Bozzella EXPLODES!

[400SOAVE]

Did you guys read this article in the Setonian?

http://www.thesetonian.com/2016/02/10/bozzella-pissed-at-pirates-play/

And this was before tonight's sad and unwatchable game.

I've never read this about players:

Bozzella believes that his team has fallen off, with players complaining of fatigue and injury.

I can understand the effects of injuries. But players are complaining that they're "fatigued"?

These are 18-23-year-olds.

"Fatigued"?

Players are "fatigued"?

Did I read that players are "fatigued"?

"Fatigued"?

Can you imagine UConn players going into Geno Auriemma's office en masse and complaining that they're "fatigued"?

Can you begin to imagine that?

Either the team has been poisoned and they need to be examined with full blood and urinalysis tests, or something is very, very wrong in the heads of several (or, perhaps one) player(s).

Here's where Bozzella goes off:

“For God’s sake, pass the f—–g ball,” Bozzella said after his team recorded zero assists in the second half of Sunday’s game. “It’s f—–g b——t. It starts in practice.”

Bozzella cited that practices have been a “drag,” and that players who would be in the gym shooting by early afternoon at the start of the season are down to just one: Kaity Healy, a freshman who has not played one minute this season.

“It’s not acceptable. It’s just not. It’s disgusting. It’s not a Tony Bozzella-coached team,” a frustrated Bozzella said. “We talk about sharing and moving and enjoying ourselves, playing basketball. Disgusting.”

In the opening seconds of tonight's Georgetown game, TRS took a shot from the coach's line, which is about a 35 footer. She missed badly.

I would have sat her the rest of game.

She played on and shot 2-19, including 2-12 on threes.

TRS is now 19-64, 7-32 in the last four games.

 

[Vegas pj]

YIKES!

 

[catholicman]

Maybe they are mentally fatigued. Bozzella needs to listen to his team. Give them some rest. Perhaps the focus on tutoring and the rigors of being a student athlete are taxing even for 18-22 year-olds. I know that age group has a lot of energy, but also needs to sleep-in sometimes. Giving the teams off on Sundays should be standard practice. Unfortunately I don't think it is at the Hall. (It's a God-given pattern to have a sabbath day each week.)

 

[TrueBlue1989]

Injuries have forced Tony to play a very short rotation. Very unfortunate. Team is likely very tired.

 

[Halldan1]

Powell Scores Career-High 28 In Setback To Georgetown

The Hall and Hoyas split their regular season series

Aleesha Powell knocked down six 3-pointers and had a career-high 28 in the setback

Feb. 12, 2016

Final Stats

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Despite a career-high 28 points from Aleesha Powell (Philadelphia, Pa.) the Seton Hall women’s basketball team dropped a 73-65 decision to Georgetown on Friday night at Walsh Gymnasium. With the loss, the Pirates (17-7, 7-6 BIG EAST) and Hoyas (14-10, 7-7) split their two-game regular season series.

Powell knocked down 9-of-15 shots overall and 6-of-10 from 3-point range to finish with her new career-high, hitting five or more from 3-point range for the third time in her last five outings. Jordan Molyneaux (Denver, Colo.) was the lone other Pirate in double-figures with a career-high 10 points. The Hoyas used an edge inside to secure the victory, holding a +14 edge in both rebounding and points in the paint. Faith Woodard led five Hoyas in double-figures with 21 points while Dionna White scored 12 and dished out 12 assists.

The Hall managed to take a two-point lead after a low-scoring first quarter, but fell behind by six at the halftime break. The Pirates marched back in the third quarter and pulled ahead on a pair of occasions, but the Hoyas answered with a huge run to go up as many as 15 midway through the fourth. The Pirates again fought back, pulling within seven under two minutes but could not rally away the difference.

Turning Point

After a Molyneaux lay-in cut the GU lead to 51-49 heading to the fourth quarter, the Hoyas reeled off a 13-0 run to start the final frame and balloon their advantage to 64-49 at the 5:07 mark. The Pirates would not pull closer than seven the rest of the way.

Inside The Numbers

- Georgetown shot 50.0 percent (31-62) and out-rebounded the Pirates 46-32

- The Pirates knocked down 11 3-pointers, their sixth game this year with double-digit triple

- The Seton Hall bench out-scored the GU reserves by a 25-15 margin

- GU held a 14-2 edge in fast break points, while The Hall came up with a 17-12 advantage in points off turnovers

News and Notes

- Freshman LaTecia Smith made her first career start and finished with four points, six assists and two steals

- Jordan Molyneaux had a career-high 10 points, marking her first double-digit scoring game

- Aleesha Powell also set a new career-high with 28, her fourth game with 20 or more this season

- The Pirates fall to 35-25 all-time against Georgetown and 5-1 under Anthony Bozzella

Up Next

The Hall is back at home on Sunday, Feb. 14 when it welcomes Villanova to Walsh Gym. The Pirates and Wildcats will square off at 2 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network and FOX Sports GO app.

 

[shupat08]

Maybe they are mentally fatigued. Bozzella needs to listen to his team. Give them some rest. Perhaps the focus on tutoring and the rigors of being a student athlete are taxing even for 18-22 year-olds. I know that age group has a lot of energy, but also needs to sleep-in sometimes. Giving the teams off on Sundays should be standard practice. Unfortunately I don't think it is at the Hall. (It's a God-given pattern to have a sabbath day each week.)

They play on Sundays... And if being a student athlete is taxing for them, why not every other team in the nation?

It's also common practice all across the nation in HS and College to give some type of rest day. Only film, 1 hour walk through and shoot around, straight up off day, etc... Im sure Tony does something along those lines.

 

[piratehall]

When he first came here things were going well and last year we made the NCAAS. Just hoping he is not the type of coach that when things get tough he starts blaming the players which seems to be the case or making excuses. He apparently was at Seton Hall when PJ was the coach and I believe when first hired fancies himself after PJ. All I will say is the yelling and excuse making get old fast and ill leave it at that.

 

[shupat08]

When he first came here things were going well and last year we made the NCAAS. Just hoping he is not the type of coach that when things get tough he starts blaming the players which seems to be the case or making excuses. He apparently was at Seton Hall when PJ was the coach and I believe when first hired fancies himself after PJ. All I will say is the yelling and excuse making get old fast and ill leave it at that.

Hall do you attend games? Honest question.

Several of us have noted since early in the season that there is something emotionally or mentally "different" about this team as opposed to last years team.

Is that because of Tony being tough on them? Idk. Maybe.

But I think and several other think that something is different (in a negative way) with these players as opposed to his previous years.

Agreed that excuses do get old - but as far as I know this is the first time anything of this sort has become public in 3 years.

 

[piratehall]

SHUPAT08 I do try to get to maybe 2 or 3 games every year. I know its not a lot so others im sure have a better handle than I do on the situation. I get where your coming from and will agree but maybe im wrong but it just seems like this could be the first time things may not be going as planned and he said what he did. I was just very surprised to read the article but that being said ill certainly listen to all the fans that are closer to the situation. Either way this is an important year for the men and women. We just have got to establish these programs as consistent winners and NCAA participants.

 

[shupat08]

I agree that it was in poor taste to go off in an article like that.

But I've had a feeling about this team for some time now - and I know one of two other posters/tix holders have as well.

Just sad.

 

[SPK145]

He sounded like a bit of a lunatic in that interview.

But he's done nothing short of a great job since he got here so he's earned some leeway.

 

[NYC Pirate]

Hall do you attend games? Honest question.

Several of us have noted since early in the season that there is something emotionally or mentally "different" about this team as opposed to last years team.

Is that because of Tony being tough on them? Idk. Maybe.

But I think and several other think that something is different (in a negative way) with these players as opposed to his previous years.

Agreed that excuses do get old - but as far as I know this is the first time anything of this sort has become public in 3 years.

I haven't been out to Walsh, but I follow the team and notice the same things. We have to remember
they've lost most of their on court leadership from last season. DD Simmons was an all-time SHU player. Daisha Simmons could take a game over. Janee Johnson made herself into a better player. Ekedigwe
gave you everything she had. Plus no Kat Eagan's tough defense and Tara Inman's intangibles. So that's alot
that's missing.

This year's team also has a good deal of talent. They are better than they've played during BigEast conference games. I guess it is possible that the gals have hit the wall late here in the season. Maybe a
few of them have stopped listening to the message. I've noticed "friendly" ball hogging this season. I've
noticed a couple of the gals shooting the ball with a lack of fundamental focus. A couple of the more
experienced players look like they are playing in an intramural game. It almost has a "Styx Mitchell" on the court feel to it. Because they don't approach every game with a sense of urgency, they fall behind or can't
create separation. That forces Tony to stay with the starters for longer minutes and he hasn't been able
to blend in the reserves that he still has available. So in essence the starters are their own worst enemies.

Tony is good guy by all accounts and he seems like he wants to help the person more than the basketball
player. He wants them to be successful in life and his assistant coaches seem to be the same way. He tossed a key player off the team last season and it hurt them on the court. He probably is caught here as he doesn't have enough debth to bench them. I personally would bench one if not a couple of these players and try them off the bench. Tony has to send a message for the program moving forward.

As far as them being tired it is possible, but as another poster mentioned, what about players on other teams? I'm so disappointed when I don't see our players running back on defense or they are not in shape
to do so. Go after rebounds with a sense of purpose and elevate the defensive intensity. Wake up girls or hand in your uniform and go do what you want in your free time!

 

[Fordham_57]

Please read this with tongue in cheek.

All women are f#%$$@@ing nuts! My advice to single guys: If you find a man with female organs, marry him.

Wonder why Bozella is having problems? Get a group of woman together and expect them to act rationally? Lots of luck.

“Why can’t a woman be like a Man” is a great song from My Fair Lady. Sure most here have heard it. Maybe younger guys haven’t.

And I married a great woman. I feel sorry for the guys who didn’t.

Ha Ha, Frank

 

[piratehall]

SPK145. Without a doubt he does deserve leeway. I guess as someone like myself who follows the program but not as close as many others it just came as a surprise reading that article. But both our teams are still in good shape for a bid.

 

[HallLine69]

I can see how it might be difficult to have the players play good 'team ball' when they rely so much on transfers. These players couldn't have had much time to mesh in the brief pre-season. No agenda here, just offering a possible cause for the problems the coach mentioned in that article.

 

[shupat08]

I can see how it might be difficult to have the players play good 'team ball' when they rely so much on transfers. These players couldn't have had much time to mesh in the brief pre-season. No agenda here, just offering a possible cause for the problems the coach mentioned in that article.

Only real transfer is Kena. She came over the summer... Aleesha was here for 2 summers and a sit out year... Same with next years Jackson. She's been here for a summer and sit out year.

 

[TheBluePirate]

He sounded like a bit of a lunatic in that interview.

But he's done nothing short of a great job since he got here so he's earned some leeway.

This tendency of the team to lose focus this year was there early on, and we've been watching very closely, game over game, and I'm betting he's been fighting this since December and it finally got to him. I think he's trying to find any darned way for the senior players to wake up, but it has gotten worse. For what it's worth, they go off the game plan (as if they didn't bother to even pay attention) immediately.

I think the only reason he played the injured Kena yesterday was that she herself could not stomach what she was seeing and was willing to thrown her own injured body onto the funeral pyre to see if it could secure a win, and begged him to let her in. And it did not help. If Kuderer was not ill, I think he would be willing to let the entire second team have the floor most of the game and let the chips fall where they may. For myself, I'd be all behind it as well.

Miracles don't happen, so we should expect being crushed by Nova tomorrow, and that should seal it the rest of the way. If that's true, I hope he keeps Powell and the second team in going forward.

 

[hallgrad80]

I can see how it might be difficult to have the players play good 'team ball' when they rely so much on transfers. These players couldn't have had much time to mesh in the brief pre-season. No agenda here, just offering a possible cause for the problems the coach mentioned in that article.

I don't buy that argument . There's no difference between a freshman and a transfer who is eligible immediately in terms of meshing with a team and for a transfer who sits a year they have that whole sit out year to " mesh" . I wouldn't use the transfers as the cause of the lack of team ball this year.

 

[shupat08]

I think you need to look at the mental and emotional steadiness of several players as a lead cause.

 

[shupat08]

I think you need to look at the mental and emotional steadiness of several players as a lead cause.

"Spirit Animals" right @TheBluePirate

 

[Burnsly]

Sounds like Kaity Healey should get some playing time.

 

[hallgrad80]

Another example of why team chemistry and playing unselfish team ball is so important to the success of a program. Tony is a good coach and he has solid assistants and if it can be fixed it will be and if it can't then it will be a difficult season and a missed opportunity to go to the Tourney.

 

[shupat08]

Nova Starters should be:

Aleesha, Mosley, Smith, Byrne, Molyneaux with Healy and Lundberg first off the bench.

 

[TheBluePirate]

Nova Starters should be:

Aleesha, Mosley, Smith, Byrne, Molyneaux with Healy and Lundberg first off the bench.

Agree with this team, minus Healy - she looks like a planned red shirt application for this year, so her first true year would be next year. And cannot wait for Kuderer to get back.

Now we're building for leadership going forward, it's vital for TT Smith to log serious minutes.

 

[TheBluePirate]

"Spirit Animals" right @TheBluePirate

Indeed.

 

[400SOAVE]

Watch this (and others) Auriemma interview and listen to how often the coaches talk about mental toughness, and the ability to make good decisions when you're dead tired.



The NCAA limits the time teams can practice. So SHU does not practice more than other programs. At least I hope they follow the rules.

Moreover, coach Smart as twice commented over the last month that some players are not following the game plan.

Whoever does not follow the game plan should simply not play.

One other problem may have been created by Bozzella. He has put a lot trust in his players and given them a lot freedom to make decisions (within the game plan.)

The problem with that is human beings tend to take advantage of people. They give you an inch and you try to take a foot.

Perhaps some people just need constant instruction and guidance. They may not be ready for too much independent thought.

TRS can and should be the leader of the team. She has great ability. She sets the tone. Yet her shot selection for most of the season has been abysmal. She's a great passer yet she barely passes anymore.

If she thinks the WNBA will not notice, she's crazy. She's hurting herself and the team.

Why does every shot have to be a bomb? A made 10-footer is much better than a missed 30-footer.

If your shot is off then pass and rebound like a beast. She's probably the best rebounder on the team. Rebounding is as important as scoring.

I'm not saying she's doing it on purpose. She just need to recognize that she's hurting the team and herself.

 

[400SOAVE]

BTW, I assume that Healy will redshirt. Correct?

 

[TheBluePirate]

400, yes to your question on Healy. And your points on Tab are absolutely on the money. We have hammered the living daylights out of our magnificent Isaiah but he has made superb strides in learning about ball distribution and it shows in team play. The WBB during the big run was a pass first team, now they've regressed into a dribble and wait team, chuck and hope. It's very sad to see this happen. You have nailed it, in my view (and I'm sure Pat concurs).

 

[ArtieLange9]

This is the issue with taking so many transfers. A lot of times transfers are not the mentally strongest players because they already "quit" one situation. 1 transfer every few years is ok, but to base a lot of your recruiting on them is risky.

 

[shupat08]

And without transfers we wouldn't be looking at our 3rd 20 win season.

But Aleesha and Kena are not the issues this year (as far as I can tell)... And Johnson and Daisha were not issues either.

 

[TheBluePirate]

Maybe, as with any endeavor, talent is not indicative of leadership.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

I agree that it was in poor taste to go off in an article like that.

But I've had a feeling about this team for some time now - and I know one of two other posters/tix holders have as well.

Just sad.

He may just be trying to light a fire under their asses as nothing else seems to be working. Aside from Powell the rest of the upper-class men seem to be slacking off. The younger kids play hard. Start them alongside Powell. The talent is there but for whatever reason they are not executing. Earlier in the season the seniors/starters had a meeting and stayed late in the gym. It was after the last losing streak and the girls won the next game. What's dropped off since then? Do they need to pull themselves together again, possibly with the entire team this time? Where is the senior leadership, especially from Richardson-Smith?

 

[shupat08]

Your last sentence/question is a big one, NJsTeam.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

When he first came here things were going well and last year we made the NCAAS. Just hoping he is not the type of coach that when things get tough he starts blaming the players which seems to be the case or making excuses. He apparently was at Seton Hall when PJ was the coach and I believe when first hired fancies himself after PJ. All I will say is the yelling and excuse making get old fast and ill leave it at that.

Coach Bozzella has always given the team credit for every success and taken the blame when they have fallen short. This is the first time he has really called them out.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Agree with this team, minus Healy - she looks like a planned red shirt application for this year, so her first true year would be next year. And cannot wait for Kuderer to get back.

Now we're building for leadership going forward, it's vital for TT Smith to log serious minutes.

Agreed. Also, it's not fair to Healy to burn her redshirt year because some of the seniors can't get their heads out of their asses.

 

[TheBluePirate]

Agreed. Also, it's not fair to Healy to burn her redshirt year because some of the seniors can't get their heads out of their asses.

EXACTLY. Completely aligned with that.

 

[shupat08]

Oversight by me on her redshirt year. She played sparingly in a game or two early I remember. Didn't realize she was still RS eligible.

 

[hallgrad80]

This is the issue with taking so many transfers. A lot of times transfers are not the mentally strongest players because they already "quit" one situation. 1 transfer every few years is ok, but to base a lot of your recruiting on them is risky.

Artie not only do I have to disagree with your view on but I also think it's unfair to even suggest that because you're a transfer a player has "quit" one situation. There are three pools of talent that coaches draw from, I.e. High School, Junior College and the fastest growing one, transfers.

Would that player be justified in transferring from a team coached by , for example,by either of two former RU coaches whose conduct got them fired or from a former Indiana coach who threw chairs on the court during a game and many more I could name. When an employee leaves for another job that he or she feels is a better situation should they be tainted because they wanted a change.

It's not the pool of talent that a player comes from its the character, integrity and persona of that player that determines whether that player is team oriented, good in the locker room , works hard and does what the coaches ask of them. No matter which pool that player comes from and no matter how deligent a coach is you'll sometimes have to conclude that some players never get with the program .

 

[TheBluePirate]

Oversight by me on her redshirt year. She played sparingly in a game or two early I remember. Didn't realize she was still RS eligible.

She got in for a minute or two in one very early game. It was one of those early afternoon games where I sat behind the bench. The behind the scenes view then was that she would red shirt.

Molyneaux definitely benefitted from the red shirt, so my hope for Healy is the same.

 

[TheBluePirate]

She got in for a minute or two in one very early game. It was one of those early afternoon games where I sat behind the bench. The behind the scenes view then was that she would red shirt.

Molyneaux definitely benefitted from the red shirt, so my hope for Healy is the same.

Now that I think of it, I think it was one of the scrimmage games, and even then it was hardly but a blip.

Anyhow, I went through the article again. It explains why we started seeing the "go off game plan" behavior last month. Cannot forget coach Jones-Smart losing her mind at the halftime BEDN interview with the simple declaration that we have no idea what they are doing, not following the offensive game plan, not following the defensive game plan. And with that she concluded the interview.

From that moment forward, we were still winning games, but with these strange lapse quarters. Then, we went into Chicago and beat DePaul - and it seemed like we were going to chase for the very top. Went on to Marquette and booted that game and have been in the spiral ever since. It's like that DePaul game was "good enough" and there was nothing more to play for. Yikes.

The question of senior leadership is crucial. Without the senior leaders bringing everyone forward on the mission, the rest of the team will likely remain content to go along with whatever the flow is. I looked at the bench last game during game play, and everyone was staring out into space, a separate space, somewhere. There is absolutely no team right now. I hate to say it, but I think I have to look at Tabitha Richardson-Smith.