Georgetown game thread 3/2/2021

[AirJordan]

I don't see a bad lineup or irrational player rotation by Steele. Georgetown is far and away winning the battle of the bigs----rebounding, blocked shots and shot intimidation along with low post scoring. X has settled for too many threes and, absent lights out shooting in second half, we need to attack the bigs. Only way to neutralize a shot blocker is to go right at him and so far tonight, even that hasn't worked.

We look small. We lack a true "5" as it has been previously noted that Free is really a "4". He just can't go toe to toe with the Hoya's bigs. In addition, our wings look too small and haven't matched up well against Georgetown.

I have been critical of Steele but I can't pin everything about the first half on him. Our boys are playing badly and we aren't matching up well. I give Steele credit for trying small ball although that worked as well as everything else tonight....which means not well.

Let's see what changes in the second half. This is looking like a bad loss.

[skyhops]

How about boxing out? Tandy needs a shot because with Carter Jones and Odom out there we have no shot at hot hitting a shot. Offense stinks and that is on Steele

[skyhops]

Jones is going to be very good but I think he has given up 30 points. Why are they constantly open from 3? That is on Steele

[yellow20xd]

Sad... Dan

[Jesseandrippers]

32% from the Floor
26% from 3

Size and lack of creation of opportunities in the paint had us settle for bad shots. Should have played a bit more up tempo.

Positives:
Shocked the rebound margin was on -2, felt like a lot more. Hats off to the grit down low to keep it close. Also, 81% from the charity stripe is a good sign.

[ChitownSteve]

Sorry, I cannot help myself .... How can a major college basketball be out of bounds upon catching the ball? Granted, this issue is beginning to plague the College game, but in this instance he wasn’t even standing in the corner. Plus, I am probably embittered by the play because in the “defense for offense substitution” it delayed Freemantle getting the ball after making the first FT.

Oh well, that’s not why the X lost, it was only one lousy play, which followed many other poor plays and decisions.

[skyhops]

A needed road win against a bottom tear team and you get down by 19 in second half, not a good recipe for a win. So Tandy can actually be an asset? What a shocker. Getting out coached by Pat Ewing never a good thing.

[ChitownSteve]

Maybe there is a positive that comes from this game, notably, that a totally different line-up was deployed throughout the 2nd Half.

Possibly I am way off base, but from where I sit Coach Steele’s prime weakness is his excessive loyalty to “good practice players.” Let’s face it, some guys are good running drills and in a system during practice and then are mediocre when the lights come on. Other fellows, for whatever reason, are not as good or intense in practice, but are real game-time players. I do not believe Coach Steele has yet drawn that distinction. If he intuitively knows that, he does not Coach to it on game day.

Maybe he needs to stop awarding practice points the remainder of the season and let his own gut, along with his Assistants, adapt to a game flow. Seems he did some of that in the 2nd Half tonight.

I am not suggesting Coach Steele reward sloppy practice habits, only that he stop overemphasizing certain elements, which appear to have allowed mediocrity on the court during games to have limited consequence.

[skyhops]

How about playing “his players” that everyone has been talking about the last couple years. Carter is not a BE player never has been.

[Anti-Homer]

AH was traveling, so taped the game. Unfortunately, I saw a glimpse of the score, and looked at the play by play. At one point in the 2nd, down by 15, they shot five consecutive threes. We have an AAU coach. How long before high school coaches of Top (and non Top) 150 players say "Do not go play for that guy." I give it 10 minutes.

On the plus side, Tandy wore those funny Austin Power teeth at practice, so played more and fueled a ferocious come back. Hopefully he wears funny Christmas socks to practice so Sat may be the 2nd straight game where he plays more than four minutes.