The El Duque Scouting Report:

Youch, here comes a team with size, with talent, and with a wiley coach (though one with a lightbulb shaped nog). The Hawks have rolled to 10 wins, although they have fallen short vs. the better teams on their schedule. But the Hawks have a number of key contributors led by 6-2 senior G Langston Galloway, 6-8 senior F Ronald Roberts, 6-6 freshman F DeAndre Bembry and 6-8 senior F Halil Kanacevic, who combine for 50 points and 25 rebounds per game. Galloway can kill from 3-point range and the bigs can kill you in the paint. Despite a couple lopsided losses, St. Joe's is outscoring its opponents.

My fear for Wednesday is that St. Joe's will wear us out inside, neutralize Mason, and hurt us with Galloway on home friendly rims. I see a 75-62 loss.

I actually do not know what to expect.  St. Joe could be short handed tonight with Miles out and Roberts questionable.  It will be interesting to see how our guys bounce back.  Would be nice to see Watkins and Gill step up and start showing that they can be one of the bricks (brick by brick).  Does it surprise anyone that there is no word from the NCAA on Robinson.  What a joke.

Last edited by CLK (1/15/2014 6:58 am)

Mike Ignelsi, who some of you know as Mike Ignelzi, and some of you as Vinnie the Chin, and maybe some as Rock-Paper-Scissors, I think said it best. This team has to learn how to move the ball around. I keep hearing Micah Mason "can't create shots for himself," which may or may not be a polite way of calling him slow, but I really don't think that's the case. The magic Ovie dunk that's all over the internet started with Mason flying halfway across the court to make a steal, then leading - yes, leading - the Dukes up the court on the break. I think Mason is plenty quick enough and certainly wiley enough to clear space for himself, especially if our offense has any kind of motion to it. But I've seen plenty of games this year, and for the most part our halfcourt offense is Colter dribbling to one side or another without any apparent purpose before short-arming a three attempt himself. This is where having a miniature PG with no footspeed advantage kills us. Even with Ridenour in the game, I see no good ball movement.

If we're seeing "same old" tonight, I wonder if Jimmy Ferry would put Mason (as PG) and White (as 2G) on the court together? White gets to the rim better than Colter and Ridenour, and if he can use that to kick out to Mason for some open shots, we might have something.

I know many, perhaps all, of those who read the board think Colter is either OK, not the problem, or better than I think, and I respect you and your opinions. But I believe Jimmy Ferry in his heart of hearts, being a NY guy, knows PG is an issue on this team. I can tell you that if Jon Severe had come here, he might only be getting 4-5 shots a night himself, because Colter believes the offense revolves around Colter. He is - and I'm open for discussion on this one - no better than the fifth best shooting option on this team. My order would be 1. Soko 2. Mason 3. McKoy 4. White and actually 5. one of the Jones boys (either).

Colter's best skill is his ability to keep a handle on the ball at the end of a game, and he does well at the FT line when the game is tight. So this is not a bath water and baby issue. But we need to upgrade the position to be a player in the conference, and we need to do so with a kid from NYC, NJ or Philly, IMHO. That's where they grow them.

FAM wrote:

ElDuque - I have always had a problem with Colter's BBall play because he doesn't look to pass first, but I believe he is doing better.  As far as Mason, if we look at fast vs. slow  or quick vs. slow I think there is a difference.  Running down the court he can hold his own.  But I look at what he does in comparison as a QB release in passing the ball.  Some quarterbacks have great arms but it takes them longer to release the ball.  He may not be slow but it takes him a little longer to get his shot off.  (He is not quick enough and also accurate when he has to be quick). When he has what appears more time than most, he hits his shot.  But he isn't one to catch and quickly shoot and make the shot.

Good post. There is a difference between quickness, and speed. Wes Welker, for example, lacks speed, but he is very quick. This is why he can get open, but is not a deep threat. Compare him to say, Joe Jurevicius, who lacked quickness, but who once he got going, was probably much faster than Welker. Mason may run the floor well, but he lacks the quickness to shake a good defender.

Count how many times Colter gets him in a position to shoot. Or anyone. Just sayin'.

I can't believe I spent 7 dollars on this game..

Mike Ignelsi wrote:

Niether Vinny-The-Chin, nor Rock-Papper-Scissors, just a guy who cannot remember how to spell his adopted pseudonym. 

Make yourself a pitcher of gin & tonic and your memory will be fine.

I found this post on the A10 board by a Joes fan quite hilarious:

"Very proud of Jim Ferry for not giving up when his team was down 30 with 4 minutes left and Phil put in the YMCA players that fill our bench. Nothing like pressing the kid who's gonna be a priest and the guard on his 5th knee. "

SJU 84
DUQ 75

Simms wrote:

I found this post on the A10 board by a Joes fan quite hilarious:

"Very proud of Jim Ferry for not giving up when his team was down 30 with 4 minutes left and Phil put in the YMCA players that fill our bench. Nothing like pressing the kid who's gonna be a priest and the guard on his 5th knee. "

SJU 84
DUQ 75

This is the best post I read this month.

godukes1970 wrote:

Simms wrote:

I found this post on the A10 board by a Joes fan quite hilarious:

"Very proud of Jim Ferry for not giving up when his team was down 30 with 4 minutes left and Phil put in the YMCA players that fill our bench. Nothing like pressing the kid who's gonna be a priest and the guard on his 5th knee. "

SJU 84
DUQ 75

Perhaps mildly humorous.  My guess is that none of the players on St. Joe's team are going to be priests or are YMCA players.  By the way, I have no idea what the hell "the guard on his 5th knee" is supposed to mean.  

You want hilarious.  Bring back the Shieks to deplume the wing-flapping Hawk as they did on January 13, 1983, in the Civic Arena during the 2nd half of St. Joe's first A-10 game against the Dukes.  

I was there for the Sheiks' defeathering. Now that was funny. Did you know that guy is on scholarship and has to keep his arms waving nonstop throughout the game. And by 5th knee means that he had 4 knee operations. Hilarious. 
 

CLK wrote:

The DU come back did in fact come at the expense of the SJU walk ons.  The SJU broadcasters did say the kid in question was a walk on studying to become a Priest.  Had Martelli not had mercy and taken out his starters when he was up by 38 midway through the second half the Dukes would have lost by 50.  DU looked like a high school team trying to defend the Hawks.  SJU's ball movement led to wide open three point shots all night.  DU is now 325 out of 345 teams in three point defense.  This team is horrible. 

Here is another aspect of this: Other coaches saw what Ferry did. Next time, they will lose by 50 because of the classless way Ferry pressed at the end of the game.

CLK wrote:

Simms wrote:

I can't believe I spent 7 dollars on this game..

 
Same here.

Wow You both spent money to watch this game on the internet. My good friends I have a new marketing idea the 100 remaining loyal season ticket holders should recieve t-shirts with the name "Rubberneckers". The carnage coming for the remaining 2014 season. I can hear it now on the radio broadcast "look Ray the crew & the rubberneckers are on their feet cheering the Dukes.