Really frustrating to watch what unfolded Sunday. I knew it was a potential trap game, since Siena plays hard and Carm Maciarello had good success against Sha last year. Add that to a 5pm consolation on the last day of the trip and you have to be laser focused. We were anything but that. Watching that game literally had my stomach in knots. My wife asked why I put myself through that. She knows the game, and it was hard for her to watch. We started out well, and trust me, Siena was on their heels and a little intimidated. But we let them back in with that run they went on, because they played harder, we never once put a body on someone to block out on defensive glass, they dug out 50/50 balls, and we carelessly threw away passes possession after possession. I counted at least 4 straight possessions where we never got a shot off. They gained confidence, and we looked like we wanted to be anywhere but there. I could feel Sha's pain. He was watching a disastrous game unfolding, and literally could do nothing to stop it.
I'll double down on what I posted last week. This is a team that in its construction, is redundant and not well designed. You have a group of good sized athletic wings, but very little skill and three point shooting, and a dubious hoops IQ and feel for the game. Add that to no true point guard or low post presence, and the on court play has to be flawless for this team to be successful. Either that, or you find a way to impose your will on the opponent, and actually turn these games into street fights for 40 minutes. We have to value the ball and each possession, and communicate more effectively on switches and rotations defensively in the half court. and for goodness sake, please box out. Watching the ragged and sloppy play up and down the court reminded me of some of the games at IS8 back in the day.
I think Femi and Dawes play hard. That's not in question. And when he was active, so did Dre Davis. Samuel has been good at both ends, but it appears he can get fatigued at times by the wear and tear. He still needs to be on the floor more. Yetna is a big loss. He could have single handedly willed this team to victory on Sunday if he was healthy by finishing around the rim and preventing second chance points. But what do all our players really provide? I think Richmond lacks a true position and is miscast as a ball handler. He is a strong, athletic wing who could be a lockdown defender but isn't proficient offensively and has a poor assist to turnover ratio. Too many careless, risky passes. You'd have to hide him offensively. Tray Jackson lacks the skill level and lateral movement to be a full time wing, and is not strong enough to play the post. Right now, he's your backup 5. Jamir Harris has had his moments, but had a game to forget Sunday. Very up and down from game to game. Against Siena, he didn't appear to be able to catch, dribble, or pass and his shot was absent. Tae Davis will be very good at some point, but he's being forced into a major role early in his career so it will take time. Femi is in the Richmond mold, but he's a better +/- kid and he is more consistent in his effort and protecting the ball. Dawes is an energizer type who can hit the three and find ways to score. More of a two guard in a point guard frame, but could be a lead guard with support. Ndefo is a try hard kid who will defend multiple positions, but can't be given too much freedom offensively. He's also closer to 6'5 than his listed 6'7 btw. And as a side note, I coached against Ndefo's little brother this summer. Think he's a 2024. About the same size, maybe a bit bigger, but more a true wing and ridiculously athletic. Sha would be wise to recruit him.
What it all adds up to is a team that really has to lock down defensively and communicate well on that end, protect the defensive backboard at all costs, and value the ball and possessions much more. The on court product won't always be pretty, but they can find a way to win games. Our assistant coaches will have to work overtime on the skill and drill, and really teaching the game from fundamentals on up. It's not hopeless, but it will take a lot of work. I also think Sha had to recruit on the fly, and chemistry can be difficult with so many new faces. Not sure what is going on internally with this team, and that could have an effect moving forward, but I hope they work it out and find their footing. Sha is a guy that has played and coached at a high level, so he knows what it takes to win. But the Big East is essentially the equivalent of a Power 5 conference most years, and kids have to accept roles and be able to bring a particular skill or skillset that helps us win. Guards win a lot of games at this level, and I'm not sure we have a kid who can create a shot and get a big bucket when we need it, or can put the team on their shoulders for a stretch. As much as the Kansas game is on everyone's minds, the true litmus test for what this season will be is the Rutgers game. They are an extremely well coached, tough physical team that knows how to play. The last few years, they've only had a few offensive weapons like Harper and Omeruyi, but they find a way to win games. That's kind of the model for us this year. So I'm interested to see how that game goes. Hoping we can get this turned around, because this is such a passionate fan base that deserves a winner.
I'll double down on what I posted last week. This is a team that in its construction, is redundant and not well designed. You have a group of good sized athletic wings, but very little skill and three point shooting, and a dubious hoops IQ and feel for the game. Add that to no true point guard or low post presence, and the on court play has to be flawless for this team to be successful. Either that, or you find a way to impose your will on the opponent, and actually turn these games into street fights for 40 minutes. We have to value the ball and each possession, and communicate more effectively on switches and rotations defensively in the half court. and for goodness sake, please box out. Watching the ragged and sloppy play up and down the court reminded me of some of the games at IS8 back in the day.
I think Femi and Dawes play hard. That's not in question. And when he was active, so did Dre Davis. Samuel has been good at both ends, but it appears he can get fatigued at times by the wear and tear. He still needs to be on the floor more. Yetna is a big loss. He could have single handedly willed this team to victory on Sunday if he was healthy by finishing around the rim and preventing second chance points. But what do all our players really provide? I think Richmond lacks a true position and is miscast as a ball handler. He is a strong, athletic wing who could be a lockdown defender but isn't proficient offensively and has a poor assist to turnover ratio. Too many careless, risky passes. You'd have to hide him offensively. Tray Jackson lacks the skill level and lateral movement to be a full time wing, and is not strong enough to play the post. Right now, he's your backup 5. Jamir Harris has had his moments, but had a game to forget Sunday. Very up and down from game to game. Against Siena, he didn't appear to be able to catch, dribble, or pass and his shot was absent. Tae Davis will be very good at some point, but he's being forced into a major role early in his career so it will take time. Femi is in the Richmond mold, but he's a better +/- kid and he is more consistent in his effort and protecting the ball. Dawes is an energizer type who can hit the three and find ways to score. More of a two guard in a point guard frame, but could be a lead guard with support. Ndefo is a try hard kid who will defend multiple positions, but can't be given too much freedom offensively. He's also closer to 6'5 than his listed 6'7 btw. And as a side note, I coached against Ndefo's little brother this summer. Think he's a 2024. About the same size, maybe a bit bigger, but more a true wing and ridiculously athletic. Sha would be wise to recruit him.
What it all adds up to is a team that really has to lock down defensively and communicate well on that end, protect the defensive backboard at all costs, and value the ball and possessions much more. The on court product won't always be pretty, but they can find a way to win games. Our assistant coaches will have to work overtime on the skill and drill, and really teaching the game from fundamentals on up. It's not hopeless, but it will take a lot of work. I also think Sha had to recruit on the fly, and chemistry can be difficult with so many new faces. Not sure what is going on internally with this team, and that could have an effect moving forward, but I hope they work it out and find their footing. Sha is a guy that has played and coached at a high level, so he knows what it takes to win. But the Big East is essentially the equivalent of a Power 5 conference most years, and kids have to accept roles and be able to bring a particular skill or skillset that helps us win. Guards win a lot of games at this level, and I'm not sure we have a kid who can create a shot and get a big bucket when we need it, or can put the team on their shoulders for a stretch. As much as the Kansas game is on everyone's minds, the true litmus test for what this season will be is the Rutgers game. They are an extremely well coached, tough physical team that knows how to play. The last few years, they've only had a few offensive weapons like Harper and Omeruyi, but they find a way to win games. That's kind of the model for us this year. So I'm interested to see how that game goes. Hoping we can get this turned around, because this is such a passionate fan base that deserves a winner.
