I don't care what the reason is for him having not played much all year. If he can't defend as well as player A or B.

What I am seeing in this game is not an aberration. The announcers even said just from watching him in practice that he was UC's best player. Apparently he is. He can create his own shot. He can shoot mid range. He can shoot from outside. And when the the other team touches his jersey he can still score.

He avg. 3 pts. this year. That is/was because he wasn't allowed to play like he is in this game. That's bullsh*t and I don't care what the reason is, which I'm sure there will be a plethora of them.

Unbelievable. Thanks coach. And please don't turn this into I am a Mick hater etc. etc. There is NO REASON for this kid not playing. Period.

He's playing him now.

Yeah. Thomas was the lone bright spot in the game in terms of looking to next season. Gave me some hope.

Kind of gave me an vision of what I expect Lawrence to be able to do next year. Similar players?

You many see JJ playing center, and then a PG, S K, and then Thomas and Lawrence in there at the same time. Mismatch city, baby.

I think, more than anything, it was a good matchup for him.

Felt bad for Thomas after he missed those free throws. I was really happy with Rubles and Thomas today, I felt those guys really showed up to play. Yes they made mistake by they are going to part of the foundation for the 4th NCAA tournament bid next season.

First thing this team needs season is a point guard because I want to assume Thomas, Rubles, Jackson, and SK will be the guys starting at 2 through 5. Imagine the newcomers will be relied on to give you post depth and might even overtake one the returning players.

They were missing a true point all year, there was a handful of games that I felt Cash was playing well, he just doesnt understand what a point guard should do with a screen.

(03-22-2013 04:53 PM)icehole3 Wrote:  They were missing a true point all year, there was a handful of games that I felt Cash was playing well, he just doesnt understand what a point guard should do with a screen.

Hell, I'll be happy when UC learns to set a screen without moving.

(03-22-2013 04:56 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 04:53 PM)icehole3 Wrote:  They were missing a true point all year, there was a handful of games that I felt Cash was playing well, he just doesnt understand what a point guard should do with a screen.

Hell, I'll be happy when UC learns to set a screen without moving.

that too, but the shooter needs to run as close to the screener as possible, learned that in the wreck league as a 10 year old.

Coop, I can deal with moving screens, but you to attempt a screen to get called for a moving screen.

(03-22-2013 03:43 PM)BringBackthe Glory Wrote:  I don't care what the reason is for him having not played much all year. If he can't defend as well as player A or B.

What I am seeing in this game is not an aberration. The announcers even said just from watching him in practice that he was UC's best player. Apparently he is. He can create his own shot. He can shoot mid range. He can shoot from outside. And when the the other team touches his jersey he can still score.

He avg. 3 pts. this year. That is/was because he wasn't allowed to play like he is in this game. That's bullsh*t and I don't care what the reason is, which I'm sure there will be a plethora of them.

Unbelievable. Thanks coach. And please don't turn this into I am a Mick hater etc. etc. There is NO REASON for this kid not playing. Period.

The announcers saw one practice, Cronin saw him all year long.

(03-22-2013 04:23 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  I think, more than anything, it was a good matchup for him.

I think so too. The other teams we played this year had much more athletic players who could defend someone like Thomas. Creighton did not. He played because it was an advantage. When he did play in Big East games this year he was not much of a factor.

Shaq played much better at the end of the year but the size and strength of the players in the big east worked against him. I loved the pull up jumper, too bad he couldn't hit free throws. Rubles was the star of the game. Finished, played good defense and rebounded.

(03-22-2013 04:53 PM)icehole3 Wrote:  They were missing a true point all year, there was a handful of games that I felt Cash was playing well, he just doesnt understand what a point guard should do with a screen.

No one on this team knows how to set and/or use a screen.

(03-22-2013 07:47 PM)Mopper Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 04:53 PM)icehole3 Wrote:  They were missing a true point all year, there was a handful of games that I felt Cash was playing well, he just doesnt understand what a point guard should do with a screen.

No one on this team knows how to set and/or use a screen.

Many of the moving screen calls on us this year were the fault of the guards, not the big men setting them.

(03-22-2013 05:13 PM)subflea Wrote:  

(03-22-2013 04:23 PM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  I think, more than anything, it was a good matchup for him.

I think so too. The other teams we played this year had much more athletic players who could defend someone like Thomas. Creighton did not. He played because it was an advantage. When he did play in Big East games this year he was not much of a factor.

Definitely true. It was a good matchup for him today. He's also still a frosh and hopefully he develops some more strength and toughness to do that against more physical and athletic teams because he sure has some talent and skills. I think mick has handled him well this year and is bringing him along slowly. I'm excited about what he can bring next year.

(03-22-2013 04:22 PM)BearChatter v2.0 Wrote:  Yeah. Thomas was the lone bright spot in the game in terms of looking to next season. Gave me some hope.

Kind of gave me an vision of what I expect Lawrence to be able to do next year. Similar players?

You many see JJ playing center, and then a PG, S K, and then Thomas and Lawrence in there at the same time. Mismatch city, baby.

We won't win games with JJ starting next season. The guy has no clue about the fundamentals and he's too much of a liability with his constantly hacking with fouls and unable to put a short jumper in the basket. He's just a smaller Mbodj on offense. It wouldnt bother me if JJ was booted to bring in a recruit that can play and learn the game. Gaines and Nyarsuk are wasting time here too. They add nothing with their lack of understanding the game and unable to get better. All 3 of those players commit fouls for most of the time they set picks.

(03-22-2013 05:01 PM)beck Wrote:  Coop, I can deal with moving screens, but you to attempt a screen to get called for a moving screen.

Being a little late on a screen, that I can deal with. But, I think Coop was referring to JJ obviously throwing his foot out in front of a guy, for all the world to see. Those I CANNOT deal with

(03-22-2013 03:43 PM)BringBackthe Glory Wrote:  I don't care what the reason is for him having not played much all year. If he can't defend as well as player A or B.

What I am seeing in this game is not an aberration. The announcers even said just from watching him in practice that he was UC's best player. Apparently he is. He can create his own shot. He can shoot mid range. He can shoot from outside. And when the the other team touches his jersey he can still score.

He avg. 3 pts. this year. That is/was because he wasn't allowed to play like he is in this game. That's bullsh*t and I don't care what the reason is, which I'm sure there will be a plethora of them.

Unbelievable. Thanks coach. And please don't turn this into I am a Mick hater etc. etc. There is NO REASON for this kid not playing. Period.

I enjoyed watching Thomas yesterday, and it has made me excited for next season. However, I have no visibility into the practices, nor do you. So, if Mick had a GOOD reason for not playing Shaquille more, I will respect it.

Until yesterday, I rarely saw him finish strong on close shots, or hit those pull-ups with any kind of consistency. I think Mick opted to lean heavily on the Three Amigos to get us into the dance. Whether or not that was the correct approach is up for debate. Certainly seemed logical.

If you want to discuss relative to other bench players, he did seem more efficient than Sanders, on BOTH ends of the court. Anyway, water under the bridge. I think Thomas will start next season.