Lavin's Interview After Loss

I think criticism of the coach is fair.

There is plenty of talent on the roster. Phil Greene is perfectly serviceable at the point. Branch does some things very well, though he also has some weaknesses to be worked on. Between the two of them, the PG spot is certainly adequate for the Big East.

Harrison is obviously as good a 2-guard as there is in the league - at least based on talent. More about him later.

Obekpa is not a finished product, but is already a game-changer as a shotblocker and is coming along as a rebounder. Obviously his offensive game needs work, but he is still a guy just about any team in the league would take and start at center.

Sampson is obviously a talent, and Garrett is a great energy / glue guy who does positive things all over the court.

On the bench Pointer, Balamou, Bourgault are fine role players (though one wonders exactly what role Bourgault has - you would think he is supposed to be a spot-up shooter, but somehow he never gets to do that).

And yet all of these pieces don't seem to fit together. There's no identity on offense, they don't seem to know their roles, there is no rhyme or reason to the substitution patterns. The only visible play is a high pick (usually without even a roll), after which the offense consists of getting the ball to Harrison and hoping he will create something.

Of course everyone has figured that out, which has mostly reduced Harrison's offense to driving and getting fouled. There's no ball movement, and no man movement either. It's arguable that Norm actually ran a better offense.

Some of this is attributable to the fact that only Green, Branch, and Harrison are actually basketball players. Presumably so is Bourgault, though he never gets to play enough to know. But it is clear that the rest are athletes who are supposed to be learning how to be basketball players.

It's obvious that the philosophy is to try to create turnovers out of the zone (not working) and then run the floor for opencourt baskets. That's good, because at the moment running down the floor and dunking is the only thing this team does well. The problem is that (a) the zone isn't working and (b) there is nothing going on the halfcourt offense (I use the term loosely). It's not just the Georgetown game, it's every game. The wins have just papered it over.

At the end of the day, if the players still can't operate the zone, if the staff waits until they are out of the game to switch to man (as in the Georgetown game), if there is no apparent halfcourt offense, and if the ball gets forced to Harrison while all of the other players stand around, if there's no team identity, they don't play together, and they don't know their roles, there is only one place to lay the responsibility.

All of it is fixable, and experience will help. One would have to think that the staff sees the obvious, which is the first step towards fixing it. But they may have to make a decision whether they want to continue trying to make Harrison the next Dwight Hardy, or whether they actually want to run a team game.

But right now it's tough to watch.

Everyone hold your breath..........

Great post
 
I don't recall saying Lavin should be fired. I have questioned what seemingly looks like a non descript offense and a ineffective defense that nearly all of our opponents have exploited, including the USF'S, UNC-ASHEVILLE, Murray State. It goes without saying that BE teams will bulldoze us even more.

Many wishful posters want to say this is Lavin's first year Coaching his players,hoping kids who transferred or went to the NBA, or that never enrolled here would have made this team better. Maybe yes, maybe not.. I THOUGHT HE DID A EXTRAORDINARY JOB WITH Hardy, BURRELL, kENNEDY, HORNE,ETC.

I would think all agree that some degree of improvement should have shown itself by now in Mid January but, what we are seeing now, isn't much different than back in Charleston in November, is it?


As for Louie and Coach Lapchick, they got most of their players from essentially a subway ride away..And, both of these HOF Coaches did impose a style of play that distinguished their teams. No LOUIE wasn't the best in game strategist but, his teams ran plays, played tough man to man defense and most years played in the NCAA'S.
This team doesn't do any of those things other than dribble the ball high and free lance when the shot clock runs down. Defense? I haven't seen anything that would qualify for that word yet.

I'VE been a REDMEN for nearly 60 years, graduated from the Business School and followed the team far longer than many who post here.. If you all think what you are seeing on the Court will improve with age, I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT BUT, i DOUBT IT.

If you think either a offensive or defensive scheme is in place currently, then good luck to you.

You really have been hitting the nail on the head. Boy! What I'd give to watch another Louie/Massimino matchup. That was basketball, not this nightly free-form track and field event. Our sophs got a ton of minutes last year and improvement really isn't noticeable. Sampson and CO have been OK but they are too light to go head to head with the bigs in the league. Watching our heaviest guy languish on the bench just adds to the frustration. GG is no difference maker but he could stand his ground which is something I miss.
 
I think that our weave or motion offense is supposed to result in looks inside. The problem is that neither of out two bigs is a presence inside. Obekpa doesn't really establish position inside. When he does end up in the middle and the ball is passed in to him, he hesitates and isn't sure what to do with it. That will come with time and practice. Jakarr seems more comfortable 10-12 feet from the basket. He isn't willing to mix it up inside.

As a result, the ball is passed around the perimeter and we never look to get it inside. a simple pick and roll once in a while would be great. Also, when our guards or wings drive, I would like to see the bigs slash toward the basket and look for the dish instead of just standing there watching the play. Again, our only big men are both freshmen.
 
I think that our weave or motion offense is supposed to result in looks inside. The problem is that neither of out two bigs is a presence inside. Obekpa doesn't really establish position inside. When he does end up in the middle and the ball is passed in to him, he hesitates and isn't sure what to do with it. That will come with time and practice. Jakarr seems more comfortable 10-12 feet from the basket. He isn't willing to mix it up inside.

As a result, the ball is passed around the perimeter and we never look to get it inside. a simple pick and roll once in a while would be great. Also, when our guards or wings drive, I would like to see the bigs slash toward the basket and look for the dish instead of just standing there watching the play. Again, our only big men are both freshmen.

I don't remember a set all season where Obekpa posted a man up and called for the ball. He is normally around the foul line/ three point line setting a screen for Harrison or another guard. Any offense he gets is on a put back.
 
I think that our weave or motion offense is supposed to result in looks inside. The problem is that neither of out two bigs is a presence inside. Obekpa doesn't really establish position inside. When he does end up in the middle and the ball is passed in to him, he hesitates and isn't sure what to do with it. That will come with time and practice. Jakarr seems more comfortable 10-12 feet from the basket. He isn't willing to mix it up inside.

As a result, the ball is passed around the perimeter and we never look to get it inside. a simple pick and roll once in a while would be great. Also, when our guards or wings drive, I would like to see the bigs slash toward the basket and look for the dish instead of just standing there watching the play. Again, our only big men are both freshmen.

I don't remember a set all season where Obekpa posted a man up and called for the ball. He is normally around the foul line/ three point line setting a screen for Harrison or another guard. Any offense he gets is on a put back.

That's my point. He doesn't post up. I think part of the offensive scheme is that, within the motion offense, bigs are supposed to find position inside and look for the ball. Neither of our bigs does that.
 
I think that our weave or motion offense is supposed to result in looks inside. The problem is that neither of out two bigs is a presence inside. Obekpa doesn't really establish position inside. When he does end up in the middle and the ball is passed in to him, he hesitates and isn't sure what to do with it. That will come with time and practice. Jakarr seems more comfortable 10-12 feet from the basket. He isn't willing to mix it up inside.

As a result, the ball is passed around the perimeter and we never look to get it inside. a simple pick and roll once in a while would be great. Also, when our guards or wings drive, I would like to see the bigs slash toward the basket and look for the dish instead of just standing there watching the play. Again, our only big men are both freshmen.

I don't remember a set all season where Obekpa posted a man up and called for the ball. He is normally around the foul line/ three point line setting a screen for Harrison or another guard. Any offense he gets is on a put back.

That's my point. He doesn't post up. I think part of the offensive scheme is that, within the motion offense, bigs are supposed to find position inside and look for the ball. Neither of our bigs does that.

I got you, we are on the same page-- just an ugly offense to watch unless we have a fast break-- which is pretty . Sir Dom, Sampson, Garrett etc are fun to watch on a break.
 
I think those are good points. Same offense as two years ago that sliced up Duke etc. The need for one more bonafide scorer is essential to spread the court. Hard to spread the floor when the defense is collapsing because they know you have one bonafide scorer they need top concentrate on. Unless something clicks with this group collectively or someone really steps up their game this can become a very long season. I will keep watching because I am hoping that will happen.
 
Wnhat hasn't been discussed here is that Lavin is still searching for that combination of players who will lead the team. Two seasons ago, it wasn't until Hardy took over at the point after the season had begun that the team took off. Against Rutgers, Branch (who was not eligible till after the season started) was mostly glued to the bench. Yesterday, while he didn't start, overall he was our best performer, and played 29 minutes to greene's 16. Going forward it looks like Branch will start, and Greene come off the bench. The team may gel with Branch, Harrison, and Sampson providing points, and Pointer and Obepka playing stronger roles defensively.

There's lots of season left. I'd bet any of you there will be some games that surprise the heck out of us in their positive outcomes. Maybe even against ND.

I love it when I am right so fast. Lavin is still searching for the right rotation, and he's not done yet. The three guard offense worked last night, but probably will be tinkered with.
 
I think that our weave or motion offense is supposed to result in looks inside. The problem is that neither of out two bigs is a presence inside. Obekpa doesn't really establish position inside. When he does end up in the middle and the ball is passed in to him, he hesitates and isn't sure what to do with it. That will come with time and practice. Jakarr seems more comfortable 10-12 feet from the basket. He isn't willing to mix it up inside.

As a result, the ball is passed around the perimeter and we never look to get it inside. a simple pick and roll once in a while would be great. Also, when our guards or wings drive, I would like to see the bigs slash toward the basket and look for the dish instead of just standing there watching the play. Again, our only big men are both freshmen.

I don't remember a set all season where Obekpa posted a man up and called for the ball. He is normally around the foul line/ three point line setting a screen for Harrison or another guard. Any offense he gets is on a put back.

Obekps has no post up game. He is supposed to roll to the basket after the screen but does not do it. Obekpa is just a shot blocker, not a basketball player. HE NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
 
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