02-04-2017, 12:04 AM
I found this one to be difficult, too. Maybe these guys are exactly who we thought they were.
Three Observations
1) The Monarch defense struggled again against dribble penetration. Maybe it's Stith's injury, maybe it's Caver's minutes played, or maybe it's a combination of a bunch of things, but the defense is not playing nearly at the level it had early in the year. A strong finish to the season might very well depend on the success of this team to find its defensive groove again.
2) Ahmad Caver continues to play at a really high level. 16 points (including some big shots down the stretch), 6 assists, and only 1 turnover. One has to be concerned about Caver logging 35+ minutes on a nightly basis, but to his credit, the sophomore PG continues to deliver.
3) Perhaps the criticism that Jeff Jones refuses to change is unwarranted. The Monarchs showed numerous defensive looks (M2M, Press, 3-2, 1-3-1). Offensively, Jones and the Monarchs did what they could to push the pace (despite two awful fast break possessions). FIU was content to slow the game and pound the ball into the floor, but Jones was constantly imploring the Monarchs to push the pace when they could. Lastly, despite what many on here believe, he has been willing to pull his seniors at crucial times, in order to get some more offense from the younger guys. It seems to me, at least, that the coaches are doing whatever they have to do, including being flexible with the game plans, in order to find some success.
Two questions
1) Will Caver's legs be fresh enough down the stretch? Clearly, the Monarchs are depending on him for scoring, directing the offense, and look to him as one of the better perimeter defenders. That's a big ask for 35-37 minutes per night.
2) Will this team be focused against FAU? With a HUGE road trip on the horizon, will this young team understand that the road trip is only huge, if they take care of business against the Owls on their home floor? It's easy on a message board to say "be focused," but the minds of 20-year-olds are tricky things.
One Prediction
1) Those hoping for a blowout against a bad team will likely be disappointed. I expect the game to be close for most of it, with the Monarchs pulling it out with late free throws to win by 8. However, my real prediction is that this fan, and a few others, will be daydreaming during the alumni introductions of "what would this team be like if we had him on this roster!?"
Three Observations
1) The Monarch defense struggled again against dribble penetration. Maybe it's Stith's injury, maybe it's Caver's minutes played, or maybe it's a combination of a bunch of things, but the defense is not playing nearly at the level it had early in the year. A strong finish to the season might very well depend on the success of this team to find its defensive groove again.
2) Ahmad Caver continues to play at a really high level. 16 points (including some big shots down the stretch), 6 assists, and only 1 turnover. One has to be concerned about Caver logging 35+ minutes on a nightly basis, but to his credit, the sophomore PG continues to deliver.
3) Perhaps the criticism that Jeff Jones refuses to change is unwarranted. The Monarchs showed numerous defensive looks (M2M, Press, 3-2, 1-3-1). Offensively, Jones and the Monarchs did what they could to push the pace (despite two awful fast break possessions). FIU was content to slow the game and pound the ball into the floor, but Jones was constantly imploring the Monarchs to push the pace when they could. Lastly, despite what many on here believe, he has been willing to pull his seniors at crucial times, in order to get some more offense from the younger guys. It seems to me, at least, that the coaches are doing whatever they have to do, including being flexible with the game plans, in order to find some success.
Two questions
1) Will Caver's legs be fresh enough down the stretch? Clearly, the Monarchs are depending on him for scoring, directing the offense, and look to him as one of the better perimeter defenders. That's a big ask for 35-37 minutes per night.
2) Will this team be focused against FAU? With a HUGE road trip on the horizon, will this young team understand that the road trip is only huge, if they take care of business against the Owls on their home floor? It's easy on a message board to say "be focused," but the minds of 20-year-olds are tricky things.
One Prediction
1) Those hoping for a blowout against a bad team will likely be disappointed. I expect the game to be close for most of it, with the Monarchs pulling it out with late free throws to win by 8. However, my real prediction is that this fan, and a few others, will be daydreaming during the alumni introductions of "what would this team be like if we had him on this roster!?"