In no particular order
1. The defense never rests.
Since Powell went down and now that he's back the Hall's D had dominated 4 straight opponents holding each FAR below their season's averages.
2. Speaking of defense, major kudos to Myles Cale. I'm sure that most fans will laud him for his offensive outburst in the first half, and rightly so. But he set the tone on D doing the best job of any Pirate holding down Georgetown's star McClung. His height and quickness made it very difficult for McClung to comfortably get his shot off.
3. Staying with Myles...asked him how he felt being on fire and sitting as coach gave him a blow. At first he said I do whatever coach wants so I had no problem sitting. Then the truth came out when he said but yeah, I could't wait to get back in. Adding he heard the crowd "go nuts" every time he hit a shot from the arc.
4. McClung statistically had a poor game and has punk like qualities at times on the court.....but he's the kind of player you love when he's on your team.
Ditto Pickett, who has game. Not the punk part, but the on your team comment.
5. I know last season in my evaluation of Gill I bucked the tide noting I thought he was somewhat disappointing based on watching him in the media practice open to reporters. Now I think we're seeing what I meant. I absolutely love big guys who disrupt opposing offenses. And when the competing roster has a big man that's when Gill is a force.
His manning up to Yurtseven and forcing him to fade away on his shots all night reminded me of a conversation I had with Delgado a couple of years back when he told me I can't push him off the blocks. He's too strong so I have to use my quickness to beat him down low.
6. Georgetown, the best free throw shooting team in the conference vs SHU, the second worst resulted in the obvious result. No wait! Never mind.
7. Halldan, "any lingering effects from your concussion"?
Powell, " I don't even give it a thought. I am 100% concussion symptoms free."
8. The Shot Doctor.
Asked Myles Cale was his efforts the last two games from the arc just a matter of hard work and confidence and he said partly, but added that Kevin Willard saw something in his shot (release point too low) and has been working him hard for weeks to correct it and it's finally paying dividends.
9. Pick and Roll. Choose your poison.
Most teams have been ignoring the roll and concentrating on the pick. Georgetown was very aggressive last night on the shooters but paid the price inside to the tune of Gil scoring on 6 inside baskets and a slew of foul shots.
10. The unsung hero.
I think our fans have finally put to bed the Nelson must start at the point stuff. It might have taken far longer than it should have but Quincy McKnight is at long last starting to get the love he deserves. Hell, he even had a pound his own chest comment (said with a big smile) when he noted I was trying to get a triple/double, but the damn ball kept bouncing on the other side of the basket the last ten minutes of the game, adding that his teammates made him aware of his potential accomplishment.
11. Staying with McKnight.
1. I wish I knew he had the flu when I was interviewing him from close range. Was wondering why he was so bundled up in the post game.
2. We should all be so sick at our jobs.
12. Feel good moment.
The National Anthem. How great was the old Irish gentlemen? Loved his fist pump at the conclusion of the song.
13. Is it me or is the 'undefeated' Brian Custer rooting for Seton Hall.
14. Balancing the scales of 'justice'
Haven't watched the game on replay yet but I did fast forward to the fight as I couldn't see anything from where I was sitting.
The refs throwing out Avent and Brodie was beyond comical. They were already on the court before the skirmish broke out as a timeout was called. Avent took a baby step forward toward the scrum, but was nowhere near it and did basically nothing. Brodie probably did even less putting his arms out holding back teammates. Yet both got ejected. Obviously a let's even things up move by the refs, who because everything happened on the Pirates side of the court had to disciple the Hoyas players who came to the defense of their teammates.
15. When your staring point guard plays a by far team leading 35 1/2 minutes and has no turnovers it's unconscionable to commit 17 by the rest of the roster. One of the very few negatives last night for the Pirates.
16. Another one was the unfocused play by Anthony Nelson who shined when Powell went down and he was forced into a starting role. Guess he plays better knowing he will get the opportunity to play through his mistakes.
17. On a personal note got the chance to talk to Tim McLoone for the first time. We sat together in the pregame for about 15 minutes. What an incredibly nice person. I knew of him and heard great things, but talking to him and sharing some Raft stories along with Matt Loughlin, highlighted my evening. Talk about all class. You can instantly note that he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.
18. Staying on a personal note I want to give a major shout out to poster Mike Walsh. You'll remember Mike from his post about his daughter Hannah who has Down Syndrome and his appreciation for what SHU meant to them and how the team and staff treated Hannah at the school's Christmas party.
Well I met them for the first time last night before the game and Mike has done a great job with Hannah. He should be so proud of her. Raised a great young lady under difficult circumstances.
Well done Mike and well done Hannah.
19. What the hell is Willard thinking when he has Powell shooting the Ts? Clearly it should be the big guy, Romero Gill. Have to question coach in the next post game.
20. Leaving on a positive note with a question
If we stay healthy, how good can this team be when Sandro Mamukelashvili returns?
1. The defense never rests.
Since Powell went down and now that he's back the Hall's D had dominated 4 straight opponents holding each FAR below their season's averages.
2. Speaking of defense, major kudos to Myles Cale. I'm sure that most fans will laud him for his offensive outburst in the first half, and rightly so. But he set the tone on D doing the best job of any Pirate holding down Georgetown's star McClung. His height and quickness made it very difficult for McClung to comfortably get his shot off.
3. Staying with Myles...asked him how he felt being on fire and sitting as coach gave him a blow. At first he said I do whatever coach wants so I had no problem sitting. Then the truth came out when he said but yeah, I could't wait to get back in. Adding he heard the crowd "go nuts" every time he hit a shot from the arc.
4. McClung statistically had a poor game and has punk like qualities at times on the court.....but he's the kind of player you love when he's on your team.
Ditto Pickett, who has game. Not the punk part, but the on your team comment.
5. I know last season in my evaluation of Gill I bucked the tide noting I thought he was somewhat disappointing based on watching him in the media practice open to reporters. Now I think we're seeing what I meant. I absolutely love big guys who disrupt opposing offenses. And when the competing roster has a big man that's when Gill is a force.
His manning up to Yurtseven and forcing him to fade away on his shots all night reminded me of a conversation I had with Delgado a couple of years back when he told me I can't push him off the blocks. He's too strong so I have to use my quickness to beat him down low.
6. Georgetown, the best free throw shooting team in the conference vs SHU, the second worst resulted in the obvious result. No wait! Never mind.
7. Halldan, "any lingering effects from your concussion"?
Powell, " I don't even give it a thought. I am 100% concussion symptoms free."
8. The Shot Doctor.
Asked Myles Cale was his efforts the last two games from the arc just a matter of hard work and confidence and he said partly, but added that Kevin Willard saw something in his shot (release point too low) and has been working him hard for weeks to correct it and it's finally paying dividends.
9. Pick and Roll. Choose your poison.
Most teams have been ignoring the roll and concentrating on the pick. Georgetown was very aggressive last night on the shooters but paid the price inside to the tune of Gil scoring on 6 inside baskets and a slew of foul shots.
10. The unsung hero.
I think our fans have finally put to bed the Nelson must start at the point stuff. It might have taken far longer than it should have but Quincy McKnight is at long last starting to get the love he deserves. Hell, he even had a pound his own chest comment (said with a big smile) when he noted I was trying to get a triple/double, but the damn ball kept bouncing on the other side of the basket the last ten minutes of the game, adding that his teammates made him aware of his potential accomplishment.
11. Staying with McKnight.
1. I wish I knew he had the flu when I was interviewing him from close range. Was wondering why he was so bundled up in the post game.
2. We should all be so sick at our jobs.
12. Feel good moment.
The National Anthem. How great was the old Irish gentlemen? Loved his fist pump at the conclusion of the song.
13. Is it me or is the 'undefeated' Brian Custer rooting for Seton Hall.
14. Balancing the scales of 'justice'
Haven't watched the game on replay yet but I did fast forward to the fight as I couldn't see anything from where I was sitting.
The refs throwing out Avent and Brodie was beyond comical. They were already on the court before the skirmish broke out as a timeout was called. Avent took a baby step forward toward the scrum, but was nowhere near it and did basically nothing. Brodie probably did even less putting his arms out holding back teammates. Yet both got ejected. Obviously a let's even things up move by the refs, who because everything happened on the Pirates side of the court had to disciple the Hoyas players who came to the defense of their teammates.
15. When your staring point guard plays a by far team leading 35 1/2 minutes and has no turnovers it's unconscionable to commit 17 by the rest of the roster. One of the very few negatives last night for the Pirates.
16. Another one was the unfocused play by Anthony Nelson who shined when Powell went down and he was forced into a starting role. Guess he plays better knowing he will get the opportunity to play through his mistakes.
17. On a personal note got the chance to talk to Tim McLoone for the first time. We sat together in the pregame for about 15 minutes. What an incredibly nice person. I knew of him and heard great things, but talking to him and sharing some Raft stories along with Matt Loughlin, highlighted my evening. Talk about all class. You can instantly note that he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.
18. Staying on a personal note I want to give a major shout out to poster Mike Walsh. You'll remember Mike from his post about his daughter Hannah who has Down Syndrome and his appreciation for what SHU meant to them and how the team and staff treated Hannah at the school's Christmas party.
Well I met them for the first time last night before the game and Mike has done a great job with Hannah. He should be so proud of her. Raised a great young lady under difficult circumstances.
Well done Mike and well done Hannah.
19. What the hell is Willard thinking when he has Powell shooting the Ts? Clearly it should be the big guy, Romero Gill. Have to question coach in the next post game.
20. Leaving on a positive note with a question
If we stay healthy, how good can this team be when Sandro Mamukelashvili returns?
