Game 14, 2013-14: Saint Joseph's

69MG · Post by **69MG** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 3:24 pm

Saw this article on RantSports. The writer either knows nothing about the A10 or he has an inside scoop that none of us know about. Scroll down toward the bottom.

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketba ... _term=NCAA BasketballAtlantic 10 BasketballGrid1

Ron Burgundy · Post by **Ron Burgundy** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 3:26 pm

Checking out some of their box scores.......they get nothing from their bench, literally nothing. Check out the last game against Denver, no bench points. If you look at a lot of their close games, there's not much more.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 4:08 pm

Time flies, doesn't it

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 4:21 pm

Here's what we know about recent iterations of Phil Martelli-coached teams: if you keep coming at them, there's a damn good chance that eventually they'll wilt and fold. They are not lacking in talent, but they do not handle adversity well--and this applies both to full seasons and individual games alike. Recall a couple years ago, they jumped out to what I believe was an 18-0 lead on us (not a misprint). By halftime, we had taken the lead.

I was starting to get concerned about the Hawks again after I saw that they had bounced back from what I thought might be a season-ruining 30 point loss to rival Nova. But then they rattled off a few wins. I'm encouraged that they barely beat Denver because a narrow win over a shitty opponent might have the effect of reintroducing some of those questions and lead them to question just how good they are. I also am hoping that our uninspired win against Miami (OH) will wake our guys up and they'll start playing with the sense of urgency we saw in the first 10 games.

I'd like us to really get Cady involved more. I think in these grind-it-out mid week conference battles, we simply have to take advantage of his size and make him perhaps the center piece of our offense. Some have noted that he's lacked the joy factor in recent games, that it doesn't seem as much fun. This is common in the course of long seasons and I think it can be rectified by getting the guy more touched. His FG percentage remains outstanding and he simply needs to take at least 11 or 12 shots a night in conference.

Let's get a big crowd out there and be loud wednesday (my tickets are accounted for!) and get these guys off to a strong conference start. We really, really need these first two conference games. They are games at home that we should win and they come just before a brutal mid January, 3 game road trip. The fact of the matter is, the A10 is really tough right now. We cannot realistically expect to win games at Richmond, Dayton and GW and games at SJU, GMU, URI and Bona won't be easy either. It's imperative that we take some momentum into that road trip and get our mojo back a bit. Wednesday night will be a very interesting--and potentially revealing--game. I hope the guys play loose but intense and I hope they win by double figures in an impressive, confidence-insitlling performance.

shovelhd · Post by **shovelhd** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 4:59 pm

Frankentelli has been in the league long enough to figure out how to beat us. He's not the greatest coach in the A-10 but he will have something for us. Count on it.

JPBoSox2 · Post by **JPBoSox2** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 5:07 pm

Yeah Marty you're thinking of the game two years ago, it was 20-3 bad guys after about five seconds. http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m- ... 412sj.html

NilesGold · Post by **NilesGold** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:44 pm

Marty Peretz wrote:I'd like us to really get Cady involved more.

Easier said than done. He was involved and dominant early vs Miami, but then they made it a point to slow him down, putting more emphasis on defending the entry pass, double and triple teaming him if he did get the ball. UMass needs to do a better job of exploiting all of the attention Cady is getting and Cady needs to do a better job of passing out of the double/triple teams.

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:58 pm

Worried about this game. Roberts will give Cady some fits inside. He's putting up big numbers and is more mobile and athletic than Cady. Their 5 starters are very solid and complimentary and they each play 30+ mpg.

I think the key is to shut down their perimeter shooting. In three of their 4 losses, they shot very poorly from behind the arc - less than 25%. In their fourth loss to Creighton, they actually shot quite well and nearly pulled off the upset, losing by only 4. Thus far, we have defended the arc exceptionally well. I'm not sure yet if that is our "length" and defensive prowess or if we've just faced some poor shooting teams.

This team is not to be taken lightly. Our upperclassmen should know this. St Joe's also relies on a lot of upperclassmen so they know the deal too.

EBox · Post by **EBox** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:08 pm

NilesGold wrote:
Marty Peretz wrote:I'd like us to really get Cady involved more.
Easier said than done. He was involved and dominant early vs Miami, but then they made it a point to slow him down, putting more emphasis on defending the entry pass, double and triple teaming him if he did get the ball. UMass needs to do a better job of exploiting all of the attention Cady is getting and Cady needs to do a better job of passing out of the double/triple teams.

Agree Niles. When Cady gets more than 1 defender near the low post (which seems to be always now), he needs to pass out to someone, who can either get the open shot or pass to the open man or mismatch. Would love to see him develop some 5-10 foot range to be more than just a low post threat.

Refuse2Lose83 · Post by **Refuse2Lose83** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:12 pm

^Totally agree, but Cady needs to work on his passing. It's pretty much 50-50 on if it's going be a turnover when Cady passes out of double/triple teams.

JPBoSox2 · Post by **JPBoSox2** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:33 pm

Apparently we've discovered the key to getting Maxie more involved. When he spends inexplicably long minutes on the bench everyone just start chanting his name. DK occasionally needs the reminder.

Unfortunately the only full Saint Joseph's game I've seen this season was the Villanova game that was really never competitive. Still, with their win-loss resume and the fact that the game is in Amherst I think we should win.

Hey, Ahmad Nivins and Jameer Nelson and Delonte West and Pat Carroll and Marvin O'Connor aren't walking through that door. (Yes I'm recycling this joke.)

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:35 am

Ahmad, let me take 2 steps before I dribble, Nivens.

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:27 am

Pro tip: if you're ever feeling down about the general state of our program, spend a few minutes on the St. Joes board. You'll feel so much better.

fenway617 · Post by **fenway617** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:09 am

^
Link?

Swampy · Post by **Swampy** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:14 am

It will be good to see Geoff Arnold again. I like that guy.