Wisconsin game

[SJUalum98]

Sanchez and Harrison getting into quick foul trouble set the tone.
I'm optimistic about the season, seeing as Wisconsin is a real good team that shot lights out last night.
Sanchez played 18 minutes last night, Jordan 24

http://www.redstormsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2013-2014/110813.html

Play them both 36 (the minutes Sampson and Harrison got) and we're in the game.
Don't want to see PG IV ever get 18 minutes again.
Dom played 26, that needs to increase.
Gift and Hooper I just don't see in the rotation.
Once they get the transition game going, they'll be fine.

I agree with everything except about a Hooper.

The kid needs to be in the rotation. You simply cannot win in college basketball if you do not have Consistent 3 point shooting.

He is the best shooter on the team regardless if he is not athletic and poor defensively. You must find minutes for him. He has a very quick release and he needs the chance to get some shots off.

The problem is our PGs do not penetrate. Jamal penetrates but he then pulls up for a shot for himself. The keys need to be given to Rysheed ASAP. It has to happen like today.

He will create for teammates and himself. Beautiful pass to Gift that went through his legs. Beautiful entry pass to Jakarr for a dunk. The kid has "it". I can live with his freshman mistakes because he'll be a beast come Jan/Feb.

Phil Greene needs to be on a 10 minutes restriction like Amare Stoudemire. He is a loose cannon. He just cannot be trusted. Why Lavin keeps going to this kid is something that has taken me 3 years to comprehend and I still can't.

 

[mattc]

My thoughts on the game:

Positives:
1. Just good to see the team back out there in general, been a long time.
2. Sampson clearly the best player on the floor.
3. Harrison really let the game come to him in the second half. I saw a much steadier player than the last two seasons. Didn't sense he was rushing his offense.
4. Jordan showed flashes at times, still very green.
5. Sanchez will be really, really good.
6. Made our free throws.

Negatives:
1. Didn't come out ready to play in the first half.
2. Rebounding in the first half was weak, much better in the second half. On that note, lost too many 50/50 balls, as pointed out by others already.
3. Terrible job guarding the 3.
4. Started to think we could win when we made it 58-54, then Wisconsin hit back to back treys to make it a 10 point game.
5. Branch looks like he doesn't have a role or doesn't know what his role is yet.

Overall:
Team is clearly very deep, athletic and very talented. Not Lavin's best game on the sidelines; he clearly needs to figure out the rotations that work. Overall I knew this would be a tough game. Wisconsin is a ranked team with a great coach and this was essentially a home game for them. They're spacing on offense is superb. Like last year, we were not very good at guarding the 3 last night. This needs to improve. While I'm disappointed in the loss, I think we will improve quickly. If Wisconsin makes a few less 3's last night we could have won. I'm still very optimistic this season, and nothing last night changes my outlook on the year.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

After this game I think that four guys need close to thirty minutes but don't want them to get much more than that, cant have a tired team. Those four are Harrison, Sheed, Jakarr, and sanchez. I think pointer and Obekpa should get mid 20s and the rest should go to jamal, hooper and gift.

Also, if Lavin is gonna do the two minute experiment thing with Hooper all year than I think he should do it as a starter, see right off the bat if hes gonna play decent but dont just bring him in ten minutes into the game just to take him right out. Plus starting might be a confidence boost for him.

Im optimistic after this loss. Dlo and Jakarr give us plenty of potential on offense, we got easy shots all second half because our guards can finally attack off the dribble. D'lo is a different player and a step quicker. I havnt came close to giving up on branch but I think him coming off the bench to spell Jordan might be better. Give him a chance to be more of the center of the offense as opposed to differing. Gotta take care of business these next few weeks.

 

[ccnobz]

My thoughts on the game:

Positives:
1. Just good to see the team back out there in general, been a long time.
2. Sampson clearly the best player on the floor.
3. Harrison really let the game come to him in the second half. I saw a much steadier player than the last two seasons. Didn't sense he was rushing his offense.
4. Jordan showed flashes at times, still very green.
5. Sanchez will be really, really good.
6. Made our free throws.

Negatives:
1. Didn't come out ready to play in the first half.
2. Rebounding in the first half was weak, much better in the second half. On that note, lost too many 50/50 balls, as pointed out by others already.
3. Terrible job guarding the 3.
4. Started to think we could win when we made it 58-54, then Wisconsin hit back to back treys to make it a 10 point game.
5. Branch looks like he doesn't have a role or doesn't know what his role is yet.

Overall:
Team is clearly very deep, athletic and very talented. Not Lavin's best game on the sidelines; he clearly needs to figure out the rotations that work. Overall I knew this would be a tough game. Wisconsin is a ranked team with a great coach and this was essentially a home game for them. They're spacing on offense is superb. Like last year, we were not very good at guarding the 3 last night. This needs to improve. While I'm disappointed in the loss, I think we will improve quickly. If Wisconsin makes a few less 3's last night we could have won. I'm still very optimistic this season, and nothing last night changes my outlook on the year.

You make some good points, but I'm starting to think we arent as deep as most think. Branch doesnt and hasnt impressed, Hooper seems a little slow on D and with the offense we run I don't think he will get many open looks, most think Greene stinks ( I dont) GG dominates the lesser teams and does nothing against quality competition...exactly where is the depth? We go 6 or 7 deep . And if we have depth why not turn up the heat on D.

 

[Marillac]

We just have to press relentlessly. I think everything will take care of itself after that. Why would we want to go half court with anybody when that gives up our length, depth, and athletic advantages? I just don't get it.

Looks like the most important thing that can come out of the next month is everyone unerstanding their roles. Harrison is our scorer, it did us no good to pretend he wasn't the first half. He needs to touch the ball every single possession. The backcourt needs to learn to play together better. Sampson needs to play near the basket. He is nearly automatic when he gets his hands on it down low off a drive or rebound. Sanchez was living on the perimeter and we need him to do some stuff inside as well.

 

[Class of 72]

After this game I think that four guys need close to thirty minutes but don't want them to get much more than that, cant have a tired team. Those four are Harrison, Sheed, Jakarr, and sanchez. I think pointer and Obekpa should get mid 20s and the rest should go to jamal, hooper and gift.

Also, if Lavin is gonna do the two minute experiment thing with Hooper all year than I think he should do it as a starter, see right off the bat if hes gonna play decent but dont just bring him in ten minutes into the game just to take him right out. Plus starting might be a confidence boost for him.

Im optimistic after this loss. Dlo and Jakarr give us plenty of potential on offense, we got easy shots all second half because our guards can finally attack off the dribble. D'lo is a different player and a step quicker. I havnt came close to giving up on branch but I think him coming off the bench to spell Jordan might be better. Give him a chance to be more of the center of the offense as opposed to differing. Gotta take care of business these next few weeks.

Starting branch with Jordan is plain STUPID!
Opposing coaches and recruiters are pointing to our record and poor player development to recruits and 2014 looks bone dry as of now. For a great recruiter we are not involved or close with one top 50 player.

 

[Section3]

I've been conditioned to see the St. John's glass half empty, but the truth is I think we looked okay tonight, and if we can guard the 3 better we would've won. Even despite our bad start we were better or equal to Wisconsin in rebounds, turnovers, assists, fg% ...in almost every statistical way this was a close game, except Wisconsin shot 50% from 3 and we shot 15%. That was the game.

I will add though that the fact all our starters had 4+ fouls didn't help.

But truthfully I think we played a good second half and I see reason for optimism. This team is definitely better than the one we saw the last two seasons.

I am a little leery of the claim that we'll play our best ball in February. I've said that myself, and it was obviously true of the 2010 team, but is Georgetown going to be worse in February? is Wisconsin? No. They'll be better too.
So I question how much we can leap frog teams that wil be practicing and building chemistry just as much as we are.

I think the team's development will be tied to Jordan's development...essentially how quickly he becomes a leader and floor general...our success a few years back was mostly based on Hardy's floor leadership...his scoring aside, he had the uncanny ability to draw attention and hit one of his teammates for a backdoor layup...He acted with purpose and intent...We simply have not had that since that year...Branch has PG skills but, as some have noted, is better suited to attacking in the open court and against a man-to-man defense...I personally would like to see what he can do when not looking over his shoulder...But, Lavin has not shown a willingness to let him learn from his mistakes which hurts us in long...Doesn't help that we don't seem to act with purpose against a zone...When the shooters come in there doesn't seem to be a strategy to make the best use of their skill

 

[dee]

I think they played poorly and was not impressed. With all the firepower we allegedly have, there should have been a better game plan. But the one thing that disturbed me the most was when I saw the Wisconsin player Brust push the ref with two hands and not get penalized or thrown from the game. This came after he tried to dunk a shot shortly after a foul was called in the second half and Sanchez went up to stop him. They both fell to the floor and Brust got up ready to "attack" Sanchez but was stopped by his own teammates. He then got into an altercation with a ref and pushed the ref with two hands. It was seen on tv but the commentators made no comment of it. Brust should have been tossed from the game, that was outrageous what he did. Right then and there I knew we could never win the game. Were these Big Ten refs??

Brust "went after" Sanchez like a guy who wanted no part of him. He quickly shoved his own teammates aside, but once in the clear, made sure not to get in Sanchez' face, instead seeking out a ref to plead his case. Honestly, I thought that his "shove" of a ref was to demonstrate to the ref what was being done to him on defense, and not as an altercation. By the book, the ref could have tossed him, but instead, rightly IMO, raised his eyebrows, and warned him about touching a ref, which Brust immediately responded to. Clean play by Sanchez, and precipitated by Brust playing through the whistle. I think someone else pointed out that they were Big East refs.

If these were Big East refs they must be the new type of refs the new BE has because I never recall so many touch fouls. If this is what we are going to have, this will never be like the old BE with its aggressive tough play. We will now be the sissy BE

 

[SI1996]

Boy, that was a long night for many reasons. Did anyone feel that Whitesell had an impact on this team? Too early to tell? Seemed like much of what I saw last year. I did notice much more sidebars than he had with his bench coaches of last year.

 

[logen]

I know the IQ comment was from Moose but Lavin has not impressed me as a coach. Recruiteer, handling of the media, as a person, impressive. As a coach, not so much.....

I wish we would stop all this stuff about Lavin. Personally, I'm not sold that he is in love with SJU, but that's an aside. He didn't come here as a great game coach, and left money on the table to assemble a top notch staff to presumably augment his deficiencies. He's recruited very well, and any of our brilliant suggestions, even the ones that are dead on, are not a revelation to his staff. It's way too early with way too talented a roster, to excoriate him for a team with many new parts not playing well together YET.

Sorry, I have seen him for a couple of years now. He recruits athletes and doesn't force an athletic game. Further, I said he hasn't impressed me and he hasn't. That's an opinion and a very valid one. I see Obekpa still reacting to every head fake and flying out of position; I see Pointer still reaching,even with 4 fouls. I see a team that never attempts to box and many times starts running before they have the ball. I see a team that virtually never beats their man to the spot cutting through the lane and has just as much trouble understanding the concept of defensive rotations. I see situation after situation where we have 2-3 guys help in the lane where arguably none is needed only to leave wide open 3 pointers. So, yes, Lavin hasn't really impressed me and frankly we have one new part, Jordan; Sanchez was with the team last year. That excuse has sailed; we were the more experienced team last night, at most, as experienced and we still played llike we needed to be introduced. So no I didn't say Lavin has to go or anything approaching that but there has been enough of a coaching sample for me to say he hasn't impressed.

 

[tom in salem]

Boy, that was a long night for many reasons. Did anyone feel that Whitesell had an impact on this team? Too early to tell? Seemed like much of what I saw last year. I did notice much more sidebars than he had with his bench coaches of last year.

Was that you and your boys in the SJU t shirts?

 

[JackofVirginia]

I didn't expect to win this game and we didn't. When we clawed to within 4, Wisconsin upped their game, and ran about 6 consecutive flawless sequences. I'd rather lose to a team like this early than to whip a St. Francis and have false hopes because deficiencies weren't exposed. I'd still say that if we ran into them at tourney time, it may be a different story, but for tonight the better team won - but these early tough games pay dividends down the road.

Best Positives:
1) Sampson is developing into a beast. Wisconsin doesn't have a single player with his athleticism, nor do most teams.
2) Sanchez showed signs of everything he is touted to be.
3) Obekpa showed improvement on the offensive end around the hoop - this can be huge as the season develops.
4) Jordan is ready for D1 competition and will get better and better.
5) Harrison is focused and under control - this will be his best season.

Negatives:

1) Too many bad offensive sets with bad shots forced with a lot of time on the clock.
2) Defense overall was bad. A slower Wisconsin team proved the adage that the ball can move faster than the defense. Our guys kick it out as a last resort - Wisconsin drives and kicks to create spacing on the floor and wide open looks, which they made again and again.
3) Our interior defense is as bad as our coverage of the perimeter. Early on Wisconsin scored again and again inside on one-on-one isolations.

I like our team. There will be nights where our overall talent clicks and we beat anyone. Other nights a disciplined team will shred us. If this is a prototypical Lavin team, you can see how it might catch fire and run deep into the NCAA's or also make an early exit.

I agree with all of this Beast. I would add that our offense was dreadful in the first half and that was where we lost the game (23 points does not get it done), as we just feel too far behind. While our defense was awful, Wisconsin's was also pretty bad at times. I didn't see an answer for Jakarr inside and I thought we should have just kept feeding him and Sanchez the ball until they stopped it. The late game press and trap showed some signs, and if Lav's first season is any indication, we'll use that more and more as the season wears on and the team gets better at it. Here's to hoping we get our focus this week in practice, fix these issues and get back on track on Friday.

You hope we get better using the press. With all the athleticism and talent I would have expected after three years together we would have it down pat. Again, what does our illustrious staff do?

 

[JackofVirginia]

My thoughts on the game:

Positives:
1. Just good to see the team back out there in general, been a long time.
2. Sampson clearly the best player on the floor.
3. Harrison really let the game come to him in the second half. I saw a much steadier player than the last two seasons. Didn't sense he was rushing his offense.
4. Jordan showed flashes at times, still very green.
5. Sanchez will be really, really good.
6. Made our free throws.

Negatives:
1. Didn't come out ready to play in the first half.
2. Rebounding in the first half was weak, much better in the second half. On that note, lost too many 50/50 balls, as pointed out by others already.
3. Terrible job guarding the 3.
4. Started to think we could win when we made it 58-54, then Wisconsin hit back to back treys to make it a 10 point game.
5. Branch looks like he doesn't have a role or doesn't know what his role is yet.

Overall:
Team is clearly very deep, athletic and very talented. Not Lavin's best game on the sidelines; he clearly needs to figure out the rotations that work. Overall I knew this would be a tough game. Wisconsin is a ranked team with a great coach and this was essentially a home game for them. They're spacing on offense is superb. Like last year, we were not very good at guarding the 3 last night. This needs to improve. While I'm disappointed in the loss, I think we will improve quickly. If Wisconsin makes a few less 3's last night we could have won. I'm still very optimistic this season, and nothing last night changes my outlook on the year.

You make some good points, but I'm starting to think we arent as deep as most think. Branch doesnt and hasnt impressed, Hooper seems a little slow on D and with the offense we run I don't think he will get many open looks, most think Greene stinks ( I dont) GG dominates the lesser teams and does nothing against quality competition...exactly where is the depth? We go 6 or 7 deep . And if we have depth why not turn up the heat on D.

GG does nothing against quality competition? Didn't he have a blowout game against Kentucky two years ago or am I wrong?

 

[ccnobz]

My thoughts on the game:

Positives:
1. Just good to see the team back out there in general, been a long time.
2. Sampson clearly the best player on the floor.
3. Harrison really let the game come to him in the second half. I saw a much steadier player than the last two seasons. Didn't sense he was rushing his offense.
4. Jordan showed flashes at times, still very green.
5. Sanchez will be really, really good.
6. Made our free throws.

Negatives:
1. Didn't come out ready to play in the first half.
2. Rebounding in the first half was weak, much better in the second half. On that note, lost too many 50/50 balls, as pointed out by others already.
3. Terrible job guarding the 3.
4. Started to think we could win when we made it 58-54, then Wisconsin hit back to back treys to make it a 10 point game.
5. Branch looks like he doesn't have a role or doesn't know what his role is yet.

Overall:
Team is clearly very deep, athletic and very talented. Not Lavin's best game on the sidelines; he clearly needs to figure out the rotations that work. Overall I knew this would be a tough game. Wisconsin is a ranked team with a great coach and this was essentially a home game for them. They're spacing on offense is superb. Like last year, we were not very good at guarding the 3 last night. This needs to improve. While I'm disappointed in the loss, I think we will improve quickly. If Wisconsin makes a few less 3's last night we could have won. I'm still very optimistic this season, and nothing last night changes my outlook on the year.

You make some good points, but I'm starting to think we arent as deep as most think. Branch doesnt and hasnt impressed, Hooper seems a little slow on D and with the offense we run I don't think he will get many open looks, most think Greene stinks ( I dont) GG dominates the lesser teams and does nothing against quality competition...exactly where is the depth? We go 6 or 7 deep . And if we have depth why not turn up the heat on D.

GG does nothing against quality competition? Didn't he have a blowout game against Kentucky two years ago or am I wrong?

If he is such an All Star where was he last night? I think it's fair to say Lavin knows his team better than you or I and he was on the pines most of the night.

 

[JackofVirginia]

To all those still on the ledge, Wisconsin is a nasty, nasty team. I would not be shocked to see them in the Elite Eight if they can stay healthy. Very tough matchup for our first game...essentially on the road.

Is Florida next up for Wisconsin or a couple of games away, after that game I'll rate the badgers. It a little early for picking NCCA standings

Yesterday Florida only beat N. Florida 77-69.

 

[BOB BARKER]

Dont want to hear about moral victories This is the year...No excuses....Its been obvious for years that the first thing needed is defense...start with the 3 pt-line.....MAKE your free throws...Start Greene and Pointer over Jordan and Branch....Hope.Hooper wont join several other 3 pt hopes who can score agst lower tier teams,but not agst top twenty..

 

[GardenCity62]

The season has barely started but a couple of things stand out. Branch and
Greene a re what they are . You can't expect much improvement at this
point in their careers. Both were outplayed by Div 2 guards in the first
Exhibition game. The teams defense vs. three point shooters is laughable.
And last the teams best defense vs. the three point shot is red shirting,
Felix Balamou.

 

[monte]

I didn't expect to win this game and we didn't. When we clawed to within 4, Wisconsin upped their game, and ran about 6 consecutive flawless sequences. I'd rather lose to a team like this early than to whip a St. Francis and have false hopes because deficiencies weren't exposed. I'd still say that if we ran into them at tourney time, it may be a different story, but for tonight the better team won - but these early tough games pay dividends down the road.

Best Positives:
1) Sampson is developing into a beast. Wisconsin doesn't have a single player with his athleticism, nor do most teams.
2) Sanchez showed signs of everything he is touted to be.
3) Obekpa showed improvement on the offensive end around the hoop - this can be huge as the season develops.
4) Jordan is ready for D1 competition and will get better and better.
5) Harrison is focused and under control - this will be his best season.

Negatives:

1) Too many bad offensive sets with bad shots forced with a lot of time on the clock.
2) Defense overall was bad. A slower Wisconsin team proved the adage that the ball can move faster than the defense. Our guys kick it out as a last resort - Wisconsin drives and kicks to create spacing on the floor and wide open looks, which they made again and again.
3) Our interior defense is as bad as our coverage of the perimeter. Early on Wisconsin scored again and again inside on one-on-one isolations.

I like our team. There will be nights where our overall talent clicks and we beat anyone. Other nights a disciplined team will shred us. If this is a prototypical Lavin team, you can see how it might catch fire and run deep into the NCAA's or also make an early exit.

I agree with all of this Beast. I would add that our offense was dreadful in the first half and that was where we lost the game (23 points does not get it done), as we just feel too far behind. While our defense was awful, Wisconsin's was also pretty bad at times. I didn't see an answer for Jakarr inside and I thought we should have just kept feeding him and Sanchez the ball until they stopped it. The late game press and trap showed some signs, and if Lav's first season is any indication, we'll use that more and more as the season wears on and the team gets better at it. Here's to hoping we get our focus this week in practice, fix these issues and get back on track on Friday.

You hope we get better using the press. With all the athleticism and talent I would have expected after three years together we would have it down pat. Again, what does our illustrious staff do?

On sheer athleticism we are superior to Wisconsin, yet they looked so much quicker then us when they had the ball. We always seemed 2 steps behind. Very similar to the past few years against less athletic but more disciplined teams. Certainly Wisconsin's spacing and passing was geared towards thwarting our D. It worked, as it has worked for other teams before. I don't have much faith that pressing is the answer. The staff needs to figure this out. Very frustrating that after one game we are discussing the same issues that we've been discussing the past few years.

 

[ccnobz]

The season has barely started but a couple of things stand out. Branch and
Greene a re what they are . You can't expect much improvement at this
point in their careers. Both were outplayed by Div 2 guards in the first
Exhibition game. The teams defense vs. three point shooters is laughable.
And last the teams best defense vs. the three point shot is red shirting,
Felix Balamou.

Signed Felix's brother :lol:

 

[jr49]

To all those still on the ledge, Wisconsin is a nasty, nasty team. I would not be shocked to see them in the Elite Eight if they can stay healthy. Very tough matchup for our first game...essentially on the road.

If they aren't, we sure made them look that way.

Right you are. The first part of the game we could not have played softer. Wisc. penetrated at will, and when they missed they got the board. Our guys did a lot of talking about looking forward to this game and didn't show up. Three guards should never start on a team this soft and have Dom on the bench. Dom's the one guy who has earned the right to start. After the damage was done we seemed to straighten some things out. Teams can play 3 guards when they can defend and board. Whatever faults can be pointed out about Gifts game, when he came in it was like at least somebody's trying. Down 18 because we decide to guard a guy after the ball is going through the hoop. If there are guys who don't care about playing hard and paying attention the rotation should be down to 7. Dom fouled out on a reach in as Jordon's man was going by him. Game was over but thats bad ball on both their parts. I know Lav's knows his stuff after all these years, but he's gotta get the kids to listen. I'm not a know it all, and I never criticize anyone on these boards at all. Being down 18 to that team bothered me. We are going to see that they are not really all that good when they start to play Big 10 teams with any toughness at all.