JT3 and Jay Wright

[Galway Eagle]

Jay Wright has been bounced in the round of 32 5 times since his final four run (and once didn't make the tournament).  Before that he managed an elite 8 and 2 sweet 16s. 

JT3 hasn't made it past the round of 32 in 6 tries since his final four run before that he had a sweet 16. 

Have these two lost their ability to be a tournament coach? Did they peak too early? How long will GTown and Nova continue to be ok with these early bounces?

[Dr. Blackheart]

The Big East as it is currently constructed is a guards' conference in the regular season. When you get into the NCAA's it becomes about match-ups. The top talent in the conference is 6'6" and under (11 out of 12 on the BE first two teams), except Stainbrook. Nova was out rebounded 45-32 last night, but like Providence in their loss, went cold from the field. It may indeed be a "Guards' Game", but Bigs advance you, which is why Xavier has moved on.

Telling, but hardly a crapshoot.
_______________________________
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM^ Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, Jr., 6-6, 185, Pendleton, Ind. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-3, 214, Indianapolis, Ind. *Kris Dunn, Providence, G, Jr., 6-3, 205, New London, Conn. *LaDontae Henton, Providence, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Lansing, Mich. D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's, G, Sr., 6-4, 202, Missouri City, Texas Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-3, 195, Langhorne, Pa. *Darrun Hilliard, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-6, 215, Bethlehem, Pa.

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM Roosevelt Jones, Butler, F, Jr., 6-4, 227, O'Fallon, Ill. Matt Carlino, Marquette, G, Gr., 6-2, 175, Arcadia, Ariz. Sterling Gibbs, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-2, 185, Scotch Plains, N.J. Sir'Dominic Pointer, St. John's, G/F, Sr., 6-6, 192, Detroit, Mich. Matt Stainbrook, Xavier, C, Sr., 6-10, 270, Bay Village, Ohio

[jsglow]

Put it this way.  hoyascoop and novascoop must be in full meltdown today.  GTown's loss this year isn't all that unexpected.  They were legitimately a 4-5 seed and  S-16 run would represent the conclusion of a very solid year.  Nova nation must be fit to be tied.  Their team dominated all year and can't get out of the first weekend?  Nova would have been expected to potentially challenge for a national championship.  Now their season has to be considered mostly a failure.  My sincere hope is that Marquette and Georgetown re-emerge as the two dominant powers in the BEast because Wright seems to have demonstrated that he can't handle the perch.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The Big East as it is currently constructed is a guards' conference in the regular season. When you get into the NCAA's it becomes about match-ups. The top talent in the conference is 6'6" and under (11 out of 12 on the BE first two teams), except Stainbrook. Nova was out rebounded 45-32 last night, but like Providence in their loss, went cold from the field. It may indeed be a "Guards' Game", but Bigs advance you, which is why Xavier has moved on.

Telling, but hardly a crapshoot.
_______________________________
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM^ Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, Jr., 6-6, 185, Pendleton, Ind. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-3, 214, Indianapolis, Ind. *Kris Dunn, Providence, G, Jr., 6-3, 205, New London, Conn. *LaDontae Henton, Providence, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Lansing, Mich. D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's, G, Sr., 6-4, 202, Missouri City, Texas Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-3, 195, Langhorne, Pa. *Darrun Hilliard, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-6, 215, Bethlehem, Pa.

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM Roosevelt Jones, Butler, F, Jr., 6-4, 227, O'Fallon, Ill. Matt Carlino, Marquette, G, Gr., 6-2, 175, Arcadia, Ariz. Sterling Gibbs, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-2, 185, Scotch Plains, N.J. Sir'Dominic Pointer, St. John's, G/F, Sr., 6-6, 192, Detroit, Mich. Matt Stainbrook, Xavier, C, Sr., 6-10, 270, Bay Village, Ohio

The teams that advance farthest have guards and bigs.  Bigs are tough to come by, so it makes sense to go guards first because that is where your best bet is to land quality players in volume. 

Villanova has beaten teams this year every bit as big or bigger than NC State.  They shot very poorly, didn't attack like they normally do until the end, which is when they had success.

[Dr. Blackheart]

One thing on JT3 last night on his line-ups, he played his 7 footer Hayes for only 8 minutes (where he got 4 rebounds), where he was the game changer against EWU (8 points, 6 rebounds in 10 minutes) in a short spurt. Hayes is much more mobile than Smith (who is vastly out of shape and foul prone), providing match-up problems.

In both games, Georgetown got back in it with Hayes on the floor against two mixed tempo teams. JT3 spent his minutes either going slower with Smith or smaller with guards or forwards. I thought this sub pattern lost the momentum yesterday where Smith-Rivera was cold.  

[Dr. Blackheart]

The teams that advance farthest have guards and bigs.  Bigs are tough to come by, so it makes sense to go guards first because that is where your best bet is to land quality players in volume. 

Villanova has beaten teams this year every bit as big or bigger than NC State.  They shot very poorly, didn't attack like they normally do until the end, which is when they had success.

...and got smoked on the boards against a team well-stocked with physical bigs.

[muwarrior69]

The teams that advance farthest have guards and bigs.  Bigs are tough to come by, so it makes sense to go guards first because that is where your best bet is to land quality players in volume. 

Villanova has beaten teams this year every bit as big or bigger than NC State.  They shot very poorly, didn't attack like they normally do until the end, which is when they had success.

Yup! Live by the three die by the three! Always need that inside game as well if your having a poor shooting game.

[jsglow]

All I know is that my two favorite characters from yesterday are the awesome coach at Georgia St. and the incredible Frosh rebounding machine on NC St.

[Dawson Rental]

Honestly, I thought that Jay Wright coached one hell of a game to get Villanova to within three at the end.  Four of Villanova's 3-pt shooters - Ryan Arcidiacono, Dylan Ennis, Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart were a combined 0 for 14 from 3-pt land.  Oh, and Villanova shot a worse % on 2-pt field goals.  (10 of 33 or 30%)  Many bunnies and layups missed.  Just two of those close in shots falling to raise Nova's average on 2-pt FGs to 36% would have meant a win despite the well below average shooting from 3-pt land.  Villanova got caught on a poor shooting night by everyone except Booth and Hillard.  It wasn't great defense by NC State either.  Lots of open threes missed.

Maybe, in Pittsburgh they used the brand of basketball used at by Wisconsin at the Kohl.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Honestly, I thought that Jay Wright coached one hell of a game to get Villanova to within three at the end.  Four of Villanova's 3-pt shooters - Ryan Arcidiacono, Dylan Ennis, Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart were a combined 0 for 14 from 3-pt land.  Oh, and Villanova shot a worse % on 2-pt field goals.  (10 of 33 or 30%)  Many bunnies and layups missed.  Just two of those close in shots falling to raise Nova's average on 2-pt FGs to 36% would have meant a win despite the well below average shooting from 3-pt land.  Villanova got caught on a poor shooting night by everyone except Booth and Hillard.  It wasn't great defense by NC State either.  Lots of open threes missed.

Maybe, in Pittsburgh they used the brand of basketball used at by Wisconsin at the Kohl.

Agreed.  They missed a dunk, at least 4 or 5 layups.  Make the shots you are supposed to make, but they didn't.  That loss was more about what VU didn't do than anything else.  Sure, they got outrebounded, but that is partly because they shot so poorly the rebounds were there to be had.  Wide open misses. The end of the first half 5 point swing did not help their cause either.

[HutchwasClutch]

Honestly, I thought that Jay Wright coached one hell of a game to get Villanova to within three at the end.  Four of Villanova's 3-pt shooters - Ryan Arcidiacono, Dylan Ennis, Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart were a combined 0 for 14 from 3-pt land.  Oh, and Villanova shot a worse % on 2-pt field goals.  (10 of 33 or 30%)  Many bunnies and layups missed.  Just two of those close in shots falling to raise Nova's average on 2-pt FGs to 36% would have meant a win despite the well below average shooting from 3-pt land.  Villanova got caught on a poor shooting night by everyone except Booth and Hillard.  It wasn't great defense by NC State either.  Lots of open threes missed.

Maybe, in Pittsburgh they used the brand of basketball used at by Wisconsin at the Kohl.

All of what you cite above just points out that 'Nova was clearly feeling the weight of the number 1 seed on their shoulders last night.  They looked wound very tight the entire game.  And NC State of course was the team playing with everything to gain and nothing to lose.   

But that said, great teams can handle that weight of being a 1 seed.  'Nova clearly couldn't. 

[Big Papi]

Agreed.  They missed a dunk, at least 4 or 5 layups.  Make the shots you are supposed to make, but they didn't.  That loss was more about what VU didn't do than anything else.  Sure, they got outrebounded, but that is partly because they shot so poorly the rebounds were there to be had.  Wide open misses. The end of the first half 5 point swing did not help their cause either.

Nova last night looked like us the entire year.  Missed bunnies, lay-ups and 3 point shots and falling just short in the end.  They did look tightly wound all night.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Jay has a good one coming in next year.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/ct-spt-0322-prep-boys-basketball-state-4a-final-20150321-story.html

[jsglow]

Nova last night looked like us the entire year.  Missed bunnies, lay-ups and 3 point shots and falling just short in the end.  They did look tightly wound all night.

So right.  That was like watching our beloved last night.

[Dawson Rental]

So right.  That was like watching our beloved last night.

With Darrun Hiliard staring as Matt Carlino.

[HutchwasClutch]

How long will GTown and Nova continue to be ok with these early bounces?

Well, if Georgetown and 'Nova want to become Seton Hall, I would strongly endorse firing JTIII and Wright.

Both of those guys are perfect fits for each program they run.  Each school would only do worse by dumping them and looking elsewhere. 

[BM1090]

The teams that advance farthest have guards and bigs.  Bigs are tough to come by, so it makes sense to go guards first because that is where your best bet is to land quality players in volume. 

Villanova has beaten teams this year every bit as big or bigger than NC State.  They shot very poorly, didn't attack like they normally do until the end, which is when they had success.

They attacked like they normally did, but missed probably 8 gimme layups. And gimme is not a term that I use loosely.

[brewcity77]

Nova last night looked like us the entire year.  Missed bunnies, lay-ups and 3 point shots and falling just short in the end.  They did look tightly wound all night.

Agreed. There were a couple times I wondered if that was Teve wearing an Ochefu suit.

[RushmoreAcademy]

but Bigs advance you, which is why Xavier has moved on.

Xavier moved on because they played a 14 seed in the second round.  They didn't look great, and there's a good chance they would have also lost to Utah or NC State.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Xavier moved on because they played a 14 seed in the second round.  They didn't look great, and there's a good chance they would have also lost to Utah or NC State.

Stainbrook and Reynolds had 35 points and 12 rebounds between them. GSU had 12 rebounds total as a team. As I said, Xavier advanced because of their Bigs.  I wonder if Baylor could say the same?  Hunter is a first rounder, btw.  No Xavier guard outplayed him.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Wright's record is far better than Crean's. By the transitive property, he should be a viable contender at Blue Bloods.

[bilsu]

All of what you cite above just points out that 'Nova was clearly feeling the weight of the number 1 seed on their shoulders last night.  They looked wound very tight the entire game.  And NC State of course was the team playing with everything to gain and nothing to lose.   

But that said, great teams can handle that weight of being a 1 seed.  'Nova clearly couldn't. 

Nova has exited early three straight years. It may be more the players than the coaching. This group of players never had have what it took to make an NCAA run.

[muwarrior69]

It was interesting when Jay was interviewed just before the start of the 2nd half. His tone and body language almost felt self defeating to me. Then again i just might be reading to much into that.  Anyone else notice?

[Eldon]

Jay Wright has been bounced in the round of 32 5 times since his final four run (and once didn't make the tournament).  Before that he managed an elite 8 and 2 sweet 16s. 

JT3 hasn't made it past the round of 32 in 6 tries since his final four run before that he had a sweet 16. 

Have these two lost their ability to be a tournament coach? Did they peak too early? How long will GTown and Nova continue to be ok with these early bounces?

What's really the difference between regular season coaching and tournament coaching?  Less scouting time?  Psyching your players into believing that there's no pressure? 

[warriorfan 14]

2nd year in a row the big east was a bust in the tourney. have to start doing better soon or we lose respect of the selection committee