Back-off AN

[ceharv]

We really need to keep in mind that this guy is a sophomore, and a lot is being placed on his shoulders. You see these kids like Wall from Ky and they are so good so early, you expect our guys to be the same - look at the way Eleby got beat-up here as a freshmen & soph point guard in quality league, playing against people with years more experience. The exceptions like Wall make it tougher on everyone else. Even as good as he looks, AN has a lot to learn - and it's not like he has had the benefit of playing with a senior who can show him the ropes - like how to play physical, but not get called for fouls when guarding a shorter player down low. Schmidt is recruiting quality 4-yr players now, and the system is just getting in place where we have upperclassmen who have been with the program, helping to teach the new players, much of which occurs over the summer and off-season - that's the consistency that quality programs have - we're not there yet, but the pieces are arriving.

[keplerjd]

I'm not questioning his skill set or makeup, I'm just confused why he seems to draw four fouls in 20 minutes seemingly every game. It's one thing to have poor officials, its another to make mental errors on a consistent basis.

[lazer]

This goes deeper than Andy, obviously. His teammates would be one, but you've really gotta look at the other end of that bench and the coaching staff. Nicholson wasn't in foul trouble at all against Syracuse - a game which a lot of us thought he would be more likely to be in trouble than he was last night. Why? We played zone for a majority of the game. Obviously that has to do with us not being able to match up with 'Cuse, but we were able to spread the fouls around to other people and we stayed in the game.

Now look at last night. We have the size advantage, but they're quicker on the wings. The first half it was fine, but the second half (aside from simply making shots) they made a concerted effort to attack Andy in that man-to-man. They got him in foul trouble, not all from attacking him on the offensive end, but the point is he ended up on the bench. Then when Schmidt brings Nicholson back in, we stay in a man D (at least that's what I gathered from Gary) and now Niagara is making a full-out onslaught to isolate Andy ... and he could do nothing to stop them because of the 4 fouls.

I wasn't there last night, so if my assumption about us primarily playing man is wrong, then I'm sorry. But I really think it's something to take a look at, especially as we move into A-10 play. Would playing a zone, even if we might match up slightly better in man, be better off for protecting Andy, and ultimately the rest of the team?

[avonfan]

Hindsight is 20/20, but Andy played like a statue to finish the last 7 minutes of the game, but was still unstoppable at the offensive end of the floor and if he could have played that way for the entire game, he would not have had the foul trouble he had, but that's asking a lot of a kid to not contest shots. It was still a very poorly officiated game with 3 of the 4 fouls on Andy being highly questionable.

[njbona02]

his foul trouble comes from several different factors. First he has a target on his back. Second is having to cover the entire interior because of a lack of quality depth and finally the referees in college basketball are shistle happy. Let the players play.