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Post by LIONS90045 on Jan 1, 2015 20:34:29 GMT -5
Saint Mary’s Gaels
Record: W 9 – L 3 Home: W 8 – L 2
WCC: W 2 – L 0
Roster/PPG
3 Kerry Carter G 6-2 205 Sr. 13.0 5 Jack Biebel G 5-11 185 So. 0.0 00 Brad Waldow F 6-10 270 Sr. 21.5 10 Joe Coleman G 6-4 210 Jr. 3.0 11 Dane Pineau F 6-9 225 So. 6.0 13 Jock Landale C 6-11 255 Fr. 1.7 20 Aaron Bright G 5-11 175 Sr. 11.3 21 Evan Fitzner C 6-10 215 Fr. N/A 22 Garrett Jackson F 6-7 215 Sr. 5.3 24 Calvin Hermanson F 6-6 200 Fr. 1.2 25 Treaven Duffy G 6-2 190 So. 0.4 30 Desmond Simmons F 6-7 225 Sr. 5.8 41 Emmett Naar G 6-1 195 Fr. 7.3
This is a veteran team with 5 seniors contributing significantly to its success so far.
Regarding their record, they lost to NAU 71-73 and Boise State 71-82, two of the Lion's losses, both games on the Gael’s court. They also lost to St Johns on the road.
The Lions will have their hands full this Saturday in the “WCC game of the week.”
Gametime: January 3, Saturday, 1 pm at Gersten.
TV: TWCSN; out of area TheW.tv (on line)
Go Lions!
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Post by ALioninWinter on Jan 1, 2015 21:14:22 GMT -5
I've watched the Gaels several times this year. They are significantly weaker than they've been in previous years. They have 2-1/2 strengths: 1) Waldow, 2) Bennett, 3) sporadically good 3- point shooting -- thus the 1/2.
These guys are beatable. Unfortunately, so are we. I don't have much confidence in our chances.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Jan 1, 2015 21:38:32 GMT -5
A win would be a nice turn-around before the fans (like me) totally give up on this year!
Let's at least play a competitive game without giving the game away on turnovers.
Go Lions!
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Post by ironlion on Jan 2, 2015 18:48:17 GMT -5
Lions 9 point underdogs. Lions do seem to play up to better competition.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Jan 2, 2015 20:44:57 GMT -5
I'll be pleased if we beat the spread, elated if we do even better. The Gaels are a veteran team with 3 seniors averaging double figures. They appear to have a solid 7 man rotation of 5 seniors, one soph and one freshman. But perhaps a few Lions can step up their game on offense tomorrow and pull off a surprise?
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Post by husky on Jan 3, 2015 11:29:11 GMT -5
Right on King. If Deji duplicates his performance in the DePaul game, and Monar gets to play and Evan is on, and we continue to hustle and rebound it could happen. Great for us if St. Mary's takes us for granted; if they do they could definitely be had. Our players and coaches will be working hard and it is Division 1 ball after all so let's try to enjoy the game. We can resume our speculations on cause and effect after the game. For now, GO LION
BTW coaches, guard the corners; the Gaels love the corner - note how they all practice it during warm ups.
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Post by ironlion on Jan 3, 2015 16:25:29 GMT -5
Great job on Waldo so far!
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Post by ALioninWinter on Jan 3, 2015 16:54:31 GMT -5
It was a fairly good first half.
The defense started off lackadaisical on guarding the outside shot, then stiffened a lot for the majority of the half, before they slacked off and allowed two threes near the end of the half.
Siame did a good job on Waldo. He really does have a lot of potential.
Evan has played well. What he does is amazing knowing how much the defense is focusing on him.
We are still looking for someone else who can score. Money nailed 2 threes. That was great to see. David missed a wide open three. I'd like to see some more plays designed to spring open some outside shooting.
Despite Coach Bennets complaining, that was a good call giving Evan 3 foul shots with a second left. Money's hustle on the board at the end of the half didn't give us any points but it was nice to see the hustle.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Jan 3, 2015 16:54:56 GMT -5
Much better first half. Things looked bad after the Gaels sank their first 5 shots but our "D" kicked in. Hang in there guys!
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Post by ALioninWinter on Jan 3, 2015 18:19:41 GMT -5
It's a loss but the Lions played a lot better. I liked that 6 guys had 4 or more shots. I liked that they only had 2 TOs in the second half. I liked getting 19 points off the bench.
Waldow had a double-double but the Lions played him pretty well. There were a few lapses but they didn't let him totally dominate.
Evan played a good game. Patson is improving. He had a great spin move from the top of the key to the basket that shows what he can do. Money played well.
We really struggle with the PG position. Chase is our best and is who we should probably go with this year, but Dunlap really needs to bring in a quality PG for next year.
We still don't have a second scorer. If I were coaching I would create options for David H. The guy doeant have much speed but he hustles, doesn't make many mistakes, seems to know the game, and has a decent shot. He can't create much on his own but I think he could be a reliable scorer with a few plays that spring him open.
I don't undestand Deji's hesitancy. He's not much of an outside shooter but he has the size and strength to get by most WCC guards. We really need 10 points a game from the guy.
I don't think Matt H is getting much of a chance. The guy has skills but he's not getting the minutes. Even when he's in the game it seems like the action is flowing away from him. I know he's a guard who should be able to force the action his way but I am under the impression that the coaching staff doesn't want him to do that.
St Marys is a decent team that goes as far as their 3-point shooting will take them. They have no bench. Today they got 1 shot from their bench (a miss) and 6 rebounds.
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Post by pumpfake on Jan 3, 2015 19:19:04 GMT -5
Nice post Winter. I agree that it was a nice effort and really all we should expect from this group at this time. I am not saying we couldn't have won but lots of things would have needed to go our way. Patson is demonstrating that he can be force on both ends of the floor. He is only going to get better as he gets more game experience and works to develop his game. It's going to be fun to watch him develop. The Humphries that performed so well in Spain showed up today and it was nice to see. He's generally going to be smaller or slower (or both!) than his opponent but, as Winter notes, he does have a good feel for the game, hustles, and will shoot better as he adjusts to D1 ball. Really nice game by Chase and Evan. We sure do need a long term solution at point guard. I am talking to you Terrance Phillips. We'd love to have you. Simon and Matt remain works in progress in the back court. We have to remember that both are young and will continue to improve. I don't see either as a game changers but, over time, they can be solid contributors, especially when the overall talent around them improves.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Jan 3, 2015 19:39:57 GMT -5
Good summary Winter. This game was worth watching and I too am impressed with Patson's moves. When he perfects that spin/drive layup down the lane, I don't see a lot of players who can stop him. Likewise, his turnaround baseline jumper. Impressed with Humphries, hopefully a breakout game that lends the confidence to keep scoring in upcoming games. Evan was again outstanding. Kudo's to him. And Dunlap's substitutions were much better managed today. There is reason for optimism about the future. Now, as pumpfake notes, for the key PG next season.
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Post by samolocal on Jan 3, 2015 21:27:21 GMT -5
I was impressed. Some real athletes, looked organized (unlike the Good years) and never gave up. The fan support, however, is at an all-time low point. You guys look way better than USF and Santa Clara. Good luck from here on out. And that's one hell of a "pep band". Could be working a lounge in Vegas.
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Post by ironlion on Jan 3, 2015 22:00:42 GMT -5
Many more positive tonight. Godwin and Patson did a great job on Waldow. Chase had nice game with 7 assists. Money hit some big 3s. I liked seeing Humphries looking for his shot more.
Lions do seem play up to the competion. Smc has nice starting 5 but no bench as mentioned above.
Two tough games on the road coming up.
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Post by husky on Jan 3, 2015 23:55:11 GMT -5
Great analyses especially those noting our best performances. Good to see Humphries be more offensive minded; although he has been hustling his offensive aggressiveness has been largely absent since the practice game against UC San Diego. The common factor in successful play tonight was Monar, Humphries, Chase, and Saime playing aggressively on offense (in addition to Evan, naturally). Only a few lapses where we spent 33 seconds dribbling around the parameter in sort of a fundamental weave while the other players on the court stared bewildered.
Even though the stats won't show it, I came away with the impression we played the 3 point arc better. They were a focused 3 point team and today our 2-3 "sagging defense" did yield the result of holding Waldo to something like half his usual total. I do wish we could pressure the ball better instead of the occasional 1 on 1 efforts which have almost no effect. Several times we had a Lion force a Gael to pick up his dribble either behind or just beyond half court near a sideline then being ignored by a nearby Lion who could have easily completed a potentially a trap.
Noted the Gael fan's critique. Kind of reminded me of Harry Reid giving the Republicans heart felt advice on how to win more elections. I guess he didn't realize that most of our players were "Good" recruits. I just can't imagine this year's Lion team being characterized as extraordinarily athletic; nor do I recall Good coached teams having a reputation for quitting. Now if he wanted to take an easy shot at Max - I'll have to admit we no longer have to endure a shrill and constant drone of embarrassing explicatives emanating from our bench.
Next up San Diego? We will have our work cut out for us there, having to go against the greatest under 500 percent coach currently gracing the conference. Armed with his fresh multi-year contract which pays him more than the $650K he pulled in last year, he's got his team well on track for another season of marginal mediocrity. We will need play an solid game to prevail against that splendid example of coaching genius. And I am absolutely certain we can do it. Oh, yes - we will also have to be sure to guard that shooter of theirs; best approach, deny him the ball.
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