Just found out I will have to leave the house relatively early tomorrow so I'll post part 1 of my info now.
Sights and sounds
Pretty good crowd at the game. The student section as usual was filled and of the announced attendance of 6743 I would estimate at least 5000 showed on a cold rainy mid afternoon day.
For the 4th time in four games the team came out with little energy and the first half was far more difficult against a vastly over-matched NJIT team than it should have been.
The second half started similar to the first with NJIT closing the gap to 4 points before the Hall broke it open with an anticipated run to the tune of 24-3.
One would have expected that the core four would be vital in the run but it was the younger players, Mamukalashvili, Gordon and Cale who were as much responsible for expanding the lead as their senior teammates.
Another excellent all around game from Desi who has been by far the best Pirate to date.
Powell, Ish and Carrington gave workman like efforts while Seton Hall's star player Angel Delgado struggled all game long finally being benched for the last 18 minutes of the game after allowing Abdul Lewis to blow by him for an easy layup.
After the game Willard was furious with the team's effort. Especially with most of his veterans. The post game was terse considering that the Hall won by 29 points and rightly so. Willard had every reason to be upset.
It's only been four games but IMO yesterday was Willard's best effort of the season. His team came out uninspired and he did not hesitate to mix and match from that point on, finding the right combinations in the second half to bury the Highlanders.
Saw and spoke to Isaiah Whitehead's mom Erica Rambert. She still supports the Hall and comes to many of the team's games.
After the game instead of going to the post game interviews I headed directly to the Booster Club's pre-season dinner where I and the other 90 or so attendees sat and listened to Jay Judge of Pirate Blue, Fred Hill and Jerry Carino.
Of importance were comments from Judge who noted that the Hall will begin renovations on Walsh and the baseball field next summer. He did not give details.
Hill was particularly entertaining volleying back and forth between his comedy act and providing solid details for the information starved fans in attendance.
Of particular interest.
Foul shooting:
The team works on that aspect probably as much as any team in the county. But Hill noted there is no way to properly duplicate the pressure the players face in real games. The staff does their best to try implementing various methods to put the players in difficult situations in practice but when push comes to shove it's a mental game when the shots count for real.
Hill did note that the players in practice shoot free throws at a very high percentage but many of them don't translate that success to the games.
Mamukelashvili:
Told the Booster Club that we had to be patient with the young big man from Georgia but paid him a huge compliment by comparing Sandro to past SHU great Arturas Karnishovas.
Noted he's playing out of position at the five but that's where the minutes are available at this time.
Gill:
Right now he's practicing with the team. Hill said his size and athletic ability were strengths but he needs to play more basketball and gain experience. He noted that Gill had average hands but said for a big man like him with his lack of experience that's a compliment because most in similar situations have bad hands.
Look for Gill to redshirt unless an injury occurs. There is simply no time for him on this roster.
Carrington:
Noted he's still a work in progress as years of having a scorer's mentality is a difficult thing to change in a short period of time. Said that Deeno is learning on the fly and doing a great job to date but still has a long way to go.
He finished by saying what we are seeing now is the worst we will see from Carrington but he meant that as a compliment because he feels the former 2G is playing well but will get better as the season progresses.
Nelson and Rhoden:
Spoke highly of both saying they are the kind of players that the Hall needs to get to sustain our success. Called them both skilled blue collar players emphasizing Nelson as a combo guard who can really defend and Rhoden as a high caliber athlete who can play either forward position.
Big East dark horse:
St John's. Said that college basketball is a guard's game and with Lovett and Ponds the Red Storm have two of the best in the country. Also lauded their two highly rated transfers.
Myles Cale:
Showered him with the expected love, especially since he was instrumental in bringing the 6-4 wing here and noted unlike most young players he's really doing a great job on the defensive end.
Eron Walker:
Complimented him on the game he played against NJIT and said he will now have the opportunity to play important minutes behind Carrington, and how well he competes will deem his future PT when Walker comes back.
Jordan Walker:
Couldn't predict when he'll be back but said he was hoping for 3 weeks which seems to be the company line for now.
Angel Delgado:
Was honest and said his All American center will be challenged by everyone he plays this season because with his stature he now has a target on his back. Said in this one particular game Angel didn't match the intensity of his opponent and we saw the result.
Quincy McKnight:
Said he will have a Derrick Gordon like effect on the team in the locker room next season and added he's an excellent defender who can give the offense a boost when necessary.
Taurean Thompson:
Noted he was a special talent and when asked about NBA aspirations said that's up to the player. He has the ability but that ability must be combined with the appropriate work ethic for him to have a chance to play at the highest level.
Phil Flory:
Interesting story about Flory. Without going into detail he explained that a broken pinky toe cost him 1 1/2 years of high school ball and when combined with his not being seen because of where he played Flory did not get the offers commensurate with his abilities. Because of that Phil's dad who Hill had coached many years ago reached out to him to ask if his son could walk on at the Hall. Flory practiced with the team for a week over the summer and our players were impressed enough to go to the staff and tell them he belonged.
After Fed Hill spoke he left and within minutes Jerry Carino arrived to take the podium. Much of what Jerry said from that point on was similar to Hill's comments but he did make one point of interest. He said that his site gets three times as many hits on SHU basketball then does Rutgers and he thanked our membership for helping out.
Part two will profile the players.
Sights and sounds
Pretty good crowd at the game. The student section as usual was filled and of the announced attendance of 6743 I would estimate at least 5000 showed on a cold rainy mid afternoon day.
For the 4th time in four games the team came out with little energy and the first half was far more difficult against a vastly over-matched NJIT team than it should have been.
The second half started similar to the first with NJIT closing the gap to 4 points before the Hall broke it open with an anticipated run to the tune of 24-3.
One would have expected that the core four would be vital in the run but it was the younger players, Mamukalashvili, Gordon and Cale who were as much responsible for expanding the lead as their senior teammates.
Another excellent all around game from Desi who has been by far the best Pirate to date.
Powell, Ish and Carrington gave workman like efforts while Seton Hall's star player Angel Delgado struggled all game long finally being benched for the last 18 minutes of the game after allowing Abdul Lewis to blow by him for an easy layup.
After the game Willard was furious with the team's effort. Especially with most of his veterans. The post game was terse considering that the Hall won by 29 points and rightly so. Willard had every reason to be upset.
It's only been four games but IMO yesterday was Willard's best effort of the season. His team came out uninspired and he did not hesitate to mix and match from that point on, finding the right combinations in the second half to bury the Highlanders.
Saw and spoke to Isaiah Whitehead's mom Erica Rambert. She still supports the Hall and comes to many of the team's games.
After the game instead of going to the post game interviews I headed directly to the Booster Club's pre-season dinner where I and the other 90 or so attendees sat and listened to Jay Judge of Pirate Blue, Fred Hill and Jerry Carino.
Of importance were comments from Judge who noted that the Hall will begin renovations on Walsh and the baseball field next summer. He did not give details.
Hill was particularly entertaining volleying back and forth between his comedy act and providing solid details for the information starved fans in attendance.
Of particular interest.
Foul shooting:
The team works on that aspect probably as much as any team in the county. But Hill noted there is no way to properly duplicate the pressure the players face in real games. The staff does their best to try implementing various methods to put the players in difficult situations in practice but when push comes to shove it's a mental game when the shots count for real.
Hill did note that the players in practice shoot free throws at a very high percentage but many of them don't translate that success to the games.
Mamukelashvili:
Told the Booster Club that we had to be patient with the young big man from Georgia but paid him a huge compliment by comparing Sandro to past SHU great Arturas Karnishovas.
Noted he's playing out of position at the five but that's where the minutes are available at this time.
Gill:
Right now he's practicing with the team. Hill said his size and athletic ability were strengths but he needs to play more basketball and gain experience. He noted that Gill had average hands but said for a big man like him with his lack of experience that's a compliment because most in similar situations have bad hands.
Look for Gill to redshirt unless an injury occurs. There is simply no time for him on this roster.
Carrington:
Noted he's still a work in progress as years of having a scorer's mentality is a difficult thing to change in a short period of time. Said that Deeno is learning on the fly and doing a great job to date but still has a long way to go.
He finished by saying what we are seeing now is the worst we will see from Carrington but he meant that as a compliment because he feels the former 2G is playing well but will get better as the season progresses.
Nelson and Rhoden:
Spoke highly of both saying they are the kind of players that the Hall needs to get to sustain our success. Called them both skilled blue collar players emphasizing Nelson as a combo guard who can really defend and Rhoden as a high caliber athlete who can play either forward position.
Big East dark horse:
St John's. Said that college basketball is a guard's game and with Lovett and Ponds the Red Storm have two of the best in the country. Also lauded their two highly rated transfers.
Myles Cale:
Showered him with the expected love, especially since he was instrumental in bringing the 6-4 wing here and noted unlike most young players he's really doing a great job on the defensive end.
Eron Walker:
Complimented him on the game he played against NJIT and said he will now have the opportunity to play important minutes behind Carrington, and how well he competes will deem his future PT when Walker comes back.
Jordan Walker:
Couldn't predict when he'll be back but said he was hoping for 3 weeks which seems to be the company line for now.
Angel Delgado:
Was honest and said his All American center will be challenged by everyone he plays this season because with his stature he now has a target on his back. Said in this one particular game Angel didn't match the intensity of his opponent and we saw the result.
Quincy McKnight:
Said he will have a Derrick Gordon like effect on the team in the locker room next season and added he's an excellent defender who can give the offense a boost when necessary.
Taurean Thompson:
Noted he was a special talent and when asked about NBA aspirations said that's up to the player. He has the ability but that ability must be combined with the appropriate work ethic for him to have a chance to play at the highest level.
Phil Flory:
Interesting story about Flory. Without going into detail he explained that a broken pinky toe cost him 1 1/2 years of high school ball and when combined with his not being seen because of where he played Flory did not get the offers commensurate with his abilities. Because of that Phil's dad who Hill had coached many years ago reached out to him to ask if his son could walk on at the Hall. Flory practiced with the team for a week over the summer and our players were impressed enough to go to the staff and tell them he belonged.
After Fed Hill spoke he left and within minutes Jerry Carino arrived to take the podium. Much of what Jerry said from that point on was similar to Hill's comments but he did make one point of interest. He said that his site gets three times as many hits on SHU basketball then does Rutgers and he thanked our membership for helping out.
Part two will profile the players.
