Rak and DC had about 5 touches today combined...

[orangefan13]

imo, last year I wouldnt have minded so much but this year they are better then that.

 

[iommi]

imo, last year I wouldnt have minded so much but this year they are better then that.

Roc is better. It's debatable whether DC has improved, other than the weight loss.

 

[BostonOrange]

imo, last year I wouldnt have minded so much but this year they are better then that.

They need to touch the ball. I'm not exactly sure what they'll do with it, but I'm pretty sure that if we are going anywhere this year we at least need to have some semblance of an inside scoring threat. The perimeter guys, in my opinion, can't be relied upon to create all the offense.

 

[Ghost]

They need to touch the ball. I'm not exactly sure what they'll do with it, but I'm pretty sure that if we are going anywhere this year we at least need to have some semblance of an inside scoring threat. The perimeter guys, in my opinion, can't be relied upon to create all the offense.

Now is the time to get them touches - it forces the defense to adjust, and they seem willing to kick it back out.

 

[SarasotaPaul]

Now is the time to get them touches - it forces the defense to adjust, and they seem willing to kick it back out.

The defense was in adjustment mode from the start packing it in. That has a lot to do with touches.

Why do you think Ennis was left so open all game long? Was any Colgate player in sight of him when he started to shoot threes in the second half? Ennis needs to shoot enough to keep teams honest. That opens Cooney for threes and opens the middle a little for the bigs.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Feed rakeem the damn ball. Goddamnit it's simple.

He made a couple great moves/put backs today, but it pisses me off we don't go inside against COLGATE.

 

[BostonOrange]

The defense was in adjustment mode from the start packing it in. That has a lot to do with touches.

Why do you think Ennis was left so open all game long? Was any Colgate player in sight of him when he started to shoot threes in the second half? Ennis needs to shoot enough to keep teams honest. That opens Cooney for threes and opens the middle a little for the bigs.

I don't disagree with you on Ennis, and with Colgate packing it in. But the reality is our bigs never touch the ball in the post. That might be ok when you have NBA lottery picks out there at guard, but this year we need to play inside out more. And as Ghost said both Rak and DC kicked it out when they got it yesterday. I think that is important. It's a two way street - if they are black holes the guards aren't going to give it to them much, and if they hardly ever touch it they probably aren't going to kick it out when they do.

 

[billsin01]

I don't disagree with you on Ennis, and with Colgate packing it in. But the reality is our bigs never touch the ball in the post. That might be ok when you have NBA lottery picks out there at guard, but this year we need to play inside out more. And as Ghost said both Rak and DC kicked it out when they got it yesterday. I think that is important. It's a two way street - if they are black holes the guards aren't going to give it to them much, and if they hardly ever touch it they probably aren't going to kick it out when they do.

I couldn't agree more with the general sentiment that these guys need to get touches inside. What I think becomes the fly in ointment is two things (so I suppose flies in the ointment is more accurate):

1) JB's teams are never outstanding at getting the ball to post scoring threats. The way they do this the best is with two bigs and a high-low set-up. These two won't get that opportunity b/c, frankly, they can barely stay on the court together let alone actually be trusted to execute that kind of play.

2) These guys need to want the ball and get in position to receive it and then, ideally, actually do something with it when they get it. I thought a really telling play by DC was when he got to the line after Ennis tried to lead him to the basket but DC was back on his heels unsure of what to do. He of course proceeded to miss the two free throws. But the point is, if he's reading the play correctly and moving toward the basket, he uses his massive frame and has an easy layup. Right now, he simply not doing that.

We need some scoring and some touches (at least the touches) inside, but I'm just not sure anyone on the floor has much faith tossing it down there to these guys. And I'm not sure I blame them.

 

[Ghost]

We need some scoring and some touches (at least the touches) inside, but I'm just not sure anyone on the floor has much faith tossing it down there to these guys. And I'm not sure I blame them.

Eh, I think they do a decent job of sealing their men down low. I do think the biggest reward in getting them touches is just keeping their motors running. Big men tend to, more than anyone else, get complacent when they're not seeing the ball on the offensive end at all (except for Keita - but he's an anomaly - that engine never stops running).

So far DC is getting fouled a lot (even with his horrific tendency to play small), and Rak hasn't shown a developed post game (but appears better than last year), and both need more touches. Especially against these small teams they can pretty much play volleyball around the rim with Grant or Fair crashing the boards. I always look at the long term - and having Cooney (whose man is always playing him tight) get the ball into the post more and then take the kick back out would seem to be a good way of keeping the defense on their heels - whether they're packing it in or not. All the guards could improve in that area.

 

[billsin01]

Eh, I think they do a decent job of sealing their men down low. I do think the biggest reward in getting them touches is just keeping their motors running. Big men tend to, more than anyone else, get complacent when they're not seeing the ball on the offensive end at all (except for Keita - but he's an anomaly - that engine never stops running).

So far DC is getting fouled a lot (even with his horrific tendency to play small), and Rak hasn't shown a developed post game (but appears better than last year), and both need more touches. Especially against these small teams they can pretty much play volleyball around the rim with Grant or Fair crashing the boards. I always look at the long term - and having Cooney (whose man is always playing him tight) get the ball into the post more and then take the kick back out would seem to be a good way of keeping the defense on their heels - whether they're packing it in or not. All the guards could improve in that area.

Agreed on the touches but I just see two guys who really seem unsure of themselves when they get it. Does that go away if they get more touches? You'd have to think, but it's disappointing to see them only manage a combined 2 FGAs in 30 combined minutes vs. Colgate. I could be wrong, but I'm also pretty sure that none of DC's FTAs were the result of his going back up with an offensive board, so those two FGAs (Rak's was a nice put-back) were all they could get for 30 mins. Some of that is on the other guys for not getting them the ball, but I don't see how DC and Rak are blameless for that.

 

[kirbivore]

I hope I'm wrong but these guys are looking like this decade's version of Roberts and Watkins

 

[orangefan13]

Rak has done really really good things passing the ball early on this year all shots aside. He has had some real smooth assists with his passing.

Honestly I would like to see Rak be given a selfish greenlight from the midpost in, but he has to be fed the ball to get that. He is our third most experienced player out there. Hes a Jr with a year experience on grant and dajuan and that means upperclassmen territory.

I think he shoots so little out of fear, or being told not to. The most shots Rak has attempted this year has been 5 shots scoring 12. imo, He absolutely needs to get that up to the 11-12 shot mark a few games early on with a greenlight, and stop worrying about being pulled. Especially with his free throw shooting numbers so far hes 7 for 9 from the line. He also has a massive height and seal off advantage early on at PF weighing just under 250.

This is one of those years we can't be afraid to lose. Everyone knows we are a young team, we may peak before march, but we will defenetly peak in march again if so. That should help our seeding. We have to much young and growing talented fresh/sophmores between grant, ennis, cooney, gbinije, roberson, and dajuan who are all in our 9 man lineup, and thats not counting bj and patterson.