Vermont vs Maine 1/22/13 - Page 16 - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

ccd494 · 01-23-2013, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farfromtheshow

Mesghna is a useful role player: He's a dirty work guy who does the little things, and until the 2 game cold spell he's hit was shooting 47 percent from 3. But he appeared to be a much better complimentary role player, shooting 4-6 three's a game as a situational shooter, and the last two games appears to really be forcing things and trying to be something he's not...

But, I think if he was in a Catamounts uniform you'd like him - good, solid, role player and system guy... unfortunately he doesn't seem to be playing in much of a system.

I think in addition to the glaring deficiency of in game offensive strategy, the inability to feed Fraser also harkens to a recruiting issue in Orono. At this level, yes, just going out and recruiting the best available basketball player to use your scholarship is generally the way to go. But Maine's teams have seemingly been constructed with little rhyme or reason. Maine hasn't had a point guard I liked since.... I don't know when (Andrew Rogers' "outstanding" A/TO rate aside, I don't think he was a true D-I point guard, and I think a large amount of his turnover limiting ability was an overabundance of caution to mask other deficiencies). Scoring guards are fine, but when you have talented off the ball scorers (Fraser, Edwards, McLemore, McNally, etc.), you need a guy who is going to manage the game and players' touches first, and score second.

How good would this team look if it had an average D-I passing point guard, a few shooters (Mesghna, and one other guy who can hit an open three), Edwards slashing to the hoop, and Allison and Fraser banging down low?

What I wouldn't give to see Jay Greene (for example) running the point for the Bears this year.

drunkidiot · 01-23-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farfromtheshow

Sometimes it's not the arrows, it's the Indian.

I'm not usually on the politically correct police force but Native American has been the politically correct term for a few decades.

nycwolf · 01-23-2013, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunkidiot

I'm not usually on the politically correct police force but Native American has been the politically correct term for a few decades.

haha good one

mainejeff · 01-23-2013, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccd494

........ and Allison and Fraser banging down low?

Allison "banging down low"?.........don't make me laugh! Then again, he does get in there and get rebounds..........just can't put the bunny in the hoop.

Binghamtonswag · 01-23-2013, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunkidiot

I'm not usually on the politically correct police force but Native American has been the politically correct term for a few decades.

I think the preferred term now is actually American Indian (kinda silly I know)

umainealum · 01-23-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainejeff

Allison "banging down low"?.........don't make me laugh! Then again, he does get in there and get rebounds..........just can't put the bunny in the hoop.

He does get rebounds but he goes back up with the ball so soft...the slightest bit of contact & it's like he goes into some sort of electrical shock & he just flails all over the place.

Back to PG's, give me a Marty Higgins, Casey Arena, Tory Cavaleiri (sp?), Eric Dobson...course, would love an Andy Bedard but he was a scoring PG, not that there is anything wrong with that.

usslider · 01-23-2013, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zonid

This was our tournament game...since ya know we haven't won one since 2004.

Ugh you just reminded me about that one. Buzzer beater vs BU

ccd494 · 01-23-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainejeff

Allison "banging down low"?.........don't make me laugh! Then again, he does get in there and get rebounds..........just can't put the bunny in the hoop.

All he would have to do on that team is rebound and stay out of Fraser's way.

**UVM Hoop Cat** · 01-23-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farfromtheshow

I don't want to make an assumption, but my guess is you haven't seen Fraser much other than when he plays UVM -- and before last night he's never brought his A or even B game against the Catamounts -- but the kid can shoot - last night was not an outlier.

He's finally started shooting some 3's this year, but last year he was MONEY on the 18 foot jumper; he'd drill it with regularity. Against URI last year he hit 4 shots from literally a step inside the 3 point arc, each of them nothing but net, and showed a penchant for hitting "the worst shot in basketball" aka a shot from just inside the 3 point arc. I never understood why he wouldn't shoot 3's since he was shooting the longest 2's possible with regularity, and it seems like he's finally starting to extend himself to behind the arc...

But the kid has always had a soft touch - I think a lot of people are thinking he's always been like Warney - big, physical, but can't do anything outside of 2 feet. Don't get me wrong, he is big, and extremely physical, and most of his scoring comes around the hoop, but he can shoot it. Maine just never exploits the tremendous matchup problems he creates because on most nights last year Singleton, McLemore and Edwards, and now this year Pollard and Edwards, had nice games of keep-away going on for 40 minutes.

I've seen Maine play against Florida State and Quinnipiac since both were on TV (ESPNU and NESN) and I watched the Northeastern/Maine game online, since NU games are free online. So I've seen Maine play a handful of times- and some of those games Fraser had good games. I've also seen a handful of Maine games last season, including all three against UVM but I think Fraser missed one of them last year.

Until last night I've never been blown away by his abilities- he's the skilled big man that you give the ball to and he gets 13-15 a night for Maine in an 11-pt Maine loss. In other words, I never looked at Fraser as someone that could actually beat you. Additionally, I'm probably pretty biased because as I mentioned before, he has never really had a great game against UVM and trotted out a couple 4pt games while showing no range and no touch around the hoop.

However, last night he showed a lot of offensive skills and a really nice touch for a big man. Coming off the Bing loss, it was pretty clear he was on a mission and p*ssed and was shooting the ball each time he touched it in the first half, as I would too. To his credit, he nailed pretty much everything he put up- 3s, 18ft jumpers, inside- whatever. I definitely have a new appreciation of his game and his skills after last night though.

**UVM Hoop Cat** · 01-23-2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farfromtheshow

Mesghna is a useful role player: He's a dirty work guy who does the little things, and until the 2 game cold spell he's hit was shooting 47 percent from 3. But he appeared to be a much better complimentary role player, shooting 4-6 three's a game as a situational shooter, and the last two games appears to really be forcing things and trying to be something he's not...

But, I think if he was in a Catamounts uniform you'd like him - good, solid, role player and system guy... unfortunately he doesn't seem to be playing in much of a system.

Ehh, I was not impressed with Mesghna. He doesn't really seem to have a position, and a role player should have some versatility and he looks like he's just out there wanting to take 3s and play no defense. Same with the other foreign kid that just launched 3s. You shoot that many, you're bound to make a couple.

The only other kid on Maine that is decent and I'd take is Allison- he is always hustling, keeps possessions alive, and plays D.

**UVM Hoop Cat** · 01-23-2013, 01:01 PM

It's pretty clear where the game was lost last night for UVM. We had a 50-41 lead then Maine makes two FTs and we took out Voelkel and UVM couldn't score w/out him on the court and Maine kept scoring. We went nearly 5 minutes between scores and Maine evened up the game.

Voelkel checks back in and the offense starts working again, however with around 4min/5min to go we just settle for 3s each trip down, with Rugg, Blue, and Sandro all missing. Very uncharacteristic.

I would say the substitutions halfway in the second half getting some of the bench guys in there and jacking all those 3s really did us in. That and showing up where we just expect to win doesn't do this team any favors. They could do that last year when there was more talent but this year they need to role up the sleeves and get it done.

http://uvmathletics.com/boxscore.asp...44&path=mbball

Patch · 01-23-2013, 01:41 PM

Quote:

It's pretty clear where the game was lost last night for UVM. We had a 50-41 lead then Maine makes two FTs and we took out Voelkel and UVM couldn't score w/out him on the court and Maine kept scoring. We went nearly 5 minutes between scores and Maine evened up the game.

Voelkel checks back in and the offense starts working again, however with around 4min/5min to go we just settle for 3s each trip down, with Rugg, Blue, and Sandro all missing. Very uncharacteristic....... UVMHC

I respect your opinion but I think your statement is overly simplistic.

UVM an outstanding defensive team giving up 59.5 ppg (56.1 in AE play) gave up 71 points.

That's a problem some of it may be caused by shot selection but UVM usually covers that up by playing outstanding "D" but in its last 2 outings they have yielded 73 & 71 points which is very unusual for UVM.

They yielded over 70 only 2 other times and are 1-3 when giving up 70 or more.

**UVM Hoop Cat** · 01-23-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patch

I respect your opinion but I think your statement is overly simplistic.

UVM an outstanding defensive team giving up 59.5 ppg (56.1 in AE play) gave up 71 points.

That's a problem some of it may be caused by shot selection but UVM usually covers that up by playing outstanding "D" but in its last 2 outings they have yielded 73 & 71 points which is very unusual for UVM.

They yielded over 70 only 2 other times and are 1-3 when giving up 70 or more.

Oh, you're absolutely correct our defense was atrocious last night. In the first half we were leaving Fraser wide open and then second half we allowed Edwards to just walk in lay-ups. It was a pretty gross effort.

I guess I should have prefaced it by saying, despite playing obviously bad defense- here are the two sequences IMO where we really lost the game. We had a 9 point lead that was far from safe and was not a good time to really let things slide/rest- especially as good as Maine was shooting the ball.

SaltySeawolf · 01-23-2013, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patch

I respect your opinion but I think your statement is overly simplistic.

UVM an outstanding defensive team giving up 59.5 ppg (56.1 in AE play) gave up 71 points.

That's a problem some of it may be caused by shot selection but UVM usually covers that up by playing outstanding "D" but in its last 2 outings they have yielded 73 & 71 points which is very unusual for UVM.

They yielded over 70 only 2 other times and are 1-3 when giving up 70 or more.

Sigh.... once again an Albany fan just has to take a swipe at SBU.

Patch · 01-23-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Sigh.... once again an Albany fan just has to take a swipe at SBU. -SSW

What the heck do you do read between the lines. You are really insecure!!!! (LOL)

01-23-2013, 01:01 PM	#236 (permalink)
UVM Hoop Cat -PREMIUM MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 17,576 Rep Power: 62496	Re: Vermont vs Maine 1/22/13 It's pretty clear where the game was lost last night for UVM. We had a 50-41 lead then Maine makes two FTs and we took out Voelkel and UVM couldn't score w/out him on the court and Maine kept scoring. We went nearly 5 minutes between scores and Maine evened up the game. Voelkel checks back in and the offense starts working again, however with around 4min/5min to go we just settle for 3s each trip down, with Rugg, Blue, and Sandro all missing. Very uncharacteristic. I would say the substitutions halfway in the second half getting some of the bench guys in there and jacking all those 3s really did us in. That and showing up where we just expect to win doesn't do this team any favors. They could do that last year when there was more talent but this year they need to role up the sleeves and get it done. http://uvmathletics.com/boxscore.asp...44&path=mbball __________________ "Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here" - Hoosiers, & UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

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