Welcome back Gilyard!

[MrTbone]

as good as Isaiah looks, he's a PG. we've run the 2 PG looks out there for so many years. yes, we handle great and it works offensively. but we're always so small at the 2 guard defensively. it's a problem. maybe being that small at the 2 guard is the biggest problem.

+1 to this. We have become accustomed to running two sub-6ft guys out there for a really, really long time now. Not surprisingly, our defense has been sub-standard during that timeframe. There's some truth to the "you can't coach height" thing.

We certainly need to run a bit more size out at 2G if we have the right player.

 

[97spiderfan]

The two smallish starting guards we have run has its assets but also greatly its limitations. I would love to see a guy with more length at the 2 guard (like Dji) get more minutes there.

Gilly's return is certainly going to impact Wilson and Nelson's minutes the most next year. Would love to see maybe low 30 minutes for Gilly, if we have other guys who can give us quality minutes at the point, which I think we will. We need to develop those guys and would rather have a 100% Gilly at 32 minutes than a 95% Gilly at 40 minutes.

 

[spiderman]

Gilly's return is certainly going to impact Wilson and Nelson's minutes the most next year. Would love to see maybe low 30 minutes for Gilly, if we have other guys who can give us quality minutes at the point, which I think we will. We need to develop those guys and would rather have a 100% Gilly at 32 minutes than a 95% Gilly at 40 minutes.

this board talks so much about limiting people's minutes! it's an obsession!

whoever is backing up Jacob isn't going to get a lot of work. he just isn't. we're playing to win and Jacob will be our best PG.

but one of these guys will win the job next to him. that's what they've got to grind for all offseason. to be that guy. and the next guard will have a substantial role as the backup 2 guard.

Mooney has shown he's not afraid of playing a 2nd PG, so Wilson and Nelson have a fair shot. but so do Dji, Goose, and the freshmen. heck, Kolek and Healey have a shot right now! should be a fun offseason.

 

[PASpider]

Since we are speculating as to the reasons Gilly is returning, here is my speculative list.

1. Covid destroyed his senior year, both basketball and his college experience. Think he might want to have one more go round at each with a more normal environment.
2. Gilly did not have his best year, particularly offensively. Honestly, think the NIT games might have relit his fire so to speak, as I saw a different Gilly in those games. Think he wants to prove to both himself and others the type of player he truly is.
3. He wants to go the NCAA.
4. He likes college and the UR experience.
5.. Obviously, Gilly loves the coaching staff and if he didn't he would not have returned and used this extra year elsewhere. Mooney has had fantastic player loyalty throughout his tenure and that is very much to his credit. This doesn't excuse our lack of success on the court, which is his primary job.

Again, speculation on my part. But I don't think the reason Gilly returned was because of his affinity for the coaching staff, that more would have been a reason for him to not return, if he wasn't that fond the coaching staff.

Or perhaps he also wants the steals record which should last forever since he gets five seasons to accumulate stats.

 

[Spider B]

I disagree Sman. The lack of depth over the years and playing starters too many minutes has contributed to Mooney's teams running out of gas down the stretch in certain games and at the end of the year. It is hard to play 38 min in a VCU game. Mooneys A10 tournament record is just as bad as his record against VCU. Play these guys! They have proven capable of playing in the A10.

 

[Spider2020]

With Dji, Crabtree, Goose, and Dread we've got several guys with some size that will be capable of playing the 2. Maybe Randolph falls under that list too, but I think he projects as more of a wing. I don't think we need to eliminate the 2 small guard lineup entirely, but it shouldn't be used for 35 minutes a game like we've grown accustomed to.

 

[Spider2020]

I disagree Sman. The lack of depth over the years and playing starters too many minutes has contributed to Mooney's teams running out of gas down the stretch in certain games and at the end of the year. It is hard to play 38 min in a VCU game. Mooneys A10 tournament record is just as bad as his record against VCU. Play these guys! They have proven capable of playing in the A10.

Plus, more guys getting minutes = everyone being able to go all out more often. I think the lack of bench minutes has really hurt us defensively at times because our guys know they can conserve energy there and not get pulled for a backup, as long as they're performing on offense

 

[spiderman]

I disagree Sman. The lack of depth over the years and playing starters too many minutes has contributed to Mooney's teams running out of gas down the stretch in certain games and at the end of the year. It is hard to play 38 min in a VCU game. Mooneys A10 tournament record is just as bad as his record against VCU. Play these guys! They have proven capable of playing in the A10.

I know. that's the popular opinion here. but there are plenty of successful teams where the best players are playing well over 30 mpg.

to me you can't use a blanket statement about how many minutes a starter should play. it's different for each player. Kevin Anderson played 36 mpg for 4 years. I can't remember if guys we asking for more minutes for his backup, but they shouldn't have been. Gilyard's in that category.

 

[MrTbone]

I know. that's the popular opinion here. but there are plenty of successful teams where the best players are playing well over 30 mpg.

to me you can't use a blanket statement about how many minutes a starter should play. it's different for each player. Kevin Anderson played 36 mpg for 4 years. I can't remember if guys we asking for more minutes for his backup, but they shouldn't have been. Gilyard's in that category.

I generally agree although I believe we play at a much faster pace now than we did during the KA years. I also think the man defense likely requires more effort than the old switching man.

Not sure those are substantial enough but might be noteworthy to support a bit more substitution time? Pure speculation.

 

[spiderman]

if a guy needs a blow, by all means give him a blow. my issue is arbitrarily saying a guy can effectively play 32 but not 34 or 36.
Jacob didn't look tired in the NIT.

 

[KE Spider]

If our goal is to build a program of sustained success, then need to ladder recruits by position and provide playing time for younger players. To drop 35+ minutes on any player regularly seems like playing for one season rather than developing a winning program.

 

[spider23]

Spiderdad, hope you are right, of course I was completely forgetting about Goose. Goose is a senior, he will play 20 minutes a game. Gilly will get 35+ minutes a game. Mooney does not play long, tall guards. Hope I am wrong for your sake, and hope Dji gets big minutes next year, he has a lot of potential.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

If our goal is to build a program of sustained success

Let me stop you right there.

 

[SpiderK]

Maybe the starters can play a little defense if they have a decent backup. Did anyone foul out this year other than Grace and Sal?

 

[spider23]

Maybe the starters can play a little defense if they have a decent backup. Did anyone foul out this year other than Grace and Sal?

Agree with this 100 per cent. I want to see guys playing so hard on defense that they have to come out for a break. Watch some tape of Houston and Baylor. Offense has 0 comfort level against them.

 

[97spiderfan]

The problem I have with Mooney and his minute distribution is that Jacob is gonna get all the minutes he wants regardless of performance. There were plenty of games this year where Gilly was having an off night but it is NEVER a consideration to sit him.

And as we saw in the NIT, the young guys can play (and we will have yet another option in Nelson coming in). When you play different line-ups, you can get a spark, particularly if one of your starters is having an off night or is in a slump. You also give teams different looks with different personnel and again this is helpful when to bust runs or when we are in slump.

There were also games where Jacob was worn down at the end of the game and didn't execute plays he normally does because he played so many minutes. Yeah, if he is playing like he did in the NIT, play him all of the minutes, if he played like he did in many games this year, than perhaps the wiser course of action is to give him a blow and see what one of the younger guys can bring to the game.

OR we can continue to do it Mooney's way, which has work so splendidly with our walls of NCAA banners for the past decade.

 

[spider23]

OR we can continue to do it Mooney's way, which has work so splendidly with our walls of NCAA banners for the past decade.

YES. Yes it has. I am shocked our old friend DB still acknowledges we have hoops:

 

[spiderman]

Agree with this 100 per cent. I want to see guys playing so hard on defense that they have to come out for a break. Watch some tape of Houston and Baylor. Offense has 0 comfort level against them.

Houston played 8 guys (one of them just 7 minutes). 4 starters played 38, 36, 35 and 34 minutes.

some guys can play hard for 35 minutes twice a week.

 

[Spider B]

Yes, conference opponents continue to laugh at us and we continue to extend the coach and celebrate NIT quarterfinal appearances. That is Richmond Basketball unfortunately. The program could be so much more with the right leadership.

 

[97spiderfan]

Houston played 8 guys (one of them just 7 minutes). 4 starters played 38, 36, 35 and 34 minutes.

some guys can play hard for 35 minutes twice a week.

Houston is 28-3 was a 2 seed and is now in the Final Four. We went 14-9 finished 8th in our conference went to the NIT. Playing 8 guys major minutes worked for Houston. I would argue based on our results, it did not work for us.

 

[spiderman]

yes, Houston was better than us this year. that wasn't the point. just saying some guys can play a lot of minutes. like Jacob.

 

[8legs1dream]

Houston played 8 guys (one of them just 7 minutes). 4 starters played 38, 36, 35 and 34 minutes.

some guys can play hard for 35 minutes twice a week.

Houston has the doggs to do it. We do not.

 

[97spiderfan]

Houston has the doggs to do it. We do not.

Indeed. Also a delight seeing them crash the offensive glass so effectively and yet also not give up a bunch of fast break points. In Mooney world, those two things can not co-exist.

 

[SpiderGuy]

Indeed. Also a delight seeing them crash the offensive glass so effectively and yet also not give up a bunch of fast break points. In Mooney world, those two things can not co-exist.

So very accurate, and it will unfortunately never change in Mooney World. Another point of envy to see this type of basketball & the results realized.

 

[8legs1dream]

Indeed. Also a delight seeing them crash the offensive glass so effectively and yet also not give up a bunch of fast break points. In Mooney world, those two things can not co-exist.

Watching some of these tournament teams play and seeing how they dominate the boards it's almost unreal how good they are at that. Like they are playing a different sport or by a different set of rules than us

 

[97spiderfan]

Just the intensity they play with amazes me. Maybe I got numb to the "fluidity" of the way we play.

 

[SpiderK]

Watching some of these tournament teams play and seeing how they dominate the boards it's almost unreal how good they are at that. Like they are playing a different sport or by a different set of rules than us

We just haven’t seen a guy not shoot and run in 16 years. Sometimes the rebound hits our guys in the back.

 

[spiderman]

we did have 9 offensive boards against MSU and 10 against Toledo. and played defense with intensity. we did a lot of things well in the NIT.

 

[97spiderfan]

we did have 9 offensive boards against MSU and 10 against Toledo. and played defense with intensity. we did a lot of things well in the NIT.

We did indeed which makes the last month of the season and the A-10 tournament all the more puzzling because we did not play with same intensity in those games.

 

[Eight Legger]

A little known side effect of covid is long-hauler decreasedreboundingitis.

 

[AnnapSpider]

A little known side effect of covid is long-hauler decreasedreboundingitis.

That’s sick- but funny! LOL

 

[bullfrog91]

Houston has the doggs to do it. We do not.

Houston was aggressive! Those guys are ballers, hungry, and well conditioned!!!!

 

[SpiderAlways]

we did have 9 offensive boards against MSU and 10 against Toledo. and played defense with intensity. we did a lot of things well in the NIT.

1-1. About Mooney’s lifetime record. Playing well boys!

 

[urfan1]

yes, Houston was better than us this year. that wasn't the point. just saying some guys can play a lot of minutes. like Jacob.

can they play at 100% or even 90% on every play? I doubt there are many that can truly do that.

 

[SpiderK]

A little known side effect of covid is long-hauler decreasedreboundingitis.

I have heard of that. Symptoms of that disease are being yelled at by your coach or putting your hands above your head. The cure is putting glue on the bottom of your sneakers and turning your back to the basket.

 

[Eight Legger]

Our team was enrolled in a 4-month study to better understand the impact of this condition and how it might be cured. Researchers are giving them an experimental drug called Queallitor that is horribly overpriced and has proven largely ineffective in other clinical trials, but they're hoping to find some condition that it can actually improve.

 

[97spiderfan]

can they play at 100% or even 90% on every play? I doubt there are many that can truly do that.

Agreed. I fail to see how a player can give 100% for 40 minutes when going against teams with deeper benches who throw fresh guys at you a lot. There is just no way you can match that intensity level all game.

We've got Wilson and while I haven't seen Nelson yet (I believe him to be a player as well). Let those two get some minutes, play Jake 30-32 minutes a game and allow Gilly to go 100% every play.

 

[SpiderRick]

SpiderRick did you eat Tide Pods when you were little? Of course one of the reason is the coach. The players love the coach and have tremendous respect for him. That is why none of the starters either left or transferred last year and that is why some may return this year.

Dude they didn't have Tide Pods when I was little. Now, I was known for eating the lead out of a lot of pencils. Do you think that could have affected my judgment?

 

[urmite]

Dude they didn't have Tide Pods when I was little. Now, I was known for eating the lead out of a lot of pencils. Do you think that could have affected my judgment?

I found mine on peeling paint...

 

[SpiderK]

Dude they didn't have Tide Pods when I was little. Now, I was known for eating the lead out of a lot of pencils. Do you think that could have affected my judgment?

No way that affected you. I ate the same pencil and paint lead you did and I am perfect. 😊