Miami Drops Tight Battle To Toledo.
http://www.miamiredhawks.com/sports/m-ba...18aaa.html

(02-09-2018 08:53 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-09-2018 08:40 PM)Screwball Wrote:  Luke had 5 blocks too, if I heard the stats right. One landed in the front row. That was pretty cool.

Had two that didn’t count that prevented baskets that might have resulted in an “and one” situation and one he blocked into the Miami hoop. Miami had no one that size. We didn’t post him up much but he sure helped on D. Navi got a couple blocks.

Luke did a good job of helping out on the cutters driving to the basket, blocking, altering or forcing the ball outside. This was an improvement by the Rockets defense over the last few games where layups were pouring in by opponents uncontested.

Toledo three point shooting was off for a large portion of the game and it wasn't all due to Miami's defense.

Fletch sick. Three point shooting off. Jackson hurt. And, still the Rockets managed a road win.
Lovin it.

(02-10-2018 09:42 AM)NewMex RocketFan Wrote:  

(02-09-2018 08:53 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-09-2018 08:40 PM)Screwball Wrote:  Luke had 5 blocks too, if I heard the stats right. One landed in the front row. That was pretty cool.

Had two that didn’t count that prevented baskets that might have resulted in an “and one” situation and one he blocked into the Miami hoop. Miami had no one that size. We didn’t post him up much but he sure helped on D. Navi got a couple blocks.

Luke did a good job of helping out on the cutters driving to the basket, blocking, altering or forcing the ball outside. This was an improvement by the Rockets defense over the last few games where layups were pouring in by opponents uncontested.

These guys weren’t as quick as German and Wilder but Knapke definitely intimated them. Blocked eight shots by my count although only five counted. One, of course, ended up in the Miami hoop.

Excellent road win!!!! Any win on the road in conference is huge!!!!!

GO ROCKETS!!!

(02-10-2018 11:10 AM)rockytop Wrote:  Fletch sick. Three point shooting off. Jackson hurt. And, still the Rockets managed a road win.
Lovin it.

Didn’t know Fletcher was sick. He seemed very subdued and not energetic. Still got big numbers. Hats off to him!

(02-10-2018 02:07 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-10-2018 11:10 AM)rockytop Wrote:  Fletch sick. Three point shooting off. Jackson hurt. And, still the Rockets managed a road win.
Lovin it.

Didn’t know Fletcher was sick. He seemed very subdued and not energetic. Still got big numbers. Hats off to him!

Yeah I wondered during second half if he was under the weather.

Miami played tenacious defense, they were in UTs jerseys most of the night with active hands. I failed to understand Miami's fascination with shooting the 3 ball, i think they ended up 4 of 27 or something like that. It seemed to me that Miami was much more effective when Ringo was driving the lane. I was also impressed with Miami's center, while not flashy, he was a solid player.

I felt like this was going to be a tough game going in, and the first 15 minutes or so were ugly, but the Rockets had an excellent finish to the half. They were able to recover from Miami's run in the second half, and pull out a quality road win.

(02-10-2018 02:33 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  Miami played tenacious defense, they were in UTs jerseys most of the night with active hands. I failed to understand Miami's fascination with shooting the 3 ball, i think they ended up 4 of 27 or something like that. It seemed to me that Miami was much more effective when Ringo was driving the lane. I was also impressed with Miami's center, while not flashy, he was a solid player.

I felt like this was going to be a tough game going in, and the first 15 minutes or so were ugly, but the Rockets had an excellent finish to the half. They were able to recover from Miami's run in the second half, and pull out a quality road win.

They look like Number Two in the East. Well, apart from Buffalo the entire East looks like Number Two but I mean second best. BSU looks like our only potential roadblock on the way to Cleveland, although EMU always beats us up there it seems like.

(02-10-2018 02:37 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-10-2018 02:33 PM)Rocket A Wrote:  Miami played tenacious defense, they were in UTs jerseys most of the night with active hands. I failed to understand Miami's fascination with shooting the 3 ball, i think they ended up 4 of 27 or something like that. It seemed to me that Miami was much more effective when Ringo was driving the lane. I was also impressed with Miami's center, while not flashy, he was a solid player.

I felt like this was going to be a tough game going in, and the first 15 minutes or so were ugly, but the Rockets had an excellent finish to the half. They were able to recover from Miami's run in the second half, and pull out a quality road win.

They look like Number Two in the East. Well, apart from Buffalo the entire East looks like Number Two but I mean second best. BSU looks like our only potential roadblock on the way to Cleveland, although EMU always beats us up there it seems like.

Mhmm. UB won't lose again. Kent has athlete's to make a run. Ball State out coaches us but shouldn't have the horses to win 4 games. I like our chances the rest of the way out. An EMU and Ball State loss should be expected as a possibility.

Millet is a God awful shooters gym. I wouldn't like a black backdrop on one end of the floor either. I had a friend do free throw shooting with different backgrounds as his 7th grade science project. There is a correlation with depth and shooting percentage.

Good win. Miami doesn't have a lot of depth and is pretty young so you would expect a good team to beat them, but that was probably their biggest home game of the year with a top MAC team coming in, national tv, and the whole Wally world promotion and celebration.

I thought Ringo was as quick as German and quicker than Wilder. He just doesn't have as good finishing skills or much of a jumper. German wasn't just quick but really clever around the rim. Wilder has a balanced game and when his jumper is on he is nearly unguardable. Our defense on small quick guards is atrocious. M Jackson was a portrait of how not to defend most of the night. Their was play they replayed where he backpedaled at top speed from half court to the rim almost falling down the whole way. Got to make an attempt to stop penetration. Turn a driver toward their weak side or have active hands and steal or deflect the ball. If a guy puts on a good move and shakes you so be it, but try to defend him. To be honest though Sanford isn't much better. We may see a bit more of Roberts down the stretch as he at least makes an attempt to control penetration and is so short and compact he can stay in a low stance pretty well.

I really like how Fletch is adjusting his game night in and night out. Yesterday his jumper wasn't on and his energy was a little down, but he still rebounded great and realized he could use the screens to get good match ups. He spent the second half using his smarts to get an advantage with the dribble drive and getting to the rim or creating an opportunity for a teammate, not forcing too much with his jumper.

As for winning the West it is pretty much in the pocket minus an utter collapse. We should be the #2 (or maybe #1) seed in Cleveland. The flip side is that no win is guaranteed for this team. We aren't as talented to me as the last reg season champ team that lost the final to WMU. That team had Juice at the top of his game running the show which meant an elite ball handler, passer scorer controlling tempo. We a great finisher in Spoon. An excellent all around wing in Pearson and good ones in Drummond and Jonjon. Boothe was younger but already solid at center. Lauf and Matt Smith were solid off the bench. We had more guys who could win individual match ups and better athletes. This team has more shooting and more consistent chemistry. Our best player-Fletcher- is also our most vocal mature leader which is a great advantage. Still, we are winning by playing good team basketball, remaining resilient when the other team rallies and hitting jump shots in the clutch. This team will be beat if we play uninspired or lose composure. Almost any team in the MAC that is having a good night good knock us out. So, we will need to play well the first 2 games and then, great in the final if we get a hot Buffalo team there.

Ohio game should be as close to a gimme as possible. Just need to play hard on their big young pg who isn't as quick as German and Ringo but is physical and likes to drive. Ohio is a little healthier but still undermanned. The next games at BSU and EMU are huge. Not only would they clinch the #2 seed and division title but will be a measure of how well we are playing. Hopefully, the team will start to peak with that road trip and carry it through the final few games and into the conf tournament.

(02-10-2018 05:57 PM)pono Wrote:  Good win. Miami doesn't have a lot of depth and is pretty young so you would expect a good team to beat them, but that was probably their biggest home game of the year with a top MAC team coming in, national tv, and the whole Wally world promotion and celebration.

I thought Ringo was as quick as German and quicker than Wilder. He just doesn't have as good finishing skills or much of a jumper. German wasn't just quick but really clever around the rim. Wilder has a balanced game and when his jumper is on he is nearly unguardable. Our defense on small quick guards is atrocious. M Jackson was a portrait of how not to defend most of the night. Their was play they replayed where he backpedaled at top speed from half court to the rim almost falling down the whole way. Got to make an attempt to stop penetration. Turn a driver toward their weak side or have active hands and steal or deflect the ball. If a guy puts on a good move and shakes you so be it, but try to defend him. To be honest though Sanford isn't much better. We may see a bit more of Roberts down the stretch as he at least makes an attempt to control penetration and is so short and compact he can stay in a low stance pretty well.

I really like how Fletch is adjusting his game night in and night out. Yesterday his jumper wasn't on and his energy was a little down, but he still rebounded great and realized he could use the screens to get good match ups. He spent the second half using his smarts to get an advantage with the dribble drive and getting to the rim or creating an opportunity for a teammate, not forcing too much with his jumper.

As for winning the West it is pretty much in the pocket minus an utter collapse. We should be the #2 (or maybe #1) seed in Cleveland. The flip side is that no win is guaranteed for this team. We aren't as talented to me as the last reg season champ team that lost the final to WMU. That team had Juice at the top of his game running the show which meant an elite ball handler, passer scorer controlling tempo. We a great finisher in Spoon. An excellent all around wing in Pearson and good ones in Drummond and Jonjon. Boothe was younger but already solid at center. Lauf and Matt Smith were solid off the bench. We had more guys who could win individual match ups and better athletes. This team has more shooting and more consistent chemistry. Our best player-Fletcher- is also our most vocal mature leader which is a great advantage. Still, we are winning by playing good team basketball, remaining resilient when the other team rallies and hitting jump shots in the clutch. This team will be beat if we play uninspired or lose composure. Almost any team in the MAC that is having a good night good knock us out. So, we will need to play well the first 2 games and then, great in the final if we get a hot Buffalo team there.

Ohio game should be as close to a gimme as possible. Just need to play hard on their big young pg who isn't as quick as German and Ringo but is physical and likes to drive. Ohio is a little healthier but still undermanned. The next games at BSU and EMU are huge. Not only would they clinch the #2 seed and division title but will be a measure of how well we are playing. Hopefully, the team will start to peak with that road trip and carry it through the final few games and into the conf tournament.

Our guards continue to struggle staying in front or cutting off baseline. After Jackson got beat by German on the baseline against NIU, Coach K turned to the bench, spread his hands and said “he just won’t take a charge”. Sanford is a little more experienced at least. Fletcher does a great job of fighting over picks but he isn’t going to guard PGs often. Man, has he made a difference though. Far better than Lucas Antunez.

jackson is a decent offensive player with some heart and the ability to make key shots. i like him, but his defense ...

fletcher is just a wonder, especially since he started playing with his head up all the time and not forcing drives.

M Jackson is just a frosh, his D will improve. Remember, many were down on Knapke, and he is developing into one the MAC’s best big men.

After the Marshall and Wright State losses I figured Toledo was at best a middle of the road MAC team. Losing at Buffalo was no surprise. Then all of a sudden the 9 man rotation seemed to energize everyone and wins started coming. The addition of Willie Jackson as a solid rebounder and defender was a real plus. Then Willie got injured, there is an 8 main rotation and Ball State beats us at home. Gordon was then inserted into Willie's spot for the next game and the team continued on its winning ways.

Sanford and Navigato play best down the stretch when they have had several minutes of rest in the first half and early second half. Fletcher seems a bit tired the last couple of games and his shooting has suffered. The key to continued winning, in my opinion, is how much playing time can be given to Roberts, Alderson, Willie Jackson and Gordon. (The Adway/Knapke sharing of the center spot is doing just fine). If Coach K continues to go 9/10 deep, Toledo can actually win the tournament and make some noise in the NCAA tourney.

Get as many wins as they can, hope to win the MAC tourney and go to the dance. If not, due to a 1 seed MAC (no matter the record) hope for an offer (and decent) seed in the NIT.

MAC winner gets an automatic NIT bid if they don't go NCAA, but I don't think our fan base would be excited about the NIT, especially since it will mean a road game. NCAAs is the goal and that means win 3 straight in Cleveland. The deeper rotation has helped, maybe coach K has learned a new trick and adjusted his approach. Trusting Gordon to give us an early 1st half stretch has worked out perfectly. I still think Rose could help too, but less needed with the guard depth. Playing your depth in the conf tourney takes a lot of coaching discipline. It's 1 loss and go home so coaches tend to instinctively shorten their bench rotations and play their top guys more, which with the emotion of the moment tends to work for a game or two but results in those guys being gassed before the 3 game stretch is over. If you can get through your quarterfinal with no one playing over 27-28 minutes you have an edge the next night against teams who played their stars for 37-38 minutes. And if you can avoid OT and huge minutes in semis (usually the closest games of the tourney) you have an advantage in the final. There's also a benefit to the #1 seed in that you avoid the late games and your next round opponent has had a shorter turnaround time from their previous game. Buffalo also plays 9-10 guys, but only really gets bench offense from 1. Senderhoff and Kent will play a lot of guys. BG, Miami, Western, Ball St are less deep which will make a 3 game in 3 days run tougher (plus most of those teams will have 4th game earlier in the week). I don't see Ohio, Akron, Central, NIU as a threat for a 4 game stretch just not enough consistent offense and shooting. EMU is a wildcard. Talented but very inconsistent so far. If their opponent is making 3s they will lose. So, I can't see them catching 4 straight opponents off of their game.