You guys who come on the site at very tough moments for the team and the fans in order to beat up on a great kid who has given his all to this program just need to shut the f up. We'll all frustrated but dumping yours on this young man? Really? Grow up or shut up and you'll do us all a big favor.
Harrison
- Thread starter danfog
- Start date
beast of the east
Active member
I really don't get posts like yours. I mean, I understand the sentiment, but the reason we heap praise on athletes is based on how well they perform in competitive games. Basketball excites us more than say archery because you are pitted against an opponent. You do well with the highest goal being to win, and you are celebrated. Fail to win, and your opponent is superior. If we give our players accolades, it's for excellence. You want to pin a medal on every kid, including your own and tell them how great they are when they fail to achieve, be my guest.
The purpose of this board isn't to piss on posters, players, or coaches, BUT if we can't objectively discuss their failures AND successes, then what's the point? Everybody gets a trophy?
When a player of Harrison's caliber shoots 3-15 in a tournament game where the entire city is taking notice for 3 days, to you we aren't allowed to be objectively critical. Yes he shot 6-14 in one of our worst blowouts a week earlier, and 7-16 vs. Marquette, but also immediately derailed himself vs. Georgetown with fouls on the first two possessions and finished with 1 point.
Any criticisms of his game stop well short of any personal attacks on this kid. Harrison is far from the only reason we lost today, so it IS unfair to single him out specifically EXCEPT that if he truly is our best player, first team all big east, then guys like him must step up if our team is a winner. If winning isn't important, then give everyone a trophy, and just tell the kids what a great season it's been.
It's not being disrespectful at all, at least on my part. If we hope to win a single post season game in the tournament (NCAA or God forbid the NIT), Harrison must play within himself, let the game come to him, and raise his play to what I know he is capable of, nagging injuries and all. I believe he knows that too.
Now, in a twisted sort of way, I'd maintain that if you refuse to be critical of Harrison's performance, you are disrespecting him. I think he'd have none of it, none of the excuses, no injury crap, no look-where-we'd-be-without-him garbage. The thing that drives him, that made him overcome everything while here, that pushed him to drag himself up every time he got knocked down literally and figuratively, and when literally, not get up and slug a guy, is that he has a huge heart and is fiercely competitive. I don't think for a second he accepts failure in himself, so for his loyal followers to give him a pass for failing is nothing he'd allow for himself. Just a thought.
So much of DLo's game is playing through contact that injuries matter a great deal. Plus, there is a possibility that opposing coaches understand that if you stop Harrison not only do you remove his offense but the floor spacing for Dom and Phil falls apart. Looked to me that the critical last burst of hang time from leg power was missing as well as shooting touch in which your upper body and hands are softening longer shots powered by your legs. Hope he has it for the NCAA tournament.
I agree 90%.
The last few games he has been ineffective guarding his man. That could be the effects of a nagging injury but as you astutely pointed out his decision making and shot selection today was sophomoric.
A senior, experienced leader he was not and Lavin sat him in frustration at his poor play. While it is very noble and fair to point out his many high scoring games his end of season disappearing acts were not unique to this season. His abysmal performance against Robert Morris was the main reason we were bounced from the NIT in a home game. Calls for Lavin's head soon followed and were resurrected again as soon as Harrison was injured and his game went south. Regardless of points scored it speaks to his overall talent that he is not even whispered about on the next level and the disparity of skill between him and Dunn is huge. Today in particular he did not play within his limits and as you pointed out forced shots and made a few mental mistakes that Providence converted to points. Those are cold objective facts but none of our criticism should be taken as a lack of appreciation. Hopefully a week from today he is better mentally prepared to compete.
Wait, what? You're blaming the NIT loss on Harrison??? How?? It was obvious the whole team gave up, and didn't show up. We got blown out!
My feeling was that, especially HARRISON, they were not playing as a team but for themselves. If Harrison is hurt ,why did try to take over the game with early 3 point shots in the shot clock and on fast breaks. His misses demoralize me and must have had the same effect on the team. Basketball is a game of momentum, Harrison blew our momentum on numerous occasions and he was the first to lose our momentum.It became contagious to our team. Disappointment, what happen to senior leadership, by now Harrison hurting should have known he was not the best shooter on those 3 point shots. This loss hurts ,a senior team,it reminds me of the 1956 team. Lapchick first year back with seniors Duckett ,Parenti,Crystall and Brady And a .underdefeated freshmen team of Sieden ,Alferi,Pascal joining the team that year. Our expectations were high ,we went 11-11 . We all know why now...New York lost. We did not blame Lapchick, give Lavin a break. Lavin is trying is hardest to make New York relevant again.The administration should have a given a vote of confidence and maybe we would have had a power forward recruited last year.This is a talented senior team ,let us hope they prove it in the NCAA
I agree 90%.
The last few games he has been ineffective guarding his man. That could be the effects of a nagging injury but as you astutely pointed out his decision making and shot selection today was sophomoric.
A senior, experienced leader he was not and Lavin sat him in frustration at his poor play. While it is very noble and fair to point out his many high scoring games his end of season disappearing acts were not unique to this season. His abysmal performance against Robert Morris was the main reason we were bounced from the NIT in a home game. Calls for Lavin's head soon followed and were resurrected again as soon as Harrison was injured and his game went south. Regardless of points scored it speaks to his overall talent that he is not even whispered about on the next level and the disparity of skill between him and Dunn is huge. Today in particular he did not play within his limits and as you pointed out forced shots and made a few mental mistakes that Providence converted to points. Those are cold objective facts but none of our criticism should be taken as a lack of appreciation. Hopefully a week from today he is better mentally prepared to compete.
Wait, what? You're blaming the NIT loss on Harrison??? How?? It was obvious the whole team gave up, and didn't show up. We got blown out!
vs Robert Morris
Chris Obekpa 11 minutes, 0 points
Phil Greene 1-10
Dom Pointer 0 points
FTs
RM 19-27
SJ 4-5
Anyway the loss was clearly Jakarr Sampson's fault: + X -
Class of 72
Active member
I agree 90%.
The last few games he has been ineffective guarding his man. That could be the effects of a nagging injury but as you astutely pointed out his decision making and shot selection today was sophomoric.
A senior, experienced leader he was not and Lavin sat him in frustration at his poor play. While it is very noble and fair to point out his many high scoring games his end of season disappearing acts were not unique to this season. His abysmal performance against Robert Morris was the main reason we were bounced from the NIT in a home game. Calls for Lavin's head soon followed and were resurrected again as soon as Harrison was injured and his game went south. Regardless of points scored it speaks to his overall talent that he is not even whispered about on the next level and the disparity of skill between him and Dunn is huge. Today in particular he did not play within his limits and as you pointed out forced shots and made a few mental mistakes that Providence converted to points. Those are cold objective facts but none of our criticism should be taken as a lack of appreciation. Hopefully a week from today he is better mentally prepared to compete.
Wait, what? You're blaming the NIT loss on Harrison??? How?? It was obvious the whole team gave up, and didn't show up. We got blown out!
vs Robert Morris
Chris Obekpa 11 minutes, 0 points
Phil Greene 1-10
Dom Pointer 0 points
FTs
RM 19-27
SJ 4-5
Anyway the loss was clearly Jakarr Sampson's fault: + X -
What a nightmare performance indeed. But since this is the Harrison thread and he was the supposed star and leader of the team you should have posted his 3-13 shooting in that game up there with Greene's 1-10. It was the same story yesterday. The players were just a year older.Jakarr Sampson actually showed up with 5-12 shooting, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Unfortunately those stats were meaningless since Obekpa, Greene, Harrison and Pointer were invisible during the game. Rysheed didn't even bother to suit up since he caught tonsillitis 2 hours before the game shouting obscenities at his girlfriend over the phone.
The bottom line is these players have been a handful for the staff but you are who you recruit.
Wisdom on that last sentence 72.
I agree 90%.
The last few games he has been ineffective guarding his man. That could be the effects of a nagging injury but as you astutely pointed out his decision making and shot selection today was sophomoric.
A senior, experienced leader he was not and Lavin sat him in frustration at his poor play. While it is very noble and fair to point out his many high scoring games his end of season disappearing acts were not unique to this season. His abysmal performance against Robert Morris was the main reason we were bounced from the NIT in a home game. Calls for Lavin's head soon followed and were resurrected again as soon as Harrison was injured and his game went south. Regardless of points scored it speaks to his overall talent that he is not even whispered about on the next level and the disparity of skill between him and Dunn is huge. Today in particular he did not play within his limits and as you pointed out forced shots and made a few mental mistakes that Providence converted to points. Those are cold objective facts but none of our criticism should be taken as a lack of appreciation. Hopefully a week from today he is better mentally prepared to compete.
Wait, what? You're blaming the NIT loss on Harrison??? How?? It was obvious the whole team gave up, and didn't show up. We got blown out!
vs Robert Morris
Chris Obekpa 11 minutes, 0 points
Phil Greene 1-10
Dom Pointer 0 points
FTs
RM 19-27
SJ 4-5
Anyway the loss was clearly Jakarr Sampson's fault: + X -
What a nightmare performance indeed. But since this is the Harrison thread and he was the supposed star and leader of the team you should have posted his 3-13 shooting in that game up there with Greene's 1-10. It was the same story yesterday. The players were just a year older.Jakarr Sampson actually showed up with 5-12 shooting, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Unfortunately those stats were meaningless since Obekpa, Greene, Harrison and Pointer were invisible during the game. Rysheed didn't even bother to suit up since he caught tonsillitis 2 hours before the game shouting obscenities at his girlfriend over the phone.
The bottom line is these players have been a handful for the staff but you are who you recruit.
johnnycomelately
Member
I'm 45 , so I don't like engage in the criticism of 20 year olds. I like Harrison and think he's had a very good career. He's had an uneven senior year. Having been to many games, more so in the beginning of the season, it really looks as if he hasn't been right physically, particularly with respect to getting lift on his jumper.
This team has become very reliant on perimeter shooting, most because the roster is entirely consisting of jump shooters and slashers. There's no interior scoring (but I did love Obekpa's sweeping hook shot) which has been well documented.
I'm not sure why there's such hysteria on the board here. They missed shots yesterday that they have been hitting for the last month and were soundly beaten by a team that has been in the top 25 RPI all year long. I think I'm more disappointed that I'm taking my kids to the game tonight and SJU wont be playing.
Looking forward to Sunday night.
This team has become very reliant on perimeter shooting, most because the roster is entirely consisting of jump shooters and slashers. There's no interior scoring (but I did love Obekpa's sweeping hook shot) which has been well documented.
I'm not sure why there's such hysteria on the board here. They missed shots yesterday that they have been hitting for the last month and were soundly beaten by a team that has been in the top 25 RPI all year long. I think I'm more disappointed that I'm taking my kids to the game tonight and SJU wont be playing.
Looking forward to Sunday night.
I agree 90%.
The last few games he has been ineffective guarding his man. That could be the effects of a nagging injury but as you astutely pointed out his decision making and shot selection today was sophomoric.
A senior, experienced leader he was not and Lavin sat him in frustration at his poor play. While it is very noble and fair to point out his many high scoring games his end of season disappearing acts were not unique to this season. His abysmal performance against Robert Morris was the main reason we were bounced from the NIT in a home game. Calls for Lavin's head soon followed and were resurrected again as soon as Harrison was injured and his game went south. Regardless of points scored it speaks to his overall talent that he is not even whispered about on the next level and the disparity of skill between him and Dunn is huge. Today in particular he did not play within his limits and as you pointed out forced shots and made a few mental mistakes that Providence converted to points. Those are cold objective facts but none of our criticism should be taken as a lack of appreciation. Hopefully a week from today he is better mentally prepared to compete.
Wait, what? You're blaming the NIT loss on Harrison??? How?? It was obvious the whole team gave up, and didn't show up. We got blown out!
vs Robert Morris
Chris Obekpa 11 minutes, 0 points
Phil Greene 1-10
Dom Pointer 0 points
FTs
RM 19-27
SJ 4-5
Anyway the loss was clearly Jakarr Sampson's fault: + X -
What a nightmare performance indeed. But since this is the Harrison thread and he was the supposed star and leader of the team you should have posted his 3-13 shooting in that game up there with Greene's 1-10. It was the same story yesterday. The players were just a year older.Jakarr Sampson actually showed up with 5-12 shooting, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Unfortunately those stats were meaningless since Obekpa, Greene, Harrison and Pointer were invisible during the game. Rysheed didn't even bother to suit up since he caught tonsillitis 2 hours before the game shouting obscenities at his girlfriend over the phone.
The bottom line is these players have been a handful for the staff but you are who you recruit.
Not sure if you remember the NIT game, but I do since I was there with 300 or so fans in the building. Remember Jakarr losing his cool and shoving someone in the face? It's not like that game was his shining moment
LOSING THE BALL AGAINST XAVIER IN THE LAST FEW SECONDS IN A 1 POINT GAME. TWO QUICK FOULS AGAINST GERGETOWN TAKES HIM OUT OF THE GAME. THE PERFORMANCE AGAINST PROVIDENCE.AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE BETTER COME UP BIG IN THE NCAA FOR HIS SAKE. TEAM WORK PLEASE. I hope I am not imagining things
we are sju
Active member
This post remind anyone else of the book Jack was writing in the Shining?
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY
westchesterjoe
Active member
Harrison is obviously hampered by nagging injuries. Many have commented his having no lift on his drives to the hoop or his jumper. All True. Earlier in the year, he was pulling down a fair number of rebounds. He was getting lift and it showed. That pretty much stopped for the last portion of the schedule.
That being said, and despite being Lavin's leading designated scoring option for nearly all his career here, he has had some awful shooting games and in the big games, basically has come up small..Those are facts.
He gets all sorts of praise here from many but, much of it is that he has been our best player for 3 seasons anyway..Jordan is a more skilled player but, Lavin showing loyalty to DLO, still continued him as the first offensive option.But,Harrison has had way too many 3-11, 7-19, 0-11, etc games, when it was important he contribute more.
He has never been a quick player and most BE guards, including Arch and others, regularly blow by him as if he was in cement. Playing man defense exposes his weaknesses and, even Lavin's porous Zone, often doesn't help DLO.
Still, he has put up enough numbers to place him 2nd in All Time Scoring. Does that make him one of our All Time Greats? I have to say, NO.
Many of our best GUARDS, only played a year or 2 and didn't play 4 years as DLO has. Barkley, Hatten, Hardy were all in this category and conceivably put up more substantial numbers had they played 4 years here. In my opinion, all 3 were better players than Harrison.
But, that does not minimize his Career stats.He took a lot of shots to accumulate those numbers and really was never a dead on shooter, too many cold nights give evidence of that.
Still, he had a likeable tenacity that improved as he matured and, that is what he will be remembered for, more than being a All Time great. Many here, forget or more likely, never saw some of our iconic players..Harrison isn't in that league.
He has been the best player during the Lavin era for sure..
I think too, the reason for DLO not shining in big games is that most BE Coaches know he can be taken out of a game pretty easily and, for the most part they did succeed
That being said, and despite being Lavin's leading designated scoring option for nearly all his career here, he has had some awful shooting games and in the big games, basically has come up small..Those are facts.
He gets all sorts of praise here from many but, much of it is that he has been our best player for 3 seasons anyway..Jordan is a more skilled player but, Lavin showing loyalty to DLO, still continued him as the first offensive option.But,Harrison has had way too many 3-11, 7-19, 0-11, etc games, when it was important he contribute more.
He has never been a quick player and most BE guards, including Arch and others, regularly blow by him as if he was in cement. Playing man defense exposes his weaknesses and, even Lavin's porous Zone, often doesn't help DLO.
Still, he has put up enough numbers to place him 2nd in All Time Scoring. Does that make him one of our All Time Greats? I have to say, NO.
Many of our best GUARDS, only played a year or 2 and didn't play 4 years as DLO has. Barkley, Hatten, Hardy were all in this category and conceivably put up more substantial numbers had they played 4 years here. In my opinion, all 3 were better players than Harrison.
But, that does not minimize his Career stats.He took a lot of shots to accumulate those numbers and really was never a dead on shooter, too many cold nights give evidence of that.
Still, he had a likeable tenacity that improved as he matured and, that is what he will be remembered for, more than being a All Time great. Many here, forget or more likely, never saw some of our iconic players..Harrison isn't in that league.
He has been the best player during the Lavin era for sure..
I think too, the reason for DLO not shining in big games is that most BE Coaches know he can be taken out of a game pretty easily and, for the most part they did succeed
RedStormRising
Well-known member
In what world do we criticize the accomplishments and contributions D'Lo made for us?
