So nice to be able to relax with 15 minutes left in the game after so many nailbiters. Now for my takeaways....
1. Setting the 'record' straight.
Kevin Willard does not have 20 wins this season. One of the agreements made with the NCAA regarding his suspension was that he would not be credited with the result of the game he sat out. Meaning that Willard has 19 wins this season and Grant Billmeier 1.
2. Mamuuuuu
Never about the talent. Always been about the confidence. Heck, even the player himself has said that multiple times.
Halldan: You started the game with confidence. That seemed evident to the eye.
Mamu: Definitely. That had a lot to do with the game we just played (Butler). I took that good feeling into this game.
Halldan: Did that have anything to do with your coast to coast?
Mamu: Yeah, my favorite play of the game.
Halldan: You talked about confidence from the last game. Was that from your game winner, the huge 3 point shot you hit late down one, or your overall play?
Mamu: Without a doubt the game winner.
3. Wire to wire
Been a while since the Hall got off to a good start.
Credit the defensive effort as well as the Storm not being able to throw the ball into the ocean. Only two layups, one off an offensive rebound and the other a steal, prevented the Johnnies from going an embarrassing 6 minutes to start the game with no points.
4. Bob Ley, a freshmen when I was a senior at the Hall was honored during the game. How bad was it back then for the both of us? Well. here's Ley's own words via Jerry Carino....
When asked to pinpoint his most memorable moment as a WSOU broadcaster, Ley recalled a 94-90 win over Saint Peter’s at Madison Square Garden that clinched a berth in the 1974 NIT. It was a such a big deal at the time, he said, that students went streaking across campus in celebration.
BTW, streaking was a big deal back then and let's just say some frats made it 'mandatory' that their pledges partake in the fad. Modesty prevents me from giving details.
5. Sharing is Caring
27 baskets aided by 19 assists. Many on alley oop baskets by the bigs.
Clearly Willard's message a few games ago about going back to the big men inside when the defense focuses on Powell has been received.
6. With that thought in mind I asked Ro Gill about the chemistry that seems to be involved with the lobs. He noted that yeah we practice that a lot but now it's becoming second nature. We just know when to do it, usually off the pick and roll. Don't even have to make eye contact, it just comes naturally.
7. Staying with Ro,. He was asked who is the loudest player in practice? Take a guess and I'll assure you you won't answer correctly.
* (Answer at the bottom of this page)
8. Young readers won't find this fascinating. But those of us that go back to the Mullin era would have been shocked if told back then that the Hall would be on a 15-1 streak in games where the Red Storm play AT Seton Hall.
9. Motor skills?
There's no secret that no one cares more about Myles Powell then his head coach. Recently Kevin Willard is no longer pushing his star 2 guard as the best player in the country, instead focusing on his shooting slump and offering these narratives.
1. Myles is working through knee tendentious .
2. Myles is still feeling the effects of his concussion. He's 100% over it physically. But he then adds in his opinion his motor skills are still being affected and that's one of the reasons he is struggling with his shot.
10. The remedy.....well lots of one on one work between the two early in the morning. Not surprising when you consider that Willard is up every morning and at SHU by 6AM and that Powell is a self proclaimed workaholic.
If the Pirates are going to go far in the Dance Powell is going to have to become Powell again. The player we haven't seen for more than just a few glimpses in the last two months.
11. Despite Q telling me he was 100% when I asked him after the Butler game regarding his knee his head coach paints a different picture. Willard said that not only was Powell suffering from tendentious, but McKnight was as well. Adding that the bye, something he might not want right now is probably very good for those two players.
12. Spoke to Fred Hill after the game. Knowing how important match-ups will be for the Hall in the Tournament I asked him if there was a team he wouldn't want to play. He gave it about a seconds thought and said Florida State. Thinks their offense is top notch and they play just enough D to beat anyone in the country.
13. Staying with Hill...I asked him a question about the proposed 'free agency' in college basketball and his answer (one I strongly disagree with which led to a excellent debate) shocked me.
Freddy believes that when and if the new transfer rule goes into effect there will be less, not more transfers than we have seen in recent years.
14, One more time
Fred Hill is such a knowledgeable basketball person that I want to add this as well....Hill noted that now that he no longer coaches he has all the time in the world to watch college BB on the tube. Stating that he watches as many as 5 games a night and because of that he has a great feel for all the high majors in the country seeing most of them at least 4-5 times this season.
With that thought in mind Hill stated that he strongly believes that as many as 40 teams could go home with the championship trophy at season's end. And it would not surprise him at all if one of the lower ranked team near the 30-40 category plays in the Final Four.
15. Blood brothers?
Blood on the court, but brothers off.
Powell when asked about playing Marquette Saturday noted that he is so happy for Marcus Howard and that he will love seeing in person the tribute Marquette will be giving to his close friend.
Powell then added it's possible that someone (he wasn't specific) will be doing a feature leading up to the game with him and Howard.
16. Fresh legs late in the season are important!
Or are they? Willard did something very unusual for him in late February. He had a 2 1/2 hour practice Saturday, 24 hours before the St John's game.
Why? Well in Willard's own words when asked about his team, "no one knows them better than me,"
17. In the last game vs St John's turnovers were the story. The Pirates committed 15 in the first half which led to their being down 13 at intermission. And then committed just 4 more in period number two outscoring the opponent by 16 points.
After the game I was sure that the turnover count would be low. Maybe in the 11-12 range. To my surprise that wasn't the case as the Hall gave the ball up 17 times.
Personally I just didn't see that and looking at the stat sheet afterwards the Hall did outscore the Johnnies off turnovers despite committing 3 more.
Guess when a team shoots less than 34% from the field that's going to happen.
18. The bugaboo strikes again.
Next to injuries and Powell not being Powell nothing scares me more than giving up second chance points. Like St John's 16, Seton Hall 9. That despite the huge advantage in size the Pirates had.
19. Q the warrior.
When he was taken out of the game because of his knee for the second time I thought that was the end of his day. Especially as he limped badly to the bench. But then minutes later he went to the stationary bike behind the bench and I though that a good sign. But not one leading to his coming back into the game.
I will say this....I was very surprised that he came back, but even more surprised that KW kept him in so long and then after taking him out late reinserted him back as St John's was making the score look respectable.
Guess the NET is influencing decision making by coaches throughout the country.
20. Stats do lie
Plus/Minus
Reynolds -1
Nelson +1
*The loudest player in practice as noted by Romero Gill is himself. He said no one is louder than I am. But it's just encouragement. When the word intensity was added then he said it's Q. He's always encouraging players, but if he sees something that must be addressed he addresses it, no matter who it is.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
1. Setting the 'record' straight.
Kevin Willard does not have 20 wins this season. One of the agreements made with the NCAA regarding his suspension was that he would not be credited with the result of the game he sat out. Meaning that Willard has 19 wins this season and Grant Billmeier 1.
2. Mamuuuuu
Never about the talent. Always been about the confidence. Heck, even the player himself has said that multiple times.
Halldan: You started the game with confidence. That seemed evident to the eye.
Mamu: Definitely. That had a lot to do with the game we just played (Butler). I took that good feeling into this game.
Halldan: Did that have anything to do with your coast to coast?
Mamu: Yeah, my favorite play of the game.
Halldan: You talked about confidence from the last game. Was that from your game winner, the huge 3 point shot you hit late down one, or your overall play?
Mamu: Without a doubt the game winner.
3. Wire to wire
Been a while since the Hall got off to a good start.
Credit the defensive effort as well as the Storm not being able to throw the ball into the ocean. Only two layups, one off an offensive rebound and the other a steal, prevented the Johnnies from going an embarrassing 6 minutes to start the game with no points.
4. Bob Ley, a freshmen when I was a senior at the Hall was honored during the game. How bad was it back then for the both of us? Well. here's Ley's own words via Jerry Carino....
When asked to pinpoint his most memorable moment as a WSOU broadcaster, Ley recalled a 94-90 win over Saint Peter’s at Madison Square Garden that clinched a berth in the 1974 NIT. It was a such a big deal at the time, he said, that students went streaking across campus in celebration.
BTW, streaking was a big deal back then and let's just say some frats made it 'mandatory' that their pledges partake in the fad. Modesty prevents me from giving details.
5. Sharing is Caring
27 baskets aided by 19 assists. Many on alley oop baskets by the bigs.
Clearly Willard's message a few games ago about going back to the big men inside when the defense focuses on Powell has been received.
6. With that thought in mind I asked Ro Gill about the chemistry that seems to be involved with the lobs. He noted that yeah we practice that a lot but now it's becoming second nature. We just know when to do it, usually off the pick and roll. Don't even have to make eye contact, it just comes naturally.
7. Staying with Ro,. He was asked who is the loudest player in practice? Take a guess and I'll assure you you won't answer correctly.
* (Answer at the bottom of this page)
8. Young readers won't find this fascinating. But those of us that go back to the Mullin era would have been shocked if told back then that the Hall would be on a 15-1 streak in games where the Red Storm play AT Seton Hall.
9. Motor skills?
There's no secret that no one cares more about Myles Powell then his head coach. Recently Kevin Willard is no longer pushing his star 2 guard as the best player in the country, instead focusing on his shooting slump and offering these narratives.
1. Myles is working through knee tendentious .
2. Myles is still feeling the effects of his concussion. He's 100% over it physically. But he then adds in his opinion his motor skills are still being affected and that's one of the reasons he is struggling with his shot.
10. The remedy.....well lots of one on one work between the two early in the morning. Not surprising when you consider that Willard is up every morning and at SHU by 6AM and that Powell is a self proclaimed workaholic.
If the Pirates are going to go far in the Dance Powell is going to have to become Powell again. The player we haven't seen for more than just a few glimpses in the last two months.
11. Despite Q telling me he was 100% when I asked him after the Butler game regarding his knee his head coach paints a different picture. Willard said that not only was Powell suffering from tendentious, but McKnight was as well. Adding that the bye, something he might not want right now is probably very good for those two players.
12. Spoke to Fred Hill after the game. Knowing how important match-ups will be for the Hall in the Tournament I asked him if there was a team he wouldn't want to play. He gave it about a seconds thought and said Florida State. Thinks their offense is top notch and they play just enough D to beat anyone in the country.
13. Staying with Hill...I asked him a question about the proposed 'free agency' in college basketball and his answer (one I strongly disagree with which led to a excellent debate) shocked me.
Freddy believes that when and if the new transfer rule goes into effect there will be less, not more transfers than we have seen in recent years.
14, One more time
Fred Hill is such a knowledgeable basketball person that I want to add this as well....Hill noted that now that he no longer coaches he has all the time in the world to watch college BB on the tube. Stating that he watches as many as 5 games a night and because of that he has a great feel for all the high majors in the country seeing most of them at least 4-5 times this season.
With that thought in mind Hill stated that he strongly believes that as many as 40 teams could go home with the championship trophy at season's end. And it would not surprise him at all if one of the lower ranked team near the 30-40 category plays in the Final Four.
15. Blood brothers?
Blood on the court, but brothers off.
Powell when asked about playing Marquette Saturday noted that he is so happy for Marcus Howard and that he will love seeing in person the tribute Marquette will be giving to his close friend.
Powell then added it's possible that someone (he wasn't specific) will be doing a feature leading up to the game with him and Howard.
16. Fresh legs late in the season are important!
Or are they? Willard did something very unusual for him in late February. He had a 2 1/2 hour practice Saturday, 24 hours before the St John's game.
Why? Well in Willard's own words when asked about his team, "no one knows them better than me,"
17. In the last game vs St John's turnovers were the story. The Pirates committed 15 in the first half which led to their being down 13 at intermission. And then committed just 4 more in period number two outscoring the opponent by 16 points.
After the game I was sure that the turnover count would be low. Maybe in the 11-12 range. To my surprise that wasn't the case as the Hall gave the ball up 17 times.
Personally I just didn't see that and looking at the stat sheet afterwards the Hall did outscore the Johnnies off turnovers despite committing 3 more.
Guess when a team shoots less than 34% from the field that's going to happen.
18. The bugaboo strikes again.
Next to injuries and Powell not being Powell nothing scares me more than giving up second chance points. Like St John's 16, Seton Hall 9. That despite the huge advantage in size the Pirates had.
19. Q the warrior.
When he was taken out of the game because of his knee for the second time I thought that was the end of his day. Especially as he limped badly to the bench. But then minutes later he went to the stationary bike behind the bench and I though that a good sign. But not one leading to his coming back into the game.
I will say this....I was very surprised that he came back, but even more surprised that KW kept him in so long and then after taking him out late reinserted him back as St John's was making the score look respectable.
Guess the NET is influencing decision making by coaches throughout the country.
20. Stats do lie
Plus/Minus
Reynolds -1
Nelson +1
*The loudest player in practice as noted by Romero Gill is himself. He said no one is louder than I am. But it's just encouragement. When the word intensity was added then he said it's Q. He's always encouraging players, but if he sees something that must be addressed he addresses it, no matter who it is.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
