GAME THREAD: Miami vs. Coppin State

[AmherstCane]

Thanks for all the posts! Appreciate adding life to this board… think the bandwagon is gonna start to fill up as long as we can stay healthy.

 

[CTCANE]

Thanks for all the posts! Appreciate adding life to this board… think the bandwagon is gonna start to fill up as long as we can stay healthy.

Ya don't miss Da Lucky One informative in game posts?

 

[JackMcClinton89]

We will get a much better idea of where this team is at after the upcoming tourney when we face some better comp. I really do like the depth potential of this team (particularly compared to the skeletally thin rosters we have rolled out since the 2017-2018). However, I do expect we see some growing pains in non-con as Coach L figures out which lineups/combinations are the most effective.

 

[AmherstCane]

We will get a much better idea of where this team is at after the upcoming tourney when we face some better comp. I really do like the depth potential of this team (particularly compared to the skeletally thin rosters we have rolled out since the 2017-2018). However, I do expect we see some growing pains in non-con as Coach L figures out which lineups/combinations are the most effective.

Agreed… I think at this point I’m comfortable saying Pack, Cleveland, and Johnson are really, really good.

Kidd has done it in the ACC and has the skills but IMO he needs to be a complementary piece.

Blackmon can shoot and is a very smart and savvy player… that translates but I’m still concerned about his athleticism and defense.

AJ can defend at high major level.

Bethea is a stud but he’s finding his legs at this level.

I think Djobet is a glue guy who can give good minutes and defend 1-4.

Divine is a freaking gem. We’ll see as the comp ratchets up but I think he can do it against higher level comp. Gonna be interesting to see how he handles teams with elite rim protectors.

I don’t think Swartz or Johnson Arigu are quite ready.

 

[IncaneInTheBrain]

Watching the game now, 11 on Coppin State's gotten stuffed like 10 times and I'm not even through the first half. Even Nijel got him somehow

 

[IncaneInTheBrain]

Devine can drive to the basket. He's going get a lot of playing time as freshman.

Based purely on merit, he'd be the starting point guard

 

[casualcane]

Good win. Multiple players in double figures.

I think Divine is the only reason Mallory would look elsewhere

 

[DMoney]

Does anybody have info on Divine's shooting? He's laser-focused on driving, but he's so good there it doesn't matter against this level of competition. His size and physicality stand out live.

 

[hotshot]

I can confirm that four-star SF Josh Powell is at the Miami vs. Coppin State game

Josh Powell is an Archbishop Molloy kid from Queens, NY. Same HS as Coach Larranaga graduated from. Not a critical factor but a nice "in" that I'm sure Coacl L will mention in passing.

 

[hotshot]

We will get a much better idea of where this team is at after the upcoming tourney when we face some better comp. I really do like the depth potential of this team (particularly compared to the skeletally thin rosters we have rolled out since the 2017-2018). However, I do expect we see some growing pains in non-con as Coach L figures out which lineups/combinations are the most effective.

I'm most interested in how we look defensively against better teams. I'll be happy if we hold our own.

 

[hotshot]

Based purely on merit, he'd be the starting point guard

True, but I'm happy if he sees decent minutes.

 

[IndayArtHauz]

Good win. Multiple players in double figures.

I think Divine is the only reason Mallory would look elsewhere

Six players, in fact. And Pack wasn’t one of them.

Six players also hit 3s, 51.9% from deep as a team.

 

[AmherstCane]

Based purely on merit, he'd be the starting point guard

Nigel had 9 assists and is a better player than Divine right now.

Divine is 0/1 from three for the year. He’s definitely going to be able to help us but it would be surprising if he can maintain his production against high major teams who have athletic guards (that will defend the drive until he proves he can consistently make them pay) and rim protectors.

Again… Divine is an absolute gem and there’s little doubt he’s gonna be a star here, but I don’t think he’s earned the starting point yet.

 

[C A N S]

I'm most interested in how we look defensively against better teams. I'll be happy if we hold our own.

This.

This time last year we played Kentucky and got absolutely dusted off the court defensively. Let's see if things have changed on that end.

 

[Gables Canes]

We are DEAD LAST in current SoS. 364 out of 364.

So while I've been encouraged by our early results, we've played absolute garbage to start this season. We should know a lot more after this Charleston tournament.

 

[hotshot]

Nigel had 9 assists and is a better player than Divine right now.

Divine is 0/1 from three for the year. He’s definitely going to be able to help us but it would be surprising if he can maintain his production against high major teams who have athletic guards (that will defend the drive until he proves he can consistently make them pay) and rim protectors.

Again… Divine is an absolute gem and there’s little doubt he’s gonna be a star here, but I don’t think he’s earned the starting point yet.

Love what we've seen of Divine. Amazing, considering he's a true freshman.

Bensley Joseph comes to mind, though, in terms of him always looking good in Nov and Dec, then fading when the ACC schedule hit. I'm sure L won't throw Divine in over his head when ACC play starts in earnest.