I have one worry with this team...

[bnoro]

I am very afraid when we get to tournament time that there will be a game where Fab Melo gets into foul trouble and has to sit for extended stretches. Since we entered the Big East, when Fab is off the floor and BMK or Rak is playing, we end up getting dominated in the paint. It has come to the point where Fab needs 30+ a game or we will struggle badly. The UConn game was a big example of this.

Baye has become a liability, there is no way he should have missed that layup against UConn, he can't catch the ball, and he struggles badly rebounding. At this stage, Fab should be getting 30-35 minutes and Rak should get what Fab doesn't. I can't believe how much he regressed from last year.

 

[Frozen]

That, and Fab getting called for basket interference during the last minute of a tie game.

 

[Orangezoo]

i think that concern depends upon matchups. we have seen times where baye still does a good job using his length against teams who lack crisp ball movement against the zone or who are also thin up front. we have seen rak do well in stints when needed as well so i think we can survive. i think this becomes a bigger concern for an elite eight or ff team if we make it that far.

 

[newmexicuse]

I think it is great that there is only one worry about this squad.

 

[Marsh01]

I am very afraid when we get to tournament time that there will be a game where Fab Melo gets into foul trouble and has to sit for extended stretches. Since we entered the Big East, when Fab is off the floor and BMK or Rak is playing, we end up getting dominated in the paint. It has come to the point where Fab needs 30+ a game or we will struggle badly. The UConn game was a big example of this.

Baye has become a liability, there is no way he should have missed that layup against UConn, he can't catch the ball, and he struggles badly rebounding. At this stage, Fab should be getting 30-35 minutes and Rak should get what Fab doesn't. I can't believe how much he regressed from last year.

I also am worried about this. Uconn went right at him early with the alley oops and he took some nice charges and had a couple of blocks that went in our favor. It all depends on how the game is officiated.

I am curious to see what happens prior to teh NCAA's if he does indeed get into foul trouble. I really am holding out hope that BMK will give them something positive when he is in there. I remember watching him play the first 15 games last season and thought that we had found a true diamond in the rough. I hope he somehow gets back to being that type of player. With Fab out of teh game its 4 on 5 on the offensive end and that is not a good thing.

 

[stuckinbig11]

I also am worried about this. Uconn went right at him early with the alley oops

What I saw was that UConn got the early alley oops because the zone was pulled out higher, leaving the baseline open. After a minor shift in placement of the zone, those opportunities mostly dried up.

 

[Marsh01]

What I saw was that UConn got the early alley oops because the zone was pulled out higher, leaving the baseline open. After a minor shift in placement of the zone, those opportunities mostly dried up.

Yes that is true. I figured that they would go inside one way or another seeing the success they had in the second half of the game in the dome (until Drummond got hurt).

 

[moqui]

I hope we never have to find out, but I wonder what JB would do if Fair ever got in foul trouble in a tough game. He doesn't like to play Southerland and Joseph together because it hurts the already problematic rebounding, but Rak gives nothing on the offensive end.

 

[iommi]

I hope we never have to find out, but I wonder what JB would do if Fair ever got in foul trouble in a tough game. He doesn't like to play Southerland and Joseph together because it hurts the already problematic rebounding, but Rak gives nothing on the offensive end.

He would play Southerland and Joseph and hope for the best...

 

[moqui]

He would play Southerland and Joseph and hope for the best...

if it was early in the 2nd half, probably, but if it happens with, say 8 minutes left (or if that duo gets abused on the glass), I think he would end up rolling the dice and keep CJ in there with 4 fouls.

 

[Cheriehoop]

I am very afraid when we get to tournament time that there will be a game where Fab Melo gets into foul trouble and has to sit for extended stretches. Since we entered the Big East, when Fab is off the floor and BMK or Rak is playing, we end up getting dominated in the paint. It has come to the point where Fab needs 30+ a game or we will struggle badly. The UConn game was a big example of this.

Baye has become a liability, there is no way he should have missed that layup against UConn, he can't catch the ball, and he struggles badly rebounding. At this stage, Fab should be getting 30-35 minutes and Rak should get what Fab doesn't. I can't believe how much he regressed from last year.

I agree there's a big dropoff now between Fab- Baye and Xmas. However I also don't think Fab can play more than a productive 25 at the most 30 minutes per game. He is dog tired and ineffective otherwise. Baye/and or Xmas has to step up their game. JB has been smart limiting Fab's minutes to keep him effective and as well rested as possible which gives the added bonus of limiting his fouls and keeping him healthy. Baye not bulking up some during the past offseason has really cut into his effectiveness - he literally gets bent in half & pushed under the basket by opposing centers. I was hoping by now Xmas would adjust more - hopefully the best is yet to come from this duo.

 

[MikeSU02]

I agree there's a big dropoff now between Fab- Baye and Xmas. However I also don't think Fab can play more than a productive 25 at the most 30 minutes per game. He is dog tired and ineffective otherwise. Baye/and or Xmas has to step up their game. JB has been smart limiting Fab's minutes to keep him effective and as well rested as possible which gives the added bonus of limiting his fouls and keeping him healthy. Baye not bulking up some during the past offseason has really cut into his effectiveness - he literally gets bent in half & pushed under the basket by opposing centers. I was hoping by now Xmas would adjust more - hopefully the best is yet to come from this duo.

I think the 25-30 minutes a game goes beyond just Fab. I think a lot of the guys on this team have trouble staying productive with 30+ minutes.

 

[iommi]

if it was early in the 2nd half, probably, but if it happens with, say 8 minutes left (or if that duo gets abused on the glass), I think he would end up rolling the dice and keep CJ in there with 4 fouls.

Absolutely. I agree. 8 minutes left and under, sure...but 12-15 minutes left or 3 fouls in first half, he'd go with Dirty and Kris.

 

[iommi]

Biggest problems with Baye are two-fold:

1) It's been said to death, but his hands are awful. Everyone knows this. It hurts us on offense but it also hurts us on defense because he fumbles away rebounds and loose balls

2) Baye is terrible at moving his feet when an opposing big gets the ball inside against him. He doesn't know how to move his feet and put his hands up and defend without fouling. He's way too soft as well. A guy goes at him and his only defense is fouling.

---
The best things (and basically only things) Baye offers at this point are that he does hustle and give max effort... and his post-denial defense is solid (when his man is off the ball obviously). He did a nice job fronting UConn's big men and at least keeping a hand in front of them and preventing easy entry passes.

We need a lot more from him but since he lacks hand-eye coordination and toughness and strength, I think what you see is what you get.

 

[SoBeCuse]

The

I am very afraid when we get to tournament time that there will be a game where Fab Melo gets into foul trouble and has to sit for extended stretches. Since we entered the Big East, when Fab is off the floor and BMK or Rak is playing, we end up getting dominated in the paint. It has come to the point where Fab needs 30+ a game or we will struggle badly. The UConn game was a big example of this.

Baye has become a liability, there is no way he should have missed that layup against UConn, he can't catch the ball, and he struggles badly rebounding. At this stage, Fab should be getting 30-35 minutes and Rak should get what Fab doesn't. I can't believe how much he regressed from last year.

I agree with this. My only other concern is against a good M2M team. Taking contested shots, not being able to shake defenders, bad ball movement, 1-on-1 crap, etc.

 

[44cuse]

Today seems to be the day of giving props to other people:

Moqui pointed out this exact thing 2 weeks ago in the context of Rak and Keita getting more mins later in the season as an X factor.

Good post. Completely agreed.

44cuse

 

[HoustonCuse]

So what has happened to Baye? Is it his hand injury? He looked really good for the first half of last year. He pulled down like 17 rebounds in one game if I recall correctly. He looked so much more polished than Fab - as a result of coming from the good coaching at Oak Hill - he had quickness and athleticism and I don't remember him having issues catching the ball.

 

[iommi]

So what has happened to Baye? Is it his hand injury? He looked really good for the first half of last year. He pulled down like 17 rebounds in one game if I recall correctly. He looked so much more polished than Fab - as a result of coming from the good coaching at Oak Hill - he had quickness and athleticism and I don't remember him having issues catching the ball.

I don't think it's the hand injury. Last year, Baye's hands were adequate and then were bad with the injury. This year they've been terrible pretty much all year. He did have one game early on where he scored in double digits (I think he scored about 14 points). I have no clue what's going on but no way the hand is still bothering him. It's so damn frustrating to watch him play volleyball.

 

[syr02esq]

I am very afraid when we get to tournament time that there will be a game where Fab Melo gets into foul trouble and has to sit for extended stretches. Since we entered the Big East, when Fab is off the floor and BMK or Rak is playing, we end up getting dominated in the paint. It has come to the point where Fab needs 30+ a game or we will struggle badly. The UConn game was a big example of this.

Baye has become a liability, there is no way he should have missed that layup against UConn, he can't catch the ball, and he struggles badly rebounding. At this stage, Fab should be getting 30-35 minutes and Rak should get what Fab doesn't. I can't believe how much he regressed from last year.

Great post. I think Baye has regressed from last season. Not sure how that happens but it did. Could this be a result of not having Coach Fine around? I don't know, but Baye needs an injection of confidence.

 

[jncuse]

My biggest fear is that someone takes a bad fall cutting down the nets in Boston.