MU hoops: Game plan from MU Mystery Coach
MU Mystery Coach posted this to another topic but it's sooo good - as usual - I am making it a topic in itself so everyone is sure to see it and be able to comment on it -
Tony,
Just wanted to check in and say how exciting the end of the season should be. I feel Dave has gotten things pretty much figured out now. I think that his rotation of starting: Marques, Deki, Hallett, Whitney and The Jet with Shipman and Bunch playing major minutes off of the bench works well. I originally didn't like Shipman off the bench, as I see Youngblood as a perfect Sparkplug third guard type, with his ability to be a scorer and a creator. However, Dave knows more than me and has blended the pieces nicely. The two "forgotten" players here are Rickie Crews and Alex Nunner. I feel that they will both have major roles next year, and need to contribute when called upon due to foul trouble, ineffectivness, injuries or hopefully blow-outs for the rest of the year. I do not hate giving Rickie a few minutes or throwing Alex in for a chuck or 2, but I think the strong 7 man rotation with defined roles will work nicely down the stretch. There is no reason to rest your frontcourt players as Deki, Marques, Bunch and Hallett are all seniors and only have a handful of games left. Also, the three guards can play major minutes as they all seem to have great stamina out there on the court. I feel the rest of the year they need to ride Dejan Delic as their go-to scorer, and try to establish both Marques and Bunch in the post to open things up for their guards. In fact, here is a to-do list for the players for the rest of this year. We could even call it a "wish list":
1. Deki Delic: Continue to be agressive and playing smart. Be the No. 1 option, continue to show but control your emotion so your teammates can feed off of you and lead this team to victory.
2. Marques Alston: Get back to the aggresive form you had towards the end of last year. You are arguably the best combo Forward in the NEC. When you are guarded by bigger players take them off the dribble and finish strong, or use your patent pump-fake to free your wide-body inside. Also, be a leader for this team and produce victories just like you did last year.
3. John Bunch: It's now or never Big John Stud. Develop some consistency with your effort and decision-making over the home stretch. Be more decisive with the ball and continue to recognize the double-team like you did against RMU. Be strong with the two hand thunder jam when you're inside and get angry every once in awhile, that anger fuels your game to another level as we saw against RMU. Also, continue to be an intimdator inside. You single-handedly changed that game last year against FDU, and we need that X-factor now more than ever big fella!
4. Whitney Coleman: You are a star in the making, you need to realize this because it seems everyone else has! You are no longer a freshman, you are a legit #3 option on this team. You need to take your shots when they are there for you, and also be aggresive with your dribble-driving capabilities. Help this team win the NEC title this year, and become one of the top players in the NEC next year. You have all the talent in the world, you just need to learn to "foce the issue" a bit every once in awhile.
5. Mike Shipman: No matter if you are off the bench or the starting PG, you are this team's PG. You need to continue to bring the energy and toughness and make up for those few games you lost. It seems like you are playing every game like it is your last now, and the fans appreciate that type of effort. Your performance against RMU made me think back to that scrappy MU PG named Tyler Azzerreli. You were taught well, now use that knowledge to run this offense, get people open shots, continue to give the effort/emotion and attack the basket when the opening is there (because we all know you are money at the line).
6. Jhamar Youngblood: Continue to do what you do. You are a luxury for this team. Even though you are now starting I like to think of you as the 3rd guard on this team, and in my opinion you are one of the best if not the best third guard in the league. Continue to score in whatever way you can, because we've seen them all. Continue to bring passion to the floor, because you excited the fans like no other over the last few years has. Work on making the easy pass and making the right decision, especially on the break. While playing the PG role, make sure to continue to establish your teammates on offense and the game will come to you very easily. You are also a star in the making Jhamar!
7. Corey Hallett: Forget that this season has not gone the way you had hoped. You need to continue to play with energy, aggressiveness and defensive intensity. Fire up your teammates and give the maximum effort like always. Take the ball strong to the hole like you did (and a foul) against RMU, and lay off the pull-up 3's. If this season is to be a success from this point forward, we need you to step up like we know you can!
The rest of the team: Support your teammates, and if the opportunity presents itself; get in the game and bust your hump like they do! There is a special opportunity here that can be taken over the next 6 weeks, but it is your decision guys. You need to make the commitment to focus, give your best effort especially on DEFENSE, bring energy and leadership and play Monmouth Basketball. In my opinion; if you do these things we will all be dancing once again in March.
-MU Mystery Coach
Tony,
Just wanted to check in and say how exciting the end of the season should be. I feel Dave has gotten things pretty much figured out now. I think that his rotation of starting: Marques, Deki, Hallett, Whitney and The Jet with Shipman and Bunch playing major minutes off of the bench works well. I originally didn't like Shipman off the bench, as I see Youngblood as a perfect Sparkplug third guard type, with his ability to be a scorer and a creator. However, Dave knows more than me and has blended the pieces nicely. The two "forgotten" players here are Rickie Crews and Alex Nunner. I feel that they will both have major roles next year, and need to contribute when called upon due to foul trouble, ineffectivness, injuries or hopefully blow-outs for the rest of the year. I do not hate giving Rickie a few minutes or throwing Alex in for a chuck or 2, but I think the strong 7 man rotation with defined roles will work nicely down the stretch. There is no reason to rest your frontcourt players as Deki, Marques, Bunch and Hallett are all seniors and only have a handful of games left. Also, the three guards can play major minutes as they all seem to have great stamina out there on the court. I feel the rest of the year they need to ride Dejan Delic as their go-to scorer, and try to establish both Marques and Bunch in the post to open things up for their guards. In fact, here is a to-do list for the players for the rest of this year. We could even call it a "wish list":
1. Deki Delic: Continue to be agressive and playing smart. Be the No. 1 option, continue to show but control your emotion so your teammates can feed off of you and lead this team to victory.
2. Marques Alston: Get back to the aggresive form you had towards the end of last year. You are arguably the best combo Forward in the NEC. When you are guarded by bigger players take them off the dribble and finish strong, or use your patent pump-fake to free your wide-body inside. Also, be a leader for this team and produce victories just like you did last year.
3. John Bunch: It's now or never Big John Stud. Develop some consistency with your effort and decision-making over the home stretch. Be more decisive with the ball and continue to recognize the double-team like you did against RMU. Be strong with the two hand thunder jam when you're inside and get angry every once in awhile, that anger fuels your game to another level as we saw against RMU. Also, continue to be an intimdator inside. You single-handedly changed that game last year against FDU, and we need that X-factor now more than ever big fella!
4. Whitney Coleman: You are a star in the making, you need to realize this because it seems everyone else has! You are no longer a freshman, you are a legit #3 option on this team. You need to take your shots when they are there for you, and also be aggresive with your dribble-driving capabilities. Help this team win the NEC title this year, and become one of the top players in the NEC next year. You have all the talent in the world, you just need to learn to "foce the issue" a bit every once in awhile.
5. Mike Shipman: No matter if you are off the bench or the starting PG, you are this team's PG. You need to continue to bring the energy and toughness and make up for those few games you lost. It seems like you are playing every game like it is your last now, and the fans appreciate that type of effort. Your performance against RMU made me think back to that scrappy MU PG named Tyler Azzerreli. You were taught well, now use that knowledge to run this offense, get people open shots, continue to give the effort/emotion and attack the basket when the opening is there (because we all know you are money at the line).
6. Jhamar Youngblood: Continue to do what you do. You are a luxury for this team. Even though you are now starting I like to think of you as the 3rd guard on this team, and in my opinion you are one of the best if not the best third guard in the league. Continue to score in whatever way you can, because we've seen them all. Continue to bring passion to the floor, because you excited the fans like no other over the last few years has. Work on making the easy pass and making the right decision, especially on the break. While playing the PG role, make sure to continue to establish your teammates on offense and the game will come to you very easily. You are also a star in the making Jhamar!
7. Corey Hallett: Forget that this season has not gone the way you had hoped. You need to continue to play with energy, aggressiveness and defensive intensity. Fire up your teammates and give the maximum effort like always. Take the ball strong to the hole like you did (and a foul) against RMU, and lay off the pull-up 3's. If this season is to be a success from this point forward, we need you to step up like we know you can!
The rest of the team: Support your teammates, and if the opportunity presents itself; get in the game and bust your hump like they do! There is a special opportunity here that can be taken over the next 6 weeks, but it is your decision guys. You need to make the commitment to focus, give your best effort especially on DEFENSE, bring energy and leadership and play Monmouth Basketball. In my opinion; if you do these things we will all be dancing once again in March.
-MU Mystery Coach
posted by Tony Graham at 12:38 PM
11 Comments:
The key to the NEC title and a ticket to the dance is " BIG JOHN " if he can give MU 10 pts + 6 RB and 4 BLK 1 T/O per game MU goes 8-1 and wins it all with a wild season finish.... 3-0 in the NEC tourny ... BUNCH .. BUNCH... BUNCH .... There is no bigger X factor in the NEC...BUNCH.. BUNCH BUNCH
You do make a "Bunch" of sense..yes he could be the difference..along with team tempo, controlling turnovers, and - of course - defense.
BUNCH plays SMART everything else will fall into place...Please tell him to keep the ball above his head...
I do believe the coaches only remind him of that about 500 times a practice - yes, he knows, believe me. He did a better job last game.
He also has to move his feet properly so that he's not called for offensive fouls as he attempts to establish position down low.
AAAWWWWW, I'm about to cry..... Geese Mystery are you going somewhere? Is this your last will and testament? Are you leaving us to go blog with RMU, CCSU, FDU or sorts. MY,MY,MY what a mighty fine jobe you've done.
I'm not sure what the heck you (last poster) are talking about.
If the MU Mystery Coach desires to offer the team some suggestions and a little pep talk on the blog, sounds like a worthy purpose to me.
It was all in fun Tony, get ur panties out of the Bunch. It just read as a las will and testament. Just a joke.
AWWWWnoynmous:
I am not going anywhere. However, four players who have played special roles over the last 2-4 years are leaving. Two 1,000 point scorers in Delic and Marques. Two Big Men who have given us an edge inside over the last two years. Four seniors who I have enjoyed watching play and grow (especially the growth from Delic/Marques from Freshmen to Seniors, watching that growth in college basketball is like nothing else in any other sport), will be done in just 5-6 weeks. I think you need to rethink yourself as a real fan if you do not have an emotional attachment to this team, and especially the players who have helped you build/maintain a successful program over the last few years. So I ask you, AWWWWnonymous; If you really don't care which bandwagon are you about to jump on?- "RMU, CCSU, FDU or sorts"?
Hey MU Mystery Coach keep up your Post and Blogs you always on the right points.... Thanks a Blogger
I am sooo pleased that at the mere mention of someone crossing over, leaving MU as a fan makes everyone rev their engines. However, Tony and Mystery you guys totally took what I said the wroooonnnngg way. If you in fact noticed, I ended the statement with "what a mighty fine job you've done". I guess my intent was purely lost in translation into blogdom. Since I have to explain, it really went over you guys heads. It was not that serious. I was simply making jokes at the seriousness and depth that you went into - as if it were your "last will and testament". My God. NOW, Mystery I am a try fan. I may not be as long as a fan as most that blog here, yet i am still a "true blue". I read your input and for the most part agree with 90% of your insight. with all that said, Chill my dude, Chill. It was not an attack - just a little funny about how in depth you went this time.
Ah...such is life in blogdom!
Post a Comment
<< Home