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Post by yankeefriar on Jan 6, 2014 9:34:44 GMT -5
This team was going to struggle to be a top half Big East team with all the pieces. Once we lost 40% of our starting lineup, the season was lost. Add to that Fortune and Batts not improving and DeRosiers becoming more and more exposed every game and all things considered, we could very easily be about 8-7 or 7-8 right now. We could have played like we did against Notre Dame at the Dunk last year, and we would not have won that game last night.
10-5 with 16 to play...next 4 out of 5 at home, gives us a chance to have a respectable season. Don't think we can get 3 out of the next 5 to do that.
Thinking 13-18
Bring on G'Town
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Post by friara on Jan 6, 2014 10:03:40 GMT -5
At this point, I really only care about how Cooley and the staff find 3 more players for next years recruiting class.
If we can salvage the season by scrapping out an NIT bid, that would be great, but this is a wounded bird out there right now.
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Post by oaklawnbob on Jan 6, 2014 10:08:27 GMT -5
It will be a long season. The team looked pathetic. Kentucky shot about 63% yet we managed to keep up with them and finnaly got burnt out. At this point I see us in the lower half of the BE. Once again we wait until next year.
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Post by yankeefriar on Jan 6, 2014 10:20:43 GMT -5
The one positive I saw last night was Henton taking it strong to the hole off the dribble. Some are saying Batts played better. The problem is his play has been so poor, that he hits a couple high percentage lay-ins and he looks better in some eyes.
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Post by friarbroadcaster on Jan 6, 2014 10:57:22 GMT -5
It is hard to find a positive from last night. I think the positives are that Ed Cooley is on our sideline and Bryce Cotton is on the floor. Both of these two have the heart and the passion for this game.
Too many things that bothered me, though. And I look at weakness with the focus on how upcoming opponents can attack a team.
1. The perimeter defense and the rotation off of high pick n rolls was just awful - I understand that Nova went nuts from 3 and that we have a 7-man rotation.
a. We are 9th among Big East teams against the 3-pt shot
b. Georgetown and Creighton can shoot in and out, work the ball well, so the rotation on the ball in the half court will need to be good. Creighton 1st in Big East with 42% from the 3-pt line.
2. Tyler Harris is our second-best scoring option, BUT his offense is not made for around the hoop, going up strong and getting a tough two off of the glass. It is not part of his game. There were a lot of times where Tyler is double-teamed and blocked as he goes up on a shot. He is a top of the key guy who needs to dribble and drive. Shoot from outside and take long jumpers. He is not a 4, he is 2/3 hybrid. During his transfer year he had been working on coming off of screens, taking the 3 and working off of double teams to hit the long two just inside the 3-pt line. He cannot do that with this team because now he is a big man. Just as it is unfair to Henton at times, it is also unfair to Harris.
3. I blame Henton and Harris' inability to play their game on Batts and Carson
a. Batts/Carson now have to face off against Josh Smith? You think that is going to go well?
b. Batts/Carson look very timid on D. I get they have the caution of fouling and staying on the court. I get that. But, again, look at McDermott and Smith and the supporing cast coming to the Dunk over the next two weeks.
4. The Bench
a. Make no mistake, next year's bench will be deep. And coming off of that bench will be Carson and Fortune, along with new members.
b. Current bench cannot score. And in a game like UMass, where the bench is outscored 23-0, it matters.
5. Ed Cooley
a. He is facing a fair amount of criticism for bringing in 3 top-10 recruiting classes (including this 2014 class) yet a lot of these players have not been able to play
b. He has the full support of the athletic department and he has Shanley and Driscoll right there with him.
c. He will pull in two more scoring options for next year.
This is the current state. And it is not pleasant. I am happy this team has some time to rest before Georgetown and then a week off before their next game. It will help everyone. It will help recruiting, it will help Bryce Cotton, and it will help the fans (the sensible ones) to get away from the team we all love and live and die with on a game-by-game basis each season.
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Post by thewalk on Jan 6, 2014 11:19:17 GMT -5
Fortune's coming off the bench next year?
Team is deflated...while they knew austin's 2013-14 fate for a while now, the transfer news had to kick cooley in the nuts and the team knows it...it's going to be very difficult for this thing to get back on track b/c 1) they're not that good (as close Ws and numbers against a pretty poor OOC sched suggest)...2) you can only take so many body blows...there's nothing to look forward to now. last year's group even without ledo was playing for a 13-14 ncaa bid...we're essentially replacing cotton with dunn and some added depth (assuming they all make it on campus)...this year's a waste...
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Post by johnnypc on Jan 6, 2014 11:26:08 GMT -5
I am looking forward. Take one game at a time. Help guys develop and work hard. I truly believe that things are looking up. It may take longer than we all hoped but I honestly believe we will win the Big East and go to the NCAA in the not too distant future. After all of these years waiting for a consistent winner I am not quitting now.
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Post by bones91 on Jan 6, 2014 12:26:24 GMT -5
Two things that were glaring to me this season so far:
1) we have very little offensive rhythm in games. back court guys try to dribble and take their man one on one. if they can't, they pass back out and someone else tries to do it. occasionally, we pass down low. lots of guys just standing around. (with dunn out, this is starting to look like MarShon's senior yr all over again, except that Cotton does the shooting)
2) there doesn't seem to be any leader on the team. usually, there's at least 1 guy who can rally the troops but i don't see it this year, nor really saw it last year.
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Post by thewalk on Jan 6, 2014 12:43:42 GMT -5
Bones...no offensive rhythm b/c nobody on the team outside of cotton can make a simple pass...it's unreal. once cotton gives it up it's like watching a 6th grade cyo team move the ball...just look at the end of th shu game...we need cotton at the line but have nobody to get him the ball...
...cotton's a leader....kid has no help...
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Post by friarbroadcaster on Jan 6, 2014 12:46:00 GMT -5
I have never seen a Friar team so afraid to shoot...We have shooters. We have ability. We have talent with the guys playing. I just want to see this team go for it. I would love to see Fortune just say "here's a 3" or Harris just play his game. Desrosiers and Batts and Henton can be our rebounders. And this team is going to need to be a 3-pt shooting team in order to win games.
But Walk hit it on the head...the passing is not there. And Cotton is the leader. One of the best young men to walk through this school too.
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peeps
Signed LOI
Posts: 224
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Post by peeps on Jan 6, 2014 14:14:02 GMT -5
let's be honest... we, in no way, have shooters aside from cotton on this team. yes occasionally fortune, harris, and henton can hit an outside shot... but i cringe when they launch. our shooting percentage all across the board is horrendous. we can't finish inside and can't hit from outside.
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Post by friarbroadcaster on Jan 6, 2014 14:21:55 GMT -5
let's be honest... we, in no way, have shooters aside from cotton on this team. yes occasionally fortune, harris, and henton can hit an outside shot... but i cringe when they launch. our shooting percentage all across the board is horrendous. we can't finish inside and can't hit from outside. I will agree with that part, but I think there is a need to let these kids shoot. Harris is far more comfortable around the paint. Not in the paint. He can get a shot off from the elbow and high post. But he can also shoot the 3. Henton is someone I think has that ability to shoot from deep, but I would rather he never do it. I love his ability to rebound, as most of us do. Fortune can shoot the 3. But he cannot handle the ball for more than 3 seconds, which is probably being generous. It has been mentioned, too much standing around. I would seem that the drive to the hoop, or feeding Batts and Henton and Carson would be a nice way to try to attack Georgetown. Big men have to give us something. |
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Post by thewalk on Jan 6, 2014 14:46:55 GMT -5
peeps...if you think this year is bad....
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Post by oaklawnbob on Jan 6, 2014 15:20:04 GMT -5
Broadcaster-you said the coach wants to bring in some shooters for next year. Not many highly ranked kids out there. Maybe Craig and Infoman can shed some light on it.
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Post by friarbroadcaster on Jan 6, 2014 16:27:48 GMT -5
Broadcaster-you said the coach wants to bring in some shooters for next year. Not many highly ranked kids out there. Maybe Craig and Infoman can shed some light on it. Shooters and ball-handlers...the typical names are JaQuan Lyle, Tarin Smith, and Devonte Graham (whenever he gets released from App St) Personally, I like Tarin Smith. The staff will certainly be working the recruiting trail in the coming days, weeks, and months leading up to the spring signing period. There are definitely names out there and the most important thing is bringing in players who can understand that it will be about ball control more than anything else. That is why I am not the biggest fan of Lyle, but if he said "I want PC" then I would go drive him from West Virginia if he chose to attend our school. Graham is a nice piece too. I like him. I have mixed feelings on the whole issue surrounding his reasoning for wanting out of a program that stayed loyal to him and saw him for the player he is now being touted as one capable of playing at a PC, NC State, and a few other schools. I believe we had interest with Rashard Figures, 6-4 guard out of Hackensack, NJ. I know Rutgers is heavy on him. Then there is Elijah Cain out of St. Benedict's in NJ (former home to Danny Hurley) Marqywell Johnson is out of Detroit, MI, maybe Coach Simon has looked into him, if available - seems to be. Elisha Boone out of NY getting serious consideration from high mid-majors and Auburn and G'town. Maybe a John Crosby out of Baltimore. Also, I was very intrigued by Jared Wilson-Frame, a guard out of Windsor, CT. He just reclassified to 2015. PC had been one of the only real offers this kid received this past April. I think this kid has a lot of upside - hence why he is smart to prep. I am annoyed though because I wanted this kid. The above guys all have good size for guards. I think Cooley likes having those types of ball handlers. The point is there are plenty of guards out there. Need the right fit, as well as capabilities and upside. CraigL and Infoman...help me out here. |
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