(2) Thursday BE Games 12/17/20

[Jet915]

Slightly OT: I watched some of the UCONN-Creighton WBB game today and half the Creighton players were wearing masks on the court while playing. First time I've seen that in a game, men's or women's. Very strange and not sure how effective.

Yeah they have been doing that all year, apparently its personal choice but I cant imagine that being comfortable. Given that the opposing team isnt wearing masks, not sure its helpful either.

[Omaha1]

Slightly OT: I watched some of the UCONN-Creighton WBB game today and half the Creighton players were wearing masks on the court while playing. First time I've seen that in a game, men's or women's. Very strange and not sure how effective.

Yeah they have been doing that all year, apparently its personal choice but I cant imagine that being comfortable. Given that the opposing team isnt wearing masks, not sure its helpful either.

Who won?

[Hall2012]

Wow. Thought for sure SHU choked that one away when Carton beat the shot clock with that Markus Howard range 3. Definitely need to improve on closing out games, but nice to see some other guys step up when Mamu's shot wasn't falling and how about Shavar Reynolds being the guy to take the crunch time shot!

[Novachap]

Wow. Thought for sure SHU choked that one away when Carton beat the shot clock with that Markus Howard range 3. Definitely need to improve on closing out games, but nice to see some other guys step up when Mamu's shot wasn't falling and how about Shavar Reynolds being the guy to take the crunch time shot!

That was a good game to watch and yes, Reynolds with ice water in his veins. He is a heck of a story.

Hall desereved that game IMO, no question. That travel-which was indeed a travel- at that time of the game, right in front of the M bench! Can only imagine what Wojo was saying since we can't read lips anymore!

Well done Hall, against a really good team.

[MUBoxer]

Good win, all game only one call I had a gripe with was the obvious travel where the timeout was called after the Hall player fell. Still my least favorite BE team but have to respect the continuation from Whitehead/Delgado etc all the way to now.

[Hall2012]

Good win, all game only one call I had a gripe with was the obvious travel where the timeout was called after the Hall player fell. Still my least favorite BE team but have to respect the continuation from Whitehead/Delgado etc all the way to now.

I wouldn't even have minded a travel call there, I was more pissed that SHU burned their last timeout on it with what, 4-5 minutes left in the game?

Overall, I was very happy with how the game was called - that's Big East basketball. Not the foul-fests we see far too many of. Of course, the way SHU shoots free throws, it works too their benefit too.

Another note - I was surprised to see Their John glued to the bench in crunch time. I thought he had a great game and was one of MU's most effective players last night. It also feels like he's been at MU forever.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Wow. Thought for sure SHU choked that one away when Carton beat the shot clock with that Markus Howard range 3. Definitely need to improve on closing out games, but nice to see some other guys step up when Mamu's shot wasn't falling and how about Shavar Reynolds being the guy to take the crunch time shot!

Hall, while watching the first half the team just seemed to run better with Shavar at the helm than Aiken. The ball got stuck in Aiken's hands a bit too much IMO. He seemed to be hunting shots. Perhaps it was rust from being out or KW telling him to be aggressive, but a double digit lead shrunk quickly to 4 or 5 with Shavar on the bench. He just reminds me of a SHU guard: tough, opportunistic with his offense, good distributor, good glue guy, etc. And his dribble drive and distribute game has been fantastic.

Also is it me or is Aiken really small/slight? There is a challenge that comes from going up against guys like Carton, Scruggs, Justin Moore types who physically are going to cause Bryce some problems.

[GumbyDamnit!]

One more thing Hall that I'd be interested in your feedback on... Why is Ike in there as much as he is? I think the Hall needs more Samuel or Mamu at the 5, Rhoden the 4 and open up the offense. I know the thought was that Ike would fill the Romero G. role, but I'm just not sure the benefits of his game outweigh the negatives. The team seems so much more free flowing without him. Just one outsider's view.

I like your team a lot though. Dangerous...especially when Rhoden and Cale are hitting shots.

[Hall2012]

Wow. Thought for sure SHU choked that one away when Carton beat the shot clock with that Markus Howard range 3. Definitely need to improve on closing out games, but nice to see some other guys step up when Mamu's shot wasn't falling and how about Shavar Reynolds being the guy to take the crunch time shot!

Hall, while watching the first half the team just seemed to run better with Shavar at the helm than Aiken. The ball got stuck in Aiken's hands a bit too much IMO. He seemed to be hunting shots. Perhaps it was rust from being out or KW telling him to be aggressive, but a double digit lead shrunk quickly to 4 or 5 with Shavar on the bench. He just reminds me of a SHU guard: tough, opportunistic with his offense, good distributor, good glue guy, etc. And his dribble drive and distribute game has been fantastic.

Also is it me or is Aiken really small/slight? There is a challenge that comes from going up against guys like Carton, Scruggs, Justin Moore types who physically are going to cause Bryce some problems.

Aiken's pretty small, yeah. As far as his game, I think he'll come around, just some rust/maybe trying to force things to make an impact with it being his first game back from injury. Fortunately, Shavar's played his way to where Aiken won't be relied on as a 30+ mpg point guard. They'll both get solid playing time and we may see them on the floor together at times too.

[Hall2012]

One more thing Hall that I'd be interested in your feedback on... Why is Ike in there as much as he is? I think the Hall needs more Samuel or Mamu at the 5, Rhoden the 4 and open up the offense. I know the thought was that Ike would fill the Romero G. role, but I'm just not sure the benefits of his game outweigh the negatives. The team seems so much more free flowing without him. Just one outsider's view.

I like your team a lot though. Dangerous...especially when Rhoden and Cale are hitting shots.

I tend to agree with you. For the most Ike has been starting and playing around 20 mpg. All speculation here, but my guess is simply that Willard starts Ike and plays him a lot early largely to protect Mamu from banging with the opponent's 5 and possibly picking up an early foul or 2 from it. I don't think he really sees Samuel as a 5 right now, so having Ike on the floor is the best way to match Sandro up at the 4. It didn't happen last night (probably credit Theo John for that), but they have often tried to throw the ball in to Ike on the first few possessions to establish an interior game.

Overall, I do agree that playing small (relatively speaking with only 2 players under 6'5") seems to be SHU's most effective lineup, though it's nice to have the ability to give different looks.