regular people at the games.

FWIW, Ellison's older sister is very attractive (think a younger Vanessa Williams) and and has a killer bikini body.
 
Freshmen become sophomores and tonight Mussini and Ellison both showed the improvement we all hope and pray for on this team. Yakwe's stats were solid for 18 minutes. Hopefully he will continue to improve. Sima was again a disappointment. A win without Marcus is good and on to the next which may be more difficult.
Thank g d we came out with a win and hopefully Marcus can be back soon.
Joseph Chartouny of Fordham is big, strong and deceptively quick. We will need a healthy Marcus to help stop him Thursday night.
 
I think we are being a little hard on the team tonight. There were many of the usual problems but we did what we needed to do to win. Owens played a decent game. Ahmed missed a lot of shots but at least he stayed out of foul trouble and rebounded. Mussini had a hot stretch (he got pulled from the game when he missed an easy layup which is not a strength of his), Ellison had five assists and Ponds was outstanding. The team could have caved without Lovett who is their leading scorer but didn't. I enjoyed this game which I cant say about the Delaware State debacle.
 
If folks here think we play too much 1 on 1 - and we have at times - CSUN makes our ball movement look like the Warriors. They had zero assists in the first half because they have a bunch of athletic, high major transfers who look for their own shot.

Having heard from others who watched Ahmed, I think he will grow into a better all around player. He does rebound the ball, as noted, and I don't think he's a selfish kid. Challenge for him, to the state the obvious, is to learn to play within the offense, even when we need a bucket and he may feel pressured to put it on his shoulders, especially when being urged to take it to the hoop.


Where did CSun score their points tonight? Anyone remember them hitting many outside shots? If Sima and Yakwe don't improve their low post defense we will be annihilated by Big East centers. Is their any worse hands in college basketball then Sima and Yakwe? Thank God for Owens, the one guy who fights for position. Excellent game for the big guy.
Where the hell was Mussini in the second half? Did one of the coaches wake up Mullin to have him inserted at the 1:33 mark. Hello, anyone home? Breaking news Mullin he can shoot foul shots.
Ponds is certainly the real deal. Only a freshmen, really.
Click to expand...
I don't think hit many outside shots. When you consider fact that they had 7 assists, Tells you they pretty much took us off the dribble at will
Click to expand...
 
This is why Owens deserves all of Sima's minutes...

It's not the great slam or pass, but his vision of seeing where the ball was going for the initial steal. Sima will never be this.



This guy just needs one of those backpacks with a straw connected to him at all times to chug down chocolate shakes w/ protein.... Non-stop.
 
Mussini is shooting 50% from 3 and 30% from 2 with 6 assists and 10 turnovers. Time for him to pull a Max Hooper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top