(02-09-2017 07:48 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  JMU just wasn't built to play against teams like this. Too slow, awkward and not enough ball handlers or shooters.

I've not piled on this team, but out of curiosity, a team that is slow, awkward and can't dribble or shoot was built to play teams like whom?

(02-10-2017 12:06 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(02-09-2017 07:48 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  JMU just wasn't built to play against teams like this. Too slow, awkward and not enough ball handlers or shooters.

I've not piled on this team, but out of curiosity, a team that is slow, awkward and can't dribble or shoot was built to play teams like whom?

Most teams JMU plays (in conference or out) have 1 or 2 guys that are difficult match ups- guys that are a step quicker, more explosive, can get past you in a flash and/or get their jump shot off with very little space. UNCW has 5-7 of these guys so they are very difficult for the Dukes to defend. JMU uses a lot of help defense to mask some of the lack of lateral quickness on defense and you can balance doing that when another team has 1 or 2 guys but when they have 5 and 2 off the bench it's very challenging.

The UNCW big is quick on defense as well- he overmatched Satkius early and even impacted him when he didn't block his shot. Even though Paulius got some shots in the 2nd half that's a very tough match up for him. Dalembert if he is on his game and playing would have made a difference there but UNCW is very good. They literally have 5 guys who can hit from 3 and all of them can drive to the basket and defend as well.

Hopefully we get there in terms of talent/athleticism over the next couple of years.

(02-09-2017 09:01 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(02-09-2017 08:57 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  Some of these guys definitely looked like they deserve more minutes. Johnson can handle the ball and Cabarkapa can get hot.

Absolutely. I'd much rather see Cabarkapa than Vodanovich right now. Hopefully tonight's performance will give him some confidence that can be parlayed into more minutes and better performance down the stretch. Would be a great pump of adrenaline for the team...especially considering we are down 2 bigs.

Good to see Serb take and make some 3s. In fairness his ineptitude has not been due to a lack of opportunity. Even in the first half he lacked the confidence to take a 3 with the clock winding down. I doubt it's Rowe discouraging him from shooting. Lou has said that as a former player he wants to foster more freedom on offense I just don't think they are comfortable or confident enough to take the shots. Many teams know that JMU doesn't have a good handle so they press the Dukes outside the 3 point line so that they don't have much space to take 3s.

Good things can come out of blow out losses. Guys can eventually play more loose and start to take more shots in the flow of the game. If this loss helps to get Dimitri going or even gave Holmes or Johnson a little more confidence that's a potential positive for the next games when the Dukes play teams that aren't as good as UNCW or as talented as them on defense.

I agree that Holmes and Johnson still look like projects, that Snowden inexplicable doesn't take shots as a 4th year Junior, and I'm not sure how much we can rely on Serb. I think what Lou was suggesting in the post game is that the other areas of his game are very spotty. It's essentially what Brady said about him the last 2 years as well when asked why he didn't play more. Serb is good in small doses but at least when he's in there he should have the confidence to take 3s because if used sparingly he can make a difference in a Win or Loss based on his ability to hit 3s.