Villanova Post Game Thread

[Gurleyman]

that drive and turnover was right as Solo(not 100% sure it was him) was about to come off of a screen, Dan Hurley got on him about it at the next dead ball timeout when he was heading to the huddle.

Yeah - Solo was coming off a second curl after the first cutter (AK, I think) dove to the rim and Solo was wide, wide open. It was like our entire 20 seconds of motion was designed to get that shot. And Ross didn’t even look that way. Sort of a rookie mistake with maybe tunnel vision - but it was a little antithetical to our offensive philosophy where you let the play develop and then go one on one if nothing presents itself. A learning moment in the film room.

 

[Nick2005]

Totally expected loss, there will be lots more. We are not good right now. I thought before season we had tons of talent. Was completely off. Karaban is not good enough to play 36 minutes. Lots of these guys are not good enough for the minutes, that’s why I want to see others play more. What a choke job, wow. I always say rebound and make free throws, hard to lose. Not making tournament is for real.

 

[Rocktheworld]

The turnovers and fouling is what got us in the situation we were in. Sucks not having McNeeley as much as anything because he’s a ball handler along with his ability to score. Gonna be great to have him back.

Good teams are having WTF losses. This was a big east road game. It’s going to happen this year. Besides the turnovers and Alex’s forgettable night, we saw some good things from Stewart, and Solo might be emerging

Funny that this was the game Hurley decided to throw in Nowell lol

 

[NIT88]

Anyone else suddenly have bad Donyell Marshall flashbacks!

I virtually had just had just thought that this brought Donyell PTSD back! It took 30 years to move past that.

 

[uconngb]

Ross progressed? He was a non-entity.

He was definitely not a non-entity. He was a negative entity. Why he is getting the run he is getting is, in a word, befuddling.

 

[RuffRuff]

For some reason, our guys are too often spectators when we have someone driving toward the rim rather than cutting or getting to an open spot on the floor. Not always and not every guy, certainly. But it happens more frequently than I’d like.

Other question I had is whether Hassan was the right inbounder? You want the ball in his hands, not being pulled out of the play right out of the gates.

 

[JMick]

83% from the line. His body language was off tonight...he looked tilted

He gets grabbed and bumped off the ball all game. I think it's been wearing on him.

 

[Connecticut13]

He was definitely not a non-entity. He was a negative entity. Why he is getting the run he is getting is, in a word, befuddling.

I unfortunately have to agree. Ross cannot continue to see significant playing time.

 

[Conndog]

Shot 4 free throws the entire game, 2 were Alex's at the end. Road reffing continues to be a problem for us.

Yeah, but no one’s forcing play inside or driving to basket- all perimeter stuff. Not going to get a lot of FTs from that.

 

[TheHorde]

Other question I had is whether Hassan was the right inbounder? You want the ball in his hands, not being pulled out of the play right out of the gates.

I’d rather have Alex be the inbounder.

 

[uconngb]

It's crazy, Jaylin is a much better basketball player.

It’s not even close. I’m beginning to wonder what the staff is seeing

 

[CTBasketball]

Jaylin Stewart needs 20+ min from here on out. The Jayden Ross experiment needs to end.

On a positive note, defense wasn’t too bad for 35ish minutes!

 

[uconngb]

Ross would be a better defender if he didn't jump at every ball fake.

That’s like saying he’d be a better shooter if every shot went in

 

[homunculus]

Not even close, if that call was the against us we woulda crashed the internet

It was every bit as much a foul as all the ones that sent Dixon to the FT line.

 

[Fan1978]

There really aren't words to describe that other than sad or possibly pathetic. Couldn't have played much worse, a rival hands you a win, and you can't go 1/2 from the line? Yikes

Seriously, after 3 years of big shots he can’t have an off day? You should be judged on your worst day! Of course alex is all class and would never judge you so harshly. Nobody feels worse than alex.

 

[Sphinx]

With apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer:

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men and children laugh, and deeds of heroes quoth,
But there is no joy in Mudville, mighty Alex missed them both.

 

[Candyman]

Meh, I cut slack. Dude came through for two years straight, 2 championships, pretty good this year. Gotta cut him some slack.

Yes and Inagree but as a role player which let’s face it he is a very good role player who

Anyone else suddenly have bad Donyell Marshall flashbacks!

Reminded me more of Cole missing 2 against Creighton.

 

[Mike Honcho]

I blame Diarra for the ending. He was open for 3 off the inbound with about 12-15 seconds left and he passed it. Should've taken the shot- he probably would have made it.

@aceboon made this point too. I disagree but I see the logic. Had he missed it, he would have incurred the wrath of the BY.

Hass is my favorite player, but the one issue I have with him is that he has taken too many last shots (at the end of both halves). The big outlier was when he found Solo during the Memphis game for the game-tying three.

Down just 1, I was glad we tried to put pressure on their defense and draw a foul (which we did successfully, though I thought it was clean). Without Liam we don't really have that end of clock, go-to dribble drive guy who can make something happen.

 

[RuffRuff]

I unfortunately have to agree. Ross cannot continue to see significant playing time.

I have no idea as to DHs commitment to Ross. The difference between how Stew approaches the chance to how Ross does are so different. Stew has this unbridled joyous confidence and Ross just looks awkward and unsure.

Ross may have hit a three today but that’s about the only positive I saw. If I watch him fall for another three pt pump fake I’m gonna snip off his man poof.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Perspective. Let’s get right at Georgetown.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Seriously, after 3 years of big shots he can’t have an off day? You should be judged on your worst day! Of course alex is all class and would never judge you so harshly. Nobody feels worse than alex.

Alex is being judged against expectations. He's a preseason All-American candidate, and he's not living up to that standard. It's not just this game either...

He scored 8 against Gonzaga on 30% shooting (0 for 7 from three).
He scored 6 against Colorado on 12.5% shooting (1 for 7 from three).

Consistency is the name of the game, and Alex has been pretty streaky his entire career. If he's going to elevate to that AA status, he needs to be more consistent.

FWIW, Eric Dixon had a very poor game by his standards (30% shooting) and still scored 23 and had a huge impact on the game.

 

[mauconnfan]

Everybody loves Alex but he's got to give us more for us to win in this league

Agree but so do Solo and Diarra. Alex can’t take anyone off the dribble suddenly so maybe time to start posting him up. People guarding him are too athletic on the move so change it up he’s good around the basket. HD can’t continue to come up empty for the first 20, 2 in a row needs to end fire and leadership needs to be immediate. Was it Adam’s that started real slow in the past? Also shouldn’t have given up that wide open 3 for a weak take to the rim.

Solo once again huge shots the kids clutch on that end. But watch the game got beat on the other end as much as he scored it’s an issue. He also missed a huge box out on weakside when we were up 2 and needed that rebound, can’t happen that end is important too.

Need Liam dramatically I’m afraid. Can’t lose to them with Dixon at 6-20 should never happen. Interested in this teams response!

Oh almost forgot thanks Jaylin for showing up to play. Well done!

 

[djct1999]

I hate losing. I am pissed. Last part of first half was awful. The run in the second was excellent. I am over tonight. Will sleep well.

 

[CTBasketball]

Agree but so do Solo and Diarra. Alex can’t take anyone off the dribble suddenly so maybe time to start posting him up. People guarding him are too athletic on the move so change it up he’s good around the basket. HD can’t continue to come up empty for the first 20, 2 in a row needs to end fire and leadership needs to be immediate. Was it Adam’s that started real slow in the past? Also shouldn’t have given up that wide open 3 for a weak take to the rim.

Solo once again huge shots the kids clutch on that end. But watch the game got beat on the other end as much as he scored it’s an issue. He also missed a huge box out on weakside when we were up 2 and needed that rebound, can’t happen that end is important too.

Need Liam dramatically I’m afraid. Can’t lose to them with Dixon at 6-20 should never happen. Interested in this teams response!

Oh almost forgot thanks Jaylin for showing up to play. Well done!

Solo might’ve had the biggest +/- swing in the history of the sport tonight. He trades baskets and teams go directly at him.

But he shot us back into the game so I’ll keep putting my own foot in my mouth.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I have no idea as to DHs commitment to Ross. The difference between how Stew approaches the chance to how Ross does are so different. Stew has this unbridled joyous confidence and Ross just looks awkward and unsure.

Ross may have hit a three today but that’s about the only positive I saw. If I watch him fall for another three pt pump fake I’m gonna snip off his man poof.

Ross can be really good once he settles down. He just literally plays like a spazz that the game moves so fast for.

Once he learns discipline he can be the player we imagine him to be. But he needs to keep getting time to do it.

For now, keep starting Stewart and get Ross some bench minutes in the meantime to continue getting him acclimated.