Game 31, 2015-16: vs Rhody 3/10/16 (A10T)

[Steve81]

For those who can make the game, yell your lungs out.

Many years ago in Atlantic City, there were a dozen or two of us there.
It felt great to get into the game and folks watching or listening thought there were a lot of us there.

So if you dare, scream and cheer to your hearts delight.
Be respectful and tactful and work your way down near the UMass bench not matter where your tickets are.
You made the trip so make yourself heard.

Cheers and Go UMass!!

[Happy Hazel '96]

I'm gonna head up to Professor Thom's for a couple hours then over to a local Brooklyn bar... Aside from the Bryant Park Grill, what are people doing for a pre-game?

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Is the Department hosting anything official? 200 5th in Brooklyn was a great spot in years past. I know we plan on going there this weekend regardless of how far UMass advances.

[bunkerhill87]

Would love to see a win here tonight. Hurley is such as classic ahole. hate to see his behavior rewarded.

[inthescoop]

GOT MY TICKET! Brought a UMass shirt to work, woooooooooooo

[InnervisionsUMASS]

^

Now you just need the two beers.

[BillGASox1]

69mg: I think, from previous game plans that, unfortunately, Hurley is figuring out that he dumps it into the middle, and goes from there. Our bigs are atrocious defenders, incessantly foul prone, and seem to be out of position, totally surprised, each time an opponent dumps it into the middle. From there URI or any other team, fakes and goes to the rim, creating a basket and/or foul, or dumping it off to the cutters.
I wish I could be more optimistic. This should have been fixed long ago, via good coaching!

[inthescoop]

^

Now you just need the two beers.

Hahah agreed, you're speaking my language

[inthescoop]

It's official Eddie Jordan got fired - I'm going to start a "GO TO RUTGERS" chant at Hurley tonight. He's the favorite to replace Jordan apparently..

[BR72]

69mg: I think, from previous game plans that, unfortunately, Hurley is figuring out that he dumps it into the middle, and goes from there. Our bigs are atrocious defenders, incessantly foul prone, and seem to be out of position, totally surprised, each time an opponent dumps it into the middle. From there URI or any other team, fakes and goes to the rim, creating a basket and/or foul, or dumping it off to the cutters.
I wish I could be more optimistic. This should have been fixed long ago, via good coaching!

I've been meaning to make this point for a while. In DK's entire tenure, I don't recall a single instance in which our center has made any effort to deny the entry pass into the opposing team's center. Instead, they just stand behind the offensive player and start to defend after he receives the ball. We also do a piss poor job of denying position. The result is that good offensive 5s have little trouble scoring against us. Fortunately, the A10 is a guard-dominated league and doesn't have a lot of highly skilled 5s but there is still no excuse for the way we play post defense. A good example is the LaSalle game where Sakhniuk, who averages just over 6 a game, had 13 in only 22 minutes because he was allowed to catch the ball uncontested. The fact that this has been a constant under DK strongly suggests that he does not teach ball denial to his post defenders which boggles the mind.

[NilesGold]

^
It's true UMass' big men never front the opposing big men in the post, but I have seen them on occasion try to steal the entry pass. It's the more conservative approach, fronting is much riskier as it can allow for some super easy layups if they can complete the pass and it also gives up excellent offensive rebounding position to the other team. In general fronting the post-up player isn't something I've seen much of in college basketball.

[BR72]

^
I'm not sure what basketball you are watching but I suggest you watch the next Duke or Michigan State game (or most other top teams) and you will see quite a lot of it.

[NilesGold]

^ I'm watching mostly A10, with some other random games mixed in. I'm sure it happens, but I can't remember the last time I saw a team front the post. I think allowing offensive rebounds has been a much bigger problem for UMass than defending post-ups, but maybe that's just me.

[uz2b-len]

I remember early in the NCAA game against Tennessee, Cady started out pretty strong. There was a time out, and after that, Tennessee's center kept him about two feet further out from the basket, and that was all it took to end Cady's big night.

[NilesGold]

^ Denying good post position is definitely the preferable method of defending the post (compared to fronting) as far as I'm concerned.