Game 28, 2013-14: Dayton

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78
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Re: Dear 78

Post by 78 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:50 pm

baseline47 wrote:Dear 78:

I've been a UMass fan since Jack Leaman (and through Wilson, McLaughlin, and Gerlufsen). Calipari spoiled me. Win or lose, I love it when players give everything they got, "leave it on the floor", etc.

Get frustrated when they don't.

How we got to 22 - 6? We have a senior laden team that got off to a great start against non conference foes. Could have beat FL State, if the basketball gods were kinder. Record against the A 10 is 9 - 5. respectable, but not great.

A10 coaches know us, know Chaz (who's carried us since his arrival); some have even figured out the key to beating us is neutralizing Chaz. Today's a good example.

Why can't we adjust when Chaz can't get into the paint, drive and dish, etc.?

You think my observations/comments were off the mark? Why? Why do you watch 78?
I thought I was negative until you came along. You destroyed the freshmen in your post and called out several other players. They lost by 7 in a place where they almost always play poorly. Not an excuse, just a fact. Several guys didn't show up today. Move on to the next game. If they lose at Duquesne, we will definitely have a lot to talk about.
Bamford has erased McCutcheon

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Post by 78 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:53 pm

Jeff90 wrote:overall observations.
As far as playing freshman never been a strong point of DK. The guys looked gassed in the second half especially Cady he was barely moving just before his 4th foul. I too wish he mixed in some freshman for short minutes and energy.
Sampson and Gordon have really improved from the start of the year which is a positive although this is offset a bit by Putney's drop off. He has to realize he can't hit a 3 on the move. He shoots best on a pass out when he is still and then goes up. he has never hit a 3 when he is moving and tries to stop and pop.
This was not an expected win so in that sense not too angry but this makes the game at Dusquesne very important because if the guys go in there and take them lightly they will get beat. Don't want to end season on a potential 3 game losing streak.
Did you really mean to write Sampson has really improved since the start of the year? Wondering if you mean Trey? In my opinion, Sampson has regressed.
Bamford has erased McCutcheon

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Jackson96
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Post by Jackson96 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:54 pm

I'm not overly concerned with the loss, Chris, but I'm not going to say that there aren't any concerns at all.

Giving up almost 90 points is concerning no matter how well your opponent plays offensively. Having more issues on the defensive glass. Having no idea what to expect out of our forwards (Put especially as usual). Making no adjustments at all when Dayton was in the midst of taking the game over. The lack of toughness that DK talked about afterwards.

There are some positives to take out of it, sure. Trey continues to develop as a shotmaker. DG has become our best two-way player. Cady was pretty good on offense. They cut down on their turnovers. They still don't give up no matter what size hole is dug.

Yes it was a road game against a desperate team and we're not always going to have our 'A' game. But there are still some concerning things for me.
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Post by tdmass » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:56 pm

^ "guys didn't show up today" . . . that's why I have ALL the respect in the world for Wichita State! Sure they play in a weaker league but those guys NEVER take a night off and that's untrue of 99.9 % of college teams!

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Post by tdmass » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:59 pm

Dayton plays at a completely different level at home vs away. I'd like to see them again in A-10 tourney! In fact it's almost day and night!

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Post by Mrbaseball220 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:59 pm

I didn't see much of the middle portion of this game, but did see the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes. I am not one bit worried about this. We lost by 7 in a game where Chaz did virtually nothing. It is not very often he plays this bad. For as good as he's been most of the time, you chalk it up to a bad day for Chaz.

If he even plays like 50% of the normal Chaz we win this one going away. 5-2 in our last 7 with two winnable games left. Don't quit on this team now. We've had a very good season and this team is still capable of going in to Brooklyn and running the table.

Seasons are a grind....remember we wanted to burry this team when they went a month and played terrible...they responded with a 5-1 stretch prior to today. These guys are to good to fail now and we've been treated to a fun ride....don't quite now!

Yes there are a few things (offensive rebounding, and defensive effort) that come and go from game to game, but all teams have issues that come and go.

Most of us prior to the season would have predicted this as a loss. So remember this before we "jump off the ledge"

Go Umass!

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Post by Chris20 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:08 pm

Well, we should always be concerned with our team's weaknesses. I'm always concerned with the Mystery of Put, and whether Samp's limitations will hurt us, whether Bad Chaz plays too many minutes.

Typically, those weaknesses show up in games we lose. That's why teams lose games. What I was getting at was the overall perspective of some during and after losses. We aren't perfect, and a game like this shouldn't be a surprise or change anyone's perspective on the season. It sucks, UMass losses ruin about 72 hours for me. But it isn't anything to panic about. We faced a team with talent, in their tough gym, in a game they absolutely had to have, and came up a little short. The reasons don't concern me anymore right now than they did yesterday. I expect Chaz to play better than that, because he has in all but a few games in his career. Put can do better, but what's newly concerning about his inconsistency? I may have divvied up the minutes differently, but what's newly concerning about how Kellogg plays guys?

My point is, this team hasn't change one iota since yesterday. Same strengths, same concerns from yesterday. That's who we are this year.

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Daniel Malone

Post by baseline47 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:11 pm

Daniel Malone's article summed it up: lack of rebounding, hustle, etc. I'd include failure to make adjustments to what Dayton was doing.

A disappointing loss. Quite frankly, I'd rather watch guys who are aggressive & hustling, and are first on the floor for a loose ball, and lose.

This year we have a chance for a "statement" season, but I sense it slipping away. So what?

Well, if you have a "statement season", maybe make it to the sweet sixteen (I can hope!), recruiting becomes easier. Better players become interested in UMass. And, maybe, just maybe, the team can stay near the top, maybe get ranked, etc. A top team = sell outs at the Mullins Center. I like sell outs. Don't care if I'm sitting in the last row. We had some this year. I love the noise, the long snack lines, etc. I don't want to go backwards!
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Post by Old Prospector » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:16 pm

Baseline, your post is incoherent and offers very little sense. Have you been following this season at all?

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Post by TruBluMaroon » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:34 pm

78 wrote: ...Thought Cady had one of his better games in quite awhile. ...
Beg to differ. People on this board were speculating about leaving early.
Today he had ZERO 2nd half points, to match the 2nd half total of SC and me!
Last edited by TruBluMaroon on Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post by HoopHead » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:34 pm

Agree with MassModestMouse.

On to Duquesne for a W!!

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Post by UmAstudent » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:50 pm

I was upset with the way we played today but lets be honest here... most of us had this game as an L because Dayton is a tough place to play. We would have loved the W but lets finish out with two big wins and a nice run in the A10s.

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Post by Jackson96 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:09 pm

I hear you, Chris. Many of the issues in today's game are the same issues we've had throughout the year. To me, that's why it is concerning. Some of them you would think are fixable (rebounding, giving consistent defensive effort, some not (Sampson's health).

In regards to Put, he usually is inconsistent on offense, but he was much better offensively during the first half of the year. Over the last 8 games though he's averaging under 7 points a game and has hit a total of 3 threes. So he's been consistent during that stretch, just the wrong kind of consistent. He played really well defensively and on the glass for several parts of this stretch which is good, but today he didn't show up at either end of the floor. I don't know I thought maybe he had turned a corner earlier in the year, but clearly he hasn't. I hope he bares down and picks it up down the stretch, but I'm not holding my breath.

In regards to the folks that overreact, I generally try to ignore them. I'm not always successful, but I try. I can understand why people get pissed at them. I also think though (and I'm not saying this about you at all) that some posters get pissed too easily about people who have perfectly valid thoughts that just happen to be negative.

Anywho, I have no idea what to expect the rest of the way and I'm not sure anyone does to be honest.
Last edited by Jackson96 on Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by 69MG » Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:12 pm

Without getting on any individual players, we lost this game because:
We gave up too many offensive rebounds.
We didn't guard anyone on the perimeter. How can so many players lose their man?

We would have had a 10 point lead at the half, maybe more, if we didn't let them have second and third chances. Give them credit for knocking down the open threes, but you can't play D that way.

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Nice walk

Post by baseline47 » Sat Mar 01, 2014 6:08 pm

Ah, nothing like a nice walk in the cold air.

Old Prospector, come out of your diggings and look around. The team got beat on the boards and to every 50 - 50 ball which means the other side was trying harder.

Mr 78, DK made the decision that the freshmen can't play because he doesn't play them. If they could play, he'd play them. Wouldn't he?

Yeah, I am too negative! Comes from a history of losing and an empty Mullins Center. i was too tough on Chaz! He's been a great player for 3 years. A great ball handler, driver & disher for assists, and a good jump shooter. Dayton stopped his penetration, and I expected him to pull another rabbit out of his hat. No rabbits today. Stop Chaz, you stop UMass.
"Drive the line!", "Baseline" Givens, Spfld. Tech. High.

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