Game 29: AT LaSalle, March 6th, 8 PM, NBCSN

[gmuEX]

VG should have transferred once coach L departed because PH never viewed his game in the way coach L did(not PH recruit). It's sad watching VG play bball for PH because here is a kid that I saw play in Boo-Williams/Nike-EYBL tourney a few years ago and he was lights out against the best players in the country(Brad Beal,Austin Rivers ,Anthony Davis...ect) and when Boo/EYBL tourney was over VG had put himself on the map when RIVALS ranked him 147 out of the top 150 players in the country and that was coming from an relatively unknown at the time. I saw VG that weekend play against Boo-Williams club and it was another big time(Nike) club out of Detroit that had 4 nationally ranked players and VG played like he was on another level and to see him play for PH is just sad. VG has no identity with this team....VG should transfer without even thinking twice and find a coach that allow him to play. VG had one HELL of a HANDLE with the ball and to see him now is just SAD. VG give yourself a chance to express what bball means to you and transfer.........ASAP.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that see's great potential in VG... Why Edwards starts and VG gets piss poor minutes is beyond me. Maybe with Sherrod leaving he'll see a bump in his minutes next year, I would love to keep him around.

 

[gmubrian]

I, of course, think our players did great. It has been my contention all along that we have great players and that they have been giving 100% effort. I don't think I have ever posted anything seriously critical of an individual player other than to compare two players abilities or to make a comment for comedic value. I give the players credit for their effort, their talent, the heart they have shown and for representing the school well this year.

Unlike others, though, I have tried to remain consistent. I blame Hewitt for our horrible season and where we are headed, but when we do start winning, well, then, he gets the credit if I see that something has changed. Some of you criticize the players when we lose and give the coach credit for the wins, or vice versa. You can't have it both ways.

 

[gmutom]

Why Edwards starts and VG gets piss poor minutes is beyond me.

I'm not a Corey Edwards fan, but he started out of necessity last night due to Moore being hurt. Are you suggesting VG should have started at PG?

If Gray were to start, it would make more sense to play him on the wing, Allen at PG and Wright at the 2. It was nice to see him get 10 minutes last night.

I hope he sticks around and plays 25 minutes a game next year, but I certainly understand if he chooses to leave.

 

[gmuEX]

I'm not a Corey Edwards fan, but he started out of necessity last night due to Moore being hurt. Are you suggesting VG should have started at PG?

If Gray were to start, it would make more sense to play him on the wing, Allen at PG and Wright at the 2. It was nice to see him get 10 minutes last night.

I hope he sticks around and plays 25 minutes a game next year, but I certainly understand if he chooses to leave.

Mutually exclusive. I was just hypotheically asking how Edwards gets more minutes when most people believe Gray is more talented.

Not a bad situations however. BA at the 1, Sherrod at 2 would stand taller, and I actually trust BA with the ball.

 

[gmutom]

Mutually exclusive. I was just hypotheically asking how Edwards gets more minutes when most people believe Gray is more talented.

Unfortunately, Gray plays the positions where we have the most talent, so he is competing for minutes with Sherrod, Allen and Holloway. That doesn't mean Hewitt couldn't be more creative to find him more minutes, though, like occasionally going with a 4-guard lineup or — as we discussed — moving Allen to the point.

 

[Harry]

Was anyone else creeped out by the anti-smoking commercial?

Yes! If I never see it again, it will be too soon...And it's probably totally ineffective at stopping smoking.

 

[GSII]

Unfortunately, Gray plays the positions where we have the most talent, so he is competing for minutes with Sherrod, Allen and Holloway.

Then why was he re-recruited by Hewitt? Our problems require deep reflection.

 

[gmutom]

Then why was he re-recruited by Hewitt?

Not only were Gray and Edwards both considered very accomplished players, but don't forget that we had already lost Hancock and Whack to transfers when Hewitt was hired late in the recruiting season. The last thing we could afford to do is lose four backcourt players, so it made perfect sense to re-recruit them (not to mention they had NY-area ties like he did).

Hewitt's failed experiment with Allen and Edwards at PG actually helped Gray his freshman year, when he averaged 11 minutes a game. Unfortunately, things went downhill his sophomore year when this trifecta happened: he was suspended early in the season and ended up in the doghouse; Allen was eventually moved off the ball, which created less potential minutes; and Holloway was coming in as a heralded freshman, which pushed Gray further down the depth chart.

I think Vaughn and his brother would admit he made his own bed with some mistakes and off-court issues early in his second season, but there's no question Vaughn has deserved more than he has gotten from Hewitt. All players — including Sherrod — end up in the doghouse for various reasons over the course of their careers, but for reasons we may never know, VG never really escaped.

As I said earlier, I hope he returns, starts and contributes significantly his senior year; but I certainly understand if he opts to go elsewhere.

 

[Raider_SPE]

VG should have transferred once coach L departed because PH never viewed his game in the way coach L did(not PH recruit). It's sad watching VG play bball for PH because here is a kid that I saw play in Boo-Williams/Nike-EYBL tourney a few years ago and he was lights out against the best players in the country(Brad Beal,Austin Rivers ,Anthony Davis...ect) and when Boo/EYBL tourney was over VG had put himself on the map when RIVALS ranked him 147 out of the top 150 players in the country and that was coming from an relatively unknown at the time. I saw VG that weekend play against Boo-Williams club and it was another big time(Nike) club out of Detroit that had 4 nationally ranked players and VG played like he was on another level and to see him play for PH is just sad. VG has no identity with this team....VG should transfer without even thinking twice and find a coach that allow him to play. VG had one HELL of a HANDLE with the ball and to see him now is just SAD. VG give yourself a chance to express what bball means to you and transfer.........ASAP.

Couldn't help but think of this scene from Good Morning Vietnam after reading your post with all of the name abbreviations.

 

[Masonfan3]

Not only were Gray and Edwards both considered very accomplished players, but don't forget that we had already lost Hancock and Whack to transfers when Hewitt was hired late in the recruiting season.

Not like it really matters but Luke didn't transfer until after Hewitt took over. I think once Keatts was hired by Louisville Luke started thinking about transferring so even if L hadn't left he might have still transferred. But L leaving gave him a good excuse. Just my opinion

 

[gmutom]

Not like it really matters but Luke didn't transfer until after Hewitt took over.

Sorry, I didn't mean to state otherwise. I think we all remember the suspense over whether Luke was going to stay. In fact, when Hewitt met with boosters after getting hired, it was one of the first things he addressed because he knew it was the elephant in the room.

 

[gmubrian]

In fact, when Hewitt met with boosters after getting hired, it was one of the first things he addressed because he knew it was the elephant in the room.

Now, Hewitt is the elephant in the room...

 

[GMUgemini]

Then why was he re-recruited by Hewitt? Our problems require deep reflection.

In addition to Tom's comments, if Holloway wasn't as good of a shooter as he is VG probably earns more court time. It is a lot like the Whack, Vaughns situation under L.

I actually think Whack would have been better suited to Hewitt's offense and defense (god knows we've needed better on the ball defenders) but L went with the hot hand in Vaughns early and couldn't find playing time for Whack.

VG didn't do himself any favors by getting suspended last year. It gave Holloway the opening to solidify himself as the first guard off the bench.

 

[Vurbel]

Let's make a pledge to discuss Paul Hewitt's pros and cons as a coach in every game thread from here on out like we've done from day one, 2011.

Win or lose, of course.

Agreed. It's only fair to point out all sides. I look forward to having a lot of compliments in about 4 hours!