Rider-MU post game comments
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e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 2:35 PM
Thursday, November 30, 2006
About Me
- Name: Tony Graham
- Location: United States
If you have a moment please check out my Asbury Park Press blog at app.com. Just click on sports and then colleges. We talk about all MU sports..football, men's and women's hoops, soccer, the works...as well as local colleges in general. Thank you.
Previous Posts
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- WMCX
- MU women's hoops
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- MU vs. USD pre-game comments, predictions
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- OUR MU hoops story for Wednesday/w Calloway comments
- Comment on Penn game here
15 Comments:
Actually...feel free to post during the game. I am already here..will try to check this blog at halftime..
Monmouth up by four at the half, 30-26, with Bunch (eight points)making a difference. Will it last?
What a finish. OK. I was wrong (with the pick).
Trust me. I'm fine with it.
Never thought they'd pull it out when they got behind 64-59 in the last two minutes.
Did anyone?
This game potentially a season saver in terms of non-conference record.
Even if they lose to S Hall Monday night they can get back to 5-6 with wins over Hartford and Lehigh with a shot at 6-6 when Loy Marymount comes to town.
MU has won its three games by a total of four points.
(Women won their last two home games by one point at the buzzer and the other in OT). Pass the Alka-Seltzer please.
A win is a win is a win!!!!(& soo much better than a L) Let's go MU!!!
I was at work all night, but kept calling on the phone to find out the score. It sounded bad there for a bit, but nice to hear the win was nabbed and nice to read about Whitney's shot, Deki's performance and Bunch's heroics when I got home. After reading the boxscore I have a few comments on the game:
1. Jason Thompson is an absolute beast. I remember seeing him play as a freshman as a role player along with their lead guard (Jerry Johnson?) who was amazing, and he showed such a spark then. He has gotten taller and filled out since then as I understand and wow, wish we could've nabbed that kid.
2. Jhamar Youngblood looks like he could become an absolute star. A performance like this (11 pts, 7 rbs, 1 TO) in a hectic Broncs Zoo is great from a freshman guard.
3. Dejan Delic is the MVP away from Boylan Gym. Another huge game, with great shooting percentages (10-17 fg, 25 pts).
4. Mike Shipman and the guards as a unit are progressing nicely as the season continues. Ship (4 pts, 5 steals, 7 rbs, 4 asts, 2 TO's looks like he had a nice game running the show today).
5. John Bunch was a sprakplug and made this a win (12 pts, 6 rbs, 1 block).
A few questions for you Tony, as I was not in attendance:
1. How far out was Whitney's jumper to win it?
2. How did Bunch look health-wise?
3. Saw Alston had 4 fouls, did foul trouble limit his production all night?
4. Saw MU only gave up 26 1st half pts and 66 overall (421 fg% allowed), after the focus of practice being on D, how did the matchup defense look tonight?
5. MU scored 67 pts and shot .472 from the field, how did the offensive execution look tonight? The only negative I see is only 29% on 3's and 54% on ft's.
I am very happy I found your blog today and have a medium to express the happiness I have right now. What a great game, and an excellent win for Monmouth. For those who dont follow MU hoops as an obsession, beating Rider can only, for me, be trumped by defeating FDU (God how I hate them). Huistorically, MU and Rider has been a real rivalry game, and at this time it upsets me that Coach Szoke is no longer associated with the program because he would have loved this one. This was a very solid win for the program.
With all that being said, this was a real shot in the arm for this year's squad. I truly hope this win serves as a catalyst for momentum into NEC play. I really appreciated the effort the kids displayed tonight, and they really gutted this one out. I was impressed with how they scrapped until the buzzer sounded, and really thought Whitney Coleman and Mike Shipman hung in ther, when they both had tough games. Both the backcourt mates made huge plays respectively when the Hawks' backs were against the wall. What I liked especially was that MU fought and one this game, rather than Rider giving it away. To me it is an excellent sign to see this team winning close basketball games, and I think there is defintely some quality character on this team, and the chemistry is better than I might have imagined. A game like this really makes me miss suiting up for the Hawks, and I have to apologize to all of our fans for all of the turnovers and missed FT's I made through the years, because it is agaonizing from the stands. It is much more difficult being a spectator than being out there on the court.
As far as individual play, I thought Dek made some real key jumpers and what especially impresses me this year with him is his ability to score in such variegated ways (i.e post ups, drives, turn-arounds, and his patented bombs). As well, Bunch really did a nice job finishing for us tonight, and was solid overall, and I thought Corey played very tough in the post against JT, who is a tremendous post for Rider. And I certainly am a believer in this Youngblood kid. Man can he make you excited in the stands. Overall I have been so impressed with the composure he exudes out there.
This was a terrific team victory, and hopefully will serve as a springboards into Mondays contest versus Seton Hall and then on into NEC play against LIU. I was very proud of the team tonight, and glad I was able to be there.
That last blog from former player was from Jason Krayl. I'm happy he found the blog too. Jason - hope you continue to maintain contact with MU fans (and me), and offer your insight.
Yeh.. Wayne would have loved this one!
It really was sweet for MU fans to win this, and the way they did it even sweeter.
That double team trap with Corey has become a staple of late game pressure defense for MU.
I will shortly post a copy of the story I sent to the Press.
Of Monmouth's last five wins..four have been pressure types...all three this year, and the 2006 NEC final at FDU.
Defense for the most
part was very good tonight. Rider scored some points on second shots (yes, that Thompson is a monster)and there were a few breakdowns on 3-point defense, but it's gonna happen.
But it sure was a whole lot of n improvement than three years ago when Rider hit those 13 3's.
1. How far out was Whitney's jumper to win it?
About 10 feet along the left baseline.
2. How did Bunch look health-wise?
OK.
At times a bit quicker than he has been. Also hobbled out of the game briefly in the late going after a scrum under the hoop..but returned a little while later.
Don't know that he's ever going to be 100 or even 80-90 percent this year. But he's battling and he makes such an impact at this level.
Several times Rider players pulled up for J's rather than take it inside.
Thompson got by a him a few times but JT is so quick..and Mouton made a nice floater over him..but overall Bunch was a difference maker and trying his best, I believe.
3. Saw Alston had 4 fouls, did foul trouble limit his production all night?
Yes.. and they had a 6-8 guy on him a lot, too.
4. Saw MU only gave up 26 1st half pts and 66 overall (421 fg% allowed), after the focus of practice being on D, how did the matchup defense look tonight?
Overall..defensive intensity was up..I answered some of this on the Jason Krayl comments
so please take a look. When MU has the three guards out there they react quickly to the ball.
5. MU scored 67 pts and shot .472 from the field, how did the offensive execution look tonight?
The only negative I see is only 29% on 3's and 54% on FTs.
I believe the whole key is the post. They had one tonight (Bunch) and that made all the difference. Think they got one back door hoop.
Delic hit some big 3s and was also driving inside as Jason alluded to.
FTs nearly killed them..in last five minutes Deki and Marques failed on front ends and Bunch went 1-for-2 on a two-shot foul.
This had all the earmarks of a late game fade until Rider crumbled under the inbounds trap.
It led to the first Shipman steal and ensuing layup by Delic that made it 64-63.
Then Rider broke through and feshman Ryan Thompson, the big kids "baby" brother, he's 6-5 and gonna be real, real, good made two foul shots to make it 66-63.
Ship went right down and hit a layup, 66-65, to set up the final frantic moments.
Mouton almost won it at the buzzer.
He got all the way to the hoop and - I didn't get a good look (neither did he I guess) - and the ball seemed to fall off the rim.
At Rider, press is stationed under the basket which is far from ideal.
Also.."Jet" had a few highlight plays.went waaay up to knock in a rebound..and flew to the hoop for a sparkling reverse layup.
Near the end, though, was involved in a potentially damaging turnover. JY penetrated and then, at the last second, sort of shoved it to Bunch who wasn't ready and the ball got away from Bunch for the TO.
But overall he played solid, under control, and was an offensive spark.
Looks like "hope and a paycheck" worked!
Even I got paid today...It must have been destiny!
Just wanted to say thanks to those who contributed posts here – especially those who can provide a unique perspective....it really adds to the fan experience. And Jason, no apologies necessary....for every slip-up there were many good plays....constant hustle trumps a blunder any day in my book.
Tony, that was truly a monmouth win last night! I think everything was positive in all relms accept for the 3pt shooting. I love listening to the game on my mac at home!
Oh yeah, do u think Delic is just in a mental funk at the FT line? Its painful sitting at home knowing a great perimeter shooter is at the line and then you hear the x guys saying he missed again.
Im sure he'll come around.
Thanks to the above comment, I made many mistakes but also tried to compete as best as I could. Again, Tony this is an excellent blog, I will try to check it out as often as possible at night or lunch time as I'm doing now. I just wanted to reiterate what a tremendous effort the kids displayed last night, and I wish I could be in attendance Monday versus SHU, but unfortunately other obligations exist.
Jason Krayl
MU '04
To all those that were in panick mode, How u like us now, huh?
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