I know this is harsh but.....

[MuggsyB]

This team is going to be exponentially better with Chase & Ben moving on.  I think we have a decent foundation with Nigel, RP, Adrien, and DO & MP.  Damarius is playing much better on the defensive end.  You add our newcomers and 2 quality portal guys, including a badass big.  This could bring dividends to MU and a quicker turnaround than most project. 

[NCMUFan]

Ben and Chase have limitations. I think they are trying to play past their limitations.

[rocky_warrior]

It is a little harsh, but we'd be even worse without both of them this year. 

It's the reality we have.

[mugrad_89]

Ben and Chase have limitations. I think they are trying to play past their limitations.

I think Ben has been pretty good, but Chase is definitely trying to do too much and it's hurting the team.

[21Jumpstreet]

I don't agree about Ben. However, I would expect Chase to have some pride. I mean he wants to play in the league, right? For someone who I never questioned his effort prior to this year, it has fallen off a cliff. He is pressing, at first I got it as the senior leader, now, it's just selfishness.

[MuggsyB]

It is a little harsh, but we'd be even worse without both of them this year. 

It's the reality we have.

Yes..but the truth is both guys have regressed. 

[MuggsyB]

I don't agree about Ben. However, I would expect Chase to have some pride. I mean he wants to play in the league, right? For someone who I never questioned his effort prior to this year, it has fallen off a cliff. He is pressing, at first I got it as the senior leader, now, it's just selfishness.

He totally goes through the motions for major stretches.  And I simply do not understand why he's ever playing iso ball, especially down the stretch. 

[rocky_warrior]

Yes..but the truth is both guys have regressed.

Parham seems to be finally playing to expectations, but everyone (frosh excluded) have regressed.

[MuggsyB]

Nigel had a tough game today from a decision making standpoint.  But he'll learn.  What continues to boggle my mind is the extended high hedge by Ben, and our help when he's isolated up top.  I don't get it. Even when the trap is for an eternity it's a weak ass trap.  Makes zero sense, and that's on Shaka.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Yes..but the truth is both guys have regressed.

His 3 point shooting has regressed dramatically which has an oversized impact on his value as a basketball player but his defense and driving ability have improved. His ball handling and his hands have stayed the same, meaning not very good.

Ben Gold, that is.

[Zog from Margo]

Yes..but the truth is both guys have regressed.

Ross has. Ben is MU's best interior defender and it's not really close. Parham blocks shots but gets shoved around and loses track of people. Hamilton and Clark are pretty clueless.

[WarriorFan]

Chase Ross is the most athletic bad player MU has ever had.  Wally was better. Chase is now the worst player on the court except when Hamilton plays.

[nyg]

Gold in BE play:  8 for 54 from three, 15%. That really hurts. Waiting for injury excuse as usual.

Ross in BE play has regressed from pre conference play, where he was really good. Who knows why.

But not all Gold's fault, he has no backups and has been playing out of position for two years.  That's on Shaka for choosing the development aspect on two unheralded recruits, who even redshirted to develop.  Today, Hamilton and Clark played 15 minutes and had zero points, zero rebounds, zero blocks, zero assists.  Think about that......, then again it has been discussed in nauseam and will be.

Go to boxscore and look at MU bench scoring, etc to Seton Hall bench. 

I want to see Owens and Phillips more to see what they have. Good luck to Shaka and next years roster construction, should be interesting. 

Believe that is 0 for 11 on the road? 

[Mu8891]

They have both been disappointing...

And Ross has been terrible for the most part.  Not only is he not an Alpha, he's not even a Beta.

On a top tier team he should be the 6th man.

But ... Muggs ... they will NOT be better next year w / out going to the portal.
Unless you think Sheek ( thin as a blade of grass ) is going to save them?  He won't

[CountryRoads]

Ross is a 5th or 6th guy on a good team. Just not much of a bag or bucket getting ability. Gold is also a 5th or 6th guy. They were just in the wrong roles due to RGV. Water is starting to reach its level and they are sliding back to where they belong.

[PointWarrior]

At this point of the season, the crapty play of all big east first teamer Chase Ross has over taken the dumbness of Shaka playing Hamilton so much as the big disappointment of the season.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

young team vs an experienced tough defense and took them to the wire in their arena
not a bad effort

[wadesworld]

They have both been disappointing...

And Ross has been terrible for the most part.  Not only is he not an Alpha, he's not even a Beta.

On a top tier team he should be the 6th man.

But ... Muggs ... they will NOT be better next year w / out going to the portal.
Unless you think Sheek ( thin as a blade of grass ) is going to save them?  He won't

They will definitely be better even with no portal additions (assuming no key exits). But they will not be good enough without portal additions.

[Newsdreams]

Nigel had a tough game today from a decision making standpoint.  But he'll learn.  What continues to boggle my mind is the extended high hedge by Ben, and our help when he's isolated up top.  I don't get it. Even when the trap is for an eternity it's a weak ass trap.  Makes zero sense, and that's on Shaka.

Yup Ben is doing what he is told to do, and shot 42.9% from 3.

[tower912]

His 3 point shooting has regressed dramatically which has an oversized impact on his value as a basketball player but his defense and driving ability have improved. His ball handling and his hands have stayed the same, meaning not very good.

Ben Gold, that is.

I think he is still leading the Big East in 2 pt shooting percentage.  I know he was a couple of games ago. 

[MuggsyB]

Excuse my ignorance Scoopers, but what exactly is the explanation for the feeble/hard hedge 35 feet from the rim?  It's literally as effective as trying to trap an octopus.  I don't get it at all. 

As for RP's defense?  I think it was rough down the stretch and he's struggled a lot.  That said he's improved imo.  He seemed a bit gassed to me.  As a side note, I'd like to see MP get a few more mins. 

[Newsdreams]

Excuse my ignorance Scoopers, but what exactly is the explanation for the feeble/hard hedge 35 feet from the rim?  And it's literally as effective as trying to trap an octopus.  I don't get it at all. 

As for RP's defense?  I think was tough down the stretch and has struggled a lot, but he's improved imo.  He seemed a bit gassed to me.  As a side note, I'd like to see MP get a few more mins. 

That hedge is to disrupt ball handler, it has been done on basketball for o while now, just have to have proper big, OSO like, plus need to have guys who know how to rotate in case big is late. The rotation on D for this team in general is absolutely horrendous.

[Viper]

This year bug...next year and with some portal shopping, windshield.

[MuggsyB]

That hedge is to disrupt ball handler, it has been done on basketball for o while now, just have to have proper big, OSO like, plus need to have guys who know how to rotate in case big is late. The rotation on D for this team in general is absolutely horrendous.

So, if you don't have the personnel, shouldn't you abandon it?  Correct, our help D is historically putrid.   And btw the high hedge isn't disrupting the ball handler at all.  I think the whole thing is a complete disaster. 

[MuggsyB]

They have both been disappointing...

And Ross has been terrible for the most part.  Not only is he not an Alpha, he's not even a Beta.

On a top tier team he should be the 6th man.

But ... Muggs ... they will NOT be better next year w / out going to the portal.
Unless you think Sheek ( thin as a blade of grass ) is going to save them?  He won't

I don't really disagree with you.