Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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Re: West Virginia Game 03-19-17 07:24 PM - Post#227747
In response to Raymond Bucknell
I look at stats and watch every game of the Bison. Some things don't show in stats like an attitude or personality. The bench should have played more and would have made an impact in the second half. Each time Zach has an off game it is said that he has the flu or now a head cold. Just chalk it up to we all have bad days. No excuses needed. I too talk to the players as well.
I'm a fan of 5, too. Not the biggest, clearly. He will be missed. Your apparent anger toward Zach is misappropriated. Guy is as talented as he is selfless.
Raymond, I don't think that Biggest has any anger toward Zach. At least, I didn't read any. I think that he is just calling it like he sees it. Honesty is not a bad thing.
New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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res
Masters Student
Posts: 839
Reg: 03-21-06
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03-19-17 07:33 PM - Post#227748
In response to Bison137
Nathan Davis probably hasn't received enough credit for the job he did all year. Last year's team ranked 173rd in the nation (Pomeroy) and the Bison lost three starters from that team: Chris Hass, 1st-team All-PL; Ryan Frazier, a solid guard who made All-PL defensive team; and Dom Hoffman, a strong rebounder and good defender. Also lost Ben Oberfeld. That's a combined 40% of the 2015-16 minutes lost.
Due to those significant losses, the Bison were picked for 3rd in the PL preseason poll, and were picked for 4th on many sites. Despite those losses, BU jumped from 173rd last year to 76th in the 2016-17 rankings, and they won the PL championship in a league that was better than last year. Also Foulland improved significantly, Thomas improved significantly, Mackenzie improved significantly, and Brown improved. That is as much improvement among key players as Bucknell as seen in a long time. Also two freshmen were able to step in and see major minutes, with both playing really well on defense. Kudos to the coaches and the players.
Yep, yep, and yep.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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03-19-17 08:16 PM - Post#227752
In response to Bison137
And all the Lord's people said "Amen". I think this is a perfect t summary of the season and it paints a wonderful picture of what next can be: Special. Very special.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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03-19-17 11:39 PM - Post#227765
In response to Bison89
(Please read very sarcastically.) BRW, I know that we have been mistaken for each other many times. We look soooooo similar. I'm 6'-5" 240# with brown hair, and . . . . . you look like a Bison Road Warrior!
I hope that you educated the young lady.
I told her that, to her credit, we did have the same Bucknell class year.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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03-20-17 08:30 PM - Post#227835
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Kimbal named Bison Athlete of the Week, for good reason.
In case you didn't get enough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSreCf1G8N8
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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03-21-17 08:59 PM - Post#227865
In response to jkrun80
Post-game press conference - Bucknell part starts about 18:30.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm4-NguJ7Vo
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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West Virginia Game 03-21-17 09:43 PM - Post#227869
In response to jkrun80
Our guys represent themselves really well in any setting. I loved Coach Davis' answers and attitude of he and his players. Finally, Coach Davis gives far better answers and carries himself much better than Coach Huggins...just my opinion. Bucknell won the press conference, lol.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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03-21-17 09:51 PM - Post#227870
In response to MrPhillie
I have to say, as much as I liked Dane Fisher, we got the right man for the job.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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03-22-17 01:28 PM - Post#227903
In response to jkrun80
It's worth noting he is winning NOW in his system with another coaches recruits too.
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Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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03-22-17 01:55 PM - Post#227910
In response to HuskyColonial
It's worth noting he is winning NOW in his system with another coaches recruits too.
Somebody please remind me which group of players was Coach Davis' first recruiting class.
New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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atlantabison
PhD Student
Posts: 1835
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Reg: 01-25-06
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03-22-17 01:55 PM - Post#227911
In response to HuskyColonial
Also note that he is not really winning with "his system" as he adjusted to play man-to-man because that better fit his personnel. I believe if he had his personal preference we would have played a lot more of the match-up. Yet he was willing to adjust to the people he had and do what fit them best. A trait we all seemed to call for with the past leadership, that is nice to see now.
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Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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03-22-17 01:57 PM - Post#227912
In response to atlantabison
Also note that he is not really winning with "his system" as he adjusted to play man-to-man because that better fit his personnel. I believe if he had his personal preference we would have played a lot more of the match-up. Yet he was willing to adjust to the people he had and do what fit them best. A trait we all seemed to call for with the past leadership, that is nice to see now.
AB, I am a big fan of the match-up zone, but it seems to be something that takes years working as a group to perfect. I wonder if and when we will see Coach Davis introduce this. In the past, it has been a great equalizer against bigger schools.
New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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KenZ
Postdoc
Posts: 2777
Reg: 01-23-06
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West Virginia Game 03-23-17 01:47 PM - Post#227991
In response to Bison89
Somebody please remind me which group of players was Coach Davis' first recruiting class.
this year's freshmen was his first recruiting class although he did add O'Reilly last year to relace Show and had to reassure the incoming frosh at the time to stay committed.
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KenZ
Postdoc
Posts: 2777
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-23-17 01:59 PM - Post#227993
In response to atlantabison
Also note that he is not really winning with "his system" as he adjusted to play man-to-man because that better fit his personnel. I believe if he had his personal preference we would have played a lot more of the match-up. Yet he was willing to adjust to the people he had and do what fit them best.
not sure quite how i would look at this. how much do you really look at skill sets you recruit to fit defensive scheme rather than your preferred offensive scheme?
in any case, i think it is interesting to observe that a significant aspect of our ability to perform better this year in man to man was in fact the players Davis recruited. Toomer and Moore gave us much greater capability to cover the quicker wing players which we struggled to defend in prior years. (no intent here to diminish the importance of the defense of anyone else, particularly Brown and Foulland who are all league defensive players).
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-23-17 02:03 PM - Post#227994
In response to KenZ
Following up on the defense theme, I don't think the Bison played anything other than M2M in any of the 21 PL games. The match-up made a reappearance on a few possessions against WVU, and its use may have been a reason for Nate Jones getting more playing time. That's a tough defense for frosh to learn to play well.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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03-23-17 03:36 PM - Post#228020
In response to Bison137
I have a question about our defense in general, and I am being sincere. Is there an aspect to our defense that wants to allow dribble penetration from the top and from the wings? Seems to me you would want to limit that but it seemed to happen quite a bit. And often when it did, people said the permitter defense did pretty well. I respect all of our players and especially Stephen's ability to play defense, but even he allowed significant penetration during various games. So I go back to my question regarding penetration and perhaps it was part of a plan to allow penetration from different angles. It was also my assumption that a zone of some kind could help limit such penetration.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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03-23-17 04:21 PM - Post#228024
In response to MrPhillie
I can't speak for Nathan Davis, but I don't think there is any plan to allow dribble penetration. I think one reason it happens is that the defensive scheme appears to be one that is reluctant to switch or double team - actions that can create a mismatch or an open three. With Nana in the lane, they are perhaps more willing to allow some dribble penetration to stop the other things.
As for a zone, it definitely can cut down on dribble penetration. But there is a tradeoff. The zone may allow more open threes, and it definitely makes it harder to box out on defensive rebounds. Last year the Bison played a fair amount of match-up zone, and they played it some the first part of this year. Then they went to 100% M2M by mid-December. That may have been due, in part, to having two freshmen assume key roles.
One good thing is that the Bison defense ranked 84th nationally this year, compared to 202nd last year and 257th in 2015. There are only three years since 2000 that the defense ranked better than 84th: 2005, 2006, and 2013. Those were pretty good years.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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03-23-17 04:43 PM - Post#228027
In response to Bison137
Thanks for your thoughts, 137. As I said, I didn't think there was a viable reason for purposefully allowing penetration but then again, I'm not an expert. It just goes to show how difficult m2m defense really is. Stephen is a darn good defender, 1st Team All-PL, and I watched guys get by him with relative ease at times. Especially when a team spreads you out. Help defense and switching have to work seamlessly.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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07-09-17 04:40 PM - Post#230626
In response to MrPhillie
I just happened to stumble across these articles from a Canadian paper on Kimbal Mackenzie just prior to the West Virginia game. Has some interesting items on him.
Canadian guard creating his own madness for upset-minded Bucknell
Oakville's Mackenzie marches into the madness with Bucknell
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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07-09-17 07:01 PM - Post#230630
In response to Bison137
Good quote from "Joe" Griffin too about Kimball's leadership
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