Kareem is a solid ball handler. I like that option for us a times during the game. He has experience and can hit the three too in key moments and drive/dish. He adds something that we need at the right times.

I, too, think Dru pressed a terrific amount of the right buttons yesterday.

I have to disagree with you regarding Kareem at the foul line this season. He was shooting under 69% going into the 2nd Bonnies game. For an experienced PG at this level, that is unacceptable. Likewise, he has been noticeably shaky under pressure at the line all season including missing a front end yesterday when the game's outcome was still in doubt. He only made his hay when the pressure was off. Given his many other deficiencies, this is a big issue for a player that was quite good in this area the 2 previous seasons & whose value lies largely in being clutch.

This is a list of things that aren't in Kareem's game that I believe undersized PGs need all or most of to warrant playing 25+ minutes per game:
-Lights out shooter from the FT line
-Minimum 38% 3pt shooter
-Cannot be sped up or pressed effectively
-Great footspeed, super-quick, damn near impossible for defenders to keep in front of
-Smartest player on the court that owns every defensive rotation & offensive set
-Crafty finisher over size with a dynamic float game that picks defenses apart with drive & kick passing because of the threat of his FT shooting & ability to score in traffic.
-Manipulates & moves defenders in pick and roll sets

I realize this is a long list, but it is much of what is needed to compensate for the huge downside of having a player of his size on the floor for extended minutes.

Kareem's A/TO ratio is, in part, so strong because of his interminable dribbling leading to pointless/harmless outlet passes that require time consuming in-possesion resets, inability to see over/around defenses to attempt difficult yet viable passes, & a failure to compromise opposing defenses by effectively penetrating the heart of those defenses. This has largely doomed the Dukes to a crippling low risk/low reward halfcourt offense & poor shot clock management when he is on the floor.

He frequently makes opposing defenses look impenetrable while increasing the chances of unforced errors for his teammates by screwing up the spacing & causing the undue stress of taking possessions too far into the shot clock.

(Watch how many times he blows off the initiating screener, dribbles mostly laterally to the interior right or left wing, and then dribbles back out top to start the possession again. MADDENING!)

Ironduke81 wrote:

Rosier does a great job protecting the lead. Solid foul line,great passer open man & a solid press breaker. If however, the Dukes are chasing a big lead you got to go with a bigger lineup. Coach Dru was a master chess player yesterday👍

Last edited by phil95 (3/02/2025 3:48 pm)

phil95 wrote:

I

…..MADDENING!)

Ironduke81 wrote:

Rosier does a great job protecting the lead. Solid foul line,great passer open man & a solid press breaker. If however, the Dukes are chasing a big lead you got to go with a bigger lineup. Coach Dru was a master chess player yesterday👍

Constant harangues…. MADDENING!

BluffHunter wrote:

You need somebody that you can give the ball to when it needs to be protected. He is that guy for us. I don’t think the coaching staff thinks Rozier is a bigger offensive threat than Crawford or Dinkins. I also have a hard time understanding how a player who gives his all in whatever role he is thrown into is so controversial on this forum. Kareem is such important glue guy for this team. He steers the ship of the team’s attitude.

Absolutely agree with all you said. Let’s not forget what a vocal leader and team favorite for all the guys on team And most fans.
I appreciate everything he does for the team!
Those that have expressed the opinion on what he does or doesn’t do on the court good or bad it’s a free speech forum.  But ok let’s not constantly re-hasing those every game.
We had our best game and biggest win of the season and what are we discussing?
Great win let’s go Dukes!

Motor wrote:

BluffHunter wrote:

You need somebody that you can give the ball to when it needs to be protected. He is that guy for us. I don’t think the coaching staff thinks Rozier is a bigger offensive threat than Crawford or Dinkins. I also have a hard time understanding how a player who gives his all in whatever role he is thrown into is so controversial on this forum. Kareem is such important glue guy for this team. He steers the ship of the team’s attitude.

Absolutely agree with all you said. Let’s not forget what a vocal leader and team favorite for all the guys on team And most fans.
I appreciate everything he does for the team!
Those that have expressed the opinion on what he does or doesn’t do on the court good or bad it’s a free speech forum. But ok let’s not constantly re-hasing those every game.
We had our best game and biggest win of the season and what are we discussing?
Great win let’s go Dukes!

Look, facts are facts. Rozier is an asset after we have a lead. Just by his size, he is not an offensive threat to our opponents when we are behind  He is highly skilled at not loosing the ball, and in most plays, sets up someone for a score. Just don't put him in the game to be offensive enough to come from behind to win. Basketball doesn't work that way. It's not the players, Rozier comes off the bench only when the coach says so. It's all on the coach. Play the right players at the right time each game. There have always been only a handful of coaches that have that touch. Dru  is, I hope, getting that touch. Yesterday, he really nailed it.  Including playing Rozier.  But, it's very apparent, Dinkins and Crawford are our scoring threat. Everything else evolves after those two score at will, and our opponent can't adjust. They have been underused up until this game.  Beat VCU this way, and it's very likely we repeat as A-10 champs. Because, on offense, Dinkins and Crawford can't be stopped. And Dru just might want to let his two starting guards take over every game.

Last edited by NapaDuke (3/02/2025 6:54 pm)

Ironduke81 wrote:

Guys yinz are right. Rozier is worthless. I am an idiot. Sorry for my post.😵‍💫

Not sure what post you meant, but every player is worth a lot. It's just when the coach does or doesn't play the right player at the right time? .  I want to see Rozier every game,  raise the the Jolly Roger  in the closing seconds of the second  half when we need the best ball-handler and a  great FT players on the court. It's another thing when the coach, not the ball player, has the wrong guy in at the wrong time. 

luckymcd wrote:

I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth or speak for anyone else, but I don't think anyone here dislikes Kareem. In fact I don't know how you can call yourself a Dukes fan if you dislike him. He's probably the most likable guy on the team and seems to be the glue guy that brings everyone else together. I think the problem many have is how much the coaches rely on him. We all got a taste of success last year and want more. Many here believe we won't reach that goal with Kareem playing as much as he has been.

On another note, I liked seeing the press again yesterday and it seemed to be effective. You're not going to lose too many games when you shoot 48% from beyond the arc, but the 19 turnovers were a big part of the win too. We have a ton of depth and a bunch of guys adept at forcing turnovers. Why not use those assets to our advantage? I'm not saying we go all out 40 minutes of hell, but I expected to see a lot of pressing this year, and the few times we have brought pressure it's been pretty successful.

Just to add to your point. Yesterday, Dru's deep rotation had GM's bigs sweating and exhausted, heck, their whole team was spent. Tourney time is about endurance too. Late in the season, we just looked fresh and GM looked exhausted. Win on Tuesday and I'd give us a decent chance of a repeat. 

I think I saw George Mason quit on Saturday. Did anyone see that?  Around the 6 minute mark they started phoning it in.  That had to be very satisfying for Dru. He and the guys took it right at the first place team in the conference and beat them into submission. GM guys were jogging, throwing terrible passes, getting out worked down the stretch. They were still playing for first place and they just quit it seemed. You only do that when you feel you have no answer for what your opponent is throwing at you. This was clearly Dru’s signature win so far!  He once again showed me he can coach with the big dogs.  Coaching in a tournament is a little different and I know there will be some growing pains but right now I’m satisfied we have a coach. Any fears I had previously have vanished.

Styles1229 wrote:

I think I saw George Mason quit on Saturday. Did anyone see that? Around the 6 minute mark they started phoning it in. That had to be very satisfying for Dru. He and the guys took it right at the first place team in the conference and beat them into submission. GM guys were jogging, throwing terrible passes, getting out worked down the stretch. They were still playing for first place and they just quit it seemed. You only do that when you feel you have no answer for what your opponent is throwing at you. This was clearly Dru’s signature win so far! He once again showed me he can coach with the big dogs. Coaching in a tournament is a little different and I know there will be some growing pains but right now I’m satisfied we have a coach. Any fears I had previously have vanished.

I saw that too. They were spent. I think that Dru's deep rotation definitely had an affect. Hope it helps on Tues. night.

FAM wrote:

If I can summarize please….

-He is a role player
-He has strengths but at times we think Dru plays him a little too much
-Many wish his strengths were geared more toward getting more points whether from the field or file line
-His presence on and off the court probably contributes to him getting more playing time than what many would like
-He is a leader but the fans actually don’t see that as enough reason to play a lot
Whew….
Go Dukes

 
FAM, are you AI?   

VCU ranked #25 in the USA Today Poll; #26 in the AP.