We won, but did not dominate even though Merrimack shot poorly from the 3. If their 3s started dropping with any regularity the results could have been different. Was shocked to see how Clark could take it to Davis. Clark kept Merrimack in the game with both his shooting and assists. However we had Ace and Dylan who were by far our 2 best players (big surprise). Ace was particularly efficient offensively with 20 points scored and 10 rebounds.
RAPID REACTION - Merrimack
- Thread starter Degaz-RU
- Start date
On no particular order:
1) Davis was not good this game. He is on there for his defensive intensity and defensive chops, but got completely schooled by Clark.
2). Derkack was very, very good in this game, shooting aside. He played terrific defense on Clark, using his height advantage to good purpose. Clark had just 2 points before Davis replaced Derkac in The 1st half, and Derkack also did a good job on him in the 2nd half. Derkack also had 5 assists an 6 rebounds.
3) Harper missed a number of midrange and at the rim shots he usually will make. Still, in an off game he had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. He also was very focused and intense with his on-ball defense, I thought.
4) Bailey was great offensively and rebounding... 23 points (did I get that right?) and 10 rebounds, 9-15 FG.
5) Ogbole had 2 bad turnovers late in the 2nd half, and got pulled. And was just 2-5 ft. But otherwise did just fine: 6 points, 7 reb (4 offensive), and at least decent defense.
6) Hayes was very poor defensively
. He has been better. He still takes only good shots, and the open shots just were not available.
7) sommerville struggled at the rim and seemed to force a few shots even when he had opportunities to pass to open teammates. And he struggled defending the high screen.
8) Williams was... Okay. He picked up 2 fouls in the 1st half, one on a steal that was a phantom foul. He was short with a couple of midrange shots... As were a number of his teamates. He also had 3 really good steals. His defense was better in the 2nd half than in the 1st half.
On RU's zone offense:
I thought it was... Okay... Other than finishing. Yes, it did struggle at times. But because the zone stretched out quite a bit to try to cut off the 3's, especially when Hayes was in, it opened up the middle for both post ups by ogbole and Sommerville, and for drives. The problem was RU was shortarming the shorter midrange fg tries. My pet peeve was that RU did not pass to the foul line enough. Derkack or Bailey were the primary players flashing to the foul line. And when they got the ball there, the zone shattered. RU got a number of good fg tries off good interior passing once they got into the middle of that zone.
1) Davis was not good this game. He is on there for his defensive intensity and defensive chops, but got completely schooled by Clark.
2). Derkack was very, very good in this game, shooting aside. He played terrific defense on Clark, using his height advantage to good purpose. Clark had just 2 points before Davis replaced Derkac in The 1st half, and Derkack also did a good job on him in the 2nd half. Derkack also had 5 assists an 6 rebounds.
3) Harper missed a number of midrange and at the rim shots he usually will make. Still, in an off game he had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. He also was very focused and intense with his on-ball defense, I thought.
4) Bailey was great offensively and rebounding... 23 points (did I get that right?) and 10 rebounds, 9-15 FG.
5) Ogbole had 2 bad turnovers late in the 2nd half, and got pulled. And was just 2-5 ft. But otherwise did just fine: 6 points, 7 reb (4 offensive), and at least decent defense.
6) Hayes was very poor defensively
. He has been better. He still takes only good shots, and the open shots just were not available.
7) sommerville struggled at the rim and seemed to force a few shots even when he had opportunities to pass to open teammates. And he struggled defending the high screen.
8) Williams was... Okay. He picked up 2 fouls in the 1st half, one on a steal that was a phantom foul. He was short with a couple of midrange shots... As were a number of his teamates. He also had 3 really good steals. His defense was better in the 2nd half than in the 1st half.
On RU's zone offense:
I thought it was... Okay... Other than finishing. Yes, it did struggle at times. But because the zone stretched out quite a bit to try to cut off the 3's, especially when Hayes was in, it opened up the middle for both post ups by ogbole and Sommerville, and for drives. The problem was RU was shortarming the shorter midrange fg tries. My pet peeve was that RU did not pass to the foul line enough. Derkack or Bailey were the primary players flashing to the foul line. And when they got the ball there, the zone shattered. RU got a number of good fg tries off good interior passing once they got into the middle of that zone.
5. I don’t think we scored ANY points in transition, as Merrimack did a superb job of getting back on defense and immediately setting up their zone, and they immediately found their man on defense. So this became a tortuous half-court game.
highlighting this from you Degaz.....no points in transition....stunning giving what we have
highlighting this from you Degaz.....no points in transition....stunning giving what we have
yep...we are so used to it with Pike...hands in the passing lanes, pokaways.
how about the fact RU only 8 fouls all game and only 2 from the center spot. Is the reason that we didnt need to or didnt want to
Well we don't need to yet. Pike is giving guys an opportunity to get into the flow, see if they can contribute.
Tonight 9 guys played double digit minutes. Acuff added 7.
need to some guys to emerge...right now its 2 guys and the rest are role players....cannot have 7 role players. J Will and J Mike need to step it up big time going forward
For as good as Clark looked, he wasn't crazy efficient and couldn't hit 3's. He reminded me of Corey Sanders.
22 points on 20 possessions (19 shots and 2 foul shots). 6 assists but 6 TO's. I was more concerned with how we looked with our help defense and what ended up being a number of easy baskets on assists by Clark.
22 points on 20 possessions (19 shots and 2 foul shots). 6 assists but 6 TO's. I was more concerned with how we looked with our help defense and what ended up being a number of easy baskets on assists by Clark.
Look guys , it’s a looooooooooong season …and I’m glad we are bitching about stuff even though we won all four games by double digits.
Seriously …the ncaa first round is FOUR months from now . The goal is to be playing our best basketball in the last 4-5 game of the season headed into the big ten tourney and ncaa
This requires playing a longer rotation….and seeing what guys can and can’t do now , before needing to settle down into a tighter rotation and more defined rolls
Plus …we are going to be playing 4 games in 7 days …we are going to need to play 10 guys and share minures here ….
Now…there is a real issue that this next week will have sone weight on our total season resume for sure …and my hunch is that we aren’t ready yet. I’m really hoping to win the next two and thsr Notre dame game is gonna be a toss up …anything after that in Vegas , is gravy .
Want to see us compete ….snd get a little hungrier . Be interesting to see if we are ready to answer the bell this week.
Seriously …the ncaa first round is FOUR months from now . The goal is to be playing our best basketball in the last 4-5 game of the season headed into the big ten tourney and ncaa
This requires playing a longer rotation….and seeing what guys can and can’t do now , before needing to settle down into a tighter rotation and more defined rolls
Plus …we are going to be playing 4 games in 7 days …we are going to need to play 10 guys and share minures here ….
Now…there is a real issue that this next week will have sone weight on our total season resume for sure …and my hunch is that we aren’t ready yet. I’m really hoping to win the next two and thsr Notre dame game is gonna be a toss up …anything after that in Vegas , is gravy .
Want to see us compete ….snd get a little hungrier . Be interesting to see if we are ready to answer the bell this week.
When you have 2 guys good for 32 ppg in dylan and ace, three isn’t so many points to go around …especially since lathan right now looks in the 8-10 range as your third leading scorer
I don't see Lathan as our 3rd leading scorer. I think we'll have a bunch of 6 to 9 point scorers.
Martini, Derkack, JWill, hayes and maybe Lathan will alternate on who scores 12-14 points for the game.
Harper could/should have ended up with 18-20 points with no additional shots. He just seemed off tonight.
Martini, Derkack, JWill, hayes and maybe Lathan will alternate on who scores 12-14 points for the game.
Harper could/should have ended up with 18-20 points with no additional shots. He just seemed off tonight.
