NTOP's Cliff Notes.....

[NTOP]

1. Decided to post these only for conf/tourney games. The rest have been pretty woeful.
2. Entertainment value went through the roof late in the game. Wow! Amazing hustle & explosion at both ends.
3. Artis looked like an All-American last night. When he gets out on the break, now, it's WITH the ball, and he's a jet with great instincts. I know some thought he wasn't good enough....but the Dixon Development Dept. shows up yet again.
4. Maia is just a hoot to watch....once that body wrap came off, he's been a major impact. Needs to avoid the corner trap, though.
5. Every game, Slim does something jaw-dropping. No, not the NBA 3. Last night, he drove hard from the right wing, found a cutter (Jeter?) on the left side, and rocketed a perfect bounce pass....all at full speed. His length disguises his quickness.....the kid has skills. With 3 more years of eligibility....he'll be the guy we build around on the wing. Just a pup.
6. Folks who complain about James & Chris just don't get it. They FIT into the team picture w/o being flashy.
7. We'll have a couple stumbles....but this group will make a lot of noise in March. Quality depth......and a great coach. Jamie is a lot calmer this year....he knows.

 

[Pitt69]

1. Decided to post these only for conf/tourney games. The rest have been pretty woeful.
2. Entertainment value went through the roof late in the game. Wow! Amazing hustle & explosion at both ends.
3. Artis looked like an All-American last night. When he gets out on the break, now, it's WITH the ball, and he's a jet with great instincts. I know some thought he wasn't good enough....but the Dixon Development Dept. shows up yet again.
4. Maia is just a hoot to watch....once that body wrap came off, he's been a major impact. Needs to avoid the corner trap, though.
5. Every game, Slim does something jaw-dropping. No, not the NBA 3. Last night, he drove hard from the right wing, found a cutter (Jeter?) on the left side, and rocketed a perfect bounce pass....all at full speed. His length disguises his quickness.....the kid has skills. With 3 more years of eligibility....he'll be the guy we build around on the wing. Just a pup.
6. Folks who complain about James & Chris just don't get it. They FIT into the team picture w/o being flashy.
7. We'll have a couple stumbles....but this group will make a lot of noise in March. Quality depth......and a great coach. Jamie is a lot calmer this year....he knows.

From the Cheap Seats; playing the 'Cuse is always a great way to start the
Big East season. Last night was no exception. Also a nice crowd considering
it was a 9PM start on December 30.
Happy New Year and H2P

 

[Pitt69]

1. Decided to post these only for conf/tourney games. The rest have been pretty woeful.
2. Entertainment value went through the roof late in the game. Wow! Amazing hustle & explosion at both ends.
3. Artis looked like an All-American last night. When he gets out on the break, now, it's WITH the ball, and he's a jet with great instincts. I know some thought he wasn't good enough....but the Dixon Development Dept. shows up yet again.
4. Maia is just a hoot to watch....once that body wrap came off, he's been a major impact. Needs to avoid the corner trap, though.
5. Every game, Slim does something jaw-dropping. No, not the NBA 3. Last night, he drove hard from the right wing, found a cutter (Jeter?) on the left side, and rocketed a perfect bounce pass....all at full speed. His length disguises his quickness.....the kid has skills. With 3 more years of eligibility....he'll be the guy we build around on the wing. Just a pup.
6. Folks who complain about James & Chris just don't get it. They FIT into the team picture w/o being flashy.
7. We'll have a couple stumbles....but this group will make a lot of noise in March. Quality depth......and a great coach. Jamie is a lot calmer this year....he knows.

From the Cheap Seats; playing the 'Cuse is always a great way to start the
Big East season. Last night was no exception. Also a nice crowd considering
it was a 9PM start on December 30.
Happy New Year and H2P

 

[Chescat]

1. Decided to post these only for conf/tourney games. The rest have been pretty woeful.
2. Entertainment value went through the roof late in the game. Wow! Amazing hustle & explosion at both ends.
3. Artis looked like an All-American last night. When he gets out on the break, now, it's WITH the ball, and he's a jet with great instincts. I know some thought he wasn't good enough....but the Dixon Development Dept. shows up yet again.
4. Maia is just a hoot to watch....once that body wrap came off, he's been a major impact. Needs to avoid the corner trap, though.
5. Every game, Slim does something jaw-dropping. No, not the NBA 3. Last night, he drove hard from the right wing, found a cutter (Jeter?) on the left side, and rocketed a perfect bounce pass....all at full speed. His length disguises his quickness.....the kid has skills. With 3 more years of eligibility....he'll be the guy we build around on the wing. Just a pup.
6. Folks who complain about James & Chris just don't get it. They FIT into the team picture w/o being flashy.
7. We'll have a couple stumbles....but this group will make a lot of noise in March. Quality depth......and a great coach. Jamie is a lot calmer this year....he knows.

All good points. #4. Maia is "a hoot to watch" as you say, but he is a liability offensively when he has the ball in his hands. Cuse was doubling in the corner, but a veteran player knows that and stay out
of there and get rid of the ball faster. However he does rebound, and did it well last night.
Now, if he could just get a few putbacks per game.
#5. Totally agree. Johnson has been a four year starter and each year is up there in assists
to turnover ratio (the most important statistical category for a pt.g). He also runs the
offense and manages the flow the way his coach apparently demands (this yr. up tempo
other years, slow and methodical. Technically a very good def. guard despite being slow.
Jones on the other hand is just not an ACC starter. He clearly is better off the bench
and when surrounded by better players is pretty effective. He's not a go to guy, but
can come in and score when the opposition focuses on our better players.

 

[Delpanther]

It was interesting how the Cuse adjusted their zone and took the high post away from Pitt and essentially dared Pitt to shoot from the wings or top of the key. Had we been shooting well they wouldn't have been able to pinch in at the foul line. This was in so many ways like the old BE games- neck and neck until the 5 minute mark and then Pitt took control in crunch time like the good ole days. Very good win.... Oh, and we needed it ; > ). !

 

[pittizit]

Good analysis...

 

[NTOP]

It was interesting how the Cuse adjusted their zone and took the high post away from Pitt and essentially dared Pitt to shoot from the wings or top of the key. Had we been shooting well they wouldn't have been able to pinch in at the foul line. This was in so many ways like the old BE games- neck and neck until the 5 minute mark and then Pitt took control in crunch time like the good ole days. Very good win.... Oh, and we needed it ; > ). !

I don't recall the Cuse using corner traps so often in the past. Bet that we'll see more of it in the future. And bet more that JD will have the guys better prepared to handle it. Calling a TO isn't the answer.
Also, how long before some team challenges that 3/4 court inbound toss?? Or fake it and actually run a play. Seems like a fad....and I hate it. The Cuse really got a bad break when Coleman's injuries basically stole his career. He just can't move....50 lbs. bigger than Mike, but couldn't do much but foul. I hate seeing kids get hurt.....

 

[PittPoker]

[QUOTE="NTOP, post: 693527, I hate seeing kids get hurt.....[/QUOTE]

Wow, thanks for sharing that important factor about you. I'll sleep better now knowing this.

By the way, any chance you might consider posting this back on the payboard? When DT stopped writing his dribbles on here a few seasons ago it was felt hard. When you left I went out to Morton's to celebrate.

 

[NTOP]

[QUOTE="NTOP, post: 693527, I hate seeing kids get hurt.....

Wow, thanks for sharing that important factor about you. I'll sleep better now knowing this.

By the way, any chance you might consider posting this back on the payboard? When DT stopped writing his dribbles on here a few seasons ago it was felt hard. When you left I went out to Morton's to celebrate.[/QUOTE]
Busboy celebrating.?? Scraps off the used plates, maybe, draining wine glasses into your sippy cup??

 

[vinniep33]

1. Decided to post these only for conf/tourney games. The rest have been pretty woeful.
2. Entertainment value went through the roof late in the game. Wow! Amazing hustle & explosion at both ends.
3. Artis looked like an All-American last night. When he gets out on the break, now, it's WITH the ball, and he's a jet with great instincts. I know some thought he wasn't good enough....but the Dixon Development Dept. shows up yet again.
4. Maia is just a hoot to watch....once that body wrap came off, he's been a major impact. Needs to avoid the corner trap, though.
5. Every game, Slim does something jaw-dropping. No, not the NBA 3. Last night, he drove hard from the right wing, found a cutter (Jeter?) on the left side, and rocketed a perfect bounce pass....all at full speed. His length disguises his quickness.....the kid has skills. With 3 more years of eligibility....he'll be the guy we build around on the wing. Just a pup.
6. Folks who complain about James & Chris just don't get it. They FIT into the team picture w/o being flashy.
7. We'll have a couple stumbles....but this group will make a lot of noise in March. Quality depth......and a great coach. Jamie is a lot calmer this year....he knows.

 

[Delpanther]

I don't recall the Cuse using corner traps so often in the past. Bet that we'll see more of it in the future. And bet more that JD will have the guys better prepared to handle it. Calling a TO isn't the answer.
Also, how long before some team challenges that 3/4 court inbound toss?? Or fake it and actually run a play. Seems like a fad....and I hate it. The Cuse really got a bad break when Coleman's injuries basically stole his career. He just can't move....50 lbs. bigger than Mike, but couldn't do much but foul. I hate seeing kids get hurt.....

Yea, we seemed struggle with the in-bounds pass. I seem to recall last year at times it was also a problem-can't explain it but like you I am not fond of taking the ball out under your own basket and heaving it 2/3 of the way down court.

 

[The Sisco Kid]

they did struggle with inbounding at times, whats wrong with the long pass, seemed to work every time.

 

[NTOP]

they did struggle with inbounding at times, whats wrong with the long pass, seemed to work every time.

It's boring & wastes time. I'd limit it to half-court, make both teams work hard. Used to love the screen McGhee set up for Gibbs. Got clean looks maybe 2/3 of the time.

 

[PittPoker]

It's boring & wastes time. I'd limit it to half-court, make both teams work hard. Used to love the screen McGhee set up for Gibbs. Got clean looks maybe 2/3 of the time.

Yeah, that extra 1.5 seconds we waste to make sure we don't turn that ball over on the inbound. Just awful.
How dare we.

 

[whirlybird optio]

I think we run the long pass inbounds primarily against zones. It eliminates the possibility of a trap once the inbounds in caught. We will still run sets when the opponent is playing man to man, and we will still run the curl play which usually results in a corner jumpshot.