Florida Gulf Coast

[SJU61982]

Kiernan Darcy with a preview:


http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/colleges/post/_/id/4860/w2w4-st-johns-vs-florida-gulf-coast

FGCU's win over Miami was at home, but even so, we better not blink tonight.

 

[LINY89]

Some people are looking at FGCU playing close with Duke for almost 1 half and beating Miami as reasons to christen this team as a monster. I will not go that far. Miami has almost always had a terrible basketball team so it would be like Rutgers losing to a mid-major...not THAT surprising. Even bad teams can knock off a major conference team every once in a while. Marist just SMOKED Vanderbilt 50-33 and this comes 1 day after Marist lost by 40 to WVU. I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%, not letting them in the paint, getting lots of steals and fast breaks leading to easy dunks, good shot selection, solid rebounding, etc. Is this that game? I sure hope so. At some point we have to stop raving about all our talent and expect the exceptional talent to translate in the results. I just hope this doesn't turn into another 3 pt feast like Baylor. Also, can we have ONE game where we dominate the boards? Just one. Please?

 

[bk8664]

Some people are looking at FGCU playing close with Duke for almost 1 half and beating Miami as reasons to christen this team as a monster. I will not go that far. Miami has almost always had a terrible basketball team so it would be like Rutgers losing to a mid-major...not THAT surprising. Even bad teams can knock off a major conference team every once in a while. Marist just SMOKED Vanderbilt 50-33 and this comes 1 day after Marist lost by 40 to WVU. I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%, not letting them in the paint, getting lots of steals and fast breaks leading to easy dunks, good shot selection, solid rebounding, etc. Is this that game? I sure hope so. At some point we have to stop raving about all our talent and expect the exceptional talent to translate in the results. I just hope this doesn't turn into another 3 pt feast like Baylor. Also, can we have ONE game where we dominate the boards? Just one. Please?

Sorry Joe3,
Looks like it'll be another agonizing night of the opposing teams hitting lots of threes:
The coach of their team, "had stints as an NBA assistant coach with both the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, where he specialized in shooting instruction." :silly: :blink: :sob:

 

[MJDinkins]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

 

[Moose]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

 

[LINY89]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Correct, but sometimes it seems way higher when it's 1 player who never seems to miss from 3 all game. Let's hope this game doesn't become Baylor. This is one of those weird games where we can lose by 5 or win by 20. We have been a 2nd half team all year (typical for most teams). We tend to keep games very close in the 1st half. If we can just get a decent cushion (10-15 pts) at half, we should be fine. If it's like HC again tied at half again, it will be another cardiac Johnnies game.

 

[paultzman]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Correct, but sometimes it seems way higher when it's 1 player who never seems to miss from 3 all game. Let's hope this game doesn't become Baylor. This is one of those weird games where we can lose by 5 or win by 20. We have been a 2nd half team all year (typical for most teams). We tend to keep games very close in the 1st half. If we can just get a decent cushion (10-15 pts) at half, we should be fine. If it's like HC again tied at half again, it will be another cardiac Johnnies game.

Decaf suggested.

 

[LINY89]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Correct, but sometimes it seems way higher when it's 1 player who never seems to miss from 3 all game. Let's hope this game doesn't become Baylor. This is one of those weird games where we can lose by 5 or win by 20. We have been a 2nd half team all year (typical for most teams). We tend to keep games very close in the 1st half. If we can just get a decent cushion (10-15 pts) at half, we should be fine. If it's like HC again tied at half again, it will be another cardiac Johnnies game.

Decaf suggested.

Decaf or not, my blood is known to boil watching my teams blow it. Remember, I'm a Knicks, Mets, Jets, Isles, SJ fan. Really hope this is the game we finally put it all together and have a complete game with no scares and tons of production on both sides of the ball.

 

[otis]

The below link is to the story On FGCU's website previewing tonight's game.

LINK:
http://www.fgcuathletics.com/mbaske...ll-heads-to-nyc-to-take-on-st-johns-on-espn3/

 

[marco]

is the game on tv tonight?

 

[SJU1512]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

While acknowledging the import of aggregate percentages, there is no getting around that the volume of unbelievably open threes allowed and made vs. Detroit, Murray St., and Baylor are a problem...whether they shot it at 30% or 40%. When you're giving up an average of double-digit 3s (as we did in those 3 games), the difference in the percentage clip made against us becomes negligible in comparison to the sheer volume made against us (within a reasonable percentage). Out of our zone, when assignments aren't tight and we are constantly scrambling to get to shooters that also contributes to our other big issue thus far, which is controlling the defensive backboard.

We were better in both areas against Holy Cross, and both will continue to get better. But there is little covering up - by way of percentage or otherwise - the way we defended the 3 and rebounded in Charleston.

 

[LINY89]

is the game on tv tonight?

ESPN3 so not TV, it's streamed online. Sometimes the ESPN3 games we have are on SNY too though, but I didn't see it say that anywhere.

 

[SJU1512]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

While acknowledging the import of aggregate percentages, there is no getting around that the volume of unbelievably open threes allowed and made vs. Detroit, Murray St., and Baylor are a problem...whether they shot it at 30% or 40%. When you're giving up an average of double-digit 3s (as we did in those 3 games), the difference in the percentage clip made against us becomes negligible in comparison to the sheer volume made against us (within a reasonable percentage). Out of our zone, when assignments aren't tight and we are constantly scrambling to get to shooters that also contributes to our other big issue thus far, which is controlling the defensive backboard.

We were better in both areas against Holy Cross, and both will continue to get better. But there is little covering up - by way of percentage or otherwise - the way we defended the 3 and rebounded in Charleston.

BTW, MJ, realize you were simply responding to Joe3's post with facts based on the percentage he raised. Didn't mean to imply you were defending our 3 pt defense. Just used it as an opportunity to make a point I had been thinking about with respect to 3pt% in comparison to 3pters made against us this season. Seems like we've been holding teams to a good %, but the volume made has been a real issue.

 

[otis]

ESPN3

 

[LINY89]

Wonder how much PT Marco gets tonight. I really hope we are up by 20 or 30 early in a laugher so we can really see what he can do.

 

[MJDinkins]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

While acknowledging the import of aggregate percentages, there is no getting around that the volume of unbelievably open threes allowed and made vs. Detroit, Murray St., and Baylor are a problem...whether they shot it at 30% or 40%. When you're giving up an average of double-digit 3s (as we did in those 3 games), the difference in the percentage clip made against us becomes negligible in comparison to the sheer volume made against us (within a reasonable percentage). Out of our zone, when assignments aren't tight and we are constantly scrambling to get to shooters that also contributes to our other big issue thus far, which is controlling the defensive backboard.

We were better in both areas against Holy Cross, and both will continue to get better. But there is little covering up - by way of percentage or otherwise - the way we defended the 3 and rebounded in Charleston.

Detroit (they were 9-29) rarely had any open 3's. I believe I said, they were hitting tough shots in the gamethread. McCallum hit a couple of his treys from the parking lot. There wasn't any guarding those kinda shots. Many of McCallum's and Calliste's shots were contested. They were just hitting 'em earlier.

Murray State (10-30) hit about 3 or 4 treys that wasn't contested. A couple of their 3's were also long shots, as well.

Baylor was the only team, in which there was a serious issue with how we defended beyond the arc. There can be plenty said about that particular game.

You're on the money when it comes to rebounding or lack of. I can see the complaints about rebounding, but the 3-point defense isn't as bad (with the exception of the Baylor game), as some of you are making it.

 

[MJDinkins]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

While acknowledging the import of aggregate percentages, there is no getting around that the volume of unbelievably open threes allowed and made vs. Detroit, Murray St., and Baylor are a problem...whether they shot it at 30% or 40%. When you're giving up an average of double-digit 3s (as we did in those 3 games), the difference in the percentage clip made against us becomes negligible in comparison to the sheer volume made against us (within a reasonable percentage). Out of our zone, when assignments aren't tight and we are constantly scrambling to get to shooters that also contributes to our other big issue thus far, which is controlling the defensive backboard.

We were better in both areas against Holy Cross, and both will continue to get better. But there is little covering up - by way of percentage or otherwise - the way we defended the 3 and rebounded in Charleston.

BTW, MJ, realize you were simply responding to Joe3's post with facts based on the percentage he raised. Didn't mean to imply you were defending our 3 pt defense. Just used it as an opportunity to make a point I had been thinking about with respect to 3pt% in comparison to 3pters made against us this season. Seems like we've been holding teams to a good %, but the volume made has been a real issue.

No problem. It's cool!

When teams are launching 30 3's per contest, and have multiple guys who can hit 'em, then they are more than likely gonna hit their share.

Rebounding is my main focus. Extra possessions are a killer. That is when teams can burn you for treys, as everybody is scrambling around.

I remember feeling confident going into games knowing we would pound teams on the boards during the '97-'98 and '98-'99 seasons, respectively. Those extra possessions are a huge bonus. We have to do better on the glass (particularly, the defensive end).

 

[SJU1512]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

While acknowledging the import of aggregate percentages, there is no getting around that the volume of unbelievably open threes allowed and made vs. Detroit, Murray St., and Baylor are a problem...whether they shot it at 30% or 40%. When you're giving up an average of double-digit 3s (as we did in those 3 games), the difference in the percentage clip made against us becomes negligible in comparison to the sheer volume made against us (within a reasonable percentage). Out of our zone, when assignments aren't tight and we are constantly scrambling to get to shooters that also contributes to our other big issue thus far, which is controlling the defensive backboard.

We were better in both areas against Holy Cross, and both will continue to get better. But there is little covering up - by way of percentage or otherwise - the way we defended the 3 and rebounded in Charleston.

BTW, MJ, realize you were simply responding to Joe3's post with facts based on the percentage he raised. Didn't mean to imply you were defending our 3 pt defense. Just used it as an opportunity to make a point I had been thinking about with respect to 3pt% in comparison to 3pters made against us this season. Seems like we've been holding teams to a good %, but the volume made has been a real issue.

No problem. It's cool!

When teams are launching 30 3's per contest, and have multiple guys who can hit 'em, then they are more than likely gonna hit their share.

Rebounding is my main focus. Extra possessions are a killer. That is when teams can burn you for treys, as everybody is scrambling around.

I remember feeling confident going into games knowing we would pound teams on the boards during the '97-'98 and '98-'99 seasons, respectively. Those extra possessions are a huge bonus. We have to do better on the glass (particularly, the defensive end).

Very much agreed that rebounding is the more significant issue. If nothing else because I believe our matchup zone takes some time to pick up - both of the previous teams under Lavin have played perimeter defense at a much higher level in January than they were in November. Whether the 3 pt issue is a big deal or not, I expect it to be a moot point in 4-6 weeks. Too many athletes, too many smart, savvy players for the assignments and rotations not to improve.

I do think we need one of Gift or Sanchez to do what we want to this year, because of the defensive backboard issue. A lot of jumpers and competitors in Jakaar, Amir, Pointer, Jones, but only one true post in Obekpa. I know Sanchez isn't really that kind of player, but just adding another jumper/competitor will assist. Obviously Gift is that type of player, should we go that route. Obviously the other part of it ties back into the overall defense, picking up box out assignments out of the zone. This holds true whether we add Gift/Sanchez or not.

Also agreed that Detroit hit a lot of contested 3s. I thought Murray St. - while not as glaring as Baylor - was also poor. That said, it's only 2 games, and it was much improved vs. Holy Cross. Hoping for another step in the right direction tonight!

 

[MJDinkins]

I keep searching for our breakout performance where we are clicking on all cylinders keeping our opponents 3 pt % below 35%

Only one team has shot over 35% from 3-point range against us.

Oh petty facts

While acknowledging the import of aggregate percentages, there is no getting around that the volume of unbelievably open threes allowed and made vs. Detroit, Murray St., and Baylor are a problem...whether they shot it at 30% or 40%. When you're giving up an average of double-digit 3s (as we did in those 3 games), the difference in the percentage clip made against us becomes negligible in comparison to the sheer volume made against us (within a reasonable percentage). Out of our zone, when assignments aren't tight and we are constantly scrambling to get to shooters that also contributes to our other big issue thus far, which is controlling the defensive backboard.

We were better in both areas against Holy Cross, and both will continue to get better. But there is little covering up - by way of percentage or otherwise - the way we defended the 3 and rebounded in Charleston.

BTW, MJ, realize you were simply responding to Joe3's post with facts based on the percentage he raised. Didn't mean to imply you were defending our 3 pt defense. Just used it as an opportunity to make a point I had been thinking about with respect to 3pt% in comparison to 3pters made against us this season. Seems like we've been holding teams to a good %, but the volume made has been a real issue.

No problem. It's cool!

When teams are launching 30 3's per contest, and have multiple guys who can hit 'em, then they are more than likely gonna hit their share.

Rebounding is my main focus. Extra possessions are a killer. That is when teams can burn you for treys, as everybody is scrambling around.

I remember feeling confident going into games knowing we would pound teams on the boards during the '97-'98 and '98-'99 seasons, respectively. Those extra possessions are a huge bonus. We have to do better on the glass (particularly, the defensive end).

I do think we need one of Gift or Sanchez to do what we want to this year, because of the defensive backboard issue. A lot of jumpers and competitors in Jakaar, Amir, Pointer, Jones, but only one true post in Obekpa. I know Sanchez isn't really that kind of player, but just adding another jumper/competitor will assist. Obviously Gift is that type of player, should we go that route. Obviously the other part of it ties back into the overall defense, picking up box out assignments out of the zone. This holds true whether we add Gift/Sanchez or not.

This is why I believe we have to play Gift, if Sanchez isn't eligible by mid-to-late December. I feel we're gonna need his beef and girth. This is story for another day.

I saw Gift being very involved by screaming out assignments (especially, to Obekpa) during our game versus Murray State (as, I was only sittng two rows behind the bench). I was impressed. Imagine that leadership on the floor.

Regardless, we're gonna need either him or Sanchez in another month or so, IMO. Let's put together a sound performance tonight, and get a resounding win.

 

[FKASJU]

Agree. Gift should be on the floor sooner rather than later if they don't feel Sanchez will be approved. They can't go into BE play rebounding the way they currently are. He'd certainly help, and it'd be beneficial to have Gift play a few games before conference games start. I know its tough to predict the NCAA ruling, but sometimes you just need to play it conservative.