"M" Final at Stanford via "The Scoreboard."

Pulaski is so good at getting fast break buckets. And Mercer couldn’t guard them man to man. If they’d started the game in zone, they’d have had a much better chance.

Is the Hamlin era over at Mercer? I've heard rumblings it could very well be. We shall see! 

7 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

Pulaski is so good at getting fast break buckets. And Mercer couldn’t guard them man to man. If they’d started the game in zone, they’d have had a much better chance.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying although this is a 1 point game at halftime playing man all 1st half.  Pulaski had a hard time staying in front of the Mercer guards also.  When Pulaski/Fraley got in the paint  Mercer tried to block his shot.  He put his shoulder through the defenders chest as he should and did not allow that to happen.  When Mercer beat the Pulaski defenders and got in the paint the help defenders flopped/got bailed out with charges.  Give Pulaski credit for playing the way the game was being called and making adjustments. Facts not opinions are that Mercer had 4 made baskets wiped off the scoreboard by block/charge calls.  

For what it’s worth, I think it’s hard to zone PC because of their prowess on the offensive glass.  They have 2 guys that can fill it up in Lancaster and Williams too.  Mercer went zone, 1 pass to left wing Lancaster 3 bang. 

The stick Fraley right in the middle of Zone and he has great playmaking and/or finishing-rebounding abilities in the middle.  Huge for a PG. 

40 minutes ago, titan101 said:

I agree with a lot of what you are saying although this is a 1 point game at halftime playing man all 1st half.  Pulaski had a hard time staying in front of the Mercer guards also.  When Pulaski/Fraley got in the paint  Mercer tried to block his shot.  He put his shoulder through the defenders chest as he should and did not allow that to happen.  When Mercer beat the Pulaski defenders and got in the paint the help defenders flopped/got bailed out with charges.  Give Pulaski credit for playing the way the game was being called and making adjustments. Facts not opinions are that Mercer had 4 made baskets wiped off the scoreboard by block/charge calls.  

I don’t disagree. Seemed like I saw more charges called last night in those 2  games than I’ve seen all year. Most were bad calls. But as you pointed out, they figured out a way to finish those drives. I can’t recall watching a game where a team had more drives for layups. I’m thinking some sort of matchup zone would’ve been in order.

And they did try a 2/3 to start the 4th but that is hard to do when you’re playing from behind.

23 minutes ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

I don’t disagree. Seemed like I saw more charges called last night in those 2  games than I’ve seen all year. Most were bad calls. But as you pointed out, they figured out a way to finish those drives. I can’t recall watching a game where a team had more drives for layups. I’m thinking some sort of matchup zone would’ve been in order.

And they did try a 2/3 to start the 4th but that is hard to do when you’re playing from behind.

I agree.  Mercer seemed to have one guy guard Fraley the whole game or 90% of the game.  I don't think you let one guy get 27 on the same defender the whole game without switching defenders or trying something different.  I think Mercer only attempted to take one charge the whole game. I think if Mercer puts a small/quick defender on Fraley and pressure him out in the court then flop when he drove in strong like he did then he doesn't get 10 points as he would have been in foul trouble the way the game was called. 

Wow! 

I must have watched a different game.  4 charges against M.  2 were solid calls, 1 was 50/50 and one was horrible against Mercer.  What beat Mercer was the lack of adjustments to stop Fraley.  Agree with Titan101

1 hour ago, BuckNut said:

Wow! 

I must have watched a different game.  4 charges against M.  2 were solid calls, 1 was 50/50 and one was horrible against Mercer.  What beat Mercer was the lack of adjustments to stop Fraley.  Agree with Titan101

I agree with you and must have watched the same game. The charge on Ellis when catching the pass was horrible and gave him a foul early in the game. He’s probably not the teams best on ball defender to begin with (pretty good shot blocker out of help position though) and was charged with guarding Fraley with an early foul and not wanting to get his second. Smart by Fraley to attack that situation and not so smart the other way.  There was no help either on defense. Somebody has got to slide over and take a charge because they were giving them away if you just get in position. Bad coaching decision by Mercer not to adjust.