St John's Game Thread - Jan 29, 2017

[X-Expert]

if you were coaching 2nd grade YMCA bball, and the other team drove the ball 90% of the time straight to the basket, would you consider making any adjustments ????

Considering that this isn't 2nd grade YMCA ball, and that the refs were calling a foul if a player was even being breathed on......just WHAT adjustments would you recommend?[/quote

possibly zone or something. I know X's 1-3-1 is awful this year but they were fouling (or getting called every time). Two games in a row now yet X wasn't driving and getting fouls-at least not to the same extent.

[bluegrass]

The Question of who steps up with Ed down is answered by the Q. Hope Ed is OK. Expect Q to maybe thrive against mid-level conference opponents as his confidence just got a spark. If Ed stays out hurt, then who spells Q?

I guess it's too late for Myles . Q played great but that's the big problem. Might be time for Trey to show NBA scouts his PG abilities. Reguardless if Eds done,I think we're rowing upstream the rest of this year. Everyone will need to really step it up.

[kyzrex]

Ok....for you guys clambering for a change to a zone, and readily admitting that the 1-3-1 that X HAS practiced is not very good....why would you then call for them to play a 2-3 zone that you know they HAVEN'T practiced?

I mean, what could go wrong if you play something you haven't practiced, right?

Look at the stats.....X had 3 more field goals than SJU, 1 less made free throw on 2 more attempts, and the same # of 3-point shots made as SJU. So what was the difference in the game? Rebounding. Specifically the fact that X had 17 offensive rebounds and SJU had 6. What is the biggest weakness of a zone? Rebounding. What has been the biggest strength of X this year (outside of the UC game) overall? Rebounding.

So y'all think it's a good idea for X to give up its best attribute (rebounding) on the hope that it might be able to stop a dribble drive offense by playing a zone defense that it has not even practiced? Wow.

[Anti-Homer]

Ok....for you guys clambering for a change to a zone, and readily admitting that the 1-3-1 that X HAS practiced is not very good....why would you then call for them to play a 2-3 zone that you know they HAVEN'T practiced?

I mean, what could go wrong if you play something you haven't practiced, right?

So,

You really believe that these high-level players who played hundreds of grade school, high school, & AAU games, never, ever were exposed a 2-3 zone??? We've played teams who employed 2-3 zones against us, so even from that stand-point, they'd have practiced against it. Then again, maybe that's an erroneous assumption, since out offense seems to be mainly throwing 27 foot missiles 9 seconds into the shot clock. ........ Even if that was the case, you relly think the players couldn't figure it out? I guess they must practice shooting a ball even 70 feet out at the end of the half as time expires, because they somehow always seem to do it when the latter occurs.

Frankly, I don't care if they ever heard of a 2-3 zone or not. It could not possibly be any less effective than the matador defense that was being played. I've seen players get defended more vigorously in the lab line during pre-game warmups when they have to sidestep an announcer talking to one of our players, then our man to man against the Johnnies.

It's ok to admit he isn't infaillible. Just sayin......

[Anti-Homer]

Q was a important part of this game, my star of the game, at crunch time and deserves a lot of credit for this win.

Mman,

As usual, we agree. I think Q is going to be a very good p.g. Athletic, explosive, good handle, rebounds the ball, and is very physical defensively. He needs to learn to finish better, but even ES was sporadic finishing buckets last year.

Keep the gems coming, my Board Mentor and friend.

[Anti-Homer]

Really good game tonight by Q. He is really playing some strong minutes for a freshman.
I like his ability to get to the rim and finish!
Another bad officiated college game. 64 free throws shot between the 2 teams in this game.
The quick whistles are really disturbing the flow of the game!!

Both teams fouled a lot, but there were also some unnecessary, and phantom calls. They were consistently bad, and I agree, it is making some games unwatchable.

[Anti-Homer]

X puts the worst f.t. shooter in the game now?

are you talking Tre who has missed 2 of the last 4?

No, Gaston. Look at Stats < FT% < then the number. You'll see: Blueitt 78%; Gaston 48%. BTW Mman, if you were coaching 2nd grade YMCA bball, and the other team drove the ball 90% of the time straight to the basket, would you consider making any adjustments (outside of going to the concession stand to buy a Snickers Bar) ????

OH bad comparison Gaston was 2-2 from the line tonight and Tre was 50% and I know the record for the season is different but 4-8 when the game is one the line is not clutch.
hey AH what was your solution? How many charge calls were made today? Had you been listening, you would know that Chris was yelling at the guys to move their feet and for other to help out but with St Johns stretching the D hard for the weak side to help out. had you listened to Chris on the radio show you would also know he mentioned it. One thing for sure your 2nd grade YMCA team must never commits these sins after you waterboarded Sydney the sniveling small guard after he let his man blow past him. I heard your record is perfect but maybe next week your team will get it's first win.[/quote]

after you waterboarded Sydney

Not my fault. Her old man signed the waiver.

[kyzrex]

It's ok to admit he isn't infaillible. Just sayin......

But YOU are, right? Oh I forgot, didn't you have a long and successful college career as a player and a coach? I must have missed that somewhere along the line.

If you can find one college coach that would tell his players to play a defensive that they haven't even practiced, midway in the season, 1/2 way through a game, especially in a game that they led start to finish......I will be the most surprised person in the world.

Now, if you want to discuss why it is that X hasn't more than two basic defenses it can play, and hasn't worked on any others....that's a discussion worth having.

In the meantime, Chris was trying to get the players to do what they have drilled and practiced, but what they were not executing. Just like any good coach would do. He was not going to ask them to execute something they had not drilled or practiced and them "hope" that it would be a better solution.

[finalfourorbust]

I think the effort of Gates on the boards is worth mentioning. That was the most energy that he has played with this year. With Ed probably out for a while I see Trevon needing to play more guard and Gates having to step in at the power forward position. Maybe a starting lineup of Bluitt, Goodin, Macura, Gates and Jones with Gates playing primarily inside.

[Anti-Homer]

It's ok to admit he isn't infaillible. Just sayin......

But YOU are, right? Oh I forgot, didn't you have a long and successful college career as a player and a coach? I must have missed that somewhere along the line.

If you can find one college coach that would tell his players to play a defensive that they haven't even practiced, midway in the season, 1/2 way through a game, especially in a game that they led start to finish......I will be the most surprised person in the world.

Now, if you want to discuss why it is that X hasn't more than two basic defenses it can play, and hasn't worked on any others....that's a discussion worth having.

In the meantime, Chris was trying to get the players to do what they have drilled and practiced, but what they were not executing. Just like any good coach would do. He was not going to ask them to execute something they had not drilled or practiced and them "hope" that it would be a better solution.

We disagree. No worries, I appreciate your counterpoint. At least we agree on this point: "discuss why it is that X hasn't more than two basic defenses it can play, and hasn't worked on any others....that's a discussion worth having. "