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Post by HC92 on Feb 15, 2022 7:12:20 GMT -5
HC students aren’t going to a random midweek game against American unless we’re really good. It’s been that way for years. The pandemic obviously isn’t helping. And other fans can’t go unless they are in possession of one of the few hundred season tickets floating around. And they have to wear a mask and can’t get food or drink. Last night will be the norm until the policies change. Which is too bad for the players.
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 7:27:08 GMT -5
Just watched it.
Disappointing. First half lost the game. That and losing concentration after HC got ahead, bad defense the next two times down the court resulting in three pointers (especially the second one!).
Plus, fatigue perhaps resulting in some second chance opportunities down the stretch for AU....not surprising given that Nelson very justifiably stapled Martindale (and Humphrey somewhat) to the bench for the last 20 minutes.
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 7:32:19 GMT -5
JM need to be taken out. A turnover followed by a foul. His defense is deficient as well. Like Charlie on the MTA, never returned. Nor should he have. 3 of the worst turnovers you'll ever see from a (on some nights, but not tonight) college basketball player.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 15, 2022 8:03:23 GMT -5
pL officials aren’t good to start with, and this Brennan street fight gameplan makes them even worse — no clue when to call fouls and when to let contact go. Dreadful night of pL basketball. I assume you know there is no such thing as "patriot league officials". All of the refs in tonight's games routinely ref in the Ivy, MAAC, America East, and NEC. They may not be great but they ref more games out of the PL than in it.: Sorry, I should have been more clear: Low-Major Division 1 Men’s Basketball Referees Who Live in the Northeast aren’t good to start with. Mea culpa! (Glad the Internet was turned back on in Lewisburg after the weekend!)
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Post by lou on Feb 15, 2022 8:05:09 GMT -5
A couple of Martindale 3s in the 2nd half would have helped. I would have put him back in
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Feb 15, 2022 8:35:33 GMT -5
I never said I expected fans to be there; just commenting on how discouraging it is.
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Post by Tom on Feb 15, 2022 8:35:44 GMT -5
I'm wondering/worrying that MT's absence is going to take more and more of a toll down the stretch, with all these big games bunched together. They really could have used his Johnny on the Spot, versatile kind of game last night. Just one guy, but not having him seems to make a big difference with available rotations. 2nd half had the shortest bench since early season Hickory High. Coulibaly gave Gates a quick blow about the 8 minute mark of the 2nd half. That was the only 2nd half substitution
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Post by HC92 on Feb 15, 2022 8:50:02 GMT -5
I'm wondering/worrying that MT's absence is going to take more and more of a toll down the stretch, with all these big games bunched together. They really could have used his Johnny on the Spot, versatile kind of game last night. Just one guy, but not having him seems to make a big difference with available rotations. 2nd half had the shortest bench since early season Hickory High. Coulibaly gave Gates a quick blow about the 8 minute mark of the 2nd half. That was the only 2nd half substitution Tough to play with such a short bench when we’re playing a game every other night.
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 8:54:14 GMT -5
I've noticed Louth-M is not very athletic. Needs a ton of agility work.
One offensive rebound was given to him on a platter...no one between him and the ball. A good player of his height would have easily tipped the ball in or dunked it. He had to catch it, come down and try to go back up. By that time the defense had adjusted and I don't even think he got a shot off.
Just has to keep working at it.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Feb 15, 2022 8:54:49 GMT -5
Wondering what Bubba did that was so bad that caused him to be put on ice in the second half?
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 8:59:01 GMT -5
2nd half had the shortest bench since early season Hickory High. Coulibaly gave Gates a quick blow about the 8 minute mark of the 2nd half. That was the only 2nd half substitution Tough to play with such a short bench when we’re playing a game every other night. What were Humphrey's deficiencies last night? Certainly was apparent what Martindale's were. First horrible turnover (or maybe two), Nelson didn't yank Martindale. Came out a bit later, but came back in. Then he committed turnover #3 capped off by fouling the AU guy for a three point play. That was enough. Getting back to normal (albeit still woeful) crowds will hopefully eliminate one pet peeve of mine- that two tiered bench MUST GO. Not sure if the coaching staff realizes what a bad look it's giving the program.
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Post by HC92 on Feb 15, 2022 9:13:44 GMT -5
The two tiered bench is another Covid thing that doesn’t actually make any difference. During timeouts, the one time everyone is together, they all get up and make a tight huddle in the corner.
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Post by Tom on Feb 15, 2022 9:20:53 GMT -5
The student attendance/engagement project needs some serious work; and to be honest, it was an issue prior to Covid. HC isn't unique, but it's just so different in areas of the country where pro sports don't dominate. And I'm not talking about power schools - the other night I briefly checked in on a Big South game hosted by Longwood. Lotsa people in their small facility. Student section all wearing the same white t-shirts. Most were standing. Not looking at phones - when shots went up for their team eyes were following the flight of the ball. Loud cheers when they went in, and groans when they didn't. So sad that HC no longer has that. The students were also leading the Defense chants, with other fans chiming in with claps, as opposed to HC, where the old fogies have to take the lead role. As for the game, I look at this one as the most important of the remaining games. I feel this way because I look at the post season in terms of improving the worst case scenario, that being, avoiding a 9-10 seed. I would think beating AU would make it very difficult for that to happen, given that they would have 7 league wins. Lose, though, and then you lose a tiebreaker should they end up tied with AU in the standings. I'm sure I'm in the minority but, if HC can't get the 4th seed, I would rather they get a 7 seed so they can host a game. Sure, would mean an extra game and a quarterfinal game on a quick turnaround, but they would certainly be well prepared for that. Only exception to this would be if they were a 5 seed playing at BU (if they were a 4). I would be fine with that (or at BU as a 6 seed)! Let's just get the 4, and take out all the mystery. All in favor, say "Aye!" Well, that road just got a little tougher. 5 games left including teams currently sitting 1, 2, and 3. Also, HC no longer controls its destiny. HC can win out and still not have the 4th seed
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 15, 2022 9:36:44 GMT -5
The two tiered bench is another Covid thing that doesn’t actually make any difference. During timeouts, the one time everyone is together, they all get up and make a tight huddle in the corner. Everyone just holds their breath during the timeout.
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Post by crusader1970 on Feb 15, 2022 9:48:24 GMT -5
A couple of Martindale 3s in the 2nd half would have helped. I would have put him back in I think Coach Nelson made the right call here.
JM has lost all his confidence in his shot and the game overall is simply going too fast for him right now.
You could see last year that he had potential as an outside shooter. However. the defenses have adjusted to him. They run him off the three point line, he cannot create separation, his drives to the basket are a step slow, and he does not seem to be able to finish in a crowd.
In short, he needs open looks where he is set and Nelson's offense is unfortunately geared to mostly one on one moves.
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Post by trimster on Feb 15, 2022 10:01:17 GMT -5
A couple of Martindale 3s in the 2nd half would have helped. I would have put him back in I think Coach Nelson made the right call here.
JM has lost all his confidence in his shot and the game overall is simply going too fast for him right now.
You could see last year that he had potential as an outside shooter. However. the defenses have adjusted to him. They run him off the three point line, he cannot create separation, his drives to the basket are a step slow, and he does not seem to be able to finish in a crowd.
In short, he needs open looks where he is set and Nelson's offense is unfortunately geared to mostly one on one moves.
Concerning your last point, I don’t recall HC getting many open looks last night. One of the few I remember was Dorsey making a quick pass from the corner to Luc at the top of the circle for a 3. It seemed to me a lot of our shots, especially in half one, were taken with a high degree of difficulty.
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Post by WCHC Sports on Feb 15, 2022 10:21:23 GMT -5
A college basketball team that cannot shoot the basketball into the hoop is one that A) nobody wants to watch, B) nobody should expect to win, and C) shouldn't be representing the college program in the first place. With HC's awful shooting skills, they should be getting 14 points from the free throw line PER HALF. Not 14 total points. Games like this are an embarrassment.
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Post by cmo on Feb 15, 2022 10:36:50 GMT -5
I never said I expected fans to be there; just commenting on how discouraging it is. I agree. As you win, you’d expect crowds to grow. Had to take wind out of sails to come out to that. But the school has made it difficult to attend.
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Post by crusader1970 on Feb 15, 2022 11:38:26 GMT -5
In short, he needs open looks where he is set and Nelson's offense is unfortunately geared to mostly one on one moves.
Concerning your last point, I don’t recall HC getting many open looks last night. One of the few I remember was Dorsey making a quick pass from the corner to Luc at the top of the circle for a 3. It seemed to me a lot of our shots, especially in half one, were taken with a high degree of difficulty.
You are correct.
The offensive sets rarely find an open shooter unless the opponent makes a defensive mistake. In addition there are very few back door cuts.
The thing that drives me crazy is when the ball goes into Gates in the low post. It seems like 95% of the time he makes a move (or two) and forces up a shot in traffic. He's maybe 6'5". Strong. But 6'5". He is often matched up against a 6'9" or taller defender and, since he rarely kicks it back out, the defenders in the area realize there is little risk in double and triple teaming him. Not a formula for consistent success IMO.
Our offense is so predictable that I got to believe that other coaches find it relatively easy to defend.
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Post by lou on Feb 15, 2022 11:45:01 GMT -5
There seems to be an occasional backdoor cut, a few yesterday, and the cutter is open. But the pass is not made
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 12:05:10 GMT -5
Concerning your last point, I don’t recall HC getting many open looks last night. One of the few I remember was Dorsey making a quick pass from the corner to Luc at the top of the circle for a 3. It seemed to me a lot of our shots, especially in half one, were taken with a high degree of difficulty.
You are correct.
The offensive sets rarely find an open shooter unless the opponent makes a defensive mistake. In addition there are very few back door cuts.
The thing that drives me crazy is when the ball goes into Gates in the low post. It seems like 95% of the time he makes a move (or two) and forces up a shot in traffic. He's maybe 6'5". Strong. But 6'5". He is often matched up against a 6'9" or taller defender and, since he rarely kicks it back out, the defenders in the area realize there is little risk in double and triple teaming him. Not a formula for consistent success IMO.
Our offense is so predictable that I got to believe that other coaches find it relatively easy to defend.
Something I noticed last night in the second half down the stretch. Most of the time when Gates got the ball on the wing, 10 feet or so from the basket; his teammate had cleared out of the corner he was in. That's good if you want to give him more space and because there's no one in the corner, there's no one to drop down to surround him. That's bad if you want him to find someone open for a three- he's gotta pass the ball through the crowd in the middle.
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 12:12:04 GMT -5
The two tiered bench is another Covid thing that doesn’t actually make any difference. During timeouts, the one time everyone is together, they all get up and make a tight huddle in the corner. It may be 100% coincidence, but it has the look of "guys that are going to get in the game, sit in the front; the rest sit in the back". And that's not a good look to have. Yes, it seems that everyone is rooting for one another, etc., which I'm glad to see.
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Post by lou on Feb 15, 2022 12:21:48 GMT -5
My impression, the space is available so let's use it. I like the informality of it
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Post by nhteamer on Feb 15, 2022 12:57:44 GMT -5
Blah, blah, blah as always
L
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Post by timholycross on Feb 15, 2022 13:03:33 GMT -5
Blah, blah, blah as always L Thanks for your kind remarks.
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