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Post by jellomansweater on Dec 1, 2009 18:35:15 GMT -5
With Edgar on the bench maybe it is time to get Tim and Sweezy more time. Defense and energy seem to be low. Both those guys need some more chances to shoot.
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Post by jellomansweater on Dec 1, 2009 18:55:14 GMT -5
Irish - Good to see that we all value and reward hard work. Wins are what keep coaches employed but the manner in which those wins are attained is just as important. While we have seen some great new faces this year, the effort by some of those men last year to represent the program in tough times cant be forgotten. Many are still new to this system after Rodney left and need the opportunities to take risks without fear of the bench. This isn't and NJB team and everyone doesn't get a trophy but there are some hungry talented players on the pine. Some that deserve a shot to take their risks. With some of these games coming up, I sure hope the staff rotates some more bodies onto the floor to see if some new chemistry can be created. I bet you find that this team could go 7-10 deep if you gave them some time and took away the fear of failure.
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Post by irishlion on Dec 1, 2009 19:08:24 GMT -5
Hey Jello (nice name), I think 7-8 deep is going to be as much as we can do and still maintain a level of execution that is required at the D1 level. (honestly, I think 3-4 deep, and then we lose our minds...)
Hard work and heart is valued, but over estimating someones talent level, or readiness, only does harm to both the team and the player. It is sometimes very painful to me to watch a great young man, working his butt off in a game situation, but just not capable of getting it done on the court. No offense to the player - but sometimes hard work isn't enough. And quite often, they don't even truly understand where they messed up....especially if they are freshman, or walk ons that don't have the years under their belt yet. Maturity and experience, added to that hard work, may make it possible to get those minutes.
That disparity in talent level shows in foot speed trying to guard someone, focus and reaction time in guarding someone laterally, quickness in rotating on defense, strength in ripping a rebound away or setting a screen, nerves and composure in making a pass or hitting a shot. And composure in running the plays or defense correctly, while being watched by a crowd, heckled by the opposing fans, trash talked by the opposing players, and possibly yelled at by the coach. And are the televising? Damn, extra nerves there.... You can already see breakdowns in those areas separating those abilities in our top players. The further down the bench you go, the more pronounced that gaps are.
Being careful regarding who you play when is critical to not just the team. But to the well being of the bench players/walk ons as well.
Go Lions.
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Post by jellomansweater on Dec 1, 2009 19:51:51 GMT -5
Irish - Fully agree. Just hate to see some of these guys who have some good minutes on their legs that are not getting a shot early. You have to have a strong team but I think the coaches have lasered in on a few guys. You listen the Coach L after games and he sounds like all his eggs are in Edgar's basket. With TD, AO, Ashley, Sweezy all with ability but no PT seems like we are hedging our bets. The character of a good team is knowing that its a team and not 5 guys. Many of these kids need time to learn how to deal with the pressure of the TV. They need to feel a hard screen set on them to get their head on a swivel. We expect too much on Day 1 and don't develop as much as we should. We all want wins, but if we use the pre-conf schedule to see what we have, doesn't that provide us with the best chance to show what LMU has to offer. Most games on TV are during Conference play, why not show recruits that at this mid-major is serious about winning but also committed to a balanced team.
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Post by ADG'99 on Dec 1, 2009 21:20:37 GMT -5
I am pretty disappointed in their jerseys: For art students I would expect a lot better, I was hoping for something along the lines of classic Nuggets:
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Post by LIONS90045 on Dec 1, 2009 21:52:49 GMT -5
jello - welcome aboard. I am with you on using pre-conference to find out what kind of team we have especially with the young players. I like to win, but frankly we are in a turn around season and early wins are not as important to me as team play in conference games. We have some great new talent - you mentioned AO and Ashley but not Given, who is the best of the lot, or even Chine (a talented walk on). Tim has to show his potential - perhaps his injury and layoff last year hindered his development but he has not produced while on the court (check his stats per minute). Sweezy adds heart but is not the future - I am OK with minutes for Brad but this may come at the expense of development of players with more potential. In any case, welcome and I like your open-minded style of comments! Keep us honest here!
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Post by irishlion on Dec 1, 2009 22:05:07 GMT -5
The funny thing is ... I don't think Coach Farr was talking about Sweezy. It's more the players with heart and hustle who struggle learning the defense. Won't name names - but it isn't Sweezy they are discussing.....
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Post by ldawg on Dec 2, 2009 1:11:34 GMT -5
For art students I would expect a lot better, I was hoping for something along the lines of classic Nuggets: That's a good one! But seriously, AoA's uniforms are really lacking.
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Post by dedicatedlionfan on Dec 2, 2009 3:27:56 GMT -5
I don't think this game really counts because it is verse a non-Division 1 team. I tried looking for the point spread and in all the books it is not even listed.....anybody have any insights to this?
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Post by irishlion on Dec 2, 2009 3:31:55 GMT -5
I think each program does one DI - IA or DI-DII game. It's a game, but I don't think measures in the RPI.
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Post by bballfan on Dec 2, 2009 11:12:13 GMT -5
Thank you for the compliment, but I am not Mr/Mrs. Latimer. All I'm asking is that you withhold judgement until you see a player play.
I agree there should be only two walk-ons. There should be open tryouts with everyone in the LMU community there to see how good these players are (not annoint players on this blog). After seeing the Latimers play ball for the last seven years after they arrived from Europe, I'm pretty sure Latimer's mom would be the first person to tell her son that he's not good enough to help the LMU team.
In closing, i noticed how no one one tried to refute the facts I made in my previous posts. (I realized I overstated his HS team's win total - it was more like 25 wins per season.)
Coaches and players should earn their jobs and places not be handed them.
P.S.: Latimer's sister, Erica, and her UCLA team will be playing on FoxSports West Thursday night at 5 PM. She's only shooting 62% for the 3-point line. Is that good enough to make a team?
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Post by fanblade on Dec 2, 2009 11:45:40 GMT -5
Perhaps she'd like to transfer to LMU?
As for Academy of Arts, it may be good for a few more quarter-season adjustments and tinkering.
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Post by dedicatedlionfan on Dec 2, 2009 12:34:05 GMT -5
Didn't we already play Hope Inter.? I thought that was our DII game....
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Post by LIONS90045 on Dec 2, 2009 13:38:54 GMT -5
bballfan - I have watched Latimer play in practice several times. Perhaps he is a gamer like some others on the team and does not show all in practice. Would be nice if your assessment is valid - go get them Daniel!
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Post by irishlion on Dec 2, 2009 14:05:55 GMT -5
Hope is NAIA (not NCAA) and an exhibition game.
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