Game 15, 2016-17: at George Mason (1/4)

[NilesGold]

2. We have been exposed defensively the last few games and need to really work on this. GM shot well from three but my recollection was many wide open looks. There were a few plays where we sagged off a man on the perimeter with a soft and ineffective double only to have it reversed for the open look. We should win when we score 80+ points, the defense lost this.

The defense wasn't perfect, but I thought it was actually quite good. Yes, there were some open shots for GMU, but that's going to happen from time to time, GMU executed exceptionally well last night. They got the ball in the post and scored on tough shots, or created an opening and then kicked the ball out or passed the ball around finding the open man who on pretty much every occasion buried the open shot, even the 31% and 32% shooters. UMass did the same thing except they missed the open shot.

[NilesGold]

Having watched every game but this one, the main issue I see is defense (and that includes fouling from being too aggressive).

On the defensive side, while it looks like we play "havoc" type defense, we aren't good at it and we give up far too many easy baskets. On offense, while we are scoring 75 points a game, it's a false reading. Our offense is very inefficient.

I think a lot of these things are fixable, but I'm losing hope that it will happen.

UMass is a top 150 team right now and the defense is better than the offense. UMass is aggressive on D, they force a lot of turnovers (just not last night), yes they foul too much, but they also defend the 3pt line pretty well. They allow more penetration then I'd like, but they also do a pretty good job protecting the rim.

Rebounding is mediocre.

You're right about the offense, it's very inefficient. They're good in transition but very bad in the half-court. It's very hard to be a good half-court team when you don't have the consistent 3pt shooting to threaten a defense.

Kenpom adjusted #'s support this, the offense is ranked 229th scoring 1.005 pts per possession, while the defense is ranked 61st allowing .971 pts per possession.

[baseline47]

I read in the paper Rashaan Holloway got teed up for hanging on the rim. Now, I didn't see the game, but I am a basketball junkie who spends far too much time in front of the tube watching college b-ball. So far this season I've seen a lot of dunks, many with accompanying rim hanging exhibitions. Players have swung from the rim one handed, some two handed, one guy switched hands while hanging. But, I haven't seen a single Technical Foul called leading me to believe that the refs had decided not to call T's for rim hanging. So, what the f#@# did Rashaan do? It must have been an excessively egregious violation to warrant a T.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

At the end of the season, if DK is still here, changes have to be made ...

This has already happened with the "complete program evaluation" following the 2014-2015 season.

[baseline47]

^ DK announced a complete program evaluation after 2015- 2016 season. You didn't see it?

[NilesGold]

So, what the f#@# did Rashaan do? It must have been an excessively egregious violation to warrant a T.

The same thing he's done in almost every game. It was not egregious at all. The referees last night were incompetent.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

I didn't see last night's hanging incident, but I can comment on the other dunks and it always looks like he holds for an extra second to look down and make sure no one is below him. Maybe he needs to just stop doing it but I think he's conscious of both his own well being and the well being of others when doing it and I think it's within his right, within reason, to do so.

[LS71]

I read in the paper Rashaan Holloway got teed up for hanging on the rim. Now, I didn't see the game, but I am a basketball junkie who spends far too much time in front of the tube watching college b-ball. So far this season I've seen a lot of dunks, many with accompanying rim hanging exhibitions. Players have swung from the rim one handed, some two handed, one guy switched hands while hanging. But, I haven't seen a single Technical Foul called leading me to believe that the refs had decided not to call T's for rim hanging. So, what the f#@# did Rashaan do? It must have been an excessively egregious violation to warrant a T.

The radio guys said he hung on a bit to be sure that:
A. he didn't lose his balance and
B. no one was under him.

They clearly thought it was a bad call.

[albaby]

How can you shoot an air ball from 3 feet, and be 6 feet ten? Wasn't fouled?

[UMass'96]

At the end of the season, if DK is still here, changes have to be made ...

This has already happened with the "complete program evaluation" following the 2014-2015 season.

We got a new strength and conditioning coach...

^ DK announced a complete program evaluation after 2015- 2016 season. You didn't see it?

No perceivable changes noted...

[baseline47]

^ Different cast of characters, but same program eh?

[NilesGold]

At the end of the season, if DK is still here, changes have to be made ...

This has already happened with the "complete program evaluation" following the 2014-2015 season.

We got a new strength and conditioning coach...

^ DK announced a complete program evaluation after 2015- 2016 season. You didn't see it?

No perceivable changes noted...

Were you expecting some sort of press release by DK or the athletic department?

[Berkman]

I read in the paper Rashaan Holloway got teed up for hanging on the rim. Now, I didn't see the game, but I am a basketball junkie who spends far too much time in front of the tube watching college b-ball. So far this season I've seen a lot of dunks, many with accompanying rim hanging exhibitions. Players have swung from the rim one handed, some two handed, one guy switched hands while hanging. But, I haven't seen a single Technical Foul called leading me to believe that the refs had decided not to call T's for rim hanging. So, what the f#@# did Rashaan do? It must have been an excessively egregious violation to warrant a T.

The radio guys said he hung on a bit to be sure that:
A. he didn't lose his balance and
B. no one was under him.

They clearly thought it was a bad call.

I watched the game and it was definitely hanging on not a bit but a lot. In fact I am surprised that Clark did not get called for a technical for hanging on the rim when he scored his 1,000 point. Hung on the rim and swung around without anyone under him. They don't call it often enough.

When they first started allowing dunks there was a cartoon, not sure which one, but it suggested that dunks should only count for 1 point. Maybe they should.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

Were you expecting some sort of press release by DK or the athletic department?

Nope, not at all. Not at all. Any shred of evidence would have been sufficient. But the fact that you think we need a press release is an apt illustration of the premium you put on 'spin' and a fine example of what seems to matter most to you.

[CapeCodBruiser]

One point on Baldwin...remember he took a very hard fall in the Bonnies game. From where we sat it looked like a broken arm. The UMass doctor ran on the court immediately. Maybe he still had some effects from this and was limited but they didn't want to let GMU know. Like in hockey they could say "upper body injury".