gokinsmen
Postdoc
Posts: 3669
Reg: 02-06-10
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Pennsylvania
02-10-24 09:04 PM - Post#363022
In response to SRP
Pierce and Lee were their POY-caliber selves. Martini started like 1-7 then finished 4-6 (all threes!). And don't look now but Blake Peters is shooting 41% in Ivy play - regressing to the mean in a positive way.
I also noticed that Lee is racking up a ton of rebounds of late. With Pierce and Martini boxing out or pulled away from the basket, he's had to step up on the boards. Not surprisingly, he's succeeded with flying colors.
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Bryan
Junior
Posts: 231
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-21-04
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02-11-24 12:32 PM - Post#363108
In response to SRP
I did not see Deven Austin on the Princeton bench. Did I just miss him? Any updates on his status? It looked like Jackson Hicke had no wrap on his arm. Anyone know if he's practicing now? Any recent projected return date?
While Jacob Huggins only played 3 minutes I thought he set a couple of very effective picks to free up shooters at a time when Princeton's offense had bogged down. I expected him to play more after that.
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LocalTiger
Masters Student
Posts: 434
Age: 58
Reg: 11-15-17
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02-11-24 12:52 PM - Post#363109
In response to Bryan
I did not see Austin either. Wonder if he took
the semester off if he is not playing.
It would be goofd to get Hicke back.
Henderson does not seem to trust Huggins
with second half minutes yet.
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gokinsmen
Postdoc
Posts: 3669
Reg: 02-06-10
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Pennsylvania
02-11-24 01:46 PM - Post#363113
In response to LocalTiger
Mitch said in the postgame that Deven is not playing this year. Said he's recovering fine but ruled out a return this season. People say it takes at least a full year to be 100% after ACL surgery and it seems like that's the case here.
Getting Austin back next season will be a HUGE boost. He'll immediately be our best perimeter defender, someone who can contain drives by speedy guards/wings. He's also a great cutter and solid catch-and-shoot guy.
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whitakk
Masters Student
Posts: 523
Age: 32
Reg: 11-11-14
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02-11-24 10:29 PM - Post#363139
In response to gokinsmen
Hugely needed to replace Allocco's defense in the starting lineup. (And Davis can replace the offense, although that would bump Peters out of the starting lineup. Not sure Lee-Davis-Peters works defensively.)
Bigger Q is who replaces Martini - is Byriel capable of it? If not, we don't really have a 5-out option, which is going to make things considerably harder. (I do think very small lineups with Pierce at 5 would work for crunch time against most opponents, but probably not a primary option.)
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gokinsmen
Postdoc
Posts: 3669
Reg: 02-06-10
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Pennsylvania
02-12-24 09:12 PM - Post#363158
In response to whitakk
I think Huggins will probably start at center - he's long, athletic, and can play the Kellman role (dunking and playing physical defense). Love Peters but Davis has gotta start - we need two ballhandlers on the floor to break presses.
It's gonna be a more crowded paint with fewer easy layups, but I also expect more putbacks, dish-offs for dunks and Dalen Davis midrange jumpers (his pullup J is money). Pierce will have to shoot more 3s as well.
The team will have to play differently next season for sure. But hey, they had to play differently this season too.
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jeromelh
Junior
Posts: 215
Age: 81
Reg: 03-30-17
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02-13-24 06:52 AM - Post#363162
In response to gokinsmen
You may be correct about Huggins. Go back to this past October. We had no center. Martini was only a bench player. Lee was frequently out of control. Who would have thought??
Next year, Davis will be a monster, and of Huggins, Sangster, Collins, and maybe even Byriel, I predict that at least one of them will take a big step forward. Things are looking up.
Of course, I am still optimistic about this year's team.
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