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Post by resumeman on Dec 19, 2013 23:15:29 GMT -5
Really disappointed to hear that Isaiah Williams is suspended for breaking a team rule. I have to feel the Dayton game might have been at least a bit closer had he been available. We have played shorthanded the last few games and it has been a factor in the outcomes. Dayton used 12 players tonight while we used 10. Their starting five played only 113 minutes, Iona's played 153 minutes. Given the extra minutes, their bench players outscored ours 38-10.
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Post by iona05 on Dec 20, 2013 0:45:53 GMT -5
Very disappointed in Isaiah Williams if the rumor about him violating a team rule are true. So far the kid has been a major bust IMO. I will reserve final jusgment but so far not getting a great feeling about him.
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Post by IONA86 on Dec 20, 2013 0:52:31 GMT -5
I think Williams is having a tough time adjusting. i know he has had a rough time with four close friends from home being killed over the last four months. Hopefully he will get his head on straight because the kid has skills and wants to better himself.
I think he has been hesitant. He just needs to relax and play his game.
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Post by resumeman on Dec 20, 2013 3:09:54 GMT -5
Happy to see Ryden Hines back on the court again. Would like to see him on the floor together with Laury more often, as others have suggested.
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Post by Super on Dec 20, 2013 4:19:39 GMT -5
I think Williams is having a tough time adjusting. i know he has had a rough time with four close friends from home being killed over the last four months. Hopefully he will get his head on straight because the kid has skills and wants to better himself. I think he has been hesitant. He just needs to relax and play his game; EXACTLY! I think he is deferring to the seniors/vets--much like Bowman did for much of the early season last year. He is averaging 8.5ppg and 4.6 boards with only 6 turnovers--by far the least among our top 6.
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Post by iona05 on Dec 20, 2013 7:14:52 GMT -5
I think we're missing the point about Williams. If the rumors are true it's no longer only about failure to adjust to the D1 game or complacent defense, or whatever on-the-court issues might be. Now it seems to be an off-the-court issue with violating team policy. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt I guess, but right now something just doesn't pass the smell test IMO.
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Post by iona05 on Dec 20, 2013 7:35:46 GMT -5
Some observations from last night's game:
1. Let's everyone get down from the ledge. Dayton is a VG team. We will be FINE come February.
2. Wasn't expecting to win this game, but we need to pull off some kind of an unexpected win to counter the unexpected loss against SBU. Basically need to win the next two games if we want to accomplish that.
3. The Isaiah Williams situation is concerning since it has went from on-the-court challenges of adjusting to the D1 game to now what seems to be off-the-court challenges. Not liking the smell of it.
4. Cluess making smart decisions in the long-run to get Hines and Robinson meaningful minutes, even though he knows that it could cost us in the short term.
5. Scariest stat of the night -- we shot 52% from the field and almost 50% from three pt range and still got crushed. Doesn't exactly bode well for any hope we would have of a big time upset in March if we're fortunate enough to get there.
6. There's definitely a place for Mike Poole on this team, just don't think it's as a starter. Also think he will be more valuable to us come conference play when we have some size advantages at the guard position as opposed to against A10 teams like Dayton where he is just another guy.
7. DL3 free throw woes continue. Again, it will catch up to us at some point this season if it doesn't get addressed now. We just need him to go from a D minus to a C free throw shooter and we'll be fine.
8. Another thing that concerns me is that we still have not played a tight, nailbiter game outside of the opener against CSU. Would have been nice to have played Dayton to a final possession type game just to test this team's resolve and see how they handle late game execution. To this point in the season we still have no clue how this team handles execution and pressure situations down the stretch.
9. Monster game by AJ. 8 for 10 from 3 point range. Wow!
10. Let's win these next two and then DESTROY the MAAC. Very little margin for error at this point, and these OOC losses are just making it more important for us to not have any let downs in conference play.
Go Gaels!!!
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Post by Super on Dec 20, 2013 7:45:36 GMT -5
I think we're missing the point about Williams. If the rumors are true it's no longer only about failure to adjust to the D1 game or complacent defense, or whatever on-the-court issues might be. Now it seems to be an off-the-court issue with violating team policy. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt I guess, but right now something just doesn't pass the smell test IMO.
Just responding to your calling him a "major bust" at this early stage. Stats belie that.
(Andrew Wiggins--1st round draft pick at KU-- 15 ppg; 5.5 boards pg; 16 turnovers)
Very disappointed that he may have had an issue which resulted in a suspension--but let's wait until the "rumors" are solidified.
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Post by iona05 on Dec 20, 2013 7:51:38 GMT -5
Super by "bust" I was factoring in off-the-court stuff as well. Based on stats alone you can't knock him only 9 games into his D1 career (although I think his matador defense is a liability). But then when you throw in a team violation/suspension it doesn't look pretty.
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Post by ic59 on Dec 20, 2013 7:59:43 GMT -5
I have some thoughts on last night's game, but not the time to post them. I will say this about IW. Someone said that he MIGHT have violated a team rule, and EVERYONE ran with that. It does make sense, but has that been confirmed as the reason he was MIA, last night?
And, if true, I hope the team rule he violated, was that he wanted to play good defense.
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Post by Super on Dec 20, 2013 8:01:18 GMT -5
This kid has had a few rough years: I hope the "suspension", if that's what it is, has the desired effect. I also hope he reverts to his aggressive on the court persona. Hanging out in the corner is not totally suited to his game. I mentioned in earlier threads that he will not be a PF and that I hoped he would be our first off the bench this year.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2013 9:11:36 GMT -5
Couple of things I noticed from yesterdays game:
1. Mike poole should not be starting, I think he's a good defensive player but his overall contributions have been limited. He needs to develop his jumper and lead on defense more.
2. Sledge should be starting, we need that energy boost and hustle player. I really do like his overall contributions so far even though they're limited.
3. Need to start and play either RH or DR with DL so he can be more a threat and also stay out of foul trouble. He needs help down low and one of those guys will help him over time but right now they need to get more work in.
4. AJ English is turning into a great offensive weapon but like many of his teammates, he tends to slack on the defensive end. Needs to work on his complete game, i'm excited to see this kid progress more.
5. Where was armand tonight? I feel when we play better players he fades into the corner instead of wanting the ball. Last night I was watching him and he missed several open shots that he usually hits. Maybe it was an off night but he needs to become more of a leader on the defensive side as well.
6. DL is a matchup problem for any team. The last couple of games he's been upset and rightfully so. I have faith in his foul shooting, his technique looks better but now it's a confidence issue.
7. IW had an off the court issue, I'm sorry to hear that but for some of you to talk like he's a bust so early in the season is a joke. I have all the faith in this kid, he has some great skills but it will take time to get use to playing Division 1.
8. Our defense is HORRIBLE!!!! We gave up 102 points on Saturday and now 96. We need to really switch things up and work more on the defensive end. Our offensive production has been great but we need to focus more on our help defense and fundamentals.
9. Lastly I have all the faith in the world with TC and this team, our last 2 games were tough losses and i'm not giving up on these kids. We have a lot of talent but need to develop them more and win the next 3.
My starting 5 next game would be:
1. Sledge 2. English 3. Armand 4. Laury 5. Robinson
Need to switch it up a bit.
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Post by sharkey on Dec 20, 2013 9:15:48 GMT -5
This kid has had a few rough years: I hope the "suspension", if that's what it is, has the desired effect. I also hope he reverts to his aggressive on the court persona. Hanging out in the corner is not totally suited to his game. I mentioned in earlier threads that he will not be a PF and that I hoped he would be our first off the bench this year. Super...I agree. That is why I believe it is time to start Hines at center with Robinson as his backup. If English stays at PG with Armand at SG, that would leave Laury at PF and Williams/bowman as SF and first off the bench. Add Poole, Sledge/Gomez and Ellis, that is a pretty deep rotation and will cause mismatches at most positions especially in the MAAC.
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Post by Curt Hennig on Dec 20, 2013 9:17:26 GMT -5
I disagree on point two in that the SBU loss was totally unexpected. We waxed them last year at their place in a similar fashion to what they did to us at our place. Teams catch one another on the right night every now and then and results like that happen. Bona is a long, athletic A10 team with much bigger players than us. On a given night, the Gaels might shoot them out of the gym (as they were stunned by Siena at the start of the season), but when it's man up, I don't like our chances on the boards. Also, when will TC get it through his head that this team has to DEFEND? In back-to-back A10 games, IC was run off the floor by bigger athletes. On point six, we agree. Poole can play, but he just doesn't fit when IC is playing "up" a level in conference. In the MAAC, this Gaels squad will tear it up. Teams won't be able to score with us. It's awfully tough when you're going against bigger athletes who are just as good as ours (or better, in some cases). DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
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Post by chelseadal on Dec 20, 2013 9:29:42 GMT -5
Couple of things I noticed from yesterdays game: 1. Mike poole should not be starting, I think he's a good defensive player but his overall contributions have been limited. He needs to develop his jumper and lead on defense more. 2. Sledge should be starting, we need that energy boost and hustle player. I really do like his overall contributions so far even though they're limited. 3. Need to start and play either RH or DR with DL so he can be more a threat and also stay out of foul trouble. He needs help down low and one of those guys will help him over time but right now they need to get more work in. 4. AJ English is turning into a great offensive weapon but like many of his teammates, he tends to slack on the defensive end. Needs to work on his complete game, i'm excited to see this kid progress more. 5. Where was armand tonight? I feel when we play better players he fades into the corner instead of wanting the ball. Last night I was watching him and he missed several open shots that he usually hits. Maybe it was an off night but he needs to become more of a leader on the defensive side as well. 6. DL is a matchup problem for any team. The last couple of games he's been upset and rightfully so. I have faith in his foul shooting, his technique looks better but now it's a confidence issue. 7. IW had an off the court issue, I'm sorry to hear that but for some of you to talk like he's a bust so early in the season is a joke. I have all the faith in this kid, he has some great skills but it will take time to get use to playing Division 1. 8. Our defense is HORRIBLE!!!! We gave up 102 points on Saturday and now 96. We need to really switch things up and work more on the defensive end. Our offensive production has been great but we need to focus more on our help defense and fundamentals. 9. Lastly I have all the faith in the world with TC and this team, our last 2 games were tough losses and i'm not giving up on these kids. We have a lot of talent but need to develop them more and win the next 3. My starting 5 next game would be: 1. Sledge 2. English 3. Armand 4. Laury 5. Robinson Need to switch it up a bit. You make many very good points. Some comments: In regards to Sean, he is the perhaps the most consistent player on the team. He was good but not great last night. Some of that was due to the quality of the opponent. I think both Hines and Robinson will be good players and I like the way coach is working them into the line-up. However, neither are ready to start and play significant minutes. Unfortunately, he has no choice. They picked up 9 fouls in 23 minutes! It will be better for them when we are in MAAC play. Whether Sledge starts or not is meaningless,but,I like his energy off the bench. As I59 says JMO.
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