Game 25: Butler 830P (CBSS, 570AM)

Just back and sorry most folks making comments were not there.   CA was rocking from 8 minute mark of second half through OT as a lot of folks were on their feet, including me, and shouting especially when we were on defense.  While Keita did not do much on court he was a catalyst in getting the fans up and loud when it got close.  Defense was focused on stopping Baldwin and Tucker who had 54 in first game and came through BIG time holding them to 24 tonight.

Glad for Heron to finally have a big game and hope he can build on it.  He was not getting offensive fouls which have limited his PT. 

Just back and sorry most folks making comments were not there.   CA was rocking from 8 minute mark of second half through OT as a lot of folks were on their feet, including me, and shouting especially when we were on defense.  While Keita did not do much on court he was a catalyst in getting the fans up and loud when it got close.  Defense was focused on stopping Baldwin and Tucker who had 54 in first game and came through BIG time holding them to 24 tonight.

Glad for Heron to finally have a big game and hope he can build on it.  He was not getting offensive fouls which have limited his PT. 

Keita is the new Alibegovic. He got the fans up when the team needed the support. He has no idea what’s going on when he’s playing on either side of the ball. I really hope he focuses on learning the game over the summer. This isn’t a knee injury thing. It’s a he’s literally facing the wrong direction half the time thing.

And credit to the fans for showing up despite the weather. We stood up for defense, and we made it loud. Didn’t even boo during any of the multiple occasions Simon almost threw the game away. Thankfully, he gave Ponds the ball at the end of regulation instead of selfishly throwing our season away.

Even the students came out. What a night.

Nevertheless, it was Avery Patterson’s one shining moment as a Johnny

He hit 72 threes that year. Still only surpassed by all-time Johnny gunner Harrison. The whole season was a shining moment.

- Keita was the games Mvp from the bench.  I've NEVER seen an Alumni crowd rise, including the Puke AD, to their feet again and again down the stretch exhorting the team to defend.  We were almost like a real college audience.

- Gil Scott was lucky the stupid playground backboard slap wasn't the ultimate margin of defeat. Career scoring high night for him.

- Missed the Roberts coming out party against the Friars. Certainly didn't see what all the fuss was about tonight. If I was coaching I would still have him fourth in line among the reserves.

- That game was nerve racking. I couldn't just relax and enjoy it.

- Keita was the games Mvp from the bench.  I've NEVER seen an Alumni crowd rise, including the Puke AD, to their feet again and again down the stretch exhorting the team to defend.  We were almost like a real college audience.

- Gil Scott was lucky the stupid playground backboard slap wasn't the ultimate margin of defeat. Career scoring high night for him.

- Missed the Roberts coming out party against the Friars. Certainly didn't see what all the fuss was about tonight. If I was coaching I would still have him fourth in line among the reserves.

- That game was nerve racking. I couldn't just relax and enjoy it.

What have you seen from Keita to keep him above him? Roberts has a nose for the ball and seemingly fights for position/rebounds. Keita cheers like hell!

What have you seen from Keita to keep him above him? Roberts has a nose for the ball and seemingly fights for position/rebounds. Keita cheers like hell!

Keita did seem to be playing with more energy overall tonight, came down with a few nice rebounds after laying eggs the last couple games.

Side note—I’m a big fan of the POV that the win either wasn’t deserved or was lucky or was a bail out because Heron had a good game.

The players are supposed to play and you expect them to have big games here and there and when those games happen you win and you hope you have enough guys on your team that can alternate big games to lead you to those wins.

Adjustments:

Play Roberts over Keita. Keita isn’t ready for this. Maybe his knee has something to do with that, but he has no idea where he should be and that’s completely obvious if you watch him trying to figure it out while an opposing player is wide open.

Roberts gets position. He’s the only player on the team who does that consistently. If he played 20 minutes, I could see him grabbing 10+ boards.

Mullin’s substations were particularly puzzling last night. We jumped out to a 12 point lead in the first half, and he brings in Keita and Trimble. Why stop a good thing? I don’t see the logic.

Can anyone explain it to me?

Williams may one day become a quality BE guard. He’s not ready for this now. He drops routine passes, dribbles directly into traffic and he can’t shoot. Let him sit, watch and work his butt off over the summer. Next year he’ll play.

Trimble, for the most part, plays within himself. He’s not an offensive player, but he’s the best guard we’ve got off the bench. That fade away jumper is something he really needs to work on. Glad his d has improved and that he’s not forcing shots. In two years, I could see him giving us 9/10 points, 6 boards and 2/3 assists. We need 4 year guys like that. Heck, we need a 4 year guy period.

- Keita was the games Mvp from the bench.  I've NEVER seen an Alumni crowd rise, including the Puke AD, to their feet again and again down the stretch exhorting the team to defend.  We were almost like a real college audience.

- Gil Scott was lucky the stupid playground backboard slap wasn't the ultimate margin of defeat. Career scoring high night for him.

- Missed the Roberts coming out party against the Friars. Certainly didn't see what all the fuss was about tonight. If I was coaching I would still have him fourth in line among the reserves.

- That game was nerve racking. I couldn't just relax and enjoy it.

-The crowd last night had an impact. Grittiest win of the year, grinded it out. It felt great for the crowd to collectively be apart of the game down the stretch.

-This team is tired, it shows physically. These 4 days off are sorely needed. They were tired against Providence too. We can't afford to not have MH or Sham in any game moving forward, they're too important to the flow of the offense.

-Heron's tenacious D ln was just as good as his offensive display. 

-Needless to say this W was critical and sets up a primetime stage for Sunday night. What a opportunity lies ahead.

Adjustments:

Play Roberts over Keita. Keita isn’t ready for this. Maybe his knee has something to do with that, but he has no idea where he should be and that’s completely obvious if you watch him trying to figure it out while an opposing player is wide open.

Roberts gets position. He’s the only player on the team who does that consistently. If he played 20 minutes, I could see him grabbing 10+ boards.

Mullin’s substations were particularly puzzling last night. We jumped out to a 12 point lead in the first half, and he brings in Keita and Trimble. Why stop a good thing? I don’t see the logic.

Can anyone explain it to me?

Williams may one day become a quality BE guard. He’s not ready for this now. He drops routine passes, dribbles directly into traffic and he can’t shoot. Let him sit, watch and work his butt off over the summer. Next year he’ll play.

Trimble, for the most part, plays within himself. He’s not an offensive player, but he’s the best guard we’ve got off the bench. That fade away jumper is something he really needs to work on. Glad his d has improved and that he’s not forcing shots. In two years, I could see him giving us 9/10 points, 6 boards and 2/3 assists. We need 4 year guys like that. Heck, we need a 4 year guy period.

Would guess he was trying to get his horses a rest while we could. We see what happens last ten minutes of game. My bigger problem is the use of timeouts.

Side note—I’m a big fan of the POV

One of my favorite genres of porn as well.

- Keita was the games Mvp from the bench.  I've NEVER seen an Alumni crowd rise, including the Puke AD, to their feet again and again down the stretch exhorting the team to defend.  We were almost like a real college audience.

- Gil Scott was lucky the stupid playground backboard slap wasn't the ultimate margin of defeat. Career scoring high night for him.

- Missed the Roberts coming out party against the Friars. Certainly didn't see what all the fuss was about tonight. If I was coaching I would still have him fourth in line among the reserves

You may be the only person alive who could watch that game and think Keita was better than Roberts.

Keita is so bad that I actually feel a bit of sadness for him. He has no control and he is constantly rushed. He’s not bad defensively, but he is awful in every other facet.

Roberts fights for every offensive rebound and that combined with his athletic ability makes the opponent very well uncomfortable.

Roberts moves better than any other big man in the conference. He has legit NBA first round physical talent. If he ever develops skill, look out.

What have you seen from Keita to keep him above him? 

1) He has a jump shot. Has hit several midrangers and just missed a 3 once by an inch.
2) He's a better defender and shot blocker.
3) He's thicker. 30 pounds so.
4) He's not a freshmen.
5) He's vocal on the court and the bench.
6) He looks like he might be able to hit a free throw if need be.
7) He doesn't remind me of a young fawn just finding his legs as Roberts does.
Last night it was an 8 or 10 point run for Butler as soon as Roberts came in.

Look, I'm not slamming the kid. I can see his potential and want him to stay 4 years and develop. My off the bench order is Keita, Trimble, Williams and Roberts - with some variation based on matchups and what you're looking for in a sub. He'll have his time but I see him as emergency use and garbage time only this season.

Roberts is physically and athletically pretty similar to Owens, tho his frame is a little bigger and hopefully he can tack on a little more weight.

1) He has a jump shot. Has hit several midrangers and just missed a 3 once by an inch.
2) He's a better defender and shot blocker.
3) He's thicker. 30 pounds so.
4) He's not a freshmen.
5) He's vocal on the court and the bench.
6) He looks like he might be able to hit a free throw if need be.
7) He doesn't remind me of a young fawn just finding his legs as Roberts does.
Last night it was an 8 or 10 point run for Butler as soon as Roberts came in.

Look, I'm not slamming the kid. I can see his potential and want him to stay 4 years and develop. My off the bench order is Keita, Trimble, Williams and Roberts - with some variation based on matchups and what you're looking for in a sub. He'll have his time but I see him as emergency use and garbage time only this season.

That run was 6-0 and had nothing to do with Roberts at all. After the timeout Roberts got a board and scored a layup.

A so-so jumper from a center? Who cares? He is an inferior rebounder...almost impossibly bad. He almost killed Heron to take his first board in three games. He ripped it right out of Heron’s hands with five Butler players in full retreat and nobody within 10-15 feet of the ball.

He has no control of his body and no awareness.

Roberts has special physical talent and he has good awareness...he ha a nose for the ball you just can’t teach. It feels like half the time Keita is facing the wrong direction.

Roberts is physically and athletically pretty similar to Owens, tho his frame is a little bigger and hopefully he can tack on a little more weight.

Roberts is much more talented. He’s also a lot stronger already and that should only increase—even at St. John’s.

That run was 6-0 and had nothing to do with Roberts at all. After the timeout Roberts got a board and scored a layup.

A so-so jumper from a center? Who cares? He is an inferior rebounder...almost impossibly bad. He almost killed Heron to take his first board in three games. He ripped it right out of Heron’s hands with five Butler players in full retreat and nobody within 10-15 feet of the ball.

He has no control of his body and no awareness.

Roberts has special physical talent and he has good awareness...he ha a nose for the ball you just can’t teach. It feels like half the time Keita is facing the wrong direction.

To each his own.

To each his own.

Not on this. Admit he sucks immediately.

Just having a propensity to rebound is welcomed. I like the way that Chris has integrated first GWill, now Josh over the course of the season. Both aren't ready, and GW has looked terrible for a month now, but he's letting them learn through mistakes, it's the only way that they'll improve.

Missing out on the Femi recruitment last Spring has reared its ugly head all season. The rebounding margins have to be taken w a grain of salt given that this guard oriented team forfeits all offensive rebounds on 3's and FT's in a effort to get back on defense.

Loathe to criticize kids but a few games ago I really noticed that Keita is often out of position and facing the wrong way. Doesn't seem to have basketball instincts or smarts. Seems like many others have noticed this too. That said he does bring other things to the table and has time to develop so don't want it to seem like we are getting on the kid. He can't help lack of instincts and he does play hard and with enthusiasm which we need.