Such a disappointing start to the season, though honestly didn't have super high expectations for the early games knowing how new the team was and how it was going to be an adjustment for players and coaches as they get used to playing with each other. Some initial thoughts I had on the team are:
- defensively I think we will get much better very quickly. Franklin, Beekman and Clark are all premier on the ball defenders and ball hawks while Sheddrick really looks like he will be a very solid defender both with rim protection and hedging on ball screens, just needs game experience. Gardner is the one I am not yet sure about, he wasn't awful (like Hauser was to start the year last year) and I think just needs to gain experience in our system and with technique as only TB can teach. The two big issues are defense off of the bench and working more cohesively as a unit (vs as individual defenders). The team aspect will come with time and continued coaching. One positive from last night is that Bennett has so many examples to focus on and drive home where things broke down. Have no doubt he will fix things and it will be a better defensive team each game.
- rebounding was a disappointment, especially on the defensive glass. Can't give up 10 offensive rebounds to a team as small as Navy and expect to win games consistently. It is going to have to be a full team effort on the boards. We did get 9 offensive boards which is good, but have to win more of the defensive ones.
- it is going to be a long season if we are going to have to rely on Clark taking 7 three pointers a game. Beekman has not looked like he improved his shooting much and just took one 3 pointer (though loved his aggressiveness getting to the basket) so our three point threat will really just be Franklin as it looks like McCorkle and Murray won't be playing big parts for a while. I do think Franklin is going to be OK, he can certainly find shots, just had a bad night shooting.
- Was nice to see so much inside play on offense. Gardner is going to be a force (needed to settle down in the second half as he was pressing after the strong early start) and Sheddrick will get better and better on offense. Don't think we'll get much more from Caffaro than we did with Salt (put backs and dump offs mostly will be his contribution).
- Really disappointed to see Stattman get 17 minutes and Murray/McCorkle just three combined. Nothing against Stattman, but if he is going to get the vast majority of the minutes when the three wing players plus Gardner (as he played the four often) sub out that leaves such few minutes for M & M. I know it was one game and it can change, but Bennett is yet again taking out new players after just one mistake (the offensive foul by Murray caused him to be yanked and never played again) while Clark can throw up some awful shots and make bad decisions and play 38 minutes. I sure hope this changes and they can get some times in the games ahead.
- Was great to see that Beekman was initiating the offense and playing the point much more than last year and more than Clark, the right decision. The only issue with that is that CLark now sees himself as a shooting guard I am afraid (hence his seven 3 point attempts). I hope as the season goes by his playing time decreases to a more reasonable 30-32 minutes so Murray and McCorkle can get some experience.
- Was really surprised how quick we were shooting the ball in many possessions, especially the first 10 minutes. So different from past years and happy to see that, but it does leave us playing defense for more possessions which is a problem when we have defensive issues like we did last night.
Overall it was about what I expected in terms of inconsistency on both ends and Navy certainly shot better than expected. It's just one loss and isn't impacting our conference record and if Bennett can use it as motivation to drive home so many points (esp about defense and rebounding) it can end up being a bit of a positive I hope. Definitely still have high hopes for a strong conference season and certainly expect more ups and downs early in the season. Win or lose though, it was great to have basketball back and the home crowd at JPJ.
- defensively I think we will get much better very quickly. Franklin, Beekman and Clark are all premier on the ball defenders and ball hawks while Sheddrick really looks like he will be a very solid defender both with rim protection and hedging on ball screens, just needs game experience. Gardner is the one I am not yet sure about, he wasn't awful (like Hauser was to start the year last year) and I think just needs to gain experience in our system and with technique as only TB can teach. The two big issues are defense off of the bench and working more cohesively as a unit (vs as individual defenders). The team aspect will come with time and continued coaching. One positive from last night is that Bennett has so many examples to focus on and drive home where things broke down. Have no doubt he will fix things and it will be a better defensive team each game.
- rebounding was a disappointment, especially on the defensive glass. Can't give up 10 offensive rebounds to a team as small as Navy and expect to win games consistently. It is going to have to be a full team effort on the boards. We did get 9 offensive boards which is good, but have to win more of the defensive ones.
- it is going to be a long season if we are going to have to rely on Clark taking 7 three pointers a game. Beekman has not looked like he improved his shooting much and just took one 3 pointer (though loved his aggressiveness getting to the basket) so our three point threat will really just be Franklin as it looks like McCorkle and Murray won't be playing big parts for a while. I do think Franklin is going to be OK, he can certainly find shots, just had a bad night shooting.
- Was nice to see so much inside play on offense. Gardner is going to be a force (needed to settle down in the second half as he was pressing after the strong early start) and Sheddrick will get better and better on offense. Don't think we'll get much more from Caffaro than we did with Salt (put backs and dump offs mostly will be his contribution).
- Really disappointed to see Stattman get 17 minutes and Murray/McCorkle just three combined. Nothing against Stattman, but if he is going to get the vast majority of the minutes when the three wing players plus Gardner (as he played the four often) sub out that leaves such few minutes for M & M. I know it was one game and it can change, but Bennett is yet again taking out new players after just one mistake (the offensive foul by Murray caused him to be yanked and never played again) while Clark can throw up some awful shots and make bad decisions and play 38 minutes. I sure hope this changes and they can get some times in the games ahead.
- Was great to see that Beekman was initiating the offense and playing the point much more than last year and more than Clark, the right decision. The only issue with that is that CLark now sees himself as a shooting guard I am afraid (hence his seven 3 point attempts). I hope as the season goes by his playing time decreases to a more reasonable 30-32 minutes so Murray and McCorkle can get some experience.
- Was really surprised how quick we were shooting the ball in many possessions, especially the first 10 minutes. So different from past years and happy to see that, but it does leave us playing defense for more possessions which is a problem when we have defensive issues like we did last night.
Overall it was about what I expected in terms of inconsistency on both ends and Navy certainly shot better than expected. It's just one loss and isn't impacting our conference record and if Bennett can use it as motivation to drive home so many points (esp about defense and rebounding) it can end up being a bit of a positive I hope. Definitely still have high hopes for a strong conference season and certainly expect more ups and downs early in the season. Win or lose though, it was great to have basketball back and the home crowd at JPJ.
