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Post by shooting the J on Feb 28, 2012 7:06:54 GMT -6
Well it's do or die tonight. I'm not ready for the season to end. The Phoenix were blasted last time in Youngstown, and have won 8 of 10 since, including 3 0f 4 on the road. That turning point was the topic of Rob Demovsky's column today.Since blasting us, YSU has went just 4 of 10, including 3 home losses. They're starters have played obscene minutes all season, hopefully they're wilting. It's going to be tough tonight, hopefully the Phoenix are at their best. Here's game previews from Rob Demovsky, Brian Dickman and Green Bay Athletics, complete with video.The Phoenix seem to be creating a real buzz in the community right now. Keep it going!
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Feb 28, 2012 8:58:12 GMT -6
I agree I am not ready for this season to end. If GB was playing on the road anywhere else I would feel a lot more confident but since this is where they got bombed earlier this year I could see a young team trying to do too much to make up for that.
I do like that GB is hot coming in to this game and that YSU is not. Make YSU take tough 3's and then go clean up the glass. Cougs, Brown and Mays should be able to control the glass and hopefully that sets the tone for a GB win.
Teams are starting to take away Cerroni but that should make it easier to get post touches or for Keifer to beat his man.
My predictions for the HL tournament winners tonight are: Detroit GB uwm Butler
On Friday my winners are: Detroit Butler
On Saturday my winners are: Detroit Valpo
On Tuesday my winner is: Valpo
I am really having a hard time believing that Valpo won the league by 2 games. They didn't look that good in the 3 full games I watched them. Yet they have the home court and they have the best record. If ever there was an underrated host team this is but I going to stop pretending they aren't that good and I am going to mark them down for a trip to the dance.
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Post by phearthephoenix on Feb 28, 2012 9:37:15 GMT -6
I really have no idea what to expect tonight. All I know is that I'm not ready for this season to end
My picks tonight: UDM GB uwm Butler
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Post by shooting the J on Feb 28, 2012 16:43:17 GMT -6
Can I just say how ineffective the Horizon League's tie-breaker system is? It consistently rewards home court advantage to the lower RPI team. Green Bay enters tonight with its RPI at 138th, while YSU comes in at 174. This game should be in Green Bay.
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Post by phearthephoenix on Feb 28, 2012 18:47:55 GMT -6
Down 11 at halftime, were down 18 at one point. YSU shot out of their minds for the first 12 mins or so
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Post by markus31x on Feb 28, 2012 19:33:48 GMT -6
Didn't even look like we belonged in the gym with them. Embarrassing.
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Post by gbnix11 on Feb 28, 2012 19:50:46 GMT -6
Well that was a tough one to watch. We were outplayed from the tip. Everyone except Brown looked scared to play. Even Wardle was completely outcoached. I dont think this is the right game to be trying to make a point by taking Brown out for 3 minutes because of a turnover. Our bigs dominated YSU's but we go from 15:00-4:00min in the 2nd half without looking inside. Sykes played terrible and was forcing from the start and never got comfortable. Tough way for the season to end but still gave us flashes of what next year could bring!
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Feb 28, 2012 19:52:21 GMT -6
One of the best parts of being a Green Bay fan is that I have really built up an immunity to disappointment. So this loss won't even faze me because I am used to the program laying an egg when it counts.
I don't understand why they played any zone in this game. YSU just picked them apart.
Plus they didn't seem to get on the glass and really control that end in the game.
Also, YSU pretty much dared GB to shoot from 3 or lob it over the top. When they got inside GB scored easily but that was few and far between.
I agree with markus31, pretty weak showing.
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Post by shooting the J on Feb 29, 2012 7:12:35 GMT -6
This is exactly why we didn't want to play YSU. They're an outstanding 3 point shooting team, and 3 point shooting defense is easily our biggest weakness. The surprising thing was how they were able to confuse Sykes in this game. Without him we couldn't win a shootout. The interior defense is very good, but improving the permimeter defense is a priority for next year. Phoenix finish 15-15, 146th in RPI, which is 5th best in the conference. Here's Rob Demovsky's game story.
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Post by coonyp on Feb 29, 2012 9:43:41 GMT -6
From a distant observer:
Wardle may become a very good coach someday but I'm not sure he sufficiently paid his dues as an assistant or lower level head coach before taking this job. I realize a young team can be inconsistent but this team was horribly inconsistent even though in my opinion the talent level was equal or superior to the rest of the league. Nor did they ever develop an offense to sufficiently take advantage of their best player who is an NBA prospect. It's a shame. There is reason for optimism next year but, sadly, I would expect them to underachieve again
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Post by shooting the J on Feb 29, 2012 11:12:36 GMT -6
From a distant observer: Wardle may become a very good coach someday but I'm not sure he sufficiently paid his dues as an assistant or lower level head coach before taking this job. I realize a young team can be inconsistent but this team was horribly inconsistent even though in my opinion the talent level was equal or superior to the rest of the league. Nor did they ever develop an offense to sufficiently take advantage of their best player who is an NBA prospect. It's a shame. There is reason for optimism next year but, sadly, I would expect them to underachieve again Based on our number of close games, Green Bay may have been the most consistent team in the conference. We simply didn't match up well with YSU, and we were consistent in that too. I strongly disagree with the idea that Brown wasn't a big enough part of the offense. He may be a future NBA player, but he is far too lean to be one now. He can't hold post position, and is routinely stripped inside. He shot just 45% from the floor, low for a post scorer. Our team was best when the offense featured Kiefer Sykes in the pick and roll. Brown is an outstanding player, but more because for his rebounding and defense at this point. Wardle went 10-8 with the nations 15th youngest team, despite losing 2 of last years starters to injury. He is proving himself to be a very sound coach.
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Post by coonyp on Feb 29, 2012 11:34:23 GMT -6
You did beat Youngstown by six at home recently prior to last night's debacle. I'd say that is inconsistency. But in remarking about your inconsistency, I was referring more to execution within each game as I was in the results. There would be wild swings during many of the games.
Good points about Brown but in watching the games I really didn't think he got enough touches. He has a variety of offensive skills including solid form on his distance shot. I don't pretend to be a good technical critic but I would guess that some more high post offense would have been in order.
Kiefer Sykes was terrific.
Maybe I'm wrong about Wardle. Some young coaches have been successful and the most notable one is in your conference. But generally it takes a lot of experience.
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Post by shooting the J on Feb 29, 2012 11:49:14 GMT -6
Good points about Brown but in watching the games I really didn't think he got enough touches. Kiefer Sykes was terrific. In remarking about your inconsistency, I was referring more to execution within each game as I was in the results. There would be wild swings during many of the games. Maybe I'm wrong about Wardle. Some young coaches have been successful and the most notable one is in your conference. But generally it takes a lot of experience. I agree about the wild in game swings, but I think that is more on the players than a coaching issue. I thought the in-game inconsistencies dissapated down the stretch as players found their roles. I think it will be easier to get Brown more touches as he continues to increase his mass and strength. Thanks for your observations, it's always interesting to see what on outsider thinks of our team.
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Post by fansincebuss on Feb 29, 2012 14:29:57 GMT -6
I agree that Youngstown State is a match up problem for Green Bay. Regarding consistency, every conference game other than Youngstown was close.
The fact that down the stretch the Phoenix played better including three road wins bodes well for the future. I attribute that to game experience for the young players as well as additional experience for the coaches
They need to improve three point defense for next year and they can not just pound it in to Brown, that is too easy to defend. Early in the year they tried that and it resulted in way too many turnovers.
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