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WBB: Observations from Victory over Fordham

TheBluePirate

TheBluePirate

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Well - it was not easy - there seems to be some kind of funk that Tab and Tiff are working through and it's not clear what it is. However, we have some outstanding hardworking performances to make the difference.

My strength is not game recap at large - hopefully my buddy Pat will tag team with me on this thread - to share observations.

I'll post this to start the thread and then add to it.
 
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The player who is currently growing the most right now is Jordan Molyneaux.

She is getting more and more minutes and making good use of them - even coming in some of the stretch as sixth man during this game. Here are things I see with her:
  • Coach B swapped Gordon and Jones out and brought Molyneaux and Byrne in together. I had not seen that particular regular swap move - but it's possible precisely because Molyneaux is making a ton of progress (and we already knew of Byrne).
  • During that first swap in, Fordham was putting it to our team pretty well. A three-on-one suddenly developed with only Molyneaux back - I'm expecting an immediate foul and faked out of position. No! She simultaneously placed herself in the best disruptive position while making a deke move of her own - the instant she did that, the driving point was faked out and she travelled. Totally fantastic stop (without even having to draw a charge).
  • Additionally, she got stops with blocks and deflections from the side and even the behind - she has fast hands - faster than I expected.
  • Lastly, during a key time out, she was front and center with Tony B and animatedly participating in the conversation for the play being discussed. That told me she had her head completely in the game. This is a huge development for us long term.
My buddy Pat dropped by at half time and we had a number of shared observations - he noticed that the movement of Fordham was such that Gordon would be forced to move out towards the perimeter to guard number 24 who was killing it for the Rams - but that this would not play into her strength. Tony shifted to small in the second half - a really strong adjustment - allowing Tiff and Mosley to attack number 24 - but also make it harder for the Rams to make a lot out of possession - we pushed shot clock violations in a big way in the second half. Kudos to Tony for the shift and for the bench - especially Mosley.

Powell with her rocket shoes is just totally awesome. Man. She was working non-stop on her free throws before the game. It paid off. During the last few minutes, Fordham and three fouls to give and Tony had the ball inbounded to Tab for two of the fouls - focus went on Tab of course and for the fifth foul, the play was to Powell who was easily free - and she knocked down the free throws.

All in all - this was a grind it out - work your way through the funk game - and it was a solid effort in terms of making the way forward.
 
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My first thought is... THANK GOD FOR ALEESHA POWELL!!!!! 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a handful of steals... Aleesha kept us in the first half with 10 points and blew the doors off of Fordham in the 3rd quarter with a barrage of floating layups and 3s.

Shakena had a funky first half (she seems to have a bum shoulder - non shooting shoulder)... She came on strong in the 2nd half with 18 points, 4 assists.

JORDAN MOSLEY!!! 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 assist... Why the caps & exclamations you ask? She played LOCKDOWN defense in the 2nd half and played almost the entire 2nd half. Shutting down whichever outside shooter she was covering at the moment.

Tab & Tiff... Funks... But they try and try even in their funks... Tiff & Tab played great D in the 2nd half as a 5 & 4 on the court.

Great job by Tony recognizing the mismatches Fordham had and playing to stop their mismatches - which equaled an advantage for us.... Switching Tiff & Lubirdia's defensive assignments... Playing smaller with Tiff at the 5 and Tab at the 4 with Jordan/Aleesha/Kena/TT in a 3 guard rotation.

Byrne is still Byrne... Very good at drawing charges - offense needs some work. But she has the skill set.

And Molyneaux is going to be good next year. Count on it.
 
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Team spirit goes to Tara Inman.

You may not know that DiDi referred to Tara as "my baby sister" at the team awards last year - for being the hardest worker, totally devoted to the team. Tara is really loved for who she is and how she works and that's why she's the "starting five greeter" game in and game out. I've known this for quite a while, but something struck me today. As each of the five starters were announced and game through the team line to reach Tara, they came together and went through a hand-slap ritual - it's normal now for this - but what I saw was that each ritual was unique for each player. For one, it was a slip-slap-back-and-forth-grip-the-hands, for the next it was the windmill slaps, the next got the elbow-taps-and-salute and so on. You have to be in tune with each player to do a unique move for each one.

Anyway - I want to acknowledge that Tara continues to be a strong team presence in terms of heart.
 
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Pat - totally agree with you on Jordan Mosley. She is not animated, she doesn't seem to be but a ripple in the force, but she's there again and again - locking it down, forcing the ball to move elsewhere. Great work by her tonight!
 
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After our conversation together, I was thinking about how the funk that Tab and Tiff are in puts pressure on Tony to keep the bench shorter than we'd like to see. That means that he will not put Lundberg and Kuderer in, whereas if Tab and Tiff are helping us dominate, he can give time (and rest and alternative looks) with Lundberg and Kuderer getting into the game. So - always with the eye to the future, I'm hoping that our leading scorers find it again so that we can expand the bench.
 
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shupat08 said:
Great job by Tony recognizing the mismatches Fordham had and playing to stop their mismatches - which equaled an advantage for us.... Switching Tiff & Lubirdia's defensive assignments... Playing smaller with Tiff at the 5 and Tab at the 4 with Jordan/Aleesha/Kena/TT in a 3 guard rotation.
Click to expand...

Just want to highlight this superb observation by Pat!

Pat correctly saw what Tony was doing and THANK HEAVENS we have such a fantastic coach!!!!
 
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Another thing Tony did, he did it in spurts in the first half, but pretty much all second half...

He Pressed... And he seemed to throw 2 or 3 presses at Fordham - sometimes our players were a bit out of sorts... Seemed like we had a 1-2-1-1 and a 2-2-1 and a trap 2-2-1.

It tires out teams who are not used to the constant running and jumping, trapping and pestering that our team must practice with/against constantly.

Good job, Tony.
 
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One of many of the strengths of Tony and his staff, and I give great credit to Tony's assistants on this point, is the obvious progress and development you see not only from year to year but also as the season progresses of the players. To me that means that the players have respect for the staff , trust them and have seen other players develop under Tony and know that what they're preaching to the players in order to develop does work.
 
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And one thing that I have noticed about this team - Aleesha, Kena, Mosley, Byrne, Gordon love - LOVE - playing D and even Tab & Tiff get fired up on D when everything is clicking... This usually helps lead to offensive explosions as it did in the 2nd half.
 
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The only thing that drives him bonkers off the deep end is when they immediately retreat after a made point and don't instantly press.

I can see him trying to move his arms like a miniature Charlton Heston trying to part the waters, rowing his players forward by will power, and watching them just turn and run back, having forgotten the "get a point - drop the press onto the opponent" concept - and then defeated, he turns and looks at Lauren DeFalco with a "why oh why oh why" look, but he bucks up in a heartbeat and digs right back into.

Watching him is like watching a really exciting rendition of a Puccini opera. :)
 
shupat08 said:
And one thing that I have noticed about this team - Aleesha, Kena, Mosley, Byrne, Gordon love - LOVE - playing D and even Tab & Tiff get fired up on D when everything is clicking... This usually helps lead to offensive explosions as it did in the 2nd half.
Click to expand...

Well - the fire really kicked in when we fans started our own version of sixth man with the DEE-fense chants. I know that gets them whipped up. Kind of like hearing the skirling of bag pipes - boils the blood. :D
 
I was able to watch most of tonight's game on my phone. So it's hard for me to give a strong opinion
on some of the technical aspects of the game between Fordham and SHU. I do believe that the depth
of Seton Hall wore out Fordham to some extent. I thought the Pirates were a bit flat to start the game
and had a bit of a continuation from the Georgia game on Sunday. However, they rebounded nicely and
got right back into it. They came out to start the 3rd quarter with the mindset that we've seen in the last few years. Powell had an excellent turnaround game and I thought the star of this game. K Richardson was also
much better tonight. Their was enough support and effort to get by a solid Fordham squad.

For me the team played the 2nd half with the sense of urgency that Tony B seems to carry for 12 months a
year. This coaching staff understands how significant these types of games can make or break you in March. If SHU didn't answer the bell when they were down they easily could have been picked off tonight. Still much work to be done. Nice win.
 
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NYC Pirate said:
I was able to watch most of tonight's game on my phone. So it's hard for me to give a strong opinion
on some of the technical aspects of the game between Fordham and SHU. I do believe that the depth
of Seton Hall wore out Fordham to some extent. I thought the Pirates were a bit flat to start the game
and had a bit of a continuation from the Georgia game on Sunday. However, they rebounded nicely and
got right back into it. They came out to start the 3rd quarter with the mindset that we've seen in the last few years. Powell had an excellent turnaround game and I thought the star of this game. K Richardson was also
much better tonight. Their was enough support and effort to get by a solid Fordham squad.

For me the team played the 2nd half with the sense of urgency that Tony B seems to carry for 12 months a
year. This coaching staff understands how significant these types of games can make or break you in March. If SHU didn't answer the bell when they were down they easily could have been picked off tonight. Still much work to be done. Nice win.
Click to expand...

Most of the first half Tony was walking up and down his bench with arms crossed and yelling - at the players on the court and on the bench - "WAKE UP".

Hangover effect for the first half of this game without a doubt. The coaches (and Aleesha) willed them forward in the 1st half and the team kicked into gear in the 2nd half.
 
Thanks guys. Great analysis, BUT would someone mind posting the SCORE?

Tom K
 
Did not know whether "Tony's Coat" indicated how far it was thrown by Tony - someone who follows might share - but that coat was flung EARLY in the first quarter.

He was right on the case - not letting things go along without immediate attention. Totally agree with you Pat.
 
TheBluePirate said:
Did not know whether "Tony's Coat" indicated how far it was thrown by Tony - someone who follows might share - but that coat was flung EARLY in the first quarter.

He was right on the case - not letting things go along without immediate attention. Totally agree with you Pat.
Click to expand...

BozzellasBlazer was silent today.
 
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I was at the game. As always, the bottom line is that they won.

BUT!

Some players are looking way too casual out there, especially when they're looking to finish. TRS, for example, looks good on defense. On offense, however, she's constantly attempting those tear-drop timing shots that usually don't go in.

She needs to stop that and go back to those good strong drives she always used to go for. TRS just has too much talent. I'm a big fan and I hope to see her back to her old self.

Overall I'm not seeing fire. I'm not seeing urgency for 40 minutes. If they play like this again, they will lose on the road this weekend.

I'm also not seeing many plays. I see too many one-on-one moves.

Every team goes through phases. Perhaps all those road miles caught up with them. They better take a 5-Hour Energy or do something.
 
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The team came out a little flat and were out hustled by Fordham for a good part of the first half. On the boards and going for loose balls.

But that all changed early in the second half. Fordham had just hit a three to take an 8 point lead and then after a SHU miss had a wide open attempt from the arc by one of their sharp shooting guards. The Fordham bench in anticipation of the make all stood up and were ready to go crazy. The shot however missed and in short that was the ball game. SHU went on a 15-0 run keyed by the aggressive defense of their two guards, Powell and Richardson.

Those two dominated their counterparts to the point that Fordham was barely able to run any semblance of an offense as they were harassed all over the court.

Don't know what Tony said during the halftime break, but boy did it resonate with the team.
 
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To me the engine of the team is unquestionably Shakena Richardson.
This is her team and she's as important to it as DiDi Simmons was to last year's squad. Heart and soul. Love watching her play. Needs to be a little more selfish at times.

BTW, sat next to her brother last night along with good friends Harty9 and Silkcity. Asked him if he was better than his sister and he said with a smile, absolutely but my sport is football.

He'll be playing at William Paterson next season.
 
Halldan1 said:
To me the engine of the team is unquestionably Shakena Richardson.
This is her team and she's as important to it as DiDi Simmons was to last year's squad. Heart and soul. Love watching her play. Needs to be a little more selfish at times.

BTW, sat next to her brother last night along with good friends Harty9 and Silkcity. Asked him if he was better than his sister and he said with a smile, absolutely but my sport is football.

He'll be playing at William Paterson next season.
Click to expand...

Not to be contrary on a topic for which we share great enthusiasm, but I disagree, I am convinced this team is Aleesha's team on the intangibles plus play like Daisha.

I think you are right that Kena plays like DiDi. I made this observation very early in the season.

If we want the ball in one person's hands to make the play, it will be Aleesha. That said, I am thrilled we have Kena.
 
Aleesha and Kena bring different things to the court... Both are leaders... Both can be the heart of the team and spark plugs... Both need to be more selfish at points.

I'm glad Aleesha went off last night and took over the game... Kena did as well. Roughly at the same time.

Kena has more of a flare for the dramatic and Aleesha is a bit more steady with the ball.
 
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Halldan1 said:
The team came out a little flat and were out hustled by Fordham for a good part of the first half. On the boards and going for loose balls.

But that all changed early in the second half. Fordham had just hit a three to take an 8 point lead and then after a SHU miss had a wide open attempt from the arc by one of their sharp shooting guards. The Fordham bench in anticipation of the make all stood up and were ready to go crazy. The shot however missed and in short that was the ball game. SHU went on a 15-0 run keyed by the aggressive defense of their two guards, Powell and Richardson.
Click to expand...
In a word - YES!
 
TheBluePirate said:
Team spirit goes to Tara Inman.

You may not know that DiDi referred to Tara as "my baby sister" at the team awards last year - for being the hardest worker, totally devoted to the team. Tara is really loved for who she is and how she works and that's why she's the "starting five greeter" game in and game out. I've known this for quite a while, but something struck me today. As each of the five starters were announced and game through the team line to reach Tara, they came together and went through a hand-slap ritual - it's normal now for this - but what I saw was that each ritual was unique for each player. For one, it was a slip-slap-back-and-forth-grip-the-hands, for the next it was the windmill slaps, the next got the elbow-taps-and-salute and so on. You have to be in tune with each player to do a unique move for each one.

Anyway - I want to acknowledge that Tara continues to be a strong team presence in terms of heart.
Click to expand...
I also noticed the Tara unique hand slap drills. It's so funny- these girls really like each other. As you've said - this is truly " A Team to Love" .
 
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