Chemistry

[CarolinaSpider]

At Georgetown, without Nick or Gilyard, we all expected a beat down. But I think all Spidernation
would admit they witnessed a better game than expected. Then we get Wake and put a 3 turnover game with again a lot of assists leading to a win, with the same crew plus Gilyard not at 100%.

Am I the only one seeing some good chemistry that was not there earlier. What has led to this? A player led meeting, CM leadership, fan criticism, why? Whatever the reason there has been a difference the last two games where there has been more movement on offense, improved passing and more witnessed player enthusiasm and confidence.

Whatever the reason I have heard from several buddies that there is something different about this team. Who would think that Woj scoring 20 at Georgetown with a loss and none against Wake, we would get a win? JJ goes double figures two games in a row and the bench scored 19 yesterday. The rest of this OOC schedule will prove if we have developed some good chemistry leading into the A10. But there is something different and it seemed like it happened during the height of adversity.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

I have to admit the new players have shown me more than I expected in holding their own. Also pleasantly surprised by Cayo's major improvement. If the chemistry stays there I expect Mooney's team to finish the OOC at 4-1 at worst. Go Spiders!

 

[MolivaManiac]

Is it possible that we are capable of being a better defensive team without Sherod on the floor?

 

[Eight Legger]

This happens every year. TJ's senior year, we looked terrible in most of the OOC, lost to Oral Roberts, then suddenly "figured it out" enough to get to the NIT.

Last year we sucked OOC, then "figured it out" in time to look decent in the A10 tourney.

Here we are again this year. It's not this tough. We shouldn't have to re-learn how to tie our shoes every season with a coach who has been here this long.

 

[MrTbone]

Is it possible that we are capable of being a better defensive team without Sherod on the floor?

It seems not just possible but likely. Love Nick but he isn’t a defensive wunderkind.

 

[UR79&Peanuts]

This group of new players surrounded by our upperclassmen are playing with a different mentality now since Sherod went down, each using there strengths and playing with grit
We finally are having players pushing each other for minutes

 

[PASpider]

Is it possible Georgetown isn’t very good and Wake is having one of its worst seasons ever after also getting beat by St. Joe’s by 20? Yes, the team is doing better than I thought they would, but let’s not pretend that Sherod is all-A-10 caliber right now. Win a few more against decent teams and maybe they’ll start making a believer out of me.

 

[SpiderK]

It seems not just possible but likely. Love Nick but he isn’t a defensive wunderkind.

I don’t think we have any defensive wunderkind types. We have given up 83.3 points per game since Nick went down.

 

[fan2011]

This happens every year. TJ's senior year, we looked terrible in most of the OOC, lost to Oral Roberts, then suddenly "figured it out" enough to get to the NIT.

Last year we sucked OOC, then "figured it out" in time to look decent in the A10 tourney.

Here we are again this year. It's not this tough. We shouldn't have to re-learn how to tie our shoes every season with a coach who has been here this long.

If you look at the graph I posted on the correlation between experience and efficiency for Mooney's teams, it seem that they require a ton of experience to perform at a high level. This may be because of the systems he runs or the player he recruits, or some combination, but for whatever reason Mooney's teams take a long time (i.e. years) to become competitive. This seems to line up with your observations here, where the team takes a while to "figure it out" each season.

Unfortunately, Mooney's recruiting/roster management has prevented him from having many experienced teams.

 

[gospidersgo]

Is it possible that we are capable of being a better defensive team without Sherod on the floor?

So what you're saying is we're better without Khwan, Buck and Nick?

 

[MolivaManiac]

So what you're saying is we're better without Khwan, Buck and Nick?

How did I say that?

 

[gospidersgo]

That was a joke - adding on to the "we are better without Khwan and Buck" idea...

 

[spider23]

79, very excellent point. I have made this point for years, the depth doesn't just affect us in that we drop off in games, it impacts having competition in practice. Sherod and others have known forever that he just needs to show up breathing and he gets 30 minutes per game. Not healthy for competition and defensive accountability. One of the total mismanagement that Mooney performs year after year after year.

 

[SpiderRick]

Rookies were like a transfusion to the starting lineup, they bring new blood and life and are not subjects to the mooney beatdown. They no longer are too afraid of making a mistake because coach has to play them, and now can grow into their roles.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

This happens every year. TJ's senior year, we looked terrible in most of the OOC, lost to Oral Roberts, then suddenly "figured it out" enough to get to the NIT.

Last year we sucked OOC, then "figured it out" in time to look decent in the A10 tourney.

Here we are again this year. It's not this tough. We shouldn't have to re-learn how to tie our shoes every season with a coach who has been here this long.

Eight, but the difference this year is it took two injuries for us to immediately go in a different direction. Even though it is Coppin State, I will be encouraged if we play 3 games in a row at a higher level.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

05 is Verbinkys healthy and able to play yet?

 

[SpiderFan]

This happens every year. TJ's senior year, we looked terrible in most of the OOC, lost to Oral Roberts, then suddenly "figured it out" enough to get to the NIT.

Last year we sucked OOC, then "figured it out" in time to look decent in the A10 tourney.

Here we are again this year. It's not this tough. We shouldn't have to re-learn how to tie our shoes every season with a coach who has been here this long.

Uh I'm guessing you meant A10 conference season, because per usual we did terrible in the A10 tourney.

 

[spiderman]

we have one senior, a junior who just got here, and a ton of freshmen.
few teams outside of Duke & Kentucky can instantly gel with 5 new faces in their rotation.

Jacob's not 100% and Nick is out. I was worried this could spiral out of control quickly. supposedly this offense and defense is rocket science and takes a year or more to understand, but these kids don't have a year. they do miss a rotation sometimes, but overall they get it. some newcomers who looked shaky a couple weeks ago are now playing with confidence.

 

[Eight Legger]

Uh I'm guessing you meant A10 conference season, because per usual we did terrible in the A10 tourney.

I just meant that we "looked" good in the A10s especially against Bona, which was a very good team that we almost beat -- not that we actually won anything. You're right though, we pretty much always suck in the tourney.

 

[gcarter52]

Has anyone heard anything about Verbinsky.

 

[mr.spider]

This happens every year. TJ's senior year, we looked terrible in most of the OOC, lost to Oral Roberts, then suddenly "figured it out" enough to get to the NIT.

Last year we sucked OOC, then "figured it out" in time to look decent in the A10 tourney.

Here we are again this year. It's not this tough. We shouldn't have to re-learn how to tie our shoes every season with a coach who has been here this long.

You speak the truth, Eight. I am sick and tired of starting the season straight out awful, making slight improvements enough to save Mooney's job, but still sucking overall.

I see a sense of determination among the players, which is always great to see. Unfortunately, that will get them as far as playing with very bad Georgetown and Wake teams.

I also noticed the assistants seem suddenly more animated. Annoying that nothing is done until Mooney's job is on the line.

 

[I-M-UR]

How did I say that?

I think we are better in the long run. we need to develop some players and Mooney seemed to be unable to do so in the past with the 5 starters all playing the vast majority of the time (putting a player in for a minute here and there is not development). I hope Nick gets better and we see him in full force next year but for right now playing/developing the bench is more important than our 2018/19 win/loss success.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Think its just Freshman being thrown into the fire a bit more and working through the nerves. Fully expect to bomb some games and pleasantly surprise in others. I actually do think Woj, Gustavson, Sal, and Matt are a pretty good freshman class for us (Compared to the last 7/8 years) and none of them seem to be in the molds of other failed recruits. They are still pretty far behind on whatever defense we are currently running so its hard to pretend we are over any type of hump, but a solid performance vs some power schools back to back is encouraging. Have some easy games coming up to hopefully get them some more playing time to prep us for a very weak A10.

 

[spider23]

You speak the truth, Eight. I am sick and tired of starting the season straight out awful, making slight improvements enough to save Mooney's job, but still sucking overall.

I see a sense of determination among the players, which is always great to see. Unfortunately, that will get them as far as playing with very bad Georgetown and Wake teams.

I also noticed the assistants seem suddenly more animated. Annoying that nothing is done until Mooney's job is on the line.

mr. spider, the truther's come after me when I say this, but every day I am emboldened and it seems more true. Mooney going after JOC and making references to everyone against him. All of the sudden he and his assistants seem more lively and playing big man smack JOC around. Haha. Mooney is feeling the heat. Let's see if he can get another BIG win against Coppin. Boy he is really proving us wrong.

 

[SpiderK]

Has anyone heard anything about Verbinsky.

Haven’t heard a thing. He wasn’t at he game Saturday.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

If you look at the graph I posted on the correlation between experience and efficiency for Mooney's teams, it seem that they require a ton of experience to perform at a high level. This may be because of the systems he runs or the player he recruits, or some combination, but for whatever reason Mooney's teams take a long time (i.e. years) to become competitive. This seems to line up with your observations here, where the team takes a while to "figure it out" each season.

Unfortunately, Mooney's recruiting/roster management has prevented him from having many experienced teams.

Exactly this.

We have to relearn how to tie shoes every year because we have been inexperienced. That is attributable to Mooney for sure. I have hope that next year -- regardless of who the coach is -- we will have less of a ramp-up period presuming all key pieces stay at Richmond and remain healthy.

 

[SpiderGuy]

we have one senior, a junior who just got here, and a ton of freshmen.
few teams outside of Duke & Kentucky can instantly gel with 5 new faces in their rotation.

And that is a big part of the problem. The bigger is issue over the years - why? There are unpredictable occurrences as well as too many recruiting misses. We have seen this or similar scenarios too often.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Coppin State was good game for players to develop more confidence due to fact they would not get jerked out with first mistake. Two examples: Grace already had a couple of assists and makes a poor read on a pass right before TV timeout and CM greets him clapping his hands and nodding. Second case, Schneider turns ball over on offense and races back and blocks shot on defense.

Verbynkis looked totally out of sync when first on court, stumbling around but CM left him in. His movement got better, got 2-3 rebounds and made a nice 3 barely moving the net.

 

[gcarter52]

Haven’t heard a thing. He wasn’t at he game Saturday.

We got the answer on Wednesday....He played!!!!

 

[Ulla1]

Guys are pomped op at practice!