Chief’s Briefs - Georgetown Edition | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Chief’s Briefs - Georgetown Edition

We will have a more free flowing offense in the NCAA tournament. The Big East has always been a slog where less talented teams clutch and grab. Keep the faith.
 
Elvin Hayes is the original Big E. I think that is what Hurley is alluding to using the nickname for Reibe.

Elvin Ernest Hayes (born November 17, 1945), nicknamed "the Big E", is an American former professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma materHouston Cougars.


I think it is an exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I didn't know they had high hedges but glad to be informed.
 
There is just something missing on this team right now. Some things have already been discussed. The bench is a conundrum. yet when you look at Ross and Stewart's shooting %s, they seem OK. Ross is shooting 51.4%, 39.5% from 3 and Stewart is shooting 45%, 33.3% from 3. The problem is not talent, it's consistency.
 
It is absolutely baffling that anyone enjoys his play by play. He’s yelling 1/2 the time, and when he is not, he’s a cornball. On top of it, he just lets Donny go on and on about nothing. It’s just terrible, mutable broadcast. The best part of last nights broadcast was Hash and JC and you couldn’t understand what either were saying.
When Fanta starts screaming over a play his high pitched voice could break an eardrum. JC is great if you can hear what he’s saying.
 
The team, staff, refs, fans and announcers have all been criticized. Can we get to the band next
The band might get sensitive and start playing off key or goofing up notes. That would rival listening to Fanta and Donnie, and trying to decipher JC and Hasheem, all adding to the cacophony.
 
Tristen played best in the biggest games and filled up the boxscore. It is a little bit of a mystery to me why he has not established himself in the NBA, perhaps due to not having that elite athleticism’s?
He really doesn’t seem like he has gotten a chance.
 
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The team, staff, refs, fans and announcers have all been criticized. Can we get to the band next
Freaking trombone player is constantly sharp. Needs to check his/her tuning slide. Hope we got portaling for someone who can keep up.
 
Freaking trombone player is constantly sharp. Needs to check his/her tuning slide. Hope we got portaling for someone who can keep up.
Any band that plays Black Sabbath and Rage Against the Machine is ok by me.
 
My expectations from this team were much higher in December than they are now. My expectation of a sweet 16, and solid probability of a final four have now morphed into just a fan's delusional hope.

I cringe every time we have to inbound the ball after a made basket. I think that is our real Achilles heal in a close game vs quick guards. Reed made himself a big target 1 time and made the entry pass easy, but if he had then got fouled that would have been as good as a turnover. Nothing happens in the first 2-3 seconds inbounding the ball. Our players don't even look at Alex until he has held the ball for a couple seconds.

In end of game situations we need a center that can make a foul shot. Fouling Reed or Reibe for a 1 and 1 is a winning play for the opponents.

Against Georgetown Reed didn't get the ball 4 dribbles from the hoop and force the issue to a turnover. I hope that was a purposeful avoidance of an obvious failing idea.

Hurley complains about Reed with 1 rebound and Reibe with 2, and says Donovan never had those types of games. Clingan was a bigger talent, but maybe, just maybe, playing more drop coverage would have them at the rim when our guards get beat, and, have them in better rebounding position. Just sayin Donovan came out on a shooter like Kalkbrenner but played in the paint more.
That’s correct Donovan did the drop coverage and he seldom extended beyond the 3pt line. So much of our season is resting on our coaches becoming realistic that the high hedge is filled with vulnerabilities that teams are now fully exploiting.
 
The band might get sensitive and start playing off key or goofing up notes. That would rival listening to Fanta and Donnie, and trying to decipher JC and Hasheem, all adding to the cacophony.
 
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Ross was at least effective slowing down Lewis in the first half after Lewis kept clowning Solo.

Reed is the most frustrating center UConn has had since Samson Johnson. Complete opposites of what they can and cannot do. Johnson was athletic, and could rim run. Reed is below rhe rim and a bully. Neither can could do the high hedge but for different reasons.
Honestly I didn’t find Samson that frustrating, He had limitations but we understood that going in. And so did the staff.

With Reed it’s like we believe he’s an All American, but he’s too inconsistent, too poor of a foul shooter, and plays below the rim. He’s not a rim protector, isn’t good at the high hedge, and worst of all, does not have the mentality to face up against top competition. He looks great against smaller teams, but backs down when challenged. And we don’t have a solution for that. That’s why I find him so frustrating.
 
It is time for the coaches to honestly look at the high hedge. I was criticized for questioning the effectiveness of it and now there’s consensus regarding various negative outcomes.
You are right taking a victory lap about this. It is not working on a number of levels.
 
We will have a more free flowing offense in the NCAA tournament. The Big East has always been a slog where less talented teams clutch and grab. Keep the faith.
Not sure I agree. For whatever reason, the complex offense seems to be less so. Perhaps it's personnel or poor execution, but the offense seems to be designed to get one or two guys shots. When they are impeded, the team stammers. It's not a secret that Stewart and Ross mostly try to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible. They do not act like they are viable options. Hurley has stated that he has moved away from relying on an overly regimented offense to one that incorporates more free-flowing creativity. The problem is that the approach does not suit his current players.
 
You are right taking a victory lap about this. It is not working on a number of levels.

Have you seen what happens when we drop? When we try it we tend to give up a ton of lobs, and the open driving lanes are even more common. Hedging remains the best of a bunch of bad options right now.
 
Honestly I didn’t find Samson that frustrating, He had limitations but we understood that going in. And so did the staff.

With Reed it’s like we believe he’s an All American, but he’s too inconsistent, too poor of a foul shooter, and plays below the rim. He’s not a rim protector, isn’t good at the high hedge, and worst of all, does not have the mentality to face up against top competition. He looks great against smaller teams, but backs down when challenged. And we don’t have a solution for that. That’s why I find him so frustrating.

For a guy who leads the conference in multiple defensive metrics, he sure is frustrating 🤣 Reality he is far from our biggest issue right now.
 
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Adama and Donovan were among the best centers we ever had and they played together, but for us to go anywhere Reed is going to have to go into beast mode against good teams. Overall he’s having a good year.
For us to make a run, we are going to need more than what Tarris has been. Question is simply whether he can bring it when it matters. He seemed very up for the StJ game to start, then tapered off with foul trouble and some of the standard stuff, leading to a Zubi showcase.

I listened to a bit of that YT - Greg doing his usual Debbie Downer on UConn. But the guy knows Tarris from his days at UM, and now at Uconn. And he's right that Tarris isn't even close to what Adama was, no matter what stats you flash.
 
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I wonder why Cooley did not realize it was Valentine’s Day?
Cooley was being Cooley. It was typical of his passive aggressive comments after a game. Dan's answer should have been "there was a time that Georgetown playing any team. Anywhere in the country would have packed arenas, but they are struggling a bit now. I'm rooting for them to get back to being a team that people want to watch. It would be good for the big east. Ed is doing a heck of a job down there. I'm sure he'll bring them back."
 
Cooley was being Cooley. It was typical of his passive aggressive comments after a game. Dan's answer should have been "there was a time that Georgetown playing any team. Anywhere in the country would have packed arenas, but they are struggling a bit now. I'm rooting for them to get back to being a team that people want to watch. It would be good for the big east. Ed is doing a heck of a job down there. I'm sure he'll bring them back."

I just don’t see anything egregious or passive/agressive about Cooley’s comments. If he was playing at DePaul and the arena was half empty, he wouldn’t say anything. He comes to “the basketball capital of the world” and sees empty seats for a top ten team that won two of the last three championships, he finds that notable.

Should we be held to the same standard as DePaul?
 
I just don’t see anything egregious or passive/agressive about Cooley’s comments. If he was playing at DePaul and the arena was half empty, he wouldn’t say anything. He comes to “the basketball capital of the world” and sees empty seats for a top ten team that won two of the last three championships, he finds that notable.

Should we be held to the same standard as DePaul?
Agree to disagree. Cooley's got a history remember the whole "arrogant and spoiled" comment that supposedly was him being in support of Dan Hurley? He does things like this after other games as well. The guy is an ass hat.
 
For us to make a run, we are going to need more than what Tarris has been. Question is simply whether he can bring it when it matters. He seemed very up for the StJ game to start, then tapered off with foul trouble and some of the standard stuff, leading to a Zubi showcase.

I listened to a bit of that YT - Greg doing his usual Debbie Downer on UConn. But the guy knows Tarris from his days at UM, and now at Uconn. And he's right that Tarris isn't even close to what Adama was, no matter what stats you flash.

Reed is nowhere near the level of Sanogo offensively. Sanogo developed a variety of weapons in his bag, and by his junior year was basically a poor man's Elton Brand. He could beat defenders facing up, shooting over them, and as always with his footwork in the post. He was one of the most efficient offensive players we've ever had. Reed is objectively better defensively.
 
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For us to make a run, we are going to need more than what Tarris has been. Question is simply whether he can bring it when it matters. He seemed very up for the StJ game to start, then tapered off with foul trouble and some of the standard stuff, leading to a Zubi showcase.

I listened to a bit of that YT - Greg doing his usual Debbie Downer on UConn. But the guy knows Tarris from his days at UM, and now at Uconn. And he's right that Tarris isn't even close to what Adama was, no matter what stats you flash.
The truth hurts a bit but as soon as we can accept it we can address the solution. JC alluded to this in separate commentary about needing to see more of Eric R.

I also understand that Hurley is vested in making sure that Reed is a 1st round draft pick. The staff can do a better job putting Reed in better positions to be successful by not asking him to do things he is not good at or disciplined enough about. They know him better than us. Bully Ball is where he excels at and is footwork is solid. Playing with cheap fouls, free throw shooting and dribbling frequently going into offensive moves is are areas he doesn't excel.

Defensively the picture is mixed. Where he has head room is with his assists when he is dialed in based on the way teams typically play him. Finding the right open man when he is doubled or tripled consistently is a game changer.
 
Cooley was being Cooley. It was typical of his passive aggressive comments after a game. Dan's answer should have been "there was a time that Georgetown playing any team. Anywhere in the country would have packed arenas, but they are struggling a bit now. I'm rooting for them to get back to being a team that people want to watch. It would be good for the big east. Ed is doing a heck of a job down there. I'm sure he'll bring them back."
True, and perhaps the romantic aspects of Valentine’s Day was not part of the relationships he may have left in Providence? LOL
 
The truth hurts a bit but as soon as we can accept it we can address the solution. JC alluded to this in separate commentary about needing to see more of Eric R.

I also understand that Hurley is vested in making sure that Reed is a 1st round draft pick. The staff can do a better job putting Reed in better positions to be successful by not asking him to do things he is not good at or disciplined enough about. They know him better than us. Bully Ball is where he excels at and is footwork is solid. Playing with cheap fouls, free throw shooting and dribbling frequently going into offensive moves is are areas he doesn't excel.

Defensively the picture is mixed. Where he has head room is with his assists when he is dialed in based on the way teams typically play him. Finding the right open man when he is doubled or tripled consistently is a game changer.
I agree with JC about seeing more Eric but… offenses score thru and over him right now.
 
I agree with JC about seeing more Eric but… offenses score thru and over him right now.
Eric has been inconsistent but he should be in a position of turning a corner at this point in the season. His upside, particularly with his natural skill set and size is an x-factor. He brings a skill set and size Reed simply doesn't possess. With Reed's inconsistency, Eric becomes more of an asset that should be utilized assuming a suitable progression. Hurley is literally begging the bench to step up. The opportunity is there for the taking.

JC see Eric as under utilized and thinks he should be more of a focus. We'll see who actually steps up from the bench.
 
Reed is nowhere near the level of Sanogo offensively. Sanogo developed a variety of weapons in his bag, and by his junior year was basically a poor man's Elton Brand. He could beat defenders facing up, shooting over them, and as always with his footwork in the post. He was one of the most efficient offensive players we've ever had. Reed is objectively better defensively.
He was reliable, a fortified aspect of the offense. If we weren't running, he'd kept the defense honest as a consistent threat/option. Not really sure what Tarris is at this point, as he's inconsistent.
 
Have you seen what happens when we drop? When we try it we tend to give up a ton of lobs, and the open driving lanes are even more common. Hedging remains the best of a bunch of bad

I don’t really think you are describing what I am advocating. My point is that Donovan did not take an aggressive hedge in the first place, he played behind or horizontal to the screener. Therefore, he did not have to do a dramatic drop and all the mismatches you describe. He basically would stay with his man. Our defenders other than the interchangeable ones generally stayed between their man and the basket and the rim protector was near the rim.
Let’s keep in mind we had 3 guys 6-5 to 6-6 with well developed bodies who could capably guard 2 or 3 positions. We don’t have that this season.
 
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