|
Post by hchoops on Jan 22, 2020 23:47:48 GMT -5
With 4 minutes left on the game KenPom's computer gave Lehigh a 94% chance of winning and it was 95% with less than a minute to play. It is a good thing we played the game until the end. So much for computers’ predictions.
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jan 23, 2020 0:02:02 GMT -5
Post game One happy group !
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jan 23, 2020 0:03:39 GMT -5
Some random stats
Connor Niego started the season 4-18 on three point attempts (someone may have asked me to turn on his red light, but I had patience) but has hit 18 of his last 35.
In last three games Matt Faw is 11-20 on twos and 11-18 on threes. Get this-he's leading the Patriot League (i.e. in conference only games) in block percentage, but we knew he was a good shot blocker from his first two seasons.
Austin Butler needs 62 points to reach 1,000 for his career. He could reach that milestone at home against Loyola but it seems likelier that it will happen at Boston U.
|
|
|
Post by Crosser on Jan 23, 2020 0:49:33 GMT -5
Congratulations to the team on what the sports writers used to call a scintillating win!! Never give up!!!
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Jan 23, 2020 1:42:48 GMT -5
Faw's sudden emergence is stunning. How does one account for it?
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Jan 23, 2020 5:35:52 GMT -5
Faw's sudden emergence is stunning. How does one account for it? Better hea.lth, certainly effort and hard work on his part...and, dare I say, coaching?
|
|
|
Post by sader81 on Jan 23, 2020 6:03:43 GMT -5
Faw's sudden emergence is stunning. How does one account for it? He was playing injured until most recently. Lot of guys banged up.
|
|
|
Post by sader81 on Jan 23, 2020 6:06:22 GMT -5
They won for one reason only. With 30 something left, down three, they fouled Cohen. I picked up my jacket and left. In the car, he heard Lusk say it’s overtime!. I did not return. Nice comeback win!
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Jan 23, 2020 6:20:35 GMT -5
Thanks for being there for the team. However, I hope you learned your lesson. PS: There may have been more than one reason. Another one would be their highest offensive output of the season, so far.
|
|
|
Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 23, 2020 6:50:19 GMT -5
Faw's sudden emergence is stunning. How does one account for it? He was playing injured until most recently. Lot of guys banged up. Matt's always had the offensive skills; the ability to score inside and out. The rebounding is what is surprising to me. Dare I say that he has really benefited from his Camp Nelson experience?
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Jan 23, 2020 6:58:03 GMT -5
That makes sense to me.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 23, 2020 7:02:38 GMT -5
“He was playing injured until most recently. Lot of guys banged up.”
Matt has become my new favorite player because, like Austin, he has become a warrior (dare I say “Crusader warrior?”). But before I get into the accolades, he hurt his ankle again in the game and most obvious yet Nelson kept him in despite Matt limping and he was clearly hurting. Relieved to see BN finally take him out. He went to the locker room, twice. He then trotted behind the bench and, not sure how many others saw, he tested the ankle by a standing jump from behind the seats of the bench over in front of the bench. Believe that convinced him that he could come back in. And he did.
He may not have as much upper body strength as many opponents but he is really banging away under the boards and, yes, his shot blocking has gone from non-existent to one of his strengths.
He has always had beautiful form on his shots whether from the 3 point arc or the free throw line. He doesn’t usually get ones that “rattle home” as when his shots are on, they are all net.
Like Austin, he’s diving for loose balls or if he can’t get a rebound, tries to get a hand on it and tip it to a teammate.
He’s a joy to watch his overall improvement that clearly has a lot to do with his improved health.
I also want to give a shout out to Clayton who made both his free throws and a 3 pointer that reminded us of what he us capable of. Just as importantly, he was solid on defense generally keeping his man in front of him and he acquitted himself well bringing the ball up. Would rather see him doing that than Austin.
What can you say about JP’s free throw shooting last night? Much, much better! Someone has been practicing!😉 He got the game winning free throws. Will post my YouTube link.
Great win as the guys truly gutted out this win.
|
|
|
Post by WorcesterGray on Jan 23, 2020 7:19:42 GMT -5
Matt's always had the offensive skills; the ability to score inside and out. The rebounding is what is surprising to me. Dare I say that he has really benefited from his Camp Nelson experience? He's averaging almost ten rebounds per 40 this year, a 50%+ jump from the 6.3 he averaged each of his first two years. Most of that is attributable to his activity on the offensive glass; his OR% has spiked from 2.6% to 8% - that's clearly a function of Nelson's system (and being freed of the restraints imposed by the previous system). His blocks have doubled.
What is most encouraging to me is the minutes he's been able to give us - they've gone up each of the last five games, and he set a personal high with 36 minutes last night, while committing just two fouls. Being able to play freely without being saddled by foul problems is a key for him and the team.
|
|
|
Post by WorcesterGray on Jan 23, 2020 7:23:25 GMT -5
What can you say about JP’s free throw shooting last night? Much, much better! Someone has been practicing!😉 He got the game winning free throws. Since his 2-10 debacle from the line vs. Navy, Pridgen is 15-20.
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Jan 23, 2020 7:51:29 GMT -5
I also see a bit of "swagger" on the part of players (esp. AB, MF, and clearly JP) and that is great to see. The video of the team heading to the locker room to be joined there by Coach Nelson...who jumped into the middle lot the team!...was great to watch. I hope that this sort of fun is soon a part of HC hoops full time!
|
|
|
Post by possum on Jan 23, 2020 8:11:08 GMT -5
Great comeback I thought they had no chance to win when down 17, 3 point shooting was incredible. Great to see Faw and Niego put together a number of good games in succession. Thought in the last 5 minutes and OT Lehigh went away from their offense and let Cohen be a one man team, he was so good it almost worked. I seems to me that Pridgen is taking a little less time to shoot his free throws, don't know if it has anything to do with better results.
|
|
|
Post by HC92 on Jan 23, 2020 8:19:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by joe on Jan 23, 2020 8:36:34 GMT -5
Glad to see this. Great win. Guys seem excited and positive. Coach seems engaged, bonded, and relatable. March onward.
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jan 23, 2020 8:51:59 GMT -5
It has to be a long time since we had 5 double figure scorers in a game
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jan 23, 2020 8:57:26 GMT -5
When Mike R. comes next year, Matt and Connor can shift primarily to their more natural spot at the power forward.. Could be an effective rotation among the three for the 4 and 5 spots, and even better if we sign another quality big, such as Tyson Brown.
|
|
|
Post by classof83 on Jan 23, 2020 9:07:26 GMT -5
When Mike R. comes next year, Matt and Connor can shift primarily to their more natural spot at the power forward.. Could be an effective rotation among the three for the 4 and 5 spots, and even better if we sign another quality big, such as Tyson Brown. We really need to solve the point guard issue. At the end of the game AB had tried to get down the court on a fast break and we had Connor Niego bringing the ball up the court with Ryan Wade - not ideal I am shocked we don't see more back court pressure from the opposition.
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Jan 23, 2020 9:09:00 GMT -5
I’m surprised he’s still in (or back in ) MA My personal speculation is that the only reason for him to be in MA is that he's going to school here. We were told he left the team. We were told he's in the portal. No one ever said he left the school. I will further speculate that it is more likely that he's a student at Holy Cross than grabbing some credits at Worcester State or some other MA school. Just my interpretation of things we know
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jan 23, 2020 9:25:27 GMT -5
Joe's winning free throws:
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jan 23, 2020 9:30:55 GMT -5
When Mike R. comes next year, Matt and Connor can shift primarily to their more natural spot at the power forward.. Could be an effective rotation among the three for the 4 and 5 spots, and even better if we sign another quality big, such as Tyson Brown. We really need to solve the point guard issue. At the end of the game AB had tried to get down the court on a fast break and we had Connor Niego bringing the ball up the court with Ryan Wade - not ideal I am shocked we don't see more back court pressure from the opposition. I am surprised at the lack of pressure also. my only theory is that teams do not want to get away from what they have done all season. we cohkd face pressure on Saturday Totally agree that point guard must be our first recruiting priority
|
|
|
Post by Tom on Jan 23, 2020 9:49:38 GMT -5
“He was playing injured until most recently. Lot of guys banged up.” Matt has become my new favorite player because, like Austin, he has become a warrior (dare I say “Crusader warrior?”). But before I get into the accolades, he hurt his ankle again in the game and most obvious yet Nelson kept him in despite Matt limping and he was clearly hurting. Relieved to see BN finally take him out. He went to the locker room, twice. He then trotted behind the bench and, not sure how many others saw, he tested the ankle by a standing jump from behind the seats of the bench over in front of the bench. Believe that convinced him that he could come back in. And he did. When Faw hurt his ankle, Coach Nelson asked him if he needed/wanted to come out. Faw said he was OK. He didn't look OK to me and came out a couple of minutes later at the next stoppage of play
|
|