Game 18, 2022-23: at VCU (1/17)

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DoctorJ
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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by DoctorJ » Tue Jan 17, 2023 11:38 pm

Team shared some pictures of the pregame shootaround and RJ appears to have participated with a taped wrist. I'm hoping this is a sign he is at least able to practice to some extent and is on the mend.

During the game, the announcer suggested that Noah might be getting close to playing again.
Refuse To Lose!!!

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by Worcester_To_Amherst » Wed Jan 18, 2023 6:14 am

VCU was a lot better than I thought. I was thinking they were like the last couple years, some great athletes who play tremendous defense but not a big threat from 3. They were hitting some tough 3s last night. Very impressive team. And I take it as a positive that UMass hung with them for the first 16 without their best player and another important player.

The game turned at the end of the 1st like we all saw. Cross and TJ missed some wide open 3s and VCU went on a run. Capping off that sequence with BM going iso for a jump hook with 6 seconds left was brutal. 2nd half is a write off for me, other than showing this team needs a lot more mental toughness and leadership.

The killer is still LaSalle. They win that game and we’re sitting 3-3, middle of the pack, and feeling OK. Keep starting games like they did the 1st last night and things will get better.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by minutefanjsf » Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:15 am

Worcester_To_Amherst wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 6:14 am VCU was a lot better than I thought. I was thinking they were like the last couple years, some great athletes who play tremendous defense but not a big threat from 3. They were hitting some tough 3s last night. Very impressive team. And I take it as a positive that UMass hung with them for the first 16 without their best player and another important player.

The game turned at the end of the 1st like we all saw. Cross and TJ missed some wide open 3s and VCU went on a run. Capping off that sequence with BM going iso for a jump hook with 6 seconds left was brutal. 2nd half is a write off for me, other than showing this team needs a lot more mental toughness and leadership.

The killer is still LaSalle. They win that game and we’re sitting 3-3, middle of the pack, and feeling OK. Keep starting games like they did the 1st last night and things will get better.
Starting the game well has been an issue this year, so last night was nice to see. The pieces seem to be there. Let’s hope Frank can put them together.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by inthescoop » Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am

Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:05 am

InnervisionsUMASS wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:23 pm No one asked me but I'm giving my prediction anyways:

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by eldonabe » Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:43 am

inthescoop wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!

No coach worth his salt thinks that way - and the ones that do, fail: See Lappas, Steve. Every league at every level is a grind as the talent levels adjust accordingly.


While you would assume/think that Umass is deep, they in fact are not really. There is not a huge jump or drop off from 2-9, and the overall talent level is not quite as developed as we all think.

IMO this team will gain some consistent separation from top to bottom over this coming off season. That should help a lot.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by MakeMullinsGreatAgain » Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:48 am

inthescoop wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!
I say this a lot - not so much about the coaches but players. They think because they play in the ACC, Big Ten, SEC or another P5 school they will just come in and dominate if they transfer - the A-10 is TOUGH! Look at the coaches we have in this league - more than half have coached at P5 schools and succeeded - in the past I feel like the A-10 was a stepping stone on the way to a bigger opportunity - now I feel like you are going to continue to get coaches like Ford, Martin, Grant, Miller etc - coaches who have had success at bigger schools and now settle in the A-10 - and with these respected coaches will come better talent. Hopefully Frank can keep up with these other guys - I think Luis and Gapare can be really good - but we need to keep them - right now neither seems happy - no one on the team seems happy - and I'm not just saying after last nights debacle - the kids all seem miserable and I hope thats not a sign that they are growing tried of Frank constantly yelling at them.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Wed Jan 18, 2023 9:03 am

It was just difficult to see them fall apart like they did. You wondered when that VCU run would start and even at the end of the first half I though we might have weathered things a bit. The start of the 2nd was disastrous and there was no recovery.

They have so far played very poorly on the road in A10 play, so last night really comes as no surprise. Just need to shake it off and come up with a game plan to be better up in Philly.
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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by Merlin Samuels » Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:34 am

inthescoop wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!
I'm sure he didn't think that. The A10 has a reputation for being a grueling conference.

VCU shot 52.5% including 50% from 3 pt land. They were HOT in the second half and we were not. UMass shot 29%, including 16% from 3. All the other stats look relatively even.

According to ESPN, VCU packed the place to 95% capacity too.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by Juice Stand » Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:07 am

inthescoop wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!
What makes you think that, or is this just snark? Every interview I read or listened to he said how good this league is and how good the other coaches in this league are. Be upset with the coach, the players, the performance, but don't make stuff up.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by MakeMullinsGreatAgain » Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:15 am

Merlin Samuels wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:34 am
inthescoop wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!

VCU shot 52.5% including 50% from 3 pt land. They were HOT in the second half and we were not. UMass shot 29%, including 16% from 3. All the other stats look relatively even.

once in a while I can understand but this happens every single game to us - that is no longer a coincidence - we are not playing D with the intensity we were early on - is it possible the kids are saying/thinking why am I going to kill myself trying to defend - I'm just going to get ass chewed off by coach anyway?

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Re: Game 18, 2022-23: at VCU (1/17)

Post by BillGASox1 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:51 pm

From what I’m told by alumni attending the games, Coach Martin’s admonishing is not followed by much constructive advice, unlike Coach Leaman’s MO in the early 70s. Having the opportunity to sit, many times, close to the bench @ Curry Hicks, we would frequently hear the butt chewing, but they ALWAYS ended with positive instruction. Guys like Skinner, Endicott, Trow, McLaughlin, Duarte, Stokes, etc., would, literally, run through a wall for Coach L.
Additionally, the student fan base was large and boisterous. The best part of a game at the Cage was waiting in line before the doors opened. “Fun” had by all!
These are young men, prone to mistakes. They need a guiding light, including, assistant coaches, to show them the way. Coach Martin’s current methodology doesn’t appear to be helping. Don’t want to see us losing young talent to the portal, but it could happen

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by Merlin Samuels » Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:55 pm

MakeMullinsGreatAgain wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:15 am
Merlin Samuels wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:34 am
inthescoop wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:02 am Frank is starting to realize that coaching in the A10 is not the cake walk he thought it would be. He assumed, hey I coached in the SEC and Big 12, the A10 won’t be a problem. Wrong!

VCU shot 52.5% including 50% from 3 pt land. They were HOT in the second half and we were not. UMass shot 29%, including 16% from 3. All the other stats look relatively even.

once in a while I can understand but this happens every single game to us - that is no longer a coincidence - we are not playing D with the intensity we were early on - is it possible the kids are saying/thinking why am I going to kill myself trying to defend - I'm just going to get ass chewed off by coach anyway?
“We couldn’t make a shot in the second half and it broke our spirit and we let go of the rope. When you do that, you get run off the court like we just did.”

Fernandes can’t return soon enough.

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Re: Game 18: 2022-2023 VCU (1-17)

Post by inthescoop » Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:38 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:05 am
InnervisionsUMASS wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:23 pm No one asked me but I'm giving my prediction anyways:

Image

Image
:lol: :lol:

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Re: Game 18, 2022-23: at VCU (1/17)

Post by LS71 » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:18 pm

VCU announcer urging VCU to put up a 3 with the clock winding down and a 28 point lead… :evil:
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