Thank You Ed Cooley

[NersEllenson]

Think we owe a special thanks to Ed Cooley for:

1) Choosing to press MU with his roster that only has 6 players.

2) In so doing, speeding up the game, and kick starting our transition game to 27 fast break points that has been lacking all year.

3) In so doing, not forcing us to always play 4 on 5 at the offensive end.


Special thanks also to:

1) Derrick Wilson for doing a very good job against the press all game, and creating good/easy looks once the press was broken - along with not turning the ball over against the press other than one questionable travel call.  I had concerns about Derrick facing pressure via a press, and he passed with flying colors.  Sadly, I think that will be the last press we see as coaches will see it is not a good idea to do to MU, especially when you can usually get them into a 4-5 situation in the half court game.

[Archies Bat]

You needed another thread to give faint praise, then beat up on Derrick in a passive/aggressive manner?

[Golden Avalanche]

Should also extend a thanks to the PC players who reverted to their normal selves after a five game win streak by being wildly out of control and not so smart in the last five minutes. Those are the Friars we've come to expect.

[NersEllenson]

You needed another thread to give faint praise, then beat up on Derrick in a passive/aggressive manner?

Not at all....felt it needed to be discussed - the interesting decision Cooley, unlike any other coach we've faced, made the decision to full court press us with a team that only goes 6 deep.

Peculiar decision...and one I doubt we'll see again.

[CTWarrior]

I think this whole thing is wrong.  Their 16-0 run was a direct result of the press, which was very effective until they ran out of gas, including with Derrick in the game.  It is true that they did not lay off Derrick as much as most teams do, but we were aggressive pushing the ball all game, and that, much more than beating the press, was why we scored fast break points.  Derrick was a big part of the aggressive offense. 

Anyway, we didn't win this game on offense, we won it with defense, which also was a big factor in the fast break points.

[willie warrior]

I think this whole thing is wrong.  Their 16-0 run was a direct result of the press, which was very effective until they ran out of gas, including with Derrick in the game.  It is true that they did not lay off Derrick as much as most teams do, but we were aggressive pushing the ball all game, and that, much more than beating the press, was why we scored fast break points.  Derrick was a big part of the aggressive offense. 

Anyway, we didn't win this game on offense, we won it with defense, which also was a big factor in the fast break points.

Objectivity. Agreed---+1