91Quake
PhD Student
Posts: 1126
Reg: 11-22-04
|
01-06-24 02:22 PM - Post#361308
This will tell us a lot about where we are until Clark gets back.
|
weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2139
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
|
Re: Dartmouth game 1
01-06-24 03:00 PM - Post#361314
In response to 91Quake
I think you're right. If Perkins and Brown play well, that will be a good sign.
The road games up north may be the most important barometer, though. At least there are only two sets of road back to back games, Brown/Yale and Harvard/Dartmouth.
|
palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32833
Reg: 11-21-04
|
Re: Dartmouth game 1
01-06-24 05:00 PM - Post#361349
In response to weinhauers_ghost
80-51 laugher. Good to see---but Princeton's destruction of Harvard is more of a tone of what the top of the league looks like.
|
weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2139
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
|
Re: Dartmouth game 1
01-06-24 05:39 PM - Post#361355
In response to palestra38
I tend to agree with you, P38. Mack played 32 minutes for Harvard and scored just eight points. He's probably still working his way back to game shape. As for the rest of their roster...I haven't seen them play yet, so I can't offer knowledgeable analysis there.
|
penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21204
Reg: 12-02-04
|
01-06-24 06:58 PM - Post#361362
In response to weinhauers_ghost
What has Thrower done (or not done) to get in SD's doghouse of late?
|
Streamers
Professor
Posts: 8254
Loc: NW Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
|
01-06-24 07:43 PM - Post#361365
In response to penn nation
Polinowski must be having good practices plus shooting well in game action. Taking Thrower minutes.
|
AsiaSunset
Postdoc
Posts: 4361
Reg: 11-21-04
|
01-06-24 09:01 PM - Post#361372
In response to Streamers
When you shoot 56% from 3 the game looks so easy.
Not having Clark in January is a tough blow; however, they really competed today. Our young players fit right in. Sam Brown has advanced court presence and is much better than I expected. We’ll get a better feel for how we do without Clark in Ithaca. They dictate pace and run 10 guys at you, so everyone will need to contribute.
|
weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2139
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
|
01-06-24 09:06 PM - Post#361375
In response to AsiaSunset
Asia, you point out the exact reason Cornell worries me. They're also an experienced team, and that could also be problematic.
|
penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21204
Reg: 12-02-04
|
01-06-24 10:16 PM - Post#361376
In response to Streamers
Polinowski must be having good practices plus shooting well in game action. Taking Thrower minutes.
I'm just trying to remember the last time SD had a guy starting for the first bunch of games and already by the time the Ivy season begins he's at the end of the bench. Very unusual.
|
UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts: 1121
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
|
01-07-24 12:08 AM - Post#361383
In response to penn nation
Remember that Brown was not available for the early games.
As for Cornell; they will be a real challenge for a team ranked 264 on D. Cornell is ranked 55 on offense, based on a number 1 rank in 2% shooting.
They have lost only to a 88, a 82, and a 13. A victory in Ithaca would signal that Penn is much better than they have played so far. Of course if they shoot 56% from 3 like they did tonight they will make a game of it.
|
Penndemonium
PhD Student
Posts: 1900
Reg: 11-29-04
|
Dartmouth game 1
01-07-24 04:54 AM - Post#361388
In response to UPIA1968
To be honest, I think SD's call on Thrower seems right. Thrower looked great to me in the first game of the season when he smoothly sunk a few threes. I never really saw that again from him. I didn't see him doing enough to impact the game otherwise. When he drove, he drove tentatively and didn't make deep penetration. He would pull up in not very good position and the ball movement would die. His decision-making was slower than the other guys, as he seemed to take time to read the defense. is ball-handling has just seemed OK, and his defense was maybe a notch below OK. He reminds me of Jonah Charles, who I also thought was going to be a very impactful player - but who didn't develop enough all-around. I think Thrower is talented, but he needs to evolve a bit to have a positive game impact.
Brown seems to have an idea what to do with the ball before he gets the ball. I saw a little better ball-handling and defense from McMullen. Polonowski, has been an upside surprise. He knows where to be and drills the open shot. The ball moves out of his hands quickly and his defensive positioning is quite good. He will be a nice complement to our other Freshman guards over the years.
|
UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts: 1121
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
|
Dartmouth game 1
01-07-24 06:35 PM - Post#361419
In response to Penndemonium
This nice wins tells us this: Penn is now in the lead for the fourth tournament spot. Unfortunately, Cornell, Yale, and especially Princeton are at another level. Certainly, with Clark, Penn has enough offense to win against any of the Ivies. It does not have the defense to contend for the top spot, or win two games in the tournament.
That's this year's talent. The frosh say the team will be competent next year. BUT, they will need probably two significant additions for challenge for a championship.
Edited by UPIA1968 on 01-07-24 06:39 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6413
Reg: 11-22-04
|
Re: Dartmouth game 1
01-07-24 08:47 PM - Post#361425
In response to UPIA1968
Yes, we look very competitive for the fourth spot, particularly with Harvard hobbled.
|
weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts: 2139
Age: 64
Loc: New York City
Reg: 12-14-09
|
Re: Dartmouth game 1
01-07-24 09:07 PM - Post#361428
In response to SomeGuy
Let's see how we look after the Cornell game.
|
Penndemonium
PhD Student
Posts: 1900
Reg: 11-29-04
|
Dartmouth game 1
01-08-24 12:16 AM - Post#361438
In response to weinhauers_ghost
Maybe Bradyn Foster and Michelangelo Oberti are the additions? Foster looks really good to me. The rare big man who doesn't look like a distant project.
Edited by Penndemonium on 01-08-24 12:17 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6413
Reg: 11-22-04
|
Re: Dartmouth game 1
01-08-24 01:57 PM - Post#361458
In response to weinhauers_ghost
You mean in terms of whether it can be better than 4th? I think Cornell is clearly better than we are right now, probably even with Clark. That said, there are paths to a higher finish even assuming they are better than us. Both stratification between the top teams and the bottom (with us in the middle) or bunching in the middle (common in recent years) could lead to a scenario where we sneak ahead of somebody for a higher seed. But on the flip side, Columbia is much improved, Harvard could get healthy, or Martin could figure out the right mix for Brown’s talent. And we could end up out of the top 4.
|
