Bring on the Owls

[8legs1dream]

it's early, but Bigelow's shooting percentage will be a concern if it doesn't improve. I like his defense and rebounding (last 2 games are an aberation I assume). I just meant a few days ago I was ready to lock him into 30+ mpg like Burton. I'm waivering on that. he's still a good player.

I would have to look up the stats to find his percentages but still feels like he has knocked down plenty of meaningful shots already

 

[RichmondNative]

My thoughts on this game were pretty well covered by a number of posters, so here is my compilation:

Randolph defending Battle has loosened Goose up a bit, I like him coming off the bench to mark up

Always have liked Randolph's energy and he got a lot of run in this game. He made a difference when he was in and I had a hard time figuring out why, but realized that it was his assignment on D that really helped Goose transition from D to offensive slash mode.

Continue to like our small ball lineup for periods when we go without center. Increase it a bit but also look fwd to Grace being back tho.

I like this as well, but thought that the team was also very good with 3 guards, Burton and Quinn (Bigelow out). The offense seemed to flow pretty well in this configuration.

Randolph has looked very very good out there. I questioned his decision to burn the shirt last year, but really think that decision kept him engaged and mentally prepared for this year, and paying off big time. He is shot ready, but also not forcing it and making good decisions with the ball.

Definitely a marked improvement - playing more controlled and not throwing up shots like he did at times last year.

I know it didn't all work out for him and not all will agree, but I love the way Quinn played. much more aggressive with the ball. not just looking to kick it out. some really good handling/passing. and he rebounded. keep grinding, big man.

were we too early to crown Bigelow? we played a ton with Burton as the 4. which works because we've got a lot of 2/3's earning time. everything about Randolph impresses every time out.

when Roche goes 2-5 from 3, it feels like he's off. lol. I really think he's going to have some ridiculous 7-8 type game soon.

the blocked 3 was a bad decision, but Dji was good in his brief run.

nice to see Nelson knocking down foul shots, though I wasn't really worried about his foul shooting. form looks good.

and I love that Mooney went back to Walz for a brief run. nothing showed in the stats but he looked much better. solid defense, screens, and some ball handling. I hope those couple minutes give him some extra confidence. and I hope we find him a couple minutes each night when Grace comes back.

Spiderman has lots of the points I was going to make. Quinn was definitely better in this game and Walz was also in his 2 minutes. Roche has some shots where I wish he took half a second more, but expect him to really light it up soon. Dji drew the short stick in this game, but Randolph and Goose's play were good reasons to hold him out. Glad Nelson hit most of his FTs. Last, I was pleasantly surprised at how the team looked with Bigelow on the bench with Burton playing the "4" as I also called out at the beginning of this post.

I think in some ways similar to how Blake was for us, we need someone at times that will look to shoot when no one else will, and Bigelow definitely answers that call. But if he can't start making shots at a little better clip then something may need to change.

Nice comparison here. I think the interesting part is that Mooney did take Bigelow out of the game, which is something he did not seem to do with Blake. Another growth area for CM?

If can sub in a coach for the last 5 minutes, could be something.

ROFL on this one. Surprised you didn't get lit up on this one Brownstone.

 

[urmite]

Oh yes. I think Grace starts at the 5 when he returns. Quinn has been playing better as of recent, but to me my starting 5 is Nelson, Roche, Burton, Bigelow, and Grace. Think this is our best starting 5 and blends together nicely guys with lots of experience in Mooney's system with the guys who have been making the most plays thus far.

And then bring in a whole new team, Quinn, Crab, Goose, Randolph, Dji...

 

[spiderman]

I would have to look up the stats to find his percentages but still feels like he has knocked down plenty of meaningful shots already

Isaiah Bigelow 2022-23 Game Log | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

2022-23 Game Log for Isaiah Bigelow

www.sports-reference.com

 

[CarolinaSpider]

it's early, but Bigelow's shooting percentage will be a concern if it doesn't improve. I like his defense and rebounding (last 2 games are an aberation I assume). I just meant a few days ago I was ready to lock him into 30+ mpg like Burton. I'm waivering on that. he's still a good player.

I do think Bigelow can affect a game without scoring much as also Goos, Randolph and Dji. If we get 6-12 points from them like Goos last night then that should place us in a winning position 80-90% of the time.

 

[spider23]

Agree, Bigs brings a ton of positives all over the court. Savvy, toughness, willingness and ability to defend and rebound. I still say our best version is heavy doses of Burton and Bigelow together.

 

[fan2011]

And then bring in a whole new team, Quinn, Crab, Goose, Randolph, Dji...

That team could probably go .500 in the A10 this year.

 

[MrTbone]

I’m still desperately trying to understand the value of the Flying Dutchman. I’ve only ever seen us fly past the shooter or worse, run into him, never have we blocked a shot this way.

Can we please remove this from our coaching repertoire.

 

[Eight Legger]

The Flying European Person defense isn’t really a strategy itself — it’s the result of implementing a strategy. Our objective is to overload defenders on the ball side, to make passing more difficult. But when that doesn’t work, the result sometimes is a wide-open three-point shooter, and then we have no choice but to fly out at that guy.

 

[MrTbone]

The Flying European Person defense isn’t really a strategy itself — it’s the result of implementing a strategy. Our objective is to overload defenders on the ball side, to make passing more difficult. But when that doesn’t work, the result sometimes is a wide-open three-point shooter, and then we have no choice but to fly out at that guy.

Well sure but I suspect a closeout where our guy keeps his feet and avoids flying past the shooter at least minimizes our foul potential while also increasing some chance of remaining in place to rebound or continue defending. But I’m a simple caveman lawyer…

 

[Eight Legger]

I think the problem is that because of the strategy, we’re usually not close to the shooter, so either we just avoid trying to disrupt the shot entirely or we have to sprint over to get there, and we can’t really put on the brakes because of the distance we’ve had to cover to get there. Not ideal, I agree.

 

[VT4700]

I can live with occasionally fouling a 3 point shooter if we keep holding teams to 27% from 3, which is 43rd in the country right now.

 

[urfan1]

but is 23% because of, or in spite of, the Flying Dutchman approach?

 

[MrTbone]

I can live with occasionally fouling a 3 point shooter if we keep holding teams to 27% from 3, which is 43rd in the country right now.

Perhaps, although it could just as easily be that we’d still keep opponents to 27% and give up fewer foul shots or second chance points.