Different Team

[stuball888]

You forgot a “fire in the belly”

[HUSID74]

Once again this team showed something new and different than previous JAM teams...we played great defense last night when we clearly were not "firing on all cylinders" and we gutted out a good win against Stony Brook...their kid Lattimer said it best, "they played harder than us."
Of course it didn't hurt to have the best player in the floor in JWF who did what was needed late in the game to secure the win...He is on a mission and it will be fun to ride along with him!

I am worried about depth...we went with five guys last night for most of the second half...this can't continue...hopefully Jam unlocks the doghouse and lets a few more guys contribute.

[Wags]

Different team because of two things:

1) They actually care enough about defense this year. The D still needs work and it will have to improve more, if possible, against the better CAA teams. But it was often non-existent for too many long stretches in past years and this year, it's largely been passable. They've allowed 73 or less in three-quarters of their 12 games this year. They're not trying to win games, 86-83, anymore, like we saw in the past. They're okay with a 71-64 win like last night. That's maturity, that's growth. Some of that is also pace of play, etc. But much of it is simply taking more pride than in the past in stopping the guy you're guarding. Some of it is also mixing up different looks schematically, and although there are still holes there, it's mainly been good enough and an improvement from the past. With their offense, they don't need to be very good defensively, just good enough. They weren't good enough on D before, they have been this year.

2) Coburn - he's been such a major difference maker as that added option to take pressure off of JWF and Eli, with his efficient scoring (again last night - 16 pts on 6/10 fg). But it's so much more than that. He plays D, he constantly crashes the boards, he continually hustles with a non-stop, high motor, and I think that's all been contagious for other guys who weren't doing the same before Coburn was inserted into the starting lineup this year.

[daHUPride]

Once again this team showed something new and different than previous JAM teams...we played great defense last night when we clearly were not "firing on all cylinders" and we gutted out a good win against Stony Brook...their kid Lattimer said it best, "they played harder than us."
Of course it didn't hurt to have the best player in the floor in JWF who did what was needed late in the game to secure the win...He is on a mission and it will be fun to ride along with him!

I am worried about depth...we went with five guys last night for most of the second half...this can't continue...hopefully Jam unlocks the doghouse and lets a few more guys contribute.

I am with you HUSID74, need to continue to utilize our depth. I feel that JAM rotation gets stuck with the same few guys - we did that in 2015-16; we had 5 guys that year averaging 30+ minutes per game, and the only Nicols getting significant (18) minutes that season - and then he got injuried and it killed us. This year minutes are distributed significantly better - we have 3 guys (JFW, DB and EP) averaging 30+ minutes per game, and another 5 guys getting 18 minutes or more.
I struggle watching how guys get buried/in the dog house so frequently in JAM system - but I am not at the practices nor am I in the know - but it seems once you are out of favor you are OUT.

[HUSID74]

I said this back in early Dec after we destroyed our MAAC nemesis Manhattan. This is a special team...they have the will to win and the talent to make it happen. JWF is one of the all time greats at Hofstra and we have the supporting cast to get us to the BIG Dance....I'm on board that VERY SPECIAL TRAIN...ALL ABOARD!!!!

[daHUPride]

I said this back in early Dec after we destroyed our MAAC nemesis Manhattan. This is a special team...they have the will to win and the talent to make it happen. JWF is one of the all time greats at Hofstra and we have the supporting cast to get us to the BIG Dance....I'm on board that VERY SPECIAL TRAIN...ALL ABOARD!!!!

I have had my (season) ticket for a long time (15 years now) - I am onboard with this team - I was telling my season tix-mates I feel differernt about this team.

I am not saying this team is more talented or deeper then - Pecora 2005-06; Cassera 2010-11 or JAM 2015-16 - but they play together BETTER then those team.


Love the energy and the enthusiasm that are start 5 play with (it looks like both key transfer Couborn and Taylor - are glad to be here) our 3 vets (DB, JFW and EP) seem to playing with a mission.

HUSID74 - I am with you - get on board now!

[triplec2195]

Lets hope this train doesn't get derailed its quite a ways to the finish line and a lot of stops along the way. I love this team as well and they obviously have a lot of upside but they need to stay the course with a balanced offensive attack not the one -sided barrage from Justin the other day. I don't want to take anything away from this victory but this one on one game Justin versus NE will not play well if we have to revisit this on a regular basis. We're most effective when everyone is involved and scoring.

[joeg1]

I'm going to take another spin on the JWF show vs NE. Basically, NE is a very solid defensive team, and they took away the other options as a conscious decision, leaving JWF to go off. He saw a lot more single coverage than usual, at least until the very end, when he was doubled more (and blocked a few times). Even so, he is such a talent that he could beat most of what was thrown at him. Basically, NE dared JWF to beat them, and he did. So I don't think it was our lack of balance, but more of a stout conventional D played by NE that forced our hand.

[HUSID74]

Some of our guys did not play up to what they had been doing; Buie, Pemberton and Coburn to name a few against NE. JWF did what he needed to do and he took over. He was not perfect; some bad and forced shots but when it came to crunch time he took over; that what great players do and at our level he is the best!

[stuball888]

Joe and Husid. Could not have said any better. I will take the wins any way we can

[triplec2195]

Good points made here but I wasn't at the game. When I watched the entire game on replay quite a few of the shots Justin made were not high percentage shots and I don't need to be reminded that he makes circus shots on a regular basis but I'm concerned this kind of game will come back to bite us. Let's hope that COC's defense was such that it forced us out of our game rhythm causing offensive issues. A win is a win absolutely true especially a conference win against NE. I'm pleased though that more and more Taylor's game is starting to evolve and we can count on him from the foul line a huge plus for us.

[daHUPride]

My take was the same.
I thought NE game plan on D - was to play JFW straight up with a bigger guard on him.
Also thought NE played our other guys tough - contend shots in the corner where Ray makes his living; tight aggressive D on Buie that frustrated him at times; and took Couborn and Pemberton essentially out of their game.
Thought NE had a solid game plan - especially in the 2nd half (except the last 5 minutes of the 2nd half).

[Polito]

No train for me until at least after Jan. 19. Team still needs to show out against the defending champs.

There is a LOT of ball left - it is very very early. And frankly, HU has had strong regular seasons before, and then blew it with embarrassing first round exits. They don't get to erase years of that crap wasting top conf talent this early in the going, sorry. And ultimately, nothing will matter unless they cut nets.

But yes, it is absolutely ok to enjoy this ride, I'm on board with that! It's a fun one, team deserves great support, and JWF is truly something to watch. He has a chance to separate himself from the rest, and he knows it.

A lot to prove here. Let's start with the napoleons on Thur on the road...

[cactus]

Yes it seems like a different team this year but last night was the first time I let myself start to get excited by it. Not just the defense clamping down in the second half but also the ball movement and offensive play of the rest of the team when jwf was having a tough night. In a way jwf may be holding them back a little when he takes so many shots but it was great to see that he doesn't have to carry them every night. Come tournament time that's an important lesson for him to remember.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[HUSID74]

Totally agree cactus...the rest of the team stepped up big time last night. This team keeps on finding ways to win...very exciting and hope it continues!

[daHUPride]

Totally agree cactus...the rest of the team stepped up big time last night. This team keeps on finding ways to win...very exciting and hope it continues!

This HU team gets back in and wins - past teams let opponents play and get back at us.
JFW and DB hold their teammates accountable - is the way I see it.

[stuball888]

We have been trying to find words to describe this team now. If we could say why they are better some have said it’s the chemistry. They are also mentally tougher now. This team has KAHOONAISE. My apologies in advance to my Italian friend if I spelled it wrong

[cactus]

We have been trying to find words to describe this team now. If we could say why they are better some have said it’s the chemistry. They are also mentally tougher now. This team has KAHOONAISE. My apologies in advance to my Italian friend if I spelled it wrong

you might be looking for the Spanish word "cojones". In italian its coglioni

[stuball888]

I stand corrected

[daHUPride]

HUSID - started this page when we were only 5 wins into the streak - man was that a GREAT call.
This team is cool and calm; but tough and relentless.
The balance of our top 6 guys has impressed me - (top shot attempts of our top 5 guys - most shots attempted 11 - least 8).
JAM - although he HAS changed (not bitching at the refs, as much. He is the same guy at post games, same guy in his playing time and player rotation. I LOVE that he is owning this streak!
Of our main 4 returnees (JFW, DB, EP and JR) - they are playing with such passion and cohesiveness (not since Stoke, Augdio and Riveria have we had a GROUP).
My opinion, it is the addition of these 3 have MADE us the team we weren't last year:
Taylor (plays within his skill set, never gets in foul trouble);
Couburn (his energy, his consistancy)
and dare I say Dwyer (I know he isn't the fan of many here; he eats minutes to save Taylor and does hurt us)
This a different team - and I am glad to say it is OUR TEAM!!!