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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 19, 2014 8:29:33 GMT -6
Ugly game......Even with out Keif, GB should have won close, or lost close if there was a more consistent effort for 40 minutes. The lack of defense in the first half killed us. 49 points allowed??......That was a lack of defensive effort overall even without Keif. They picked it up in the second half, but the 21 turnovers killed us and Belmont had enough timely 3's to keep GB at bay, especially in the second half. Love is an ok player, but as truth said, he's better next to Sykes. Fulton and Garret were awful last night and the TO's by the forwards were a lot to do with the bad passes by the guards. Other than Mays and Lowe (who had a good game off the bench), there was next to no offense from the guards......The lack of a consistent scorer at the SG position and the lack of 3 pt. threats minimized our ability to make a comeback and yet again exposed our biggest weakness. It seemed to take a lot of energy just to shrink the 19 point lead to 6-8 points, then any momentum was lost when we get a turnover, then Belmont gets a timely 3 point basket or two, then we're back at a 12-15 point deficit. That seemed to be the pattern in the second half.
A golden opportunity was wasted last night to host ANOTHER NIT game (against a possible future HL member (??) in Robert Morris), and put ourselves in a position to play an NIT quarterfinal game for the right to go to MSG (assuming we would have beaten Robert Morris).
I wonder if Belmont was thinking that their success against the regular season HL Champ moved them closer to being an HL member?? This wasn't the strongest of Belomnt teams versus what they have fielded in the past.
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truth
New Member
Posts: 34
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Post by truth on Mar 19, 2014 8:46:08 GMT -6
I'd love to see Belmont in our conference for men's basketball. They'd semi-replace Butler as an RPI lifter. They play a really exciting style of basketball. And Nashville is a great city for road trips or a conference tournament. A little longer drive than Dayton but worth it.
Just a disapponting finish for the Phoenix. A great year, against an excellent schedule, but there's no way around it that down the stretch I think they lost three of four in front of big crowds and pretty much laid an egg in big games.
They're not a "system" team, they're a "star player" team, I think, and when you star players are dinged up or don't come through in big games, losses are going to happen.
And boy are they reliant on Sykes. When you think of it, if he doesn't singlehandedly win about five games for them with huge second halves where he's taking it to the rim and drawing fouls, even against bad teams like UIC, their not 24-6, they are about 18-12. They were totally reliant on him. When Brown was invisible on offense against UW (his defense was strong), Sykes still nearly won it for them. And last night the Phoenix was much better when Lowe was playing and not Brown. So I'm not worried about next year. But lose Sykes for a game, and it's over.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 19, 2014 11:22:31 GMT -6
A huge factor in the poor 1st half defense was all the fast break points given up because of the turnovers. When the guards starting taking care of the ball the defense was able to get some stops.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Mar 19, 2014 17:29:57 GMT -6
I am sick to my stomach by what happened last night. Then knowing that St. John's lost and Illinois can't host any games due to conflicts I am even more sick. A better path to NYC was forged and the guys pooped themselves.
Belmont's offense was as good as advertised. They could shoot and they were well spaced. GB gave them way to many chances and way too many easy buckets off of turnovers. Their defense was kind of lazy and slow and yet GB still made them look good by having a ton of unforced turnovers. Then add in 3 deep 3's with under 5 on the clock late in the game and GB was toast.
GB didn't rebound, couldn't run and with Belmont packing in the lane didn't have anyone who could shoot. Just pathetic all around.
I can't say Sykes makes Brown or vice versa. They played two games this year without one or the other and both times lost by 15 and looked horrible doing it. Belmont was double and triple teaming Brown. When GB ran plays for Brown outside he couldn't hit anything.
This team needs someone, anyone who can shoot from outside consistently from the guard position. Love really faded as the season went on. Fulton looked better last night but he still can't shoot and his turnovers are tought to watch. I know this may be emotion writing and maybe too soon or out of place to write but I would be fine with Humphrey, Fulton and maybe Botz moving on. Each guy has some game but I don't see their shortfalls improving enough to allow them to contribute next year. This team still has a chance with Sykes, Fouse, McKinnie, Lowe and Mays coming back but the support talent needs to be upgraded.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 20, 2014 6:27:29 GMT -6
The rise of this team since BW took over coincides with the development of Keif and Alec. But as with most of the TK era, and now with BW, the offensive system is predicated on the success of the PG. With TK, he had a bunch of shooters, one good PG, and barely anyone else who could drive to the basket, and anyone who scouted us well can figure out what plays were coming. With the TK era, his ball screen system did not maximize the shooters those TK teams had, and didn't adjust offensively until list last couple years at GB. Regardless, none of TK's teams could play defense......
At least with BW, and the kinds of players he's brought in, the defense and rebounding has stepped up, and gives GB more opportunites with that rebounding, but a lot of the offensive deficiencies seen in the TK era still show. If the PG isn't playing well, they will struggle, however this time around, there are no consistent shooters to kick the ball out to and your best 3-pt shooter is 7'1". Going into next season, GB will need to fix this as the team will be more perimeter oriented. If Fulton and Humphrey transferred, I wouldn't miss them as players. Fulton is just awful, almost as awful as the short tenure of Chop Tang (remember him??). With Botz, listing him as a guard is stretch. He's listed at 6'7"; what's to say he can put on another 5-10 lbs., and play the 3 or a stretch-4 with his shooting ability. The rest of the perimeter players returning will need to work on their shots. Landing Arroyo Edwards will also help and put less pressure on the incoming freshmen to produce a lot right away.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Mar 20, 2014 7:10:41 GMT -6
I forgot to mention that I wish there was an over under bet on how long it would take Vince Garrett to travel once he got in the game. I would always take the under on that!
I did appreciate seeing Lowe drive the hoop. Those spin moves where tough but he was in control. He didn't get on the glass much though. Also, I think he doesn't have the green light to shoot but in the drills he has range his shot looks fluid. I am optimistic that next year his jumper is in the Mays and McKinnie zone.
I knew the team was frustrated in the first half when Jordan launched a long jumper from the left wing. He usually turns that shot down and only takes it when he is frustrated. His release and rotation doesn't look bad to me. However he jumps forward and leans back while taking it. He needs a lot of reps with a better form to get that shot down.
I walked past Botz a few weeks ago after a game. I was surprised at his size, he is a good size player for a 2 or 3. I think he is behind Fouse and McKinnie at the forward and he isn't quick enough defend at the guard. I do think he could be a rotation player but I also think he is a few years away from being an impact player. I hope I am wrong and I would gladly eat my words.
The Chop Tang step fake and then launch a jumper move still haunts me to this day. That dude thought he was Kobe Bryant.
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