Posted:
#51
A situation on the home front unfortunately has me at home for this one instead of in the Palestra. But as bummed as I am, at least now I get to give a little preview of the game for everyone lol.
Alright, fellas, here's what I'm expecting from Penn - La Salle tonight. First, let me say right off the top that personally, I think this is a no-play (at least when it comes to picking a side). Here's why:
First let me start off by saying that I don't think you can possibly back Penn yet. They're so banged up and lacking in depth (the list of players inactive tonight includes Bernardini, Schreiber, Howlett, Loughery, and Mullan), and I could see the legs going against a much more athletic team. The players that are left over are really lacking in offensive firepower, other than Rosen, who's the engine that makes this offense go right now. So no, I don't think I could bring myself to back a team that's been so lousy overall this season.
On the other hand, I don't think I could back La Salle tonight either, although my reasons are a bit more complicated. As I said earlier in this thread, Penn played BY FAR its best defensive game of the season against Temple. But when I said that, I was looking beyond the scoreboard. Penn was denying Temple the ability to dribble penetrate (which had been Penn's biggest weakness all year), they were challenging shooters, and they had all five guys out there crashing the D boards hard. Also, they unveiled a completely different defensive scheme in that game (a 1-3-1 zone) that was surprisingly effective when it was used. I expect to see a lot of that zone tonight, which would force La Salle to try to beat Penn over the top (which isn't really its game). Still, I can't promise that Penn will be able to slow down La Salle tonight, but I know that they're be playing their butts off and just might give these guys fits tonight.
Putting all of this together, there's just so much unknown tonight. If Penn can carry over what it did on the defensive end in the Temple game, it will stay within the number. On the other hand, I try not to read too much into any one individual game, and so the overall/obvious view here says that La Salle is in another class than Penn. While that may be true, the fact that that one game (Temple) happened with a new coach, a new system, and a new attitude gives me pause and makes me think that perhaps some of that improvement was for real (especially on the defensive end, which has been the focus in practice). Really, I think it's 50/50 that the Temple effort carries over into tonight, and that's why I've got this one as a stay-away.
But while I do have the game as a no-play from a side perspective, I am playing the under tonight. Under its new coach, Penn has played much more of a half-court game. Coach Allen has shortened up the bench in the past few games out of necessity (there just aren't many healthy bodies left), and has had them slow down the game so as not to wear the guys down. If that trend continues tonight, and is combined with a continued emphasis on the defensive end, this game should go comfortably under.
GL to all of you tonight.
Alright, fellas, here's what I'm expecting from Penn - La Salle tonight. First, let me say right off the top that personally, I think this is a no-play (at least when it comes to picking a side). Here's why:
First let me start off by saying that I don't think you can possibly back Penn yet. They're so banged up and lacking in depth (the list of players inactive tonight includes Bernardini, Schreiber, Howlett, Loughery, and Mullan), and I could see the legs going against a much more athletic team. The players that are left over are really lacking in offensive firepower, other than Rosen, who's the engine that makes this offense go right now. So no, I don't think I could bring myself to back a team that's been so lousy overall this season.
On the other hand, I don't think I could back La Salle tonight either, although my reasons are a bit more complicated. As I said earlier in this thread, Penn played BY FAR its best defensive game of the season against Temple. But when I said that, I was looking beyond the scoreboard. Penn was denying Temple the ability to dribble penetrate (which had been Penn's biggest weakness all year), they were challenging shooters, and they had all five guys out there crashing the D boards hard. Also, they unveiled a completely different defensive scheme in that game (a 1-3-1 zone) that was surprisingly effective when it was used. I expect to see a lot of that zone tonight, which would force La Salle to try to beat Penn over the top (which isn't really its game). Still, I can't promise that Penn will be able to slow down La Salle tonight, but I know that they're be playing their butts off and just might give these guys fits tonight.
Putting all of this together, there's just so much unknown tonight. If Penn can carry over what it did on the defensive end in the Temple game, it will stay within the number. On the other hand, I try not to read too much into any one individual game, and so the overall/obvious view here says that La Salle is in another class than Penn. While that may be true, the fact that that one game (Temple) happened with a new coach, a new system, and a new attitude gives me pause and makes me think that perhaps some of that improvement was for real (especially on the defensive end, which has been the focus in practice). Really, I think it's 50/50 that the Temple effort carries over into tonight, and that's why I've got this one as a stay-away.
But while I do have the game as a no-play from a side perspective, I am playing the under tonight. Under its new coach, Penn has played much more of a half-court game. Coach Allen has shortened up the bench in the past few games out of necessity (there just aren't many healthy bodies left), and has had them slow down the game so as not to wear the guys down. If that trend continues tonight, and is combined with a continued emphasis on the defensive end, this game should go comfortably under.
GL to all of you tonight.
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