1 of 1- Gwmayhem
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Let's Nip This
From the St. Francis game comments, two schools of thought have emerged.
1) We are still doing this. As in, we still look unorganized down the stretch of games. We still look poorly coached. We still don't play smart when protecting a lead.
2) Are you really drawing conclusions based on one game?
It's hard not getting sucked into the first school of thought. That's what watching bad basketball for a number of years will do to you. As improved as this year's team may be, we can all agree that we're not yet where we would like to be as a program. So when we see things that link us to a previous season or seasons, like coaching or James Bishop, there is a tendency to pounce. As in, why does this keep happening?
At the same time, it's worth asking whether this is even fair? The coaching staff is the same but the players as a collective whole are most certainly not. The players are the ones who are executing on the court. When Amir Harris overshoots a layup at a crucial moment, is it fair to say "same old Colonials" just because a player who is no longer on the team may have done something similarly last season?
Then, there is the second school of thought courtesy of the Church of GWRising. The facts here state that every season is different, every team is different, etc. JC's teams have historically improved over the course of a season. Are we really content on griping after the first game of a season, ironically, a win? Plus, previous seasons are in the past. This year's team should be judged solely on what this team does, correct?
The solution is that both schools of thought can be true at the same time. JC and staff are the common denominators and with improved personnel, their coaching should improve commensurately. If fans are noticing the same type of problems brought about by coaching strategy as in the past, it ought to be fair game to make those comparisons without being chastised or even second-guessed. You can debate the strategy all day long but don't question someone's right, even after one game, even after a win, to point out why things aren't looking better on the court, in their opinion.
At the same time, this is a brand new season and it is important for even us fans to alter what must be considered an overly pessimistic mindset that has evolved over the past several years. I was encouraged by how we shot the 3 given the move to become a more athletic minded team. I was encouraged that even in the game's late stages when we did not execute very well, we at least made efforts to drive and score or drive and dish without pounding the ball only to take a bad shot with less than 3 seconds on the shot clock. So, maybe it won't be the same old Colonials after all.
So, whichever school you belong to, let's try to stay a bit tolerant of the other one.
- Free Quebec
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Re: Let's Nip This
How about the third school: We have clearly upgraded our talent, athleticism, and speed, which was step 1, so we are on our way - but let’s be realistic about immediate turnaround expectations, especially since we lost our starting center.
- GWRising
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Re: Let's Nip This
To those who believe it is on the coach ... Every year is different. You don't coach the same way each year. We have made significant changes to both personnel, the coaching staff, and how we play schematically. Because we almost gave up the lead does not necessarily have anything to do with years past. And when you single out coaching as the sole or main contributing factor - was he supposed to make free throws or finish layups? We make a few more free throws and a couple of those layups are made, we win by 10+. Again, the line was like -6 so Vegas which has a pretty good understanding of things did not expect this to be a walk-over.
Larger point is coaching gets far too much credit and far too much blame in college basketball. I've said it before and I will say it again ... It's not about the X's and O's but the Jimmies and the Joes.
Speaking of Jimmies and Joes a look at a few of our former players first games ...
JNJ 31 mins 4-13/2-7 6 rebs 3 assists 2 Tos 11 points in loss to Davidson
Maceo 30 mins 2-12/1-8 4 rebs 1 assist 1 To 5 points in loss to Michigan
Last edited by GWRising (11/11/2021 10:47 am)
- The Dude
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Re: Let's Nip This
Nobody really thinks anything other than what FQ wrote.
Everything else is just contrived to endlessly criticize and there are a lot of secondary names used to do it.
Consumes a GW fan site with purely contrived empty arguments about nothing. That's what should be nipped in the bud.
Year after year Coach after Coach. Game after game
What everyone actually saw was a clearly improved talent on team and a victory and a GW team that's a work in progress.
- porter71
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Re: Let's Nip This
I fall into the camp or agreeing on point #1 Mayhem made and the point FQ made. This team does have more talent, athleticism and speed than we've seen in a long time, potentially going back to Hobbs. However, even with the better talent, they still looked disorganized at times, and asleep at others, just like last years teams did. I won't say poorly coached, because a lot goes into coaching a team outside of game day coaching. However, the talent on this team, even with Ira's injury, is much more than 3 points betters than the talent on St. Francis. Its only one game, but that one game looked a lot like all games from last year, just with slightly better players.
- Gwmayhem
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Re: Let's Nip This
Dude, you didn't read the postgame comments very carefully if you believe that nobody thinks anything other than what FQ wrote. For good measure, Porter71's comment came in after yours and he indicated that he agreed with one of the schools of thought I presented along with FQ's comments. I also agree with what FQ wrote.
Maybe though we should get to a larger point. Let's put an end to the false accusations regarding secondary names. Let's do away with the nastiness. Let's stop repeating ourselves ad nauseam.
Now that the season has started, let's keep the focus on intelligent basketball talk. I am willing to do this. Do you think you're able and willing to go along with this?
Nobody wants to read your troll-like comments, baseless accusations, or repetitive references. Nobody wants to see me explode at you or put you down.
Let's try things this way.
- •
Thread Starter- Mike K
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Re: Let's Nip This
I agree with FQ 100%
- BGF
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Re: Let's Nip This
Great thread and comments. Go GDub.
- danjsport
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Re: Let's Nip This
GWRising wrote:
To those who believe it is on the coach ... Every year is different. You don't coach the same way each year. We have made significant changes to both personnel, the coaching staff, and how we play schematically. Because we almost gave up the lead does not necessarily have anything to do with years past. And when you single out coaching as the sole or main contributing factor - was he supposed to make free throws or finish layups? We make a few more free throws and a couple of those layups are made, we win by 10+. Again, the line was like -6 so Vegas which has a pretty good understanding of things did not expect this to be a walk-over.
Larger point is coaching gets far too much credit and far too much blame in college basketball. I've said it before and I will say it again ... It's not about the X's and O's but the Jimmies and the Joes.
Speaking of Jimmies and Joes a look at a few of our former players first games ...
JNJ 31 mins 4-13/2-7 6 rebs 3 assists 2 Tos 11 points in loss to Davidson
Maceo 30 mins 2-12/1-8 4 rebs 1 assist 1 To 5 points in loss to Michigan
Jamison Battle- 7/13, 3-9, 18 points, 2 steels, 3 rebounds, two turnovers in a win.
- danjsport
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Re: Let's Nip This
How about the third school: We have clearly upgraded our talent, athleticism, and speed, which was step 1, so we are on our way - but let’s be realistic about immediate turnaround expectations, especially since we lost our starting center.
Agreed with this. This will take time to gel and come together. With new talent, excited to see what happens.
- jf
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Re: Let's Nip This
Is the JNJ stat line supposed to say we are better off without him? Seems pretty decent against Davidson, a real league opponent.
While we all hope and have some reason to believe Brayon can be very good, he hasn't shown it yet. Of course, it's only one game and one exhibition, so there's plenty of room to grow.
Who recruited JNJ, if he needed to be upgraded?