Monday, March 20, 2006
A Pick Me Up - Finally
It is too depressing to blog about the current Knicks. I just can't get the slightest bit excited about the nuances of the latest feud or some meaningless statement by Francis. The horse is dead.
But on a bright note: THE HOYAS ARE IN THE SWEET 16.
I must say that I was not on board for hiring JTIII . . . I really wanted Johnny Dawkins. But JTIII has certainly shown me wrong. On paper, the Hoyas are a decent to middling team. The have decent size and some experienced perimeter players. But it is far from a Sweet 16 roster.
JTIII is coaching this team so as to get the very best possible out of the team. They have beaten very good teams (Duke, Pitt, now Ohio State) with a combination of good defense (a Hoya Trademark) and disciplined offense featuring hard movement and passing from the foul line. Any kind of organized offense is new to the Hoyas. The last organized offense plays we had were: (i) pass to Ewing/Morning/Mutombo; and (ii) stay out of Iverson's way and try for a rebound.
JTIII's offense is a team concept. One major asset: it does not rely on any one player and takes into account good nights and bad nights. Jeff Green is a great example. You'll see that in his "bad games" he has 6-8 points. But you'll also see 6-8 assists -- a good number for a big forward. Of course, Hibbert's recent play covers up many weaknesses.
Final Four is possible, but a stretch. But even so, with some good firepower coming in and Hibbert/Green returning, the Hoyas seem back.
But on a bright note: THE HOYAS ARE IN THE SWEET 16.
I must say that I was not on board for hiring JTIII . . . I really wanted Johnny Dawkins. But JTIII has certainly shown me wrong. On paper, the Hoyas are a decent to middling team. The have decent size and some experienced perimeter players. But it is far from a Sweet 16 roster.
JTIII is coaching this team so as to get the very best possible out of the team. They have beaten very good teams (Duke, Pitt, now Ohio State) with a combination of good defense (a Hoya Trademark) and disciplined offense featuring hard movement and passing from the foul line. Any kind of organized offense is new to the Hoyas. The last organized offense plays we had were: (i) pass to Ewing/Morning/Mutombo; and (ii) stay out of Iverson's way and try for a rebound.
JTIII's offense is a team concept. One major asset: it does not rely on any one player and takes into account good nights and bad nights. Jeff Green is a great example. You'll see that in his "bad games" he has 6-8 points. But you'll also see 6-8 assists -- a good number for a big forward. Of course, Hibbert's recent play covers up many weaknesses.
Final Four is possible, but a stretch. But even so, with some good firepower coming in and Hibbert/Green returning, the Hoyas seem back.
