Chance and Naheem?

[HyattsCuse]

This whole time I've been assuming Naheem and Chance have been health related DNPs. Looking at box scores and watching some of the games, I'm now wondering if they are just the victim of a numbers game at the moment?

3 games in and I think it's safe to say Red is still tinkering with rotations and what combinations give us the best chemistry on the court (especially on D). He's basically been playing 9 guys (10 if you count the few minutes Cuffe has had). Now imagine trying to add two more guys to that puzzle? And those two guys may be in and out in terms of availability if they are not still fully healthy?

Is that just too many guys and combinations to try out now that the season is underway and expect us to form any sort of chemistry on the court? The fact all these games have been nail biters can't help matters either as winning comes first. I don't think we are going to see these guys even if healthy until we have a game that isn't in doubt.

Just a theory.

 

[SYRtoBOS]

Seems foolish to be pulling tight on the rotation strings this early in the season with such poor results. Maybe if the team was meshing and killing it you think "if ain't broke don't fix it," but I would imagine it is all hands on deck at this point. It is odd that red hasn't said anything about McLeod and that no one is asking about it either... Perhaps there is a moratorium on his story for now?

 

[MamesJungro]

It's a basketball truism that you should never depend on a big guy with a history of non-contact foot injuries. Looks like we rolled the dice anyways

 

[SoBristol]

Can someone, anyone!, watch what McLeod and Westry can or cannot do during the pre-game warmups? Are they running freely in layup lines? Elevating on jump shots? Moving well in general?

If we can’t get practice reports we ought to have some report from the hour before the games when players warm up.

 

[Sbucketball]

Seems foolish to be pulling tight on the rotation strings this early in the season with such poor results. Maybe if the team was meshing and killing it you think "if ain't broke don't fix it," but I would imagine it is all hands on deck at this point. It is odd that red hasn't said anything about McLeod and that no one is asking about it either... Perhaps there is a moratorium on his story for now?

It always blows my mind that journalists typically prefer fluff questions like what does it mean for the city to play local teams instead of asking why McLeod hasn't played a minute or asking about what Chance is doing in practice.

 

[baggerbob]

Can someone, anyone!, watch what McLeod and Westry can or cannot do during the pre-game warmups? Are they running freely in layup lines? Elevating on jump shots? Moving well in general?

If we can’t get practice reports we ought to have some report from the hour before the games when players warm up.

Westry is going to be the guy who graduates, never playing a game.

 

[dasher]

Can someone, anyone!, watch what McLeod and Westry can or cannot do during the pre-game warmups? Are they running freely in layup lines? Elevating on jump shots? Moving well in general?

If we can’t get practice reports we ought to have some report from the hour before the games when players warm up.

Chance will be playing soon. He could play now. But, he has been recovering from an illness that we really need to be careful about. I suspect we will see him against Cornell for at least a few minutes.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

I know some people are down on Red and I have my quibbles with him too, but he's not stupid. If he thought Naheem could help he'd be playing. Let's be real.

 

[RF2044]

Seems foolish to be pulling tight on the rotation strings this early in the season with such poor results. Maybe if the team was meshing and killing it you think "if ain't broke don't fix it," but I would imagine it is all hands on deck at this point. It is odd that red hasn't said anything about McLeod and that no one is asking about it either... Perhaps there is a moratorium on his story for now?

The poor results are EXACTLY why the rotations are tight.

If we were winning comfortably, as you would expect against games like Le Moyne, Colgate [recent history notwithstanding], and Youngstown State, then there is no doubt in my mind that Red would play the bench more.

But when you're fighting for your life to win, you go with players you "trust" more. Which means that guys like Cuffe, Naheem, and even Chance who are further down in the rotation never get a chance to play.

I don't think that anybody disagrees that in an ideal world, Red would be using the non-conference portion of the schedule to experiment, tinker, and get some less experienced players some developmental PT -- but we haven't played well enough to allow that to happen.

I honestly think it's as simple as that.

 

[orangefog]

The poor results are EXACTLY why the rotations are tight.

If we were winning comfortably, as you would expect against games like Le Moyne, Colgate [recent history notwithstanding], and Youngstown State, then there is no doubt in my mind that Red would play the bench more.

But when you're fighting for your life to win, you go with players you "trust" more. Which means that guys like Cuffe, Naheem, and even Chance who are further down in the rotation never get a chance to play.

I don't think that anybody disagrees that in an ideal world, Red would be using the non-conference portion of the schedule to experiment, tinker, and get some less experienced players some developmental PT -- but we haven't played well enough to allow that to happen.

I honestly think it's as simple as that.

I think we all agree, in an ideal world, I would be head coach and we'd go undefeated every year. But, this is not an ideal world.

 

[Niastri]

It always blows my mind that journalists typically prefer fluff questions like what does it mean for the city to play local teams instead of asking why McLeod hasn't played a minute or asking about what Chance is doing in practice.

We need somebody like Shaughnessy for the Boston Globe, who just seems to hate the local teams and wants to burn them as much as possible.

Journalists like that are super annoying, but at least they get to the bottom of things when the coaches make strange decisions.

The current cupcake journalists are completely underwhelming with their questions post game.

Yes, we need to ask Red three different ways how he feels about going to overtime with a cupcake and zero questions about why McLeod didn't play.

 

[baggerbob]

We need somebody like Shaughnessy for the Boston Globe, who just seems to hate the local teams and wants to burn them as much as possible.

Journalists like that are super annoying, but at least they get to the bottom of things when the coaches make strange decisions.

The current cupcake journalists are completely underwhelming with their questions post game.

Yes, we need to ask Red three different ways how he feels about going to overtime with a cupcake and zero about why McLeod didn't play.

As far as Chance goes when he actually gets in a game I'll believe he is able to play. As far as what he can contribute, 2 years without playing you realistically can't expect much.

 

[Niastri]

As far as Chance goes when he actually gets in a game I'll believe he is able to play. As far as what he can contribute, 2 years without playing you realistically can't expect much.

I'm much more annoyed about McLeod, and nobody from the press even asking why Red prefers giving up layups all game long over putting in his elite rim protector.

They don't even have to ask it with that much snark, and I'd be happy.

 

[baggerbob]

I'm much more annoyed about McLeod, and nobody from the press even asking why Red prefers giving up layups all game long over putting in his elite rim protector.

They don't even have to ask it with that much snark, and I'd be happy.

Agree with you there, just have him play a one man zone about 7 feet from the basket. Any body gets within reach block the shot.

 

[althea]

I think we all agree, in an ideal world, I would be head coach and we'd go undefeated every year. But, this is not an ideal world.

We would still complain.

 

[CardiacCuse]

I'm much more annoyed about McLeod, and nobody from the press even asking why Red prefers giving up layups all game long over putting in his elite rim protector.

They don't even have to ask it with that much snark, and I'd be happy.

well, i agree but his elite rim protector isnt actually that because he doesnt understand how to move within a team defense...he often leaves the rim totally unprotected while hes on the floor

he SHOULD be a elite an elite rim protector but he isnt yet...

thing is it super basic stuff to be able tocoach a player to stay next to the rim and protect it

are the coaches not able to teach that to him ? or has he been unable to learn that yet?

 

[Niastri]

well, i agree but his elite rim protector isnt actually that because he doesnt understand how to move within a team defense...he often leaves the rim totally unprotected while hes on the floor

he SHOULD be a elite an elite rim protector but he isnt yet...

thing is it super basic stuff to be able tocoach a player to stay next to the rim and protect it

are the coaches not able to teach that to him ? or has he been unable to learn that yet?

McLeod had a higher block percentage than any qualified player in the NCAA last year.

He was the best at blocking shots in the game. If McLeod hadn't gotten injured, and thus had enough minutes to qualify, his 13.8% block percentage would have been the 36th best block percentage season of all time, since they started keeping the stat in the 2009-2010 season.

Whatever else you think of the Highlander, he is an absolutely elite rim protector.

He also, coincidentally, was our best offensive rebounder last season and only got 2.2 fouls per 40, so he wasn't just hacking away to get his blocks.

EDIT: As to your last point, I think the coaches are asking him to guard on the perimeter, which, I agree, is a misuse of his defensive talents.

Block Percentage Men's Single Season Leaders and Records | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Block Percentage Men's Single Season Leaders and Records

www.sports-reference.com

 

[baggerbob]

McLeod had a higher block percentage than any qualified player in the NCAA last year.

He was the best at blocking shots in the game. If McLeod hadn't gotten injured, and thus had enough minutes to qualify, his 13.8% block percentage would have been the 36th best block percentage season of all time, since they started keeping the stat in the 2009-2010 season.

Whatever else you think of the Highlander, he is an absolutely elite rim protector.

He also, coincidentally, was our best offensive rebounder last season and only got 2.2 fouls per 40, so he wasn't just hacking away to get his blocks.

EDIT: As to your last point, I think the coaches are asking him to guard on the perimeter, which, I agree, is a misuse of his defensive talents.

Block Percentage Men's Single Season Leaders and Records | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Block Percentage Men's Single Season Leaders and Records

www.sports-reference.com

As I said 7 ft and in on defense, and on offense post him on one side or other of the foul line 5 feet from the basket.
Any missed shot rebound and dunk.

 

[two3zone]

We would still complain.

I'd rather argue the guard minutes on a 3 loss team than whatever is going on.

 

[Niastri]

As I said 7 ft and in on defense, and on offense post him on one side or other of the foul line 5 feet from the basket.
Any missed shot rebound and dunk.

Yeah, McLeod should never be farther than one (huge) stride from the basket, unless possession just changed.

Catch lobs, block shots, rebound and body up on defense.

It's the easiest job description in basketball.

 

[kcsu]

I wish we had a coach that could develop centers

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Westry is going to be the guy who graduates, never playing a game.

 

[Cuse181]

McLeod had a higher block percentage than any qualified player in the NCAA last year.

He was the best at blocking shots in the game. If McLeod hadn't gotten injured, and thus had enough minutes to qualify, his 13.8% block percentage would have been the 36th best block percentage season of all time, since they started keeping the stat in the 2009-2010 season.

Whatever else you think of the Highlander, he is an absolutely elite rim protector.

He also, coincidentally, was our best offensive rebounder last season and only got 2.2 fouls per 40, so he wasn't just hacking away to get his blocks.

EDIT: As to your last point, I think the coaches are asking him to guard on the perimeter, which, I agree, is a misuse of his defensive talents.

Block Percentage Men's Single Season Leaders and Records | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Block Percentage Men's Single Season Leaders and Records

www.sports-reference.com

Call me crazy, but didn’t he play man at FSU?

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's a basketball truism that you should never depend on a big guy with a history of non-contact foot injuries. Looks like we rolled the dice anyways

Well, let's at least play him a bit, no?