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Post by Tee-Sharp on Nov 18, 2009 8:33:16 GMT -5
As for the bright spots:
- It’s not too late for Eaves to make adjustments.
- The team apparently didn’t give up.
- The Ohio Bobcats are undefeated
- We play in the MEAC.
- Upchurch apparently is a great pickup for A&T.
- Nick Simpson shot decent in this game and has been solid thus far.
No, I’m not an Eaves fan or detractor. I’m just looking for reasons to stay positive about this team.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 18, 2009 8:48:03 GMT -5
In my opinion, adjustments need to be made. This game was nowhere near as close as the final score would suggest.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 18, 2009 11:33:57 GMT -5
ATHENS, OHIO – Fast starts and outworking the other guy is the key to pulling off upsets on the road. The North Carolina A&T men’s basketball had neither happen for it on Tuesday night.
Ohio took a double-digit lead early on the Aggies and withstood a second-half Aggies run to win 93-82 at the Convocation Center. Sophomore Nic Simpson led the Aggies with 22 points. He has scored more than 20 points in two of the Aggies three games this season. Freshman DaMetrius Upchurch came off the bench to contribute 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Ohio’s Jay Kinney came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points on 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range.
“In the first half they handed it to us,’’ said North Carolina A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. “Our issue right now with mixing our youth in with some our veterans is the ability to play hard on the road. It is a skill that must be acquired and we’re going to have to go through a process before they get it.”
Kinney hit three 3-pointers during a 13-1 run Bobcats run that gave them a 26-10 lead at the 11:41 mark of the first half. By halftime, the Bobcats had their lead up to 18 at 48-30.
The Aggies didn’t make things easy for Ohio in the second half. The Bobcats would build their lead to as much as 24 in the second half before 3-point shooting got the Aggies back in the game. A 14-0 Aggies run was ignited by the strong play of Upchurch. He went 6-for-6 from the free throw line during the run, and Simpson capped it off with a 3-pointer to cut the Bobcats lead to 58-48 with 14:37 to play.
The Bobcats answered the Aggies onslaught with two 3-pointers sandwiched between a Thomas Coleman layup. Despite making the game tighter, the Aggies were not able to get Ohio’s lead under 10 the entire second half.
“(Ohio) is a young team, but they hit big threes and made game-winning plays when we got back in the ball game,’’ said Eaves. “In the second half my team showed that they have the ability – if they ever play hard for 40 minutes – to be a very good team. But you can’t spot teams 18-point leads at halftime and expect to be successful.”
The Aggies return home to play Davis & Elkins 7 p.m., Friday at Corbett Sports Center.
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Post by pj on Nov 18, 2009 13:18:26 GMT -5
Family, now that the dust has settled, here is what I think:
>Eaves gave us a heads up about the style of play. Some nights will be better than others. > We got 41pts in the paint, they got 40pts in the paint. > Our shooting % will get better > I have seen M Hill & T Alston shoot better. > The next two games at home will help. The new guys need to play while they have time. > I dont like the loss, as long as they learn one another, and protect the ball. Duane J. will help even things out. He actually makes a move & takes a shot and sometimes will get his own shot. > I did not see the game but M Hill & T Alston both need to include a 'jump stop' or floater. >We are where we are. Late Nov & Dec will have tough games. >Its early, they need to gel. This hurts but I'm ok.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 18, 2009 13:30:09 GMT -5
I'm not OK. There is nothing I saw last night that would make me believe this team can win the MEAC.
You can not take countless bad shots on offense and then give up easy baskets on defense and expect to win games.
That goes against every basic principle of basketball.
Eaves has got to stop allowing these guys to take crazy shots from all over the court.
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Post by aahhbigboy on Nov 18, 2009 13:37:32 GMT -5
I'm not OK. There is nothing I saw last night that would make me believe this team can win the MEAC. You can not take countless bad shots on offense and then give up easy baskets on defense and expect to win games. That goes against every basic principle of basketball. Eaves has got to stop allowing these guys to take crazy shots from all over the court. Is that everyone's expectation (for them to win the MEAC)? Obviously, it is for Eaves and the team, but winning the MEAC is really far fetched isn't it? This is Eaves' style. He sticks to what he knows. You have to keep in mind that he recruited on this style of play too. He's looked these kids in the eye and told them and their parents that they will get up and down the floor and play to their strengths. He's all the way in..........and has been for the last 7 years. You can't beat good, well coached teams like that, but we'll be OK in the MEAC. Fang, Jack, Evans, and Bozeman will be the only real problems.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 18, 2009 14:08:53 GMT -5
Playing to your strengths does not entail jacking up off-balanced shots from 30 feet out. That is nobody's strength - except for maybe the Harlem Globetrotters.
Eaves can have a fast-paced, aggressive offense and still have his guys play under control and with discipline.
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Post by thefriscotxaggie on Nov 18, 2009 14:09:40 GMT -5
Ok
Everybody slow you roll. In this type of off. you have to have a point that can score. Over the last two games Alston & Hill are shhoting less than 10% behind the arc. I think they are 2 for 22 or so. On the other hand Nick Simpson and Robert Johnson combined are shooting 35-40% behind the arc. Last night the point guards were 1 for 10. If they were 4 for 10 this would be anyones game.
Johusa comes back in a month or so but problem is he plays the two guard and Simpson is certainally playing up to his Rivals ** ranking this year. I am dont know if Johusa's ball handeling skills are good enough to play the point.
Bottom line Hill & Alston will need to shoot at least 35% behind the arc to win against the top MEAC team or an out of conference team. Maybe Eaves will try a three guard set when Johusa comes back with Alston at the point and two shhoting guards Joshua and Simpson.
As far as Coleman he is doing what he does and that's practically a double double each night. 10-12 points and 8-10 rebounds and 2-3 blocks. If you think about it that's quite productive he is not the type of player who will consisitantly get you 20 points a night.
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oleschoolaggie
Official BDF member
2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,207
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Nov 18, 2009 18:22:05 GMT -5
i didn't see the game, but i'm not surprised that we loss. its way too early to draw conclusions about this team. as i recall, we ran off 8 wins in a row last february when no one expected us to. so folks need to be patient.
most teams that don't need "money games" start off their seasons playing inferior talent so that they can work the kinks out and incorporate new players. unfortunately, we have to play money games "on the road" against more talented teams than us. there's no shame in losing to marshall and ohio on the road. most other meac teams would have loss too. i watched coppin state play colorado on tv the other night and they fell behind 20-2 to start the game, even though they ran a disciplined offense.
now you know why the brevards and carson newmans of the world are on our schedule...
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Post by thefriscotxaggie on Nov 18, 2009 18:33:23 GMT -5
good point oleschool - I watched Coppin as well.
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Post by aahhbigboy on Nov 18, 2009 18:42:03 GMT -5
Playing to your strengths does not entail jacking up off-balanced shots from 30 feet out. That is nobody's strength - except for maybe the Harlem Globetrotters. Eaves can have a fast-paced, aggressive offense and still have his guys play under control and with discipline. That's true. The problem is that I really don't ever recall a team we've had that you can call disciplined. Hell, and that goes all the way back to Capel. lol
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Post by aahhbigboy on Nov 18, 2009 18:48:59 GMT -5
This team will be OK when conference hits. I don't know about a top 3 finish yet (because I haven't seen any of the other teams), but we don't suck anymore. It's not a championship style of play, but it's easy for young players to play in and upper classmen to master. Plus, it keeps the crowd live.
I'll say this about Eaves. I respect his hustle. He'll be here as long as he wants to and we'll probably be no less than middle of the pack during that time. They'll be OK.
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Post by pj on Nov 18, 2009 19:38:13 GMT -5
Frisco, good points, I can see that line-up with Joshua, Nic & Alston. Rob or Upchurch will have to bang the boards to help Coleman. I wanted to see Nic's handle in traffic.
To me, the discipline is running the planned offense. Do you set your screen? Do you deliver the ball in the right place? A bad shot is a bad shot. Gene Littles ran a controlled offense, somewhat like Greg jacksonshucks even the few Curtiss Hunter games that I saw ran a controlled offense. I did scrambleing up a shot. It seemed like the guys were afraid to take their man off the dribble.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 18, 2009 19:51:16 GMT -5
Here's a question: who is our best perimeter defender?
You can't tell me because nobody on our squad cares about playing perimeter defense. Those dudes are just waiting for the change of possession so they can be the first to jack up another 30-footer.
It's the exact same brand of basketball you can find every Saturday morning at the Bryan YMCA.
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Post by pj on Nov 18, 2009 20:04:41 GMT -5
Sorry My pc is messing up.
To me, the discipline is running the planned offense. Do you set your screens? Do you deliver the ball in the right place? A bad shot is a bad shot. Gene Littles ran a controlled offense, somewhat like Greg jackson, but still needed the players. It wasnt the Princeton style but it had a lot of passing. Shucks even the few Curtiss Hunter games that I saw ran a controlled offense. They would pass & pass & pass until the shot clock ran down & then would scramble up a shot. It seemed like the guys were afraid to take their man off the dribble. To be fair, one needed to set good screens within it & get the mismatches you desire (of course, hit the shot).
Eaves has some halfcourt sets. He see's who he has at practice. He wants to run. This type of offense can win games and a championship. And a controlled offense can win one also. Bad shots will lose in any offense. To me its two different things. Every offense has to have its discipline.
Lastly i say use the strenghts of your players...that may be running, or slowing it down. This team will get better. Its early.
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