Keeping The Tank Full or The Fire Stoked?

by hoyaparanoia on May 24, 2011 9:02 PM EDT

I am reminded, once again, as I read some of the recent posts about the amazing fade by both Julian Vaughn (2/21 from the field over the last 5 games) and Austin Freeman (49/156 from the field over the last 10 games). I remember Julian fading the previous year as well, but Austin not so noticeably. Those last ten games were played over a 46 day period.........with the last five games played over a 29 day period. Hard to really see physical fatigue as an issue - particularly at the end. Maybe there are medical/injury reasons we do not know about. Add in Jason Clark who, while not suffering any prolonged slumps, would just not show up every 4th or 5th game and finished the season shooting a very low 3 point percentage (6/29 over the last 5 games).

Given our recent history of slumps during and at the end of the season, are there other factors at work here? Are we just not a mentally tough team? Does this derive from player personnel or from coaching?

I know that Chris Wright's injury hurt us........but other teams suffer injuries too. I think we were fading before the injury occured............and then just rolled over and died. We lost our last 5 games by an average of just over 15 points!!

In many ways, this is probably useless forensic analysis.............unless it manifests itself again next year. But with low expectations and a whole new roster, people will likely focus more on the occasional big wins than a series of somewhat anticipated losses. I know that Nate, Markel and Jabril will bring the fire. Will the team and coach keep it stoked?

With paranoia,

Stay Casual, my friends.

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Substitutions and Favortism

This is the issue in most cases, JT3 who had a ‘deeper’ bench this season would only rely on a 8 man roster (as the season progressed), and if you want to add the medical issues of Freeman that can be a case as well.

JT3 didn’t want to use his bench as much, but it showed how the team suffered during the last part of February going into March. Also for some reason, JT3 doesn’t believe in the ‘trial by fire’ method, this is the only way to gain confidence and experience in current situations (furthermore what was the poitn to have a strong OOC, if you don’t trust your players to gain confidence).

This is ‘another’ lessons learned for JT3, and hopefully he can make the right adjustsments as he grows, but at the end of the day he has to learn how to rely on his players to pull them out of a slump and sometimes not to let a starter who’s stinkin’ up the joint continue to play his way out of it. Sometimes you have to sit him down and let him gather himself.

by Big Spoon on May 24, 2011 10:35 PM EDT reply actions

The '10-'11 squad, as a team, was not tough mentally or physically

And as far as physical fatigue goes, I think it played a considerable role with both Vaughn and Freeman. This was the second season in a row where Vaughn ran out of gas down the stretch – and given the limited amount of support he was getting that’s understandable. As for Freeman. We may never know how seriously his illness impacted his performance, but he definitely played with a relative slowness as the year went on.

by WarmupEwing on May 25, 2011 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

Perhaps

they feed off of their coach of being just ‘stoic’ and not showing any energy, and get lost in translation on how to perform?!

Who knows…..

by Big Spoon on May 25, 2011 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

also contributing

Jason had a hand injury for a long portion of the season apparently

and I believe Julian has at least mild asthma.

by hoyasincebirth on May 25, 2011 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

And...

JT3 didn’t trust his players….

by Big Spoon on May 25, 2011 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

New Comer Hype

Your statement about three JTIII new comers bringing the fire is wishful hope. Maybe they will but history tells us that new comers often do not do well their first year of intense playing.

by William C Harrison on May 25, 2011 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

agree

but this is a rebuilding year. nit/bubble team with potential for the future.

Good talk.
Casual Hoya

by Hire Esherick on May 25, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

JT3

has no choice to but play these young guys so they can get tested early and often!

by Big Spoon on May 26, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Bringing The Fire = Attitude/Energy, Not Necessarily Results

I am under no illusion that Nate, Markel, Otto or Jabril are going to put up big numbers. Just that they seem ready to come to play with intensity and hopefully (but perhaps somewhat naive) confidence. These guys talk like they want to lead……..and have expectations (again, perhaps misguided) of creating results. When I hear Jabril talking about having a more successful career than Austin/Chris and Otto talking about leading the team to a national championship – I get excited. The fear that I have is that this attitude/intensity = FIRE gets put out in the name of the system and stoic execution. BTW.there are plenty of newcomers in DIV I basketball that do well their first year. The real question is whether this happens as often at G’Town. Perhaps the system is harder to learn, but perhaps something is lost in the transition as well.

But as Big Spoon says, whatever we all think, these guys are going to get PT this year and we will see.

With paranoia,

by hoyaparanoia on May 26, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

BTW.there are plenty of newcomers in DIV I basketball that do well their first year.

Its VERY rare in the expanded Big East.

Good talk.
Casual Hoya

by Hire Esherick on May 26, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's define doing well in their first year

I would say Dajuan, Austin, and Greg all played well in their first year under JTIII. Let’s not act like we never have freshman contributors. And if you go back one more year prior to expansion Jeff Green was the ROY in the BE(tied with rudy gay).

by hoyasincebirth on May 26, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

JWall Was A Solid Point Guard As Well.......

……in his first year. But this post is not about how players will contribute in their first year, which is admittedly tough in the Big East. It is about how we can create a team (of players) that can stay on mission all year long with confidence, spirit, mental toughness and success. I want players fighting for that last shot of the game …………….not playing hot potato with the ball so that we make 1-3 extra passes and squander opportunities. The system may or may not produce the perfect opportunity. Players need to step up and make plays to win games no matter what they are facing……..and be ready to do so. That, in my mind, is what we have been missing – with the exception of several games when Jeff Green or JWall stepped up and took control. Sure Roy and Greg had their dominant games……….but that is almost to be expected given their talent. I am more focused on the size of the heart of our players…..and the latitude that they are given to have an impact.

Again, the post is about……………did we tire out, or just burn out.

With paranoia,

by hoyaparanoia on May 26, 2011 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

I'm leaning more towards to tire out

due to substitution (or lack there of) made by the staff, you can’t just continue to run with only 7-8 players (now if JT3 had 6 hamburger heroes already on the team, then perhaps the outcome would’ve been different).

So the next couple of years patience will be on display throughout the Hoyas fanbase to see how this young team adjust to the grind of BE basketball.

by Big Spoon on May 27, 2011 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions