The fouls keep piling up for Samson Johnson. “It’s dumbfounding.”

[WhereistheDove?]

No excuse for his other fouls but that third foul called against him in the UNH game Samson walled up. The ref with a bad view made the call.

I won’t give too much grief to Samson for that play because he was put in a bad spot by Ross gambling and getting roasted, but that was 100% a foul. The baseline replay they showed made it seem like he walled up more, but it’s pretty clear in the live camera angle that he jumps into the offensive player. Might get away with that at times because his arms stayed vertical, but it was a foul.

 

[Dove]

It's not Dumbfounding - it's DumbFouling

 

[NickDanger]

You recall incorrectly. Only issue DC had at beginning of last year was getting in to game shape after a few nagging injuries. A healthy, conditioned DC did just fine managing his fouls.

No, you recall incorrectly!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Defense is not just speed or vert or length. Not everyone has the defensive instincts to play at this level. I don't know what else to call it, but Johnson just doesn't have it. 9 fouls in 27 minutes in two blowout wins against Sacred Heart and UNH. These are stat-padder games where Johnson should go in with the mindset of getting 10 blocks, and he fouls out of one and almost fouls out of another.

Okafor was on the far extreme, but his defensive instincts and sense of space, timing and how to defend were amazing. There are better centers in the modern era, but there are probably not 5 college centers in the last 30 years with better defensive instincts than Okafor. There may not be 2 or 3. Johnson doesn't seem to have any defensive instincts at all.

 

[B1GEast]

I don't know why Borges is harping about this. All he's doing is creating a perception problem for Johnson.

Now he'll probably pick up more fouls cause that's the narrative, Johnson just can't help himself and constantly fouls.

Big guys get a lot of contact, that's part of the game and honestly calls are subjective and can go both ways. A lot is incidental, but thanks to dumb posts like this on Twitter, now Johnson might be a target. SMH

 

[pj]

The refs aren't going to change how they call Samson because of a post on Twitter.

 

[B1GEast]

The refs aren't going to change how they call Samson because of a post on Twitter.

Maybe not, but IMO the negative coverage of the amount of fouls on Johnson can have a negative impact on his performance if it gets into his head.

I think it's a bit absurd to worry about it. Let Hurley deal with it. Just my two cents

 

[cp176]

Johnson and Reed have 10 fouls to give between them. They both play hard aggressive defense which is exactly what you want out of them. The nature of the beast is that they both will commit silly fouls on occasion. Our coaches can stick handle their minutes. Last year, losing Clingan for any length of time come late in the season hurt. We needed him on the floor. It's entirely different this season. We have a luxury that any team would love to have. It's a classic two headed monster!

 

[jibsey]

Maheney is not defensively quick, big or physical. He’s not Tristen Newton but he can make 3’s. Defense has always been Hurleys bedrock and I wonder if that is a factor for Aiden in crunch time of games.

 

[JerseyAlum]

All for our bigs getting some fouls, but when I see Johnson guarding at the 3pt line I really wonder why he is so far away from the basket: I get he has quick feet, but not quick hands to guard guys that far out.

If Johnson picks up fouls under/around the basket, then fine. But 20' away is not where he should be.

Comparing Maheney to Newton is not fair to Maheney. I would hope Mahaney's game gets better on passing, and spacing bc I cannot see him growing 2 more inches, getting a better 3pt shot, and defending like Newton.

 

[jibsey]

All for our bigs getting some fouls, but when I see Johnson guarding at the 3pt line I really wonder why he is so far away from the basket: I get he has quick feet, but not quick hands to guard guys that far out.

If Johnson picks up fouls under/around the basket, then fine. But 20' away is not where he should be.

Comparing Maheney to Newton is not fair to Maheney. I would hope Mahaney's game gets better on passing, and spacing bc I cannot see him growing 2 more inches, getting a better 3pt shot, and defending like Newton.

When their lead guard has to be shut down, so far based on what I’ve seen Maheney can’t do it. Solo, Hassan and maybe Nowell could. But I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[cp176]

All for our bigs getting some fouls, but when I see Johnson guarding at the 3pt line I really wonder why he is so far away from the basket: I get he has quick feet, but not quick hands to guard guys that far out.

If Johnson picks up fouls under/around the basket, then fine. But 20' away is not where he should be.

Comparing Maheney to Newton is not fair to Maheney. I would hope Mahaney's game gets better on passing, and spacing bc I cannot see him growing 2 more inches, getting a better 3pt shot, and defending like Newton.

If Johnson's man is at the 3 pt. line, you better believe he is going to go get him. If anybody's man on this team is left open once that ball comes into the front court, said player might hear the horn shortly. Nothing easy whether it is shots or passes or dribbles. Team is to deep for that.

 

[RuffRuff]

All for our bigs getting some fouls, but when I see Johnson guarding at the 3pt line I really wonder why he is so far away from the basket: I get he has quick feet, but not quick hands to guard guys that far out.

If Johnson picks up fouls under/around the basket, then fine. But 20' away is not where he should be.

Comparing Maheney to Newton is not fair to Maheney. I would hope Mahaney's game gets better on passing, and spacing bc I cannot see him growing 2 more inches, getting a better 3pt shot, and defending like Newton.

Which begs the question of why him in the portal? If he’s a defensive liability based on unchangeable attributes, can’t pass like Newt or a PG, did we just settle for someone? If we wanted a 3 point shooter we had the most efficient 3 pt shooter in country as the other option in Braea, and 6’7 to boot.

AM will improve and I’m sure a light bulb will go off but right now I’m hoping more than expecting with him for some of these reasons discussed.