Agree with a lot of the comments about guard penetration and also failure to try doubled up bigs (add JRob) to just see what would happen for a couple of minutes.  That said, TSmith needs to play more consistently if he is going to be the PG.  You can't have that stat line as a starting PG and missing the foul shots and a couple bunnies in first half cost us at least a 6 point half time lead.  As much as I like NSanders, the scouting report is simply foul him when he gets an offensive rebound as he can't make foul shots.  Keep working on it NS, if you become a 75% foul shooter you'll be averaging a double double.  I am no JF disciple, but at some point the players need to step up, make foul shots, not make turnovers and play smart.  I still like our core 4 (TSmith, IMike, Mlewis and Sanders), but TSMith needs to start being more consistent.

So far this NJ guard as a Soph has been outplayed by a past Maryland guard who was 1/2 a foot smaller than him, and. Four year starter.

Phildog wrote:

So far this NJ guard as a Soph has been outplayed by a past Maryland guard who was 1/2 a foot smaller than him, and. Four year starter.

Yup. I know he's your boy El D but his inconsistent play and penchant for turnovers (see pass in yesterday's game that he threw behind two guys who weren't looking straight out of bounds) are on him. Not the coaching.

Isaiaha mike has lived up to the hype. Mike Lewis is somehow finding ways to drop 23 points against possibly the best team in our conference and an NCAA tourney team 15 games into his college career, all despite also being in "Ferrys System". Hell Blackman has even been solid to very good in games. For me Tarin Smith, supposed to be the best of this whole group, has been extremely disappointing, and inconsistent at best. If we are going to offer criticism it should be without bias in my opinion, no matter who a guys high school coach was.

In fact didn't Isaiah Watkins come from one of those big NJ programs? He never even finished his college career.

Last edited by Duques102 (1/05/2017 2:56 pm)

Phildog wrote:

So far this NJ guard as a Soph has been outplayed by a past Maryland guard who was 1/2 a foot smaller than him, and. Four year starter.

I'm sorry, but could you remind me again of Colter's 4-year record?

I said in an earlier post that Smith needs to play more consistently, but comparing him to someone who couldn't play D, couldn't handle the ball under pressure, and couldn't go to the hole consistently after playing virtually every minute for four years, I think we need some more data points on Smith. Like, let's see what the W-L looks like when he leaves.

So, let's see how it plays out. Funny, no criticisms of the guy when he's had big games. Only after bad games. Isiah Mike also had a bad game, Rene Castro hasn't lived up to his billing at all, Blackman shows up once every six games, D. Lewis is playing himself to the bench ... but let's put it all on Smith.

Just sayin' boys. That, and Colter's gone, and if you want to see this program win for the first time in the Smalltime Jim era, you sorta need your point guard to be what he should be. I still think he's the most talented PG we've had since TJ.

Isaiah Watkins, BTW, was a Canadian kid who prepped one year at St. Benedict's. I know we get a lot of dufus Quebecers invading the beaches ever summer, but Toronto isn't part of NJ, last time I checked. Watkins was one of seven kids on that team that got D1 scholarships if I remember correctly. Sorry, not taking the heat for that one. Why not pin it on the guy who recruited him, or the rest of that stellar class. Tra'Vaughn White anyone?

Sheesh. You guys.

I was just kidding around about DC, but agree that Smith has been inconsistent , but does look to have skill and is really just a first year player.

We really have to be patient with this crew, they are going to have to step up if this year can be at least respectable.

It is hard to follow this program when you want them to be so much better than may be possible at this stage of the program, all things considered, now on to Philly and LaSalle ............

ElDuque wrote:

Phildog wrote:

So far this NJ guard as a Soph has been outplayed by a past Maryland guard who was 1/2 a foot smaller than him, and. Four year starter.

So, let's see how it plays out. Funny, no criticisms of the guy when he's had big games. Only after bad games. Isiah Mike also had a bad game, Rene Castro hasn't lived up to his billing at all, Blackman shows up once every six games, D. Lewis is playing himself to the bench ... but let's put it all on Smith]

 
In all fairness, I think the reason people tend to be more critical of Smith (which I agree with you is the case), is because of what was expected of him. I too believe that Smith is extremely talented and the post about him pressing and forcing things is absolutely spot on. He did go an entire year without truly playing this level of basketball, which obviously has an impact. I also think he's the best pg we've had since TJ btw. Just needs to let the game come to him and start putting it together on a consistent basis.

Just look at Rene from this year to last. And whoever posted that was right. Rene's ball handling was so good VCU stopped pressing. Rene and Smith can both reach much higher levels IMO. They weren't at P5 schools for no reason. Hope they can continue improving.

Duques102 wrote:

ElDuque wrote:

Phildog wrote:

So far this NJ guard as a Soph has been outplayed by a past Maryland guard who was 1/2 a foot smaller than him, and. Four year starter.

So, let's see how it plays out. Funny, no criticisms of the guy when he's had big games. Only after bad games. Isiah Mike also had a bad game, Rene Castro hasn't lived up to his billing at all, Blackman shows up once every six games, D. Lewis is playing himself to the bench ... but let's put it all on Smith]

 
In all fairness, I think the reason people tend to be more critical of Smith (which I agree with you is the case), is because of what was expected of him. I too believe that Smith is extremely talented and the post about him pressing and forcing things is absolutely spot on. He did go an entire year without truly playing this level of basketball, which obviously has an impact. I also think he's the best pg we've had since TJ btw. Just needs to let the game come to him and start putting it together on a consistent basis.

Just look at Rene from this year to last. And whoever posted that was right. Rene's ball handling was so good VCU stopped pressing. Rene and Smith can both reach much higher levels IMO. They weren't at P5 schools for no reason. Hope they can continue improving.

 
I think, from reading his quotes, that Smith has high expectations for himself. He needs to control what he can and not start pressing at this point. All of our players, really, need to do their jobs, if I can steal a Mike Tomlin quote. This is what burned me early in the year when Ferry admitted to not coaching this team. If he'd done his job then, the team might be playing better together now.

As for LaSalle, I agree with duq81. This one's winnable. Let's go out and get it. 2-0 on the road to start conference play is pretty good.

ED and duq81, you might think this is winnable, but KenPom disagrees - giving the Dukes less of a chance vs. La Salle on the road than VCU at home. It would be a big win for the Dukes.

rosceaux wrote:

Phildog wrote:

It is hard to follow this program when you want them to be so much better than may be possible at this stage of the program, all things considered, now on to Philly and LaSalle ............

"This stage of the program" is year 5. Four full recruiting classes. 

 
Exactly my point, with all the great " on paper" , past recruits.The transfers, the one's who were too small, not good enough and on and on since we were told Duquesne needed to take a step up, we are back to under 500 basketball.

That is the stage of the program, failing and I am wondering if some of these kids develop and are any good , will they stay or go somewhere that there may be a chance of winning and post season play.

The smartest Duke of the past 10 years was TJ, he got out , went to 2 NCAA's and is a second year NBA player, pretty good for a former Duke.

ElDuque wrote:

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

ED and duq81, you might think this is winnable, but KenPom disagrees - giving the Dukes less of a chance vs. La Salle on the road than VCU at home. It would be a big win for the Dukes.

He had us beating Bobby Mo, and we showed him!

Hope we show him again, but I ain't holding my breath.
 

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Very good A-10 game on TV (ESPN2) tonight at 7pm - Rhode Island at Dayton.  Top two teams, and arguably the best two coaches, in the conference going at it.

BTW, still way too early, but Lunardi is projecting today that the A-10 will have 3 teams in the tourney - VCU is currently positioned as the last team in.

 

Hurley isn't one of the top 2 coaches in this league. For all of the hype URI is no better than they were under Jim Baron. If his name was Dan Smith, you wouldn't be talking about him. He needs to show something to validate the hype. The top 2 coaches in the league are Miller, and McKillop. At this point, I'm putting Martelli above him, and maybe Schmidt, as well.
 

Duques102 wrote:

duq81 wrote:

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Very good A-10 game on TV (ESPN2) tonight at 7pm - Rhode Island at Dayton.  Top two teams, and arguably the best two coaches, in the conference going at it.

BTW, still way too early, but Lunardi is projecting today that the A-10 will have 3 teams in the tourney - VCU is currently positioned as the last team in.

 

Hurley isn't one of the top 2 coaches in this league. For all of the hype URI is no better than they were under Jim Baron. If his name was Dan Smith, you wouldn't be talking about him. He needs to show something to validate the hype. The top 2 coaches in the league are Miller, and McKillop. At this point, I'm putting Martelli above him, and maybe Schmidt, as well.
 

Guys what about Will Wade? Shaka Smart brought them from nothing to a perennial NCAA team and even moved them to a stronger conference. Wade takes over with no former hc experience and that program has not missed a beat. He's also beinging in better recruiting classes than many power 5 schools.

Wade was the head coach of Chattanooga before coming back to VCU.