uneblinstu's post game chatter: ed 5, vol 23 - Penn State

This game was never, ever in doubt.

Penn State is a sad team.  Is there even a glint of light in the future?

We had spells where we played really good basketball, and then other times...yikes.

That said, how do you ever get into the flow of a game, with that many fouls?

I thought that Benny played one of his better games.

Rivers plays better each time out.

it's win #3. we're actually in a reasonable position to win as many games as last season with half the talent and depth.

 

that's impressive, given that the conference is about as strong as last season.

it's win #3. we're actually in a reasonable position to win as many games as last season with half the talent and depth.

 

that's impressive, given that the conference is about as strong as last season.

I won't be so bold to say we have half the talent as last year. 

it's win #3. we're actually in a reasonable position to win as many games as last season with half the talent and depth.

 

that's impressive, given that the conference is about as strong as last season.

I won't be so bold to say we have half the talent as last year. 

 

Yeah, Walker, Spencer, Richardson.... just a lot of good guard play last year.

it's win #3. we're actually in a reasonable position to win as many games as last season with half the talent and depth.

 

that's impressive, given that the conference is about as strong as last season.

I won't be so bold to say we have half the talent as last year. 

I would.

No, not half.  Last year was more talented, but the margin's fairly close, especially as Rivers and Shields have continued to emerge.

No, not half.  Last year was more talented, but the margin's fairly close, especially as Rivers and Shields have continued to emerge.

 

Last year's team underperformed considerably. their sum was less than their parts. Maybe I could be talked into 2/3 of the talent, but not much more. A Diaz that gave a crap alone would've stuck out as the best player on this year's squad by far. Spencer was really talented as well, except maybe in the head. Walker was as good one his game as one of our two freshmen, although their careers will eventually dwarf his.

 

But ultimately the point is these guys have done pretty well this season, though granted, it's turning out that the Frazier injury was not only big for PSU, but also for us. We have 3 wins and might have one less with him around.

I didn't get to watch the game. But was watching via live stats. What was with all the foul calls? Were both teams overly aggressive? Without looking up the stats I feels this team has been better at the line. Hope that trend continues. Under Doc that was something we struggled with.

There is difference between not giving a crap and having feet so bad it hurts to just stand. He definitely could have shown some more fire but to say he didn't care is very presumptious.

Diaz was a huge part of the team the previous couple of years.

 

We had a point guard last year.

 

Those 2 things a lone make me want to give the nod way in favor of last year.

 

Our SG and F play has been reatively even comparing both years.

 

I won't say we were twice as talented last year but we were certainly a lot more talented last year.

 

If we had Diaz for just like 10-15 minutes a night it would make a huge deal this year.  And if we had a more developed point guard this team could have maybe gone something like 7-11.

• Boring game.

Foul fest.  On defense neither team wanted to adjust to how the game was called.

Best Nebraska performance getting to the line in at least two years.

Nebraska looked bad a lot but Penn State looked worse.

Get to play @Indiana.  That will be fun regardless of the outcome.

Half the town of Doland, SD showing up for Coach Miles was awesome.

There is difference between not giving a crap and having feet so bad it hurts to just stand. He definitely could have shown some more fire but to say he didn't care is very presumptious.

 

You're right. That was me regurgitating the post-season stuff on how unhappy he was last season, and presuming it showed up in his play regardless of the state of his injury, which was the in-season explanation for everything.

 

It wasn't actually meant to be a cheap shot at Diaz, just a glib reference about how much talent the guy had compared to what actually made it out on the court last season.

 

I accept the rebuke, but I hope the point was still made, arguable as it is.

There is difference between not giving a crap and having feet so bad it hurts to just stand. He definitely could have shown some more fire but to say he didn't care is very presumptious.

 

I could be wrong, but going off memory, I can't ever recall him with crutches or wearing boots on his feet. Actually there were games where he would go through pre-game shootaround and warmups and then not play. Maybe he was in excruciating pain in those warmups. Or maybe his feet didn't really hurt *that* bad.

There is difference between not giving a crap and having feet so bad it hurts to just stand. He definitely could have shown some more fire but to say he didn't care is very presumptious.

 

You're right. That was me regurgitating the post-season stuff on how unhappy he was last season, and presuming it showed up in his play regardless of the state of his injury, which was the in-season explanation for everything.

 

It wasn't actually meant to be a cheap shot at Diaz, just a glib reference about how much talent the guy had compared to what actually made it out on the court last season.

 

I accept the rebuke, but I hope the point was still made, arguable as it is.

No question at all in my mind rearding your declaration regarding depth.  Although, with the number of injuries that bit the team, last years depth was lacking as well.  One cannot work on the premise that IF BJD was healthy...because he was not.  But let's look at last years top 8 and compare them to this years top eight...

 

2011-12                                      2012 -13

McCray                                       Talley

Richardson                                 Gallegos

Spencer                                      Ubel

Ubel                                            Shields

Talley                                          Rivers

Walker                                        Parker

Diaz                                            Almeida

Moore                                         Tyrance

 

Out                                             Out        

Almeida                                       Biggs

Gallegos                                     Pitchford

Hilliard/Diaz                                 Petteway

                                                    Pelz

That's what makes it fun, cwg! It is arguable! I still can't concede more than 2/3 of the talent, because talent is a marker that ignores injuries. a healthy diaz is worth quite a bit more than any player we have this season.

 

that 11-12 roster had three guys on it more talented in terms of ability than any of hte guys we have now: diaz, spencer, and mcCray.

 

2 of those three had issues that had them playing below what we knew they could do, and the other one had a similar situation to talley this season by probably trying to do too much and playing out of position (Spencer).

 

another way of putting it would be this: if everything else were equal--health, motivation, leadership, coaching--I'd take that 11-12 roster in a direct matchup with 12-13 most of the time.

This game was never, ever in doubt.

Penn State is a sad team.  Is there even a glint of light in the future?

 

Frazier is back next year.

This game was never, ever in doubt.

Penn State is a sad team.  Is there even a glint of light in the future?

 

Frazier is back next year.

If he can stay out of the Brass Rail.

Was he at the Rail this weekend?

 

Any of his teammates?

Just him and a couple managers. Really humble guy but he had to hide the smiles when we gave him shit on the bench.

There is difference between not giving a crap and having feet so bad it hurts to just stand. He definitely could have shown some more fire but to say he didn't care is very presumptious.

 

I could be wrong, but going off memory, I can't ever recall him with crutches or wearing boots on his feet. Actually there were games where he would go through pre-game shootaround and warmups and then not play. Maybe he was in excruciating pain in those warmups. Or maybe his feet didn't really hurt *that* bad.

I had a conversation with someone within the program earlier this year about Andre. The person I was talking with remarked that it is surprising that Andre had such terrible knee problems last year and this year doesn't even need knee braces. His point was that he felt most of Andres problem last year was attitude and that this year, under Coach Miles, his attitude is much better. I wonder if there was a similar problem with Jorge last year? 

That's what makes it fun, cwg! It is arguable! I still can't concede more than 2/3 of the talent, because talent is a marker that ignores injuries. a healthy diaz is worth quite a bit more than any player we have this season.

 

that 11-12 roster had three guys on it more talented in terms of ability than any of hte guys we have now: diaz, spencer, and mcCray.

 

2 of those three had issues that had them playing below what we knew they could do, and the other one had a similar situation to talley this season by probably trying to do too much and playing out of position (Spencer).

 

another way of putting it would be this: if everything else were equal--health, motivation, leadership, coaching--I'd take that 11-12 roster in a direct matchup with 12-13 most of the time.

And how do you factor "coaching up players" into this discussion? There are several players producing at a much higher level than I expected at the beginning of the season. Do you credit this to natural improvement with another year under thier belt or is this staff responsible for better than expected player development? I contend it is improved player development on the part of this staff.

 

 I would say that Ubel is far more effective this year than last. It is not normal for a player to improve this dramatically between his junior and senior years. For heavens sake he now dunks with authority and has a spin move I have never seen before! David Rivers is really starting to play well. Would that have happened in the past? I know at the beginning of the season I didn't expect either Rivers or Sheilds to contribute very much this year. And how about Gellegos? After a very lack luster sophomore year my expectations for his production this year were very low. Now he plays with his hair on fire at times!!

Just him and a couple managers. Really humble guy but he had to hide the smiles when we gave him shit on the bench.

 

He seems like a really great guy and player.  Penn St lucked out there.

Some friends and I partied  one night with some guys from one of the teams that was in town for the old Amertis tournament back in the day. 

 

Don't remember who but good guys.

 

Remember when the Navy was here for the same tournament and they where leaving the "Cornhusker"  back when it was at the end of the Star City Parade.  One kid was standing there watching the bands and stuff and got left.  They had to stop the bus and go get him. :D

 

It was funny watching this tall young man really enjoying all the pageantry and then hearing his coach come around the corner and just rip him up one side another for not being on the bus.  Poor kid.

This game was never, ever in doubt.

Penn State is a sad team.  Is there even a glint of light in the future?

 

Frazier is back next year.

Frazier back, a transfer from Pitt, pretty sure a few good recruits....they are only getting better it appears to me.