WVU: Player grades

[97spiderfan]

We played hard, we played tough. A fair amount of positives to take away from this game. I don't think anyone would have predicted we would have outrebounded WVU and the defense was improved. We lost because we couldn't shoot, FT's or 3 pointers. Some player grades and observations.

A: Terry Allen: Another really fantastic all around performance from him. Fills up the stat sheet and carries this team when he needs to.
A: SDJ: Just a tough, gritty, performance. He had to play major minutes against constant and very physical pressure, he had 2 turnovers all game.

B: Marshall Wood: Bad shooting night again, but if your shots aren't falling, impact the game in other ways. He did this by scoring in transition and offensive rebounding inside.

C: Trey Davis: Handled the ball well against the WVU's pressure. But he is a senior and he airballed another FT and hit all backboard on one of his 3 pointers.
C: Khwan: Only credited with 1 turnover, I thought I counted a few more. He was shaky handiling the ball, which obviously is an issue for a PG.

D: TJ: Fouled out with about 5 minutes left. Some of the fouls were questionable, but has to be play smarter than that. Only scored 5 points, all in the first half, I believe.

F: Deion Taylor: I detailed his critical defensive lapses in crunch time and missed runner from 4 feet in the other thread. Those were back breaking plays. We lost for many reasons, but good lord.

Inc: Jesse: Got a quick cup of coffee as Mooney went with basically a 7 man rotation.

C+: Mooney. Not sure how you expect your guys to stay fresh against WVU's constant pressure, when you run a 7 man rotation. Also, looks like he could have taken a nap on the bench at times. Can he show a little enthusiasm? However, he put us in a position to win. We couldn't hit our FT's and that is what cost us. Coaches don't miss FT's players do.

 

[mojo-spider]

hated to lose, but don't feel as bad about this one as some others in recent years against high caliber competition...

most impressed with the fight and toughness we showed, as well as the ability to handle WVA's frenzied physical defensive style w/o KA...

the FTs and 3 pt shooting will be better in most games...WVA may turn out to be as good as most of the best teams in the A-10...we are right there with them...

hope we have enough left to get the split tomorrow...

Go Spiders!

 

[32counter]

A few takeaways from Vegas:

18-46 FG

2-15 3's

21-35 FT's

Cline:5 pts-3TO's-5 PF

The refs called a tight game which was to our benefit.

We had our opportunities to win but couldn't get it under 2.

CM's demeanor was reserved.Huggins is a blowhart.

We play tough against kids that couldn't get near our Admissions Dept.

 

[Spideroldie]

I'm not sure that giving out individual grades for this game will add value. My ratings on this game come down to three categories, all "team" related. These are effort, execution, and skills.

First, "A" for effort: I thought we gave a great effort, and so I give us an "A" in the category that matters most. I saw some real grit, moxie, and "desire to win" in this team. I saw no signs of backing down or giving up. These effort factors tell me a lot about the character of this team, and I was impressed by our high-level effort. To me, this is by far the most important category. A lazy team, that does not play hard, is hard to support. A team that plays as hard as this one did, tonight, gets my full support!

Second, "B" for execution: I thought we did some execution things very well, like handling the press, rebounding, and getting some open looks. We also did some things, execution-wise, that hurt, like free-throw shooting, finishing on some lay-ups, and hitting our 3-point shots. With the effort we gave, if we had executed, in all of these areas, we win this game. Overall, I would give tonight's team a "B" in execution. Close to enough to win, but not quite.

Third, "B to C" for relative skills: What we showed tonight is that if we come out and give a great effort, and if we execute as well as we can, we can beat just about any team. However, West Virginia has a lot of very physically talented players, and the team is stronger, bigger and deeper than our roster. They have a player or two who may be playing in the NBA in a year or two. And, yes, the majority of their players would very likely not be admitted to UR. Most of the teams that make the NCAA tournament will likely have more "basketball skills" than UR, but we have a chance to beat anyone if we earn "A:" grades in the other two categories above. On one specific skill, FT shooting, we did rate an "F" in this one.However, I think it is pointless to criticize "skills" in a player or on a team, since they are very hard to change, and can often be overcome with effort and execution. .

 

[SpiderHoops32]

C+: Mooney. Not sure how you expect your guys to stay fresh against WVU's constant pressure, when you run a 7 man rotation.

Spot on, was saying that the whole game. Our guys are going to be gassed tomorrow. Freshmen will need to step up, if they even play.

 

[Eight Legger]

This was an incredibly frustrating game to watch. Admittedly, we could have lost by 15 or more, but we easily could have won. And to lose by watching this same, tired story unfold again is maddening. This los is squarely on Mooney as far as I am concerned. We all know who Taylor and Davis are as players. It surprises no one to see them airball 4 free throws and combine to miss 10 or whatever it was. Mooney has failed to improve them from the line after a collective 9 years in the program and has failed to learn how to minimize their deficiencies. He's also failed to recruit guys who could play their minutes when it matters, or he refuses to play them if he does have them. We simply cannot continue to do the same things game in and game out and expect different results. I give Mooney an F today. He cost us the game. Do better, coach.

 

[SpiderHoops32]

F: Deion Taylor: I detailed his critical defensive lapses in crunch time and missed runner from 4 feet in the other thread. Those were back breaking plays. We lost for many reasons, but good lord.

Is this guy even a D1 level player anymore?? Need to start Marshall Wood tomorrow.

 

[PASpider]

Khwan did nothing other than look like he was playing in panic most of the night. How does that earn a C? Can't give someone a B when they shoot 4-13 and miss all 5 of their 3s which we desperately needed.

 

[fan2011]

C+: Mooney. Not sure how you expect your guys to stay fresh against WVU's constant pressure, when you run a 7 man rotation. Also, looks like he could have taken a nap on the bench at times. Can he show a little enthusiasm? However, he put us in a position to win. We couldn't hit our FT's and that is what cost us. Coaches don't miss FT's players do.

Mooney didn't put the freshman in for long because they are easy prey for turnovers. We did well in the turnover battle, only turning it over 14 times against WVU. I think many of our turnovers, especially the live ball ones, were freshmen mistakes. That was the impression I got when watching live, I could be mistaken.

My player grades:

Terry Allen is a damn good basketball player, I am waiting for a team to actually stop him. So far he seems to be the only one who can stop himself (through foul trouble).

SDJ is playing very well and very tough, he is making some crazy shots through an enormous amount of contact. After seeing him break the press tonight I do not fear seeing any other pressing team this year.

Everyone else: we need to shoot better and make free throws, but the defense looked a lot better. How did we rebound so well! We can be a really good team when we put it all together (playing good defense and offense.) I hope we figure it out sooner rather than later!

 

[64Spider]

Every game on our schedule is going to be a dogfight. We need fresh legs now and it becomes critical towards the end of the season. CM needs to lengthen his bench and do it now. Not sure our freshmen could hurt us much more than DT in terms of losing your man on D or turning the ball over or missing free throws. They need game experience even if only a few minutes at a time to give our first 6 players a breather.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

WV scored a majority of everything in paint and again look at adjustments CM did like against WF. We cut to 2 with under 3 minutes and with a second on shot clock WV throws up off balance 3 that rattles in. Miss we come down and score, could have been different. Woods had strep throat during week and was not himself. I am sorry DT, TD and TJ based on experience should be better foul shooters. Either shoot too flat or have a hitch in their motion.

 

[SpiderFan26]

Deion is not a D1 basketball player at this point. Terry does all he can and is a pleasure to watch. Just wish for his sake we had more help for him

 

[SpiderGuy]

Just my guess, but I'll bet CM starts DT the entire season. I hope I'm wrong. I remember last year when all the talk was of him being a "defensive specialist". I didn't see it last year & certainly not seeing it this year. I just don't get the foul shooting. I haven't checked stats, but his foul shooting looks worse this year than last - bad form, no confidence, etc. I wish him the best, but we need the best players on the floor...especially when foul shots are for the bonus.