Three observations
1) To the surprise of everyone, including the ODU coaches, Rice played almost exclusively man-to-man defense against the Monarchs. This allowed the Monarchs to attack the basket (only 9 attempts from beyond the arc). One would have to guess the Rice coaches trust their guys to defend from a zone. They aren't a good defensive team to begin with, and in Division 1 basketball, even bad offensive teams can score at will against bad zone defenses. Additionally, Rice is a team that likes to get up and down the court, sitting in a zone defense would have allowed the Monarchs to control the pace even more.
2) The Monarchs will be a much better team if BJ Stith and Zoran Talley each find ways to chip in. If they combine for 30 ppg, the Monarchs will be tough to beat. But, even if they get to 20-25 combined, it will put the Monarchs in a really good position to win games.
3) I maintain that BJ Stith is a much better shooter off the bounce. He had one "catch-and-shoot" three yesterday, but most of his other shots, including his jumpers, came off at least one dribble. Maybe it's mechanical, maybe it's just psychological, but if film study shows this to be true, I'd hope the coaches would recognize it and put him in position that allows him to put it on the floor before firing away. He hasn't played competitive basketball since March of 2014, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he has struggled at times to find his role on this team.
Two questions
1) The Monarchs responded well to a bad loss against W&M, but now, how will they handle success. A bad North Texas team comes to town, with a road trip to Marshall and WKU on the horizon, will the Monarchs maintain focus on the game at hand?
2) Did we see an aberration or is BJ Stith figuring it out? Observation #3 discusses this. We don't need 18 per game from BJ, but he is absolutely key to the Monarchs success on the offensive end this year.
One prediction
1) The Monarchs will be focused and will take care of business on Monday evening. North Texas is just not a good team. These are the type of games that the Monarchs simply have to control from the tip, if they want to prove they are contenders in this league.
I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Good observations ODU Coach. My friend and I talked about Caver's play on the way home last night. He did a great job on Evans. Last year at the Ted we made Evans look like an NBA lottery pick but yesterday he looked very average. I also liked Talley running the two a few minutes when they gave Baker a rest. Talley and Stith together can be a good 1-2 punch.
(01-01-2017 04:57 PM)JJMonarch Wrote: [ -> ]Good observations ODU Coach. My friend and I talked about Caver's play on the way home last night. He did a great job on Evans. Last year at the Ted we made Evans look like an NBA lottery pick but yesterday he looked very average. I also liked Talley running the two a few minutes when they gave Baker a rest. Talley and Stith together can be a good 1-2 punch.
Agreed. I am going to stand by comment in the other thread, labeling Caver as our best defender. This should allow for BJ and Talley to be in the lineup together. The most difficult part of JJ's year has been figuring out rotations. Yesterday, may have been an eye opener for him.
(01-01-2017 05:05 PM)757ODU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 04:57 PM)JJMonarch Wrote: [ -> ]Good observations ODU Coach. My friend and I talked about Caver's play on the way home last night. He did a great job on Evans. Last year at the Ted we made Evans look like an NBA lottery pick but yesterday he looked very average. I also liked Talley running the two a few minutes when they gave Baker a rest. Talley and Stith together can be a good 1-2 punch.
Agreed. I am going to stand by comment in the other thread, labeling Caver as our best defender. This should allow for BJ and Talley to be in the lineup together. The most difficult part of JJ's year has been figuring out rotations. Yesterday, may have been an eye opener for him.
And I'll chirp in with my same superficial reply in the other thread: Taylor's job of containing a very fast and versatile Kourechov was almost (and perhaps just) as notable.
I give the slight nod to Caver, because he is expected to do much more than defend. But then again Taylor was also a big contributor on offense yesterday, and not just on rebounds.
(01-01-2017 04:01 PM)ODUCoach Wrote: [ -> ]I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Very good defense, but Caver has to make more shots and learn how to make clutch FTs. 25% FG and 50% FT is unacceptable. If he can shoot 33% and 70%, then we have a real good point guard.
...and please learn how to run a fast break.
(01-01-2017 08:12 PM)CalODUFan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 04:01 PM)ODUCoach Wrote: [ -> ]I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Very good defense, but Caver has to make more shots and learn how to make clutch FTs. 25% FG and 50% FT is unacceptable. If he can shoot 33% and 70%, then we have a real good point guard.
I could live with his offensive game (minus the fast break issue, which I blame the coaches for) if we were not anemic offensively. He can knock down an open three if nobody guards him and he handles the ball well. The problem is that we need more offense from every position, and his shooting woes are glaring when he has to be a scorer.
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(01-01-2017 08:24 PM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 08:12 PM)CalODUFan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 04:01 PM)ODUCoach Wrote: [ -> ]I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Very good defense, but Caver has to make more shots and learn how to make clutch FTs. 25% FG and 50% FT is unacceptable. If he can shoot 33% and 70%, then we have a real good point guard.
I could live with his offensive game (minus the fast break issue, which I blame the coaches for) if we were not anemic offensively. He can knock down an open three if nobody guards him and he handles the ball well. The problem is that we need more offense from every position, and his shooting woes are glaring when he has to be a scorer.
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He has to finish at the rim. He has missed a lot of layups this year. In no way am I saying Ahmad is better than Trey. I know some of you will jump at this.
As far as defense goes, Ahmad is so much better defensively than Trey was. We have upgraded defensively at that position and we are talking about a sophomore. Trey was an elite scorer and Ahmad is an elite defender.
(01-01-2017 08:29 PM)757ODU Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 08:24 PM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 08:12 PM)CalODUFan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 04:01 PM)ODUCoach Wrote: [ -> ]I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Very good defense, but Caver has to make more shots and learn how to make clutch FTs. 25% FG and 50% FT is unacceptable. If he can shoot 33% and 70%, then we have a real good point guard.
I could live with his offensive game (minus the fast break issue, which I blame the coaches for) if we were not anemic offensively. He can knock down an open three if nobody guards him and he handles the ball well. The problem is that we need more offense from every position, and his shooting woes are glaring when he has to be a scorer.
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He has to finish at the rim. He has missed a lot of layups this year. In no way am I saying Ahmad is better than Trey. I know some of you will jump at this.
As far as defense goes, Ahmad is so much better defensively than Trey was. We have upgraded defensively at that position and we are talking about a sophomore. Trey was an elite scorer and Ahmad is an elite defender.
Caver is a good defender. He is not an elite defender. Does he have the potential to be an elite defender? Yes.
Playing Evans at PG has also taking some of his scoring away, it wasn't all Caver. I think Caver well be good, but he has his moments when you see the coach giving him the look. Kind of like JB going for all the steals the other night, missing and his man getting behind him.
(01-01-2017 10:01 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote: [ -> ]Playing Evans at PG has also taking some of his scoring away, it wasn't all Caver. I think Caver well be good, but he has his moments when you see the coach giving him the look. Kind of like JB going for all the steals the other night, missing and his man getting behind him.
Evans is still learning the PG position but I think we are really trying to evolve him into a role where he's not necessarily the #1 scoring option. He's also been in a bit of a scoring slump the last few games. But we definitely expected solid defense from ODU and we certainly got that.
As a fan, I'm already looking forward to round two in Houston and very possibly round three in Birmingham.
(01-01-2017 08:24 PM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 08:12 PM)CalODUFan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 04:01 PM)ODUCoach Wrote: [ -> ]I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Very good defense, but Caver has to make more shots and learn how to make clutch FTs. 25% FG and 50% FT is unacceptable. If he can shoot 33% and 70%, then we have a real good point guard.
I could live with his offensive game (minus the fast break issue, which I blame the coaches for) if we were not anemic offensively. He can knock down an open three if nobody guards him and he handles the ball well. The problem is that we need more offense from every position, and his shooting woes are glaring when he has to be a scorer.
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I agree we need more offense at every position and especially Caver since it appears he will handle the ball a lot down the stretch of games. One thing I believe would help him would be for Jones to rest him a little more. Fields seems to be capable of handling the point and if jones would just give him about 10 minutes a game I believe Caver would be much fresher at the end. Of course I have no proof of that but Caver's mechanics look good and he appears to be in great shape. But he has a lot on him trying to run the offense and lock down a guy like Evans. Just a thought.
(01-01-2017 11:07 PM)JJMonarch Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 08:24 PM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 08:12 PM)CalODUFan Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2017 04:01 PM)ODUCoach Wrote: [ -> ]I probably needed to include this, and someone mentioned it in the other thread, but Caver outplayed Evans yesterday. Evans hit one deep three with Caver in his face at the end of the shot clock that he probably only makes 1/5 times, and he hit one that he threw up in desperation that banked in (he probably makes that 1/20 times). Those shots accounted for half of his points. Caver did a tremendous job preventing Evans from getting hot, even in the 2nd half, when Rhoades made the adjustment coming out of the locker room and tried to get Evans in pick and roll situations.
Very good defense, but Caver has to make more shots and learn how to make clutch FTs. 25% FG and 50% FT is unacceptable. If he can shoot 33% and 70%, then we have a real good point guard.
I could live with his offensive game (minus the fast break issue, which I blame the coaches for) if we were not anemic offensively. He can knock down an open three if nobody guards him and he handles the ball well. The problem is that we need more offense from every position, and his shooting woes are glaring when he has to be a scorer.
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I agree we need more offense at every position and especially Caver since it appears he will handle the ball a lot down the stretch of games. One thing I believe would help him would be for Jones to rest him a little more. Fields seems to be capable of handling the point and if jones would just give him about 10 minutes a game I believe Caver would be much fresher at the end. Of course I have no proof of that but Caver's mechanics look good and he appears to be in great shape. But he has a lot on him trying to run the offense and lock down a guy like Evans. Just a thought.
AMEN
BJ's sweet spot is from 12-15', so yes he needs to shoot off the dribble. However, he has yet to learn to find the gaps in zone defenses or where help is coming in M-T-M defenses. It's likely that his size and athletic ability allowed him to get his shots whenever he wanted in HS and now is still adjusting to D-1 competition (he still doesn't see much zone in practice...didn't at UVa either). He looked confortable and confident Saturday, but he has put successive positive games this season...after 10 pts vs UR, 2-8 FG; after 15 pts vs Towson, 0-4 FG; after 17 pts vs VCU, 1-6 FG. ODU desparately needs someone to provide consistent, reliable offense so Baker can quietly snipe and our bigs aren't continuously surrounded.
I watch Caver closely each game...his D and ball-handling keep him in the game. Offensively, his shot is flat (FTs too) and the rims at the Ted are unforgiving...I keep hoping to see some modifications there. Caver also takes most of the tough, end of shot-clock shots for ODU- by design; not that he makes a good pct of them, he doesn't, but he can get his shot off against any defender and draw iron...Baker, BJ and even Talley don't fare as well (add Fields). However, I believe Caver shoots to often for ODU and he also takes too many needlessly tough shots when Ds are packed inside with kamikaze drives or early 3s. He's very talented, but not mature.