Game 29, 2016-17: LaSalle (2/26)

[69MG]

Postby uz2b-len » Fri Feb 24, 2017 12:51 pm
There's a game on Sunday?

Yes, Len, there is a game. STH, don't forget to pick up your glass and noose, available until the end of half-time.

Without getting into any details, this is our last best chance to win a game this year. I feel bad for the players and it would be nice to see them play well and finally win one. They beat us 88-78 at their place on 2/1 but we were up by 5 at the half. Sound familiar???

[MikeUMA]

I feel bad for the players and it would be nice to see them play well and finally win one.

Let's be real though, there's blame to go around.
Clark can start acting like the upperclassman leader he should be.
Pipkins can stop jacking up early 3s.
Berger stop shooting 3s altogether. And maybe put Jarreau in that category as well.
Jarreau can take better care of the rock.
Etc, etc.

Our dilemma is not entirely on the coach's shoulders.

[eldonabe]

^
I know this starting a circular conversation Mike - but unless these guys are being told to do/not do the things you mention above and they are just ignoring the request - then that is on the coach - if the coach is not demanding any of these things - well that too is on him for not seeing it or reprimanding/doling out consequences.


And/or, if he is actually telling them to keep jacking up long balls at this point then he truly is clueless - that would rule out a fireman as his next career since his obvious remedy to put out a fire is to throw gas on it .

[NilesGold]

^^ All true, but the coach sets the tone and expectations for the program. So in my eyes, Kellogg is ultimately responsible for all of the failings of the players.

[MikeUMA]

As for the Explorers, they still have a shot at a double-bye. They're tied with Mason for 6th place at 8-7, two games out of 4th, with 3 to play. That's motivation enough.

La Salle is just 2-5 in conference road games though:
Ws at Rhody, Fordham
Ls at Dayton, VCU, St Joe, Mason, Bona

Except for that 1pt loss at SJU, their other road losses have all been by double-figures, including a 38 point destruction at VCU last month.

Recently: they've dropped 3 of their last 4. The lone win was a home game over struggling SJU. So, this team is beatable.

La Salle's production is led by
BJ Johnson (6'7" 200 G/F R-Jr) 17.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, both lead the team. His 17.7 is 6th in the league.
Jordan Price (6'5" 220 G R-Sr) 16.2 (11th in the league) / 4.3.
Pookie Powell (6'0" 185 G R-So) 13.2 (22nd in the league) / 4.4
Amar Stukes (6'2" 195 G R-Jr) 8.7 / 2/7. His .530 FG% is 8th in the league.
Cleon Roberts (6'6" 190 G R-Sr) 7.4 / 2.3. He leads the league with .442 from 3, but Johnson & Price take more shots.

La Salle can score.
1st in the league in team ppg average: 77.0
4th in FG%
2nd in 3FG%
2nd in made 3s per game
1st in FT% - if we're behind late, we're not gonna catch 'em by fouling. Powell is 2nd in the league, Johnson 3rd, Stukes 13th.

Powell & Stukes are #1 and 2 in the league in Assist:Turnover ratio. As a team though, they're middle of the pack in turnover average, while we're still a distant last.

They have holes on defense:
Last in ppg defense: 77.2
Last in FG% D
Last in 3FG% D - but that won't matter with our crappy shooting.

Rebounding is a mixed bag. They're 12th in offense, but that has something to do with them making shots. On D though, they're 4th, but again, more shots leads to opportunities on the glass. In margin, they're a -0.5.

In our earlier meeting in Philly, La Salle won 88-78.
http://goexplorers.com/news/2017/2/1/me ... ath=mbball
La Salle shot 52% from the floor and 24-26 (.923) from the line.
Johnson 28, Price 21, Stukes 12 for them. Holloway 19, Deeky & Clark 12 each for us.
Clark & Pipkins combined for just 12 FGAs, well below usuals.
UM shot 10-22 (.455) from 3, highest percentage in over a month.
UM won the glass by 2.

[mdogt12]

Game is on NESN+ if anyone cares and other ASN stations.

[Floyd]

I hope these glasses we're getting are filled with booze. Might make the game more enjoyable.

[xlgman]

STH, don't forget to pick up your glass and noose, available until the end of half-time.

We have a winner. First signature-worthy quote for me.

[69MG]

I'm honored, maybe a little frightened, but honored none the less. I'm getting mine early before they run out !

[69MG]

Getting back to the game, I want to piggyback on some of what Mike posted above. In the first meeting, we did a lot of things well. We shot 45.5% from 3, we outrebounded them by 2 and only gave up 7 offensive boards (we had 12). We shot 80 % from the line (16/20). We gave them 26 free throws, but 10 were in the last 1:24 when we were intentionally fouling. We only lost the turnover battle 15-12.

What we didn't do was play defense. How we played the first game probably means nothing regarding tomorrow, but there haven't many games where we were that good on the "little things".

[Roadtrip]

The Sallies +1.

[Refuse2Lose83]

I'm honored, maybe a little frightened, but honored none the less. I'm getting mine early before they run out !

Oh they won't run out as it's just one per account not per ticket

[inthescoop]

We are -1.5 favorites. Vegas continues to show us love despite our recent performance.

[umassfan.com]

I'd the that action is I was a getting man...

[inthescoop]

I'd the that action is I was a getting man...

Drunk?