Chiefs Briefs - Villanova Edition

[Chief00]

2 missed FT’s is a tough way to lose but that’s basketball. Ironically are winning metrics - rebounding (32 vs 23) and assists (23 to 11) held.

13 Turnovers to 6 and 4 foul shots to 11 were the metrics that hurt us. The turnovers seemed to be more careless or guys rushing. Never underestimate the other team getting into the bonus in either half earlier and the impact that it has. Having 4 guys in foul trouble also impacts rotations and chemistry.

Stewart, Ball and Diarra carried us the second half. Stewart put together in a package some of the things I have seen since last summer.

Dixon is a great player and give Villanova defense some credit, but our lack of offensive flow early concerns me. Guys don’t seem to know their roles or where teammates should get the ball. Diarra has to be more assertive and in the second half he completed drives to the basket rather than stopping and turning the ball over.

Is Johnson a guard on defense, he spends far too much time chasing guards 25 feet from the basket and not enough time using his skillset and length protecting the rim and rebound. Sure, we got beat less last year 1x1, but Donovan protected the rim. Often if a guy drives but can’t finish turnovers happen or a poor percentage shot, meanwhile Johnson this year chases guards 25 feet from the basket creating numerous mismatches.

We finally found a role for Mahaney in January but we inexplicably went away from that role tonight. Maybe we were concerned about various matchups and that created a chain reaction? Ross still had not lived up Hurley’s build up and he had minutes tonight.

Karaban had a rough game on both offense and defense. When he has problems it’s usually when he starts by taking and missing quick/deep threes. He’s better starting with a mix of shots and cuts to basket. Alex did warm up some in the second half but will remember the end.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Tough game on the road. The boys showed resilience. I am proud of them. However, it turned out to be a frustrating loss. Three opportunities with AK on the line at the end.
GTown next. Don't hang your head.
Props to JS and SB in the 2nd half.

 

[Sea Goat]

Love Karaban, but he ain't a killer...

 

[Palatine]

Johnson on the perimeter worked. It slowed Dixon down. Only after he started to go inside was he effective. It was the and ones on the inside that killed us.

Nowell got some meaningful minutes in his home town in the first half. He still looks like a freshman getting his feet wet.

 

[homunculus]

Johnson on the perimeter worked. It slowed Dixon down. Only after he started to go inside was he effective. It was the and ones on the inside that killed us.

Nowell got some meaningful minutes in his home town in the first half. He still looks like a freshman getting his feet wet.

Yeah, I’m glad Nowell got some time but he also made some mistakes which fed into Nova coming alive. But that’s the trade off, he needs experience and there will be bumps.

 

[mauconnfan]

He made one tough pass to Reed just out of reach but let’s pick on Nowell lol. Played for the first time in a month.

Diarra 2 games I a row nothing in the first half suddenly a fire the last 20? That has to end as a PG leader. AK invisible and can’t suddenly take anyone off the dribble, or rebound. (Or make a FT) Ball great shooting clutch but there’s 2 sides to the court. Stewie thanks for showing up best player tonight. Mahaney, Johnson and others trying to guard Dixon bad plan. The 4 lay in Takes of which 3 were on the left, he’s a lefty were all because of guarding too close. Think of his night, 6-20 of which 2 made shots were 3s but he was 2-8 from there. Besides the 3 blow bys of which 3 were and 1s, he was 2-14 so why not leave space to cut the drives off??? Make him make jumpers I know he’s a 50% 3 pt shooter but that wasn’t happening tonight. Terrible defense.

I mean to actually have a worse half than PC I would’ve never guessed, that alone needs to end.

Oh and Villanova had 5 fouls from the 10 minute mark or so until AKs I believe. Bauyke himself had 10 or so but was only called for 1 I believe? He’s an absolute hack. Danny might need to go back a bit on his calmness because it hasn’t worked all that well. I mean I like it but please the holding through the picks and bodying has been out of control the last 2 games. Not making it the reason just pointing it out!

Not a good loss at all Nova with Dixon at 6-20 should never beat us.

 

[DMIL]

2 missed FT’s is a tough way to lose but that’s basketball.

13 Turnovers to 5 and 4 foul shots to 11 were the metrics that hurt us. The turnovers seemed to be more careless or guys rushing. Never underestimate the other team getting
into the bonus in either half earlier and the impact that it has. Having 4 guys in foul trouble also impacts rotations and chemistry.

Stewart, Ball and Diarra carried us the second half. Stewart put together in a package some of the things I have seen since last summer.

Dixon is a great player and give Villanova defense some credit, but our lack of offensive flow early concerns me. Guys don’t seem to know their roles or where teammates should get the ball. Diarra has to be more assertive and in the second half he completed drives to the basket rather than stopping and turning the ball over.

Is Johnson a guard on defense, he spends far too much time chasing guards 25 feet from the basket and not enough time using his skillset and length protecting the rim and rebound. Sure, we got beat less last year 1x1, but Donovan protected the rim. Often if a guy drives but can’t finish turnovers happen or a poor percentage shot, meanwhile Johnson this year chases guards 25 feet from the basket creating numerous mismatches.

We finally found a role for Mahaney in January but we inexplicably went away from that role tonight. Maybe we were concerned about various matchups and that created a chain reaction? Ross still had not lived up to Hurjey’s build up and he had minutes tonight.

Karaban had a rough game on both offense as and defense. When he has problems it’s usually when he starts by taking and missing threes. He’s better starting with a mix of shots and cuts to basket. Alex did warm up some in the second half but will remember the end.

The final sequence is telling. 4 opportunities to win on the road. Alex has 2 shot attempts blocked, Diarra passes up a wide open 3 in lieu of a contested 2 and Alex misses 2 free throws that would have tied or won the game for us. These are our Seniors. There were some positives in this game but a set sequences like this cannot happen and it did. I don't think we should overreact here but no one should feel good about it chalking it up to "Oh Well".

 

[Chief00]

Johnson on the perimeter worked. It slowed Dixon down. Only after he started to go inside was he effective. It was the and ones on the inside that killed us.

Nowell got some meaningful minutes in his home town in the first half. He still looks like a freshman getting his feet wet.

They built the lead when Johnson was living on the 3 line and beyond. Generally, big men on defense should be between their man and the basket. That helps on help defense and rebounding too. Agree on Nowell.

 

[CTBasketball]

Love Karaban, but he ain't a killer...

Texas in the Garden 2023
Gonzaga at the 1H buzzer 2023
Arkansas at the 1H buzzer 2023
at Butler last 2 min 2024

I can go on.

 

[jibsey]

We must understand that all of our players are all in and trying hard to win but there are opponents trying to stop that. And they are pretty good too regardless of their HS rankings.

 

[Chief00]

He made one tough pass to Reed just out of reach but let’s pick on Nowell lol. Played for the first time in a month.

Diarra 2 games I a row nothing in the first half suddenly a fire the last 20? That has to end as a PG leader. AK invisible and can’t suddenly take anyone off the dribble, or rebound. (Or make a FT) Ball great shooting clutch but there’s 2 sides to the court. Stewie thanks for showing up best player tonight. Mahaney, Johnson and others trying to guard Dixon bad plan. The 4 lay in Takes of which 3 were on the left, he’s a lefty were all because of guarding too close. Think of his night, 6-20 of which 2 made shots were 3s but he was 2-8 from there. Besides the 3 blow bys of which 3 were and 1s, he was 2-14 so why not leave space to cut the drives off??? Make him make jumpers I know he’s a 50% 3 pt shooter but that wasn’t happening tonight. Terrible defense.

I mean to actually have a worse half than PC I would’ve never guessed, that alone needs to end.

Oh and Villanova had 5 fouls from the 10 minute mark or so until AKs I believe. Bauyke himself had 10 or so but was only called for 1 I believe? He’s an absolute hack. Danny might need to go back a bit on his calmness because it hasn’t worked all that well. I mean I like it but please the holding through the picks and bodying has been out of control the last 2 games. Not making it the reason just pointing it out!

Not a good loss at all Nova with Dixon at 6-20 should never beat us.

To your points, Dixon was 9 for 9 from FT and that led them to victory. We just had 2 foul shots all game until Alex missed 2 at the end.

 

[Chief00]

Lacked consistency on calls.

 

[gsmooth]

Texas in the Garden 2023
Gonzaga at the 1H buzzer 2023
Arkansas at the 1H buzzer 2023
at Butler last 2 min 2024

I can go on.

MiamI at the 1H buzzer 2023 Final Four

 

[mauconnfan]

To your points, Dixon was 9 for 9 from FT and that led them to victory. We just had 2 foul shots all game until Alex missed 2 at the end.

Yeah that’s part of it Chief but his 9-9 was mostly due to crappy defense. But the 10 year college veteran does get all the calls there’s no doubt!

 

[AntG168]

Texas in the Garden 2023
Gonzaga at the 1H buzzer 2023
Arkansas at the 1H buzzer 2023
at Butler last 2 min 2024

I can go on.

He hit a big clutch 3 tonight to cut it to 3 lol

 

[Milo65]

To your points, Dixon was 9 for 9 from FT and that led them to victory. We just had 2 foul shots all game until Alex missed 2 at the end.

Also want to remind everyone that in the NIL era, players are getting paid good money to perform. In essence professionals,

 

[nashusky109]

Texas in the Garden 2023
Gonzaga at the 1H buzzer 2023
Arkansas at the 1H buzzer 2023
at Butler last 2 min 2024

I can go on.

No no but facts can’t get in the way of emotions right?

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Texas in the Garden 2023
Gonzaga at the 1H buzzer 2023
Arkansas at the 1H buzzer 2023
at Butler last 2 min 2024

I can go on.

Majority of those were set shots created by others within flow of offense.

That’s not taking anything away. Just saying coaches should put him in that position, not ask him to create with ball in his hands which he has shown he cannot do.

 

[EnochRoot]

Majority of those were set shots created by others within flow of offense.

That’s not taking anything away. Just saying coaches should put him in that position, not ask him to create with ball in his hands which he has shown he cannot do.

Not so sure it's that he cannot do it, but rather that he shouldn't do it. He should be inbounding the ball and then getting free off a screen to jack a three, or if he's inbounding at the top of the key, take a backdoor pass off a screen to get to the hoop. We're saying the same thing I think. Except that I think he should be the one inbounding the ball.

 

[AdamaNation]

Love Karaban, but he ain't a killer...

He was a killer in 2 title runs. He had like 3-4 buzzer beaters at the half if I recall. Backbreakers. He’s icy. He just looked out of sorts from the start tonight. Nova has played defense like this against us for the last 7-8 years. Lots if poking and reaching. Slapping. Etc. it’s to be expected.

 

[JB75]

God I wish nowell wud get more run. U see that double behind the back handle ? Even tho he jacked a crazy three right after it , u can tell he’s got game. Only ones who showed up tonight were solo, stewie and diarra. Tuff L , but that’s the big east. Just stay afloat will Liam gets back and hopefully fine tune our lineup / minutes in the procees

 

[TMB4405]

You guys are insane making any comment about Karaban. He had a bad game by his standards but still made a play that wins the game 85 percent of time and at least goes to OT 96 percent of time. I would happily put the game in his hands over any player in the country. This board and our fans are insufferable sometimes.