SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6413
Reg: 11-22-04
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01-14-19 06:34 PM - Post#272593
In response to Quakers03
I do think there were some things in the second half that suggested a lack of confidence. I understand and agree with our efforts to try some new things offensively, as what we were doing didn’t work in either game. What surprised me was that we took a shot at changing things up defensively by doubling Aririgozuh on 3 straight possessions early in the second half. The first time we did it (doubling with both bigs), we surprised them and got a stop. But the next two, we gave up what I think were the two easiest buckets of the game. The second one was a wide open 3 for Llewelyn. That was the end of the double team, but it also left us playing from behind for the remainder of the game. Obviously showing a different look can pay dividends even when it doesn’t work, but I’m not sure that was the case here.
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Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts: 3618
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 11-21-04
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Princeton at Penn
01-14-19 07:04 PM - Post#272599
In response to SomeGuy
I agree with this. I actually think the Toledo game not only hurt physically by losing Wang, but it also hurt the team mentally. Since then, none of the guys have played with quite the same confidence (maybe Washington?), but especially our lead guards. From the outside it feels like that really dinged the guys confidence and we haven't quite recovered...
Take a look at the ORATs for Goodman, Woods, and Silpe which all have completely gone in the tank the last 4 games:
Goodman: 58, 66, 70, 68
Woods: 73, 100, 93, 84
Silpe: 78, 66, 69, 62
When the best your primary 1/2 guards can bring is a 100 ORAT (baseline average) for 1 out of 12 game performances (and which only came against a ~300 ranked team)... you're not going to win many games.
100% agree that Wang's injury is a big blow and expect it played at least some factor in his reduced performance in this stretch, BUT I don't think that is the entire reason for those stats above for our lead guards. A factor maybe, but something has been off with those guys the whole time (frankly inability to hit 3s or layups).
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Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts: 3618
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-14-19 07:10 PM - Post#272600
In response to Mike Porter
For the record, while they've struggled on offense, I do think all 3 of those guys has continued to work really hard on defense, but with no Wang and none of those guys hitting, not hard to see how things shook out.
Problem here is that we're in for an extremely tough test with the next game in Temple, away. They are a very good team, very big, and quite athletic (have seen several of their games). Not a great match up for us physically, hard to beat them away, so a pretty tall order to turn around the offense in that game (Temple D is ranked 67 by KP, so about 60 spots better than the Princeton team that made us look really bad).
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3585
Reg: 02-15-15
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01-14-19 08:23 PM - Post#272609
In response to Mike Porter
Villanova is 67 KP on defense FWIW
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6413
Reg: 11-22-04
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01-15-19 12:14 AM - Post#272633
In response to Mike Porter
Yes — all three played extremely well defensively. I was particularly surprised at Silpe guarding Stephens for stretches. He ended up getting in foul trouble doing it, but he was great. And Goodman did a pretty darn good Foreman imitation on Cannady, making everything hard for him.
Another observation that could make the board explode in protest: our best offensive stretch of the game was when Jackson Donahue was in the game in the first half. Particularly that stretch where we scored on I think 5 straight possessions and he either scored or assisted four of them. As we got that short-lived 10 point lead. May not mean anything (and to tie this into the argument on the Princeton board about Morales on Defense, this also coincided with Morales being in the game, which is the only situation where Jackson gets on the floor in these games). But it was interesting. Also enjoyed what he said coming to the bench when Princeton called timeout, which caused my son to look at me and say “language!â€
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The Grape King
Freshman
Posts: 20
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 12-11-18
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01-15-19 01:59 AM - Post#272636
In response to SomeGuy
I suppose this is off topic at this point, but why did you guys play Princeton twice in January? Isn't usually the conference opener/finale?
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12533
Reg: 12-07-04
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01-15-19 05:50 PM - Post#272697
In response to The Grape King
I'll answer the new guy. The conference tournament removes the ability to end with the game and I believe the teams were tired of having to play 3 games in 5 days and that is what precipitated the move off of Tuesday to Saturday. Things should be somewhat more settled next year when Princeton has a normal finals schedule for once.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32831
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-15-19 05:58 PM - Post#272700
In response to Quakers03
I think it's still 2 years off.
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AsiaSunset
Postdoc
Posts: 4361
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-15-19 06:42 PM - Post#272708
In response to Quakers03
Why have the women figured how to deal with this problem but not the men?
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westcoast
Senior
Posts: 302
Reg: 03-08-16
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01-15-19 07:35 PM - Post#272716
In response to AsiaSunset
The women decided to play their second game on Tuesday, February 26. This is right in-between the Cornell/Columbia and Dartmouth/Harvard home weekends, so the travel is not a problem, but it is 5 games in 8 days. The men decided they would rather play early (Jan 12) than play on a Tuesday.
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dperry
Postdoc
Posts: 2214
Loc: Houston, TX
Reg: 11-24-04
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01-15-19 10:55 PM - Post#272726
In response to westcoast
The women decided to play their second game on Tuesday, February 26. This is right in-between the Cornell/Columbia and Dartmouth/Harvard home weekends, so the travel is not a problem, but it is 5 games in 8 days.
As I've mentioned earlier, I suspect one side (whether us or them, I don't know) wants it that way because they think it will give them an advantage. Also, if I'm not mistaken, both the men's games were on NBC Sports Philly; maybe they dictated the timing. It is a relatively slow period for the Power 5 teams.
David Perry
Penn '92
"Hail, Alma Mater/Thy sons cheer thee now
To thee, Pennsylvania/All rivals must bow!!!" |
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AsiaSunset
Postdoc
Posts: 4361
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-16-19 09:48 AM - Post#272737
In response to dperry
We have a situation very similar to the women in mid February and a Tuesday game could have been scheduled. There was plenty of time to plan for this.
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jeromelh
Junior
Posts: 215
Age: 81
Reg: 03-30-17
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01-16-19 10:16 AM - Post#272743
In response to Quakers03
As a Princeton grad, I cannot tell you how much I despised the exam schedule. Every year, I spent my Christmas/New Year break studying for finals scheduled for early January. Thank God administration finally saw the light.
I also hate that we played you guys twice in early January. I loved it when you were the last game of the season.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32831
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-16-19 10:36 AM - Post#272745
In response to jeromelh
You seem to be unique among Princeton alums---for years, I have fought with Princeton people on this site over its ridiculous exam schedule and said that there is no way anyone in his or her right mind wanted to have finals hovering over them on Winter Break, but was told that it was part of the Princeton tradition and claimed advantages flowing from that system.
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Jeff2sf
Postdoc
Posts: 4466
Reg: 11-22-04
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01-16-19 10:41 AM - Post#272747
In response to palestra38
it's as if they were 35 year olds worried that they couldn't fit in studying pre-christmas because of all the holiday shopping and cookie baking they were doing. no 20 year old in their right mind isn't going to want to just get them over with (plus the material is fresher) and have from december 20th through jan 15th to just drink, sleep and play video games.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32831
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-16-19 10:43 AM - Post#272748
In response to Jeff2sf
"Video games" would not have been my 3rd choice there as a 20 year old (or a 60 year old, for that matter), but I get your drift.
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Jeff2sf
Postdoc
Posts: 4466
Reg: 11-22-04
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01-16-19 10:57 AM - Post#272749
In response to palestra38
i dunno man, if you put weed in there as a tie with drinking, I'm just not sure what a guy with no girlfriend and not very much game would do. but my kids aren't at that age yet.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32831
Reg: 11-21-04
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01-16-19 11:13 AM - Post#272751
In response to Jeff2sf
Spring Break is all about guys with no game....Winter Break, not so much. You're probably right---although Pinball was my go-to mindless activity back then.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6413
Reg: 11-22-04
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01-16-19 01:14 PM - Post#272760
In response to AsiaSunset
Isn’t it possible that we didn’t want to start the season with 5 straight road games?
Of course, part of the idea of breaking up the road games is actually winning the home game.
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jeromelh
Junior
Posts: 215
Age: 81
Reg: 03-30-17
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01-16-19 07:53 PM - Post#272780
In response to palestra38
Hi Palestra38
I can assure you that I am not unique. When I returned from Christmas/New Year break, many of my fellow students grumbled about what a miserable time they had during break. I would have rather spent my time with friends and chasing girls instead of studying at the local library. To hell with tradition.
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