What in the world is with Gavin lately?

[mikewebb68]

I mean I've never expected great things from him, but he nearly singlehandedly lost the Rutgers game for us, and was primarily responsible for our loss tonight (1-9 --how in the world is he taking 9 shots???-- 3 turnovers, several missed closeouts and boxouts).

He must be an incredible practice player, since he looks completely lost in actual games. Collins didn't start him and tried to call him in at least one of the huddles, but to no avail.

Like to see us go small with IB, Gaines, Scottie, Law and Pardon to close things out, with Falzon getting more minutes off the bench (if he's able) than Skelly.

 

[willycat]

I mean I've never expected great things from him, but he nearly singlehandedly lost the Rutgers game for us, and was primarily responsible for our loss tonight (1-9 --how in the world is he taking 9 shots???-- 3 turnovers, several missed closeouts and boxouts).

He must be an incredible practice player, since he looks completely lost in actual games. Collins did start him and tried to call him in at least one of the huddles, but to no avail.

Like to see us go small with IB, Gaines, Scottie, Law and Pardon to close things out, with Falzon getting more minutes off the bench (if he's able) than Skelly.

Skelly will not be missed next season. never have seen a 6-10 guy miss so many easy layups. Let's not even talk about his D.

 

[Catreporter]

Skelly hit two of the biggest shots of the season last year, a pair of threes during a decisive run in the final minutes of a must-win home game vs. Rutgers. He, Lindsey and Mac were all 3-star players coming in. Let's salute their groundbreaking achievement Thursday night. They just ran out of gas this year with a short bench.

 

[NJCat]

Skelly hit two of the biggest shots of the season last year, a pair of threes during a decisive run in the final minutes of a must-win home game vs. Rutgers. He, Lindsey and Mac were all 3-star players coming in. Let's salute their groundbreaking achievement Thursday night. They just ran out of gas this year with a short bench.

Agree. Gavin is a kind of goofy kid who seems to perform best in short spurts off the bench. He'll make a big 3 or a great pass at times, but is prone to silly fouls. Probably lived up to his potential but the ceiling wasn't all that high.

 

[Catreporter]

This team was WAY overrated going into the season. Caught lightning in a bottle last year and I believe that has set us up for future success. We still don't have the athletes and the depth that most BIG teams throw out there.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

This team was WAY overrated going into the season. Caught lightning in a bottle last year and I believe that has set us up for future success. We still don't have the athletes and the depth that most BIG teams throw out there.

We had 3 guys busting it every possession last night. Fortunately, all 3 are coming back.

 

[willycat]

We had 3 guys busting it every possession last night. Fortunately, all 3 are coming back.

Yup and the seniors won't be missed. OK , maybe BMac but he has even had an off year, especially shooting.

 

[Catreporter]

seniors won't be missed

Wow, how soon we forget!

 

[haywood jahblowme]

Wow, how soon we forget!

i think there is a difference between loving a group one year and forgetting them another.

i will always love the team that made the tourney - but this year to me the seniors really soured that taste

 

[haywood jahblowme]

I mean I've never expected great things from him, but he nearly singlehandedly lost the Rutgers game for us, and was primarily responsible for our loss tonight (1-9 --how in the world is he taking 9 shots???-- 3 turnovers, several missed closeouts and boxouts).

He must be an incredible practice player, since he looks completely lost in actual games. Collins did start him and tried to call him in at least one of the huddles, but to no avail.

Like to see us go small with IB, Gaines, Scottie, Law and Pardon to close things out, with Falzon getting more minutes off the bench (if he's able) than Skelly.

i thought falzon started with law, lindsey, gaines, and pardon?

 

[NJCat]

i thought falzon started with law, lindsey, gaines, and pardon?

Facts are funny things.....

 

[mikewebb68]

Facts are funny things.....

Uh, it was clearly a typo, makes no sense otherwise in the context of what I was posting. Have since corrected.

 

[hdhntr1]

I mean I've never expected great things from him, but he nearly singlehandedly lost the Rutgers game for us, and was primarily responsible for our loss tonight (1-9 --how in the world is he taking 9 shots???-- 3 turnovers, several missed closeouts and boxouts).

He must be an incredible practice player, since he looks completely lost in actual games. Collins didn't start him and tried to call him in at least one of the huddles, but to no avail.

Like to see us go small with IB, Gaines, Scottie, Law and Pardon to close things out, with Falzon getting more minutes off the bench (if he's able) than Skelly.

Injuries make alternatives pretty tough. On a few of those "shots" he was fouled an it not called. Would have made the box score better looking. But as you say, the turnovers, etc

 

[Medill90]

Skelly will not be missed next season. never have seen a 6-10 guy miss so many easy layups. Let's not even talk about his D.

I wish he was 6-10. He's two inches shorter.

 

[hdhntr1]

i thought falzon started with law, lindsey, gaines, and pardon?

Falzon started but Skelly had the starter minutes. Falzon is just not able to stay out there that long because of the knee. Maybe by next year. We are really thin and buy late in second half, really gassed.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

i think there is a difference between loving a group one year and forgetting them another.

i will always love the team that made the tourney - but this year to me the seniors really soured that taste

No kidding. I don't think I'll even watch the BTN Originals hour long special about the 2017-18 team titled "No Date to The Dance". What's the point?

 

[Catreporter]

Tough crowd!

 

[GOUNUII]

Agree. Gavin is a kind of goofy kid who seems to perform best in short spurts off the bench. He'll make a big 3 or a great pass at times, but is prone to silly fouls. Probably lived up to his potential but the ceiling wasn't all that high.

His physical tools and skills ceiling was high. In some ways, very high. Even by BIG standards. His poor basketball IQ and difficulty with keeping his "head in the game" held him back. I saw no progress over 4 years in that latter regard. Thus the sometimes great and sometimes not so great ups and downs of an athlete.

GOUNUII

 

[willycat]

His physical tools and skills ceiling was high. In some ways, very high. Even by BIG standards. His poor basketball IQ and difficulty with keeping his "head in the game" held him back. I saw no progress over 4 years in that latter regard. Thus the sometimes great and sometimes not so great ups and downs of an athlete.

GOUNUII

Except he is very slow, doesn't jump well and plays defense with his hands not his feet.

 

[hdhntr1]

His physical tools and skills ceiling was high. In some ways, very high. Even by BIG standards. His poor basketball IQ and difficulty with keeping his "head in the game" held him back. I saw no progress over 4 years in that latter regard. Thus the sometimes great and sometimes not so great ups and downs of an athlete.

GOUNUII

He has ADHD. Likely has something to do with his occasional loss of focus

 

[Wildcatfootball12]

Better than davide curletti

 

[NUCat320]

He has ADHD. Likely has something to do with his occasional loss of focus

Solid diagnosis. I think that's more appropriately labeled an "upper body condition".

 

[ricko654321]

I mean I've never expected great things from him, but he nearly singlehandedly lost the Rutgers game for us, and was primarily responsible for our loss tonight (1-9 --how in the world is he taking 9 shots???-- 3 turnovers, several missed closeouts and boxouts).

He must be an incredible practice player, since he looks completely lost in actual games. Collins didn't start him and tried to call him in at least one of the huddles, but to no avail.

Like to see us go small with IB, Gaines, Scottie, Law and Pardon to close things out, with Falzon getting more minutes off the bench (if he's able) than Skelly.

I think you're being a bit too harsh here. Gavin had some bad moments in the last few games, but Falzon hasn't really been any better. We've struggled to find any consistent play from the 4 all season, Falzon is basically a one-dimensional / one-way player who can shoot but not do much else (which is worse right now given his current health), while Skelly is good for a couple great plays and a couple horrible plays on any given day. Some games one is more useful, some games the other, but neither has been good consistently.

I'm intrigued by your idea of us going small given the recent emergence of Gaines, as we could do AG, Scottie, Vic across the 2-3-4. Gaines plays bigger than his size. The problem (as with any lineup we put out there right now) is that we lack a PG. If we had BMac that could work. IB is sort of likely the guard version of Skelly, but with even less consistent upside (though admittedly he's been given fewer chances to show it, and I feel like CC is harsher on him than Skelly). That said, his outside shooting is a decent balance for when Gaines is in there, as AG is not really a willing shooter. Overall, I'm not sure that lineup is sustainable long-term, but relative to the other options given the BMac injury it's a decent enough idea to try... especially given nothing else seems to be working.

 

[clarificationcat]

Except he is very slow, doesn't jump well and plays defense with his hands not his feet.

He jumps fine and he's not that slow for his size. He's had some really good moments through the years. It's clear though, that he was much better in less minutes. He was a good energy guy off the bench in limited minutes. His PER is down significantly this year. In prior years, his PER was among the highest on the team.

 

[willycat]

He jumps fine and he's not that slow for his size. He's had some really good moments through the years. It's clear though, that he was much better in less minutes. He was a good energy guy off the bench in limited minutes. His PER is down significantly this year. In prior years, his PER was among the highest on the team.

His slowness shows itself more when on defense. I don't remember seeing a lot of rebounds and shot blocks by him but I might be mistaken. Guess he would be ok coming off the bench but playing starters minutes not so much so.

 

[hdhntr1]

His slowness shows itself more when on defense. I don't remember seeing a lot of rebounds and shot blocks by him but I might be mistaken. Guess he would be ok coming off the bench but playing starters minutes not so much so.

Since he averages about 4.2 Rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game, I would say you have missed a few.

 

[willycat]

Since he averages about 4.2 Rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game, I would say you have missed a few.

Thanks. He's still not a Big Ten starter type at the 4.

 

[clarificationcat]

Thanks. He's still not a Big Ten starter type at the 4.

No, but he has been a valuable rotation guy, which every team needs. He always averaged more blocks than Sanjay (a little over 1 a game last year) and developed a pretty good jumper along the way. He was never able to guard and switch like Sanjay, of course, but I thought they provided a pretty effective rotation at the 4.

 

[hdhntr1]

No, but he has been a valuable rotation guy, which every team needs. He always averaged more blocks than Sanjay (a little over 1 a game last year) and developed a pretty good jumper along the way. He was never able to guard and switch like Sanjay, of course, but I thought they provided a pretty effective rotation at the 4.

Why should he be able to switch like Sanjay. So he can't guard guards like Sanjay. Sanjay was 6'6" while Gavin is 6'8" or 6'9" Gavin is better equipped to deal with 4s and 5s. Gavin has been starting more this year because of injuries to Falzon and Rap. While he would likely have played about 18-20 minutes, he has played closer to 25. Changes his role. Have you notices he has done better at staying out of foul trouble?

 

[mikewebb68]

I think you're being a bit too harsh here. Gavin had some bad moments in the last few games, but Falzon hasn't really been any better. We've struggled to find any consistent play from the 4 all season, Falzon is basically a one-dimensional / one-way player who can shoot but not do much else (which is worse right now given his current health), while Skelly is good for a couple great plays and a couple horrible plays on any given day. Some games one is more useful, some games the other, but neither has been good consistently.

I'm intrigued by your idea of us going small given the recent emergence of Gaines, as we could do AG, Scottie, Vic across the 2-3-4. Gaines plays bigger than his size. The problem (as with any lineup we put out there right now) is that we lack a PG. If we had BMac that could work. IB is sort of likely the guard version of Skelly, but with even less consistent upside (though admittedly he's been given fewer chances to show it, and I feel like CC is harsher on him than Skelly). That said, his outside shooting is a decent balance for when Gaines is in there, as AG is not really a willing shooter. Overall, I'm not sure that lineup is sustainable long-term, but relative to the other options given the BMac injury it's a decent enough idea to try... especially given nothing else seems to be working.

Agree with most this, but don't recall Falzon nearly singehandedly wrecking any games for us quite like Gavin did vs. Rutgers and Maryland. It is one thing not to help out there, but quite another to be a detriment when you're out there.

 

[CappyNU]

Agree with most this, but don't recall Falzon nearly singehandedly wrecking any games for us quite like Gavin did vs. Rutgers and Maryland. It is one thing not to help out there, but quite another to be a detriment when you're out there.

The Georgia Tech game?? Falzon let his man blow by him for the winning layup.

 

[Medill90]

The Georgia Tech game?? Falzon let his man blow by him for the winning layup.

Law and Falzon miscommunicated on a switch, and that left a player a clear lane to the basket.

"Let his man blow by...." is pretty rough interpretation of the video.

 

[charcat]

This is a dumb post. Gavin Skelly has been a key piece of the puzzle and a solid contributor. We will miss him like we missed Sanjay last year.

Good luck to these 3, next year we will miss them all, and we have a gap. Talent coming in, but inexperience will make us wish we had these guys to anchor the team

 

[ricko654321]

The Georgia Tech game?? Falzon let his man blow by him for the winning layup.

This was one, and in the Rutgers game I thought Falzon was brutally bad on defense and especially rebounding in the 2H, he cost us that game as much as Gavin did (though there was other blame to go around too, to be clear).

By the time the Md game came along I think I'd almost become desensitized to it all and stopped allocating individual blame, but I do agree Gavin was unusually jumpy / bad in that one, and shot very poorly in the 2H.

Sorry this is sort of changing the subject, but I actually feel like Benson has been worse than both the last few weeks. It's almost like every time he comes on the floor bad things happen. It's prob a product of Pardon playing well and getting bigger minutes share so Barrett presses too much in the limited time he gets in... but whether that or whatever else, feels like he has regressed as the season has gone on. Seems like he has a good attitude but need some serious development to happen in the offseason.

 

[EagerFan]

Benson kinda looks lost out there, especially for a sophomore. But I hold out hope that magic will happen this off season and he will make a super jump.

 

[clarificationcat]

Why should he be able to switch like Sanjay. So he can't guard guards like Sanjay. Sanjay was 6'6" while Gavin is 6'8" or 6'9" Gavin is better equipped to deal with 4s and 5s. Gavin has been starting more this year because of injuries to Falzon and Rap. While he would likely have played about 18-20 minutes, he has played closer to 25. Changes his role. Have you notices he has done better at staying out of foul trouble?

I know why Gavin is playing more minutes. I do follow the team. And I actually discussed that earlier. I posted to defend Gavin so I am not sure why you are responding to my post like I was attacking him. He's was more effective in less minutes when he was sharing time with Sanjay. And there are guys that are 6'8'' that can switch on guards, just so know.