This type of play is what I was expecting all year. We're peaking at just the right time.
@DePaul, Tue., Mar. 5, 9p, FS-1
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
I did. Also liked RJ’s 2 nice interior passes only one of which got him an assist as the other one resulted in a bunny being missed. No one gave him any credit which is strange because he gets accused of never passing. Also had 11 points on 4-7 shooting with 2 assists and 2 rebounds yet all the mentions of him on the game thread were of the critical nature. He has become the new whipping boy as his game is under a microscope and his every mistake is commented upon.
To me, the most important part of this win streak, that it started after the Seton Hall debacle.
I say this because the argument all season long was when the team took a punch, it rarely punched back.
But, after Pitino went scorched earth and made headlines, and the season was essentially done, instead of folding, the team picked itself up off the mat and started fighting back with impressive combinations.
That is the culture the staff has been preaching and what we have been longing for all season long. A culture of fight, grit, and grind.
I say this because the argument all season long was when the team took a punch, it rarely punched back.
But, after Pitino went scorched earth and made headlines, and the season was essentially done, instead of folding, the team picked itself up off the mat and started fighting back with impressive combinations.
That is the culture the staff has been preaching and what we have been longing for all season long. A culture of fight, grit, and grind.
That was pretty. Love to see big men who can pass.
I don't think Joel has regressed, I think your second observation is correct. Joel is not a great post player, he doesn't pass well out of the post and and he's pretty much average as a scorer down there. I think CRP realized that and instead of force feeding him the ball down there, they're using him for high screens a lot more. He's also not a great pick and roll guy, so his numbers are down but that's fine. He gets his in the flow of the game, thats all.
This morning's note of caution, since i called it a night halfway through the second half:
First, I wouldn't get a big head over stomping DePaul. Everybody except Georgetown stomps DePaul, they are the worst power-conference team I have ever seen. Worse than early Norm Roberts teams, and I don't think it's particularly close.
Second, DePaul shot 51% from the field and 59% from three on their way to scoring 77 points. Even accounting for extended garbage time and a high-number-of-possessions game, that is not acceptable defense. A corollary is DePaul's advantage in fast-break points, which of course is due to the "press."
We do a good job of making it difficult to inbound, but after that I'm thinking the better strategy would be to drop back because we get beat downcourt for easy baskets a lot more often than we wear teams down and get key turnovers at the end of the game. We do not get enough ROI on the press to make it worthwhile, I think.
Other than that we did about what you would expect, and it was great to get the role players some run and some confidence.
First, I wouldn't get a big head over stomping DePaul. Everybody except Georgetown stomps DePaul, they are the worst power-conference team I have ever seen. Worse than early Norm Roberts teams, and I don't think it's particularly close.
Second, DePaul shot 51% from the field and 59% from three on their way to scoring 77 points. Even accounting for extended garbage time and a high-number-of-possessions game, that is not acceptable defense. A corollary is DePaul's advantage in fast-break points, which of course is due to the "press."
We do a good job of making it difficult to inbound, but after that I'm thinking the better strategy would be to drop back because we get beat downcourt for easy baskets a lot more often than we wear teams down and get key turnovers at the end of the game. We do not get enough ROI on the press to make it worthwhile, I think.
Other than that we did about what you would expect, and it was great to get the role players some run and some confidence.
Agree, I think we are better served pressing strategically knowing our forte has never been recovering and finding shooters in transition. Good teams take advantage of that.
Our overall “recovery” has however made me easier to live with.
Just a thought re Joel’s struggles. How many times this year have we felt overmatched inside? Like, couldn’t hold our own on the boards or physically in the paint?
Yeah Joel’s offense has taken a hit, but we take for granted how much his size allows for us to matchup with anyone. And when we make it to the tourney we better be thankful that a bad matchup with a 7footer isn’t a death blow like it basically would have been for seemingly every sju team I’ve followed previous to Joel’s arrival. If he averages 11 & 7(more than solid BTW) the rest of the way and we win 3-4 more games I’ll still remember him as the 16 & 12 double double machine.
Yeah Joel’s offense has taken a hit, but we take for granted how much his size allows for us to matchup with anyone. And when we make it to the tourney we better be thankful that a bad matchup with a 7footer isn’t a death blow like it basically would have been for seemingly every sju team I’ve followed previous to Joel’s arrival. If he averages 11 & 7(more than solid BTW) the rest of the way and we win 3-4 more games I’ll still remember him as the 16 & 12 double double machine.
Fair point Mase
Too many dumb fouls again last night by Joel!
All those who called out Jenkins for being a ball hog now should realize it was done out of necessity! Not doing now becaise not needed any more. Jenkins is a great asset to this team as RP has been telling us!
Think we sometimes forget the "learning curve" or the Speed of the college game (esp the Big East!) is a lot for high school kids that come in...
Think we are just see the fruits of the labor/training/practice Sim has been exposed to all season...
Real excited to see all them - Sim / Brady / Zuby / RJ / Glenn - improvement showcase next season - as well as Post Season! this year!!!
Think the main issue for Joel is that he is not a system fit for Pitino.
If you compare him to Ejafor, you find that Ejafor is faster, more athletic, a more versatile defender, possibly a better rim protector, not a guy who needs or demands the ball on offense. And I think that's the sort of guy Pitino wants and has had if you look at the sort of centers he has historically had.
Joel on the other hand is a more traditional post player - back to the basket, occupies space, will hit a 12 foot jumper - but is not adept at running the floor or defending smaller/quicker players. He also thrives on offensive success, once he gets going he tends to get on a roll and it picks up his overall energy - but our offensive structure is not built to get him the ball down low or to run the offense through the post, it's a guard/wing centric offense.
Big guys need someone to get them the ball in position to do something with it, if that doesn't happen then you can't expect big numbers out of them - same as you can't expect big rebounding numbers if they're regularly asked to defend out at the 3 point line.
He does seem to be adjusting to the role he has been given (perhaps unhappily), and to some extent our fans should perhaps similarly adjust their expectations for his stats. IMHO he deserves a huge ovation on Senior Day and to get into the NCAA tournament.
If you compare him to Ejafor, you find that Ejafor is faster, more athletic, a more versatile defender, possibly a better rim protector, not a guy who needs or demands the ball on offense. And I think that's the sort of guy Pitino wants and has had if you look at the sort of centers he has historically had.
Joel on the other hand is a more traditional post player - back to the basket, occupies space, will hit a 12 foot jumper - but is not adept at running the floor or defending smaller/quicker players. He also thrives on offensive success, once he gets going he tends to get on a roll and it picks up his overall energy - but our offensive structure is not built to get him the ball down low or to run the offense through the post, it's a guard/wing centric offense.
Big guys need someone to get them the ball in position to do something with it, if that doesn't happen then you can't expect big numbers out of them - same as you can't expect big rebounding numbers if they're regularly asked to defend out at the 3 point line.
He does seem to be adjusting to the role he has been given (perhaps unhappily), and to some extent our fans should perhaps similarly adjust their expectations for his stats. IMHO he deserves a huge ovation on Senior Day and to get into the NCAA tournament.
The only disagreement is the shooting percentages. It is very hard to get on the defense when they were up 40 with 12 minutes left in the game. No to mention. Carter hit some extremely long three pointers.
It came to a point during the game that I felt if SJU played full throttle to the end, they could have run off a few more 20-2 runs whenever they wanted.
During the "In the Huddle" in the middle of the second half, CRP told the club "Don't foul!" setting up the easy scoring for DP.
I think that if the game was closer, they wouldn't have been given so many shots.
Beginning of the game, Is it me, or did the production team and announcers overdo the Pitino rant thing?
OKAY, I get it, newsworthy, mentioning it is fine.
But they seemed to go on and on about it, bringing it up multiple times and re-playing clip.
It happened a while ago now, and it's been played out already.
OKAY, I get it, newsworthy, mentioning it is fine.
But they seemed to go on and on about it, bringing it up multiple times and re-playing clip.
It happened a while ago now, and it's been played out already.
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I give them a pass because coming up with things to talk about to fill the broadcast when DePaul is on the floor must be incredibly difficult
Wilcher!!!!!!!
He is getting to show what he can do.
Jersey HS BB is among the best; produces a lot of talented players.
Go Sim! It's going to be fun watching him play for us in the future.
He is getting to show what he can do.
Jersey HS BB is among the best; produces a lot of talented players.
Go Sim! It's going to be fun watching him play for us in the future.
Larry Wright
Well-known member
If we make the tournament it is a good year for ST John’s obviously. But this HAS NOT been a great job by Pitino. If we do fall short, to me squarely on the coach.
Forget the whole blowing up the roster, it took Rick way too long to figure out his roster and rotation. This seems to be a yearly thing for ST John’s for some reason.
Outside of Jenkins, every other player on the roster pretty much regressed from their previous years. Jenkins is playing very well now but the over reliance on him early and the mind games/ odd use of Dingle and Soriano is a main reason we are on bubble and not squarely in. The yo yo -ing of Taylor also was strange.
Lastly that calling out team was not strategic or motivational but came out of frustration and pettiness. All the credit goes to the players for moving past that and trying to salvage the season.
Forget the whole blowing up the roster, it took Rick way too long to figure out his roster and rotation. This seems to be a yearly thing for ST John’s for some reason.
Outside of Jenkins, every other player on the roster pretty much regressed from their previous years. Jenkins is playing very well now but the over reliance on him early and the mind games/ odd use of Dingle and Soriano is a main reason we are on bubble and not squarely in. The yo yo -ing of Taylor also was strange.
Lastly that calling out team was not strategic or motivational but came out of frustration and pettiness. All the credit goes to the players for moving past that and trying to salvage the season.
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