MBB Game 8 vs. Penn, Nov. 30 (Sun) 2:30 PM

[Wags]

Terrific win. Best half of the season. Super encouraging after last year that this team is playing better in 2nd halves

I felt the same, best half of the season, easily. And yes, encouraging to see after last year's second halves.

If they can bottle that second half in Philly today, they'll be a problem for the rest of the CAA in January, February, and in D.C.

Penn was really forcing the ball out of Edmead's hands, especially with Jones on him. He only had three shots (made just one), but including him, they still had all five starters score in double figures. Davis carried them early with 10 of their first 18 pts, and woke up late, but he was scoreless in between. But, no matter because Biggie, Plotnikov (mainly, early in the second half to spark that game-turning 24-9 run after halftime) and Onuetu all stepped up and filled in where Edmead was doing less scoring and while Davis was quiet in the middle part of the game, spanning both halves. That start to the second half from Plotnikov is exactly what I knew he had in him and would like to see more of it when he's engaged and they use him well.

It was an impressive team win. And the bench really pulls for whoever is on the floor. They celebrate each other's success, a good sign of a winning team. We'll see from here. It's odd that their toughest game was against the lone team that went 0-3, and that they had a pretty easy time of it in the second half against the only other team that was 2-0 like them, entering the day, and which was playing at home (although only 973 were in attendance). So, we don't really know yet. Speedy said he's still learning about the team himself. But that's what November, and now December coming up, are for. So far, so good, for the most part.

My first time seeing The Palestra. It was a blast. Long day, driving down this morning and back tonight, but well worth the experience! Especially with how Hofstra played!

[HUSID74]

Sorry, but this kid Wills can't put it in the Holland Tunnel why is he getting minutes?

He can handle the ball, plays tough defense and he did hit two shots when scoring was needed...we'll take that kind of effort from a back up point guard.

[HUSID74]

Great showing by this team...excited to see how this season plays out now after this great weekend showing.
Wags, the Palestra is AWESOME but the showing by the Philly fans was horrendous.
I remember Big Five double headers in the 70's when that building was packed and it ROCKED.
And, by the way, we are 2-1 in the BIF Five! Bring on St. Joseph's!!

[Mikey77]

HUSID74. Happy to eat crow if Wills can shoot better than what he has been shooting.

[Wags]

Great showing by this team...excited to see how this season plays out now after this great weekend showing.

Eight games in, it's evident that they have some good complementary pieces. It's all about meshing and growing those as well as possible over the course of the season now. What will help with that is what Speedy noted after the game yesterday: "The thing with this team is they listen and they’re learning."

Wags, the Palestra is AWESOME but the showing by the Philly fans was horrendous.
I remember Big Five double headers in the 70's when that building was packed and it ROCKED.

Hate to say it, but we can't be throwing stones when we routinely have trouble filling our own house. Only 973 in attendance was disappointing but kind of expected yesterday. Hofstra just won't draw there on a rainy, sleepy final day of Thanksgiving weekend the way Princeton (especially) or Harvard will in the middle of Ivy League play. Despite the sparce crowd yesterday, it sounded like more, so I can only imagine how loud that place can sound when full with the fans into it. Penn State will be hosting Illinois there on a Saturday night, on Jan. 3. Floor tickets that were around $20 along the baselines for yesterday's games will be over $200 for that one.

And, by the way, we are 2-1 in the BIF Five! Bring on St. Joseph's!!

And 3-1 vs. the state of Pennsylvania, with a chance on Sunday, to make it 4-1, while at the same time, making Pitt 0-2 this year against former or current Hofstra head coaches. And then a chance to add to that further with two regular season games against Drexel and possibly against the Dragons again in D.C.

[Wags]

Sorry, but this kid Wills can't put it in the Holland Tunnel why is he getting minutes?

He can handle the ball, plays tough defense and he did hit two shots when scoring was needed...we'll take that kind of effort from a back up point guard.

Wills was very useful yesterday. He did a good job of bringing up the ball even against a bit of Penn pressure at times, and setting the offense. The two shots he hit were very timely. The jumper gave them their first double-digit lead (at 49-38) and the 3 he hit iced the game (put them up 67-53 with just over four minutes left). He also had a key offensive board that led to a Plotnikov 3 to put them up 13 a couple of minutes earlier. And, as you mentioned, his defense too. I thought he was a key part of the collective team effort they had yesterday.

[Mikey77]

Wags. See my post of 10:41 am today. Prior to his hitting those two shots yesterday I think he was shooting less than .200. His contributions in yesterday's win are noted.

[Wags]

Wags. See my post of 10:41 am today. Prior to his hitting those two shots yesterday I think he was shooting less than .200. His contributions in yesterday's win are noted.

That would be a problem if he were being relied on to be a shooter, but he's really not. He's a role player who only takes 4-5 shots a game. If he has to hit a timely shot or two, sometimes he can (like yesterday), but no one is asking him to be Cruz Davis, offensively. His value is in the other things (as mentioned), which is why Speedy recognized that and gave him 25 minutes yesterday. Kudos to Speedy for recognizing that. Before yesterday, Wills only had as much as 12 minutes this year (and that was against Molloy). That's good coaching, to extend the minutes of a role player who is helping you win in other ways than scoring.

[EvanJ]

Wills shoots poorly even for a sub. He made 5 of 14 twos, and 3 of 14 threes. Forwards shoot twos better than guards because forwards shoot closer to the basket (on average, I know guards can have layups and dunks). Wills shoots twos .357. Davis, Edmead, Patterson, and Plotnikov combine to shoot twos .509. Last season Wills shot twos a slightly higher .369, shot threes .429 (double what he is now), and that was playing for Wyoming in a better conference.

[Wags]

A little late, but this was just posted today if anyone"s interested:

https://www.midmajormadness.com/colonia ... ssic-sweep

[Jojogunne]

Well done, Wags.

[Wags]

Well done, Wags.

Thanks for checking it out, Jojo!

[The Shadow]

To Wags, What a great article! My Dad and I always enjoy your writing. Thanks so much for sharing the link.

[triplec2195]

Very nice article Wags this should have been in Newsday imagine them printing a detailed article about us.

[stuball888]

Thats why we should write to Newsday and make Wags our beat writer

[HUSID74]

Newsday has no interest in coveering local sports...all their space is dovoted to getting up in Pitiono's arse.
And how's that working out so far?

[Wags]

Thats why we should write to Newsday and make Wags our beat writer

Ha, well, needless to say, you'd have at least one vote from me on that.

Thanks Jojo, Shadow, triplec, stuball. I greatly appreciate the kind words. I always enjoy covering games and writing for its own sake, but that kind of feedback makes putting in the work and time to do so, a lot more satisfying. Thanks again for taking the time to read.

[HUSID74]

Thats why we should write to Newsday and make Wags our beat writer

Ha, well, needless to say, you'd have at least one vote from me on that.

Thanks Jojo, Shadow, triplec, stuball. I greatly appreciate the kind words. I always enjoy covering games and writing for its own sake, but that kind of feedback makes putting in the work and time to do so, a lot more satisfying. Thanks again for taking the time to read.

And yes Wags always enjoy your writing and perspective....awhile ago I suggested that Speedy does a blog as we don't get nearly enough information from other sources...perhaps you should mention it to him and you could get the ball rolling.

[Wags]

Thats why we should write to Newsday and make Wags our beat writer

Ha, well, needless to say, you'd have at least one vote from me on that.

Thanks Jojo, Shadow, triplec, stuball. I greatly appreciate the kind words. I always enjoy covering games and writing for its own sake, but that kind of feedback makes putting in the work and time to do so, a lot more satisfying. Thanks again for taking the time to read.

And yes Wags always enjoy your writing and perspective....awhile ago I suggested that Speedy does a blog as we don't get nearly enough information from other sources...perhaps you should mention it to him and you could get the ball rolling.

Thanks, HUSID! Hmm, that may be worth exploring if it's possible.

[HUSID74]

Wags go for it and I will push him as well.