I do not think Dru is a bad coach at all. This year, and I am sure you have heard this before, is that it’s not about the X’s and O’s But the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.

We lost two CONSISTENT scorers last year and a consistent rebounder. We have 1 consistent scorer at times and if he is shut down no one picks up the slack. We don’t have the “one” consistent rebounder. We “should” win tomorrow night if the players do well. Profound statement, isn’t it!!  don’t think we win or lose the game because of the head coach Wednesday.

FAM wrote:

I do not think Dru is a bad coach at all. This year, and I am sure you have heard this before, is that it’s not about the X’s and O’s But the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.

We lost two CONSISTENT scorers last year and a consistent rebounder. We have 1 consistent scorer at times and if he is shut down no one picks up the slack. We don’t have the “one” consistent rebounder. We “should” win tomorrow night if the players do well. Profound statement, isn’t it!! don’t think we win or lose the game because of the head coach Wednesday.

If you look at Dinkins shooting ave vs Dae Dae.  Dinkins hits 46% of 2's and 39.5 % of 3's. Dae Dae hit 47% of 2's and 33% of 3's. But Dae Dae  played 78% games time vs 71% for Dinkins.. Clark vs Crawford are also very similar. Clark was 47% of 2's and 32% of 3's vs Crawford at 42% of 2's and 42% of 3's, but game time Clark also played 78% of the minutes per game vs just 48% for Crawford.  Right now, I would hope the coach doesn't pull Dinkins out after just 4 plus minutes into the game like last game, then pulled Crawford out for another 5 minutes,.but instead plays these two all game like Dae Dae and Clark played last year.  It's more than likely to improve our chances of winning.

Ironduke81 wrote:

Great point Dinkins & Crawford in regard to extended playing time. Look I like Kareem great kid assist king & can shot foul shots at crunch time. But I believe his sweet spot is at 15 minutes per game. Definitely play him at the end of a close game. Add 2-3 minutes. Kareem is an asset. Go Dukes

Last year, that's how we played it down the stretch and in the tourney. Just another point, if we are going to foul at the end of the game to catch up, do it at the 6 to 8 minutes left when the opponent still has the bad FT players still in, not in the last two minutes  when their best FT players just don't miss. By then, it's pointless.

Interesting stats on the shooting %’s for Dinkins and Crawford. If it was only that simple. Both Dinkins and Crawford are below average on the ball defenders; they can’t keep the offensive player in front of them putting stress on our bigs and defense to rotate. And they don’t close out well enough to prevent opponents from making a high percentage of 3 point shots. And Dinkins has one of the worst guard steal rates in the league.

Where these guys fall very, very short is that they can’t get to the FT line. Crawford’s FT rate is 14.9% and Dinkins’ 25.3% (as compared to the average D-1 player this year at 33.0% and Dukes as a whole at 29.7%).  Combined, they have only shot 91 FT’s this year and probably will not get to 120 for the year. Last year, Dae Dae got to the line 152 times and Jimmy 143 times.

These 2 guards at best are decidedly average and more minutes are just going to continue the mediocrity. Just not a lot of options at guard for Coach Dru. Pick your poison.

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

Interesting stats on the shooting %’s for Dinkins and Crawford. If it was only that simple. Both Dinkins and Crawford are below average on the ball defenders; they can’t keep the offensive player in front of them putting stress on our bigs and defense to rotate. And they don’t close out well enough to prevent opponents from making a high percentage of 3 point shots. And Dinkins has one of the worst guard steal rates in the league.

Where these guys fall very, very short is that they can’t get to the FT line. Crawford’s FT rate is 14.9% and Dinkins’ 25.3% (as compared to the average D-1 player this year at 33.0% and Dukes as a whole at 29.7%). Combined, they have only shot 91 FT’s this year and probably will not get to 120 for the year. Last year, Dae Dae got to the line 152 times and Jimmy 143 times.

These 2 guards at best are decidedly average and more minutes are just going to continue the mediocrity. Just not a lot of options at guard for Coach Dru. Pick your poison.

Nice perspective on defense, but statistically both players are about 76% better at scoring this season than Rozier based on number of attempts to actually scoring.  Also, on FT's Dinkins and Kareem played nearly the same  most minutes this season, but Dinkins shot 67 FT's making 53  which is 79%, the highest on the team, but Karren attempted 50 making 35 which is an ave. of 70%. Our team as a whole plays pretty good defense. How does Roziers over all defense stats compare, and number of steals,  See to me, we play defense well enough to win every game, but do not score enough. That's the problem. And I agree, Dae Dae and Clark knew how to get an opponent up in the air and draw the foul. It would have been a big help for anyone on this team to have had that skill. Just one more observation based on statistic's, only Dinkins, Crawford and Hronsky should be launching 3's late in the game when needed. The rest of this team just are not good at 3's.

PhoenixRising2 wrote:

The Dukes are 1-4 against the 5 teams with a worse conference record than they do. It’s a huge reason why they are still fighting for the bye. They simply can’t afford to lose this game tonight.

I know, this is madness. We really only win if we get the led early and expand on it in the second half.  We under use our bigs every game in a very big way. Dru keeps playing a guard oriented game, we are thin on guards. That's clear. 

BluffHunter wrote:

The ESPN+ stream will be starting early to show the ceremony for Coach Fran Dunphy.

Thanks, BluffHunter. I hope it’s a lengthy tribute that ices the La Salle team.

That is an awesome start. Those alley oops…!

FAM wrote:

Rozier makes a stupid file on a 3 point shot that wasn’t close n Crawford shoots 2 fouls… air ball on a file shot n hitting the front of the room on the second.

We don’t have enough consistent players. Maximus needs to play more n no Rozier the second half please.

Rozier just dribbles around. The offense grinds to a halt   He’s quick enough to get to spot then he doesn’t make something happen from it.   Nobody on the team can drive and score.  Number one priority has to be to get a slasher/scorer.  I think the 2nd half plan has to be to get the ball inside to Wilborn/Dixon/Chabi over and over. That will get some shooters open on the perimeter if they start doubling inside.  Transition needs to continue too. If Lasalle keeps shooting poorly we have to push the action.

SkepticAl wrote:

FAM wrote:

Rozier makes a stupid file on a 3 point shot that wasn’t close n Crawford shoots 2 fouls… air ball on a file shot n hitting the front of the room on the second.

We don’t have enough consistent players. Maximus needs to play more n no Rozier the second half please.

 

Was actually Corbett who airballed the free throw.

In the final 15:43 of the first half, the Dukes scored 13 points. Abysmal offense. No points from Hronsky, Corbett and Edwards. Thankfully they continued to play defense.

BluffHunter wrote:

Embarrassing that we have let them stay in this game

Dinkins trying to be the hometown hero. It hurts to watch this crap.