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Post by bringbackcaro on Dec 18, 2016 14:54:37 GMT -5
Benzan is a much better player when he is playing off AT as the primary point guard. He is very timid when he is the lone PG on the floor. try as you might to fit this square peg into a round hole, it is just NOT TRUE. we both 1.) built a lead in the first half and 2.) cut into uri's lead in the second half with benzan running the point and thompson on the bench. we know you love the subjective, primarily because it's all you've got, but that is simply indisputable as it is objective fact. do you need to see the play-by-play? benzan was not at all timid against a strong defensive team in uri. he is a solid point guard and this crap that he needs thompson on the court or else he curls into a timid fetal position is just that... crap. Hilarious, Mr Know It All 1) Have a looser interpretation of "built a lead." You can't. We were up 8-3, 2 minutes and 18 seconds into the game (simply because we made two 3's). That lead went down to 8-6, and then AT came into the game. How dare AT be responsible for single handily blowing that 2 point lead! 2) We were down 8 at halftime, and down 6 when AT entered the game at the 14:41 mark in the second half. Really cut into that lead!
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Dec 18, 2016 15:35:13 GMT -5
For those who may not have seen/heard the game and find these things worthwhile the final score was Rhody 65 HC 54
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Post by hc6774 on Dec 18, 2016 16:01:36 GMT -5
did RC walk of the court after he went down late?
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Post by ncaam on Dec 18, 2016 16:06:21 GMT -5
As ATCP says, this game meant nothing. It's the conference and beyond that counts. For this team probably 4 games in March. BU, Lehigh and Bucknell can play with URI. Wish we could have gotten $$$ for the trip down. We'll get 'em at home next ye...oh yeah it's a neutral court.
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Post by hcnation on Dec 18, 2016 16:09:27 GMT -5
Only 7 assists on 19 FG
Also RI star EC Mathews Zero points in 18 minutes
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Post by bison137 on Dec 18, 2016 16:30:18 GMT -5
Defense has been very disruptive today. It's too bad we haven't been able to get more out of the offense. The current 5 (AT-PB-KC-MA-JF) is our best lineup by far today. we'll get a plus minus after the game to review that claim. you'll likely be wrong, per the usual. Fwiw, AT was -15 today in 30:31 of playing time. One game, of course, is a very small sample size.
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Post by hchoops on Dec 18, 2016 16:47:12 GMT -5
Bison, Could you please tell us what pat's +\- was ?
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Post by timholycross on Dec 18, 2016 16:49:19 GMT -5
I am getting sick with the repeated changes of the camera angles--ridiculous Recall a game with Wake Forest in the RW era that was, for that reason, totally unwatchable.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Dec 18, 2016 16:50:56 GMT -5
I doubt PB's +/- was very different. They both played 31 minutes, and we lost by 11 - a quick look through pbp didn't suggest much variation after the first 5 minutes.
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 18, 2016 16:56:36 GMT -5
I thought our starting line-up did well. Once the first round of subs came in, all went south.
I also don't agree with having both AT and PB in at the same time. Just too many vertical inches lost.
JF played better than he has and improving but MH still better offensively, if much more boring to watch.
A very bright spot was that MA was a tough match for URI and he created a lot of Ram fouls. RC had an off game, too bad as we could have used his firepower, especially coming off his career high 28. I did not see it but as we were leaving the Ryan Center, a few mentioned RC had a bag of ice on one of his knees.
I counted 8 Crusader missed layups. Granted the majority were not totally open but all should have been made at our level. That's 16 points and would have made the difference with a win.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Dec 18, 2016 17:29:06 GMT -5
did RC walk of the court after he went down late? He needed help to get off the floor. After the game, he walked through the handshake line on his own, then walked very slowly off the court. Had an ice bag applied to the side of his knee while on the bench. Hope it was just a bruise or slight sprain. I never really felt like we would be able to put together the run to take the lead; their D was just too tough. They obviously wanted to keep RChamp from going off. I did like the way Malachi and JF competed inside. JF has no fear, though I really wish he could develop a little jumper (anything, really). Would open up so much for him. Seniors have been inconsistent; really will need them to step up for league play (as a group, I mean). I'm trying to look at it this way: I feel like UMass, Harvard, Monmouth, and URI would all either win the PL or be very close to the top. We've competed with all four. Just need to keep improving.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Dec 18, 2016 17:38:51 GMT -5
Pomeroy's O rating for HC players today:
Charles 121 Alexander 114 Benzan 88 Champion 84 Husek 67 Thompson 45 Floyd 114
Thompson has the lowest O rating of any HC player this season (82.9).
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 18, 2016 18:19:18 GMT -5
I have no idea how this O rating works but there is no way JF was as good as MA offensively today. Not even close.
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 18, 2016 18:20:39 GMT -5
Was Pomeroy at the game today? I didn't see him.😉
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Post by bringbackcaro on Dec 18, 2016 18:39:39 GMT -5
Pomeroy's O rating for HC players today: Charles 121 Alexander 114 Benzan 88 Champion 84 Husek 67 Thompson 45 Floyd 114 Thompson has the lowest O rating of any HC player this season (82.9). I'm unclear on what the "O Rating" means. Can you please provide some details from watching today's game to explain why AT's rating was 40 point below the next ranked player? I think that would be helpful.
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Post by hcgrad94 on Dec 18, 2016 18:39:49 GMT -5
As ATCP says, this game meant nothing. It's the conference and beyond that counts. For this team probably 4 games in March. BU, Lehigh and Bucknell can play with URI. Wish we could have gotten $$$ for the trip down. We'll get 'em at home next ye...oh yeah it's a neutral court. We did get a nice guarantee for today we're going to the impression we didn't?
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Post by sader81 on Dec 18, 2016 18:40:59 GMT -5
Made the two + hour trip in 1:45. Didn't expect a win, but I thought they competed very well. Take away the eight minute scoring drought in the first half, and they could have stolen a W. The shots didn't fall, and the small lineup just didn't work against a more athletic team during that stretch. It was clear that they were not going to let RC get an open three point look, and make others beat them. Pretty good strategy! (I sat behind the bench, and it looked like RC had a slight knee sprain, fwiw.) I thought the team played ok against a decent team in a unfamiliar venue. This team will be in the mix come the end of February.
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 18, 2016 18:57:41 GMT -5
Maybe under the "moral victory" category or "bright spots for the future" and knowing the only stat that counts is whether a "W" or a "L" but
Points in the paint: HC 30, URI 32 Points off turnovers: HC 15, URI 12 2nd chance points: HC 10, URI 11 Fast break points: HC 2, URI 2
While we shot a very poor 25.0% from beyond the arc, URI did even worse, a woeful 17.6%.
But then an "ouch," Bench points: HC 11, URI 23
Perhaps the best because I believe someone previously posted that we were tied nationally with URI with the low number of turnovers. HC 10 turnovers, URI 14.
I think we will be OK when we get to the PL games.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Dec 18, 2016 19:52:56 GMT -5
But then an "ouch," Bench points: HC 11, URI 23 I think we will be OK when we get to the PL games. The bench right now is effectively two deep, as MZ continues to struggle. In the OOC last year, he averaged about 16mpg, and an almost identical 15mpg during the first half of conference play. Coincidentally or not, his concussion at that juncture seemed to mark a turning point - the rest of the year, he only played about 10mpg, and this year he's down to 7. Over the course of the last 23 games, he's just 13-40 from the field (4-20 from deep), and he's not a plus defender. Really would like to see what CLS - taller and somewhat quicker - could do with 5-10 per the next couple games. Everybody else in the conference has 9-10 guys averaging double-figure minutes, and I'm a little concerned HC's lack of depth will be a factor in conference play. Let's hope we don't have a significant injury.
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 18, 2016 20:08:52 GMT -5
Agree, woo gray. I thought Zig was supposed to be a long ball threat and he has not shown improvement from last year (not yet, anyway). Our man from Switzerland has not played much to tell if can be someone who will help extend the bench. Even if we have 5-7 "iron men," there will be games when someone gets into foul trouble and we would like to see some minimal level of game experience when they are called in from the bullpen.
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Post by hchoops on Dec 18, 2016 23:09:40 GMT -5
Have not read this entire thread, but sorry if it was already posted that today Malachi became the 50th Crusader to score 1000 points. Congratulations !
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Post by billyjack9 on Dec 19, 2016 2:12:08 GMT -5
Went to the game with my 13 year old. Light crowd due to students being gone, and bad weather. Good competitive game.
Three quick comments: - Holy Cross missed a bunch of layups, especially in the 2nd half. - i really like the frontcourt of Alexander and Floyd. Both have size and some strength. - my main comment, continuing on the previous one:
URI is literally a strong team... like they lift weights and don't get pushed around. They play tight, tough, aggressive defense. They hand-check constantly. They make opponents fight for movement and positioning, and their strength (and the refs) allows them to do this. Relentless.
Holy Cross was doomed because while they have skill, they lack muscle. URI tried to strong-arm the Friars a couple of weeks ago in a tight game, but it wasn't as effective because PC's team is strong, including even their backcourt, and they can finish thru contact. Today, early on, the Cross couldn't finish on drives to the hoop because URI was leaning on them and bumping them the entire time... nothing wrong with this, it's just old school New England basketball. URI wasn't even letting HC even simply post up. Any opponent of URI has to be able to match their aggressiveness and strength, finish through contact and not rely on the refs.
So, my point is that Holy Cross seriously needs to hit the weight room. For example, a senior like Husek, if he had lifted weights for 4 years, at 6'-11", holy cow, would be so much more effective. Make it so no other Patriot team can match your strength and you would run the table each year in conference. Weightlifting requires no skill, just discipline and a desire to get better, and any player can improve their contribution to the team just by getting stronger. Your freshman center needs to hit the weights immediately... if he lifts, then by next year, he and Floyd will be fantastic together.
Ok, that's all... i'll stop babbling. One last thing though... i really like your zone defense. Very active.
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Post by ncaam on Dec 19, 2016 3:52:33 GMT -5
Uri players arrived stronger than our guys other than malachi. No way we are going to catch up.
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Post by sader1970 on Dec 19, 2016 4:18:29 GMT -5
Thanks for your comments and contributions to the discussion, billyjack.
You should know some things:
1. My understanding is HC players do weight training. 2. Malachi Alexander pretty much was able to get to the basket and only way he was stopped was by the many fouls URI had trying to stop him 3. BC stopped playing us for years because we were "too rough" for them 4. Coach Carmody is more a finesse style. We had a coach who went with stronger, athletic players and that didn't work out too well for us
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Post by sader81 on Dec 19, 2016 5:13:49 GMT -5
Regarding Ziggy's reduced minutes this year, I think Benzan's increased role at the 1 and 2 are more responsible for the reduction. PB didn't play much at all last year.
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