SWC75
Bored Historian
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- Aug 26, 2011
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I'm not going to do an upside/downside on an exhibition game, just a few observations on the game and specific players.
Firstly, let's all say this together: IT'S ONLY ONE GAME
None of these observations are intended to be anything like the final word on anybody or anything. They are just observations of what i saw tonight.
Let's give some credit to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, also known as IUP, (as opposed to IUPUI, which is Indiana University / Purdue University of Indianapolis - can't they just name it after somebody?) , is a very good Division II team. They might be a bit better than some of the Division 1 teams we will play this year. They don't have much size but they can pass and shoot and they have quick hands on defense. They certainly weren't intimidated by playing Syracuse and kept playing hard the whole game, even when it turned against them.
The game started and the dominant team immediately took command, shooting the lights out and dominating the boards. Unfortunately that was not us. The other team seemed sluggish and disorganized. They failed to recognized the match-up zone the dominant team was using and tried to force the ball inside with drives that went nowhere, losing the ball or flipping it wildly at the basket. Then we started settling for long-range shots that clanged off the basket. Unfortunately, that was us. We fell behind by an increasingly embarrassing 5-20.
Part of the problem was that JB was experimenting with a man-for-man. He later said that this was not a good team to try that defense against because they have a lot of shooters but we simply looked lousy in it. We couldn't keep up with the ball or their shooters, (the IUP coach said he was going to put as many three point shooters out there as he had). I thought perhaps I was seeing a replay of the 2009 LeMoyne game, which I did not attend. I never felt that I had missed much, (except perhaps some history), and I had no need of watching this to fill in any gap in my experiences.
Then JB went to a press, which was not unexpected considering the deficit. But he kept up with it the rest of the game, except a brief period at the end of the second half. The first few possessions it was ineffective because three guys were going after the ball, leaving two teammates to cover four guys and the rest of the court. Then SU started to double-team the ball and have the third guy positioned in the middle of the court to look for the steal while two guys guarded the basket. We forced a lot of turnovers, (more it seemed to me than were reflected in the box score). But beyond that we forced IUP to hurry more and that impacted their shooting. They were not only speeded up but they had less time to run their offense and set up a good shot. it - along with Tyus Battle - turned the game around. We were down 20-29 when we went on an 18-4 run to end the half. We then won a sloppy second half 45-32 for the 83-65 final.
I was delighted to see the extensive use of the press. I've always felt we could press in this way and still fall back in the zone and that would be a more effective defense than just laying back in the zone, waiting for the other team to come us. We could maintain the integrity of the defense, which is what JB worries about. Now let's see if he's willing to play this way against better opponents.
This team doesn't do "garbage time", unless the walk-ons play, which they did not tonight. JB wants to have a good look at every player and every combination before things get serious. I'll use a metaphor I used in my season preview. Most college basketball teams are jigsaw puzzles without all the pieces. You have to assemble them as best you can to see the picture. This team is a Rubik's Cube. it has all the pieces and endless combinations. But JB hasn't solved it yet. He's still flipping the pieces around at this point.
Player reviews:
We have two point guards: Franklin Howard and John Gillon. Nobody else played that position. Howard was awful at the beginning of the game. He couldn't get us into our offense, failed to recognize the defense the other team was in and forced some awkward rives to the basket. He also missed a couple of jump shots. When he later came back in he was settled down and did a better job in all areas. He wound up scoring 10 points but had only 2 assists and three turnovers. Gillon came on and was clearly better. he added some excitement and yet showed the patience to probe the defense before making his move. He also showed amazing passing ability, seeing people who were behind the defense and passing past several players to get the ball to them, often on no-look passes. he wasn't trying to be too fancy: it was more like a quarterback looking off a receiver. The one drawback with Gillon is that he's considerably shorter than Howard, which can impact the zone. But he had 9 assists vs. 2 turnovers in only 20 minutes of play. He's going to be a huge fan favorite.
there was a strange sequence where Battle made a great pass through the defense for a score and then I noticed he wasn't in the game any more - Howard was back in. We got the ball back and I noticed Gillon standing beyond the bench, over in the corner, rather than sitting down. A time out was called and he didn't go into the normal huddle. Instead Adrian Autry (Sr) was having an animated conversation with him. I don't know whether he was just so excited by the game that he couldn't sit down or whether he was upset he got pulled after a good play. I'm hoping it means absolutely nothing.
Tyus Battle was supposed to be more of a defensive player with a shot that was "a work in progress." He's progressed. He came into the game and sunk 4 of 5 three pointers, the first three during the first half comeback. he led the team in scoring with 16 points. His form was good. He looked better shooting the ball than our supposed new gunner, Andrew White, did. Ty got got a little excited in the second half and pushed a couple shots too far but if there was a player of the game, it was Battle He's absolutely a 2-guard.
White was not impressive in this game. He didn't do much of anything at the beginning, although he was part of the starting line-up. he started to shoot but made only 2 of 9. There were a couple of drives to the basket where he could have given it up to a teammate for a better shot and kept the ball, putting up an awkward shot.
The two Tylers played hard and well. Roberson was "turned on" enough to hit 7 of 9 shots for 14 points and 7 rebounds. He showed a couple of back-to the basket moves we didn't see that year and made one of two jump shots. Jimmy Salatin said that if he can make that, "he'll be a totally different player". I disagree but he will be a more versatile player. Lydon didn't shoot well, (0 for 4 from the arc), but got some amazing rebounds, one where he reach over a player from 10 feet away to grab the ball. he wound up with a double-double with 12 points, (he was 5 for 6 inside the arc, and I'm sure it was all in the paint) and 10 rebounds. Salatin said that Lydon looked more comfortable playing inside than on the wing, where he has to =cover smaller players. That might be true in a game like this but I think he'll be fine at the three if we need him there against larger players.
Taurean Thompson looked a little lost but made some good plays too, including a turn-around jumper form about 10 feet. He had 6 points and 5 rebounds in 15 minutes. Matthew Moyer played the least- 9 minutes and had a couple first rebounds but that was about it. he tried a three pointer but seemed more like an inside player.
JB used four centers: DaJuan Coleman, Paschal Chukwu, Thompson and Lydon. Coleman, who looks thinner than I have ever seen him, although he still has those big shoulders, moved well and showed some good inside moves. He didn't held the ball low and had 7 points and 3 rebounds. He played only 11 minutes, perhaps because JB already knew what to expect from him. Chukwu was very skinny, although he had some definition in his shoulders. Battling for rebounds, he reminded me of a Daddy Long Legs who looks impressive until he gets in a battle and his legs fold up. We won battle for 5 rebounds but lost as many. He had a couple of blocks, sweating away balls under the basket but they didn't lead to fast breaks. I didn't see a Fab Melo there. But I did like one play: an alley-oop went over Lydon's head - and Chukwu caught it, flat footed. Thompson and Lydon played center for brief periods int he second half without leaving much of an impression. beyond what they were already doing at forward. Salatin said that Jim had told him that our best line-up might be with Lydon at center.
It's just another twist of the Rubik's Cube.
Firstly, let's all say this together: IT'S ONLY ONE GAME
None of these observations are intended to be anything like the final word on anybody or anything. They are just observations of what i saw tonight.
Let's give some credit to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, also known as IUP, (as opposed to IUPUI, which is Indiana University / Purdue University of Indianapolis - can't they just name it after somebody?) , is a very good Division II team. They might be a bit better than some of the Division 1 teams we will play this year. They don't have much size but they can pass and shoot and they have quick hands on defense. They certainly weren't intimidated by playing Syracuse and kept playing hard the whole game, even when it turned against them.
The game started and the dominant team immediately took command, shooting the lights out and dominating the boards. Unfortunately that was not us. The other team seemed sluggish and disorganized. They failed to recognized the match-up zone the dominant team was using and tried to force the ball inside with drives that went nowhere, losing the ball or flipping it wildly at the basket. Then we started settling for long-range shots that clanged off the basket. Unfortunately, that was us. We fell behind by an increasingly embarrassing 5-20.
Part of the problem was that JB was experimenting with a man-for-man. He later said that this was not a good team to try that defense against because they have a lot of shooters but we simply looked lousy in it. We couldn't keep up with the ball or their shooters, (the IUP coach said he was going to put as many three point shooters out there as he had). I thought perhaps I was seeing a replay of the 2009 LeMoyne game, which I did not attend. I never felt that I had missed much, (except perhaps some history), and I had no need of watching this to fill in any gap in my experiences.
Then JB went to a press, which was not unexpected considering the deficit. But he kept up with it the rest of the game, except a brief period at the end of the second half. The first few possessions it was ineffective because three guys were going after the ball, leaving two teammates to cover four guys and the rest of the court. Then SU started to double-team the ball and have the third guy positioned in the middle of the court to look for the steal while two guys guarded the basket. We forced a lot of turnovers, (more it seemed to me than were reflected in the box score). But beyond that we forced IUP to hurry more and that impacted their shooting. They were not only speeded up but they had less time to run their offense and set up a good shot. it - along with Tyus Battle - turned the game around. We were down 20-29 when we went on an 18-4 run to end the half. We then won a sloppy second half 45-32 for the 83-65 final.
I was delighted to see the extensive use of the press. I've always felt we could press in this way and still fall back in the zone and that would be a more effective defense than just laying back in the zone, waiting for the other team to come us. We could maintain the integrity of the defense, which is what JB worries about. Now let's see if he's willing to play this way against better opponents.
This team doesn't do "garbage time", unless the walk-ons play, which they did not tonight. JB wants to have a good look at every player and every combination before things get serious. I'll use a metaphor I used in my season preview. Most college basketball teams are jigsaw puzzles without all the pieces. You have to assemble them as best you can to see the picture. This team is a Rubik's Cube. it has all the pieces and endless combinations. But JB hasn't solved it yet. He's still flipping the pieces around at this point.
Player reviews:
We have two point guards: Franklin Howard and John Gillon. Nobody else played that position. Howard was awful at the beginning of the game. He couldn't get us into our offense, failed to recognize the defense the other team was in and forced some awkward rives to the basket. He also missed a couple of jump shots. When he later came back in he was settled down and did a better job in all areas. He wound up scoring 10 points but had only 2 assists and three turnovers. Gillon came on and was clearly better. he added some excitement and yet showed the patience to probe the defense before making his move. He also showed amazing passing ability, seeing people who were behind the defense and passing past several players to get the ball to them, often on no-look passes. he wasn't trying to be too fancy: it was more like a quarterback looking off a receiver. The one drawback with Gillon is that he's considerably shorter than Howard, which can impact the zone. But he had 9 assists vs. 2 turnovers in only 20 minutes of play. He's going to be a huge fan favorite.
there was a strange sequence where Battle made a great pass through the defense for a score and then I noticed he wasn't in the game any more - Howard was back in. We got the ball back and I noticed Gillon standing beyond the bench, over in the corner, rather than sitting down. A time out was called and he didn't go into the normal huddle. Instead Adrian Autry (Sr) was having an animated conversation with him. I don't know whether he was just so excited by the game that he couldn't sit down or whether he was upset he got pulled after a good play. I'm hoping it means absolutely nothing.
Tyus Battle was supposed to be more of a defensive player with a shot that was "a work in progress." He's progressed. He came into the game and sunk 4 of 5 three pointers, the first three during the first half comeback. he led the team in scoring with 16 points. His form was good. He looked better shooting the ball than our supposed new gunner, Andrew White, did. Ty got got a little excited in the second half and pushed a couple shots too far but if there was a player of the game, it was Battle He's absolutely a 2-guard.
White was not impressive in this game. He didn't do much of anything at the beginning, although he was part of the starting line-up. he started to shoot but made only 2 of 9. There were a couple of drives to the basket where he could have given it up to a teammate for a better shot and kept the ball, putting up an awkward shot.
The two Tylers played hard and well. Roberson was "turned on" enough to hit 7 of 9 shots for 14 points and 7 rebounds. He showed a couple of back-to the basket moves we didn't see that year and made one of two jump shots. Jimmy Salatin said that if he can make that, "he'll be a totally different player". I disagree but he will be a more versatile player. Lydon didn't shoot well, (0 for 4 from the arc), but got some amazing rebounds, one where he reach over a player from 10 feet away to grab the ball. he wound up with a double-double with 12 points, (he was 5 for 6 inside the arc, and I'm sure it was all in the paint) and 10 rebounds. Salatin said that Lydon looked more comfortable playing inside than on the wing, where he has to =cover smaller players. That might be true in a game like this but I think he'll be fine at the three if we need him there against larger players.
Taurean Thompson looked a little lost but made some good plays too, including a turn-around jumper form about 10 feet. He had 6 points and 5 rebounds in 15 minutes. Matthew Moyer played the least- 9 minutes and had a couple first rebounds but that was about it. he tried a three pointer but seemed more like an inside player.
JB used four centers: DaJuan Coleman, Paschal Chukwu, Thompson and Lydon. Coleman, who looks thinner than I have ever seen him, although he still has those big shoulders, moved well and showed some good inside moves. He didn't held the ball low and had 7 points and 3 rebounds. He played only 11 minutes, perhaps because JB already knew what to expect from him. Chukwu was very skinny, although he had some definition in his shoulders. Battling for rebounds, he reminded me of a Daddy Long Legs who looks impressive until he gets in a battle and his legs fold up. We won battle for 5 rebounds but lost as many. He had a couple of blocks, sweating away balls under the basket but they didn't lead to fast breaks. I didn't see a Fab Melo there. But I did like one play: an alley-oop went over Lydon's head - and Chukwu caught it, flat footed. Thompson and Lydon played center for brief periods int he second half without leaving much of an impression. beyond what they were already doing at forward. Salatin said that Jim had told him that our best line-up might be with Lydon at center.
It's just another twist of the Rubik's Cube.
