Game 21: AT St. Louis, Feb 1st, 2:30 EST/1:30 CST, NBCSN

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

What I would like to know is how they got that wide open look at the three to tie it. They set a screen on Jenkins and he didn't even attempt to guard the shooter - not sure if he thought they were going to switch or what, but it looked odd.

It was bizarre, almost like Jenkins thought we were playing zone.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

anyone checked on Jollay lately? I saw a facebook status from his account that said "I can't take the insanity anymore, I'm going to where I'm comfortable."

If I'm not mistaken, he's in Thailand, interacting with his favorite lady-boy.

Doing fine. Comfortably numb.

 

[gmujim92]

Yep - you are a moron... when did I ever blame Moore? What I said was a long jump shot by Moore was not what Hewitt wanted.

I'm 38 years old. I never played basketball past middle school. Even I knew the instruction given was to drive and kick out. Moore thought he had a chance with the jump shot - I don't fault him for that. He had a decent look. My problem is with moron fans who they that was the shot that Hewitt drew up - it was not.

It's our same moron fans that complained when either BA or SW handled the ball at the end of games and turned it over and complained why we didn't have a PG handling the ball... now we have a PG with the ball and we are complaining because he's too young. Guess what? We are running out of f'ing people to handle the ball at the end! No BA, no SW, and now no MM... I guess we better have J2 or Copes handle the ball at the end?

Looking back, I don't think anyone is criticizng the decision to have Moore start the play -- at least he's less likely to dribble it off his foot -- but we didn't make them defend anything and got forced into taking exactly what they wanted us to take: a contested 15-footer by a kid whose range is about 2 feet.

Pretty sure all anyone is saying is that you have to get a better look than that when you have 24 seconds on the clock.

But feel free to keep calling fellow Mason fans morons, all-knowing Superfan.

 

[gmu05]

Looking back, I don't think anyone is criticizng the decision to have Moore start the play -- at least he's less likely to dribble it off his foot -- but we didn't make them defend anything and got forced into taking exactly what they wanted us to take: a contested 15-footer by a kid whose range is about 2 feet.

Pretty sure all anyone is saying is that you have to get a better look than that when you have 24 seconds on the clock.

But feel free to keep calling fellow Mason fans morons, all-knowing Superfan.

The blind homers continue to look at everything within a vacuum, as if this disarray we are seeing is something new. Sure, do we all love BA and Wright? No, but we sure as hell would rather have them taking that shot than a freshman who has the worst jumper on the team. We are morons because maybe a better play could have been called? It's late in the season, if you don't have a go-to play that the team could run in their sleep by now whose fault is that?

 

[Patriotfan49]

Looking back, I don't think anyone is criticizng the decision to have Moore start the play -- at least he's less likely to dribble it off his foot -- but we didn't make them defend anything and got forced into taking exactly what they wanted us to take: a contested 15-footer by a kid whose range is about 2 feet.

Pretty sure all anyone is saying is that you have to get a better look than that when you have 24 seconds on the clock.

But feel free to keep calling fellow Mason fans morons, all-knowing Superfan.

We are absolutely terrible at end of half/game situations. We almost always do the same thing, waste too much time and then throw some helter skelter hodge podge look at the hoop and throw it up.

 

[dr. gunnie]

Classic Jim post - change the argument so you sound correct. Sorry Jim, people weren't saying we needed to have a better look, people we saying that the Moore shot is what Hewitt wanted coming out of the TO, which simply is not correct. I'll try and spell it out for you as simple as I can:

I really hope that wasn't the play drawn up.

Thats the f*ckn play he draws up?going for the surprise shot from least likely guy who cant shoot = dumb.

It was a planned jumper for a non jump shooter. Fkn idiot coach.

WHY WAS MOORE TAKING OUR LAST SHOT???
Unreal

how in the world with 24 seconds left and the game tied you let Marquis Moore take the last shot. He just dribbles the ball in place for ten seconds waits for the clock to expire and then forces up a shit shot. WTF is Hewitt thinking. Is that the call in the huddle during the time out?
Say what you want Hewitt, Blewitt again. He is just a horrible coach.

There is more, but this should be enough for even you to get the point. Again, you are a moron if you think the design of the play was for one of our worst jump shooters to pull up and take a long jump shot. Hewitt instructed Moore to dribble and drive, he could either take the layup, or kick it out to Holloway on the right coming off a screen, or kick it out to BA on the left coming off a screen. Moore decided to pull up and take the jumper. You can not blame Hewitt for Moore pulling up - that was 100% Moore's decision and was never talked about in the huddle. So yes, if you think Hewitt drew up a play to have Moore take a long jumper, you are a moron.

No shit, please tell me what "option" we tried to get to -- unless I'm hallucinating, I didn't see us do much of anything on that play.

You didn't see Holloway come off a screen and BA come off a screen? Are you kidding? Jesus, if you can't even see that, why am I even wasting my time? Watch again - watch Hewitt tell them to start the rotation for the screen - twice. How can you watch a basketball game and not see these, and then come on a message board acting like your John Wooden and know everything about basketball?

 

[gmutom]

We are absolutely terrible at end of half/game situations. We almost always do the same thing, waste too much time and then throw some helter skelter hodge podge look at the hoop and throw it up.

I think a big part of that is not having an ideal playmaker to give the ball to in that situation. Allen and Sherrod both seem like the obvious choices, but neither has shown to have a great handle as evidenced by the end of the UMass game.

Ideally, everybody would have run the play correctly yesterday, which would have given Moore enough time to dish it off when the defender came out on him. It's obviously something we need to work more on in practice.

Note: This post is dedicated to Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the great actors of our time. #RIP

 

[Patriotfan49]

I think a big part of that is not having an ideal playmaker to give the ball to in that situation. Allen and Sherrod both seem like the obvious choices, but neither has shown to have a great handle as evidenced by the end of the UMass game.

Ideally, everybody would have run the play correctly yesterday, which would have given Moore enough time to dish it off when the defender came out on him. It's obviously something we need to work more on in practice.

Note: This post is dedicated to Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the great actors of our time. #RIP

I dont this its a lack playmakers at all. Its just play call, and execution......and no sense of urgency. Id rather score and have 5 seconds left then run the clock down to 3 and throw up some off balance prayer at the buzzer.

 

[Patriotfan49]

Classic Jim post - change the argument so you sound correct. Sorry Jim, people weren't saying we needed to have a better look, people we saying that the Moore shot is what Hewitt wanted coming out of the TO, which simply is not correct. I'll try and spell it out for you as simple as I can:











There is more, but this should be enough for even you to get the point. Again, you are a moron if you think the design of the play was for one of our worst jump shooters to pull up and take a long jump shot. Hewitt instructed Moore to dribble and drive, he could either take the layup, or kick it out to Holloway on the right coming off a screen, or kick it out to BA on the left coming off a screen. Moore decided to pull up and take the jumper. You can not blame Hewitt for Moore pulling up - that was 100% Moore's decision and was never talked about in the huddle. So yes, if you think Hewitt drew up a play to have Moore take a long jumper, you are a moron.



You didn't see Holloway come off a screen and BA come off a screen? Are you kidding? Jesus, if you can't even see that, why am I even wasting my time? Watch again - watch Hewitt tell them to start the rotation for the screen - twice. How can you watch a basketball game and not see these, and then come on a message board acting like your John Wooden and know everything about basketball?

To be honest with you, Im not saying Hewitt drew that play up....but every end of game situation is the same failure. It happens every single game we have the ball at the end of the half, or game......

Surely he can see that and maybe adjust, but its the same old story. The only time I remember us actually making a bucket before halftime, was Marko's rushed 3 against UVA. Thats it........the rest is the same debacle yesterday.

Im encouraged night in and night out we can compete, that is pretty obvious. But we are what we are, and that is winless in the league....and Hewitt is a large reason why. You can try and find a silver lining, that some shots will go here and there......but weve seen for 3 years now that they dont.

 

[gmujim92]

Classic Jim post - change the argument so you sound correct. Sorry Jim, people weren't saying we needed to have a better look, people we saying that the Moore shot is what Hewitt wanted coming out of the TO, which simply is not correct. I'll try and spell it out for you as simple as I can:











There is more, but this should be enough for even you to get the point. Again, you are a moron if you think the design of the play was for one of our worst jump shooters to pull up and take a long jump shot. Hewitt instructed Moore to dribble and drive, he could either take the layup, or kick it out to Holloway on the right coming off a screen, or kick it out to BA on the left coming off a screen. Moore decided to pull up and take the jumper. You can not blame Hewitt for Moore pulling up - that was 100% Moore's decision and was never talked about in the huddle. So yes, if you think Hewitt drew up a play to have Moore take a long jumper, you are a moron.



You didn't see Holloway come off a screen and BA come off a screen? Are you kidding? Jesus, if you can't even see that, why am I even wasting my time? Watch again - watch Hewitt tell them to start the rotation for the screen - twice. How can you watch a basketball game and not see these, and then come on a message board acting like your John Wooden and know everything about basketball?

If you think that was a great final play, I'll defer to your expertise, Superfan.

Just try not to tear your rotator cuff patting yourself on the back for being oh so much more knowledgeable than us morons.

Better yet, stop wasting your time trying to educate me about basketball and GFY.

 

[dr. gunnie]

To be honest with you, Im not saying Hewitt drew that play up....but every end of game situation is the same failure. It happens every single game we have the ball at the end of the half, or game......

Surely he can see that and maybe adjust, but its the same old story. The only time I remember us actually making a bucket before halftime, was Marko's rushed 3 against UVA. Thats it........the rest is the same debacle yesterday.

Im encouraged night in and night out we can compete, that is pretty obvious. But we are what we are, and that is winless in the league.

Very good point. I would have agreed with you before yesterday's game, but I felt like he did switch it up yesterday and had a PG start the play instead of BA or SW trying to handle the ball and turning it over. That was one of my biggest problems before, and Hewitt changed it yesterday - which I applaud.

 

[dr. gunnie]

If you think that was a great final play, I'll defer to your expertise, Superfan.

Just try not to tear your rotator cuff patting yourself on the back for being oh so much more knowledgeable than us morons.

Better yet, stop wasting your time trying to educate me about basketball and GFY.

But you need it. Good call on everyone standing around Wooden. I'm sure Coach K will be calling you shortly to help fix their problems against 'Cuse last night... you do have all the answers.

 

[Patriotfan49]

Very good point. I would have agreed with you before yesterday's game, but I felt like he did switch it up yesterday and had a PG start the play instead of BA or SW trying to handle the ball and turning it over. That was one of my biggest problems before, and Hewitt changed it yesterday - which I applaud.

In those situations it wasn't the ball handler that needed adjusted. IMO it is the entire philosophy there. You can't just wait until you have little time left and then rush into some random play. I personally prefer a play as opposed to one player being isolated and trying to win it himself....especially since we've seen the isolation never works for us.

 

[dr. gunnie]

Hewitt told them to start at :07, it started around :06... it was a little rushed, but it seems like that's what most coaches do.

I just like it when you still have enough time to get an offensive rebound and a put back, which we did, was just a few inches short.

 

[gmutom]

I dont this its a lack playmakers at all. Its just play call, and execution......and no sense of urgency.

I liked the play call a lot, but I agree with you about the execution. It wasn't intended as an isolation unless Moore had a clear path to the basket, but it obviously fell apart when Holloway and Allen started late and didn't come off the screens. It's something we obviously have to work on.

What I am happy about is that we didn't start out with Allen having the ball. Not only had he missed his last three shots, but he seems to thrive coming off the ball rather than handling it out top. The last thing we wanted was to not get a shot off at all like the UMass game.

 

[Patriotfan49]

Hewitt told them to start at :07, it started around :06... it was a little rushed, but it seems like that's what most coaches do.

I just like it when you still have enough time to get an offensive rebound and a put back, which we did, was just a few inches short.

Bottom line here is........it doesnt work. Hasnt worked. Close doesnt cut it.

 

[Patriotfan49]

I liked the play call a lot, but I agree with you about the execution. It wasn't intended as an isolation unless Moore had a clear path to the basket, but it obviously fell apart when Holloway and Allen started late and didn't come off the screens. It's something we obviously have to work on.

What I am happy about is that we didn't start out with Allen having the ball. Not only had he missed his last three shots, but he seems to thrive coming off the ball rather than handling it out top. The last thing we wanted was to not get a shot off at all like the UMass game.

What does it matter or show if you or Gunnie or anybody liked it? Does that mean anything?

Like I said, it began the same way it always does...waiting until the very last minute to where you have to be spot on. When are we spot on? When are guys not confused running around in the Hewitt offense?

Its just a very low percentage play, and the proof is in the pudding showing that it doesnt work. But lets keep beating it into the ground and hope maybe one day a miraculous shot will fall.

 

[psyclone]

What does it matter or show if you or Gunnie or anybody liked it? Does that mean anything?

Like I said, it began the same way it always does...waiting until the very last minute to where you have to be spot on. When are we spot on? When are guys not confused running around in the Hewitt offense?

Its just a very low percentage play, and the proof is in the pudding showing that it doesnt work. But lets keep beating it into the ground and hope maybe one day a miraculous shot will fall.

My sense is that this was Moore's first end-of-game situation. He's earned the right to be in there given his recent pg play. It's also likely BA first end-of-game role NOT dribbling the ball but rather coming off of a screen to receive a pass. When both MM and BA get enough reps in their new end-of-game roles, the play will be more smoothly run.

As it was, there still was time for Jenkins to get the rebound and put up a shot, albeit hurried.

 

[gmutom]

What did you like about it? Like I said, it began the same way it always does...waiting until the very last minute to where you have to be spot on.

What's low percentage about it? Had it been run like it was drawn up, there were at least three options. Moore was told to drive and:

a. go all the way to the rim if it's open.
b. hit Allen coming off a screen for a short jumper
c. hit Holloway coming off a screen for a short jumper.

He also could have dumped it off to Jenkins or Copes if that was available. When Moore drove, he immediately realized that Allen and Holloway both froze, so he created an option by pulling up for a jumper. It obviously wasn't ideal, but he deserves credit for getting a shot up under those circumstances.

Also, there's a huge difference between a play being bad and the execution being bad. Your boy Colin Kaepernick said he would have taken that last shot to Crabtree 10 out of 10 times in the NFC Championship game; he defended the decision and just admitted he needed to make a better pass.

Also, not trying to be flip, but how many end of half/game situations have we had under Hewitt that were similar to yesterday's. I honestly can't remember any other than the ones that ended up in our favor, but I can remember at least a dozen under Coach L when we didn't even get off a shot or we ended up hurling up a rushed 25-foot 3.

Heck, even the 3 Tony Skinn made at WSU that got us into the NCAAT was ad-libbed by the players. After Coach L drew up a play for Jai Lewis, Tony told him to look for him on the opposite wing. Had they not deviated from the called play, our Final 4 run most likely never would have happened.

 

[gmujim92]

But you need it. Good call on everyone standing around Wooden. I'm sure Coach K will be calling you shortly to help fix their problems against 'Cuse last night... you do have all the answers.

Upon further reflection, telling you to GFY was harsh. I apologize.

I also get that you're a coach, and can probably empathize with Hewitt much more than anyone on this board about how hard it is to get young people to do something exactly the way you want it done -- no matter how often you practice it.

What I don't get is why you had to start throwing out the "moron" card against fans who were frustrated after watching us snatch defeat from the jaws of victory for what feels like the 325th time in Hewitt's tenure.

If it was just this one game, I think it would be much easier to give him a pass and chalk it up to a freshman PG doing what freshmen sometimes do.

But for whatever reason, Hewitt just seems chronically unable to get the job done in critical late-game situations. That's not a good thing when you're also a coach whose teams tend to play a lot of very close games.