Chief’s Briefs - Xavier Edition

[Chief00]

Great performance, wonderfully passionate XL crowd. When you win by 43 after a week away from playing games - as a fan you celebrate and appreciate how fortunate we are. We were absolutely Dominant!

Tristen is playing exceptional again, and he can do it all. He led us with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

With Donovan we are by far the #1 team in the country. Today he shot the lights out with a 3 and was dominant in the post. He had 18 points and 8 rebounds but most importantly puts a “No Trespassing” sign out in the paint defensively. No player in the country changes the game as much as Donovan. I think some people under appreciate how much stronger he is this year despite his foot issues. He can back most guys down with his post moves and is awesome in the paint defensively.

There is so much Samson can learn from him, including don’t over hedge 23 feet from the basket and realizing that his most important job is to protect the paint and rebound. Samson needs to get stronger, learn the game mentally, and work on his hands; but he has the potential.

Today we shot 58% FG and 58% from 3. Amazingly we led in assist 28 to 6 - let that sink in and rebounded 41 to 30. A team that leads in assists and rebounds usually wins. That’s Chief’s kind of basketball.

Sol Ball established himself as a stud today. He shot 4 for 5 from 3, can take you off the dribble and had the tools to be a lock down defender.

Stephon was Newton Jr today, he had 5 assists, and got to the foul line better than anyone else.

Cam led the team with 6 assists, but what was amazing was how many guys had 4 or 5. I love the unselfish play.

 

[storrsroars]

Stephon was Newton Jr today, he had 5 assists, and got to the foul line better than anyone else.

That's an understatement. Other than a DC and-1, nobody else got to the charity stripe. Unfortunately Castle only went 5-8.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Chief, I’m sorry but you continue to embarrass yourself with the lack of understanding of ball screen defense. Samson is a different player and excellent at hedging / icing screens. As was Whaley. Donovan plays drop coverage because he’s 7’ 2” and can guard the ball handler and the roller simply by positioning himself between them.

 

[Chief00]

Chief, I’m sorry but you continue to embarrass yourself with the lack of understanding of ball screen defense. Samson is a different player and excellent at hedging / icing screens. As was Whaley. Donovan plays drop coverage because he’s 7’ 2” and can guard the ball handler and the roller simply by positioning himself between them.

Samson has great height, arm length and a wonderful vertical explosive jump. He should definitely play drop coverage. More importantly lack of post presence on both defense and offense. Donovan was high on Samson last summer. He can do the paint.

 

[formerlurker]

Not a single mention of the 2004 Team?

Were you in the building today?

 

[Rich]

This was perfect. Would watch again.

NO NOTES.

 

[HHusky]

What a masterpiece today !!!

 

[TheChamps990411]

Great performance, wonderfully passionate XL crowd. When you win by 43 after a week away from playing games - as a fan you celebrate and appreciate how fortunate we are. We were absolutely Dominant!

Tristen is playing exceptional again, and he can do it all. He led us with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

With Donovan we are by far the #1 team in the country. Today he shot the lights out with a 3 and was dominant in the post. He had 18 points and 8 rebounds but most importantly puts a “No Trespassing” sign out in the paint defensively. No player in the country changes the game as much as Donovan. I think some people under appreciate how much stronger he is this year despite his foot issues. He can back most guys down with his post moves and is awesome in the paint defensively.

There is so much Samson can learn from him, including don’t over hedge 23 feet from the basket and realizing that his most important job is to protect the paint and rebound. Samson needs to get stronger, learn the game mentally, and work on his hands; but he has the potential.

Today we shot 58% FG and 58% from 3. Amazingly we led in assist 28 to 6 - let that sink in and rebounded 41 to 30. A team that leads in assists and rebounds usually wins. That’s Chief’s kind of basketball.

Sol Ball established himself as a stud today. He shot 4 for 5 from 3, can take you off the dribble and had the tools to be a lock down defender.

Stephon was Newton Jr today, he had 5 assists, and got to the foul line better than anyone else.

Cam led the team with 6 assists, but what was amazing was how many guys had 4 or 5. I love the unselfish play.

Today was our first A game of the season.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Great performance, wonderfully passionate XL crowd. When you win by 43 after a week away from playing games - as a fan you celebrate and appreciate how fortunate we are. We were absolutely Dominant!

Does this apply to all fans or only the casual ones?

 

[formerlurker]

Skipping weeks and mailing others in is not how you want to be remembered. We have so many funnier reasons

 

[Husker Husky]

Quick question: Jay Ross was wide open. Totally unguarded out on the wing numerous times in his 11 minutes. Many of those times the O was pushing the ball, but was stopped at the top of the key. Is he that bad a shooter, or is he being iced out?

 

[slepers]

Quick question: Jay Ross was wide open. Totally unguarded out on the wing numerous times in his 11 minutes. Many of those times the O was pushing the ball, but was stopped at the top of the key. Is he that bad a shooter, or is he being iced out?

Only positives today

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Samson has great height, arm length and a wonderful vertical explosive jump. He should definitely play drop coverage. More importantly lack of post presence on both defense and offense. Donovan was high on Samson last summer. He can do the paint.

Chief
1. Samson can't learn defense from DC because they play totally different coverages. They are both doing what coach has asked of them. DC drops, and Samson hedges. He may have length and height, but he doesn't have the instincts to play drop coverage and still be an effective pick and roll defender.

2. Last few games, Samson's hedge has been a huge weapon slowing other teams guards, and making them go deeper into the shot clock. At times guards will be so psyched out by the double that they will pick up their dribble. It throws a huge monkey wrench in the offense.

3. DC plays a drop because of his feel, length, and timing. Samson hedges because (like Sanogo & Whaley), he's not a natural shot blocker, and can be more disruptive hedging instead of dropping down.

4. Hurley is obviously asking Samson to hedge. He's not just doing it for the heck of it. It's the strategy that DH employs for certain players in certain situations. It will not work 100% of the time, but DH thinks it works enough to use it with one of the bigs in the 2 big rotation.

5. It forces the opposing coach to have to spend time in practice game planning for 2 totally different pick and roll strategies. This takes up valuable (and limited) time that college teams have in practice. BUT, for our defense, it takes very little time to practice because only 1 player has to do anything different than normal defensive rotations. Strategically, it's a huge win for us, and Samson is good at it, as were Whaley and Sanogo.

 

[Spaceman213J]

-Karaban and Spencer combine for 13 points in a game where the team is 1 shy of tripled digits and it's their biggest blow out win in almost 20 years. It says a lot about the team and a lot about them. In fact, Roumoglou had the same number of points as Spencer. Who would have thought that in a win like this?
-I was worried about a little rust after the week off.
-Just need to avoid a let down now. Rest, regroup and refocus. Just need to remember that on any night in the BE, if you don't show up everything team is capable of taking you down.
-After a brief bad stretch, Newton is looking like he did earlier in the year. If they bring their A game, I'm not sure anybody else's A game is good enough to beat this team.

 

[Chief00]

Not a single mention of the 2004 Team?

Were you in the building today?

Yes, that was great - as Jim said his most talented team. Am I correct the guys who were missing were Denham and Hilton?
It was great that Clyde V could make it, had a chance to talk to him a little.
Yes, that’s why my Briefs were later than usual because I enjoyed the 2004 team and did not work on the Briefs during the half.

 

[Chief00]

-Karaban and Spencer combine for 13 points in a game where the team is 1 shy of tripled digits and it's their biggest blow out win in almost 20 years. It says a lot about the team and a lot about them. In fact, Roumoglou had the same number of points as Spencer. Who would have thought that in a win like this?
-I was worried about a little rust after the week off.
-Just need to avoid a let down now. Rest, regroup and refocus. Just need to remember that on any night in the BE, if you don't show up everything team is capable of taking you down.
-After a brief bad stretch, Newton is looking like he did earlier in the year. If they bring their A game, I'm not sure anybody else's A game is good enough to beat this team.

Perhaps the theory is true that playing without Donovan made us stronger. I hope and pray his foot continues to improve and he it stays re-injury free.

 

[willie99]

Sean knew they had no answers. Get out of this building and hope we don't see them again

 

[Chief00]

Chief
1. Samson can't learn defense from DC because they play totally different coverages. They are both doing what coach has asked of them. DC drops, and Samson hedges. He may have length and height, but he doesn't have the instincts to play drop coverage and still be an effective pick and roll defender.

2. Last few games, Samson's hedge has been a huge weapon slowing other teams guards, and making them go deeper into the shot clock. At times guards will be so psyched out by the double that they will pick up their dribble. It throws a huge monkey wrench in the offense.

3. DC plays a drop because of his feel, length, and timing. Samson hedges because (like Sanogo & Whaley), he's not a natural shot blocker, and can be more disruptive hedging instead of dropping down.

4. Hurley is obviously asking Samson to hedge. He's not just doing it for the heck of it. It's the strategy that DH employs for certain players in certain situations. It will not work 100% of the time, but DH thinks it works enough to use it with one of the bigs in the 2 big rotation.

5. It forces the opposing coach to have to spend time in practice game planning for 2 totally different pick and roll strategies. This takes up valuable (and limited) time that college teams have in practice. BUT, for our defense, it takes very little time to practice because only 1 player has to do anything different than normal defensive rotations. Strategically, it's a huge win for us, and Samson is good at it, as were Whaley and Sanogo.

Samson is not suited for playing 20+ feet from the basket every defensive possession. There’s a reason why the opponent pulls him out there - because they think it is to their advantage and they are correct.

 

[Chief00]

Chief
1. Samson can't learn defense from DC because they play totally different coverages. They are both doing what coach has asked of them. DC drops, and Samson hedges. He may have length and height, but he doesn't have the instincts to play drop coverage and still be an effective pick and roll defender.

2. Last few games, Samson's hedge has been a huge weapon slowing other teams guards, and making them go deeper into the shot clock. At times guards will be so psyched out by the double that they will pick up their dribble. It throws a huge monkey wrench in the offense.

3. DC plays a drop because of his feel, length, and timing. Samson hedges because (like Sanogo & Whaley), he's not a natural shot blocker, and can be more disruptive hedging instead of dropping down.

4. Hurley is obviously asking Samson to hedge. He's not just doing it for the heck of it. It's the strategy that DH employs for certain players in certain situations. It will not work 100% of the time, but DH thinks it works enough to use it with one of the bigs in the 2 big rotation.

5. It forces the opposing coach to have to spend time in practice game planning for 2 totally different pick and roll strategies. This takes up valuable (and limited) time that college teams have in practice. BUT, for our defense, it takes very little time to practice because only 1 player has to do anything different than normal defensive rotations. Strategically, it's a huge win for us, and Samson is good at it, as were Whaley and Sanogo.

The thing that slows the other team’s guards down is a shot blocking presence in the paint. A 6-10 guy is not going to be able to stop a pg guard dribble 30 feet from the basket.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Samson is not suited for playing 20+ feet from the basket every defensive possession. There’s a reason why the opponent pulls him out there - because they think it is to their advantage and they are correct.

What real, actual evidence can you provide that they are "correct"?

The opponent is not pulling him out there. They are running ball screen offense with a big setting the screen. The teams that run this offense run it no matter who is in there at center for us. It's their offense. It actually happens more frequently when DC is in there. Samson does a great job blowing up the action a good percentage of the time.

If We were playing against a big who was a 3 point shooter, Samson would be out on the perimeter. What would be your suggestion in that case ? Keep him in the paint and play 5 on 4 on the perimeter ?

 

[Scottobot]

Chief, I’m sorry but you continue to embarrass yourself with the lack of understanding of ball screen defense. Samson is a different player and excellent at hedging / icing screens. As was Whaley. Donovan plays drop coverage because he’s 7’ 2” and can guard the ball handler and the roller simply by positioning himself between them.

I think Hurley likes having two different screen coverages, the drop with Cligan and hedge with Samson. Did the same thing last year with Sanogo doing the hedge. Even if the hedge is less effective it makes the opposing team have to prepare for two different schemes.