Fool's Gold

[iommi]

I realize it's popular here to do the whole, "A win is a win is a win" nonsense. We're 24-1...Etc.

The bottom line is that after our amazing start, everyone here should be able to agree that nothing short of a Final Four trip would be a major disappointment. That being said, it's very clear to this observer that this team no longer has tendencies; it has strengths and weaknesses. We all know what they are. The issue is it's February. Can JB and the team actually improve the problems or mask them somehow between now and March?

Our inefficiency in half court offense is one thing I think can be improved but here's where I'm sceptical: JB has been running the same basic offense forever seemingly and there are very few wrinkles added. It's motion with high ball screens and high pick and rolls. With our athleticism, I'd like to see some planned plays (like baseline screens leading to set alley-oops). Doing that twice a game could give us 4 easy points. I'd also like to run guys off screens but we really don't really seem to have anyone like Andy Rautins who is proficient at that.

Rebounding out of the zone is always an issue but last night it was pathetic. Just very little effort. We might not be a good rebounding team. Period. But we need to show more desire to get rebounds. Georgetown beat us to about 80% of the 50/50 balls last night.

This team will not get past the first weekend if these two areas aren't addressed. Forget about the Kentucky comparisons. If we don't make strides to improve or mask our weaknesses, they will be exposed and it will be a quick exit in March relative to our seed.

 

[Louie&Bouie]

I'm willing to make a straight-up bet with you that this team gets out of the first weekend. How much?

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I realize it's popular here to do the whole, "A win is a win is a win" nonsense. We're 24-1...Etc.

The bottom line is that after our amazing start, everyone here should be able to agree that nothing short of a Final Four trip would be a major disappointment. That being said, it's very clear to this observer that this team no longer has tendencies; it has strengths and weaknesses. We all know what they are. The issue is it's February. Can JB and the team actually improve the problems or mask them somehow between now and March?

Our inefficiency in half court offense is one thing I think can be improved but here's where I'm sceptical: JB has been running the same basic offense forever seemingly and there are very few wrinkles added. It's motion with high ball screens and high pick and rolls. With our athleticism, I'd like to see some planned plays (like baseline screens leading to set alley-oops). Doing that twice a game could give us 4 easy points. I'd also like to run guys off screens but we really don't really seem to have anyone like Andy Rautins who is proficient at that.

Rebounding out of the zone is always an issue but last night it was pathetic. Just very little effort. We might ot be a good rebounding team. Period. But we need to show more desire to get rebounds. Georgetown beat us to about 80% of the 50/50 balls last night.

This team will not get past the first weekend if these two areas aren't addressed. Forget about the Kentucky comparisons. If we don't make strides to improve or mask our weaknesses, they will be exposed and it will be a quick exit in March relative to our seed.

Not sure about Fool's Gold. Bottom line is that Georgetown is the best defensive team in the BE. We won when we probably shouldn't have. I think we need to come out strong on Saturday and play consistent for 40 minutes and that includes these guys that are putting up 0 points and 0 rebounds. Our 10 player depth shrunk very fast.

People are saying that JB should be considered for Coach of the year, but I thought he didn't do his best job vs Georgetown. Not sure I will ever understand BT sitting, but MCW also. Let's beat Yukon and things will be back to normal (at least until Monday night).

 

[Marsh01]

I'm willing to make a straight-up bet with you that this team gets out of the first weekend. How much?

I think you are missing his point. I agree with Iommi and if we dot come to play against the 8/9 seed an give the effort rebounding that we gave last night, throw in a teamthat gets hot shooting and yes Icould see an early exit. Cue Northern Iowa/Kansas.

 

[iommi]

I'm willing to make a straight-up bet with you that this team gets out of the first weekend. How much?

Reading comprehension must not be your strong suit. I never said we won't get out of the first weekend.

 

[Orange Barrel]

"A win is a win is a win" nonsense.

It's not nonsense. It's not fool's gold. Why are so many people here surprised we got into a rock fight with Georgetown? They're good. We won.

 

[pfister1]

I'm not sure what good it would do to run guys off of screens, who is going to hit a shot coming off of a screen? Our guys are having problems hitting shots when they are stationary and facing the basket, having them try to shoot when moving isn't going to improve the offense.

 

[Alcuse01]

so I just want to sum up this thread:

If we don't rebound, don't put in some more set plays with alley oops, mask our issues, play better half court offense, and then face a hot shooting team, we might lose.

This is ground breaking stuff!

Why not see it as... we played a very tough game, one in which either team somehow got fouls in the first half (talk about letting them play), shot poorly, and got out hustled for rebounds... But we won, we did what it took to win, and against the best D in the Big East, we finally answered the critics with a "go-to" guy, once again we had 'someone' step up, and Fab was excellent in the middle with his blocks/charges again. Oh and I thought I saw 2 alley oops last night. And lastly, we beat a team that has beaten 4 other top 25's.

 

[iommi]

I'm not sure what good it would do to run guys off of screens, who is going to hit a shot coming off of a screen? Our guys are having problems hitting shots when they are stationary and facing the basket, having them try to shoot when moving isn't going to improve the offense.

Fair point. That's why I said we might not have the guy to run off screens. I'm just grasping at straws at how to improve in the half court.

 

[iommi]

Alcuse: so I guess you didn't see JB's post-game? If not, watch it and you may realize he agrees with me and the other people on the board who know we have to get better in the areas I touched on.

(and the alley oops were not set plays)

 

[Marsh01]

Fair point. That's why I said we might not have the guy to run off screens. I'm just grasping at straws at how to improve in the half court.

Why Brandon doesnt use his strength to post up players a little still is a mystery. I love it when he is aggressive and really uses his strength against his defender to get buckets close to the basket.

 

[cusetown1]

Good god. UNC blows a double digit lead, they get a pass. OSU looks like turd against Purdue they get a pass. Florida plays like a JV team and UK blows them out and now they are god. Syracuse beats a rival and top 15 team while playing like crap and the sky is falling. I don't get it. I do not agree with JB's comments after the game, you address those problems to the team not to the media. It gives them way too much material to blast Syracuse. I don't know if that's his master plan to knock them down and build them back up. Offensive rebounding and dumb plays aside, this team has earned the right to have a few bad games. It happens.

 

[cusetown1]

Brandon and MCW should have played more, that one is on JB.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

Brandon and MCW should have played more, that one is on JB.

Agreed on Brandon needing more minutes, but not sure if MCW's ready for the physicality of a game like last night's.

 

[iommi]

Marsh, Brandon can be a maddening player at times in a lot of areas. For all of his literal and figurative strength(s), he just doesn't seem to have any confidence. I'm very surprised at this because he was a star in high school and his uncle was a good player too. I still doubt JB's stated belief that BT will step up next year and be a more aggressive scorer.

 

[cusetown1]

Agreed on Brandon needing more minutes, but not sure if MCW's ready for the physicality of a game like last night's.

he would be fine.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Brandon and MCW should have played more, that one is on JB.

I agree with you that Brandon and MCW should have played more, but there is nothing on JB. We stole a win when we could have easily lost. Championship teams find a way to win games.

 

[cusetown1]

Marsh, Brandon can be a maddening player at times in a lot of areas. For all of his literal and figurative strength(s), he just doesn't seem to have any confidence. I'm very surprised at this because he was a star in high school and his uncle was a good player too. I still doubt JB's stated belief that BT will step up next year and be a more aggressive scorer.

well JB doesn't help his confidence by yanking after a made 3 in the second half. He didn't see the court again.

 

[cusetown1]

I agree with you that Brandon and MCW should have played more, but there is nothing on JB. We stole a win when we could have easily lost. Championship teams find a way to win games.

so you're saying the sky isn't falling? Thank you because I feel the same. Side note, I went early last night and watched them warm up for a while. This team really gets along, I really liked what I saw.

 

[bigf1973]

I think the guards could help with the rebounding if they were not sprinting on the break before we even have possession of the ball. They could have grabbed some of those long rebounds from the horrible shots the Hoyas were taking.

 

[Dcuse]

I realize it's popular here to do the whole, "A win is a win is a win" nonsense. We're 24-1...Etc.

The bottom line is that after our amazing start, everyone here should be able to agree that nothing short of a Final Four trip would be a major disappointment. That being said, it's very clear to this observer that this team no longer has tendencies; it has strengths and weaknesses. We all know what they are. The issue is it's February. Can JB and the team actually improve the problems or mask them somehow between now and March?

Our inefficiency in half court offense is one thing I think can be improved but here's where I'm sceptical: JB has been running the same basic offense forever seemingly and there are very few wrinkles added. It's motion with high ball screens and high pick and rolls. With our athleticism, I'd like to see some planned plays (like baseline screens leading to set alley-oops). Doing that twice a game could give us 4 easy points. I'd also like to run guys off screens but we really don't really seem to have anyone like Andy Rautins who is proficient at that.

Rebounding out of the zone is always an issue but last night it was pathetic. Just very little effort. We might not be a good rebounding team. Period. But we need to show more desire to get rebounds. Georgetown beat us to about 80% of the 50/50 balls last night.

This team will not get past the first weekend if these two areas aren't addressed. Forget about the Kentucky comparisons. If we don't make strides to improve or mask our weaknesses, they will be exposed and it will be a quick exit in March relative to our seed.

Agree , as everbody does, on the rebounding but what is wrong with our half-court offense? Please tell me. The goal of half court offense is to get good shots and not turn the ball over, which we do about 85% of the time.

 

[bigf1973]

Agree , as everbody does, on the rebounding but what is wrong with our half-court offense? Please tell me. The goal of half court offense is to get good shots and not turn the ball over, which we do about 85% of the time.

Yep, the we had plenty of open shots from our half-court sets but failed to convert (CJ)

 

[Louie&Bouie]

Reading comprehension must not be your strong suit. I never said we won't get out of the first weekend.

Yeah you did. Here is the quote:

"This team will not get past the first weekend if these two areas aren't addressed."

I'm willing to wager that this team gets through the first weekend, regardless.

The doomsday scenarios and naysayers on this board are insufferable. Every single team in the country has flaws. Including Kentucky.

 

[pfister1]

I think the guards could help with the rebounding if they were not sprinting on the break before we even have possession of the ball. They could have grabbed some of those long rebounds from the horrible shots the Hoyas were taking.

This is an interesting point because I didn't feel like we really got much of anything in transition last night. Even the few times we got out on the break I don't think we converted. Georgetown did a really good job getting back the few times we had opportunities, but an even better job of limiting the opportunities. We might be better served sending the guards to the glass???

It is easy to say this in retrospect when you know the result regarding how many transition points we got vs. how many second chance points we gave up. Clearly its a trade off, but I don't think the result has weighed in our favor the last few games, St. John's aside.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

I realize it's popular here to do the whole, "A win is a win is a win" nonsense. We're 24-1...Etc.

The bottom line is that after our amazing start, everyone here should be able to agree that nothing short of a Final Four trip would be a major disappointment. That being said, it's very clear to this observer that this team no longer has tendencies; it has strengths and weaknesses. We all know what they are. The issue is it's February. Can JB and the team actually improve the problems or mask them somehow between now and March?

Our inefficiency in half court offense is one thing I think can be improved but here's where I'm sceptical: JB has been running the same basic offense forever seemingly and there are very few wrinkles added. It's motion with high ball screens and high pick and rolls. With our athleticism, I'd like to see some planned plays (like baseline screens leading to set alley-oops). Doing that twice a game could give us 4 easy points. I'd also like to run guys off screens but we really don't really seem to have anyone like Andy Rautins who is proficient at that.

Rebounding out of the zone is always an issue but last night it was pathetic. Just very little effort. We might not be a good rebounding team. Period. But we need to show more desire to get rebounds. Georgetown beat us to about 80% of the 50/50 balls last night.

This team will not get past the first weekend if these two areas aren't addressed. Forget about the Kentucky comparisons. If we don't make strides to improve or mask our weaknesses, they will be exposed and it will be a quick exit in March relative to our seed.

I do not agree that something short of a Final Four is a major disappointment. That is letting your expectations get the best of you.

This team has a great record, but it has been winning several 50/50 type games. The benefit of doing that is a good seed come tourney time and an easier route through the first weekend. After the first weekend the benefit of the seeding and winning the close games earlier becomes less of a factor.

This team has been flawed from the start. No true PF and unproven 3 pt shooters. JB has tried to prime XMas - but he doesn't look ready this year. And for 3 ptrs JS has disappointed. Relying on KJ is risky. And our guards are a little weak in the 3 pt area.

The disadvantage of playing above your talent level during the season, are the increase odds of not performing to the given seed come March. Making a Final Four would be great. Being majorly disappointed in not getting there seems to be raising the bar a little too high.