Rebounding Shout Out

[PSAL_Hoops]

It’s only one scrimmage…

But a shout out is warranted for the improvement. Especially on the offensive glass where I don’t think we came close to 16 offensive rebounds in any games last season outside of the teams like Rider. Every competitive team RU has ever fielded was at least decent on the offensive glass - with our style of play it’s important.

We also did better on the defensive glass than the stat sheet indicates. Most of their 11 offensive rebounds were off long misses from long range. We need to do a better job tracking those down but there’s an element of luck with those as well. I thought we were pretty solid when it came to clearing the glass in the paint - didn’t give up many put backs which was a major pain point last season.

Again - it’s one scrimmage. Definitely don’t want to overreact to it but thought we looked as good as anyone could’ve realistically hoped when it comes to rebounding which was one of our biggest issues last season.

 

[LOU-RU85]

To me, this will be the key to a good season.

 

[seansherm]

It’s only one scrimmage…

But a shout out is warranted for the improvement. Especially on the offensive glass where I don’t think we came close to 16 offensive rebounds in any games last season outside of the teams like Rider. Every competitive team RU has ever fielded was at least decent on the offensive glass - with our style of play it’s important.

We also did better on the defensive glass than the stat sheet indicates. Most of their 11 offensive rebounds were off long misses from long range. We need to do a better job tracking those down but there’s an element of luck with those as well. I thought we were pretty solid when it came to clearing the glass in the paint - didn’t give up many put backs which was a major pain point last season.

Again - it’s one scrimmage. Definitely don’t want to overreact to it but thought we looked as good as anyone could’ve realistically hoped when it comes to rebounding which was one of our biggest issues last season.

I haven't seen the scrimmage, so have no idea if it was him, but the offensive boards is where Gurdak excelled last year.

 

[GM]

40 minutes of players playing their actual position is a big contributor to this IMO. Last year our forwards weren’t good enough to play much in high leverage situations and I don’t think Ogbole was able to compete at the end of many games either, plus it seems we have actual centers off the bench this year which for as much as Dortch tried, he was just so skinny last year.

 

[Atlasxal]

Agree. Team is bigger (both length and frame), more athletic and older… than last year when we had so many freshman who played major minutes. Most noticeable Darin Smith and Christian Gurdak. Ware and Miteo (“Merv”) very active combining for 7 rebounds in 19 minutes backing up Gurdak and they also played together for a short time. Gurdak is such a major upgrade at Center. And we played without Sydnor, our true “power” forward, and Tariq.
Really excited for the season.

 

[Atlasxal]

Another observation… there is going to be intense competition for minutes on this team with 15 scholarship players - 10 to 12 of whom seem to be proven at least at lower levels.

 

[RedTeamUpstream94]

Didn’t see the game but watched the video. One thing that struck me …

seemed like we were actually running some offensive sets and not hero/ iso ball.

Legit observation?

 

[RAC’emUp]

Didn’t see the game but watched the video. One thing that struck me …

seemed like we were actually running some offensive sets and not hero/ iso ball.

Legit observation?

I do not believe there was a single ISO play. Even the last play which was designed for Lino was not ISO.

 

[RedTeamUpstream94]

I do not believe there was a single ISO play. Even the last play which was designed for Lino was not ISO.

well it was only one exhibition game but maybe a positive sign that will actually have some more design to the offense

 

[Simce91]

Another observation… there is going to be intense competition for minutes on this team with 15 scholarship players - 10 to 12 of whom seem to be proven at least at lower levels.

I think this is going to be a real factor this year as guys are going to be playing 110% when they are on the floor, hustling their arses off.

The consequences of taking some plays off, have a seat young man.

Could realistically be the difference in several games this year.

 

[Scarlet Blind_rivals]

I found a good stream on You Tube with commentary. Rebounding looked better.

Francis(inj.), Lino, Smith Jr and Gurdak will be major contributors. Hoping Rasheed Jones can be our glue guy/6thMan, little bit of pts, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, defense. JMike, Powers and Buchanan will get minutes. Not many minutes left after those 8 names. Need to settle on a backup 4/5, about 3 weeks to figure it out.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I found a good stream on You Tube with commentary. Rebounding looked better.

Francis(inj.), Lino, Smith Jr and Gurdak will be major contributors. Hoping Rasheed Jones can be our glue guy/6thMan, little bit of pts, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, defense. JMike, Powers and Buchanan will get minutes. Not many minutes left after those 8 names. Need to settle on a backup 4/5, about 3 weeks to figure it out.

According to Richie Sydnor the likely starter at the 4. If that’s true we will have a pretty good team IMO. I walked away from yesterday’s game feeling that the floor is a bit higher than I thought. If Sydnor is a piece like Gurdak and Smith the ceiling becomes higher too.

 

[RUJMM78]

To me, this will be the key to a good season.

Three point shooting is equally important.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I do not believe there was a single ISO play. Even the last play which was designed for Lino was not ISO.

Yeah - only Buchanan with his usual fade shots, and Darin Smith had a few. But we ran a good amount of sets designed to get to the rim.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Three point shooting is equally important.

We’re not going to be moving mountains with our 3 balls but we also won’t have our 5s taking 4 threes in a real game either.

Outside of those attempts - shot selection wasn’t bad against Villanova overall. The shot chart doesn’t tell the full story. Wasn’t much iso. There was decent ball movement. Not a lot of 3s taken but until we get better at racing back on D off of long rebounds any statistical edge we could get from launching a ton of shots from deep range is cancelled out. The shots we took in the paint were mostly good shots that when missed - aren’t missed badly. We’re also going to get fouled a lot.

 

[Zebnatto1!]

As someone said above, I believe, rebounding with so many long shots and long bounds, it can be tough to figure out how to strategive beyond big is beter than small. Still, though, need banger, and I hope Syndor is a help there.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

As someone said above, I believe, rebounding with so many long shots and long bounds, it can be tough to figure out how to strategive beyond big is beter than small. Still, though, need banger, and I hope Syndor is a help there.

I actually think it’s a really good sign that we secured 16 offensive boards considering we didn’t take many 3s. It’s not like we just got lucky with long rebounds bouncing to us. Most of them were grabbed in the paint.

 

[seansherm]

I actually think it’s a really good sign that we secured 16 offensive boards considering we didn’t take many 3s. It’s not like we just got lucky with long rebounds bouncing to us. Most of them were grabbed in the paint.

I recall one of Gurdaks being on a long rebound, honestly don't remember seeing that many.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

I need to see Snydor ….but if he is a legit four with sone stretch to his game and some hops for the boards ….he is the missing piece to whst we didn’t see on Sunday

 

[RUfan1977]

We’re not going to be moving mountains with our 3 balls but we also won’t have our 5s taking 4 threes in a real game either.

Outside of those attempts - shot selection wasn’t bad against Villanova overall. The shot chart doesn’t tell the full story. Wasn’t much iso. There was decent ball movement. Not a lot of 3s taken but until we get better at racing back on D off of long rebounds any statistical edge we could get from launching a ton of shots from deep range is cancelled out. The shots we took in the paint were mostly good shots that when missed - aren’t missed badly. We’re also going to get fouled a lot.

Surprised that Gurdak missed on all his 3s in the exhibition game, last season he didn’t miss on a single 3 point attempt.

 

[seansherm]

Surprised that Gurdak missed on all his 3s in the exhibition game, last season he didn’t miss on a single 3 point attempt.

Ha. I couldn't believe he took one, let alone three. They weren't really close.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Surprised that Gurdak missed on all his 3s in the exhibition game, last season he didn’t miss on a single 3 point attempt.

Brandin looked annoyed with those 3s and the one Miteo took. I don’t blame him. The emphasis on the math to justify higher volume of 3 balls does not take into account the piles of transition baskets those attempts lead to when the shots don’t go in. It’s especially frustrating with Big guys because when they are the ones launching from the top of the key it means they aren’t under the basket to even give us a chance at a rebound.