jf wrote:

Unless we're limiting his minutes by bringing him off the bench and he is fine with that,
time to start Jun again.
   Even if he doesn't help make the difference he did today, including good passing, we want to keep him happy at GW.

I absolutely agree. I actually thought our best lineup today was when he and Castro were in with three guards.

My starting 5 from here on out would be Castro, Buchanan, Autry, Jones, and Hutchinson. But what do I know…

Any win in Olean is a always a bonus, especially considering the fact that we didn't shoot the ball particularly well and turned the ball over 20 times. Really liked Jun's passing and hope this game helps get him back in rhythm. Also loved Ty Bevin's minutes. His energy on defense was a real boost and his 3-pointer early in the 2nd half helped slow the Bonnie's momentum after they had started the half with a 9-4 run to take their first lead of the game. Also happy to see Jacoi have a good, efficient game on both sides of the ball. After shooting close to 44% in conference games last season, he's shooting just 21% in conference games this year. He looked more assertive driving to the basket today, so hopefully he's got his mojo back.  I think I may have predicted, along with many of you, that we'd be 5-6 at this point in the season, but I don't think anyone had 4 of those wins being against Dayton, St. Louis, and on the road at Bona and URI. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming conference tournament as the league is wide open this year. There are 10 teams in 4th to 13th place within 2 games of one another, with records of 6-5 to 4-7, and against 2 of the top 3 teams (GMU, VCU & St. Louis), we've gone 1-2, but should have gone 2-1 or 3-0.

Great win!! The Reilly Center is a tough place to win and CC has now done it twice. According to KenPom, St. Bonaventure has the 18th best home court advantage nationally.

Mark Schmidt must have used the word 'nail' about a dozen times in his presser, lamenting Bona's inability to make plays when they got to that spot 15 feet from the basket while GW was enjoying great success on the other side of the court. Noel took four threes and easily a career high 17 attempts? Not sure whether it was him trying to prove a point or GW preferring to let him try to beat them rather than their guards. In any case, I think it was the best case scenario - Noel playing well and GW getting the W.

For the Revs, it looked like they were running drills out there on offense (and I mean that as a compliment). Great two man game between Jun and Rafael especially late in the game. This is precisely why we want to have Jun involved. Even if he's not scoring, his passing ability is great (and Rafael isn't too shabby himself there either). Really nice to see DBJ get the ball in different ways and get easy layup opportunities. It cannot be understated just how good this team can be moving the ball. Add Sean in the mix, and this has to be one of GW's best passing frontcourts ever if not the best.

Perhaps the most impressive part was the rebounding effort. The attention to detail on that front was the best I've seen all season. The Bonnies are very disciplined and don't give up too many second chance opportunities (I think they are still #1 in the A10 in terms of defensive rebound % in league play). 13 second chance opportunities coming from not giving up on the play. Also 13/15 from the line - awesome! I feel like GW is also due for a good shooting game from 3 in the near future. Also need to clean up the turnovers a bit.

Autry was really clutch late, reminding me of BA's shotmaking late in the game up there two seasons ago. Really appreciate the heart he plays with, especially when it comes to crashing the glass. Also a real joy to watch Rafael out there as usual. It feels like a luxury having a competent center out there! Jacoi making two layups in a row felt like an impossibility, but it was the second one where he changed gears and finished at the rim that I haven't seen from him since the AU game. It was Hutch's first game shooting over 40% from the field since mid-December. Great to see him playing better lately - much better passes to Rafael too. Ty seems to do the little things really well, to the point where even going just 1/4 from 3 is quickly forgotten. He's playing with a lot more conference compared to earlier in the year. Sean was efficient in his minutes.

Trey Moss is either still not 100% or has low confidence right now. It seems like he's thinking about what he wants to do next before even has control of the ball the last couple games. You take the good with the bad with CJ. That steal he made along the sidelines was a thing of beauty in the second half although he gave it right back a few times too and missed a sure layup by putting too much spin on it. I feel bad for Gerald, who was clearly trying to make a statement playing close to home however when shots are not falling you don't keep taking them. 10 shots in 18 minutes? Had CC not sat him we may have seen the first ever 0/20 game (not likely but it's fun to extrapolate). His shots were clearly not in line. It's hard not to watch GW play better down the stretch without him and wonder whether he needs to be emphasized a bit less on offense when he does play (as in, balance the shot attempts among the guards a little more evenly).

In terms of who starts and who closes I agree that it doesn't matter too much. I like Sean starting with his floor stretching ability, but wouldn't mind seeing if Gerald plays better coming off the bench. If Jun starts though I feel like bench scoring will become nonexistent. I also agree with the closing lineup, although if GW is ahead by only a few in the last minute or two CC may want to pull CJ or do a little offense for defense thing. This may be a chance to get Moss more involved. He's 82% from the line on the year, which may be an asset when paired with Hutch/Tricky. CJ is infinitely better on defense than Moss, but I am not sure I trust his FT abilities when GW needs to convert at the line.



 

Aside from the quality team defense it was great to see the 3-man and 2-man game on offense late with Castro, Jun, and Jacoi.  It was balanced and on time.  There have been 6 minute lapses in games where a drive and kick just stops. No swing pass or post pass, just clock running out resulting in a bad shot.

I don't know who should start but I do know what each player brings.  Autry brings effort, rebounding and consistency from the foul line and 3.  A confident Jacoi brings solid D, steals, FT,s  and playmaking.  The Gerald question is key:  Streaky hot and mostly ice cold but he does some good stuff.  He had a great hustle rundown block that made an impression!  He has length and experience.  When he's engaged on D with the other 4 it's disruptive and imposing.  Same with Ty.  The reason these double teams are so effective is when you have those long arms and legs wrapping you up...it's annoying and effective.  So I woudn't write off Gerald.  If the three is an open-look in-rhythm just take it.  If it doesn't go after 2-3 tries, find someone else to take it. But keep busting it on D.

The other point to make is how exhausting it is to sustain that kind of maximum effort on D.  Coaches always say it's really hard to play both sides of the ball well.  CC has to go 10 deep to pull it off.

Wish list:  I think our ally-oop success is akin to our 3 point %.  Would love to see both improve.  
                 Finish a 3 on 1 fast break please.  You bust it on D, get the steal, have numbers and lose the ball.
                 Lastly please knock VCU down a notch by having a consistent game on both sides of the ball.

                  

DC Native wrote:

My starting 5 from here on out would be Castro, Buchanan, Autry, Jones, and Hutchinson. But what do I know…

Although this five seemed to be the answer against the Bonnies, I am not sure that having both Jones and Hutchinson on the court at the same time works best as it doesn't give us enough size or experience, especially without Hansen (who agree should not be starting except against a bigger team)..  Based on who is playing better at the time, I would start either Jones or Hutchinson and swap the other for Drumgoole (notwithstanding his 0-10 last game).   Although the sample size of one game is far too small, maybe CC has stumbled upon a manner to have both Castro and Buchanan on the Court and both be effective, as well as a combination that is able to close out a game.   .