Concordia exhibition 11/6
- Thread starter SJU61982
- Start date
I watched the game last season versus Detroit, and I don't recall being dominated. USF dominated us. IMO, Detroit didn't do such. They beat us. That is how I viewed it.
Not to mention, we're not trotting out the same team, as we put on the court versus Detroit last season. I'll also feel better with Harrison in the lineup (which, he'll be once next Tuesday rolls around), along with Sanchez and Bourgault.
Hopefully, our JUCO transfers are eligible by the time the team heads to Charleston. IMO, we're gonna need those two, in order to win or vie for the Charleston Classic championship.
So we are not talking about a Curtis Redding situation who after being benched was sitting at the end of the bench and chearing for the other team.
(Not old enough to remember Mel Davis at St. John's but do remember him as a Knick. Old enough to remember Curtis "Hot dog with extra mustard and relish" Redding.
+1 I agree completely. Hope I'm wrong, but I see too much that needs to be cleaned up.
Doesn't mean we can't be good by February. But we will not be firing on all cylinders for awhile.
Three areas that concern me:
1) Our man to man defense. We help far too often, and in situations that don't require it. Our guys can't leave their men open under the basket or on the perimeter to trap a help on a ball handler who isn't going anywhere.
Stay home. Thankfully I think that was the first thing Lavin said after the game "Our half-court defense needs a lot of work", or something similar.
2) Other than Phil and D'angelo, no one else is capable of creating offense. Dom can physically dribble the ball across halfcourt, but no one else penetrates or makes entry passes.
3) The new guys are capable rebounders but Jones, Sampson, Obekpa need to put a body on someone every time a shot goes up. They aren't blocking out, and the last two games have been against small opponents.
Moose
Well-known member
The three points you brought up below are correct. With regards to the creators, just wondering how many creators are on a team? How many guys do you want who can create on a team? The more who create the more likely your a Top 25 talent and we know that while we have amazing talent we still haven't bridged that number yet.
As for the defense and rebounding I think a lot has to do with the competition. They know they don't have to block out as hard since the opponent is smaller. And they cheat a bit trying to make the spectacular block. Its the price of playing these tune ups. The kids don't take them seriously to an extent.
MarkRedman
Well-known member
I'm hoping that Jamal Branch will be a "creator"
His rep is that of being a pass first point guard and an excellent defender
We could surely benefit from both skill sets
JackofVirginia
Active member
I got to believe Harrison will be very, very motivated against Detroit. He is no dummy; he will learn from his mistakes.
JackofVirginia
Active member
Agree MJ. I, too, watched last year's game. Remember, we play at home this time.
I probably sound down on the team today Moose, I'm not. I just want to see us develop through the course of the year, because the talent is there.
Re the creating thing; I've been real impressed with Phil in these two scrimmages. You could see the difference last night when we played the 5 forwards lineup a lot. When Phil is in the game he takes those one or two steps that draw an extra defender, Dom or Amir don't get that.
And defenders need to guard Phil further out, because he won't hesitate to fire. He's doing little things that make the offense more efficient.
Perfect example; in the two games he's the only one I've seen really drive sharply coming off a pick. Dom's had the ball up top and had Obekpa or Sampson picked for him, but he dribbles wide around it and we have to reset the O.
Phil takes a nice hard drive around the pick.
D'angelo is the same way. But when those two aren't in the game the offense just doesn't have anyone who draws defenders or moves the ball. Phil found Jones and Obekpa underneath a number of times last night. Not all were converted, but those were entry passes nobody else was making.
And the turnovers we've had in transition, where Dom or Jakarr gets too excited and throws a bad pass... I can live with those to some extent, but Phil shows much much more control on the break.
I've been real impressed with him.
The rebounding I think will come with time.
Hopefully the defensive mistakes are like you say, guys taking more chances when they know it's an inferior opponent.
But I think our best lineup to start the year involves both D'angelo and Phil in the backcourt.
Moose
Well-known member
Your not sounding down on the team really. Its just some of the weaknesses you saw I think are a result of just the players going thru the motions.
As for your creators yes Phil has improved. And we all hope Branch is. So that makes 3 players when you add in Harrison. Phil might likely be off the bench so if Harrison and Branch are on the floor arguably you have 3 creators off the dribble on the court at once. Dom and Amir why they can dribble in open court I agree are still shaky in terms of cutting a gap and breaking down a defender.
Frontcourt wise I think Karr, Jones and Sanchez can create in many ways. Karr is real comfortable with the dribble and even Jones I'm not concerned with if he faced up a defender and attempted a move. I think we have enough creators unfortunately past two games we pretty much played without 2 of them in Harrison and Branch.
Rebounding also I've said many times is overrated. The 2010 team was horrid (one of the 30 worst teams in D1) and still made the NCAAs. It's a lot of luck on where the ball bounces in addition to the positioning and hands and leaping ability. I think not playing a zone will help us avoid those long rebounds that we would lose in the past on the defensive glass.
Moose
Well-known member
Rebounding just has so many factors. The 2010 team was ranked like 300 out of 330 teams in D1 and won 20 plus games.
If you make more shots you have less chances to rebound. If you play a zone the ball could bound off and over a rebounder with awesome positioning to a pocket in the zone. While you always want to win the glass game sometimes you can still win a game and decisively without doing so.
SJUhoopNUT
Well-known member
Rebounding is more than just outjumping the opponent. These young guys are great athletes, but eventually they are going to be matched. They have to learn how to position themselves and put a body on somebody.
No doubt we have a much better chance vs. Detroit with a deeper, bigger, better roster. We still should win. What I remember last year though is them scoring on us at will...they seemed to do whatever they wanted and never went cold. I could be wrong about specifics, but that's what I remember thinking. If we keep McCallum in check I think we are golden.
Doesn't really speak to the rebounding issue but coach Lavin has made a number of comments indicating he seems to agree that our defense has looked troublesome in the two exhibitions.
“I think we have a lot of work to do in terms of our half-court defense and moving our feet on the defensive end of the court,”
From Zach Braziller's article in the Post about coach wanting two more weeks of practice.
“I think we have a lot of work to do in terms of our half-court defense and moving our feet on the defensive end of the court,”
From Zach Braziller's article in the Post about coach wanting two more weeks of practice.