Marquette game

WE are 2 top players away. from atop ten team
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Kobe and LeBron? Just kidding. I agree that we need two studs, but hey, if we have Jakarr, two super blue chip players, and a supporting cast that includes Harrison, Branch, Obekpa, Marco, PG, and Christian Jones, we can be really great. Please tell Steve to get those two players now so we can get this thing going! :)
 
I totally stand corrected..... Last week i said we were past moral victories but we played great and should proud! We played hard all game...Christian jones is our x factor, could be a real nice player, jakaar actually played within the flow of the game and phil playing off a healthy branch was great! Next year with a actual post presence ( Orlando and I believe jones) Harrison back and a juco/Jordan we will a top 25 team!! Well done guys!
 
I reluctantly went yesterday and we really had a good time despite the outcome. We played hard and well. The building had as much juice as I heard since some games in Lavins first season. How FBs layup didn't go in when we had a 2 point lead in OT is beyond me. It was like some strong wind came in and blew the ball off the rip and down the side of the basket.

We showed up, we played well, but bottom line we still lost. We went from 6-3 to 8-10 and that to me is not getting better, it's getting worse. Anything short of 9-9 this year makes this another disappointing year unfortunately.

I'll sill watch on Wednesday night with my Nova friends, but I won't be expecting much. Hopefully next year...
 
Just now having an opportunity to post after being at yesterday's game.

While I agree there are no moral victories, yesterday's game was without a doubt the most exciting game I've been at all year. When we were down 14 shortly after the second half started, you could see how the crowd was getting out of it. But then when we were coming back, and especially after Marco hit that game tying 3, the energy came back to the Garden. I was at the Garden two years ago when our NCAA bound team beat all those top 10 teams, but I have NEVER seen the Garden, or our guys, as emotional and loud as yesterday. I was texting my son, who was watching the game on ESPN and he said that over the TV, that MSG was really rocking.

All of which made yesterday's loss all the more difficult to take. Despite our bad passes down the stretch, poor FT, FG and 3 pt shooting, I was pleased to see the way Obekpa and Sampson played. Jamal Branch seems to be getting better every game. And Christian Jones came in and put a fire under our guys and the crowd.

Our future does indeed look good. And I hope that good future starts in the BE tourney against 'Nova this week.
 
I think w Dom back, if we play w the same intensity we played yesterday,we could beat Nova.
 
I think w Dom back, if we play w the same intensity we played yesterday,we could beat Nova.
 
. RE: Jones ,I was not happy Lavin recruited Jones initially. But, I think he is going to be a very nice 4 year contibutor and could become a good post presence. It makes you wonder ,w/o Gift and Sanchez, why didnt he get more burn this year?
 
Everyone looks better when you have a capable point guard who can dribble, pass, drive and occasionally shoot outside.
Without a point, and for some reason sometimes even with Branch on the floor, we play through DP or PG and everyone stands around with the east/west stuff we talked about all year. With Branch at the control panel, Phil and Jakar can shoot from preferred spots, so even with minimal shooting talent on an decent day, we can be "in the game" vs anyone.
In college particularly, the key to credibiity is the point guard. When we don't have everyone playing out of position and shooting desperately because we couldn't organize a drive, a pass, a set play etc the coach looks incompetent and the players as well.
There is no good reason we can't beat Villanova with everyone playing their normal position this week.
 
Everyone looks better when you have a capable point guard who can dribble, pass, drive and occasionally shoot outside.
Without a point, and for some reason sometimes even with Branch on the floor, we play through DP or PG and everyone stands around with the east/west stuff we talked about all year. With Branch at the control panel, Phil and Jakar can shoot from preferred spots, so even with minimal shooting talent on an decent day, we can be "in the game" vs anyone.
In college particularly, the key to credibiity is the point guard. When we don't have everyone playing out of position and shooting desperately because we couldn't organize a drive, a pass, a set play etc the coach looks incompetent and the players as well.
There is no good reason we can't beat Villanova with everyone playing their normal position this week.
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I really would like Branch to take more jump shots, need more offense from team.
 
This game hurt.

Gritty effort by the kids and they didn't give up.

Jones was impressive. Branch had a couple of passes that wowed me. I swear he throws the fastest passes I ever really remember a Johnnie making the past 20 years.
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One of the announcers mentioned that Branch's pass to Greene under the basket was the best pass he has ever seen in basketball. Probably doesn't remember Bob Cousy.
 
This game hurt.

Gritty effort by the kids and they didn't give up.

Jones was impressive. Branch had a couple of passes that wowed me. I swear he throws the fastest passes I ever really remember a Johnnie making the past 20 years.
Click to expand...


One of the announcers mentioned that Branch's pass to Greene under the basket was the best pass he has ever seen in basketball. Probably doesn't remember Bob Cousy.
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It was also deflected.
 
This game hurt.

Gritty effort by the kids and they didn't give up.

Jones was impressive. Branch had a couple of passes that wowed me. I swear he throws the fastest passes I ever really remember a Johnnie making the past 20 years.
Click to expand...


One of the announcers mentioned that Branch's pass to Greene under the basket was the best pass he has ever seen in basketball. Probably doesn't remember Bob Cousy.
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That 's the old guy that was president of the Celtics, right? What about him? :p
 
Some final post game notes:

Obekpa: 7 blocks vs. the #15 team in the nation, 7 rebounds, a bunch of altered shots, and a growing confidence that he can rule the defensive paint. On one late block he thumped his chest after the rejection, confidently stating, "Don't come in here"

Borgault: 5 rebounds, and 8 points. Horrible shooting day, (3-13) but still confident enough to nail a huge 3 late in regulation. 5 rebounds prove my point that he boxes out and attacks the defensive boards. Perhaps small forward is in his future.

Branch: 6 rebounds to go with 8 assists. Everything's better with Jamal Branch in it. If theres any doubt that Branch is at about 90% or more at this point, look at that fast break layup late in the game. HE looked liked he was going full tilt, then accelerated like he had another gear in his gearbox for a layup. Gotta love this kid.

Christian Jones: 6 boards to go with 10 points (5-9 shooting). We'd take that from Pointer, so we are more than happy to have Jones show he's a D1 player.

Jakarr Sampson - another cooly efficient game. 17 point on (8-14 shooting) with 7 rebounds. The only thing you can critizcize him for is not taking the big shots in OT, especially when he passed to Felix, who shot an air ball.

Phil Greene - for all detractors, take this game and shove it. 20 pts on 9-15 shooting, just one turnover in 39 minutes,

A win vs. Nova on Wednesday would be so nice, and the newfound depth that Christian Jones gives us upfront could just be the difference.
 
Everyone looks better when you have a capable point guard who can dribble, pass, drive and occasionally shoot outside.
Without a point, and for some reason sometimes even with Branch on the floor, we play through DP or PG and everyone stands around with the east/west stuff we talked about all year. With Branch at the control panel, Phil and Jakar can shoot from preferred spots, so even with minimal shooting talent on an decent day, we can be "in the game" vs anyone.
In college particularly, the key to credibiity is the point guard. When we don't have everyone playing out of position and shooting desperately because we couldn't organize a drive, a pass, a set play etc the coach looks incompetent and the players as well.
There is no good reason we can't beat Villanova with everyone playing their normal position this week.
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I really would like Branch to take more jump shots, need more offense from team.
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He cant shoot in any consistent way
 
This game hurt.

Gritty effort by the kids and they didn't give up.

Jones was impressive. Branch had a couple of passes that wowed me. I swear he throws the fastest passes I ever really remember a Johnnie making the past 20 years.
Click to expand...


One of the announcers mentioned that Branch's pass to Greene under the basket was the best pass he has ever seen in basketball. Probably doesn't remember Bob Cousy.
Click to expand...

I heard that too. Such hyperbole. Some of these announcers would make you think the game did not exist five years ago... It has come to the stage where half the time I mute the volume. Waaaaay too much schlock and schtick.
 
VERY disappointing loss. This game was winnable. 2 reasons for the loss (there are more than 2, but these are the top 2):

5 for 13
3 for 13

I am having a hard time understanding the Marco sycophants who seem to think would have been the answer late. If anything, Jones earned to play more down the stretch today, and his offensive energy would have possibly made a difference. Marco has shown over the last 4 or 5 games that he is not that great shooter we hoped he would be. He had plenty of open looks and missed most of them. Failed to step up, time to move on.

Other thoughts:

1. Branch still not back to form; need him to be more productive on offense. Think he'll be good next year. Also want to see some take charge leadership from him.
2. Boarding still a weakness, though CO has improved. Early in 2nd half, Marquette got too many second and third (and a few fourth) tries.
3. Chris O will be a beast with another year or 2 under his belt. I think his offensive game will improve dramatically, and hopefully his foul shooting. But, on defense, I don't recall many other college players with the game-changeability he has, certainly not at St. John's. Should be real good for us at least another 2 years. (Think poor man's Okefor)
4. Seems like the staff's decision to give Jones almost no burn all year may have been a miscalculation, as he showed today that he can contribute, especially on offense, where this team is really challenged. Lavin said as much in his interviews this week. Today, it showed that the kid can contribute if given the opportunity (as opposed to Marco). Will be interesting to see if he sticks around or if he looks to transfer, but I think he could develop into a very productive role player. Maybe more upside than Garrett.
5. Greene showed the haters that he has some game, and that he can be good. He needs to be more consistent, dribble less, etc. but I think he will be a very good player for 4 years. Has to be consistent offensively. Other than Hill, hardy and DLo, maybe the most talented guard here in the past 10 years.

All in all, this game was a microcosm of the season. Streaky play, very athletic talent, poor shooting and FT shooting, too many turnovers due to sloppy passes, inconsistent effort at the beginning of a half. Hopefully, many of these are maturity related, and that next year, they will be improved and more disciplined. It is hard to surmise of what would have happened today with our 2 banished players, but it is not a leap to say that this could have been in the W column, almost guaranteeing an NIT bid. Now, we still have to sweat it.
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You just cannot judge players game to game. Greeene had a good shooting game Saturday, no doubt but he has had enough run to conclude he is what he is, a fair player and a generally poor shooter. Bourgault had a bad shooting game Saturday, no doubt, but needs more consistent minutes to prove whether he can play or not. A last comment about the Harrison observation from a quick TV scan of him; 100% behind Moose on this one; I am not a Harrison fan especially but the kid was at the game supporting the team and for that he deserves credit, not criticism.
 
Agree atmosphere in the last 10 minutes was probably the best of the year, save maybe when the UConn game got good late. Would have been great to find a way to win it but thought we played one of our best games of the year.

In addition to the game providing further evidence that we have something in Christian Jones, the biggest takeaway was the Branch/Greene dynamic. Greene is at his best when he's focused on scoring. It helped that he made shots on Saturday, but he was far more aggressive penentrating and not just relying on his jumper which was a big part of this being his best game in a while. Still, only 1 board and 1 assist in 39 minutes. Conversely, Branch with only 4 points...but 8 assists and 6 rebounds. He really has great vision and plays a floor game we haven't had from a true point in a while. They complemented each other really nicely Saturday.
 
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