Depaul Game Thread

[illwill30]

Sometimes reading the posts on this board confuse me.
1) Coach Dunlap was placed in a difficult situation and has done a remarkable job. He has molded seven players into a cohesive unit, that has been playing well recently. He has dealt with the adversity of losing Nuri, a situation which could have caused the team to fall apart under a person with less leadership ability. He is not the head coach, and this can lead to players questioning his authority. To his and the entire staffs credit, the players have bought into the program. Coach Dunlap has won every place he has been. What scares me is that he has done such a remarkable job under difficult circumstances, he will definitely be a head coach somewhere next year if he decides to leave. I, for one, would hate to lose him.
2) Phil Greene has improved tremendously in recent weeks. This has do to with the coaching he has received and his willingness to listen and learn.
3) D'Angelo continues to be the heart and soul of this team, he gives his all in every game. What more can you ask of a player. Sometimes he gets out of control, but if you don't think that Coach Dunlap spoke to him about his shot selection during halftime, something is wrong with you. He is not afraid to fail.
4) Moe really impressed me last night by playing through pain and rebounding and playing defense when his offensive game was off. He is a future lottery pick. I doubt that many of us had him in the lottery after two years, maybe it is the coaching.
5) Sir Dom gives it his all night in and night out, what more can you ask of a player. Yes he is overzealous
at times but it helps more often than not. He will continue to get better.
6) Amir has been here less than two months and is contributing. He has gotten better each game as he has become more comfortable. He will continue to get better through the rest of the year.
7) Gift has done better than anyone has expected. His play last night was a major reason the we won. He is not a savior and we should not expect him to be one. The block at the end of the West Virginia game and his play in the second half last night show that he is able to make a solid contribution to this team.
8) Malik performs his role. He give the guards a break and plays defense and hustles all the time. His basket before half time in the West Virginia game was a bonus.
In conclusion, while this team has a lot more growing to do, if someone told me that we would be where we are after having endured Coach Lavin's health issues, three players not qualifying and our starting point guard quitting the team, I would have thought they were crazy. That they are playing so well is a testament to the coaching they have received and the character of the young men involved. They have been knocked down but continuously get back up and fight.  

 

Good post, and i actually agree with a lot of what you said. but that doesn't mean that certain posters aren't going to critique the team moving forward. We're all fans, we all have the same agenda and same desires for this team. During a game, and in a game thread, negative comments are going to come out because at that time some of us aren't looking to the future. We are watching our current team play, whether good or bad. Some people are able to just sit back and think, "hey, he just threw the balls into the stands but it's ok...he'll get better" whereas others live in the moment and live for every posession. Neither way of viewing the game or team is right and neither is wrong.

 

you are consistently wrong about almost everything. .

 

I'd love to see, in a board full of opinions, you post something i was wrong about.

 

[austour]

Sometimes reading the posts on this board confuse me.
1) Coach Dunlap was placed in a difficult situation and has done a remarkable job. He has molded seven players into a cohesive unit, that has been playing well recently. He has dealt with the adversity of losing Nuri, a situation which could have caused the team to fall apart under a person with less leadership ability. He is not the head coach, and this can lead to players questioning his authority. To his and the entire staffs credit, the players have bought into the program. Coach Dunlap has won every place he has been. What scares me is that he has done such a remarkable job under difficult circumstances, he will definitely be a head coach somewhere next year if he decides to leave. I, for one, would hate to lose him.
2) Phil Greene has improved tremendously in recent weeks. This has do to with the coaching he has received and his willingness to listen and learn.
3) D'Angelo continues to be the heart and soul of this team, he gives his all in every game. What more can you ask of a player. Sometimes he gets out of control, but if you don't think that Coach Dunlap spoke to him about his shot selection during halftime, something is wrong with you. He is not afraid to fail.
4) Moe really impressed me last night by playing through pain and rebounding and playing defense when his offensive game was off. He is a future lottery pick. I doubt that many of us had him in the lottery after two years, maybe it is the coaching.
5) Sir Dom gives it his all night in and night out, what more can you ask of a player. Yes he is overzealous
at times but it helps more often than not. He will continue to get better.
6) Amir has been here less than two months and is contributing. He has gotten better each game as he has become more comfortable. He will continue to get better through the rest of the year.
7) Gift has done better than anyone has expected. His play last night was a major reason the we won. He is not a savior and we should not expect him to be one. The block at the end of the West Virginia game and his play in the second half last night show that he is able to make a solid contribution to this team.
8) Malik performs his role. He give the guards a break and plays defense and hustles all the time. His basket before half time in the West Virginia game was a bonus.
In conclusion, while this team has a lot more growing to do, if someone told me that we would be where we are after having endured Coach Lavin's health issues, three players not qualifying and our starting point guard quitting the team, I would have thought they were crazy. That they are playing so well is a testament to the coaching they have received and the character of the young men involved. They have been knocked down but continuously get back up and fight.  

 

Good post, and i actually agree with a lot of what you said. but that doesn't mean that certain posters aren't going to critique the team moving forward. We're all fans, we all have the same agenda and same desires for this team. During a game, and in a game thread, negative comments are going to come out because at that time some of us aren't looking to the future. We are watching our current team play, whether good or bad. Some people are able to just sit back and think, "hey, he just threw the balls into the stands but it's ok...he'll get better" whereas others live in the moment and live for every posession. Neither way of viewing the game or team is right and neither is wrong.

 

That's a very fair and rational response. While it would appear that most agree with Panther's fantastic assessment I guess folks will have emotional responses in game that after the fact would appear over the top. I would only recommend that you understand that some folks will respond negatively to such based upon their long term expectations of the team and not focusing entirely on the moment at hand. Also your in game expectations may at times be for a level of play by the team and/or certain individuals that is unrealistic at the moment based on the situation and their experience/present skill level. The team played a fairly mediocre first half last night. That will likely happen again and I fully anticipate a scene similar to last nights postathon.

 

[illwill30]

Sometimes reading the posts on this board confuse me.
1) Coach Dunlap was placed in a difficult situation and has done a remarkable job. He has molded seven players into a cohesive unit, that has been playing well recently. He has dealt with the adversity of losing Nuri, a situation which could have caused the team to fall apart under a person with less leadership ability. He is not the head coach, and this can lead to players questioning his authority. To his and the entire staffs credit, the players have bought into the program. Coach Dunlap has won every place he has been. What scares me is that he has done such a remarkable job under difficult circumstances, he will definitely be a head coach somewhere next year if he decides to leave. I, for one, would hate to lose him.
2) Phil Greene has improved tremendously in recent weeks. This has do to with the coaching he has received and his willingness to listen and learn.
3) D'Angelo continues to be the heart and soul of this team, he gives his all in every game. What more can you ask of a player. Sometimes he gets out of control, but if you don't think that Coach Dunlap spoke to him about his shot selection during halftime, something is wrong with you. He is not afraid to fail.
4) Moe really impressed me last night by playing through pain and rebounding and playing defense when his offensive game was off. He is a future lottery pick. I doubt that many of us had him in the lottery after two years, maybe it is the coaching.
5) Sir Dom gives it his all night in and night out, what more can you ask of a player. Yes he is overzealous
at times but it helps more often than not. He will continue to get better.
6) Amir has been here less than two months and is contributing. He has gotten better each game as he has become more comfortable. He will continue to get better through the rest of the year.
7) Gift has done better than anyone has expected. His play last night was a major reason the we won. He is not a savior and we should not expect him to be one. The block at the end of the West Virginia game and his play in the second half last night show that he is able to make a solid contribution to this team.
8) Malik performs his role. He give the guards a break and plays defense and hustles all the time. His basket before half time in the West Virginia game was a bonus.
In conclusion, while this team has a lot more growing to do, if someone told me that we would be where we are after having endured Coach Lavin's health issues, three players not qualifying and our starting point guard quitting the team, I would have thought they were crazy. That they are playing so well is a testament to the coaching they have received and the character of the young men involved. They have been knocked down but continuously get back up and fight.  

 

Good post, and i actually agree with a lot of what you said. but that doesn't mean that certain posters aren't going to critique the team moving forward. We're all fans, we all have the same agenda and same desires for this team. During a game, and in a game thread, negative comments are going to come out because at that time some of us aren't looking to the future. We are watching our current team play, whether good or bad. Some people are able to just sit back and think, "hey, he just threw the balls into the stands but it's ok...he'll get better" whereas others live in the moment and live for every posession. Neither way of viewing the game or team is right and neither is wrong.

 

That's a very fair and rational response. While it would appear that most agree with Panther's fantastic assessment I guess folks will have emotional responses in game that after the fact would appear over the top. I would only recommend that you understand that some folks will respond negatively to such based upon their long term expectations of the team and not focusing entirely on the moment at hand. Also your in game expectations may at times be for a level of play by the team and/or certain individuals that is unrealistic at the moment based on the situation and their experience/present skill level. The team played a fairly mediocre first half last night. That will likely happen again and I fully anticipate a scene similar to last nights postathon.

 

The difference is the reactions....team red glasses does not seem to be able to handle negativity. They will result to calling other opinions 'wrong' and calling other posters 'idiots.'

My favorite response, or reaction when someone critiques dunlap is, "dunlap has won everywhere he's been. he knows more basketball than you. thank god you're not coaching our team!! LMAO!!! LOL!!!"

No sh** dunlap knows more about basketball and coaching than all of us here. Doesn't mean we can't bicker and throw our two cents in.

 

[Section3]

Sometimes reading the posts on this board confuse me.
1) Coach Dunlap was placed in a difficult situation and has done a remarkable job. He has molded seven players into a cohesive unit, that has been playing well recently. He has dealt with the adversity of losing Nuri, a situation which could have caused the team to fall apart under a person with less leadership ability. He is not the head coach, and this can lead to players questioning his authority. To his and the entire staffs credit, the players have bought into the program. Coach Dunlap has won every place he has been. What scares me is that he has done such a remarkable job under difficult circumstances, he will definitely be a head coach somewhere next year if he decides to leave. I, for one, would hate to lose him.
2) Phil Greene has improved tremendously in recent weeks. This has do to with the coaching he has received and his willingness to listen and learn.
3) D'Angelo continues to be the heart and soul of this team, he gives his all in every game. What more can you ask of a player. Sometimes he gets out of control, but if you don't think that Coach Dunlap spoke to him about his shot selection during halftime, something is wrong with you. He is not afraid to fail.
4) Moe really impressed me last night by playing through pain and rebounding and playing defense when his offensive game was off. He is a future lottery pick. I doubt that many of us had him in the lottery after two years, maybe it is the coaching.
5) Sir Dom gives it his all night in and night out, what more can you ask of a player. Yes he is overzealous
at times but it helps more often than not. He will continue to get better.
6) Amir has been here less than two months and is contributing. He has gotten better each game as he has become more comfortable. He will continue to get better through the rest of the year.
7) Gift has done better than anyone has expected. His play last night was a major reason the we won. He is not a savior and we should not expect him to be one. The block at the end of the West Virginia game and his play in the second half last night show that he is able to make a solid contribution to this team.
8) Malik performs his role. He give the guards a break and plays defense and hustles all the time. His basket before half time in the West Virginia game was a bonus.
In conclusion, while this team has a lot more growing to do, if someone told me that we would be where we are after having endured Coach Lavin's health issues, three players not qualifying and our starting point guard quitting the team, I would have thought they were crazy. That they are playing so well is a testament to the coaching they have received and the character of the young men involved. They have been knocked down but continuously get back up and fight.  

 


Phenomenal post. You said it better than I did. Well done.

 

Echo ypur sentiments. These kids are just as enjoyable to watch as last year's team...the results aren't the same but the improvement is tremendous and you can see the growth..very exciting...

 

[1and1sju]

 In regards to the debate about D'angelo being benched after the first half, or Dunlap telling him to reign in his number of shots, I had a slightly different take on that situation.

I won't lie to you, watching on tv I was furious with D'lo at times in the first half. And I'd be shocked if dunlap didnt talk to him at halftime, But my criticism wasn't that he was shooting too much, I agree with posters who said you don't want to screw with your shooters' confidence, let him keep playing his game. But I think dangelo was pounding the ball into the court a little too much in the first half and he shoudve been yelled at to get the ball moving. His shot wasn't falling, which is ok, but his shots weren't coming in the course of our offense. He was dribbling too much and not playing within our system at times I thought. Granted sometimes you need your best player to create when you absolutely need a bucket. But I thought he forced things a little too much that first half.

Harrison may not be our pg, but I'd still call him our floor general, and we play best when the ball is moving. That would've been what I was yelling in his ear after the first half. Not to shoot less per se.

 

[MCNPA]

 In regards to the debate about D'angelo being benched after the first half, or Dunlap telling him to reign in his number of shots, I had a slightly different take on that situation.

I won't lie to you, watching on tv I was furious with D'lo at times in the first half. And I'd be shocked if dunlap didnt talk to him at halftime, But my criticism wasn't that he was shooting too much, I agree with posters who said you don't want to screw with your shooters' confidence, let him keep playing his game. But I think dangelo was pounding the ball into the court a little too much in the first half and he shoudve been yelled at to get the ball moving. His shot wasn't falling, which is ok, but his shots weren't coming in the course of our offense. He was dribbling too much and not playing within our system at times I thought. Granted sometimes you need your best player to create when you absolutely need a bucket. But I thought he forced things a little too much that first half.

Harrison may not be our pg, but I'd still call him our floor general, and we play best when the ball is moving. That would've been what I was yelling in his ear after the first half. Not to shoot less per se.

 

If you read the Dunlap quotes post-game on twitter, he basically said to the team at half-time to keep shooting and taking the shots they were taking and if they didn't keep shooting, they'd be benched. Dunlap pushed the team to continue to find their offensive flow, and they did. Maybe somebody can find the exact quote, but it was along those lines. Dunlap was vehement that the team keep pushing and doing what they were doing, and they'd live and die by their scorers in this game.

 

[logen]

Obviously, Lavin and Dunlap like the scramble game; they are recruiting athletes who thrive in that type game, they installed a defense conducive to forcing that type of game, and the players are becoming adjusted and comfortable in that type of game. If you are going to push the ball like the Johnnies do you are going to have turnovers and occasional bad shots or bad decisions; as a coach you accept and live with that. I don't believe for a second Dunlap complained about any of Harrison's shots in the 1st half, they were good looks and that's all you can ask for. Harrison has proven he is unselfish and will dish when that is the play to make but he is also very aggressive and no coach worth his salt is going to take that away from a player as talented as he is. Frankly, I believe thay are spending more time trying to get Harkless to be more aggressive. But it is a great style of play, fun to watch, fun to play, great style to recruit for.  

 

[Absolutfan]

 Forget bringing in bigs..... We need shooters, this team can't shoot.

Melvin is taking Mo to the cleaners..... Perhaps Dunlap should wake up and put someone else on him. He is single. Handidly being the Johnnies with Mo guarding him. Wake up coach.

 

Are you and illwill related?

 

I believe John is "realfan," as maher stated about a week ago.

 

I have always been a real fan of this program through thick and thin. But what does "realfan" elude to?

 

[simplyred]

I'd love to see, in a board full of opinions, you post something i was wrong about.

 

Right or wrong, you're just annoying. You don't critique or even criticize. You attack.

 

[austour]

 Forget bringing in bigs..... We need shooters, this team can't shoot.

Melvin is taking Mo to the cleaners..... Perhaps Dunlap should wake up and put someone else on him. He is single. Handidly being the Johnnies with Mo guarding him. Wake up coach.

 

Are you and illwill related?

 

I believe John is "realfan," as maher stated about a week ago.

 

I have always been a real fan of this program through thick and thin. But what does "realfan" elude to?

 

Give it a rest. This time you forgot the smiley face wink.