PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3578
Reg: 02-15-15
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02-24-18 09:29 AM - Post#249158
Let’s get this started. Game of the year tonight. Who would have thought this Penn team would have a 20 win season.
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OldBig5
Masters Student
Posts: 639
Age: 66
Reg: 02-18-18
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 09:34 AM - Post#249159
In response to PennFan10
Excited to watch this one. Should be a fun game. Not quite as dramatic as it would be if there was no tournament. But still a chance to seize the regular season lead.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32680
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 10:40 AM - Post#249165
In response to PennFan10
I predicted 19-11, 3rd place, so I am happy, but not that surprised. Donahue solidified the 2 big weaknesses---at one guard position and inside presence. But he has gone a step further and shown he is a helluva coach by repeatedly making adjustments in games where we were struggling that worked and getting players who had fallen out of the rotation back in by getting them to play within the scheme. As we have seen, guys with tendencies to make mistakes (notably Simmons and Goodman) have lost time, with Goodman having earned his way back in recently to great effect. What's really great is that we should be better next year---I think Goodman will replace Foreman as an eventual upgrade. Only Wood seems to be the guy we'll have to work to replace. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Just let's win the next 5 (hell, let's go for 11)!
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6391
Reg: 11-22-04
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 11:43 AM - Post#249175
In response to palestra38
On replacing Foreman, at the start of 2018 it looked like it had to be Williams, with some chance Woods would have to do it. First Silpe and then Goodman have firmly put themselves back in the conversation. Says a lot about the kids that they keep plugging away, and says a lot about the staff and the culture they’ve built. And they’ve shown a willingness to change and adjust. I continue to be amazed at how our depth plays now. For years, it also felt like we were one guy short, or like our strengths were always overshadowed by our weaknesses. Suddenly this year (with, before Jeff points it out, quite a bit of help from a weaker than expected schedule), our strengths play. Fun ride. And of course it helps that we share the ball well — fun basketball to watch when it’s really working.
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12480
Reg: 12-07-04
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02-24-18 11:59 AM - Post#249177
In response to SomeGuy
Maybe having that easy schedule was a huge help and it taught them how to transition from a team that was losing close games to a team that wins them. These end game scenarios have a different feel to them this year, and I have to think learning how to win has been a big part of that.
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Streamers
Professor
Posts: 8141
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 12:20 PM - Post#249184
In response to palestra38
After the Brown-Yale sweep, I thought we would go 11-3. At this point, I think winning out is a 50/50 prospect at worst. Feeling very good about this evening. Both teams are excellent defensively, so don't expect anyone to pull away, but I honestly believe Penn is just the better team right now, especially at home.
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weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2125
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 12:22 PM - Post#249186
In response to Streamers
After the Brown-Yale sweep, I thought we would go 11-3. At this point, I think winning out is a 50/50 prospect at worst. Feeling very good about this evening. Both teams are excellent defensively, so don't expect anyone to pull away, but I honestly believe Penn is just the better team right now, especially at home.
I think Goodman putting pressure on Harvard's PG will make a difference.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6391
Reg: 11-22-04
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 12:47 PM - Post#249194
In response to Streamers
The one thing I’d like to see (assuming Max is healthy) is more time with 2 bigs. Well, that and Woods on Bassey, rather than Towns. Everybody goes small against Harvard (which of course suggests i’m totally wrong), including Princeton last night. For Princeton, while i guess it worked to Free Stephens, it still didn’t result in a win. I’d like to see if AJ or Max can guard Towns.
If Max is hurt, I guess we’ll see us play small a lot with 4 wings. And maybe even 5 wings if both Lewis and AJ are off the floor.
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UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts: 1116
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 02:24 PM - Post#249208
In response to palestra38
Palestra38, Perhaps the board should be reminded on your much-criticized optimism in October. I was hoping for 18 wins. Looks like you win the forecasting prize this year.
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3578
Reg: 02-15-15
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02-24-18 02:32 PM - Post#249210
In response to UPIA1968
Max will be good to go tonight. Issue was cramping last night from what I’m told.
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Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts: 3614
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 11-21-04
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02-24-18 03:14 PM - Post#249214
In response to PennFan10
That’s great to hear because we will need all Max can give for a chance to win this.
Like SG, I’m hoping we do see more 2 big lineups. Assume Max would take Lewis and AJ would take Towns.
On def we have to find a way to address the lobs to Lewis because they killed us on that last time, and we have to push them off the 3 point line.
On offense it would help to take a little better care of the ball, keep up great ball movement, and absolutely have to hit open 3s.
Tough match up but I like our chances at home. Let’s Go Quakers!
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Streamers
Professor
Posts: 8141
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
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02-24-18 03:21 PM - Post#249215
In response to PennFan10
Max will be good to go tonight. Issue was cramping last night from what I’m told.
I think we all thought Max looked very healthy in the first half. I did not realize he was having issues in the 2nd half - just assumed SD was saving him for tonight as we were in garbage time nearly the whole 2nd half.
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SteveChop
PhD Student
Posts: 1150
Reg: 07-28-07
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Re: Harvard 02-24-18 04:49 PM - Post#249224
In response to PennFan10
Like the rest of you, I'm looking forward to tonight. However, calling it the "game of the year" is not accurate. Because of the inane IL tournament, which many of you know I have been, and remain, strongly against, it is merely a game for seeding in that tournament. Think how big this game COULD HAVE been if there was no tournament and this game was for who is more likely to finish first in the league and go to the NCAA tournament. Does not mean, however, that I will not be cheering my head off for the Quakers.
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Charlie Fog
Masters Student
Posts: 586
Age: 55
Loc: Philly
Reg: 11-12-13
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02-24-18 05:25 PM - Post#249231
In response to SteveChop
Penn -5.5
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pennsive
Junior
Posts: 200
Reg: 11-21-04
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02-24-18 06:06 PM - Post#249235
In response to Mike Porter
Another key is being to start our offensive sets sooner. At Harvard they were considerably quicker than we were, and their press caused us to take more time to advance the ball beyond mid court. That contributed to starting our sets late and forcing shots when we were tightly guarded. On the defensive side, we were slow guarding the three, and when we did, Lewis killed us down low. SD will try to solve that with coaching adjustments, less of Woods and more of Goodman. The sixty-four dollar question is with whatever adjustments we make, and however the game turns out tonight, when Harvard adjusts to those in the tourney, will we have enough to counterpunch when it really counts? Stay tuned. This will be fun to watch tonight and again in two weeks. Go Quakers, and welcome back to prime time.
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12480
Reg: 12-07-04
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02-24-18 07:47 PM - Post#249247
In response to pennsive
I understand bringing out the high school band but it's completely unfair that the 20 students who have been showing up lose their seats.
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weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2125
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
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02-24-18 07:49 PM - Post#249249
In response to pennsive
Just as an FYI, guys, the Penn website lists the game on ESPN3. I do not see it listed in ESPN3's "coming events" for this evening, so I think we're stuck with ILN for tonight.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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02-24-18 07:50 PM - Post#249250
In response to Quakers03
Shavua Tov. Catching up on the Princeton meltdown and the Penn blowout.
Excited about tonight! We should also be rooting for Columbia tonight as well.
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Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts: 3614
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 11-21-04
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02-24-18 07:58 PM - Post#249251
In response to penn nation
FYI this is definitely on ESPN3. If you don’t see it just search Pennsylvania or Harvard and it should be there. I’m on it now and that’s how I found it.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21081
Reg: 12-02-04
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02-24-18 07:59 PM - Post#249252
In response to Mike Porter
For me it currently says the video is bad for that game although I assume that screen will clear up.
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