Game 6: AT Manhattan College, Wednesday, November 25th, 7 PM, NO TV

[JimP]

DP toyed with Manhattan and underestimated them until it was too late. He thought he could take Shevon out of the line up because he had a big lead to try to teach the team how to play without him. Yes, the team played bad, bud DP's decisions lost us this game. Shevon is a calming force to this offense when we are struggling from the field. No excuse for him to sit out over 12 minutes of the second half when he only had two fouls. I want to vomit right now.

I agree - when your best player is out of the game in a situation like this it's gotta screw with a team's psyche. Moore played awful himself - yet he stayed in the game. Wrong time to make a statement.

 

[Bricker]

Jenkins with a couple of momentum killing TOs, too. And Moore with the charges, Marko and Grayer went cold in the second half, Shevon either on the bench or invisible as well. It didn't seem like there was anyone to turn to when we needed to shift the momentum.

Still think, though, a couple of really well designed presses against their depleted team in the second half could have stolen that momentum back.

Like I said, I didn't watch the game. Jenkins has pretty much been a bull in a china shop for a while now. If it's not TOs it's fouls. And I just looked-- tonight it was both.

 

[BandWagon18]

Fire Hewitt

 

[GMUgemini]

Like I said, I didn't watch the game. Jenkins has pretty much been a bull in a china shop for a while now. If it's not TOs it's fouls. And I just looked-- tonight it was both.

Well, to be fair played really well in the first half. And then it was the exact reverse in the second half, but the entire team stunk it up in the second half.

 

[JimP]

Jenkins with a couple of momentum killing TOs, too. And Moore with the charges, Marko and Grayer went cold in the second half, Shevon either on the bench or invisible as well. It didn't seem like there was anyone to turn to when we needed to shift the momentum.

Still think, though, a couple of really well designed presses against their depleted team in the second half could have stolen that momentum back.

Yep - like to see a little flexibility out of Paulsen. Players played awful enough as it is.

 

[GMU_Polevaulter]

I watched the game - they ran out of gas and looked tired - thus turnovers increase and a 16
point lead goes away.

This is not a deep team - starting 5 played a lot in Charleston.

Looked tired in the final 10 minutes. Not sure why Shevon was out so long
but he was struggling with the double teams.

 

[Bricker]

Fire Hewitt

Disaagree. This was all Westhead's fault.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

So if you told me before this game that Mason out rebounded them by 15, shot 82% from the line and 50% from the field would have expected a win. Guess that's what 25 turnovers will do.

I'd have told you we won by 15-20. The silver lining is that the turnover problem can be solved. I keep telling myself all I wanted was for us to be dangerous by the time the A-10 tourney comes around....This is also a typical performance for a young team coming off of 3 really good performances. Also, indicative is blowing 2nd half leads which we've done in all 4 of our losses.

 

[hoops10]

wow, has Jenkins just totally lost it. Looks like he never played the game, Marquis with bone head plays was very unlike him. The whole team packed it in, especially in the second half. DP, please give up on the man on man play, you don't have the athletic players necessary for that. Manhattan must have had 15 easy layups.

 

[JimP]

wow, has Jenkins just totally lost it. Looks like he never played the game, Marquis with bone head plays was very unlike him. The whole team packed it in, especially in the second half. DP, please give up on the man on man play, you don't have the athletic players necessary for that. Manhattan must have had 15 easy layups.

Mason looked like they expected to lose after Manhattan got back in it.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

wow, has Jenkins just totally lost it. Looks like he never played the game, Marquis with bone head plays was very unlike him. The whole team packed it in, especially in the second half. DP, please give up on the man on man play, you don't have the athletic players necessary for that. Manhattan must have had 15 easy layups.

We also have to remember that it's about the long haul. Freshmen don't learn to play sound D by sitting in a zone for 35 minutes. The young guys have to learn to play solid man to man and that's not going to happen exclusively in practice.

 

[Bricker]

Mason looked like they expected to lose after Manhattan got back in it.

The virus lingers. Next practice is gonna be hell.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Disaagree. This was all Westhead's fault.

Coach L's effing zone offense strikes again.

 

[sigmanorm]

Coach L's effing zone offense strikes again.

You obviously did not see Ernie Nestor calling the plays tonight...all Ernie's fault!

 

[hoops10]

We also have to remember that it's about the long haul. Freshmen don't learn to play sound D by sitting in a zone for 35 minutes. The young guys have to learn to play solid man to man and that's not going to happen exclusively in practice.

I thought you play to the strengths of your team. cant force a team to play man on man when they don't have the quickness necessary for that. Aside from teaching freshman, what can you say about Thompson, Marko, and Jenkins. Did you see all the easy layups, and fouls that we committed. Yes, there are a bunch of new players, and so we all have to temper our expectations. Just wish we didn't have to watch more of the Blewitt type of game.

 

[GMUgemini]

I thought you play to the strengths of your team. cant force a team to play man on man when they don't have the quickness necessary for that. Aside from teaching freshman, what can you say about Thompson, Marko, and Jenkins. Did you see all the easy layups, and fouls that we committed. Yes, there are a bunch of new players, and so we all have to temper our expectations. Just wish we didn't have to watch more of the Blewitt type of game.

Defense really wasn't the problem tonight, when the other team has almost 20 more shots than you because of turnovers and offensive fouls, that's a problem.

 

[gmujim92]

I thought you play to the strengths of your team. cant force a team to play man on man when they don't have the quickness necessary for that. Aside from teaching freshman, what can you say about Thompson, Marko, and Jenkins. Did you see all the easy layups, and fouls that we committed. Yes, there are a bunch of new players, and so we all have to temper our expectations. Just wish we didn't have to watch more of the Blewitt type of game.

When you have young players who are struggling to guard in the man-to-man, the last thing you want to do is switch to zone.

You have to dig in and learn to guard harder and better, and the only way that happens is by doing it.

Sucks to admit, but we are playing for the future here. Whatever success we get out of this season is gravy.

Turning to zone at this point would be a panic move and it's not likely we'd run it very effectively anyhow. It's harder than people think.

 

[GMUgemini]

When you have young players who are struggling to guard in the man-to-man, the last thing you want to do is switch to zone.

You have to dig in and learn to guard harder and better, and the only way that happens is by doing it.

Sucks to admit, but we are playing for the future here. Whatever success we get out of this season is gravy.

Turning to zone at this point would be a panic move and it's not likely we'd run it very effectively anyhow. It's harder than people think.

This is really what killed the game anyway:

17:01 Otis Livingston II Turnover
16:48 Otis Livingston II Turnover
16:23 Otis Livinston II Turnover
15:52 Marquise Moore missed jumper
15:31 Otis Livingston II turnover
14:02 Marquise Moore made Jumper
12:23 Marko Gujanicic turnover
11:46 Jalen Jenkins Turnover

That's 8 possessions in a row (granted there were one or two other missed baskets in there with offensive rebounds leading to turnovers, but you get the point)

 

[liem.le.3388]

This is really what killed the game anyway:

17:01 Otis Livingston II Turnover
16:48 Otis Livingston II Turnover
16:23 Otis Livinston II Turnover
15:52 Marquise Moore missed jumper
15:31 Otis Livingston II turnover
14:02 Marquise Moore made Jumper
12:23 Marko Gujanicic turnover
11:46 Jalen Jenkins Turnover

That's 8 possessions in a row (granted there were one or two other missed baskets in there with offensive rebounds leading to turnovers, but you get the point)

Terrible just terrible

 

[gmutom]

If nothing else, I think we can put off silly comments about a contract extension and losing DP. There will be lots of highs and lows this year. Let's hope we win Saturday to get the bad taste of tonight out of our mouths.