Thoughts after 4 games

[MJDinkins]

Bottom line, we need to defend better. I don't mind the zone, but you can't just linger in a zone because then it gets sloppy. Switch it up defensively. Mix in some man.

Defense and rebounding have to improve. If they do, we'll win our share, if they don't we'll have more frustrating losses like tonight where we were close but couldn't get the stops.

Agree.... We have to defend better. I also do not mind the zone, but you have to know when to get out of it. I told Moose that we should've gotten out of the zone during the latter stages of the Murray State game, and we should've gotten out of the zone prior to the 2nd half of tonight's game.

I'm sure these players will look better in the zone in February than they are looking in it now. But, we have to know when to switch out of it.

Defense and rebounding could very well be our achilles' heel this season. Fortunately, there is enough to time to seemingly rectify the issue.

 

[Moose]

Bottom line, we need to defend better. I don't mind the zone, but you can't just linger in a zone because then it gets sloppy. Switch it up defensively. Mix in some man.

Defense and rebounding have to improve. If they do, we'll win our share, if they don't we'll have more frustrating losses like tonight where we were close but couldn't get the stops.

To be fair, we played a pretty decent amount of man-to-man, and we got scorched there too. Pointer and Harrison looked like they wanted to get lost in the screens...just horrible. Maybe it's due to the 90% zone last year that our "veterans" don't know how to deal with screens?

Dribble penetration and/or a few good passes can get teams open look after open look from the corners against the zone. I thought the whole idea behind the zone was to fall back into it after pressure. I thought this was the year Coach opened it up.

What exactly is 'pretty decent amount' of man to man? Because just using round numbers I have not seen more than 10 percent of the game being man to man

 

[SJUISBACK]

I got a question, if Bourgault is considered a Paxson/Kerr type of shooter then why didn`t he play more? 5minute vs Murray St.
Did he even play tonight?

If Lavin wasn`t going to use him then why even fly him down? I dont understand it, seemed like a waste.

 

[Moose]

I got a question, if Bourgault is considered a Paxson/Kerr type of shooter then why didn`t he play more? 5minute vs Murray St.
Did he even play tonight?

If Lavin wasn`t going to use him then why even fly him down? I dont understand it, seemed like a waste.

If you were ruled eligible and told you weren't flying down how would you feel?

 

[Marillac]

Bottom line, we need to defend better. I don't mind the zone, but you can't just linger in a zone because then it gets sloppy. Switch it up defensively. Mix in some man.

Defense and rebounding have to improve. If they do, we'll win our share, if they don't we'll have more frustrating losses like tonight where we were close but couldn't get the stops.

To be fair, we played a pretty decent amount of man-to-man, and we got scorched there too. Pointer and Harrison looked like they wanted to get lost in the screens...just horrible. Maybe it's due to the 90% zone last year that our "veterans" don't know how to deal with screens?

Dribble penetration and/or a few good passes can get teams open look after open look from the corners against the zone. I thought the whole idea behind the zone was to fall back into it after pressure. I thought this was the year Coach opened it up.

What exactly is 'pretty decent amount' of man to man? Because just using round numbers I have not seen more than 10 percent of the game being man to man

I didn't have my stopwatch, but I'd say we played at least five minutes of the second half in man. We didn't fair any better, because our guys looked like they have never seen a screen before.

 

[Section3]

Also I think the jury is still out on Marco.

Because he played less than 10 minutes combined in 2 games?

My goodness, you guys are a tough crowd.

Jury still out, lol

He should have been in more tonight and they should be looking to penetrate and pass to him for open shots...lets see what he can do

 

[Section3]

I disagree on your Jones assessment. I don't think he considered him anything besides an athletic freak who can get up and down the court. I think Jones is just finding his way since the offense benefits the guards. He's pretty much out there knowing he's not going to get touches which has got to be frustrating.

I also disagree about Obekpa. He should be starting. He is what Lavin has never been able to recruit. I say give him the keys and watch him blossom. He allows you to play man and if he sags off to help, he has the instincts, length and ability to catch up for a block.

I feel so fortunate to have him. If he was in a Cincy uniform, I'd throw up.

I agree Obekpa should start, just don't see him as a 20+ mpg center with Sancez/Gift on the team.

Love him but needs to demonstrate abiliity to avoid ticky-tack fouls before he starts

 

[Section3]

I disagree on your Jones assessment. I don't think he considered him anything besides an athletic freak who can get up and down the court. I think Jones is just finding his way since the offense benefits the guards. He's pretty much out there knowing he's not going to get touches which has got to be frustrating.

I also disagree about Obekpa. He should be starting. He is what Lavin has never been able to recruit. I say give him the keys and watch him blossom. He allows you to play man and if he sags off to help, he has the instincts, length and ability to catch up for a block.

I feel so fortunate to have him. If he was in a Cincy uniform, I'd throw up.

Jones is a liability and he looked like he didn't belong on the court tonight. What good is a kid built like that if he doesn't rebound or get 50/50 balls? Who cares if he can pop an open jump shot and make an acrobatic dunk? He rebounds like a girl and doesn't cover any ground at all.

In case nobody knew who Marillac's whipping boy would be this year

Jones and a number of others will be just fine once we get a PG who looks to distribute and get others involved...Although we have gotten some good games out of Greene and Harrison, we are working too hard for our points..Can't win, at any level, without getting your share of bunnies

 

[Section3]

I disagree on your Jones assessment. I don't think he considered him anything besides an athletic freak who can get up and down the court. I think Jones is just finding his way since the offense benefits the guards. He's pretty much out there knowing he's not going to get touches which has got to be frustrating.

I also disagree about Obekpa. He should be starting. He is what Lavin has never been able to recruit. I say give him the keys and watch him blossom. He allows you to play man and if he sags off to help, he has the instincts, length and ability to catch up for a block.

I feel so fortunate to have him. If he was in a Cincy uniform, I'd throw up.

Jones is a liability and he looked like he didn't belong on the court tonight. What good is a kid built like that if he doesn't rebound or get 50/50 balls? Who cares if he can pop an open jump shot and make an acrobatic dunk? He rebounds like a girl and doesn't cover any ground at all.

That sounds like Ricardo Gathers.

I don't think it's Lavin's expectations of him. It's your own.

Good observation...he would have offered us some welcome size...but does look a bit raw

 

[Section3]

I disagree on your Jones assessment. I don't think he considered him anything besides an athletic freak who can get up and down the court. I think Jones is just finding his way since the offense benefits the guards. He's pretty much out there knowing he's not going to get touches which has got to be frustrating.

I also disagree about Obekpa. He should be starting. He is what Lavin has never been able to recruit. I say give him the keys and watch him blossom. He allows you to play man and if he sags off to help, he has the instincts, length and ability to catch up for a block.

I feel so fortunate to have him. If he was in a Cincy uniform, I'd throw up.

Well said.

Let's not fall into our old trap of hammering on freshmen four games into their college careers. The talent on this team is unlike anything we've seen in years.

Going to be some ups and downs, but I'm excited to watch this group play and develop.

+1000

 

[Section3]

Bottom line, we need to defend better. I don't mind the zone, but you can't just linger in a zone because then it gets sloppy. Switch it up defensively. Mix in some man.

Defense and rebounding have to improve. If they do, we'll win our share, if they don't we'll have more frustrating losses like tonight where we were close but couldn't get the stops.

I am extremely high on this team and am impressed with how polished they are throughout the roster...but don't think it is too early to deliver the message that if you don't close out on an open shooter or lose a 3 point shooter, you're gonna sit...

 

[sirvoo]

Bottom line, we need to defend better. I don't mind the zone, but you can't just linger in a zone because then it gets sloppy. Switch it up defensively. Mix in some man.

Defense and rebounding have to improve. If they do, we'll win our share, if they don't we'll have more frustrating losses like tonight where we were close but couldn't get the stops.

I am extremely high on this team and am impressed with how polished they are throughout the roster...but don't think it is too early to deliver the message that if you don't close out on an open shooter or lose a 3 point shooter, you're gonna sit...

We did mix in man...it didn't work they kept running off ball screens for the white boy and he was unconscious from outside. Man/zone it doesn't matter really, if you saw today's game its clear to see defense is about communication, winning 50/50 balls for turnovers, and rebounding.

 

[Section9]

While they were effective at running screens, we couldn't seem to get Dlo free.

This is not the first time we've been exposed by athletic big bodies who dominate at both ends.

We've played three of the top PGs in the country and did a pretty good job of containing two of them, but we have to do something about adjusting to the hot hand, the last two games two guys have had career nights against us.

Karr is starting to show us what he's got and it's the goods.

We'll be rounding into shape by January.

 

[logen]

Bottom line is defense and rebounding win; we are doing neither very well. Mix that with a seriously guard oriented offense and we right now do not have a team geared for the big time. We have talent but I thought three or four times against Baylor that we looked like a playground team that was just going to outscore the other team by showing up. Where were the screens to free Harrison from Walton's face guarding? Any attempt at an inside game? Knowing and matching up with shooters? Fighting over screeens? Boxing out? We have talent but so do a lot of teams; we need to develop chemistry , which takes time, and a committment to defense and rebounding, which is primarily attitude and committment.

 

[thetux1]

Bottom line is defense and rebounding win; we are doing neither very well. Mix that with a seriously guard oriented offense and we right now do not have a team geared for the big time. We have talent but I thought three or four times against Baylor that we looked like a playground team that was just going to outscore the other team by showing up. Where were the screens to free Harrison from Walton's face guarding? Any attempt at an inside game? Knowing and matching up with shooters? Fighting over screeens? Boxing out? We have talent but so do a lot of teams; we need to develop chemistry , which takes time, and a committment to defense and rebounding, which is primarily attitude and committment.

Thank you for typing what I was thinking

 

[usguard]

Can't get over how improved Phil Greene is.
D'Lo is D'Lo-I'll take him on my team any game.
Jakarr is the goods.
Bad tourney for Amir, but it's a long season.
Dom is what he is.
Jones is not what Lav thought he was.
Just don't see Marco logging a lot of minutes with our style of play.
Really like Felix.
Obekpa is a 20 mpg game center at tops.
Sanchez could make us a top 20 team.
Branch will give us a tough rotation come BE play.
Wish Lav had decided to let Gift play this year-need some inside help desperately.
Happy with 2-2-we lost to 2 better teams.
Really looking forward to the rest of the season.

 

[usguard]

Can't get over how improved Phil Greene is.
D'Lo is D'Lo-I'll take him on my team any game.
Jakarr is the goods.
Bad tourney for Amir, but it's a long season.
Dom is what he is.
Jones is not what Lav thought he was.
Just don't see Marco logging a lot of minutes with our style of play.
Really like Felix.
Obekpa is a 20 mpg game center at tops.
Sanchez could make us a top 20 team.
Branch will give us a tough rotation come BE play.
Wish Lav had decided to let Gift play this year-need some inside help desperately.
Happy with 2-2-we lost to 2 better teams.

Fair assessment

 

[indyredmen97]

Much like Coach Lavin indicated about the players, I'd like about 2 more weeks before I form a position on kids I've only seen play for a few games. This thread however is so much fun to read I wanted to join the party. I'd agree with the concerns about defense if this weren't an early TV tournament, where clamping down defensively on short rest is completely foreign to players of this experience and maturity level. It's extremely clear to see, however, what got Coach and staff excited about these kids: they can run and jump with anyone, have very little fear, and have much more polish in their individual offensive games than I certainly expected. I have no idea if Sanchez and/or Branch are going to push this team to a top half BE finisher and tourney team (mostly because I haven't seen them play together and I have no idea how the rest of the BE looks yet other than Louisville and Cuse), but we are weak in those spots, so I'm sure they'll improve us. In the meantime, 2-2 with loses to tourney teams that were mighty impressive last year and still have experience is a quality spot for freshmen and sophomores to be in. 'You kids are talented, but you still need a lot of work' is a great place for a coaching staff to be before the Thanksgiving break for than trying to get kids to ignore a little early success and work harder. If I'm not mistaken, Lopez and Co. raced out to 6-0 as freshmen while the 98 team lost early to Stanford and Purdue but looked like they could compete.

 

[doodyny33]

Sampson could be one and done by the end of the season, depending on who else declares.

He's got a long way to go before he's a one-and-done player

 

[doodyny33]

While some of us have lost cars and houses to Sandy, losing two games to NCAA Tourney bound teams seems quite trivial but I will give my 2 cents ---
- forget the final margin against Baylor....the game was close for 35 minutes!
- our roster is minus three key players..Sanchez, Gift, and most importantly, Branch. Two of the three will be on the team four weeks from now.....the player evaluations start then
- It is not late, however, to start coaching evals....and the staff gets a B- after 4 games. They made zero adjustments to defend the three point shooter. Lav's zone is flawed and I will chalk that up to losing coach D and his in-practice presence. The offense was poorly executed but I will chalk that up to not having a PG on this team as yet. It makes signing a PG a top priority.
- There is no one-and-done on this team. D'Lo needs at least another year since his handle and defense are flawed. Do not see what Lav was talking about when he discussed giving D'Lo some PG duties.
- Chris O was matched against a future Lottery pick who was 5 inches taller.....Chris gets a pass in this game. He has been a pleasant surprise to date and will get better every game.
- impressed with Felix! He can shoot, handle and plays taller than his height. He will take Dom's minutes unless Dom develops and offense.
- Marco appears to be a good passer in the few minutes he has played. He has not been given the green light to shoot by the coaches it seems but I think he will get his shots if Sanchez clears.

A buddy text me during the last 3 or so minutes of our game tonight, and his text stated: "Y'all need a point guard." I replied, he'll be there in December.

I love Phil Greene's game, and think he has shown quite an improvement in the first 4 games of this season. But, he's more suited to play the combo guard. I think things will look differently once Branch is aboard. I thought we missed Branch versus Murray State. Tonight, I thought we missed Branch AND Sanchez.

He also text me stating the commentators were talking about how Orlando Sanchez could start for the Utah Jazz. It could be hyperbole, but I've seen enough of him to know he's the "goods."

I've also liked what I've seen so far from Obekpa and his HS teammate, Balamou. Balamou may get more time, as the season progresses. He brings a ton of energy, and he seems to have a decent offensive game.

I'm far from panicking. We need to run the table in the remainder of our non-conference games (which, I think they'll be able to do). They also need to get off to a quick start in the conference schedule. I think this team certainly has the pieces to make some things happen on the court, this season.

We're gonna be okay.

I like the confidence exhibited by D'Angelo after the game. He said him and Greene would be the best backcourt in the Big East by season's end.