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Xavier, Wed., Dec. 20, 7p, FS1
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
Impressive team win. So nice to start BE play 1-0. Master class decision to deploy the zone. I can’t remember too many instances of previous HCs game planning like that. Soriano wore X down like a Derrick Henry taking carries in the 4th quarter. Let’s hope we get a healthy Luis the rest of the way. Progress won’t be linear. There will be frustrating losses and fun wins over the next month plus. See this team gelling in Feb like that first Lavin team. Still want to see one of the guards become a true alpha though. Going to need that in the tight games that are inevitably on the horizon.
Zach's take on the game.
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Best performance of the year.
Taylor and Jenkins make the press go. Taylor on the ball and Jenkins denying the entry.
Alleyne and Taylor are the best defenders.
Rick chewing out Dingle for not diving for a loose ball thus setting the tone for the whole team, then throwing Dingle a bone by letting him dribble out the clock at halftime for the last shot.
Springing an ambush with the zone and flustering X.
Jenkins driving the lane, leaping in the air and throwing it out of bounds thus avoiding Marillac accusing him of shooting too much.
Soriano and Drissa on the court the same time at least twice and Drissa with a nice entry pass for a post up.
Taylor knowing his limitations and only taking good shots. Very good stand still shooter, shaky ball handler, always active.
Ledlum good effort guy, good on the boards, turns the ball over too much for a secondary ball handler.
Uconn, Mq, Creighton losing. There are no gimmes in the Big East.
Taylor and Jenkins make the press go. Taylor on the ball and Jenkins denying the entry.
Alleyne and Taylor are the best defenders.
Rick chewing out Dingle for not diving for a loose ball thus setting the tone for the whole team, then throwing Dingle a bone by letting him dribble out the clock at halftime for the last shot.
Springing an ambush with the zone and flustering X.
Jenkins driving the lane, leaping in the air and throwing it out of bounds thus avoiding Marillac accusing him of shooting too much.
Soriano and Drissa on the court the same time at least twice and Drissa with a nice entry pass for a post up.
Taylor knowing his limitations and only taking good shots. Very good stand still shooter, shaky ball handler, always active.
Ledlum good effort guy, good on the boards, turns the ball over too much for a secondary ball handler.
Uconn, Mq, Creighton losing. There are no gimmes in the Big East.
Would be nice to see St. John’s highlights on ESPN as a top 25 team…….Hopefully sooner than later.
Silly Donovan
Well-known member
The sad fact is that you can’t remember former head coaches preparing for a game like this which speaks to the competence, or lack there of of many former coaches. Seems like a simple concept, if a team can’t shoot, employ a zone.
Rick clearly listened to us, using a zone for the first time amd starting Alleyne. Thanks, Rick, for using the message board as a third assistant.
TBH I was worried about the quickness of their guards, but it is almost as if CRP was playing possum, completely changing strategies, waiting for BE play to drop the bomb. Of course that isn't what happened but either way kudos for making some good adjustments.
Damn we are one BC loss away from a nice streak.
TBH I was worried about the quickness of their guards, but it is almost as if CRP was playing possum, completely changing strategies, waiting for BE play to drop the bomb. Of course that isn't what happened but either way kudos for making some good adjustments.
Damn we are one BC loss away from a nice streak.
They won't miss a beat against us
Nothing like waking up this morning with a smile and a W under our belts in the Big East opener. No more could wouda shouda!Basking in the win for a few more days ! Played great!
ZanMan
Well-known member
My 5-cents worth of observations from last night:
1- Good energy in the building from the fans. Still not sure why so many around me had free t-shirts and I did not. Did they run out? Maybe they melted with the usual insane amount of thermal units in the air?
2-Alleyne proved that he belongs in the starting lineup and deserves significant minutes. Kid can play!
3-Ledlum hustles his butt off but takes too many dumb shots and/or makes the dumb pass too often for my liking. I was shocked that he scored as much as he did with all the bricks he seemed to chuck up. I see the potential in him being a major contributor this season. Needs to make better decisions more consistently.
4-Offense needs to attack the rim more often. Too many possessions where all 5 players were miles away from the baseline passing the ball East to West. Would like to see more backdoor cuts and/or have the guards drive, but I'll also assume that the HOF coach knows a little more than I about the game? I still don't understand the lack of baseline motion and North to South attack.
5-Coaching staff energy is fun to watch. Many possessions the entire staff were on their feet passionately instructing the team all at once. You literally see the hunger to win from all of them. I truly believe this is the result of what Coach Pitino has brought to this program. He gets everyone to buy in. So damn refreshing considering how we have suffered without this for way too long.
We are...
1- Good energy in the building from the fans. Still not sure why so many around me had free t-shirts and I did not. Did they run out? Maybe they melted with the usual insane amount of thermal units in the air?
2-Alleyne proved that he belongs in the starting lineup and deserves significant minutes. Kid can play!
3-Ledlum hustles his butt off but takes too many dumb shots and/or makes the dumb pass too often for my liking. I was shocked that he scored as much as he did with all the bricks he seemed to chuck up. I see the potential in him being a major contributor this season. Needs to make better decisions more consistently.
4-Offense needs to attack the rim more often. Too many possessions where all 5 players were miles away from the baseline passing the ball East to West. Would like to see more backdoor cuts and/or have the guards drive, but I'll also assume that the HOF coach knows a little more than I about the game? I still don't understand the lack of baseline motion and North to South attack.
5-Coaching staff energy is fun to watch. Many possessions the entire staff were on their feet passionately instructing the team all at once. You literally see the hunger to win from all of them. I truly believe this is the result of what Coach Pitino has brought to this program. He gets everyone to buy in. So damn refreshing considering how we have suffered without this for way too long.
We are...
RedmanMike
Well-known member
Totally agree with this. Jenkins is improving as a facilitator, he can get to the rim if things break down, and he's the closest thing we have a to a PG on the roster. And we need to keep giving Wilcher quality minutes when Jenkins is out. Neither Alleyne or Dingle is a PG, so let's stop pretending they are.
That said, I love Alleyne and hope he keeps getting major minutes.
Frankly, I am not convinced Wilcher is the pure point guard some people think, just my opinion. In any event I think he will prove to be a contributing guard next year and may surprise a few games this year.
In transfer mania era, extra COVID year, etc., the degree of difficulty for true freshmen playing against 22 or 23 year olds is a steep climb.
One of those people wearing a tee shirt stole yours before you got there.
Shirt giveaway for the first 2,500 people.
See link for other promotional giveaways this season.
Men's Basketball Promotions Calendar - St. John's University Athletics
2024-25 Men's Basketball Promotions *All Promotions subject to change during 2024-25 season* Date Promotion Monday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. vs. Fordham (Carn...
I believe it was the first 2,000. They are long sleeve, so will never be appropriate for an on campus game.
Quick note on Ledlum and Jenkins. They are fifth year players and most likely what you see is what you get, they have developed to what they are. Like most players they have faults. But I consider both strong net positives at positions where the team has very little depth.
I think a game like this really shows the benefit of having Pitino. To see the team make that much of a leap on defense from the Boston College game to now is remarkable. We really did play 40 minutes of hard nosed basketball with good to very good defense without defensive lapses snowballing and effecting other sides of the court. As we've seen over the better half of two decades, a team growing throughout the year is not a given. The fact we recruited very coachable kids is important to underline.
ZanMan
Well-known member
They should give out shorts and tank tops and have changing rooms available.