Villanova Thoughts

[g0lden3agle]

4) Still too much high school-style, I'm putting things on my back and I'll do it, rather than team work. We're better than we were early in the season but there still is maturity waiting to happen.

Nova shows us what having a team with years and years of experience and reps together looks like vs. our guys who are just finishing up their first year together.  Clean, crisp passing leading to easy wide open buckets.  Made me very jealous.

[jesmu84]

Yeah, I am not sure about that either.  I see a guy who does a lot of things well against inferior competition, but doesn't due one thing great so he can stand out come BE time.  Seems over-matched.

To be fair, we said this about JJJ the last 2 years as well.

[Jay Bee]

To be fair, we said this about JJJ the last 2 years as well.

But.. there were reasons to project JjJ higher...

[forgetful]

3) Henri is a great college player. He has skills that will make him millions in the Association. But he's not even close yet. He needs at least another year of college basketball to tune his game and get him ready.

I agree with the above, but you need to remember that they are not looking to draft HE, because he is ready for the NBA, I doubt anyone thinks that.

They are drafting him, because of his potential in the NBA 2-3 years from now.

[GGGG]

To be fair, we said this about JJJ the last 2 years as well.

Actually I don't agree with that.  JJJ to me always seems like a very athletic guy who struggled with the basic fundamentals.  You could always see flashes, but it always came with a lot of mistakes.  Sandy might be the exact opposite.

[MUDPT]

Nova's offense was sooooooo smooth.  At one point in the first half, they ran the double high screen where Arci had a choice in which direction he went.  He went right, threw cross court to the opposite wing 3 point line, to Jenkins?.  Jenkins was open, but immediately passed into Ochefu who was already posting.  I think we fouled that possession, but had no chance, even with the quickest rotations.  Really running some high level stuff compared to us.

[forgetful]

Actually I don't agree with that.  JJJ to me always seems like a very athletic guy who struggled with the basic fundamentals. You could always see flashes, but it always came with a lot of mistakes.  Sandy might be the exact opposite.

That's why this coaching staff is perfect for him.  They got him to buy in, he improved leaps and bounds this year. 

I actually expect another huge improvement next year.  He could be similar to Wesley, really growing into the player he was meant to be as a senior.

[keefe]

Give him another year. His issue is confidence not ability

I respectfully disagree.

[PGsHeroes32]

My thoughts on Sandy are basically that I'd like to see him stick around and hopefully be a key piece as an upperclassman.

But at the same time if he did transfer down in competition I'd be "ok, bye Sandy and good luck". Wouldn't really bum me at this point.

[VegasWarrior77]

Will PM. I love Sacar. My recruiting notes for the masses ... sometimes I share, usually I do not. Not that anyone cares. Unless they like exquisite knowledge, a''inal?

Wasn't Sacar the Minny player of the year?

[real chili 83]

Wasn't Sacar the Minny player of the year?

He was, for sure MVP of the state championship.  Man amongst boys in that game.

[VegasWarrior77]

He was, for sure MVP of the state championship.  Man amongst boys in that game.

I also thought he was on the all-tourney team along with Henry for the tourney they have in January in Minny(?).

[jesmu84]

In case anyone is wondering, the corner 3/baseline drive is still open.

[NotAnAlum]

1.  We had to play a perfect game today to beat a ligit #1.  We played well but not perfect.
2.  Traci did a great job of dribbling through the press but he still had a costly turnovers particularly the travel driving in too deep at about the 2:00 minute mark.  Again we had to be perfect.
3.  The new strategy on defending HE is to rough him up and make the refs calls fouls.  Creighton did it and so did Nova.  Expect more the next 2 games.  HE is going to have to elevate his game and make them pay.
4.  Sure does seem like Ochefu gets away with a lot of fouls.  Luke got called for a rebounding foul in the first half where Ochefu was over his back.  In the second half the block called on Luke should have been a charge on Ochefu. 
5.  This team has come a long way from the team that got blown out by Iowa and got smoked early in conference play.  Maybe the long stretch of non-competitive play which started with Buzz's last year is finally coming to an end. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

4.  Sure does seem like Ochefu gets away with a lot of fouls.  Luke got called for a rebounding foul in the first half where Ochefu was over his back.  In the second half the block called on Luke should have been a charge on Ochefu. 

Was watching on tv. Luke had Ochefu around the arm. Looked like an ochefu foul until I saw the replay. Ochefu did lower the shoulder but it looked to me like Luke was in the circle. There wasn't a replay so I can't be sure

[AZMarqfan]

Marquette was hurt really bad by the incredible flopping abilities of Nova.  I saw 3 on tv that looked like clear fouls (maybe even hard fouls).  Only on replay, we realized there was nothing there.  One was on a strong drive to the hoop when someone appeared to run into a brick wall known as Wally.  Only on tv in slo-mo you could see there was always a visible gap between the two.  On another one, I think it was JJJ was stepping up to guard his man on the wing.  His man kind of flinched falling backwards and collapsed to the ground.  The was also one on Fischer as well. 

Speaking of fouls, I'm not sure which is worse--Fischer picking up ticky-tack fouls or HE refusing to play physical defense. 

Last thought, what has happened to Cohen?  He was a sharpshooter and lock-down defender early in the year.  Now he gets the ball and instantly tries to pass it.  Maybe Wojo needs to run some plays for the kid, but he looks lost out there. 

[AZMarqfan]

oops, one more thought....Henry with 6 shots.  Really??  That's been the story way too much this year.

[GGGG]

Wasn't Sacar the Minny player of the year?

Not sure what that means really.  TJ Bray was Wisconsin player of the year at one point, but that doesn't necessarily mean he was a high D1 player.  (Not saying Sacar isn't by any means but he is clearly an unproven commodity.)

[murara1994]

oops, one more thought....Henry with 6 shots.  Really??  That's been the story way too much this year.

Wut?  He averages 13 shots per game, 3 more than anyone else on the team.

[Dr. Blackheart]

1.  First ten minutes of both halves:  Gameplan
2.  Turnovers, again
3.  Experience and match-ups matter
4.  Great home environment but this team struggles at home. Odd
5.  This is a physical league.
6.  JJJ has really improved. 
7.  This was a blowout but it didn't seem like one.
8.  Haanif is a keeper
9.  The Curious Case of the Shrinking Violets continues.

[The Lens]

5.  This team has come a long way from the team that got blown out by Iowa and got smoked early in conference play.  Maybe the long stretch of non-competitive play which started with Buzz's last year is finally coming to an end.

With all due respect, Buzz's last team went 9-9 in conf with multiple OT losses.  Being "competitive" was not the issue. 

[dgies9156]

1.  We had to play a perfect game today to beat a legit #1.
3.  The new strategy on defending HE is to rough him up and make the refs calls fouls. 
5.  This team has come a long way from the team that got blown out by Iowa and got smoked early in conference play.

One was the most obvious and best comment of the day. We did play reasonably well, but we dug ourselves a hole so deep early in the second half that we were peeking out at China.

Item 3 is why Henry isn't close to being ready for the NBA. OK, I get it. He could make lots of money in a weak draft. But, he's nowhere near the player he needs to be or could become.

Item 5 is the hopeful piece of this year. Those of us who entered the year with unrealistic expectations (defendant writer here pleads guilty), can legitimately see the improvement and are optimistic about next year

[Loose Cannon]

That's why this coaching staff is perfect for him.  They got him to buy in, he improved leaps and bounds this year. 

I actually expect another huge improvement next year.  He could be similar to Wesley, really growing into the player he was meant to be as a senior.

Absolutely Right, if D Wilson had 4 years under these guys, I think he's a much better player.

[MU82]

3.  The new strategy on defending HE is to rough him up and make the refs calls fouls.  Creighton did it and so did Nova.  Expect more the next 2 games.  HE is going to have to elevate his game and make them pay.

Item 3 is why Henry isn't close to being ready for the NBA. OK, I get it. He could make lots of money in a weak draft. But, he's nowhere near the player he needs to be or could become.

Actually, Item 3 is a strong reason why Henry should choose to leave for the NBA. The way he would be primarily used as a pro is out of the lane. There will be more open court and less physical pounding. He also won't be the focal point of his team's offense.

There are many college players who actually are better pros for those reasons.

And in the unlikely event that Henry would get clutched and grabbed and fouled in the NBA ... well ... at least he would be getting paid to take the abuse.

Believe me, I'm not advocating for Henry to leave. I hope he stays for sure. I'm just telling you that the way he is being mugged in college actually is a very sound reason for him to leave.

[GGGG]

Item 3 is why Henry isn't close to being ready for the NBA. OK, I get it. He could make lots of money in a weak draft. But, he's nowhere near the player he needs to be or could become.

Of course he isn't.  No one claimed that he would be a finished product by any means.