How do you rate the home stand? My thoughts on tonight's game
How do you rate the home stand (4-2)?
Good
Ok, should have been better.
Unsatisfactory
My answer: Ok, should have been better. In my opinion should not have lost two games, especially to LIU. But a nice recovery, and got back into "Monmouth Basketball" mode...Controlled offense, ratcheted up the defense.
On tonight's game:
MU gutted it out on defense in a game it did not play well overall offensively. The next time anyone moans about Bunch he or she must go to the back of the room for the duration of the season.
He and Delic really came up big when they had to. Bunch even battled through some double teams to make strong moves. Brother, does he take a pounding under there.
Even though Jhamar did not have a good game..I gotta give him credit for taking - and making -that big 3 late in the game. Once he began to struggle I felt he played tentative in the point guard role ..started to think too much about what he was going to do. He's just got to let his instincts take over. When he traveled at the end there I felt he was undecided about whether to streak to the hole or bring it back out.....thus the turnover.
.
All around game Nunner played tonight cannot be underestimated even though he did not score. But they need another body for an eighth guy..Shipman (if he makes it back)? Simspon? Barlow? (Ok, just thought I'd mention him)
Quick word on the women's game I'll throw in here. Very entertaining. At 5-5 or there abouts Brianne Edwards is fearless. What a competitor. An official admitted to me they could have called an intentional foul when Marisa Jimenez was plastered into the wall. Nice bounce back game for Veronica Randolph after the tough game vs. LIU.
Good
Ok, should have been better.
Unsatisfactory
My answer: Ok, should have been better. In my opinion should not have lost two games, especially to LIU. But a nice recovery, and got back into "Monmouth Basketball" mode...Controlled offense, ratcheted up the defense.
On tonight's game:
MU gutted it out on defense in a game it did not play well overall offensively. The next time anyone moans about Bunch he or she must go to the back of the room for the duration of the season.
He and Delic really came up big when they had to. Bunch even battled through some double teams to make strong moves. Brother, does he take a pounding under there.
Even though Jhamar did not have a good game..I gotta give him credit for taking - and making -that big 3 late in the game. Once he began to struggle I felt he played tentative in the point guard role ..started to think too much about what he was going to do. He's just got to let his instincts take over. When he traveled at the end there I felt he was undecided about whether to streak to the hole or bring it back out.....thus the turnover.
.
All around game Nunner played tonight cannot be underestimated even though he did not score. But they need another body for an eighth guy..Shipman (if he makes it back)? Simspon? Barlow? (Ok, just thought I'd mention him)
Quick word on the women's game I'll throw in here. Very entertaining. At 5-5 or there abouts Brianne Edwards is fearless. What a competitor. An official admitted to me they could have called an intentional foul when Marisa Jimenez was plastered into the wall. Nice bounce back game for Veronica Randolph after the tough game vs. LIU.
posted by Tony Graham at 12:43 AM
18 Comments:
Tony, how was the alumni game, who played? I thought Bunch was great last night. Unsure why people are so hard on him. Great gutsy win!
Hey TG
BIG win for the hawks, No pun intended. These last 4 wins should give them a real mental boast. Hopefully this will jump start them for a run in the NEC. Apparently Clemson is better then people thought and will be a force in the ACC. So maybe that game will help us. Did you get a chance to talk to the alumni?? Stokes or John?? Anybody else around from the 96-99 teams?? As for my team we are 8-3 and 3-1 in our league. We overcame a 3-25 shooting night in the 1st half on Friday and only being down 3 to win by 6. Hope you can enjoy the eagles game this afternoon.
EAGLES 27
GIANTS 17
Take Care
Tim Walker
I never saw one second of the game or really even asked about it. It was a rather short game because of the women's double OT game. I did talk to Tyler Azzarelli, Dwayne Byfield, and Jim Keane at times during the evening but I did not ask about the game. I spoke with Tyler about sending us a report on Villanova practices as compared to MU's which someone on here had asked me to inquire of him. He said he would do it. Also, later this season, I hope to do a combo story on Chris and Tyler, along the lines of "from the court to coaching (Chris at MU, Tyler at Villanova)." Tyler said Nova team a lot like MU in that it has a senior front line and a young back court. Dwayne is in the clothing business. Said it's not the career he expected but he is enjoying it.
Overall, I think MU gained a bit more confidence this homestand, which is always a great thing. There record is now 7-8, so they are one win away from becoming a .500 team and a game n a half (i think) behind first place Sacred Heart. It is a remarkable improvement for the blue and white and I'm looking forward to race for first in the NEC.
As for the game last night, I felt it was sloppily played. Jhamar had a lot of turnovers, but you can't kill him for it because this is the first bad game he had all season. Bunch obviously had a great game, career high in points. If he played like that every game he would be a force to be reckoned with. Nunner lacked on offense but came up big on D with all those rebounds and some OR's too. Deki put in a great performance as well. Mu just needs to watch their turnovers, because it's cost them some games.
It's not the first bad game Youngblood has had all season, cmon, but he has been great.
If Bunch played like that every game he would be starting over Grant Billmeir at Seton Hall or at Temple, not Corey Hallet's backup. Isnt it a joke that Corey starts over Bunch though, I mean honestly.
About Corey starting over Bunch..
You're losing sight of the reason Corey opens the game....
It's to 1) Hope Corey makes an impact at the outset, maybe get him going, but mainly 2)Keep Bunch out of potential foul trouble, from picking up an early foul or fouls, say 2-5 minutes into the game.. if that happens he's out for a half ..or more...
Also ..Bunch appears to be in the best shape since he'splayed for MU..but he's not a 40-minute guy either.
It's a strategy that has worked well.
About young guards - The following is from today's Philly Inquirer in the story on Saturday's Nova loss to DePaul..my point being - young guards (players, really) can be inconsisent.. even at Nova!!!
Here is the portion of the article I am referring to -
""The afternoon was a bittersweet one for Villanova's Scottie Reynolds.
After struggling against West Virginia, turning the ball over five times and going 2 for 7 from the floor, the freshman guard scored 25 points ... with three assists and two turnovers.
Reynolds went 8 for 14, including 7 for 11 on three-pointers."
From me - Look for Jhamar to bounce back nicely Thursday at Sacred Heart.
Call it the "Houdini Hoopsters scoreboard." Players that disappear from programs.
As has been noted on this blog..since and including 2004-2005, MU has had five, Wagner six, the Mount - one. Am trying to get the total from each NEC team as Monmouth plays it, just for the sake of comparison, discussion, etc.
By the way..Wagner had leads of 18 and 14 in the second half vs. FDU last night and FDU won in OT.
Hey TG
Its Tim Walker. Call me crazy but this blog seems alot quieter when we win then when we lose. Its amzing how the world is ending when we lose a couple games. Where are the nay sayers calling for Daves Head. Amazing :)
Tim Walker
I agree with TG Hallet gets the start over Bunch. It's similar on the women's Zegowitz and Bender. They put Hallet in early in the game in hopes of him producing, but when its 15-10 mins in the game they take him out to put the more productive player in, but if Hallet happens to start strong they might sub Bunch in for Alston or someone else. But Hallet is in the starting lineup so Bunch doesn't foul out in the 3rd quarter (as with Zegowitz starting over Bender).
Tim, you couldn't be more accurate. The phrase "misery loves company" would apply here. Thus said I'll bet NY Giant blogs are lighting up as we speak. If the Eagles had lost I wouldn't have been able to show up at the Monmouth for a month..and.. Calloway, a very big fan of the Green and White, would have blamed me, somehow!
Zeg also starts over Bender because coaches feel she is the superior defensive player and look to start with what they consider is their strongest defensive lineup, and then "change up" with a more offensive threat, though Zeg's offense has gotten a little better.
Since when is there a 3rd quarter in college basketball, thats news to me? I understand why the coaches start Corey, but he doesnt produce, zero! Am I wrong? How many starting centers average sub 3 points and 3 rebounds in 20+ minutes of play. He averages less than one block and one steal too. How many charges does he take? Ive counted zero from him thus far. Im just saying.
They start Corey for the reasons we have reviewed. I doubt if that's going to change.
As for charges..this is an area where this team has been lacking up and down the lineup..and it has always been a main stay of the MU defense over the year.
I do not believe MU keeps a stat for this category..but..if it did..Alex Nunner might be at or near the top, in my opinion.
The Hawks really don't have that person that has that level of understanding on how to consistently draw charges during games. Oh where, oh where, has "Mr. Visa" Russ Anderson gone?
Russel the Love Muscle Anderson, a classic charge taker, but #2 in MU history, clearly behind STEVE BRIDGEMOHAN! Bridge took charges better than Mastercard!
Post a Comment
<< Home