The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I've been meaning to do this since Saturday, but I've been too busy playing in the snow with the kids!

3 observations
1) BJ Stith might be finding his sea legs. It had been 2 1/2 years since he last played meaningful basketball, and it has shown. He looked like the player many expected on this road trip. I'm not sure we can count on 20 per game from him, but if we can count on him for 12-14 ppg, that will go a long way.

2) Zoran Talley and Ahmad Caver also had great road trips. The two of them might be our best offensive players. If they can figure out when to take over and when to involve their teammates, it will go a long way to a more efficient offense. I do hope Caver doesn't fall in love with shooting the ball from deep, as his best skill still is his ability to drive and put pressure on the defense.

3) Pushing Marshall to OT without Brandan, and then bouncing back to beat WKU on the road shows that this team is not going to let tough circumstances beat them. WKU is not, by any stretch, a good team, but it's hard to win on the road in college basketball, and teams with the tradition of WKU take pride in defending the home court. It says a lot about the guys that they went in there, were down quite a bit in the 2nd half, but stuck to the game plan and pulled one out.

Two Questions

1) How will Brandan's injury affect our game plans? He was obviously our best post threat, so do we see more of Kah (a stretch 4), will we see more offense running through Porter, or will we play more small ball with Talley at the 4? Maybe a combination of all those things?

2) We were obviously focused and ready to go for two games on a tough road trip. With classes starting, friends back in Norfolk, and a bad USM team coming to town, will the Monarchs be focused and ready to go or will they come out flat?

1 Prediction

1) With the next two games being the only ones at home until February, I expect the guys will be ready to go on Thursday night and we win by 15.

I think Porter is our best option as a post up big man. Not that he's good at it, but he's more skilled than Brandan. Agree with your other thoughts though.

Last year USM caught us asleep. Not this time.

And Louisiana Tech is our *****. 2-0 this week.

Looking forward to the home games. Will catch USM Thursday but have to miss the Saturday LT game. Me and the home schedule are not getting along this year.

(01-10-2017 02:18 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I think Porter is our best option as a post up big man. Not that he's good at it, but he's more skilled than Brandan. Agree with your other thoughts though.

I disagree that Porter is more skilled at this point. I've seen Brandan go into beast mode when he has some room to maneuver. Something he hasn't had in a while due to packed in zones. If we can continue hitting outside shots when he returns things should open up inside for him. Porter has potential but needs to work on his back-to-the-basket moves and develop more touch. He seems mechanical and thinking through his moves. If he can start making moves instinctively he will be much better. As far as who will get Brandan's minutes, I think it will continue to be revolving door effort with even Kah and Vassor seeing significant minutes.

(01-10-2017 09:07 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  

(01-10-2017 02:18 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I think Porter is our best option as a post up big man. Not that he's good at it, but he's more skilled than Brandan. Agree with your other thoughts though.

I disagree that Porter is more skilled at this point. I've seen Brandan go into beast mode when he has some room to maneuver. Something he hasn't had in a while due to packed in zones. If we can continue hitting outside shots when he returns things should open up inside for him. Porter has potential but needs to work on his back-to-the-basket moves and develop more touch. He seems mechanical and thinking through his moves. If he can start making moves instinctively he will be much better. As far as who will get Brandan's minutes, I think it will continue to be revolving door effort with even Kah and Vassor seeing significant minutes.

Brandan is more athletic, but I don't believe he has very good footwork or post moves. Porter has some post moves, he's just mechanical and slow (and lacks strength).

Porter has a nice little jump hook, and if he can perfect it, it will be tough to stop.

Porter reminds me of a less polished Gerald Lee. Lee did not have great athleticism, but his moves were damned near perfected.

(01-11-2017 12:45 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  Porter reminds me of a less polished Gerald Lee. Lee did not have great athleticism, but his moves were damned near perfected.

Yeah, man Lee had the moves in the paint.

(01-11-2017 01:05 PM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 12:45 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  Porter reminds me of a less polished Gerald Lee. Lee did not have great athleticism, but his moves were damned near perfected.

Yeah, man Lee had the moves in the paint.

How great were the Gerald Lee/Larry Sanders games? Drove ole crazy Larry, well, crazy.

Speaking of Sanders, I wonder what is going on in his head when he saw Kent sign for 4 yrs/$70m last year not to mention all the other contracts of mid-level players around the league. He could not have estimated how much money he walked away from when he decided to retire early. With his length and athleticism, I bet he would have been worth double that amount.

(01-11-2017 04:21 PM)FearTheLion Wrote:  Speaking of Sanders, I wonder what is going on in his head when he saw Kent sign for 4 yrs/$70m last year not to mention all the other contracts of mid-level players around the league. He could not have estimated how much money he walked away from when he decided to retire early. With his length and athleticism, I bet he would have been worth double that amount.

Just another product of a VCU education.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/larry-sande...57576.html

I actually have a lot of respect for him and his decision.

Yeah after violating nba drug policies and getting into bar fights it is a good idea to get your music and art stable before returning to the nba. I like music too.

(01-11-2017 04:50 PM)odu83alumni Wrote:  Yeah after violating nba drug policies and getting into bar fights it is a good idea to get your music and art stable before returning to the nba. I like music too.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/12354...depression

Man, Gilesfan, I'm not sure what to say. That is some story. Life is not easy, that's for sure.

There's two minutes of my life I'll never get back!

I'd better go back to the Congrats JMU thread. It's way more uplifting