Lost in the almost comeback
- Thread starter snaphook297
- Start date
They had him double-teamed most of the night. And he's not a good enough player to work his way out of it or overcome it. We're heading into a stretch where we'll play some of the better ACC teams, at least a lot better than Pitt. He'll be a non-factor for many of those games. He's not as good as some on here seem to think he is.
They'll have to rely more on Burton, Femi and Gueye for most of their production on both ends of the floor and try and keep the games in the 60's. Last night, their comeback was fueled by improved defense. Rebounding sucked and Hugley did nothing with rebounding. Against a good team, we get blown out.
They'll have to rely more on Burton, Femi and Gueye for most of their production on both ends of the floor and try and keep the games in the 60's. Last night, their comeback was fueled by improved defense. Rebounding sucked and Hugley did nothing with rebounding. Against a good team, we get blown out.
Pitt has to find a way to make other teams pay for collapsing on Hugley. He needs to start swinging those massive elbows when he’s being mugged. Sometimes you need to flip the other guy over your back, ya know?
No. Teams are doubling him on every single touch. He isn't good enough to beat 2 ACC Bigs. They have taken him completely out of the game and say "beat us with your guards" but we can't shoot. You really can't double in basketball anymore people shoot so well, but Pitt can't so we're stuck. We need shooters.
I think another big, down low on the side not occupied by Hugley would help. I think we could get a bunch of other side put backs.
Mo is mostly on the perimeter. If Hugley misses lacross the rim or fumbles the ball into the lane, no one else is in position to be a factor.
Worse is the combined 2 points from Horton and Hugley.
Teams only have to defend between 1/2 and 2/3 of the floor area vs Pitt that they do that they do vs any other opponent that can spread the floor on O and present a reasonably consistent threat to score from beyond the FT line; and ESPECIALLY to score from 3.
That means they can pack it in and can double Hugley. At times I’ve even seen a 3rd guy collapse on JH. They’ll let Pitt clank ‘em from outside or try to force it inside against all those arms and bodies. The problem is compounded by Pitt’s ball handling woes. There is NO high level ball-handling PG who can draw and dish or distribute the ball quickly, accurately and effectively.
Looks like Hugley then gets tired from all the bodying. Then frustrated; to the point it gets in his head and effects his intensity.
There are NO excuses. Every coach and player are responsible and accountable for maximum effort every minute of every game. But there are 13 scholarships allowed and right now it looks to me like Pitt has 4 or 5 guys that are just not even D1 players, let alone P6 level talents. Plus, they’re still down 1 spot due to Nike’s injury so there just isn't enough material.
As mentioned earlier, there is NO PG. No lead G to facilitate, organize, settle, distribute. A good team really needs 2 guys capable of that. Pitt doesn’t have 1.
As has been said by many repeatedly, that’s ALL on the HC and staff. It’s a mess. The recruiting and retention has been unacceptable. As unappealing (and really almost unbelievable) that ANOTHER re-boot is needed, the alternative to it could be worse. HL is up against it, for sure. It’s her job to get Pitt MBB right. FAST!!!
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Here’s the problem with Big John lately. When Pitt dumps the ball down to John he holds it long enough to be double and sometimes triple teamed. He has to start doing what he is going to do as soon as he gets the ball. And when the ball is on the way to John his teammates have to move into positions where John can find them.
And also, the thoughts expressed above just deal with the offensive end. (Thought that was long enough). But it didn‘t even touch on the problems on D. That’s a WHOLE other matter. 🤦♂️
He’s not good enough to beat teams single-handedly because he uses brute strength and has no real skills. This is why he will never be as good as you thought he was. You were WAYYY wrong about him
John isn't a 7 footer. Can’t just lob it over the top to him at 6’9”. So it is very tough to even enter the ball to him down low through the tangle of arms & legs since Pitt has no skilled dribble penetrating PG. It’s like trying to get the ball through a picket fence.
So he has to come out higher to receive it. He’s just not nearly as effective when he receives the ball at the high post (or beyond).
He is by far the best center we have had in a long time.
His problems are more team and coaching related than his own.
He seems to have pretty good feet and hands for a guy his size. But I wonder if (but hope). he’s willing to put in the work to develop them. But yea right now he’s a one trick pony and of course every team we face knows it and he’s gotten considerably easier to defend. And of course it doesn’t help that he doesn’t have a whole lotta help at times.
Hugley is a freshman with elite (non-NBA) college basketball talent. The kid has AA potential. He would be putting up huge numbers on a good team playing vs 1 player.
Problem is that Hugley immediately needs to recognize the double team coming and pass the ball before the second defender completes the double. That way someone should be open. Hugley waits too long to get rid of the ball and this leads to turnovers when he trys to pass out of the completed double team.
Last night's TV announcers mentioned Hugley waiting too long toget rid of the ball several times.
Last night's TV announcers mentioned Hugley waiting too long toget rid of the ball several times.
Exactly. By the time he
catches, and then looks
it's too late. They did a
good job of covering our
remaing four players with
their remaining three. They
of course left our player
who was fathest from the
ball open. That's always
the goal when you double
team. By the time Hugley
gets rid of the ball they're
back in their basic man to
man and it worked. John
doesn't score, holds on to
the ball too long, and we
don't have the shooters on
the outside to make them
pay for the double. Expect
EVERY team to do this to us.
BTW, if you remember, BC
in the game they lost to us,
tried to guard Hugley with
one man. He ate them for
lunch and got them in foul
trouble. As another poster
already said, he's got to get
rid of it sooner, BEFORE the
second player compleres
the double.
catches, and then looks
it's too late. They did a
good job of covering our
remaing four players with
their remaining three. They
of course left our player
who was fathest from the
ball open. That's always
the goal when you double
team. By the time Hugley
gets rid of the ball they're
back in their basic man to
man and it worked. John
doesn't score, holds on to
the ball too long, and we
don't have the shooters on
the outside to make them
pay for the double. Expect
EVERY team to do this to us.
BTW, if you remember, BC
in the game they lost to us,
tried to guard Hugley with
one man. He ate them for
lunch and got them in foul
trouble. As another poster
already said, he's got to get
rid of it sooner, BEFORE the
second player compleres
the double.
The reason he doesnt get rid of the ball quickley is the other players dont cut to the basket. They just stay in one place. That is coaching. Mo is the only one Ive seen do it, and Big H feeds him the ball for dunks.
I have to say, a lot of the issues is coaching. If you watch them they dont really have a system. Sorry but no one can beat a double sometimes triple team every time they touch the ball. I mean literally every time. Im not sure what you all expect him to do. The young man has quick feet, but no where to go, then he has to try and throw a cross court pass, because no one cuts to the basket.
I have to say, a lot of the issues is coaching. If you watch them they dont really have a system. Sorry but no one can beat a double sometimes triple team every time they touch the ball. I mean literally every time. Im not sure what you all expect him to do. The young man has quick feet, but no where to go, then he has to try and throw a cross court pass, because no one cuts to the basket.
So you’re off the all American center narrative ?
They aren’t doubling him with two bigs
They are doubling him with a guard or wing .
Good response, but since you
mentioned it, here's what I
expect him to be taught and
expect him to do. Know that
when your teamate enters
the ball to you on the inside,
you're most likely going to
be doubled. Don't try to
overpower or beat a double.
Get rid of it before the second
player gets to you. Get it back
at least to the guard who
got it to you. Do it fast enough
and you'll expose the D in their
defensive transition. Ever hear
of a "touch pass"? Good players
know how to execute that pass,
It works, and makes a double
team pay for the gamble. There
obviously other ways to beat it.
Well coached teams go over
this in practice repeatedly.
BTW, if a team double teams
a lot, regardless if it's off a
press, or in the post they'll
know immediately if the
offense knows how to counter
it. When you're giving up
open jumpers or worse yet,
layups...then you realize
they know what to do against
it. COACHING
Pitt has allowed themselves to become pretty 1-dimensional. Largely due to a lack of being able to score with any regularity from different levels: especially beyond the FT line. In most cases they are now struggling to enter the ball to Hugley down low. He’s at most a 1 dribble to the basket guy; even better when he just can catch, turn and get his shot up.
When he’s forced up high to be able to get the ball, much of his effectiveness as a scoring threat is eliminated. Especially with the stand around and watch approach the other guys seem to use so much. Teams are baiting JH to shoot from the FT line and beyond. And his frustration is allowing him to take the bait more often, with general results that aren't very good.
Finding a solution to all of the problems on offense with the present roster won’t be easy. More and faster movement - players and ball - would be a start. Take better care of the ball Then make some shots. They just don't seem to be able to do it consistently. Only sporadically. In streaks and spurts.
Better effort and intensity on D would also help. But that far too often lacks as well.
The fact that Capel hasn't been able to get an effective true PG in all his years here, given his pedigree, is borderline shocking.
Smf doesn’t know basketball
There is no Justin Champagnie's on this team. Everyone can be replaced. Oh yeah, who's the guy still bringing up that class as a reason to keep Capel??
Two points:
As many note, the complete absence of even one three point threat, as well as the overall lack of ACC talent around him, makes him priority # 1 for opposing teams. Teams can do whatever they want to stop or slow him down.
Second, he really is still a freshman, in terms of having such little practice and game play last year
As many note, the complete absence of even one three point threat, as well as the overall lack of ACC talent around him, makes him priority # 1 for opposing teams. Teams can do whatever they want to stop or slow him down.
Second, he really is still a freshman, in terms of having such little practice and game play last year
And someone who doesn’t see any skills in Hugley knows BB….I see…We just saw the center position for years manned by a guy who couldn’t catch a cold. And couldn’t pass that cold on to someone if he did catch it. Hugley has good hands receiving and passing and a nice hook move. But I guess these aren’t skills. He’ll get better at releasing his catches. Not open to debate because I know a tad about BB as well.
Hugley is a pretty good player
He’s very easy to neutralize because he’s only effective near the basket
He’s shootings 44% from the field
He averages less than 9 points from the field on nearly 12 shots which is very inefficient .
To his credit he’s getting 5 ppg at the line where he is a very good shooter for a big
Getting fouled is his primary skill
Mike young and Zanna were as good
He’s certainly better than Brown but that’s a low bar to cross
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