Sure they can clean up the turnovers and play smarter down the stretch. But I’m not sure the front court problem has a solution.
Basketball St. John's outlasts No. 25 Rutgers Basketball in scrimmage
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
Since it was only an exhibition, I would’ve liked to see Grant and Dortch getting a couple minutes in the first half, when we had a good lead.
I actually liked everything I saw except the board differential. To be expected obviously losing Cliff. I thought Sommerville looked good for the few minutes he played. He may need to be go to center once we resume playing high level teams like this.
Ha, this is wrong. Davis was best defensive player and 3rd leading scorer I believe. He's at least willing to shoot. Derkack wont, JWill didnt, Martini only does if open, ect.
Just 1 game, but not a good one.
Ace and Dylan are going to have to be reprogrammed that this isnt AAU basketball. You dont watch and wait for the other team to score. You see a loose ball and you go after it. Way too much watching. Getting loose balls win games just as much as making baskets.
Really like PJ too. Guy looks to be a pscho killer shooter. Needs more minutes.
Each one only had 1 assist. We're not going to win many game this year like this.
They did a lot of good things tonight, but rebounding and interior defense is the glaring negative. Also, they looked lost closing out the game in crunch time as no one really took charge down the stretch, but that can improve as they gel. Positives were this team can score and shoot as opposed to recent RU teams.
He can’t shoot had the ball blocked multiple times or taken. When he is on the floor every team knows he can’t shoot. They will sag off him clog the lane like tonight making it harder for Ace and Dylan. People fall in love with his energy and miss the huge flaws with him playing high minutes. Plus he gets punished in the post. 8-10 min a game based on matchup. Cannot be a starter heavy minutes guy. Replace him w shooting asap!
Seemed like he hardly played second half, Hayes and Derkack looked like guys that belong on the floor.
Defensive concepts will also improve, as well as positioning for rebounds. Some better decision making and communication.
The five spot is just going to be our weak point this season, and we'll have to mask it as best we can.
Watching the game closely, Derkack was better defensively. Suspect Davis was celebrating a made three and St. John’s comes right back and made a three on him. We are not winning games if JMac is third leading scorer. Way too many shots. Not his role. Especially late in final minutes.
More disappointed in JWill. Too athletic and good to be a non factor.
Hayes was our third leading scorer but I agree w JMike. He can not play big minutes. J Will ‘s problem will be he’s an on ball player and the team is best with Ace and Dylan handling the ball. Jwill struggle all year offensively but hopefully he commits on the defensive end.
This is the takeaway. Finish the game. You’re up 10. Go up 20.
Young team, important lesson to learn. Hope they learn it quickly.
Haven’t seen Acuff but Hayes should start over JMike. Bigger, good defender , way better shooter .
Don’t think J Will is getting enough blame. Played very poorly for the veteran leader of the team.
Same with JWill, he’s a captain and you could tell Pike was relying on his athleticism for D against Richmond. He hardly did a thing tonight and fouled too much. Hopefully just a bad day at the office, but he had no impact on this game unlike Derkack who came in and sparked the team.
I would rather have Hayes on the court because Rutgers needs a third scoring threat on the court.
Ill rewatch, but you should too, Derkack had quite a few rough goes of it when taken into the post and on the dribble. He was active though. Someone has to shoot besides the kids. JWill didnt. Ogbole wont. I've said all off season that JWill isn't a great fit next to Dylan.
Same. For our three returning guys, gonna need a lot more from JWill, Ogbole, and JMike.
Pitino is a outstanding game day coach attacking opponents weaknesses.I don't understand why Rutgers didn't try switching to a zone defense because they were clueless in defending St.Johns weave offense which resulted in baskets or foul shots.
JMike ... love his energy and D...but often just dribbles into the trees and rejected hard.
Jwill needs to go to the bench and run the second unit so he can have the ball and provide a spark. His inability to shoot will hurt the starters.
Not his fault but the team has to go through Ace and Dylan so his biggest strength is taken away ( the ball) .
Running second unit would free him up to score and have the ball more
The loss hurt, but saw so many positives tonight. Really excited for the season. There are items to clean up. I believe Pike will coach the team up.
I am kinda with you on this...we need the size. Plus, he is very serious offensive threat and should get lots of good looks from deep
Disagree. Derkack better spark and better D IMHO. Pass was unfortunate but thought process was right.
PJ might be the answer. Need a shooter from outside.
Maybe answer is Acuff.
Thought JWill would dominate. Maybe better as first guy off bench.
Davis reminded me of Montez Mathis driving into a crowd getting knocked down and no foul called.
Arriving late in the thread and read the last two pages. My thoughts - Yes, we need to work on our D, but at least that can be taught. We will have an exciting offense, and the home RAC crowd will make a difference and help the D.
I think that it's going to be a fun year - lots of scorers and nice ball handling. It will be interesting to see how this team develops. Hopefully, we can work out some kinks in our early games and learn how to close out games. The freshmen also have to gain stamina, which they will do as the year goes on.
It's going to be a fun ride with the media attention and hopefully some good PR to go along with it. I'm looking forward to the upcoming games to see what Pike will be able to do with this group.
Scarlet Jerry
I think that it's going to be a fun year - lots of scorers and nice ball handling. It will be interesting to see how this team develops. Hopefully, we can work out some kinks in our early games and learn how to close out games. The freshmen also have to gain stamina, which they will do as the year goes on.
It's going to be a fun ride with the media attention and hopefully some good PR to go along with it. I'm looking forward to the upcoming games to see what Pike will be able to do with this group.
Scarlet Jerry
Yeah, while I like JWill, I've thought he's been very over rated by many just because he was better than last years bad players. The stories of off season leadership had me hoping he would come out and be a willing shooter from deep, hoping he could improve his shot. I don't think he even tried one today from outside.
I thought the starting lineup was a strange choice. We put no shooting around the kids. Derkack can't shoot either.
Pike probably wants to work on man to man defense. Invaluable experience with all the freshman and new players that can't be replicated in practice
JWill still getting a feel for how ball dominant those two will be, wasn't part of the offense
Dercack will struggle to contribute on offensive end at this level I think most knew that already.
