Opposition view: VCU

[lankabej]

Here's one take on the game from the VCU perspective

From the Times-Dispatch:
http://www.richmond.com/sports/colle...88cca6d28.html

On going for the three at the end, for which I was glad:
“We hadn’t had the lead all game, and I felt like on the road, we had to go for the kill shot and try to get the 3,” VCU coach Will Wade said. “I didn’t think overtime favored us too much, so it was the right time to call it and the right time to run it.”

[CE80]

I know their board debated that play call at the end and it was a good look. I don't argue with the play but I would have taken OT if I was them. Maybe they were more out of gas than I realized.

[MikeF]

If I were a VCU fan, one specific question I would be asking is "Why didn't we go to Alie-Cox more in the first half?" According to the split box score, he had 5 FGA in the first half and 10 FGA in the second half (which seems low since it seemed like he had 10 FGA in the first two minutes of the half...).

I don't really remember UD's defense being much different half-to-half, so from a VCU perspective that seems like a missed opportunity.

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by MikeF If I were a VCU fan, one specific question I would be asking is "Why didn't we go to Alie-Cox more in the first half?" According to the split box score, he had 5 FGA in the first half and 10 FGA in the second half (which seems low since it seemed like he had 10 FGA in the first two minutes of the half...). I don't really remember UD's defense being much different half-to-half, so from a VCU perspective that seems like a missed opportunity.

Lewis is their best player, it looked like they tried to get him going in the first half. Lewis did have a good run where he scored 7 points in a row. Our defense did a good job extending in the first half and they settled for 3's. According to Wade, going to Cox was their adjustment. Cox isn't their typically first or even their second option.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by CE80 I know their board debated that play call at the end and it was a good look. I don't argue with the play but I would have taken OT if I was them. Maybe they were more out of gas than I realized.

Heck yeah when Pollard and Cunningham have 4 fouls and MAC has had his way with just about everybody, you take overtime whether you're playing at home or in the middle of Afghanistan.

[66flyer]

Late in the first half MAC had only 2pts and we commented on that--JINX! Next thing we know he's scoring at will!

[Gazoo]

Originally Posted by m21eagle45 According to Wade, going to Cox was their adjustment. Cox isn't their typically first or even their second option.

I have a theory on why they aren't undefeated in A10 play. . .

[TerryK_67]

Cox is successful because he is strong as a bull and jumps very quickly.... so against our undersized front line he can dominate. But against bigger front lines he does not dominate....

[Whacker]

By bigger, you mean taller (certainly not broader).

[T-Bone 84]

Originally Posted by TerryK_67 Cox is successful because he is strong as a bull and jumps very quickly.... so against our undersized front line he can dominate. But against bigger front lines he does not dominate....

True, MAC abused Josh & Kendall on Wednesday night. But given those results, how do you think he'll do against George Iloka and Mike Mitchell next year?!
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[jerseyflyer09]

Besides his general demeanor annoying me, you can't argue with Will Wade's success thus far. However, thinking that they wouldn't fair well in overtime and that being the reason they looked for a 3 is INSANE to me. Our only quality bigs all had 4 fouls and we were hanging on. I get that they were on the road in a great environment but if I'm VCU I'm confident going into OT. Crazy

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by jerseyflyer09 Besides his general demeanor annoying me, you can't argue with Will Wade's success thus far. However, thinking that they wouldn't fair well in overtime and that being the reason they looked for a 3 is INSANE to me. Our only quality bigs all had 4 fouls and we were hanging on. I get that they were on the road in a great environment but if I'm VCU I'm confident going into OT. Crazy

The book says play for the tie at home and play for the win on the road. We don't know how out of gas they were. While they cut it to 2, they were 1-8 from the field down the stretch and missed a few key FT. Their legs were starting to go. Even that 3 everyone is questioning, Lewis left it short. While it's easy to second guess, I definitely do not think it's "INSANE." The coaches know their teams, if he wasn't confident, there was a reason.

[jerseyflyer09]

I get what the book says, so maybe insane was a stretch. But everyone watching had to also feel that from 10 minute mark on we were just hanging on. I could be wrong, happens once a week.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by jerseyflyer09 I get what the book says, so maybe insane was a stretch. But everyone watching had to also feel that from 10 minute mark on we were just hanging on. I could be wrong, happens once a week.

I agreed with you that with our foul trouble they should've welcomed OT. However, there's a new book out, a less general book that specifies play for the win in regulation when opponent contains Scoochie Smith.

[FlyerinChicago]

Originally Posted by lankabej Here's one take on the game from the VCU perspective From the Times-Dispatch: http://www.richmond.com/sports/colle...88cca6d28.html On going for the three at the end, for which I was glad: “We hadn’t had the lead all game, and I felt like on the road, we had to go for the kill shot and try to get the 3,” VCU coach Will Wade said. “I didn’t think overtime favored us too much, so it was the right time to call it and the right time to run it.”

This still doesn't take into account that there were close to 16 seconds left when he shot the 3...leaving us with plenty of time to set up for the winning shot had he made it. Why not take it down to 3 seconds or so and either go for the three or two to tie?

[Medford]

how many offensive rebounds did they have Wednesday night? Enough to feel confident that it was a possibility w/ 16 seconds left and allow VCU either a quick stick back to tie it, or reset the offense and get off 1 more good look.

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by FlyerinChicago This still doesn't take into account that there were close to 16 seconds left when he shot the 3...leaving us with plenty of time to set up for the winning shot had he made it. Why not take it down to 3 seconds or so and either go for the three or two to tie?

When losing, you typically do not wait until there is that little time on the clock because if you miss, there is not enough time for a rebound and put back. 16 seconds may have been a little early, but if they had waited they may not have gotten another look that open. In a perfect world, you want to take a shot with 7-10 seconds left when you are losing so you have time if you miss.

[UDDoug]

And time to foul and extend the game. I don't recall if UD was still in the one and one (I think they were) if Kyle's first shot comes out, VCU is rebounding and heading upcourt with 14 or so left down two. An eternity.

Take the first good open look if you are behind. Hold if you are tied.

[Flyer 86]

Originally Posted by TerryK_67 Cox is successful because he is strong as a bull and jumps very quickly.... so against our undersized front line he can dominate. But against bigger front lines he does not dominate....

Cox and Tillman are clean up guys.... get everything around the basket and rebound. Sometimes baby hooks or bank shots.

Not first options. Maybe they should go more to them, i dunno.

[Gazoo]

Originally Posted by m21eagle45 When losing, you typically do not wait until there is that little time on the clock because if you miss, there is not enough time for a rebound and put back. 16 seconds may have been a little early, but if they had waited they may not have gotten another look that open. In a perfect world, you want to take a shot with 7-10 seconds left when you are losing so you have time if you miss.

I think Medford was saying that shooting it from 3 was a fine strategy because they expected to get the offensive rebound and shoot a layup anyway. They had 16 offensive rebounds.

[Bat'71]

The "book" is a handy excuse...use your head based on the particulars of the game and the situation. VCU was 2-15 from beyond the arc against us and they weren't any better against Rhoddy. Meanwhile they were eating our lunch inside and came back late in the game on the strength of their front court, not their outside shooting. IMHO, hold the ball for the last shot, drive the lane and crash the boards...the way the refs were whistling our guys deaf, dumb and blind, I would think it a much better option than chucking a trey when you couldn't throw the ball in the ocean from the boardwalk for the last two/three games. Just one guys opinion.

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by Gazoo I think Medford was saying that shooting it from 3 was a fine strategy because they expected to get the offensive rebound and shoot a layup anyway. They had 16 offensive rebounds.

I wasn't replying to Medford, I quoted the person I was replying to.

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by Bat'71 The "book" is a handy excuse...use your head based on the particulars of the game and the situation. VCU was 2-15 from beyond the arc against us and they weren't any better against Rhoddy. Meanwhile they were eating our lunch inside and came back late in the game on the strength of their front court, not their outside shooting. IMHO, hold the ball for the last shot, drive the lane and crash the boards...the way the refs were whistling our guys deaf, dumb and blind, I would think it a much better option than chucking a trey when you couldn't throw the ball in the ocean from the boardwalk for the last two/three games. Just one guys opinion.

They ended the game shooting 1-8. After Pollard came back in with 4 fouls, they were not getting the easy shots that they were getting most of the half with both JC and KP in the game. In fact MAC and Tillman both missed shots inside the last couple of minutes. MAC and Tillman dominated a most of the 2nd half because Mikesell, X, and Sam Miller were in for most of the second half meaning 1 of them was guarding Mo and Tillman. That is when they made their run and really dominated inside.

[Bat'71]

All fine and good, but Will Wade didn't mention getting the rebound and a put-back as a "secondary option". Obviously it is, but that wasn't his intent. He got the play he wanted, his man was wide open and it just didn't fall...he went for the "kill" shot and he missed. If they were a decent outside shooting team, i could understand it, but VCU isn't and they reinforced it with their cold hand Wednesday night. Outside the paint, they were awful.

[Bat'71]

BTW, here's the box score. As you can see, VCU got 50 of its 72 points in the paint and 16 points at the Foul line. IMHO, that's pretty poor outside shooting.
http://daytonflyers.com/boxscore.asp...mbball&id=4111

[m21eagle45]

Originally Posted by Bat'71 All fine and good, but Will Wade didn't mention getting the rebound and a put-back as a "secondary option". Obviously it is, but that wasn't his intent. He got the play he wanted, his man was wide open and it just didn't fall...he went for the "kill" shot and he missed. If they were a decent outside shooting team, i could understand it, but VCU isn't and they reinforced it with their cold hand Wednesday night. Outside the paint, they were awful.

VCU as a team is not a good 3pt shooting team, but for the season Lewis has been very good. Even after his struggles the last 3 games, he is still 39% from 3 for the season. Before the previous 3 games, he was on a stretch where he shot 15-28 from 3. So the team may not be good from 3, a wide open look from Lewis is a good shot.