Scotty said something about him not earning playing time after Miami but then he played against Evansville. Wonder what happened? He looked like he was coming on

Yeah, the Fairman deal is odd -- if anything was mentioned on a game broadcast or Scotty's show, I missed it and still don't know what happened.

Glad to see Johnson playing again and great to snag a road win last night!

Yikes! Did we hit a wrinkle in the space-time continuum? Last night at Freedom Hall, I had that same sinking feeling I'd suffer when watching the Bellarmine five during the dreaded Just-and-Pullem years. How do you get pummeled by a hat?

I'm admittedly not enough of an expert to catch in real-time whether all of the passing lanes are closed, but there's way too much action on the perimeter and too much hesitation if a Knight gets possession on the inside. As much as we love Betz's grit and hustle, it'd be nice if we had a true point guard who could drive into the paint and dish or pop a floater (okay, I'm daydreaming about Penn). And giving up offensive rebounds continues to be brutal.

P.S. Does Donnie Jones have a beef with BU? It was "interesting" how Stetson continued to play the starters and continued to shoot threes.

Extremely difficult to watch several of the recent games. Other coaches have figured out how to prevent BU getting easy buckets off the motion offense. No transition buckets when you get outrebounded as in recent games. Other teams getting more second chance scores. I don't think going balistic screaming in the faces of the players is gonna cure this. Next year is gonna be worse unless recruiting picks up steam. Non existent student section at the games. How many of our "seniors" still have a year of eligibility? Betz, Tiptton, Pfriem and Wieland have all been on campus 4, 5 or 6 years. Devault and Thelen are considered seniors but considering how little they've played the last two years I don't expect them to be major players if they were back for a fifth year. Hopf had his worse game of the year last night. I'm sure he feels great about it especially after the head coach got stark raving lunatic mad screaming right in his face late in the game while he sat down on the bench.

I did some digging on scholarship rules online and I think (I could most certainly be wrong) because of the covid year probably of the 6 players I mentioned all but Betz would still have a year of potential elligibility left next year. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Given DI limits of only 13 full rides might that not handicap you in next year's recruiting if 5 of them are swallowed up? This is all hypothetical since some guys may get their degree and move on after this year. Likewise you can divide up the scholarship money into partial scholarships I believe. The BU roster had 17 players at the beginning of the year so obviously we had walk-ons as I believe you aren't allowed to divide up and give partial scholarships like you are allowed for some of the other sports in D1.

Interesting thought on Jones, BTW, he is a Pikeville grad and a Billy Donovan Asst. so he knows how to coach. ( If you didn't notice he took the air out of the ball the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half, BU type possessions) Made me look back, we have beat them every year, last year a beatdown at their place 72-47 where Scotty left Penn, CJ in for 35+ so maybe some payback. My take, we started one 6'8 and the rest 6'5(maybe) or below. They were legit 6'8,6'7,6'7 (5 blocks). They were ready and wore us out. The ASUN and the world has seen us now for two years and the good coaches (Liberty, Miami, Stetson) are prepared when they play us. In the post game Scotty was calling out the first half effort by comparing deflections, but we only scored 19 which had nothing to do with deflections. We look tired and probably are.... we come off the bench with 6'3, 6'0 (maybe) Johnson and Hacker. Hacker played as many minutes as Hatton and Devault combined and Hopf played 20. Not a winning rotation. We will see tomorrow.
As far as roster, I agree it looks like all those guys can come back. Again, next year doesn't matter, but, at some point, we need some height. I kind of look at the St Peter's model, like Stetson, they went 6'7,6'7,6'8. You can run the Scotty offense with those type of guys.
Finally, Fairman got in tiff with Scotty in practice (maybe not the first time) and he told him to pack up his locker.

Sorry to hear about Fairman, but appreciate the scoop.

Yeah, it seems at least some opponents have "cracked" the Bellarmine offense -- suppose it had to happen at some point. I wonder if the staff will put together some new schemes?

Would be cool if we could get Tipton, Wieland, and Pfriem back next season. Still think Thelen could contribute, at least on the inside for rebounding, if he could ever get healthy.

Totally agree that we need more size, which is easier said than done. One would think the program will give the transfer portal a serious look in the off-season.

P.S. BGrad, you must sit by me near the BU bench -- it was painful watching Scotty "rip Hopf a new one" last night. I'd have probably cried if I were in Curt's spot.

So what happened today? Great win.

(01-14-2023 06:38 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  So what happened today? Great win.

Thanks! Congrats to EKU for slapping the Hats.

BU seemed more energized from the tip today, moved well (including some much-needed driving, instead of strictly perimeter passing), played great defensively (Betz with seven steals!), and did not give up as many offensive rebounds, along with a bit of tinkering with the rotations (still can't do too much due to an injury or two). Nice crowd too, although I very much miss the raucous student section of Knights Hall.

Hope they can carry this on the road, where they have played pretty well this season.

Much better defense by the Knights against FGCU. Shooting can be hot and cold from game to game. The thing we often ignore in our wins and losses is the performance of the other team. I imagine Stetson played at the tip top of their game against us (there is no way they can always shoot the 3 that way every game). On the other hand, FGCU quite possibly played their worst - granted the BU defense aided in that!

Interesting that Stetson came here locked and loaded and handled us and (not taking away anything from Colonels) go to EKU and lose bad. Yesterday effort was up but shooting was sporadic, 2nd half was painful. Thought Scotty was draining the clock every time down.... we had 16 points at the under 4 TO. Something had to be definitely off with FGC, they could do nothing right. That was 6 games in 17 days for us and I guess everybody else. We need rest and the short trip to Tenn and home and home with EKU may help.

That three-point shooting -- yikes. The guys have to be tired, what with the short bench/limited rotations.

Hate to say it, and apologies for stating what may be obvious, but BU will be hard-pressed to win another one until Pistol Pete returns (and it'd be fantastic to get Bash back at some point).

The knights are a hot and cold 3 pt. team. So when we're cold its a rough night as good teams seem to shut off the easier buckets on the motion offense. No fast break buckets.....how many DI teams have their point guard as the leading rebounder on the team? I think there is a connection there. The post game interview with the coach was interesting to me.....Scotty spent a lot of time talking about the short bench, and injuries. He mentioned the 13 scholarship limit in DI and the fact that in DII he could spread out the scholarships to cover 17 players by splitting the scholarships. The extra year of eligibility due to Covid means (I think) everybody with the exception of Betz could theoretically play next year. Some of us on this board have been saying the Knights are going to need to ramp up the recruiting for next year. Maybe I was reading too much into what he was saying and maybe he was just saying the injury bug is really hurting us.

I missed Scotty's post-game interview on Saturday, but appreciate that they post it on social media, and I intend to check it out.

You think he might've been hinting that he and the staff need to recruit a deeper bench?

Anybody heard whether Pistol Pete might be back on Thursday?

Amazing finish at Freedom Hall last night. Looked like EKU was gonna cruise to a win early second half then the Knights clawed back. I don't understand why EKU didn't use up all three fouls they had to give on that last posession. Am I wrong or did they only have 2 fouls to give?? Tipton wasn't having his best night until those last two 3's that made the difference in the game. Good to see Peter Suder playing after the injury...not sure we would have won without him...Knights playing only six players with significant minutes even with him. We seem to have the shortest bench this year than any time in recent memory.

(01-27-2023 10:49 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  Amazing finish at Freedom Hall last night. Looked like EKU was gonna cruise to a win early second half then the Knights clawed back. I don't understand why EKU didn't use up all three fouls they had to give on that last posession. Am I wrong or did they only have 2 fouls to give?? Tipton wasn't having his best night until those last two 3's that made the difference in the game. Good to see Peter Suder playing after the injury...not sure we would have won without him...Knights playing only six players with significant minutes even with him. We seem to have the shortest bench this year than any time in recent memory.

I checked the online play by play and the foul at the 6 second mark was their 5th foul of the second half. So yeah, they did have one more to give.

(01-27-2023 11:06 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  

(01-27-2023 10:49 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  Amazing finish at Freedom Hall last night. Looked like EKU was gonna cruise to a win early second half then the Knights clawed back. I don't understand why EKU didn't use up all three fouls they had to give on that last posession. Am I wrong or did they only have 2 fouls to give?? Tipton wasn't having his best night until those last two 3's that made the difference in the game. Good to see Peter Suder playing after the injury...not sure we would have won without him...Knights playing only six players with significant minutes even with him. We seem to have the shortest bench this year than any time in recent memory.

I checked the online play by play and the foul at the 6 second mark was their 5th foul of the second half. So yeah, they did have one more to give.

I am guessing that EKU's coach told them not to foul at the 6.5 second timeout. Which I think was the right move. Too easy for BU to throw up a three pointer while getting fouled and give away the game.

BTW, BGrad'71, there is absolutely no doubt that BU could not have won without Suder. Great game by multiple players, but Suder was terrific.

(01-27-2023 01:06 PM)knightmoves Wrote:  

(01-27-2023 11:06 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  

(01-27-2023 10:49 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  Amazing finish at Freedom Hall last night. Looked like EKU was gonna cruise to a win early second half then the Knights clawed back. I don't understand why EKU didn't use up all three fouls they had to give on that last posession. Am I wrong or did they only have 2 fouls to give?? Tipton wasn't having his best night until those last two 3's that made the difference in the game. Good to see Peter Suder playing after the injury...not sure we would have won without him...Knights playing only six players with significant minutes even with him. We seem to have the shortest bench this year than any time in recent memory.

I checked the online play by play and the foul at the 6 second mark was their 5th foul of the second half. So yeah, they did have one more to give.

I am guessing that EKU's coach told them not to foul at the 6.5 second timeout. Which I think was the right move. Too easy for BU to throw up a three pointer while getting fouled and give away the game.

BTW, BGrad'71, there is absolutely no doubt that BU could not have won without Suder. Great game by multiple players, but Suder was terrific.

My thought was once the player in the lane had the ball not facing the hoop we should have fouled. A.W. probably told the team not to foul. Nice comeback.

That was the most exciting comeback I've witnessed in person.

It was so gradual, without one major "run," and it definitely would not have happened sans the return of Pistol Pete.

EKU is tough -- not looking forward to the Knights having to play them again!