@ Bona

[UR80sfan]

I seem to recall after Davidson had a terrible shooting night against us, missing lots of open threes, but hitting some down the stretch to make the score more respectable, somebody described that as a dominant win and them just getting lucky.



Oh yeah, that's right.

Coppin, are you referring to Davidson's only home loss in conference that was a result of great coaching and our high quality Spider team? I guess it wasn't as dominate as I thought, but it still was pretty good win!

 

[wr70beh]

Coppin, are you referring to Davidson's only home loss in conference that was a result of great coaching and our high quality Spider team? I guess it wasn't as dominate as I thought, but it still was pretty good win!

Great coaching and Mooney don't go together.

 

[KWeaver]

I watched the VCU game in person (thanks 32Counter!), and Blake and Nick complimented each other just fine.

Chill out. That was a good team, and we shot like poop with a bunch of wide open shots. I'll take my chances against that game plan every time--Grant passing out of a double team and giving us a ton of open threes.

And the rest of the games? It doesn’t take much to show that Blake shoots too much. at the expense of other more efficient shooters. It’s already been done throughout this thread. When he is in the lineup it causes other guys to take a step back, I think. He needs to shoot less. Others need to shoot more. Next year may be a better year. But we are still working on it this year. With better coaching I think we would not become so reliant on one guy.

what on earth is it about Blake’s shooting makes any of you want him to take the most shots?

signed,

“foolish” spider fan

 

[MrTbone]

I love Blake’s aggressive play, all I think anyone is asking for is for a slightly tighter filter on when and how much. We have five guys starting all of whom are capable of scoring in different ways.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

I love Blake’s aggressive play, all I think anyone is asking for is for a slightly tighter filter on when and how much. We have five guys starting all of whom are capable of scoring in different ways.

No objections to this sentiment. In fact, I agree.

 

[VT4700]

We are 20-7 and Blake is a big reason why. Your questions have already been answered on this thread.

 

[spider23]

It's a fine line. I actually do see both sides of this argument. Earlier in the year I was falling more on the Blake needs to get under control side. BUT, as evidenced in past years - we have really lacked that Alpha Dog, get me the rock type of guy to take and make big shots and bring it every night. He is that guy. I do feel he has gotten better as the year goes on, and even in games (VCU home) of picking his spots.

 

[MrTbone]

It's a fine line. I actually do see both sides of this argument. Earlier in the year I was falling more on the Blake needs to get under control side. BUT, as evidenced in past years - we have really lacked that Alpha Dog, get me the rock type of guy to take and make big shots and bring it every night. He is that guy. I do feel he has gotten better as the year goes on, and even in games (VCU home) of picking his spots.

I feel like we have actually often had “that guy” (Buck, TJ, K0, etc) but haven’t always had the talent around them. We have the talent around Blake that it’s not incumbent upon him to always be the hero. Again, love his play just want a hair more discipline.

Yes we are 20-7. We could be 22-5 with more discipline, or 18-9, no one knows. He’s not the only reason we win or lose.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Love his aggression. I'd just like to see him stay on his feet. He got away with - and got the call on - two blatant flops in the past 3 games.
You're playing with a cracked sternum, dude! Why hit the floor any more often than necessary?

 

[SpiderTrap]

Someone stated earlier - live by Francis and die by Francis. I was worried about this at the beginning of the year when he was taking what seemed like 18 shots a night on the regular. But it really has not hurt us until this game. And he is allowed to have an “off” night - it’s going to happen. So the loss is not all on him. Where it lies I think is a little coaching and our so called depth. When Francis has an off night we hope the bench steps up. Outside of Burton - it did not. Also factor in that Sherod disappeared and the Bonnies game plan was to limit Golden and you have a recipe for disaster. The hope would be that maybe Wojcik hits a few shots off the bench or Sherod steps up but that didn’t happen. Also factor in that I think gilyard plays the role more of facilitator and not scorer when Francis is in the game and there is our lack of scoring against Bonnies. But I also put a little blame on coaches as there was little adjustment on offense with the Bonnies game plan and Francis off night. I don’t expect Francis to stop shooting but maybe you try to get him to free throw line or easier looks to get his confidence rolling. Sometimes all a shooter needs is an easy bucket to get going.

 

[97spiderfan]

So, let me understand this correctly. Francis scores 23 had an off night and is a big part of the blame for our loss. Meanwhile, Sherod shot 1-6 scored 3 points in 26 minutes, Cayo scored 2 points in 25 minutes.

Yeah, Francis has an itchy trigger finger sometimes, but damn, when you have two other starters who basically did nothing on offense, what is he supposed to do.

 

[MrTbone]

So, let me understand this correctly. Francis scores 23 had an off night and is a big part of the blame for our loss. Meanwhile, Sherod shot 1-6 scored 3 points in 26 minutes, Cayo scored 2 points in 25 minutes.

Yeah, Francis has an itchy trigger finger sometimes, but damn, when you have two other starters who basically did nothing on offense, what is he supposed to do.

I think the point is Nate took 3 shots the entire game. With grant being doubled, perhaps Nate should have been a bigger factor but if Blake is consuming those opportunities then we aren’t maximizing our team potential.

I am personally not laying this on Blake. We just need those other guys to step up when outside shooting is off and the other two guys who can score inside reasonably efficiently (Nate/nick) didn’t get many chances.

 

[SpiderTrap]

So, let me understand this correctly. Francis scores 23 had an off night and is a big part of the blame for our loss. Meanwhile, Sherod shot 1-6 scored 3 points in 26 minutes, Cayo scored 2 points in 25 minutes.

Yeah, Francis has an itchy trigger finger sometimes, but damn, when you have two other starters who basically did nothing on offense, what is he supposed to do.

Agreed. Not Blaming Francis. He is allowed off nights and yes - 22 shots for 23 points is an off night. But like you said if no one else is willing to step up - someone has to be aggressive and shoot. This is where the coaches come in. Draw up some plays to get him easier looks or get him isolated and tel him to drive. Try to get Sherod or Cayo going, etc.

 

[97spiderfan]

Is that as much on Nate and Nick vs. Francis. Sherod wasn't hitting and that is how he goes some nights. And it was pretty clear that Schmidt wanted to force us to take a bunch of 3's. He obviously did a lot of film study and correctly concluded that is how you beat us. We are much better offensive team when we operate from the inside out. The fact that Mooney's solution in game was to just keep shooting 3's (the sideline reporter was in the huddle and reported that), showed that he didn't have an in game adjustment, he was just "hoping" that we could shoot our way out of it. Hope is not a coaching strategy.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

97 Grant in first half was slow to make decision when double teamed, plus he was pushed out a little more. Second half
quick touch passes and more movement and he was lower on block, forcing defenders more distance to cover the three.
Look if Sherod, Blake and Gilly have an open, uncontested 3, what do you tell them to do? You don't want to wait till there is seconds left in shot clock where you may not have as good of a shot selection.

I would have liked Grant getting ball at foul line or foul line extended, then try penetration from there and stop and pop or hit
Cayo or Burton going to basket with some space. There was adjustment by staff in second half by getting Grant to make
quicker decisions. I would have like to have put greater defensive pressure on them earlier.

On shooters, every court has a different value for players. Meaning, some courts you have a shooters touch where you have good sight alignment with the basket. I loved the RC for shooting but Millhauser, i struggled. May sound off cause court and basket is same size, but some courts just have a shooters appeal more than others.

 

[fatherspider]

Agree on the shooters court and thats why winning on the road can be very difficult. Also just the familiarity of certain courts helps big time. Thats why I hate that St. Johns plays many of their “home” games at MSG. Every other BE team plays there multiple times a year and know the court and surrounding very well.

One thing I will disagree on is the open look comment... yes take open look shots when at a reasonable distance from the basket but this game Gilyard and Francis took some shots from 35 feet away. There is a reason you are left open from that far out.

 

[KE Spider]

I like Blake for the reasons pointed out here many times - effort, swag, good defender, etc. but it makes no sense for the guy with the lowest FQ % of any of the starters and immediate reserves to be taking the most shots on a regular and sustained basis. No sense.

Others can't get into the offensive flow of the game without getting more shot opportunities.

 

[97spiderfan]

97
Look if Sherod, Blake and Gilly have an open, uncontested 3, what do you tell them to do? You don't want to wait till there is seconds left in shot clock where you may not have as good of a shot selection.

Here is my answer. Once I as a coach see that someone like Sherod is not hitting open 3's. I'm gonna design some plays elsewhere. Whether that be to get Sherod a different type of shot or getting the ball to other players.

We've watched Sherod for 3 plus years, if he isn't knocking his shots down, the chances of him all of a sudden getting hot are pretty slim.

And while Sherod is the most consistent in that regards, I would say that for the team as well. I think we are a much better team when we establish inside presence either through Grant and Cayo or our guards slashing to the hole, versus just bombing away from 3.

So, yeah, if they are not hitting open 3's, it calls for an adjustment in strategy by the coaches. Instead they were just told to keep firing away. That is not understanding our players/team and how we have responded previously in similar shooting slump games.

 

[SFspidur]

I do think Blake takes too many shots, but I haven't studied how many of his poor ones are ill-advised and how many are simply him taking the bull by the horns out of desperation when no one else will.

If he's taking shots when there are better looks available for others, that's an issue. But if it's a choice between a tough Blake shot and a shot clock violation, I'll take the Blake shot.

 

[spiderman]

it looks bad when he misses, but even his makes look tough. he's a tough shot maker.
analytics say not to take that stepback 19 footer, but he's pretty money with it.

 

[Eight Legger]

The problem is that when a college player is taking 22 shots in a game, everyone knows that a lot of them aren't going in. Unless you're Zion or someone like that. I love Blake's attitude but he needs to remember sometimes that he has teammates. The other part of the problem is on the teammates, who sort of just default to Blake when he takes control.

 

[RichmondNative]

lacked (a) guy to take and make big shots and bring it every night

Please name the game where Blake took and made the big shot. I will give him credit for energy every night that the team has lacked.

He got away with - and got the call on - two blatant flops in the past 3 games....Why hit the floor any more often than necessary?

I know that this year was supposed to be the year that flops were going to be called and I thought the Spiders may be in trouble. Hasn't happened, which means it is coming in A10 tournament I suppose.

Someone stated earlier - live by Francis and die by Francis. I was worried about this at the beginning of the year when he was taking what seemed like 18 shots a night on the regular. But it really has not hurt us until this game.

Disagree. I think the same sort of thing happened versus Auburn and Alabama. Two other away games versus athletic teams. In both of those games, Blake was 0% from 3.

Draw up some plays to get him easier looks or get him isolated and tel him to drive. Try to get Sherod or Cayo going, etc.

This was the problem. Blake was 3-13 from 3 (and 2 of the makes were at the end of the game when Bona relaxed in my opinion). He is averaging 7 3pt shots a game. Why keep shooting 3s that you aren't making AND the other team wants you to take?

And it was pretty clear that Schmidt wanted to force us to take a bunch of 3's. He obviously did a lot of film study and correctly concluded that is how you beat us. We are much better offensive team when we operate from the inside out.

This x1000. Exactly what other teams are going to do that have a decent coach and time to prepare. Bona was also well prepared for the hedging D that had served the Spiders so well the previous 3-4 games. Right from the start they were dropping the ball over the top that other teams just couldn't seem to do.

Good luck Spiders. You have made great strides this year, but still have lots of room for improvement. 4 games left to retain a top 4 finish.

 

[spider23]

Please name the game where Blake took and made the big shot.

I predict March 6 at Duquesne this will come to fruition.




Nostradamus23

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Here is my answer. Once I as a coach see that someone like Sherod is not hitting open 3's. I'm gonna design some plays elsewhere. Whether that be to get Sherod a different type of shot or getting the ball to other players.

We've watched Sherod for 3 plus years, if he isn't knocking his shots down, the chances of him all of a sudden getting hot are pretty slim.

And while Sherod is the most consistent in that regards, I would say that for the team as well. I think we are a much better team when we establish inside presence either through Grant and Cayo or our guards slashing to the hole, versus just bombing away from 3.

So, yeah, if they are not hitting open 3's, it calls for an adjustment in strategy by the coaches. Instead they were just told to keep firing away. That is not understanding our players/team and how we have responded previously in similar shooting slump games.

97 I think one other thing that Blake adds that Sherod has struggled with, is attacking or looking for his shot early on. This year is better for Nick, in the regard he will take a shot earlier if open where in the past he may not shoot till the second half.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Did the team spend the night in NY after the loss or did they immediately return to Richmond?

 

[32counter]

Duquesne beat Bonnies.Thank you.

Fordham lost to URI by 1.Almost,Coach Neubauer.