Not quite ready for a mea culpa like some others-you know who you are;nonetheless things are,indeed,
trending in the right direction.I’m (very)cautiously optimistic.Good road win.


 

BM wrote:

I’m sure we’ll rehash elsewhere, but keep an eye on coach Franklin who now sits at the top of the bench and directs players in-game and in some huddles.  As suggested here, they did the right thing and brought in someone mid-season to fill the inexplicable gap in ability. Kudos to that.

I’ve noticed this as well. During timeouts he definitely seems to be the most animated AC on the bench. Good find by JC.

Also don’t look now but GW is no longer the worst ranked team by NET or Kenpom in the A-10.

Last edited by GW0509 (2/10/2022 8:22 am)

This team always had the ability but in the early part of the season they didn't play as a team. Finally I think they are beginning to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. I agree that they seem to be listening to the coaches more. Freeman is going to be great and is still learning. But I think there are still too many turnovers. Joe Bam has not settled down as much as Bishop in regards to team play and letting the game come to them. Imagine what are record would be if we played like this when the season began. But with all the new people that was not to be expected. Players seem to be more happy now. However, there is one thing we have to remember. We own Umass.  Even in the Camby days.  In there best year they lost in the Final Four. Two losses, one to us of course. A really Koul day that was.  

Great team win! UMass was a good matchup for us on paper. I thought for most of the game we did a really good job along the perimeter. I mentioned this in the preview, but the Minutemen are significantly less efficient from inside the arc than they are from outside and it showed. In some ways, they looked like us from earlier in the year. Disjointed with poor body language. I know Rich Kelly is an elite shooter, but pulling up from three early in the shot clock late in the game when possessions should be valued more tells me that McCall has lost the team. They also didn't foul in the last minute.

In a way, the biggest victory during this run of winning games has simply been that the team has not quit. They could have easily waved the white flag after the first two conference games, but they didn't and have been rewarded for it.

I'm very happy for Brendan that he had the game he did last night. Despite being tough on Brendan for much of the season, we are much harder to beat when he is more of a factor offensively. He was more than due for this kind of a game quite honestly. Adams must have had a good week in practice as JC put him back in the starting lineup. Unlike the past, he seemed more set on his tries from distance. I think I like him shooting more from the corners than elsewhere. I did wish he had made an open three in the second half to extend our lead (and he also missed a bunny off an inbounds pass) but his defense was good and I'm glad he got the "chain of command" or whatever that thing is called.

I've mentioned Brayon's IQ multiple times this season, but it's just so impressive for a first year player. With UMass locked in on JB squared, Freeman took what the defenses gave him and realized he needed to be way more active offensively in the second half. That floater he likes taking is a good shot for him, and I've really liked that he doesn't settle for bad shots. Many of his threes have been late in the shot clock when they had to be taken and he knows that he can get better high percentage shots.

We are 5-0 in conference play when Hunter makes 3+ field goals, and 0-5 when he makes under 3. I think that pretty much sums up what a difference he makes when he is even somewhat of a factor offensively. This offense looks a lot better (and more balanced) when Dean makes 3-5 FGs a game. He had a play in the first half where he actually faked a handoff and went to the rim and made a shot. I've never been more happy after a play this season. I'm only somewhat kidding.

Underrated part of the game was bringing Amir in during the second half for a spell to rest some of the guys. Bamisile only played 26 minutes which is a huge plus (part of that was probably having a sloppy game, but still).

Ricky very clearly does not seem to be 100%. He has been forcing things since he's returned and he has been visibly frustrated all season. That entry pass (to Brendan I think?) he tried to make down low in the second half when we could have extended our lead was unacceptable and he was rightfully benched for that.

Not much to add on Bishop and Bamisile. Bishop has been fantastic and made shots when needed. He's been going to his right more often (and finishing) which has made him a tougher guard, and is nearly automatic from midrange. We won't talk about how bad analytically the shot he made to break the 57-57 tie (and end the Minutemen momentum) midway through the second half was but it went in so whatever. He was pretty close to being behind the line.

Like others have said, I feel like Bamisile is still not fully playing in the flow of the system but he has some time to learn that still. That play where he comes off a curl and launches a jumper is his trademark shot (after the dunks of course). At first glance, that is a bad shot for a streaky shooter but he makes them reliably enough now that I'm becoming okay with him taking those.

Nice to see us attacking the rim and getting to the line. Would like more games moving forward where we get to the line 15-20 times. Also good that we didn't settle from three despite our recent hot shooting because the shots weren't falling as often today. Don't think there are many teams we can outrebound moving forward but I'll take what we can get! The ball movement/passing has been fun to watch the past eight games.

Next up is a tough tilt against Dayton. As FQ mentioned, their deep frontcourt makes them perhaps the worst matchup in conference and we usually play pretty lousy at their place. I do think this is a different team from the one that played earlier on that was coming off COVID pause though so hope we give them our best shot.
 

Long Suffering Fan wrote:

It was curious that Brayon Freeman, whose development I attribute to as much as anything for our recent successes, did not start, as he had been of late, but he was a first sub in after only about 2 minutes. Interesting that Brown is on such a short leash. Brown played 3 minutes per the box (it seemed like less), picked up a foul, turned the ball over once, and that was it for him for the rest of the night. Agree with Mayhem regarding points in the paint. There was a stretch, I believe fairly early into the second half, when UMass was having their way with us down low, then they stopped going there.   Also good point made by Free earlier...UMass seemed to throw in the towel awfully early.   I guess they never saw the F**rfield game (no lead is safe in the final minute).   At the last Colonial Club reception, I asked about Ricky's health and was told he was fine.  That seems to be the official stance of the team.  I am just not buying it.  This is not the same Ricky Lindo as we saw last season, who regularly posted a double/double.  For us to reach a higher level, we need that Ricky back pronto.

Ricky looks like a guy who is struggling mentally, not physically.  He seems to be thinking on the court a lot instead of playing, and it’s resulting in some airball, bad passes, or other mental errors.  In one of the recent home games (LaSalle or Davidson( I forget ) he looked like he was getting his game back and starting to have fun out there again but a couple of real ticky tack calls on him sent him to the bench with foul trouble and denied the chance to really get out of this funk.  Almost get the feeling that one good game could bring him back, but he probably just needs to relax out there and have fun rather than try too hard.

GW0509 wrote:

BM wrote:

I’m sure we’ll rehash elsewhere, but keep an eye on coach Franklin who now sits at the top of the bench and directs players in-game and in some huddles. As suggested here, they did the right thing and brought in someone mid-season to fill the inexplicable gap in ability. Kudos to that.

I’ve noticed this as well. During timeouts he definitely seems to be the most animated AC on the bench. Good find by JC.

Also don’t look now but GW is no longer the worst ranked team by NET or Kenpom in the A-10.

     BM and 0509 have good insights. Noticed this during the RI game, think it was. That Franklin definitely was in JC's ear. For whatever reason, we seem to have been playing better when he has been taking that role. He's been around and an experienced coach like Franklin can contribute and may be doing so considerably. Also, he may have been a big man himself and though Hunter is coming along really well, we still need a lot of work (and recruiting there).  We may still need a bigger injection of A-10 level or higher exprience in coaching and recruiting. But like BM and 0509, have observed a more active role for Franklin
    Do think we need to be in the game against Dayton, just as a confidence booster. Not usually a believer in good losses--my former seatmate used to make fun of Jarvis for this, but Davidson and Dayton could serve as a catalyst. Competitive showings would mean we could go into the A-10 tournament believing we have a shot at beating anybody.
   We still have a lot of work to do, including on shot selection because some of the curious ones will not always go in. But the most impressive thing is seemingly the increased teamwork: some nice Bishop passes, Joe coming through at times, Hunter stepping up (as DMV notes with his great eye) and more balanced scoring like Brayon and even Brendan, who both contributed a lot yesterday. Amir's steadiness, defense and willingness to play bigger is also an important contribution that doesn't necessarily show up in the stats,but helps us win.
   Making use of the thin roster we have can be the key to continued success.