I don't think you have any case here, Patrick.
https://twitter.com/TroyMachir/status/1081722386179866624
https://twitter.com/TroyMachir/status/1081722386179866624
(POST-GAME) @Georgetown (CAP ONE), Sat. Jan. 5, 1p, CBS / 570AM
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
Washington Post
[URL][URL]https://www.washingtonpos...pitalizes-extend-its-rebound-season/?utm_term[/URL][/URL]=.bf21c7ec59bf
[URL][URL]https://www.washingtonpos...pitalizes-extend-its-rebound-season/?utm_term[/URL][/URL]=.bf21c7ec59bf
[quote="Marillac" post=312878][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=312871]I get the fact that Simon is a very Valuable Player for us but, him havi ng the Ball in a opponents must foul situation isn’t good tactics . He shoots a little over 60 percent and like yesterday , his 2 misses could have iced the game but, allowed GTown to get back in it . Ponds missed a couple also but, he shot his usual 80 percent or so . After Ponds , I would want Clark on the line but, he had already fouled out , I believe . Heron next , then Figgy and last Simon would be the best FT shooters with games on the line . I think we know to accept that Simon will never be a great shooter , despite all the Coaching of Mullin and Richmond . It’s not in his DNA . We can live with it[/quote]
He should not be in the game 90 seconds and in. He's missed two free throws several times late. Defenses cannot wait to foul him. He freezes up. I'd substitute Trimble who can go up and get clutch rebounds in traffic and who can shoot well without turning it over.
Simon had 3 huge offensive rebounds yesterday. There is no reason he can't do that every game. He's just not needed on the perimeter when Ponds is playing.[/quote]
Trimble was on the floor. Clark and Heron had already fouled out. Agree he shouldn't have or at least held on to the ball but . . . . SMDH
He should not be in the game 90 seconds and in. He's missed two free throws several times late. Defenses cannot wait to foul him. He freezes up. I'd substitute Trimble who can go up and get clutch rebounds in traffic and who can shoot well without turning it over.
Simon had 3 huge offensive rebounds yesterday. There is no reason he can't do that every game. He's just not needed on the perimeter when Ponds is playing.[/quote]
Trimble was on the floor. Clark and Heron had already fouled out. Agree he shouldn't have or at least held on to the ball but . . . . SMDH
[quote="Paultzman" post=312918][quote="Paultzman" post=312885]Remember Greg played at lower tier, small prep school, scoring primarily around the basket & is facing a huge increase in competition. That said, he is really playing well & once he improves his perimeter shooting, watch out.
He’s a four year keeper for sure. He also will be a solid defender imo. Lastly, he comes from a great, supportive family and has outstanding character.[/quote]
https://twitter.com/gregwilliams68/status/1081994970305839106?s=21[/quote]
Talk about coming from a great supportive family , no truer words could be spoken about Greg’s dad. His comments were outstanding, especially his highlighting the part about community service. It shows that senior really gets the big picture. I loved seeing Greg in there at the end of a major win on national tv. That and his highlight baseline dunk being shown over and over can only add to his confidence.
Very excited to watch Greg play and grow over the next three and a half seasons.
He’s a four year keeper for sure. He also will be a solid defender imo. Lastly, he comes from a great, supportive family and has outstanding character.[/quote]
https://twitter.com/gregwilliams68/status/1081994970305839106?s=21[/quote]
Talk about coming from a great supportive family , no truer words could be spoken about Greg’s dad. His comments were outstanding, especially his highlighting the part about community service. It shows that senior really gets the big picture. I loved seeing Greg in there at the end of a major win on national tv. That and his highlight baseline dunk being shown over and over can only add to his confidence.
Very excited to watch Greg play and grow over the next three and a half seasons.
[quote="redmannorth" post=312963][quote="Paultzman" post=312918][quote="Paultzman" post=312885]Remember Greg played at lower tier, small prep school, scoring primarily around the basket & is facing a huge increase in competition. That said, he is really playing well & once he improves his perimeter shooting, watch out.
He’s a four year keeper for sure. He also will be a solid defender imo. Lastly, he comes from a great, supportive family and has outstanding character.[/quote]
https://twitter.com/gregwilliams68/status/1081994970305839106?s=21[/quote]
Talk about coming from a great supportive family , no truer words could be spoken about Greg’s dad. His comments were outstanding, especially his highlighting the part about community service. It shows that senior really gets the big picture. I loved seeing Greg in there at the end of a major win on national tv. That and his highlight baseline dunk being shown over and over can only add to his confidence.
Very excited to watch Greg play and grow over the next three and a half seasons.[/quote]
This is from the dad of a kid playing 7.8 mpg with 3 DNPs!
That is the definition of patience and confidence in your son's ability to EARN more time. Kids like that make programs strong year to year.
He’s a four year keeper for sure. He also will be a solid defender imo. Lastly, he comes from a great, supportive family and has outstanding character.[/quote]
https://twitter.com/gregwilliams68/status/1081994970305839106?s=21[/quote]
Talk about coming from a great supportive family , no truer words could be spoken about Greg’s dad. His comments were outstanding, especially his highlighting the part about community service. It shows that senior really gets the big picture. I loved seeing Greg in there at the end of a major win on national tv. That and his highlight baseline dunk being shown over and over can only add to his confidence.
Very excited to watch Greg play and grow over the next three and a half seasons.[/quote]
This is from the dad of a kid playing 7.8 mpg with 3 DNPs!
That is the definition of patience and confidence in your son's ability to EARN more time. Kids like that make programs strong year to year.
1. Golden Leaf great to hear from you on this thread.
2. I am 65-- so for you younger guys, who don't know or remember Dick Barnett of the Knicks of the 1960's, some of Shamorie's jump shots remind me of Dick's.
3. would some kind person on here let me know if Fun is still on here, and if he still does those great post-game blogs he used to do?
4. This wonderful heart-throbbing W was all orchestrated by JSJ being at the game in person.
4. Jack Williams, thanks for the Ponds family attention.
2. I am 65-- so for you younger guys, who don't know or remember Dick Barnett of the Knicks of the 1960's, some of Shamorie's jump shots remind me of Dick's.
3. would some kind person on here let me know if Fun is still on here, and if he still does those great post-game blogs he used to do?
4. This wonderful heart-throbbing W was all orchestrated by JSJ being at the game in person.
4. Jack Williams, thanks for the Ponds family attention.
Dan V
Well-known member
[quote="RJGBOOTSY" post=312835][quote="Beast of the East" post=312814]Ponds heads and tails best player on the court yesterday, but Georgetown is an impressive team. Ewing is assembling a talented roster.[/quote]
Agree.He has done a nice job rebuilding.What will his offense be once Govan is gone? Does he have a talented replacement?[/quote]
Omer Yurtseven transfer from NC State should fill in nicely.
Agree.He has done a nice job rebuilding.What will his offense be once Govan is gone? Does he have a talented replacement?[/quote]
Omer Yurtseven transfer from NC State should fill in nicely.
[quote="Eric" post=312845][quote="Adam" post=312840]ESPN would've included that play if we lost.
Can't let their viewers know we are becoming relevant nationally.
Unfortunately for them, it's already too late.[/quote]
Yup
They certainly publicized the crap out of Zion Williamson’s play that’s for sure.[/quote]
David Russell did those in games all the time when he played here in the 80’s. Others did it too. When did it become a big deal again? Oh, because Zion did it and it was Duke,
Big East bias at its finest.
I saw clips of a high school kid who did a 360 dunk during a game but put the ball between his legs as he was doing it. Much more impressive.
Can't let their viewers know we are becoming relevant nationally.
Unfortunately for them, it's already too late.[/quote]
Yup
They certainly publicized the crap out of Zion Williamson’s play that’s for sure.[/quote]
David Russell did those in games all the time when he played here in the 80’s. Others did it too. When did it become a big deal again? Oh, because Zion did it and it was Duke,
Big East bias at its finest.I saw clips of a high school kid who did a 360 dunk during a game but put the ball between his legs as he was doing it. Much more impressive.
Last edited:
[quote="Dan V" post=312967][quote="RJGBOOTSY" post=312835][quote="Beast of the East" post=312814]Ponds heads and tails best player on the court yesterday, but Georgetown is an impressive team. Ewing is assembling a talented roster.[/quote]
Agree.He has done a nice job rebuilding.What will his offense be once Govan is gone? Does he have a talented replacement?[/quote]
Omer Yurtseven transfer from NC State should fill in nicely.[/quote]
He also has a 6-11 kid, whose name eludes me. I think he plays for a prep school.
Agree.He has done a nice job rebuilding.What will his offense be once Govan is gone? Does he have a talented replacement?[/quote]
Omer Yurtseven transfer from NC State should fill in nicely.[/quote]
He also has a 6-11 kid, whose name eludes me. I think he plays for a prep school.
[quote="Eric" post=312812][quote="Eric" post=312805][quote="Eric" post=312680]What a stressful exciting win. That ponds steal leading to ally ooop better be top play on espn top 10[/quote]
Not only was that play not number 1 on sport center top 10, it wasn’t even in their top 10 AT ALL!!!! Are you kidding me??? Talk about bias against the big east still Espn. Wow.[/quote]
I just watched that play again. How the heck is that not in their top 10????? Man Espn your non wanting to give the big east any publicity is ridiculous. Could have easily spoken about on coach Louie’s birthday. Gtown rivalry from the 80’s. Mullin and Ewing. I didn’t even see the game highlights shown on the entire sport center unless I missed it. But I had it on and never noticed. I hate espn[/quote]
A few nights ago, they did college BBall predictions - top team and dark horse if I recall correctly - for the power conferences. Didn’t include the Big East. 2 of last 3 NCAA championships don’t count.
Not only was that play not number 1 on sport center top 10, it wasn’t even in their top 10 AT ALL!!!! Are you kidding me??? Talk about bias against the big east still Espn. Wow.[/quote]
I just watched that play again. How the heck is that not in their top 10????? Man Espn your non wanting to give the big east any publicity is ridiculous. Could have easily spoken about on coach Louie’s birthday. Gtown rivalry from the 80’s. Mullin and Ewing. I didn’t even see the game highlights shown on the entire sport center unless I missed it. But I had it on and never noticed. I hate espn[/quote]
A few nights ago, they did college BBall predictions - top team and dark horse if I recall correctly - for the power conferences. Didn’t include the Big East. 2 of last 3 NCAA championships don’t count.
redfan259999888
Active member
[quote="SJU85" post=312971][quote="Eric" post=312845][quote="Adam" post=312840]ESPN would've included that play if we lost.
Can't let their viewers know we are becoming relevant nationally.
Unfortunately for them, it's already too late.[/quote]
Yup
They certainly publicized the crap out of Zion Williamson’s play that’s for sure.[/quote]
David Russell did those in games all the time when he played here in the 80’s. Others did it too. When did it become a big deal again? Oh, because Zion did it and it was Duke, Big East bias at its finest.
I saw clips of a high school kid who did a 360 dunk during a game but put the ball between his legs as he was doing it. Much more impressive.[/quote]
If Zion is so badass then he should be able to do this dunk:
The Dunk No One Can Do Except Michael Jordan!
Can't let their viewers know we are becoming relevant nationally.
Unfortunately for them, it's already too late.[/quote]
Yup
They certainly publicized the crap out of Zion Williamson’s play that’s for sure.[/quote]
David Russell did those in games all the time when he played here in the 80’s. Others did it too. When did it become a big deal again? Oh, because Zion did it and it was Duke,
Big East bias at its finest.I saw clips of a high school kid who did a 360 dunk during a game but put the ball between his legs as he was doing it. Much more impressive.[/quote]
If Zion is so badass then he should be able to do this dunk:
The Dunk No One Can Do Except Michael Jordan!
Griffith would probably make the all opponent team to play SJU at CA. Tremendous athlete.
JackofVirginia
Active member
Had palpitations watching this game. Couldn't watch the overtime until I returned from church last night.
Can't give up 85 points in regulation and expect to win. Got to improve defensively, especially beating the opponent to the spot on drives. Helped get us in foul trouble.
I continue to be impressed by Williams. When he drives he scores! Kudos to Matt
Onto Nova.
.
Can't give up 85 points in regulation and expect to win. Got to improve defensively, especially beating the opponent to the spot on drives. Helped get us in foul trouble.
I continue to be impressed by Williams. When he drives he scores! Kudos to Matt
Onto Nova.
.
Incredible to win that game. Executed so poorly at the end of regulation and in OT but continued to play relentlessly and just refused to lose. Mullin and staff appear to have this team conditioned not to panic and to keep playing through mistakes, two important qualities. Sometimes you just have to gut it out especially on the road and that's what they did Saturday. Major guts.
That said gutting it out is not a sustainable strategy, and the execution in the last 8 minutes against SHU and Georgetown is unlikely to fly against better competition. That might sound overly critical fresh off a 2-0 week and a ranking, but Georgetown is not a great team and I think SJU has the ability to beat great teams this year.
And I mean that literally, this team is showing the potential to be a second weekend NCAA team, but not the way they closed SHU and GTown. Few key and repeat areas from my perspective:
1. Defensive creativity. Even if you don't believe in zone (I'm guessing our staff's NBA view), and even if man defense is one of the biggest strengths of your team (I believe to be the case for this team), at the college level you can disrupt teams just by showing a different look. Saturday perfect example. Akinjo great young player with bright future, but seemed a classic freshman guard in that he was borderline unstoppable when things were going well, but was prone to mistakes when things weren't going his way. There was what felt like a 7 possession stretch in the second half where GTown did nothing besides P&R Keita onto Akinjo with no resistance, and then Akinjo went to work on Keita and made a positive play almost every time. You can't allow that to happen, have to do something to disrupt it and challenge a freshman guard to first identify and then beat changing defenses, not an easy task. Same true when they went on that run in the second half just dumping it in to Govan and LeBlanc at the rim. You let an inferior team get in a rhythm against the same look defensively and you are doing them a favor. Where is that 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure that gave Rutgers fits? Seems like we haven't seen it since and likely would have been useful against a bigger team Saturday.
2. One of our biggest advantages defensively is that we can switch anything. Not sure if that will apply to Keita. Maybe generally, but not if a team sees a matchup they like and looks to exploit it. In a game that was even after 40 minutes that stretch where we just let GTown P&R Keita onto Akinjo with basically no resistance was not good and could have cost us. This is nothing against Keita - one he shouldn't be expected to stay with a dynamite freshman guard, and two even though he's capable of guarding smaller it's been an issue for Clark at times as well in terms of picking up fouls. Ok to be a team that switches everything but adjusts based on matchups with more traditional hedge/recover, etc.
3. A momentum crippler offensively right now is Simon in the post. I know we think we have a mismatch with Simon and maybe we do, but right now it's telegraphed, slow-developing, everyone else seems to stand around, and we aren't converting. If it becomes quicker and Simon passes out of it when help comes all for it, but it seems like we are going to it 5-7x per game which in the context of a ~60 possession game on average is not nothing. I'm a big Simon fan, he brings so much to game all over court, but he's so much more effective as a slasher facing basket (as we saw with key buckets late in second half driving from top of key).
4. Ponds needs to have the ball in his hands in winning time. At 94-90 under 2 minutes to go you should have a shot clock violation maybe 1 time out of 100 possessions. Should almost never happen. With plenty of time left on clock Ponds went to get ball and Simon waived him off to run motion and I don't know if Ponds ever touched ball. Trust our other guys but you just can't have that and the result spoke for itself, maybe the most disorganized possession of the game. Ponds is playing at such a mega level right now not just for himself but for his teammates we can't afford to not let him be dictating offense for us late and letting him make the right play.
Some of this is bigger impact and other is more nit picky, glad to get out of there with a win in critical game, but think we'll need a little bit more creativity on defense and better late game execution against better teams, particularly on the road. Hopefully starting tomorrow night
That said gutting it out is not a sustainable strategy, and the execution in the last 8 minutes against SHU and Georgetown is unlikely to fly against better competition. That might sound overly critical fresh off a 2-0 week and a ranking, but Georgetown is not a great team and I think SJU has the ability to beat great teams this year.
And I mean that literally, this team is showing the potential to be a second weekend NCAA team, but not the way they closed SHU and GTown. Few key and repeat areas from my perspective:
1. Defensive creativity. Even if you don't believe in zone (I'm guessing our staff's NBA view), and even if man defense is one of the biggest strengths of your team (I believe to be the case for this team), at the college level you can disrupt teams just by showing a different look. Saturday perfect example. Akinjo great young player with bright future, but seemed a classic freshman guard in that he was borderline unstoppable when things were going well, but was prone to mistakes when things weren't going his way. There was what felt like a 7 possession stretch in the second half where GTown did nothing besides P&R Keita onto Akinjo with no resistance, and then Akinjo went to work on Keita and made a positive play almost every time. You can't allow that to happen, have to do something to disrupt it and challenge a freshman guard to first identify and then beat changing defenses, not an easy task. Same true when they went on that run in the second half just dumping it in to Govan and LeBlanc at the rim. You let an inferior team get in a rhythm against the same look defensively and you are doing them a favor. Where is that 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure that gave Rutgers fits? Seems like we haven't seen it since and likely would have been useful against a bigger team Saturday.
2. One of our biggest advantages defensively is that we can switch anything. Not sure if that will apply to Keita. Maybe generally, but not if a team sees a matchup they like and looks to exploit it. In a game that was even after 40 minutes that stretch where we just let GTown P&R Keita onto Akinjo with basically no resistance was not good and could have cost us. This is nothing against Keita - one he shouldn't be expected to stay with a dynamite freshman guard, and two even though he's capable of guarding smaller it's been an issue for Clark at times as well in terms of picking up fouls. Ok to be a team that switches everything but adjusts based on matchups with more traditional hedge/recover, etc.
3. A momentum crippler offensively right now is Simon in the post. I know we think we have a mismatch with Simon and maybe we do, but right now it's telegraphed, slow-developing, everyone else seems to stand around, and we aren't converting. If it becomes quicker and Simon passes out of it when help comes all for it, but it seems like we are going to it 5-7x per game which in the context of a ~60 possession game on average is not nothing. I'm a big Simon fan, he brings so much to game all over court, but he's so much more effective as a slasher facing basket (as we saw with key buckets late in second half driving from top of key).
4. Ponds needs to have the ball in his hands in winning time. At 94-90 under 2 minutes to go you should have a shot clock violation maybe 1 time out of 100 possessions. Should almost never happen. With plenty of time left on clock Ponds went to get ball and Simon waived him off to run motion and I don't know if Ponds ever touched ball. Trust our other guys but you just can't have that and the result spoke for itself, maybe the most disorganized possession of the game. Ponds is playing at such a mega level right now not just for himself but for his teammates we can't afford to not let him be dictating offense for us late and letting him make the right play.
Some of this is bigger impact and other is more nit picky, glad to get out of there with a win in critical game, but think we'll need a little bit more creativity on defense and better late game execution against better teams, particularly on the road. Hopefully starting tomorrow night
[quote="Section3" post=312977][quote="Eric" post=312812][quote="Eric" post=312805][quote="Eric" post=312680]What a stressful exciting win. That ponds steal leading to ally ooop better be top play on espn top 10[/quote]
Not only was that play not number 1 on sport center top 10, it wasn’t even in their top 10 AT ALL!!!! Are you kidding me??? Talk about bias against the big east still Espn. Wow.[/quote]
I just watched that play again. How the heck is that not in their top 10????? Man Espn your non wanting to give the big east any publicity is ridiculous. Could have easily spoken about on coach Louie’s birthday. Gtown rivalry from the 80’s. Mullin and Ewing. I didn’t even see the game highlights shown on the entire sport center unless I missed it. But I had it on and never noticed. I hate espn[/quote]
A few nights ago, they did college BBall predictions - top team and dark horse if I recall correctly - for the power conferences. Didn’t include the Big East. 2 of last 3 NCAA championships don’t count.[/quote]
Wow- unbelievable! Do you know what segment that was on?
Unfortunately for them, they can't control how great our recruiting is... or stop us from winning National Championships.
Maybe 10 years ago it would've been a big deal, but now their influence is so diminished. Can't even remember the last time I watched SportsCenter.
I can tell that the social media involvement for #sjubb is bigger than most P5 football schools. That to me is more important than whatever talking heads on ESPN are saying.
Not only was that play not number 1 on sport center top 10, it wasn’t even in their top 10 AT ALL!!!! Are you kidding me??? Talk about bias against the big east still Espn. Wow.[/quote]
I just watched that play again. How the heck is that not in their top 10????? Man Espn your non wanting to give the big east any publicity is ridiculous. Could have easily spoken about on coach Louie’s birthday. Gtown rivalry from the 80’s. Mullin and Ewing. I didn’t even see the game highlights shown on the entire sport center unless I missed it. But I had it on and never noticed. I hate espn[/quote]
A few nights ago, they did college BBall predictions - top team and dark horse if I recall correctly - for the power conferences. Didn’t include the Big East. 2 of last 3 NCAA championships don’t count.[/quote]
Wow- unbelievable! Do you know what segment that was on?
Unfortunately for them, they can't control how great our recruiting is... or stop us from winning National Championships.
Maybe 10 years ago it would've been a big deal, but now their influence is so diminished. Can't even remember the last time I watched SportsCenter.
I can tell that the social media involvement for #sjubb is bigger than most P5 football schools. That to me is more important than whatever talking heads on ESPN are saying.
[quote="SJU1512" post=313243]Incredible to win that game. Executed so poorly at the end of regulation and in OT but continued to play relentlessly and just refused to lose. Mullin and staff appear to have this team conditioned not to panic and to keep playing through mistakes, two important qualities. Sometimes you just have to gut it out especially on the road and that's what they did Saturday. Major guts.
That said gutting it out is not a sustainable strategy, and the execution in the last 8 minutes against SHU and Georgetown is unlikely to fly against better competition. That might sound overly critical fresh off a 2-0 week and a ranking, but Georgetown is not a great team and I think SJU has the ability to beat great teams this year.
And I mean that literally, this team is showing the potential to be a second weekend NCAA team, but not the way they closed SHU and GTown. Few key and repeat areas from my perspective:
1. Defensive creativity. Even if you don't believe in zone (I'm guessing our staff's NBA view), and even if man defense is one of the biggest strengths of your team (I believe to be the case for this team), at the college level you can disrupt teams just by showing a different look. Saturday perfect example. Akinjo great young player with bright future, but seemed a classic freshman guard in that he was borderline unstoppable when things were going well, but was prone to mistakes when things weren't going his way. There was what felt like a 7 possession stretch in the second half where GTown did nothing besides P&R Keita onto Akinjo with no resistance, and then Akinjo went to work on Keita and made a positive play almost every time. You can't allow that to happen, have to do something to disrupt it and challenge a freshman guard to first identify and then beat changing defenses, not an easy task. Same true when they went on that run in the second half just dumping it in to Govan and LeBlanc at the rim. You let an inferior team get in a rhythm against the same look defensively and you are doing them a favor. Where is that 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure that gave Rutgers fits? Seems like we haven't seen it since and likely would have been useful against a bigger team Saturday.
2. One of our biggest advantages defensively is that we can switch anything. Not sure if that will apply to Keita. Maybe generally, but not if a team sees a matchup they like and looks to exploit it. In a game that was even after 40 minutes that stretch where we just let GTown P&R Keita onto Akinjo with basically no resistance was not good and could have cost us. This is nothing against Keita - one he shouldn't be expected to stay with a dynamite freshman guard, and two even though he's capable of guarding smaller it's been an issue for Clark at times as well in terms of picking up fouls. Ok to be a team that switches everything but adjusts based on matchups with more traditional hedge/recover, etc.
3. A momentum crippler offensively right now is Simon in the post. I know we think we have a mismatch with Simon and maybe we do, but right now it's telegraphed, slow-developing, everyone else seems to stand around, and we aren't converting. If it becomes quicker and Simon passes out of it when help comes all for it, but it seems like we are going to it 5-7x per game which in the context of a ~60 possession game on average is not nothing. I'm a big Simon fan, he brings so much to game all over court, but he's so much more effective as a slasher facing basket (as we saw with key buckets late in second half driving from top of key).
4. Ponds needs to have the ball in his hands in winning time. At 94-90 under 2 minutes to go you should have a shot clock violation maybe 1 time out of 100 possessions. Should almost never happen. With plenty of time left on clock Ponds went to get ball and Simon waived him off to run motion and I don't know if Ponds ever touched ball. Trust our other guys but you just can't have that and the result spoke for itself, maybe the most disorganized possession of the game. Ponds is playing at such a mega level right now not just for himself but for his teammates we can't afford to not let him be dictating offense for us late and letting him make the right play.
Some of this is bigger impact and other is more nit picky, glad to get out of there with a win in critical game, but think we'll need a little bit more creativity on defense and better late game execution against better teams, particularly on the road. Hopefully starting tomorrow night[/quote]
Excellent post. Mullin clearly has the program going in the right direction and is building momentum. That said, I do think one area that I believe could be handled better is the adjustment to the modern college game compared to what the college game was when he played and the NBA game. Kids don't stay 4 years anymore. Stars are usually one or two years. You are mainly dealing with 18-21 year old kids. Change the look and you can get them out of rhythm. Just like a pitcher keeping a hitter off balance by changing speed, location and eye level, or a football defense giving a QB different looks...you can and need to do the same thing with defense. Make the opponent have to think about what you are doing and see if they can recognize and execute. They're kids. Most of them will struggle for a possession or two.
That said gutting it out is not a sustainable strategy, and the execution in the last 8 minutes against SHU and Georgetown is unlikely to fly against better competition. That might sound overly critical fresh off a 2-0 week and a ranking, but Georgetown is not a great team and I think SJU has the ability to beat great teams this year.
And I mean that literally, this team is showing the potential to be a second weekend NCAA team, but not the way they closed SHU and GTown. Few key and repeat areas from my perspective:
1. Defensive creativity. Even if you don't believe in zone (I'm guessing our staff's NBA view), and even if man defense is one of the biggest strengths of your team (I believe to be the case for this team), at the college level you can disrupt teams just by showing a different look. Saturday perfect example. Akinjo great young player with bright future, but seemed a classic freshman guard in that he was borderline unstoppable when things were going well, but was prone to mistakes when things weren't going his way. There was what felt like a 7 possession stretch in the second half where GTown did nothing besides P&R Keita onto Akinjo with no resistance, and then Akinjo went to work on Keita and made a positive play almost every time. You can't allow that to happen, have to do something to disrupt it and challenge a freshman guard to first identify and then beat changing defenses, not an easy task. Same true when they went on that run in the second half just dumping it in to Govan and LeBlanc at the rim. You let an inferior team get in a rhythm against the same look defensively and you are doing them a favor. Where is that 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure that gave Rutgers fits? Seems like we haven't seen it since and likely would have been useful against a bigger team Saturday.
2. One of our biggest advantages defensively is that we can switch anything. Not sure if that will apply to Keita. Maybe generally, but not if a team sees a matchup they like and looks to exploit it. In a game that was even after 40 minutes that stretch where we just let GTown P&R Keita onto Akinjo with basically no resistance was not good and could have cost us. This is nothing against Keita - one he shouldn't be expected to stay with a dynamite freshman guard, and two even though he's capable of guarding smaller it's been an issue for Clark at times as well in terms of picking up fouls. Ok to be a team that switches everything but adjusts based on matchups with more traditional hedge/recover, etc.
3. A momentum crippler offensively right now is Simon in the post. I know we think we have a mismatch with Simon and maybe we do, but right now it's telegraphed, slow-developing, everyone else seems to stand around, and we aren't converting. If it becomes quicker and Simon passes out of it when help comes all for it, but it seems like we are going to it 5-7x per game which in the context of a ~60 possession game on average is not nothing. I'm a big Simon fan, he brings so much to game all over court, but he's so much more effective as a slasher facing basket (as we saw with key buckets late in second half driving from top of key).
4. Ponds needs to have the ball in his hands in winning time. At 94-90 under 2 minutes to go you should have a shot clock violation maybe 1 time out of 100 possessions. Should almost never happen. With plenty of time left on clock Ponds went to get ball and Simon waived him off to run motion and I don't know if Ponds ever touched ball. Trust our other guys but you just can't have that and the result spoke for itself, maybe the most disorganized possession of the game. Ponds is playing at such a mega level right now not just for himself but for his teammates we can't afford to not let him be dictating offense for us late and letting him make the right play.
Some of this is bigger impact and other is more nit picky, glad to get out of there with a win in critical game, but think we'll need a little bit more creativity on defense and better late game execution against better teams, particularly on the road. Hopefully starting tomorrow night
[/quote]Excellent post. Mullin clearly has the program going in the right direction and is building momentum. That said, I do think one area that I believe could be handled better is the adjustment to the modern college game compared to what the college game was when he played and the NBA game. Kids don't stay 4 years anymore. Stars are usually one or two years. You are mainly dealing with 18-21 year old kids. Change the look and you can get them out of rhythm. Just like a pitcher keeping a hitter off balance by changing speed, location and eye level, or a football defense giving a QB different looks...you can and need to do the same thing with defense. Make the opponent have to think about what you are doing and see if they can recognize and execute. They're kids. Most of them will struggle for a possession or two.
[quote="SJU1512" post=313243]Incredible to win that game. Executed so poorly at the end of regulation and in OT but continued to play relentlessly and just refused to lose. Mullin and staff appear to have this team conditioned not to panic and to keep playing through mistakes, two important qualities. Sometimes you just have to gut it out especially on the road and that's what they did Saturday. Major guts.
That said gutting it out is not a sustainable strategy, and the execution in the last 8 minutes against SHU and Georgetown is unlikely to fly against better competition. That might sound overly critical fresh off a 2-0 week and a ranking, but Georgetown is not a great team and I think SJU has the ability to beat great teams this year.
And I mean that literally, this team is showing the potential to be a second weekend NCAA team, but not the way they closed SHU and GTown. Few key and repeat areas from my perspective:
1. Defensive creativity. Even if you don't believe in zone (I'm guessing our staff's NBA view), and even if man defense is one of the biggest strengths of your team (I believe to be the case for this team), at the college level you can disrupt teams just by showing a different look. Saturday perfect example. Akinjo great young player with bright future, but seemed a classic freshman guard in that he was borderline unstoppable when things were going well, but was prone to mistakes when things weren't going his way. There was what felt like a 7 possession stretch in the second half where GTown did nothing besides P&R Keita onto Akinjo with no resistance, and then Akinjo went to work on Keita and made a positive play almost every time. You can't allow that to happen, have to do something to disrupt it and challenge a freshman guard to first identify and then beat changing defenses, not an easy task. Same true when they went on that run in the second half just dumping it in to Govan and LeBlanc at the rim. You let an inferior team get in a rhythm against the same look defensively and you are doing them a favor. Where is that 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure that gave Rutgers fits? Seems like we haven't seen it since and likely would have been useful against a bigger team Saturday.
2. One of our biggest advantages defensively is that we can switch anything. Not sure if that will apply to Keita. Maybe generally, but not if a team sees a matchup they like and looks to exploit it. In a game that was even after 40 minutes that stretch where we just let GTown P&R Keita onto Akinjo with basically no resistance was not good and could have cost us. This is nothing against Keita - one he shouldn't be expected to stay with a dynamite freshman guard, and two even though he's capable of guarding smaller it's been an issue for Clark at times as well in terms of picking up fouls. Ok to be a team that switches everything but adjusts based on matchups with more traditional hedge/recover, etc.
3. A momentum crippler offensively right now is Simon in the post. I know we think we have a mismatch with Simon and maybe we do, but right now it's telegraphed, slow-developing, everyone else seems to stand around, and we aren't converting. If it becomes quicker and Simon passes out of it when help comes all for it, but it seems like we are going to it 5-7x per game which in the context of a ~60 possession game on average is not nothing. I'm a big Simon fan, he brings so much to game all over court, but he's so much more effective as a slasher facing basket (as we saw with key buckets late in second half driving from top of key).
4. Ponds needs to have the ball in his hands in winning time. At 94-90 under 2 minutes to go you should have a shot clock violation maybe 1 time out of 100 possessions. Should almost never happen. With plenty of time left on clock Ponds went to get ball and Simon waived him off to run motion and I don't know if Ponds ever touched ball. Trust our other guys but you just can't have that and the result spoke for itself, maybe the most disorganized possession of the game. Ponds is playing at such a mega level right now not just for himself but for his teammates we can't afford to not let him be dictating offense for us late and letting him make the right play.
Some of this is bigger impact and other is more nit picky, glad to get out of there with a win in critical game, but think we'll need a little bit more creativity on defense and better late game execution against better teams, particularly on the road. Hopefully starting tomorrow night[/quote]
Thought provoking post 15, thx
That said gutting it out is not a sustainable strategy, and the execution in the last 8 minutes against SHU and Georgetown is unlikely to fly against better competition. That might sound overly critical fresh off a 2-0 week and a ranking, but Georgetown is not a great team and I think SJU has the ability to beat great teams this year.
And I mean that literally, this team is showing the potential to be a second weekend NCAA team, but not the way they closed SHU and GTown. Few key and repeat areas from my perspective:
1. Defensive creativity. Even if you don't believe in zone (I'm guessing our staff's NBA view), and even if man defense is one of the biggest strengths of your team (I believe to be the case for this team), at the college level you can disrupt teams just by showing a different look. Saturday perfect example. Akinjo great young player with bright future, but seemed a classic freshman guard in that he was borderline unstoppable when things were going well, but was prone to mistakes when things weren't going his way. There was what felt like a 7 possession stretch in the second half where GTown did nothing besides P&R Keita onto Akinjo with no resistance, and then Akinjo went to work on Keita and made a positive play almost every time. You can't allow that to happen, have to do something to disrupt it and challenge a freshman guard to first identify and then beat changing defenses, not an easy task. Same true when they went on that run in the second half just dumping it in to Govan and LeBlanc at the rim. You let an inferior team get in a rhythm against the same look defensively and you are doing them a favor. Where is that 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure that gave Rutgers fits? Seems like we haven't seen it since and likely would have been useful against a bigger team Saturday.
2. One of our biggest advantages defensively is that we can switch anything. Not sure if that will apply to Keita. Maybe generally, but not if a team sees a matchup they like and looks to exploit it. In a game that was even after 40 minutes that stretch where we just let GTown P&R Keita onto Akinjo with basically no resistance was not good and could have cost us. This is nothing against Keita - one he shouldn't be expected to stay with a dynamite freshman guard, and two even though he's capable of guarding smaller it's been an issue for Clark at times as well in terms of picking up fouls. Ok to be a team that switches everything but adjusts based on matchups with more traditional hedge/recover, etc.
3. A momentum crippler offensively right now is Simon in the post. I know we think we have a mismatch with Simon and maybe we do, but right now it's telegraphed, slow-developing, everyone else seems to stand around, and we aren't converting. If it becomes quicker and Simon passes out of it when help comes all for it, but it seems like we are going to it 5-7x per game which in the context of a ~60 possession game on average is not nothing. I'm a big Simon fan, he brings so much to game all over court, but he's so much more effective as a slasher facing basket (as we saw with key buckets late in second half driving from top of key).
4. Ponds needs to have the ball in his hands in winning time. At 94-90 under 2 minutes to go you should have a shot clock violation maybe 1 time out of 100 possessions. Should almost never happen. With plenty of time left on clock Ponds went to get ball and Simon waived him off to run motion and I don't know if Ponds ever touched ball. Trust our other guys but you just can't have that and the result spoke for itself, maybe the most disorganized possession of the game. Ponds is playing at such a mega level right now not just for himself but for his teammates we can't afford to not let him be dictating offense for us late and letting him make the right play.
Some of this is bigger impact and other is more nit picky, glad to get out of there with a win in critical game, but think we'll need a little bit more creativity on defense and better late game execution against better teams, particularly on the road. Hopefully starting tomorrow night
[/quote]Thought provoking post 15, thx
[quote="SJU85" post=312971][quote="Eric" post=312845][quote="Adam" post=312840]ESPN would've included that play if we lost.
Can't let their viewers know we are becoming relevant nationally.
Unfortunately for them, it's already too late.[/quote]
Yup
They certainly publicized the crap out of Zion Williamson’s play that’s for sure.[/quote]
David Russell did those in games all the time when he played here in the 80’s. Others did it too. When did it become a big deal again? Oh, because Zion did it and it was Duke, Big East bias at its finest.
I saw clips of a high school kid who did a 360 dunk during a game but put the ball between his legs as he was doing it. Much more impressive.[/quote]
Great pointing out David Russell. At the end of the game David would quite often find a way to leak out and do one of those high wire dunks, Looked awesome with those long/lean arms. These dunks where usually a sign the game was over and a SJU victory in hand.
Can't let their viewers know we are becoming relevant nationally.
Unfortunately for them, it's already too late.[/quote]
Yup
They certainly publicized the crap out of Zion Williamson’s play that’s for sure.[/quote]
David Russell did those in games all the time when he played here in the 80’s. Others did it too. When did it become a big deal again? Oh, because Zion did it and it was Duke,
Big East bias at its finest.I saw clips of a high school kid who did a 360 dunk during a game but put the ball between his legs as he was doing it. Much more impressive.[/quote]
Great pointing out David Russell. At the end of the game David would quite often find a way to leak out and do one of those high wire dunks, Looked awesome with those long/lean arms. These dunks where usually a sign the game was over and a SJU victory in hand.
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