Now that's basketball - best game by RU this season, by far

[RU848789]

We simply shut down a decent Cleveland State team, who gave a very good Akron team all they could handle. 70-38, including only giving up 16 points in the 2nd half, is phenomenal. The team defense was withering, as guys rotated so well and stepped in when someone else's guy penetrated, and our rebounding was fierce. 110% effort for 40 minutes. Great game. And, on offense, guys shared the ball wonderfully, with assists galore, made jumpers and even some treys, with very few turnovers. If we play defense like this regularly, we're going to surprise some very good teams.

Four guys in double figures, Corey getting a double-double (13/10 and 6 assists), Geo with 14/7 and 0 turnovers, Thiam with 14/7, incuding 4 treys (and the 7 boards might be a bigger story for him), Freeman with 10/8, Williams with a solid 8 off the bench and Doucour showing some nice offensive moves and with 6 points/4 boards, and Omoruyi with a nice 4/4 game, and his defense was great, as was everyone else's. And only 13 fouls all game. As Pikiell said in the post-game interview, great defense, ferocious rebounding and guys sharing the ball and not caring who gets the points, is exactly what he wanted to see. What's not to like?

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400986349

 

[wheezer]

was at the game and very happy with the play, especially after the last game.

the only debbie-downer thing I would mention here is that, it seemed like our guards would react
to a pump fake and get driven around, too easily..... it did not result in a lot of points against us,
the Cleveland state guards either missed the shot, or they did not take it all the way to the basket..

big ten guards would probably take better advantage of that..... hopefully our
defense in that area gets better.

 

[dollarbill]

It would be a great time to play Temple, or someone similar to get the early report card. $$$$

 

[RU848789]

By the way, was my 2nd game in the cushy seats down low - after 20+ years in 205, we moved down to 102, 3rd row from the floor, right along the foul line across from the RU bench. Absolutely love these seats - so much closer to the action - even got to see 2 clear miscalls on out of bounds plays (both favored RU, where the RU players barely tipped balls on the way out of bounds, but the refs missed them) - and the view of the "entertainment" is much better, too. Been trying to convince my friends for years to upgrade and finally was able to do so. And we even got to hang with @BigEastPhil at the CCNY game. :>)

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

This was a clear the 3rd Thursday in March on the calendar type of game

 

[RU848789]

This was a clear the 3rd Thursday in March on the calendar type of game

Hey now! You know, it's only Cleveland State, but I honestly think we could be a bubble team if we played defense and shared the ball on offense like that every night.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I loved the way Corey played on both ends tonight. If he could only shoot!

 

[KnightsofChrome]

I loved the way Corey played on both ends tonight. If he could only shoot!

But, he can't and probably never will. Once he understands that his role is to find the open man, this team will be more consistent.

 

[Shell21]

I loved the way Corey played on both ends tonight. If he could only shoot!

The way Corey shoots will never lead to him being a consistent shooter; streaky would be the best we can hope for. His shot is too flat, especially on threes, and he shoots across his body with too much off hand to be a consistent shooter. That type of form has too many moving parts and doesn't come off his hand smoothly. I'll say this; he is a much better off the dribble shooter than three point shooter, but needs to make sure he doesn't fade on these shots. When Corey is focused he is great, but his focus isn't always there it seems.

 

[RutgHoops]

If you can enjoy watching a basketball program get built than you will enjoy watching this team play. As I've written before we simply don't shoot it well enough to be a really good team. We do defend and rebound at a very high level. And we play with a ton of energy. We do execute (in my opinion) on the offensive end, but simply don't hit shots at the rate we need to be really good. Kids like Geo, Isaa, Kiss, Mathis, and Harper will likely change our woeful shooting over time, but it's likely not happening in 2017-18. However, this is the type of team where if "everything breaks right" we can be really good. With it more than likely that everything won't break right, our '17-'18 squad will be a team on a trajectory to being really good down the road.

You can see the pieces being put in place and the type of player Coach P wants on his team. I'm enjoying this.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

The way Corey shoots will never lead to him being a consistent shooter; streaky would be the best we can hope for. His shot is too flat, especially on threes, and he shoots across his body with too much off hand to be a consistent shooter. That type of form has too many moving parts and doesn't come off his hand smoothly. I'll say this; he is a much better off the dribble shooter than three point shooter, but needs to make sure he doesn't fade on these shots. When Corey is focused he is great, but his focus isn't always there it seems.

Many good points here. he missed a 16 footer off the dribble where he wasn't square and was fading. Last year we had 2 guards that were much better shooters off the dribble.

 

[Rutgers25]

The way Corey shoots will never lead to him being a consistent shooter; streaky would be the best we can hope for. His shot is too flat, especially on threes, and he shoots across his body with too much off hand to be a consistent shooter. That type of form has too many moving parts and doesn't come off his hand smoothly. I'll say this; he is a much better off the dribble shooter than three point shooter, but needs to make sure he doesn't fade on these shots. When Corey is focused he is great, but his focus isn't always there it seems.

His shot is almost beyond repair. A shame, because that is going to be what holds him back from a nice pro career (NBA or top foreign leagues). His form is just so awkward. Seems almost like his palm is on the ball instead of just fingers.

 

[jellyman]

In Re Sanders:

It is obvious he has been working hard on his 3-point shooting. I had no problem with him shooting so many last night - that is a good game to work on things like, where it does not hurt the team.

I say that it is obvious Sanders has worked on his 3-point shot, since his 3-point shot set up and form is pretty (maybe completely) different than last season. That said, I have to say I HATE his 3-point shot set up. He now basically takes a SET SHOT - or a very near a set shot - from 3-point range ... Why???? He is a 6'2" freaky good athlete. He will NEVER be able to get anything except a WIDE open, and wide open by a margin, 3-point shot off with a set shot. He also looks extremely uncomfortable - and indecisive - setting up to shoot the 3-pointer now. Sanders' best shots are NOT catch and shoot shots, but off the dribble, on the move. And his 3-point shot is now ONLY a catch and shoot set shot.

By the way, I have never seen a GUARD take set shots for their 3 pointers.

Sigh ... not sure what thought process was going on with the work that was done to reconfigure - theoretically to improve - his outside shot. I do not see positive results yet, and wonder ...