Hard to Digest

[wgt]

Like everyone I’m finding it hard to digest this loss. I believe it is the most hurtful one of the season, eclipsing the 2 point loss to Canisius. Going in, I felt that if Andrew & Grease stayed out of foul trouble we would control the boards & the outcome. Well we did outrebound them by 10 but there were troubling signs to our inside play in the first half. We allowed a struggling team, to outscore us 26 to 14 in the paint with no (Dunston) inside threat. Now I know that Fontan is a great frosh PG & may be the best in the A10 as early as next year BUT we were inept preventing the close baskets generated by his running of their offense. We all know we are in desperate need of a PG & last night’s game punctuated that fact. The huge disparity between their PG play & ours was startling. That said Chris, by necessity, has played extremely well with another high assist, low TO game. Well done!

In the second half with Andy & Grease playing all of the first 10 minutes plus, we had cut into the 7 point half time lead by just 3 points to be down 4 with 9:27 left. At that point both Nicholson & Thomas were taken out & Carter/Benson inserted. Amazingly over the next 3 mins, with Andrew & Grease on the bench, we jump ahead by 5 holding the Rams to zero points. I am really puzzled how that 9 point differential, in just 3 mins, happens with our 2 best inside players watching from the sidelines. With our bigs still sitting we held a 3 point lead with 3 mins left. Andy came back with 2 mins left & Grease returned with Eleby with 28 secs on the clock. Enough has been said about the ugly end.
The only positive I have read from the post game posts was B02 telling us that Ray was jumping around the bench. That along with reports that he may be ready for the La Salle game (knee brace & all) is encouraging. This team does need a spark. Actually it needs an explosion of emotion from the players.

This loss will sorely test their confidence. Playing the Dukes on Saturday will be a huge test of their resiliency, which I have seen at times. It certainly was missing last night.

[longislandbonnie]

Ray Blackburn was extremely active last night, he certainly did not look like he was hurt very much the way he was jumping up and down after every made Bona bucket.

He sat right next to the coaching staff too, not on the end of the bemch with the walk-ons.

During pre-game, he was working extremely hard on the court with Leonard Lewis feeding him bounce passes in the corner, and ray pulling up and hitting 15-foot jumpers.

Wore a light brace on his knee, but appeared to be ready to play. Given the level of his intensive pre-game workout, I thought he might. Would be surprised if he does not play for the Duquesne game possibly, LaSalle definitely.

[keplerjd]

The best case scenario sees him returning in time for LaSalle.

[Chuck]

Jan 29, 2009 12:50:43 GMT -5 wgt said:

Like everyone I’m finding it hard to digest this loss. I believe it is the most hurtful one of the season, eclipsing the 2 point loss to Canisius. Going in, I felt that if Andrew & Grease stayed out of foul trouble we would control the boards & the outcome. Well we did outrebound them by 10 but there were troubling signs to our inside play in the first half. We allowed a struggling team, to outscore us 26 to 14 in the paint with no (Dunston) inside threat.

In the second half with Andy & Grease playing all of the first 10 minutes plus, we had cut into the 7 point half time lead by just 3 points to be down 4 with 9:27 left. At that point both Nicholson & Thomas were taken out & Carter/Benson inserted. Amazingly over the next 3 mins, with Andrew & Grease on the bench, we jump ahead by 5 holding the Rams to zero points. I am really puzzled how that 9 point differential, in just 3 mins, happens with our 2 best inside players watching from the sidelines.

Lot of great points WGT. As you point out Bonnies were killed in the first half in the paint by 26-14, but you realize with Chris at point guard for most of the 2nd half the Bonnies outscored the Rams 28-22 in the paint. An even more revealing stat is in the 1st half Fordham scored 10 points off turnovers, but only scored 2 points off turnovers, with Matthews at the point for 13 of the 20 minutes in the 2nd half.

I remember the "3 minute period" with Benson and Carter replacing Andrew and Grease. Offense was clicking with 6 layups (2 were missed) and the layups can be attributed to 4 fantastic assists (3 from Matthews and 1 from Hall). Problem is Schmidt stayed with this lineup far too long culminating with Carter missing a layup. All of a sudden the offense, became stagnant. This was the time Andrew and Grease was needed.

Just unbelievable to see Malcolm inserted into the lineup with 28 seconds left on the clock. What was Schmidt thinking?

Play by play of Fordham game
gobonnies.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2008-2009/gm20for.html

[wgt]

Chuck… Glad that you pointed out the specifics of Chris’ contributions last night. As I indicated he has handled the new responsibility of playing PG extremely well. In fact in conference play he is #7 in A/TO ratio @ 2.14. While taking on this new role he has upped his scoring to about 14ppg which makes him # 14 in conference scoring.

Another change in his game (without Ray) is getting to the line where he was once a total stranger. He is penetrating & dishing or getting fouled. At the line he is 18-19 making him #1 in the conference with his .947 percentage. Only Baron has more treys than him but Chris does fire it up more often. Quite a job put in by Chris while playing iron man minutes.