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Juice Stand wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:04 am Preface this with saying that I'm a big fan of Shahid and I think he has enormous potential. In my opinion, Shahid didn't play because when Malek and DHS are playing well, there isn't a need for him. He's still learning the game, and the most important thing he brings to the table is rim protection. We got 5 blocks from Jayden, that's pretty good rim protection, and Malek and DHS had probably their best games of the season. I think it's pretty clear at this point in the season what his limitations are, and when other big guys are playing well and not in foul trouble, he doesn't need to be shoehorned in there.

Agree. Frank’s postgame comments indicated what we all know, he pulls players who make mental mistakes or are not playing hard enough. The starters and first guys off the bench did their jobs, yesterday. Jaylen’s postgame comments were also encouraging where he thanked the coaches and his teammates for “staying on him” and “being with him”. Frank’s blunt communication praising or criticizing players is definitely couched in a familiarity with the players that seems genuine.

Nice to see a few wins strung together. Lets get another Wednesday night!

Nice win. Let’s keep it up.

Juice Stand wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:04 am Preface this with saying that I'm a big fan of Shahid and I think he has enormous potential. In my opinion, Shahid didn't play because when Malek and DHS are playing well, there isn't a need for him. He's still learning the game, and the most important thing he brings to the table is rim protection. We got 5 blocks from Jayden, that's pretty good rim protection, and Malek and DHS had probably their best games of the season. I think it's pretty clear at this point in the season what his limitations are, and when other big guys are playing well and not in foul trouble, he doesn't need to be shoehorned in there.

Well said Juiceman!

First, the kids were great. When they flashed "Get Loud", they started screaming and it was good to hear. One comment Frank made that hasn't been mentioned is that Brian Steele drew up the game-plan. I vote for Steele to keep drawing up game plans and for the players to execute them as well as they did last night.

If you have USA Network on your cable system, you can get a replay for free by going to USA TV and logging in with your cable system ID. I did and thoroughly enjoyed watching the game on TV. When you are at the game, you sometimes don't know what happened on a certain play and it often gets clarified by the announcers.

minutefanjsf wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:16 am

Juice Stand wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:04 am Preface this with saying that I'm a big fan of Shahid and I think he has enormous potential. In my opinion, Shahid didn't play because when Malek and DHS are playing well, there isn't a need for him. He's still learning the game, and the most important thing he brings to the table is rim protection. We got 5 blocks from Jayden, that's pretty good rim protection, and Malek and DHS had probably their best games of the season. I think it's pretty clear at this point in the season what his limitations are, and when other big guys are playing well and not in foul trouble, he doesn't need to be shoehorned in there.

Agree. Frank’s postgame comments indicated what we all know, he pulls players who make mental mistakes or are not playing hard enough. The starters and first guys off the bench did their jobs, yesterday. Jaylen’s postgame comments were also encouraging where he thanked the coaches and his teammates for “staying on him” and “being with him”. Frank’s blunt communication praising or criticizing players is definitely couched in a familiarity with the players that seems genuine.

That’s great to hear - I know folks may take Frank’s criticism to the heart but the team is growing and evolving every game. There is a framework of “team” being built. Despite some setbacks early in the season, this team is tough and resilient.
Based on the comments here from folks who have no idea what’s going on in the locker room, you would think Frank and every player hates each other and some already know who will be transferring let’s take it easy, that is definitely not the case. It’s only January and we still have 12 conference games + a tournament in front of us. Best to focus on the positives and enjoy our last season in the A10.

It’s interesting to hear people praise Malek, I thought this was a pretty typical performance from him, which is not good. His numbers look better than he played.

NilesGold wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 1:38 pm It’s interesting to hear people praise Malek, I thought this was a pretty typical performance from him, which is not good. His numbers look better than he played.

I don't know what this means. He scored all of his points when the game was competitive. No one is saying that he has produced at the level that the team needs but it's beyond petty to criticize him for a game in which he performed at least adequately. I know that this has become your thing - when players you don't like (e.g. Rivera) put up good numbers, like double doubles, you claim they really didn't contribute much. I understand that Rivera is not the prettiest or most efficient offensive player but this team would be 1-5 in conference without him and I would argue that he has been the second most valuable player on the team this season and that it's not close.

Niles, you have a strange attitude toward this team. Malek is averaging 5.7 and 5.2 for the year and his conference numbers are 2.3 and 4.5. Yesterday he had 10 and 8. That's about double his season averages and much better than his previous A10 games. He deserves credit for playing much better than he has lately. Once he turned his ankle, he wasn't nearly as effective otherwise he might have had a few more points and boards.

Malek was good yesterday, no question about it. He went to the line a bunch and played with a ton of energy grabbing rebounds that he normally doesn't get. He wasn't all-world yesterday or anything, but giving us 10 and 8, while going 6/7 from the line is a huge boost from the center spot which has been a black hole. If you're an absolute sicko, you can go through the play-by-play, it reads a little like this:

early turnover (bad), rebound, rebound, layup, FT, rebound, FT, FT, FT, steal, assist, rebound and on it goes. That's called having an impact on the game, which he typically does not do. He hurt his ankle and had a dumb 3pt attempt in the second half, that's really all I'm going to criticize him for. He was not our best player yesterday, probably not even in the top 3, but he was pretty darn good. If we get that from him every game, that would be a big improvement at that position.

69MG wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 2:37 pm Niles, you have a strange attitude toward this team. Malek is averaging 5.7 and 5.2 for the year and his conference numbers are 2.3 and 4.5. Yesterday he had 10 and 8. That's about double his season averages and much better than his previous A10 games. He deserves credit for playing much better than he has lately. Once he turned his ankle, he wasn't nearly as effective otherwise he might have had a few more points and boards.

If you only look at the top-line stats of 10 and 8, you'd probably think he has a good game, but I think his numbers were deceiving, overall his play seemed mostly par for the course for him. Going 6-7 from the line was definitely very good, so I'll give him that. I'm not going to go back and re-watch the game, but I have a vague recollection of several bad FG misses and turnovers, and maybe 1 good moment when he scored off the dribble.

How is my attitude toward this team strange?

New Just Being Frank hit today. Lots of La Salle breakdown in it:
https://umassathletics.com/sports/2018/ ... cs-podcast

NilesGold wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 3:45 pm

69MG wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 2:37 pm Niles, you have a strange attitude toward this team. Malek is averaging 5.7 and 5.2 for the year and his conference numbers are 2.3 and 4.5. Yesterday he had 10 and 8. That's about double his season averages and much better than his previous A10 games. He deserves credit for playing much better than he has lately. Once he turned his ankle, he wasn't nearly as effective otherwise he might have had a few more points and boards.

If you only look at the top-line stats of 10 and 8, you'd probably think he has a good game, but I think his numbers were deceiving, overall his play seemed mostly par for the course for him. Going 6-7 from the line was definitely very good, so I'll give him that. I'm not going to go back and re-watch the game, but I have a vague recollection of several bad FG misses and turnovers, and maybe 1 good moment when he scored off the dribble.

How is my attitude toward this team strange?

Malek's effort and attitude from the very beginning of the game were outstanding, something that has not been the case for most of the year. Instead of being pushed around, he was the aggressor. He got 8 rebounds, and they weren't all easy rebounds that fell in his lap. He worked for many of those, ripping them away from the opponent. You mention several bad FG misses. Tell me, who on this team doesn't? Missing layups is part of this team's DNA. Malek went 2-6 from the field, so if he made 1 more shot he'd be at 50%. Is that the difference maker for you, one shot? Whatever Frank Martin wants from his centers, that's what he got from Malek, and he said as much in his press conference. If it's good enough for the coaching staff and helps the team win, it's good enough for me.