BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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01-13-21 06:17 PM - Post#319200
Per Coach Davis at today's virtual basketball luncheon, Meeks has returned to practice and is expected to play against Lehigh this weekend.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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01-14-21 10:25 AM - Post#319233
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
That's good news. If we don't win both of these games we're at risk of not playing in the tournament.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-14-21 11:17 AM - Post#319240
In response to jkrun80
Playoffs? You’re talking about playoffs? Playoffs!
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-14-21 11:34 AM - Post#319242
In response to jkrun80
That's good news. If we don't win both of these games we're at risk of not playing in the tournament.
Very true. However a sweep of Lehigh would put the Bison firmly in second place in their division. As the worst 2nd place team, the Bison would draw a 6 seed, meaning they would likely be on the opposite side of the bracket from both Colgate and Boston U.
Not saying that will happen, but I think the return of Meeks is huge. I expect a much better offense - as long as the coaches can stay out of the way.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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Lehigh Games Jan 16 & 17
01-14-21 02:43 PM - Post#319277
In response to Bison137
It's positive thinking. Meeks can certainly fill it up and I'd rather him shooting than any of our guards right now.
Edited by HuskyColonial on 01-14-21 02:43 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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01-14-21 06:09 PM - Post#319312
In response to HuskyColonial
Four games is enough evidence to me that without Meeks, the team just isn’t very good (and I understand there are young players getting lots of minutes.) Meeks is certainly a more consistent threat to score than any other player on the roster. I’m hopeful he can be a calming influence on the court as well.
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nh2032
Sophomore
Posts: 185
Reg: 02-28-06
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01-16-21 03:08 PM - Post#319370
In response to MrPhillie
Meeks looks noticeably thinner and is that even a little bicep definition? A shame to miss such a big percentage of this strange senior season.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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Lehigh Games Jan 16 & 17
01-16-21 03:18 PM - Post#319371
In response to nh2032
Deuce obviously has talent, but so far this season, his decision-making is poor. Good to see Meeks out there. Overall, this game is pretty ugly. Luckily, Lehigh can’t make a shot.
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nh2032
Sophomore
Posts: 185
Reg: 02-28-06
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Re: Lehigh Games Jan 16 & 17
01-16-21 03:35 PM - Post#319372
In response to MrPhillie
Deuce obviously has talent, but so far this season, his decision-making is poor. Good to see Meeks out there. Overall, this game is pretty ugly. Luckily, Lehigh can’t make a shot.
Agree on the decision making but that's what you sign up for when you play a freshman at point guard. Would not be at all surprised to see him playing primarily off ball in future years.
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nh2032
Sophomore
Posts: 185
Reg: 02-28-06
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01-16-21 03:38 PM - Post#319373
In response to nh2032
Also Nick Lynch is a punk from the Kempton mold.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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Re: Lehigh Games Jan 16 & 17
01-16-21 03:42 PM - Post#319374
In response to nh2032
Deuce obviously has talent, but so far this season, his decision-making is poor. Good to see Meeks out there. Overall, this game is pretty ugly. Luckily, Lehigh can’t make a shot.
Agree on the decision making but that's what you sign up for when you play a freshman at point guard. Would not be at all surprised to see him playing primarily off ball in future years.
Yes, that's a good bet with an incoming class that includes a pure PG (Bascoe) and a CG (Edmonds) who can play the point.
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bisonmania
Masters Student
Posts: 920
Reg: 10-26-07
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01-16-21 03:49 PM - Post#319375
In response to Bison137
Rice has improved dramatically. Turner needs to slow down his game and Davis needs to keep Meeks on the floor! 137 you were correct in saying you hope the coaches don’t get in his way!
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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01-16-21 04:49 PM - Post#319376
In response to bisonmania
The most glaring difference this game is that Bucknell is making some 3-pointers. When you are in bottom 10 in country at making them, there really isn’t anywhere to go but up. But I also think that Meeks’ presence has been a huge positive.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-16-21 05:10 PM - Post#319378
In response to MrPhillie
Yes, the high pct on threes really was the difference. The Bison hit 12-26 from beyond the arc, while LU was subpar. Had both teams been average, LU wins.
Btw, Brett Reed in the final 85 seconds demonstrated once again why he is a terrible game coach. First, down 6 points with 1:25 left, Bucknell inbounded to Paul Newman - who has hit 42% of his FT's the past two years. LU failed to intentionally foul him and instead let Bucknell take 32 seconds off the clock. (Newman was then fouled on the rebounds and missed both FT's badly.) Then LU, trailing by five points with 8.2 seconds left, had their PG slowly dribble upcourt and ran a SG around a few screens. Eventually they got a shot, but time ran out as the ball was in the air. Any HS coach would know in that situation that you have to get a shot off within about 4.5 seconds - no matter what kind of shot. What LU did was only good strategy if Reed's goal was to assure a two-point loss.
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nh2032
Sophomore
Posts: 185
Reg: 02-28-06
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01-16-21 05:54 PM - Post#319381
In response to Bison137
Bad foul shooting down the stretch made it closer then it needed to be, but it's almost like when you have your clear best player available the games are easier?? Who knew?
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-16-21 07:32 PM - Post#319384
In response to nh2032
Bad foul shooting down the stretch made it closer then it needed to be
Having Newman on the court down the stretch is necessary for defense and experience - but dangerous due to his terrible FT shooting. The other two misses near the end were by Deuce, who was 13-13 before the misses.
One other comment. Xander Rice has been giving the Bison solid minutes at PG. Seldom turns the ball over, hits the open shots, knows how to run the offense, and shooting well at the FT line. Also a solid defender. Much improved from last year.
A few Rice stats:
- FT's: 17-21 (81.0%) - 255th in the nation.
- Turnover Rate (Pomeroy): 224th best in the nation.
- Assist Rate: 29.9% - 96th best in the nation.
- 3-point Pct: 6-12 (50%) - 54th in the nation.
- ORtg Pomeroy): 117.0 - 287th in the nation.
All are significant improvements from last year - and all are better than Sotos' equivalent numbers from last year.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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01-16-21 08:00 PM - Post#319385
In response to Bison137
I’m no Reed defender, but I can’t believe he really wanted his players to slowly dribble up the court with 8 seconds left and needing two scores...similar to Davis not coaching Deuce to throw up a half court prayer against Navy with time on the clock. Not fouling Paul earlier was definitely poor strategy. That said, I believe Davis has had his share of poor in-game coaching as well.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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Lehigh Games Jan 16 & 17
01-16-21 08:10 PM - Post#319386
In response to MrPhillie
I’m no Reed defender, but I can’t believe he really wanted his players to slowly dribble up the court with 8 seconds left and needing two scores...similar to Davis not coaching Deuce to throw up a half court prayer against Navy with time on the clock. Not fouling Paul earlier was definitely poor strategy. That said, I believe Davis has had his share of poor in-game coaching as well.
I rarely defend any in-game decisions by ND, but Reed deserves plenty of blame here. There was a timeout by Bucknell just prior to LU's inbound play with 8.2 seconds left. So Reed should have drawn up a play that included a pass up to half court and then a fast shot. And the players should have been told it is mandatory to shoot fast EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD SHOT. Instead they inbounded to a PG deep in back court, then he took his time dribbling up, while a SG ran around several designed screens.
So either Reed totally screwed up in designing and explaining the play, or else his players totally ignored what he told them to do and ran their own play.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-16-21 08:17 PM - Post#319387
In response to Bison137
Dr. Brett Reed.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-16-21 08:27 PM - Post#319388
In response to HuskyColonial
Dr. Brett Reed.
Thanks for pointing that out. I may get a formal complaint from him for not acknowledging him as DOCTOR Reed. My apologies. He has a a Ph.D. in instructional technology from Wayne State University. His undergrad degree was from Eckerd College of St. Petersburg in literature.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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01-16-21 08:38 PM - Post#319390
In response to Bison137
I’m just saying, players don’t always do what coaches ask. Reed is terrible, I’m just saying I can’t believe ANY coach would tell his players to slowly dribble up the court in that situation. Just like no coach would instruct a player to throw up a half court shot like Bucknell did.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-17-21 12:39 AM - Post#319397
In response to MrPhillie
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9pPHQODhUM
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-17-21 05:34 PM - Post#319418
In response to Bison137
Only thing wrong with this team is that they can’t make a shot.
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nh2032
Sophomore
Posts: 185
Reg: 02-28-06
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01-17-21 05:40 PM - Post#319419
In response to bison63
Only thing wrong with this team is that they can’t make a shot.
Your broadcast is missing #12 in blue I guess? Best player on the floor by far.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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01-17-21 05:46 PM - Post#319420
In response to nh2032
Thank goodness for Meeks.
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The Psycho of Sojka
Sophomore
Posts: 107
Reg: 11-15-15
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01-17-21 05:48 PM - Post#319421
In response to nh2032
Who else is sick of seeing layup, layup, layup, ....layup. Can we run a zone defense for a few possessions. Not like any team would see that coming. Maybe one day. ðŸ‘
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-17-21 05:53 PM - Post#319422
In response to nh2032
Only thing wrong with this team is that they can’t make a shot.
Your broadcast is missing #12 in blue I guess? Best player on the floor by far.
He heated up right after I made that comment.
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nh2032
Sophomore
Posts: 185
Reg: 02-28-06
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01-17-21 06:02 PM - Post#319423
In response to bison63
Only thing wrong with this team is that they can’t make a shot.
Your broadcast is missing #12 in blue I guess? Best player on the floor by far.
He heated up right after I made that comment.
Think he heard you again to start the second half. We'll take it.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-17-21 06:49 PM - Post#319425
In response to nh2032
Great 2nd half
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-17-21 08:13 PM - Post#319429
In response to bison63
Current Division Standings:
Lafayette 3-1
Bucknell 2-2
Lehigh 1-3
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atlantabison
PhD Student
Posts: 1835
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Reg: 01-25-06
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01-18-21 12:43 AM - Post#319444
In response to Bison137
For all the Davis detractors we have now played three of these back to back affairs and in each one so far the bison have made enough adjustments to perform much better in the second game each time. While not an in game adjustment, shows they are reacting to the first game and coming back better for the second go around.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-18-21 11:52 AM - Post#319470
In response to atlantabison
I agree AtlantaBison. Winning changes people’s times including my own. However there are still legitimate grievances with our style of play and decision making that are fair game.
Meeks looks like a different player to me. I’m so happy for him.
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Bison137
Professor
Posts: 16147
Reg: 01-23-06
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Lehigh Games Jan 16 & 17
01-19-21 03:07 PM - Post#319512
In response to HuskyColonial
Not surprisingly Meeks was named PL POW. There had been 27 winners since the last Bison to get the award, Nate Sestina on 1/7/19. Meeks is the first Nathan Davis recruit to ever win the award. (Sotos and Funk each were named ROW once.)
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