Humboldt State game

Just got back from the game. Happy with improved ball movement even though that team we played against was awful. Good news is that it appears the false-motion halfcourt offense is gone, and thank heavens for that.

-Jakarr's approach in terms of playing within 8-10 feet of the rim improved, but I'm worried that he's put himself into some bad basketball habits. He missed a number of shots in which he should've used the glass and decided to instead finesse his shot in. He also did the one-hand-rebounding nonsense that drives me crazy. He needs to not worry about doing things the pretty way.

-Gift feasted tonight and it does looks like his hands are improved and I really liked his energy on the glass on both ends. With that said, I believe he feasted off of the low-hanging-fruit his first year as well, so lets see if he'll get minutes or be effective vs. the big boys.

-Hooper is an interesting case. In the first game and the first half tonight his shot looked rushed and I thinkkkk it was nerves but it's hard to tell. You could definitely tell things slowed down for him a bit in the second half and he held his follow-through and was in a better rhythm. I think the jury is still out on him because we have to see how effective he can be with the pace and physicality of the bigtime Division 1 game. He only played for 4 minutes vs Harvard, so this may take him some time to get used to the style of play. He will definitely get multiple opportunities to prove he can make it work at this level, so we'll see. Even tonight against a weak opponent, the game was a bit fast for him at times.

-Dom is an animal and is quickly becoming my favorite player on the team. His energy is really palpable. Even though Humboldt didn't score much from the outset, I really thought we played much of the first half on our heels defensively and wasn't pressuring the ball enough or being active enough. Dom coming in and our zone helped to change things. I really hope we see an extremely aggressive zone that plays into our style. We cannot just sit back and let teams run their stuff in the halfcourt. We're not that type of team.

Really excited for the first true test on Friday.
 
Marco will lose all his minutes this year to Hooper. One can make 3s the other can't.

It's weird because like Tarik just said when Marco shoots the ball looks like it's going in. It's so close each time but it's all metal

Kinda like Tarik's shooting when HE was a Johnnie
 
I just got home from the arena. Thought I share some impressions.

It is just an exhibition game but there were some positives. After watching the SF State game on line I was not sure what to expect. Obviously Humboldt State is not in the same class as SF State. However they played California and while they were blown out there too (83-62) that game was much more competitive than here.

I thought St. John's played with intensity from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Perhaps they needed to make a statement after almost losing to SF State. Whatever it was.they were a different team tonight. They were particularly effective in zone defense which they played most of the evening. They shared the ball and were team oriented with movement almost all night.

Some thoughts on individuals:

God's Gift dominated the small Humboldt State front line, rebounded strongly and was very efficient and effective in the paint.

D'Angelo Harrison presented a different aura about him. While he played very hard and very well on the court, In between the action he was completely relaxed, smiling and positive. He even exchanged pleasantries with all the refs laughing and putting his arm around them. When he was on the bench he was constantly leading the cheering, encouraging his teammates and smiling. An aura of peace, maturity and leadership seemed to emanate from him.

Dominic Pointer Was the man! While he brought it all game long. it was in the final minutes that he truly amazed. He led a group consisting of Bourgault, Hooper and walk ons Khadim Ndaiye and Tyler Walston. He made sure nobody let up one iota. He displayed unbelievable versatility and dominance on the court. He ran the point,. kept everyone involved at both ends of the floor, scooped rebounds, finished breaks with thunderous dunks and dominated the paint by blocking everything in sight. It was eerily Lebron-like in the sense of him being everywhere on the court. He was one block shy of a triple double in 29 minutes See box-score link http://hsujacks.com/boxscore.aspx?path=mbball&id=2174.

Rysheed Jordan is very unselfish, sees the floor very well, plays great defense, is an excellent passer and has a very good shooting touch. He and Harrison are going to be a terrific backcourt.

Sanchez is unique. He runs like a deer, can lead the break, is a very good leaper, an excellent passer and had a good shooting touch from the outside. He is an excellent rebounder but did not finish well on put backs.

Hooper and Bourgault both logged more than twenty minutes. They both can be on the floor when we play zone and not be too much of a liability. Hooper is a better shooter but Bourgault is a better ball handler and quicker. They both pass well. Hooper missed both of his free throws which mystifies me considering the videos I have seen of him hitting three after three.

Branch played well. He seems to be moving much much better than at the end of last year. He was good in the open court and also brought an intensity on the defense end of the floor.

Greene also defended well, made a three and got some assists. I think he over dribbles still and when he dribbles he misses some open teammates.

Sampson was in foul trouble and only played eleven minutes. He was much better than he was against SF State. He managed 7 points and 5 boards in his eleven minutes.

I am very curious to see how we play against Wisconsin.

PS: The Dance team has never been better!!
 
Marco will lose all his minutes this year to Hooper. One can make 3s the other can't.

It's weird because like Tarik just said when Marco shoots the ball looks like it's going in. It's so close each time but it's all metal

I remember his shot looking flat. Hoopers has a nice arc and like MJ said Hooper gets it off so quick.

I like Marco's shot more. Max is going to be streaky. He can take 500 shots in a gym in a controlled environment and drill them but in the game I can see him struggling in certain ways. But he is taller than Marco and higher arc as well. Every miss Marco had tonight literally went in and out.

Still wish we would actually run a set for either of them when in the game. Its just like they are there and if they happen to get a shot, oh goody, as opposed to actually drawing up a few sets.
 
If we play like we did last night with the intensity on defense and the ball movement on offense, we have a shot against Wisconsin. Remember, Wisconsin always seems to have a top 25 team but their offense has always been sub-par. Remember they played Butler like three years ago in the tournament and score like 35 points in the entire game. Their offense has always struggled, so if we can force some turnovers and get in transition, we can get a lead and hopefully keep it. We'll see what happens, should be fun.
 
Marco will lose all his minutes this year to Hooper. One can make 3s the other can't.

It's weird because like Tarik just said when Marco shoots the ball looks like it's going in. It's so close each time but it's all metal

I remember his shot looking flat. Hoopers has a nice arc and like MJ said Hooper gets it off so quick.


I like Marco's shot more. Max is going to be streaky. He can take 500 shots in a gym in a controlled environment and drill them but in the game I can see him struggling in certain ways. But he is taller than Marco and higher arc as well. Every miss Marco had tonight literally went in and out.

Still wish we would actually run a set for either of them when in the game. Its just like they are there and if they happen to get a shot, oh goody, as opposed to actually drawing up a few sets.

Excellent point
 
Anybody know why Mike Rice was at the game? I can't see it being because he wanted to watch an exhibition game..
 
Why is it such a big deal that Mike Rice was at the game, who cares and who cares why he was there?
Because Mike Rice is an arsehole with dangerously wicked eyes that can cause children's faces to bleed.
 
I realize he is a jackass but who really cares, maybe Lucas asked him to come to the game with him to watch Harrison play.
 
I realize he is a jackass but who really cares, maybe Lucas asked him to come to the game with him to watch Harrison play.

Mike is working out his issues but trust me if he was winning 25 games a year like Bobby Knight he would still be at Rutgers. There is a guy coaching Alabama football in the same mold and he has a statue in Tuscaloosa already.
Mike is a very good coach.......as long as he takes his meds.
 
Interesting to find out that Humbolt State split the season series with San Fran State last year.
Humbolt winning at home 78-67 and San Fran winning at home 79-61.
 
I just got home from the arena. Thought I share some impressions.

It is just an exhibition game but there were some positives. After watching the SF State game on line I was not sure what to expect. Obviously Humboldt State is not in the same class as SF State. However they played California and while they were blown out there too (83-62) that game was much more competitive than here.

I thought St. John's played with intensity from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Perhaps they needed to make a statement after almost losing to SF State. Whatever it was.they were a different team tonight. They were particularly effective in zone defense which they played most of the evening. They shared the ball and were team oriented with movement almost all night.

Some thoughts on individuals:

God's Gift dominated the small Humboldt State front line, rebounded strongly and was very efficient and effective in the paint.

D'Angelo Harrison presented a different aura about him. While he played very hard and very well on the court, In between the action he was completely relaxed, smiling and positive. He even exchanged pleasantries with all the refs laughing and putting his arm around them. When he was on the bench he was constantly leading the cheering, encouraging his teammates and smiling. An aura of peace, maturity and leadership seemed to emanate from him.

Dominic Pointer Was the man! While he brought it all game long. it was in the final minutes that he truly amazed. He led a group consisting of Bourgault, Hooper and walk ons Khadim Ndaiye and Tyler Walston. He made sure nobody let up one iota. He displayed unbelievable versatility and dominance on the court. He ran the point,. kept everyone involved at both ends of the floor, scooped rebounds, finished breaks with thunderous dunks and dominated the paint by blocking everything in sight. It was eerily Lebron-like in the sense of him being everywhere on the court. He was one block shy of a triple double in 29 minutes See box-score link http://hsujacks.com/boxscore.aspx?path=mbball&id=2174.

Rysheed Jordan is very unselfish, sees the floor very well, plays great defense, is an excellent passer and has a very good shooting touch. He and Harrison are going to be a terrific backcourt.

Sanchez is unique. He runs like a deer, can lead the break, is a very good leaper, an excellent passer and had a good shooting touch from the outside. He is an excellent rebounder but did not finish well on put backs.

Hooper and Bourgault both logged more than twenty minutes. They both can be on the floor when we play zone and not be too much of a liability. Hooper is a better shooter but Bourgault is a better ball handler and quicker. They both pass well. Hooper missed both of his free throws which mystifies me considering the videos I have seen of him hitting three after three.

Branch played well. He seems to be moving much much better than at the end of last year. He was good in the open court and also brought an intensity on the defense end of the floor.

Greene also defended well, made a three and got some assists. I think he over dribbles still and when he dribbles he misses some open teammates.

Sampson was in foul trouble and only played eleven minutes. He was much better than he was against SF State. He managed 7 points and 5 boards in his eleven minutes.

I am very curious to see how we play against Wisconsin.

PS: The Dance team has never been better!!

Pointer was amazing at the end. The three blocks in one set and the tomahawk dunk were perfect for highlight reels.
 
Kinda felt sorry for those Humbolt guys. They really should not have been on the court with this team.
If i'm the Humbolt St AD, I dont schedule a team like St. johns again. Next years scrimmage i go with a Seton Hall or Depaul.
 
Kinda felt sorry for those Humbolt guys. They really should not have been on the court with this team.
If i'm the Humbolt St AD, I dont schedule a team like St. johns again. Next years scrimmage i go with a Seton Hall or Depaul.

That's the whole point of these exhibitions. Glorified practice. I'm sure there's a little money in it for the school as well.
 
;) While I expected a lot of Washington Generals references, In fairness to both coaches, neither expected this to be the Humbolt team that showed up when they scheduled it. Sounded like an already outmatched team had their three best players out.
 
Kinda felt sorry for those Humbolt guys. They really should not have been on the court with this team.
If i'm the Humbolt St AD, I dont schedule a team like St. johns again. Next years scrimmage i go with a Seton Hall or Depaul.

They only lost by 20 to Cal
 
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