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Post by Rogobob77 on Feb 9, 2022 22:28:42 GMT -5
On the post game interview, Coach Davis said Madut Akec had an ankle sprain. Said he wouldn’t play at YSU and likely won’t be ready for Oakland either.
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Post by Rogobob77 on Feb 9, 2022 22:33:13 GMT -5
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Post by motorcitysam on Feb 9, 2022 22:43:08 GMT -5
It was great to see Harvey, Waterman, and Johnson step up. We will need that kind of balance again if Adec is out.
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Post by titantarheel on Feb 9, 2022 22:49:44 GMT -5
On the post game interview, Coach Davis said Madut Akec had an ankle sprain. Said he wouldn’t play at YSU and likely won’t be ready for Oakland either. It must be pretty bad to rule him out a few more games. Ankle sprains are weird - they can be a long term nuisance, or they can appear bad immediately (think swelling due to the stretched/torn ligaments) and then heal fairly quickly. We shall see…
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Post by Rogobob77 on Feb 9, 2022 23:05:49 GMT -5
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Post by JDetroitTitan on Feb 10, 2022 7:42:43 GMT -5
Koka looking like he is improving a little more each game. Had better foot work look like he just didn't react but got into place (keep working at it because it not happen all the time). He needs to realize that he doesn't need to swat at the ball with his size and arm length. Just standing tall and full extending his arms will alter shots enough to be effective (too much swatting will get him into to many fouls). I like the assist he had. Lets GOOOO KOKAAAA!! Not much to say just a well played game for us. Some errors but we bounced back and didn't make it snow pile on us. I want to know why Koka is playing ahead of Muhammad S who did some nice things in there. Coach is probably awarding KOKA on effort during practice. Just a thought.
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Post by upbasketballfan on Feb 10, 2022 9:40:34 GMT -5
I’m anxiously awaiting Commish’s take on this game. I think you always get a better perspective when you can see everything not just what the camera allows.
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Post by upbasketballfan on Feb 10, 2022 11:02:24 GMT -5
Waterman has to stay on his feet and quit weakly falling down. He took out Akec and almost got Willie. It’s hard for the other guys to play around the basket with Waterman flailing on the floor. I think this started in the Wyoming game when he got his concussion. If I didn’t know better I would assume Mathew Grant was working with him.
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Post by Commissioner on Feb 10, 2022 20:10:17 GMT -5
The Commissioner got back from Wednesday's game to find his computer on the fritz. Anyway, after a drive from the lakehouse to the city house and visit to the friendly masked men at the Apple Store today, I'm back for the time being. Hide the women and children.
This was the first game the Titans have ever played at the UPMC Events Center. It's a nice facility, bright and airy if a little bit sterile. Seats are overpriced but good views--if you should ever go, just buy the cheap seats and move, no one will care. There's lots of free parking right across the street. All the concessions were open and my sense was that they'd actually like to get more fans to come to games, unlike the apparent attitude at Jesuit colleges. The concessions include a Chick-fil-a stand, and there are separate stands selling premium beer. My brother (whom a few of you met several years back when some of us rented a private box for the Titans at Pitt) and I enjoyed Blue Moon. I'd on't know how they did the acoustics there, but it's really loud. The official attendance was listed at 703, and I'd say that was about right. But it could really crescendo. You put 3500 fans in there (it holds 4000) and it would be LOUD. Masks were required but no one checked, harangued, lectured, or stood in front of you with a sign, and probably about a third of the fans simply took them off. They had the usual mix of contests and exhibitions during halftime and long time outs. There were 20-25 cheerleaders/dance team members who, along with a lively pep band, made good noise. And they didn't play propaganda videos before the game. Overall a good experience.
As for the game, I'm just one guy, but I thought the Titans played well, one of their better games. They moved the ball on offense, and avoided their occasional tendency to play one on one dribble contests. In fact, in anything there were a few plays where I thought they made one too many passes--but I'd rather have that than the dribble dribble shoot offense that sometimes grips our team. The defense was, for the most part, very good. Antoine took 22 shots and scored 26 points, but he didn't seem to be trying to dominate the game as he sometimes does. For the most part, it came to him. I'd say at least three of his baskets came at important moments, when RMU was threatening to rally and you could sort of feel momentum hanging in balance. We had 15 turnovers--not real good. At least three time AD just lost control of the ball, and another time just threw it away--all unforced errors. Koka had a foot shuffling problem that bit him more than once. Take those unforced errors away and the numbers were pretty good; i.e., avoid the free giveaways! Harvey is really becoming a nice, settling influence on the team, and Waterman looked better than he has all year--its really the first time all year I've seen that sweet jumper with any consistency.
As to UP's question re Koka and Sylla, my impression of Sylla--and remember, he only played 3 minutes, so this is not based on much--is that he is really lost out there. He's got some ability, but just doesn't know the game yet. He made a couple just truly horrible moves on defense that led to two easy RMU buckets. He looked on those plays like a guy who either hadn't been taught--or at least hadn't yet learned--some fundamentals of how to handle situations on defense. Though it was just a couple minutes of PT, I watched him pretty closely because I was interested in how he'd do. From across the court I couldn't hear what Coach was saying, and I can't be sure he was even addressing Sylla, but from my vantage point it looked on offense like he was trying to give Sylla pretty basic instructions on where to be on the floor. I'm not sure how much I can see that you can't see on camera, but there may be something, and from my perspective, Sylla is just really a stranger to the game. All that said, he's big, and purely from an athletic/physical standpoint, he was fine. He's got a lot to learn but maybe can be a big help by the 2023-24 season.
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Post by Commissioner on Feb 10, 2022 20:16:24 GMT -5
One postscript to yesterday's game: Coach Davis called one timeout and RMU didn't huddle. They just stayed on the court. I can't remember ever seeing that.
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Post by Commissioner on Feb 11, 2022 10:11:00 GMT -5
One more thing about UPMC Events Center. They've got a very nice historic display area, with a wall reviewing high points of school's basketball history (especially NIT win over Kentucky), their NEC title trophies, Hall of Fame players, etc. Unfortunately, Calihan simply lacks that type of space.
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Post by upbasketballfan on Feb 11, 2022 12:49:48 GMT -5
One more thing about UPMC Events Center. They've got a very nice historic display area, with a wall reviewing high points of school's basketball history (especially NIT win over Kentucky), their NEC title trophies, Hall of Fame players, etc. Unfortunately, Calihan simply lacks that type of space. How about the hall between the first floor restrooms. Walls on both sides could be covered with positives or move the concessions there and that would open up the front area.
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