Maryville Saints - Exhibition matchup

[quote="SJU61982" post=299986]No Williams, Roberts, or Earlington tonight, for whatever reason. If they are not hurt, then Mullin has to play them, at least a few first half minutes every game. Especially the two big guys, just have them throw their bodies around. We played 7 guys tonight. I don't want to go through that again this year (it'll be 8 when Heron comes back, obviously).

Agree re: Ponds's body language. Looked like a guy who really wanted to go pro, but was talked out of it by his father. If that was the case, then maybe it was not a good thing that he came back. Still, in a bad game, had 13 points, 12 boards, and 6 assists.

Figueroa 15 points, 7-9 fg, good D too.

1-14 from 3 as a team in the first half. If we're not making shots, then we can't set up the press, and the press looks like it's going to be the #1 strength of this team. Fortunately, we shot 5-10 from downtown in the second half, including a couple late to pull away.

47-31 on the boards, in favor of St. John's. Yes, Maryville was small, but even small teams gave us rebounding trouble last year. A few times, guys were fighting with their teammates for rebounds, which is at least an indication that we are crashing the boards.

I think that #3 from Maryville could be an effective player at the low-to-mid D1 level. Moved really well without the ball, which helped him get free a lot from the perimeter. Fortunately for us, their coach took him out twice in the second half (to give him blows around the media TO), and their offense just was not the same coming down the stretch.

Simon and Clark picked up their games in the second half. Not too worried about them.

But man, burying three scholarship players already? Not a good look.[/quote]

Why didn't any of the freshmen play tonight?
Because CM didn't want to lose this game
And, if we didn't have Figgy, we probably would have
We did not look at all like a Top 25 team tonight
Very disappointed with the effort
We need to bring it every night if we are to have the season we hope (and expect) to have
 
that was not an exciting game to watch at all outside of Figgy. For a good portion of the game I honestly felt like he was the only one giving 100% effort. I also don't get why Trimble got so much PT tonight when he couldn't hit the side of a barn and yet we couldn't get a look at Williams and Roberts and Earlington, if you are not going to play them against Maryville when the hell are you going to play them. I agree with what everybody is saying about Ponds effort tonight, or lack there of, I have never seen that kid play like that before he was not even trying then the stupid T at the end acting like a baby. It would have been nice to see the staff try to fire them up during the game instead of just sitting there. without Figgy tonight we would have lost to that division 2 team! Lets hope they bring more energy Tuesday when the games count and lets hope Heron is back. The talent is clearly there if they all brought the same effort Figgy brought tonight we would have won by 50!
 
Very confused why the 3 freshman didn't play. When you already have two guys sitting out you can start sitting even more guys
 
[quote="isham" post=299988]The personnel may be different but the problems are the same. Mullin's teams play like open gym at the Y.[/quote] I only watched the first half but agree w you. Looked like playground BB. Also agree w Moose. Have to give our freshman some burn during an exhibition game.
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=299954]Ponds puts ball on other end to make refs get it. T’d up. Unreal.[/quote]

I thought Mulls might sit him after that and teach him a quick life lesson... something like “antics like don’t help u get to the NBA” especially in an exhibition game
Did not happen...
 
Was at the game and by reading the posts can only assume most of you weren't. Pitiful effort which coach acknowledged so i'll give him kudos for that but maybe if he spent more time getting on his players instead of arguing with the refs they would have played a little harder. Thank goodness that's the last D2 team we have to play otherwise we would probably finish the season below five-hundred. Ponds is Mr. Nonchalant. With all the week teams we have coming into CA in the NC schedule hope to see better efforts than the one they gave tonight otherwise I will be wasting a lot of time and money. Oh and he played his top 7 available to him tonight and couldn't give any burn to his vaunted freshman class.
 
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Only saw the final four minutes or so (at the start of which we had a slight lead), but couldn't believe Ponds' poor behavior (including a cheap shove before the ball was in play that could've cost him his second T in something like one minute) and poorer choices ... and couldn't believe Mullin didn't take him out of the game to set him straight. I sure hope this isn't an indication of what we're going to see from him this year.
 
[quote="redken" post=299999]Only saw the final four minutes or so (at the start of which we had a slight lead), but couldn't believe Ponds' poor behavior (including a cheap shove before the ball was in play that could've cost him his second T in something like one minute) and poorer choices ... and couldn't believe Mullin didn't take him out of the game to set him straight. I sure hope this isn't an indication of what we're going to see from him this year.[/quote] If it is, he will be playing overseas next year.
 
Was at game. As most have already stated, very lackadaisical game from the pre-game warmups to the final buzzer.

Only player who let the game come to him was Figueroa.
Team undervalues scoring via layups. Could have driven by these guys all night but settled for 3s most of the night.
Love Ponds but a little “too cool for school” between the bandana headband, the off balance heaves, and the antics already mentioned. Mullin should have yanked him after the technical.
 
The season has been launched. I was at the Arena tonight and saw some positive things although the overall performance of the team was somewhat lackluster in my opinion.

First and foremost L.J. Figueroa was terrific. He was clearly the best player on the floor tonight. He really defended well, had great energy, was always playing pass first eam oriented ball, showed really good court vision, was always under control, is very athletic and did a little bit of everything well. His line reflects that as he was 7 for 9 for the floor, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals. He seems to be a great addition to the team and is a very exciting prospect for sure.

Keita showed size and athleticism and was quicker and more agile than I expected. He should fill the hole left by Owens and will be needed given our lack of size.

It was surprising to me that none of the freshman ever got off the bench. I thought for sure Williams would be in the rotation.

Lastly not getting the opportunity to see Heron play was a disappointment from a spectator's point of view.

This team will need time to gel but it was good to start the season and I will be excited to watch our progress from here.
 
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[quote="ghostzapper" post=300003]The season has been launched. I was at the Arena tonight and saw some positive things although the overall performance of the team was somewhat lackluster in my opinion.

First and foremost L.J. Figueroa was terrific. He was clearly the best player on the floor tonight. He really defended well, had great energy, was always playing pass first eam oriented ball, showed really good court vision, was always under control, is very athletic and did a little bit of everything well. His line reflects that as he was 7 for 9 for the floor, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals. He seems to be a great addition to the team and is a very exciting prospect for sure.

Keita showed size and athleticism and was quicker and more agile than I expected. He should fill the hole left by Owens and will be needed given our lack of size.

It was surprising to me that none of the freshman ever got off the bench. I thought for sure Williams would be in the rotation.

Lastly not getting the opportunity to see Heron play was a disappointment from a spectator's point of view.

This team will need time to gel but it was good to start the season and I will be excited to watch our progress from here.[/quote]
Don’t think Williams was dressed.
 
Forgive me for commenting as I didn't see the game but I did see the stat sheet.. Young Ponds had an off night shooting but a hell of a game otherwise. He was 25% of our rebounding, 3 steals, a bunch of assists and 16 points. We all expect more from one of the better players in the country but he did contribute significantly to our result. . As for the foolish attitude, that's wrong, but let''s chalk it up to a little uncharacteristic showing off. He, of course, will be better going forward.
 
My concern has been that Ponds and others look at this season as a prolonged audition for the NBA to build person stats and not as an opportunity to play team ball and win games.
 
I don't think he played the freshmen because he was honestly scared we'd lose the game. With our starters playing most of the game, they were beating us at one point and when down it was only by single digits. Without LJ that would have been very likely. After tonight I'm actually surprised we played URI close at all.
 
Difficult to say much, since I was unable to see the game, but judging by most comments here, and looking at the boxscore, we seem to have much work to do.
I'm puzzled by Ponds' court behavior.
You'd think, he'd be gassed up this entire season since the NBA is his dream and he's been told what he has to show to be considered a 1st Round pick.
Simon's non-shooting stats were solid--as always--but his shooting was off tonight.
Clark had a good game, and here's hoping his 9 rebounds indicate he'll scrap underneath all season. The best takeaway from the game after Figgy's performance--judging by the boxscore!
Ponds' A/TO ratio was great, but off-balance 3s ain't going to impress NBA scouts.
Figgy's totals were very solid. He's come to play.
Our rebounding was very good but our 3-point D woeful...again.
Thank God we won, but a disappointing performance for the team, in total.
And play the freshmen in the OOC to see what we've got!
 
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It's very hard for the more talented and higher ranked teams to get up for games like this. Plus, the 3 point shot can be an equalizer for the smaller, slower teams. Some mismatches on paper sometimes end up close for this reason.

The problem is that St. John's isn't a team coming off a good season. Instead of coasting, they should be acting hungry and desperate, like a man coming off a desert island who has been surviving on coconuts for years. There are very few coaches who would tolerate a diva, which Ponds acted like at times tonight. Mullin and his laid back approach is doing him no favors.
 
I just watched the replay.

One quick observation: The team shared the ball on offense. That's a positive. I felt like they hustled for the most part on defense. So that's good.

Simon was a bit helter-skelter on offense - that hopefully goes away. Trimble shot the ball way more than I would expect in any game that counts. So this is definitely not the finished product.

LJ was awesome.

I was really surprised, but Roberts, Williams didn't play right? -
 
[quote="otis" post=300006]My concern has been that Ponds and others look at this season as a prolonged audition for the NBA to build person stats and not as an opportunity to play team ball and win games.[/quote]

Ponds didn't do himself any favors tonight
Nonchalant and a lackluster effort
Didn't like his demeanor on the court
On the positive side, if this is a foreshadowing of his season, he may be back next year
I can't see the NBA being interested in the version of Ponds that we saw tonight
 
This was an exhibition that meant nothing and St. John's approached the game with that mindset.  Maryville, as undermanned as they were, played the game with purpose.  The only word that comes to mind with our effort tonight is pathetic.  From the empty arena to the lackadaisical warmups it was a shit show from start to finish.
Not to regurgitate what has already been said but Shamorie Ponds, on paper looked like he played a decent game, he downright stunk.  Did not play point with any court vision and took poor shots.  Played like it was midnight madness all over again.  Looked slovenly and uninterested.  Did not look like a leader any NBA team would need.
The defense was porous.  The 3 point defense was abysmal.  Had LJ Figueroa not played a good all around game we lose this game to a D2 team at home.  Staff and players acted like they had just met.  Mullin had to go with his top 7 players because he never had the game under control. 
Sadly, without Figueroa and Heron as late additions to a piss poor recruiting effort, this team would be worse than last year's edition.  The blocking and defensive presence of Owens will be missed as we are soft inside.
Color me unimpressed with this long awaited debut.
 
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Section3 wrote: Don’t think Williams was dressed.

FYI Williams was in fact dressed and on the bench sitting with Roberts and Earlington. He shot around in warmups but never got off the bench and into the game. Personally I thought it was odd that none of the Freshman made an appearance on the floor considering it was just an exhibition game.
 
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