December 2nd 2019. Miami at Illinois game info and pregame predictions. Game thread if you want it also.

[TheRichtShow]

Now that they updated the box score properly, a few things continued to stand out:

1. Sam clearly had his best game of the season with 12 Points and 8 Rebounds in 31 Minutes. He scored his 12th Point (on a FT) with 17:28 left in the Second Half. In addition, he had his 8th Rebound with 15:01 left in the Second Half. Obviously you never know when someone's production will cease but with that said, he was pretty lethargic out there in the Second Half. Sam should NOT play 31 minutes in a game. It was obvious he played WAY TOO many minutes (more on this to come).

2. Rodney looked like Rodney. Slow, could hardly move and let up a lot of baskets. Essentially when their big men (the opponent) have a pulse, he will be a tremendous liability. Even when they have no pulse, his production is sub-par.

He played 25 Minutes and had 2 Points and 2 Rebounds. At this point it is clear that Coach will not make necessary changes unless Rodney isn't physically capable of playing or in foul trouble.

3. Front Court, Gak and Walker. I understand Gak is out for the season and, mostly due to our ___________ (insert word here) roster management, we have even less bodies to rotate.

Some Predictions:

Prediction A: Rodney and/or Sam will have 1-3 decent games against our final 3 non-conference games. These performances will give Coach the belief (aka false hope) that he should continue to play them more than 50 Minutes combined.

Prediction B: If Walker continues to hardly play, even though he clearly should, he may transfer. If I had to watch Sam and Rodney get so many minutes AND after Gak was out for the season, I would think that my chances of getting a fair shot are unlikely. Please note that if Sam and Rodney were consistently producing quality burn, then that would be something else.

4. Stone. The sample size is small so let’s hope he is rusty.

Walker played 23 minutes. That's a lot, and 5 more than Rodney played. Walker is averaging 16.5 minutes as a true frosh. To see he's not getting a fair shot seems strange. This isn't some 5* we're talking about. He's a high 3* who is still pretty raw.

 

[Consigliere]

Walker played 23 minutes. That's a lot, and 5 more than Rodney played. Walker is averaging 16.5 minutes as a true frosh. To see he's not getting a fair shot seems strange. This isn't some 5* we're talking about. He's a high 3* who is still pretty raw.

Before we discuss whether Walker should get more time.

Did you actually watch the game? Those numbers were clearly incorrect if you did.

Miami (5-3, 0-1 ACC) -vs- Illinois (6-2, 0-0 B1G) (PDF) - University of Miami Athletics

Miami (5-3, 0-1 ACC) -vs- Illinois (6-2, 0-0 B1G) (PDF)

hurricanesports.com

 

[tcgrad1014]

If anyone cares, our RPI is 47

Makes sense. We've played some top level teams. Might as well be 147 though, because this team is going nowhere.

 

[tcgrad1014]

2 points and 2 rebounds in 25 minutes for Rodney is absurd.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Beverley was in foul trouble just like Lykes. Wong got more minutes because of that, though he appears to be doing too much thinking out on the court right now.

Beverley at his current style is going to have foul trouble all the time. He's like Lawrence as a freshman in that regard. Too much playground slapping even when it wouldn't amount to anything anyway

Fantastic win. I'm glad I taped it to watch today

 

[IncaneInTheBrain]

Not really. Illinois has one of the better rosters in the Big 10. Probably right behind that Mich St, Mich, MD, Ohio St tier. They're a predicted NCAA team with talent, experience, and depth.

****burn isn't even their best player. Their PG Ayo is the one who is a projected 1st rd pick, and their other Big Giorgi B was the Big 10 frosh of the year runner up last season.

Their fans are stunned they lost to us, they didn't think it would be close.

I know about the projections, I'm saying after having actually watched them play, all of those guys look pretty overrated. Watching the game, were you especially impressed with anyone on their team? Bezhanvishvili in particular was awful, did nothing but clog the paint.

 

[IncaneInTheBrain]

Beverley has disappeared. Was expecting more from Wong.

Bev got benched. 3 fouls and 3 turnovers in 4 minutes. L was sending him a message.

 

[Consigliere]

2 points and 2 rebounds in 25 minutes for Rodney is absurd.

No matter what. Never sit Rodney.

 

[jkdood]

No matter what. Never sit Rodney.

I agree how awful he usually is, and how much we need Nysier Brooks or someone else. Hopefully Stone will "show the way" but so far he and Walker don't exactly make anyone's heart flutter.

This Rodney guy did what he was told, sat, slimmed down, muscled up, watched, learned, tried tried tried. Not enough, woe is me. He just ain't ACC material. But as to Coach L's decision. Hate to beat a dead horse, but he obviously promised Rodney PT if he "complied" which he did. And not to start or give too much PT to other bigs that just might be good (or decent) after enough court experience, or not.

I respect Coach L keeping his word, for recruiting and other reasons and doing what he probably has to do. Hard (for me) not to give Coach L the benefit of the doubt here. As to getting a roster in place with talent at all positions that will bring us wins, well that's another matter.

 

[tcgrad1014]

No matter what. Never sit Rodney.

I'm not seeing him getting the ACC most improved player award. He's still bad.

 

[hotshot]

I was trying to watch Stone as closely as I could against Illinois. Of course, have to give him a mulligan on being a bit rusty but ... pretty clear he is not a particularly "physical" front court presence. Which was his rep at UF. Maybe more physicality will come as he gets back into the flow of games. We need it badly.

 

[tcgrad1014]

Stone is not a low post banger.

 

[Consigliere]

. Hate to beat a dead horse, but he obviously promised Rodney PT if he "complied" which he did. And not to start or give too much PT to other bigs that just might be good (or decent) after enough court experience, or not.

You think Coach feels obligated to play Rodney because he “complied”?

 

[CTCANE]

Like it or not Rodney going to play 20 plus minutes a game, now even more than ever that Gak is gone for the season again.

 

[jkdood]

You think Coach feels obligated to play Rodney because he “complied”?

Sure; you tell him here's the plan, here's what you have to do. Do it you play. Unless we have someone who is busting it, you will get your chance and PT, until someone comes along that's ready and better.

Why should/would someone sit a year, sweat to the oldies (and to Coach L), learn and practice and work out, unless given this recipe. You can't argue Rodney did not comply, and now Coach L doesn't have much choice unless someone clearly ready and clearly better is on roster.

 

[tcgrad1014]

Sure; you tell him here's the plan, here's what you have to do. Do it you play. Unless we have someone who is busting it, you will get your chance and PT, until someone comes along that's ready and better.

Why should/would someone sit a year, sweat to the oldies (and to Coach L), learn and practice and work out, unless given this recipe. You can't argue Rodney did not comply, and now Coach L doesn't have much choice unless someone clearly ready and clearly better is on roster.

If someone is struggling at their job, is given a performance improvement plan (PIP), follows it to the best of his ability, and it is still clear he is not meeting expectations, he will lose his job.

 

[Consigliere]

Sure; you tell him here's the plan, here's what you have to do. Do it you play. Unless we have someone who is busting it, you will get your chance and PT, until someone comes along that's ready and better.

Why should/would someone sit a year, sweat to the oldies (and to Coach L), learn and practice and work out, unless given this recipe. You can't argue Rodney did not comply, and now Coach L doesn't have much choice unless someone clearly ready and clearly better is on roster.

So play a guy who is bad and inefficient simply because he complied?

What options does Rodney have? How about lose weight and you get to keep your scholarship?

Rodney should comply because he has NO options and he isn’t good.

We should be playing 4 guards and more Walker. Rodney should hardly play, period.

 

[Consigliere]

Gak going down shouldn't mean Rodney plays more. It should mean that Coach comes to the realization that we need to go small and play 4 guards. As we clearly see, Rodney gets worse and more inefficient when you play him more. Anyone with a pulse abuses him.

Wait until he goes up against ACC competition on the reg.

 

[Pentagon Cane]

Gak going down shouldn't mean Rodney plays more. It should mean that Coach comes to the realization that we need to go small and play 4 guards. As we clearly see, Rodney gets worse and more inefficient when you play him more. Anyone with a pulse abuses him.

Wait until he goes up against ACC competition on the reg.

I'm sure he will hold his own against VC Jr.

 

[Consigliere]

I'm sure he will hold his own against VC Jr.

Hahahaha