Louisville

[SJUalum98]

If you would have told me coming in that L'Ville would shoot 38% FG and 25% for the entire game, I would assume the game was either within 5 points, or that we won. How do we get blown out by a team shooting that terribly?

It was men against boys out there. They were beasts and we were bitties. They crashed the boards, we fell on our swords. They came to win, our effort was a sin.

I agree, this team just doesn't play hard every play. Guys jog back on D, stand around and reach rather then stick their nose in for loose balls, the lack of rebounding speaks for itself. Frankly, one of my least favorite Johnnie teams because of that and their refusal to trust each other and play as a team.

Interesting to hear its one of your least favorite teams.

I do agree they don't reach for loose balls. There are incidents of not getting back on D but frankly too few to really consider it an epidemic. I still feel the zone D leaves everyone so far out of position that it becomes chickens with their heads cut off and often leads to the look of absolute confusion.

Last night I never once felt the effort wasn't there. Did they play smart basketball? No way. But the effort was there. Last night affirmed what I've felt for the last few months. We need a big body down low (ala Benehan) to offset the offensive weakness of Obekpa and the defenses then focusing on Karr knowing Chris can't score. And also we need a PG. I'm still not sold its Branch. Love him and love the way we play when he's healthy over Greene but still don't think he's a true PG. The kid Owootoah had a good game last night.

With Kentucky coaches watching. I'd say we're a distant long shot for him. Very distant.

Kentucky has watched plenty of kids. Watching and offering are different things. I think his coach is former Wildcat Rodrick Rhodes. Yeah he has heavy hitters on him. I don't even know Cal's scholarship situation. Just saying he's a PG and he's out there.

Lets wait for Jordans decision

Jordan's not coming.
Either way, Jordan is another combo guard in a long line of combo guards.

We need a PG that can penetrate and dish and create easy hots for our bigs.

Jordan is a scorer.

 

[NYCShowtime]

I have been racking my brain trying to think who Phil Greene reminds me of from recent years and I finally remembered....

Cedric Jackson...

And just like Cedric at the time, Phil's shot selection needs serious work...

 

[SJUalum98]

This team will never be a top 25 team until they start playing like a team and making the extra pass to the wide open man. This is how the team two years ago with Hardy finally started winning games!! They would seem to have a descent shot lined up but would make that extra pass for either the wide open look or easy layup... We also have no one on this team that crashes the boards on the offensive side of the ball ala Harkless and Burrell.

Last night I just was pulling my hair out at how many times Greene, Harrison and Sampson threw up highly contested shots when one of our guys was standing wide open.

It is totally clear to me that the coaches absolutely NEED to get Bourgault more shots and continue to increase his playing time. He is clearly the most intelligent player on the court when it comes to the decisions he makes (did you see the rebound that he knew was going to be tough to pull down and so instead he tipped it to one of our other players to grab?) Add to this the fact that since he has been getting PT the last five games he is shooting 43% from 3 (9 for 21); take away the one crappy game at Cuse and he is shooting 50% from 3... It is my opinion he should be taking 10 to 15 shots a game.

Just can't see why Phil or D or Branch can't penetrate, the defense collapses and Marco is sitting for a high percentage look on the wing... Why is this so difficult??

In fairness, Marco is a defensive liability.

I like him but it's sad to see opposing players just easily blow by him so often.

He needs to be out there with a green light but I see why he gets benched so often.

 

[RedStormRising]

This team will never be a top 25 team until they start playing like a team and making the extra pass to the wide open man. This is how the team two years ago with Hardy finally started winning games!! They would seem to have a descent shot lined up but would make that extra pass for either the wide open look or easy layup... We also have no one on this team that crashes the boards on the offensive side of the ball ala Harkless and Burrell.

Last night I just was pulling my hair out at how many times Greene, Harrison and Sampson threw up highly contested shots when one of our guys was standing wide open.

It is totally clear to me that the coaches absolutely NEED to get Bourgault more shots and continue to increase his playing time. He is clearly the most intelligent player on the court when it comes to the decisions he makes (did you see the rebound that he knew was going to be tough to pull down and so instead he tipped it to one of our other players to grab?) Add to this the fact that since he has been getting PT the last five games he is shooting 43% from 3 (9 for 21); take away the one crappy game at Cuse and he is shooting 50% from 3... It is my opinion he should be taking 10 to 15 shots a game.

Just can't see why Phil or D or Branch can't penetrate, the defense collapses and Marco is sitting for a high percentage look on the wing... Why is this so difficult??

Let's be fair, Bourgault is a talented shooter and he can certainly put down an open J from range, but he is not Reggie Miller or Kerry Kittles. If you watched them through their college careers they never stopped moving giving their teammates multiple opportunities to find them for an open spot. I assume Bourgault doesn't have that kind of motor or foot speed.

So if D'lo or Phil Green drive with Marco planted in his 'spot' all it takes is someone else to slide over and help. Stopping the drive and leaving Marco covered. Also, Marco doesn't have the quickest release in the world so a particularly good defender can 'cheat' off him and help on the driver and get back to Marco if he recovery speed is there. At this point Reggie or Kerry would pump fake have a defender fly passed them dribble in for a lay up or a mid-range J.

Marco seems to me like he needs a little more seasoning. Once he become a little more accustom to the pace of play and what is require to perform at a winning level in the Big East, I believe he can definitely be a big time contributor.

 

[Jack Williams]

If you would have told me coming in that L'Ville would shoot 38% FG and 25% for the entire game, I would assume the game was either within 5 points, or that we won. How do we get blown out by a team shooting that terribly?

It was men against boys out there. They were beasts and we were bitties. They crashed the boards, we fell on our swords. They came to win, our effort was a sin.

I agree, this team just doesn't play hard every play. Guys jog back on D, stand around and reach rather then stick their nose in for loose balls, the lack of rebounding speaks for itself. Frankly, one of my least favorite Johnnie teams because of that and their refusal to trust each other and play as a team.

Interesting to hear its one of your least favorite teams.

I do agree they don't reach for loose balls. There are incidents of not getting back on D but frankly too few to really consider it an epidemic. I still feel the zone D leaves everyone so far out of position that it becomes chickens with their heads cut off and often leads to the look of absolute confusion.

Last night I never once felt the effort wasn't there. Did they play smart basketball? No way. But the effort was there. Last night affirmed what I've felt for the last few months. We need a big body down low (ala Benehan) to offset the offensive weakness of Obekpa and the defenses then focusing on Karr knowing Chris can't score. And also we need a PG. I'm still not sold its Branch. Love him and love the way we play when he's healthy over Greene but still don't think he's a true PG. The kid Owootoah had a good game last night.

With Kentucky coaches watching. I'd say we're a distant long shot for him. Very distant.

Kentucky has watched plenty of kids. Watching and offering are different things. I think his coach is former Wildcat Rodrick Rhodes. Yeah he has heavy hitters on him. I don't even know Cal's scholarship situation. Just saying he's a PG and he's out there.

Lets wait for Jordans decision

Jordan's not coming.
Either way, Jordan is another combo guard in a long line of combo guards.

We need a PG that can penetrate and dish and create easy hots for our bigs.

Jordan is a scorer.

He made his decision

 

[logen]

If you would have told me coming in that L'Ville would shoot 38% FG and 25% for the entire game, I would assume the game was either within 5 points, or that we won. How do we get blown out by a team shooting that terribly?

It was men against boys out there. They were beasts and we were bitties. They crashed the boards, we fell on our swords. They came to win, our effort was a sin.

I agree, this team just doesn't play hard every play. Guys jog back on D, stand around and reach rather then stick their nose in for loose balls, the lack of rebounding speaks for itself. Frankly, one of my least favorite Johnnie teams because of that and their refusal to trust each other and play as a team.

Interesting to hear its one of your least favorite teams.

I do agree they don't reach for loose balls. There are incidents of not getting back on D but frankly too few to really consider it an epidemic. I still feel the zone D leaves everyone so far out of position that it becomes chickens with their heads cut off and often leads to the look of absolute confusion.

Last night I never once felt the effort wasn't there. Did they play smart basketball? No way. But the effort was there. Last night affirmed what I've felt for the last few months. We need a big body down low (ala Benehan) to offset the offensive weakness of Obekpa and the defenses then focusing on Karr knowing Chris can't score. And also we need a PG. I'm still not sold its Branch. Love him and love the way we play when he's healthy over Greene but still don't think he's a true PG. The kid Owootoah had a good game last night.

I have to respectfully disagree; I realize I am very old school but jogging back ONCE on D when I played got you an extended seat next to the coach. Effort is really the only thing a player controls and busting it should be an always thing. How many breakaways did we get last night compared to Lville? That was the game essentially, they got easy baskets and we got none. IMO we have too many players that take plays off and when you expect close games (at best) every play counts. I also am an old point guard and our guard play is just the pits, it is difficult to even watch. Clearly we still lack players so my expectations are lower than many on the board but playing hard all the time and playing together are things all players can do and we do neither IMO. We ALWAYS take the first shot that shows regardless if someone might have or get a better one with one or two more passes. We have no chemistry and worse, I don't feel this group of players is committed to developing that chemistry, we just keep playing that same helter skelter unorganized ball. I could be wrong but I don't believe that is what is being planned and worked on in practice.

We don't get breakaways because we don't run. At least when Branch isn't playing we don't. Phil stops. Dom stops for fear of turning it over. And Lville is probably the team that runs the most in the country arguably. I know our guard play is the pits. You would get no argument from me there. No floor general at all. We don't always take the first shot as you say. I hope your just trying to drive the point home and not be literal. But we do take A LOT of bad shots.

There are plenty of issues present but I don't think were far off. Again a big body and PG and were in business.

Running is one thing; breakaways another. Greene and Harrison are so concerned with their offense that 2 or 3 (or more) times a game we are exposed with no defensive balance and just give up a gimmee. As for the first shot, ALWAYS is almost NEVER so your point is well taken. But we don't make any attempt to share the ball, play as a team, everyone is trying to do it themselves and the amount of low percentage plays we attempt, either shots or passes is off the charts. One play comes to mind, we come down on a 3 on one, Pointer with the ball on the right side. Someone, I believe Harrison breaks to the 3 point line on the left, the defender staying with the a player breaking down the middle. Instead of Pointer going to the basket and making the defender committ, giving him the option of laying it in or laying it off to the player in the middle or Harrison for an open 3, he tries a ridiculous high lob to a covered player running at at full speed to the basket.Yes, it would have made highlight reels and everyone here would have put the tape up and raved but it was a ridiculously low % play and emblematic of the losing basketball we play IMO.

 

[kranmars]

On the positive side, we have over 340 posts to a game thread. That's the most in a while.

 

[Moose]

On the positive side, we have over 340 posts to a game thread. That's the most in a while.

We had like 8 pages of drivel before the game even started.

 

[kranmars]

This team will never be a top 25 team until they start playing like a team and making the extra pass to the wide open man. This is how the team two years ago with Hardy finally started winning games!! They would seem to have a descent shot lined up but would make that extra pass for either the wide open look or easy layup... We also have no one on this team that crashes the boards on the offensive side of the ball ala Harkless and Burrell.

Last night I just was pulling my hair out at how many times Greene, Harrison and Sampson threw up highly contested shots when one of our guys was standing wide open.

It is totally clear to me that the coaches absolutely NEED to get Bourgault more shots and continue to increase his playing time. He is clearly the most intelligent player on the court when it comes to the decisions he makes (did you see the rebound that he knew was going to be tough to pull down and so instead he tipped it to one of our other players to grab?) Add to this the fact that since he has been getting PT the last five games he is shooting 43% from 3 (9 for 21); take away the one crappy game at Cuse and he is shooting 50% from 3... It is my opinion he should be taking 10 to 15 shots a game.

Just can't see why Phil or D or Branch can't penetrate, the defense collapses and Marco is sitting for a high percentage look on the wing... Why is this so difficult??

You can't say this team will not be a top 25 next year. No one expected anything from the team Lavin inherited from Roberts. We were just waiting to play the year out until all the high level recruits would come in. We thought they were just a bunch of solid recruits who were never coached up, and would end their careers in anonymity. Making matters worse, after a couple of early season lossed in their senior years, we thought it was a matter of fact that is how it would end.

Those kids couldn't pass, rebound, and were slow on defense. Under Roberts, Hardy was a sixth man and played the two guard. Burrell was soft, and didn't rebound anywhere nearly as much as he should have. We complined here for three years he often strayed too far away from the basket. Sound familiar? Those are just two examples.

Instead, that group went on one of the most remarkable February runs we have ever seen. They stamped themselves in SJU lore. If it wasn't for that season ending injury to DJ, they could have made another run in March.

 

[kranmars]

On the positive side, we have over 340 posts to a game thread. That's the most in a while.

We had like 8 pages of drivel before the game even started.

Sure, but every bit of drivel counts when taking stock of our more popular threads.

 

[NYCShowtime]

Let's be fair, Bourgault is a talented shooter and he can certainly put down an open J from range, but he is not Reggie Miller or Kerry Kittles. If you watched them through their college careers they never stopped moving giving their teammates multiple opportunities to find them for an open spot. I assume Bourgault doesn't have that kind of motor or foot speed.

So if D'lo or Phil Green drive with Marco planted in his 'spot' all it takes is someone else to slide over and help. Stopping the drive and leaving Marco covered. Also, Marco doesn't have the quickest release in the world so a particularly good defender can 'cheat' off him and help on the driver and get back to Marco if he recovery speed is there. At this point Reggie or Kerry would pump fake have a defender fly passed them dribble in for a lay up or a mid-range J.

Marco seems to me like he needs a little more seasoning. Once he become a little more accustom to the pace of play and what is require to perform at a winning level in the Big East, I believe he can definitely be a big time contributor.

I hear what your saying and definitely agree that Marco is not an elite, but he is in my opinion our best natural 3 point shooter since Willie Shaw (who in my opinion could have been great under a good coach)...

I just am tired of watching the "one-on-all" game and the off-balance low percentage shots being taken by Phil and Deangelo... if I wanted to watch that kind of basketball I would watch Carmelo and the Knicks...

 

[fan5577]

We have a point guard in Branch for next year. We NEED bulk. On one sequence L'ville grabbed 5 rebounds before they made a basket. This team was built to have Branch and Sanchez. It had neither the last four games against some of the top teams in the Big East. We are patching it together for a second year in a row. It is tough to win like that. We need some bulk next year. I do not know where it is coming from, but we need size not so much height but size!

 

[NYCShowtime]

You can't say this team will not be a top 25 next year. No one expected anything from the team Lavin inherited from Roberts. We were just waiting to play the year out until all the high level recruits would come in. We thought they were just a bunch of solid recruits who were never coached up, and would end their careers in anonymity. Making matters worse, after a couple of early season lossed in their senior years, we thought it was a matter of fact that is how it would end.

Those kids couldn't pass, rebound, and were slow on defense. Under Roberts, Hardy was a sixth man and played the two guard. Burrell was soft, and didn't rebound anywhere nearly as much as he should have. We complined here for three years he often strayed too far away from the basket. Sound familiar? Those are just two examples.

Instead, that group went on one of the most remarkable February runs we have ever seen. They stamped themselves in SJU lore. If it wasn't for that season ending injury to DJ, they could have made another run in March.

You are absolutely right about that team, they were painful to watch prior to that last season and they did mature and it was an astonishing thing to see them come together.... I didn't say this team would never be top 25; I said they will never be top 25 UNLESS they start playing more like a team.... it could happen next year, but I think it is going to take a lot to get some of these kids out of the "Me First" mentality that they have... I am specifically talking about Phil and D... Its almost like at times D says to himself, "I haven't shot the ball in a while.... no matter what the Defense gives me I am definitely going to shoot now." Then chucks up a difficult pull up three from the NBA line...

 

[logen]

This team will never be a top 25 team until they start playing like a team and making the extra pass to the wide open man. This is how the team two years ago with Hardy finally started winning games!! They would seem to have a descent shot lined up but would make that extra pass for either the wide open look or easy layup... We also have no one on this team that crashes the boards on the offensive side of the ball ala Harkless and Burrell.

Last night I just was pulling my hair out at how many times Greene, Harrison and Sampson threw up highly contested shots when one of our guys was standing wide open.

It is totally clear to me that the coaches absolutely NEED to get Bourgault more shots and continue to increase his playing time. He is clearly the most intelligent player on the court when it comes to the decisions he makes (did you see the rebound that he knew was going to be tough to pull down and so instead he tipped it to one of our other players to grab?) Add to this the fact that since he has been getting PT the last five games he is shooting 43% from 3 (9 for 21); take away the one crappy game at Cuse and he is shooting 50% from 3... It is my opinion he should be taking 10 to 15 shots a game.

Just can't see why Phil or D or Branch can't penetrate, the defense collapses and Marco is sitting for a high percentage look on the wing... Why is this so difficult??

In fairness, Marco is a defensive liability.

I like him but it's sad to see opposing players just easily blow by him so often.

He needs to be out there with a green light but I see why he gets benched so often.

Nonsense, he is no more a liability than Greene or Harrison. His biggest liability is his standing around on offense not his defense.

 

[spilke]

christian jones?

 

[Moose]

We have a point guard in Branch for next year. We NEED bulk. On one sequence L'ville grabbed 5 rebounds before they made a basket. This team was built to have Branch and Sanchez. It had neither the last four games against some of the top teams in the Big East. We are patching it together for a second year in a row. It is tough to win like that. We need some bulk next year. I do not know where it is coming from, but we need size not so much height but size!

I really don't think Branch is a PG. He's a combo. He can score. He is a great PG in transition but in the half court its still helter skelter. Heck maybe its the 'offense' we run

 

[Redfaced]

Syracuse and Louisville were the only teams i felt could blow us out... and they did. They bright side is we don't have to play them again. I think we can win or be very competitive in our last games. We need to hope the rest of the bubble teams struggle

Let's break it down..... Marquette is just as good as the Cuse and Louisville, if you agree with the statement, "you are what your record says you are", at ND.... Tough one as they just beat the Ville there. Pitt has been tough as of late. Providence is no slouch up there, and then there is South Florida home.....winnable. Realistically we may be looking at only one more win.

Funny you say that about Marquette. Their own coach has called them the least talented team he's had in awhile. And they are bad on the road.

They can't be that bad. Marquetteaid 8-3, tied for first place in the league....they have already won at Georgetown and won at Pittsburg, not too shabby.

 

[Redfaced]

We have a point guard in Branch for next year. We NEED bulk. On one sequence L'ville grabbed 5 rebounds before they made a basket. This team was built to have Branch and Sanchez. It had neither the last four games against some of the top teams in the Big East. We are patching it together for a second year in a row. It is tough to win like that. We need some bulk next year. I do not know where it is coming from, but we need size not so much height but size!

Agree but we also need people who can shoot and have good court sense. But agree with you on where it's going to come from. Lavin has struck out on every big he was after this year.

 

[sirvoo]

If you would have told me coming in that L'Ville would shoot 38% FG and 25% for the entire game, I would assume the game was either within 5 points, or that we won. How do we get blown out by a team shooting that terribly?

It was men against boys out there. They were beasts and we were bitties. They crashed the boards, we fell on our swords. They came to win, our effort was a sin.

I agree, this team just doesn't play hard every play. Guys jog back on D, stand around and reach rather then stick their nose in for loose balls, the lack of rebounding speaks for itself. Frankly, one of my least favorite Johnnie teams because of that and their refusal to trust each other and play as a team.

Interesting to hear its one of your least favorite teams.

I do agree they don't reach for loose balls. There are incidents of not getting back on D but frankly too few to really consider it an epidemic. I still feel the zone D leaves everyone so far out of position that it becomes chickens with their heads cut off and often leads to the look of absolute confusion.

Last night I never once felt the effort wasn't there. Did they play smart basketball? No way. But the effort was there. Last night affirmed what I've felt for the last few months. We need a big body down low (ala Benehan) to offset the offensive weakness of Obekpa and the defenses then focusing on Karr knowing Chris can't score. And also we need a PG. I'm still not sold its Branch. Love him and love the way we play when he's healthy over Greene but still don't think he's a true PG. The kid Owootoah had a good game last night.

I have to respectfully disagree; I realize I am very old school but jogging back ONCE on D when I played got you an extended seat next to the coach. Effort is really the only thing a player controls and busting it should be an always thing. How many breakaways did we get last night compared to Lville? That was the game essentially, they got easy baskets and we got none. IMO we have too many players that take plays off and when you expect close games (at best) every play counts. I also am an old point guard and our guard play is just the pits, it is difficult to even watch. Clearly we still lack players so my expectations are lower than many on the board but playing hard all the time and playing together are things all players can do and we do neither IMO. We ALWAYS take the first shot that shows regardless if someone might have or get a better one with one or two more passes. We have no chemistry and worse, I don't feel this group of players is committed to developing that chemistry, we just keep playing that same helter skelter unorganized ball. I could be wrong but I don't believe that is what is being planned and worked on in practice.

There were a few instances in the first half where they literally beat us to every loose ball. They wanted it more than we did. The problem I have is that we actually are pretty talented and when "the bounces go our way" we are right in the thick of these games. When we aren't getting the bounces the other team is usually out hustling or rebounding us, we aren't good enough to overcome giving Louisville probably a 1.5 to 1 shot ratio over us.

 

[SI1996]

That was a rough night. I talked a little to much smack when we took the lead.. think it was 33-32. Was all downhill from there. Ugh.