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Post by peacockblue on Nov 29, 2012 17:56:20 GMT -5
Take a look again at the MAAC tournament that year. We held Fairfield to 48 points (22% shooting in the first half) in the semis and an explosive Iona team to 57 points and 32% shooting in the finals. We were not a great defensive, we were excellent defensive team, especially in Bridgeport. You don't win 20 games averaging 60 pts without a great defense.
As for this year's team and specifically last night, when you have four players playing close to 35 minutes in a game, it says a lot about what the coach thinks about the players on his bench.
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Post by jajk on Nov 29, 2012 18:06:52 GMT -5
We would have won this with terrible foul shooting ( under 60% ) . Unfortunately , our shooting from the stripe was atrocious .
We would also have won it with Markese who was probably was our best possible big against a team like FDU - given that Darius is limited by his physical problems .
But all that said FDU beat us .
I'll disagree with those who are coming down as hard as they are on Elias . He is having some difficulty with a new country and a new kind of basketball but I still like this recruit's potential a whole lot . Don't think he is soft at all or a deer in head lights . We should be giving significant minutes to him and Chazz every game . And this is not a fan who looks down the road a year or two or three . I have never done that and at my advanced age it would really be folly to do so starting now . For me , it is all about each season and indeed each game . And I firmly believe these two players should be a part in winning as a long season unfolds .
The biggest concern that I had was seeing some heads down and slumped shoulders toward game's end . I am positive that the missed foul shots and its impact on winning and losing had even more of a negative impact on the players than it did on us fans . But no excuse for getting down on yourself or the team . The only thing this fan ever asks for is 100% effort every second that the coach gives you on the court .
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Post by JohnGalt on Nov 29, 2012 18:30:11 GMT -5
I'll leave to you to educate the group, considering your inability to even read and understand what is written. It would appear that no one understands anything about your position other than you can't stand to be proven wrong year after year. So go on with your tirade on what a crappy school we have while I'll just watch the development of the program. This is pure poppycock, Mr. Peacock. All that is evident is an obvious attempt to disparage the staff and their efforts to work against the odds. To claim the personage as one who will "just watch over the development of the program", smacks of pure comedy and hypocrisy. You only appear on occasions that prove convenient for attack and service to your agenda. Sadly, these are the times where you seem to reach the highest pinnacle of orgasm.
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Post by oldtimer1 on Nov 29, 2012 18:48:34 GMT -5
jajk...no one I know is down on Elias. Not our fans nor our posters. When I first saw him, in pickup, I posted that we had a real find. However, you more than most should know that all players,especially on this level, and more especially Freshman have pluses and minuses. To say that Elias has to develop an inside game is not knocking him but pointing out areas that he needs to develop. No one that I know has said that he plays like "a deer in the headlights". One of the reasons I really like him and Chazz is that, as freshman, they both play like veterans. Give JD credit as he seemingly has made Chazz his first choice off the bench over Prescott and Elias over Ferguson and Burke. They are both getting playing time.
As far as our lack of shooters as dreamweaver points out there is no doubt that this is a reality everyone knows. That said, the grass always looks greener on the other side. This season we are shooting .426 overall, compared with our opponents .413. From the three we are shooting .356 (not bad!) compared with our opponents .310. As fans we think Seton Hall made every three they attempted but they shot 8/23 while we shot 7/18. It was their inside game and literally a dozen putbacks and inside scoring that killed us. Yes FDU shot well but again mostly inside. They shot 7/14 from the three we were 5/11. No big difference.
Blaise, by the way, has a shooting percentage of .559, phenominal for a point guard! Yes, they are mostly layups and pull ups but who cares. Always thought that Prescott had a great looking shot but check out his percentage last year...under 30%!From the floor our shooting is good enough, it's at the line that kills us. Even Darius and Desi have had their problems while our so called non-shooters Yvon and Blaise are just as good (or bad) at the line
What's my point? Every team needs shooters and outside scoring and every fan wants more shooters...our team no exception. But if statistics don't lie we're doing OK. My opinion is that basketball is an inside out game. This is where we are hurting. Have inside threats and the outside shooters will be open.
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Post by loyal on Nov 29, 2012 19:41:29 GMT -5
We defended superbly to beat FF in the semis. Very few open looks all game. We defended a Iona team on a major offensive roll by slowing the game down, defending Machado well with Samuels and taking advantage of a 3-18 three point shooting effort by Iona.....with many missed open looks as the noose got tighter. What a weekend.
We must remember we shotnabout 50% from three those two games and 11-11 from the FT line in the Final. We played defense well that year, but out of this world (for us) shooting was also responsible for that Title.
Does this years club have enough shooters to string together wins? Doesn't look like it, no matter how well the defense plays. We can beat even the good MAAC clubs on a given night, no doubt, but points are at a premium with zero front line help for Conley on most nights.
I am very disappointed in Jackson. Thought he could bang and score inside against smaller clubs. Not so far vs. CCSU or FDU. Stone hands; making me yearn (only half kidding) for Jack "Elevator" Hill.
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Post by loyal on Nov 29, 2012 19:45:30 GMT -5
BTW, I know he is only a frosh and making a big adjustment, but unless quickness disappears while crossing the pond, we better hope Elias grows a few inches.
"Deer in headlights" was my comment. Has made horrible decisions with the ball the past three games. Also noted by SPU color man last night. No biggie; a frosh....... but unquestionably a slow one.
Will make him effective at the MAAC level.
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Post by loyal on Nov 29, 2012 19:46:25 GMT -5
Extra 2/3 inches will make him effective. Is only 18; let's hope it happens.
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Post by oldtimer1 on Nov 29, 2012 20:25:24 GMT -5
For the record, I do not consider Elias slow or lacking in quickness given his size. He runs the floor well and his move, putting the ball behind his back, beating his man and scoring just as JD called time out against CCSU was a move very few big men can make. Also showed great quickness to come off his man to make two spectacular blocks (called fouls) . No lack of quickness there
Let's not confuse quickness with lack of experience playing inside, Typical European player. When I say he has no inside moves it's only because he has never played that position. Just needs to work on it. His defense, man on man also needs to improve. IMO he has the skills to do it.
One more thing about playing time. It's in practice that one learns, via drills. Just as important as game experience. "If you do what you always have done, you will be what you always have been" We have two freshman with very good skill sets, they just need to develop those skills AND learn new ones.
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Post by peacockblue on Nov 29, 2012 20:31:25 GMT -5
As poorly as Jackson has lookedso far this year, I think we all would have agreed before the season that it was a no-brainer to take a chance on him... and if the options were having Hill come back for a 5th year or taking in Jackson for one year, I would still pick Jackson every time.
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Post by oldtimer1 on Nov 29, 2012 20:40:47 GMT -5
Agree entirely. He was recruited, and we all knew it, for defense and rebounding. Disappointing to date but if you watch him defend he's pretty darn good.
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Post by figgyprez on Nov 30, 2012 0:22:12 GMT -5
Before we all jump from a cliff... We are 3-3. Did anyone venture a guess at more prior to the season? It's not the record, it's how we got there beating RU, CCSU and Cornell. Most would voted for w's over BU, FDU and CCSU at home with l's to Cornell SHU and RU. This odd set of results has us flummoxed since we want to think that we are as good as a team that can beat RU and Cornell but we fear we are as bad as a team that can lose to FDUand BU. I said earlier that FT'swould hurt us sooner or later. I didn't realize how much it would hurt and how soon sooner was going to be. But as I also said our style will let us hang around with teams better than us (RU and for 25 mins SHU) but we will never knock out a team we have s a reasonable chance to do it to(FDU BU) Get used to it. This is the new normal with the type of players we have especially on the front line. Run baby run is in the dust bin probably forever
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Post by loyal on Nov 30, 2012 9:34:23 GMT -5
OT, you were right, beyond my wildest dreams, about BF's ability to man the point effectively this season.
Let's hope I am just as wrong about Desports' ability to make a significant contribution at his current height.
I agree Jackson over Hill was a no brainer.......who'd have thought an evaluation of their relative ability to contribute would ever be even a passing thought? Not me.
Hope we can win one of the MAAC home games next against what look to be 2 of the best, if not the 2 best, MAAC squads.
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Post by oldtimer1 on Nov 30, 2012 12:06:01 GMT -5
Loyal...if you are talking about Elias making a significant contribution this year, I agree that he might not. But remember he is a Freshman, as is Chazz. His height is at least 6'71/2" and his has above average skills. With Dominique coming in next year (and he is the real deal...great rebounder) Elias' skills give us a potential powerful pair up front. Tucker and newcomers will give us depth. We are six games into this season, anxious to see Elias perform later in the year. JD certainly has confidence in him (and Chazz).
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