mat1992

So I'm going to start with the positives before everyone talks about how poorly we played. And yes, we did on both ends. But this team has heart. I was questioning the mental toughness a bit because of the missed free throws and we had some very shaky plays in the first half I'll get to. But they were playing against a sold-out crowd that was on top of you and a great crowd. And some of the wackiest calls you'll ever see. I almost think Jamie Lucky's crew felt bad for Pat Skerry's team with Jason Gibson picking up three quick ones that they gave the Cougars three quick fouls and took their big Smart out of the game. Holden did play a hell of a defensive game on the press. The press got us back in the game. We don't use it as much as we did earlier in the season because we don't really need it. We play solid D and get big leads and so why press? But when you get behind against a team with no real point guard (NE as well), you have to force turnovers. You also have to make shots and that Antonio Rizzuto three-point play with 58 seconds left. Huge shot for him. Biggest shot of the year. That saved our ass. Also Cam willing us to win despite his issues. Ok, so we're now in first place with UNCW, waiting on that result at 7pm. Of course, with Hofstra getting even luckier that win over Northeastern, that made this more important. Of course, nobody wants to wind up in third place. Second place would be fine if we don't beat Delaware at the end of the season as long as we take care of things against JMU, but that's not a given. Their crowd will be amped in that game. It will be like their Super Bowl. So still not out of the water yet and Hofstra showed they have some more defensive issues. Nobody is perfect in this league. Now to the problems. I worry about Cam's shooting issues. I don't want to go back to all the conference games, but I guess I have to. He really should abstain from shooting 3s since he's made 7 of 33 from beyond the arc since he had his jaw fractured at Navy. He's also 21 of his last 38 from the line. Between the free throw problems, several missed layups and the 14 turnovers, it's hard to believe we won this game. Then you have the officiating. I talked about Teddy TV in the last game, but that's what you get with him with national TV. But Jamie Lucky and these guys had a tough job because Charleston flopped literally every time Charles Thompson got the ball in the lane. They had just one technical foul called and easily could have had a few more late in the game, but I get that they weren't going to call those. That's not defense. It's one thing if Timberlake lowers his shoulder and runs a guy over or if Nolan tries to dunk over a guy from 10 feet out and has no chance. Bad decisions there and definitely charges. But when CT makes a spin move in the post and gets called for a charge when not lowering his shoulder and the smaller defender just flops. How do you win when he's become the main guy offensively? Fortunately, Timberlake hit enough shots to score 19 points, because Gibson had just five points on 1-for-5 shooting from the field and 1-for-5 overall. Nolan was terrific before he fouled out in just 20 minutes. So on to watching UNCW try and come back from another first-half deficit. Back home to face JMU on Wednesday.

Watching Flo SPorts and Hofstra/NE on Joe Mihalich Day. NE up 56-47 with Doherty at the line with 8:17 left in the game.

18-9 final. Never competitive after the midway through the third quarter. Complete domination. We have a long ways to go. Thought Brennan played decently. Most of the goals were not his fault. A lot of ball watching at the crease. Too many turnovers (20) on offense and the clearing game. Santora wasn't bad on face-offs. He won 12 of 25.

That's all we need is Berkely to get hurt. On a slash. He's running off. Don't bring him back in the game.

20 turnovers. I doubt we score again the way we are playing on offense.

Really thought our offense could step up in this game and make it somewhat competitive. I was wrong. A lot of new guys in Berkeley, DeMaio, Milani playing midfield. Gallagher playing. They need a lot of work.

It's so simple. Defense is falling apart and they move the ball and move without the ball. We don't and our passing is just awful. Thankfully, we won't be playing another D this big. But need to be much smarter on O and stop ball watching on D>

My God does DeMaio ever think before he shoots? He just doesn't care who is front of him? Rarely makes the extra pass.

Finally a flag on Virginia. Too little, too late. Have to score here.

We have just 23 shots and 10 on goal. That's insanely bad. They have 44 and 27 on cage. 37 to 21 in ground balls.

It doesn't matter that they counted it, but that was a horrible play from Towson all the way around. Simply stopped playing. It was like a JV play.

No way did that goal count. Come on.

This is one of the reasons why I didn't go to this game. Very little confidence in this team to beat an elite squad or hang with them without two key players as well. Our passing is just not good enough. Winnable games coming up against Richmond and then Loyola, UMBC and St. Joe's. Have to get better on face-offs, clears and passing the ball.

18 turnovers to 8. And Nads takes no timeouts in the third quarter when it was getting out of hand. Now he freakin' calls a timeout when there are 35 seconds left in the quarter? Too late.

Seriously, what the hell is Nads waiting for? I don't get it.

I really don't thinik the defense has been that bad today. The clearing game was awful in the second quarter and now it's the offense just being dreadful. Another easy goal for Virginia and it's 12-7. Shawn might want to use a timeout. This thing is over.

Ball game after another freakin' turnover. This by Stewart on a bad pass across the field. Now 11-7. Offensive is completely getting dominated by Virginia's defense. That's bit surprising to me.

Every pass we make inside or either behind or over a guy. That's the difference between these two teams. Their passes are much sharper.

That goal came after another bad pass. This one from DeMaio. Easier said than done against 6-7 long poles. Shocking that UVa has no penalties today. Or not.

This game is nearly over at 10-7. BIg Z can't get the big ground ball and they are getting too many inside looks.

Another easy goal at the crease. Poor D by Maynard there ball watching. 9-7

DeMaio with another tough angle to make it 8-7 as Berkley is getting doubled and seeing the slide every time.

We have a 6-7 defenseman and they have 6-5 and 6-7. Just swallowing us. DeMaio just missed layup going high to high.