Does anybody else see it? Or am I the only one?

 

Holmes doesn't look as good this year as they did last year. I don't know if its just me or if other people are seeing it also. I'm throwing it out there that they will get upset during the regional tournament. Holmes this year just isn't as dominant as they were last year. Jamel Riley was the glue of this offense. Holmes offense isn't dominant this year. They only score 59 points against a at best mediocre team in Villa Madonna. Nothing against VM but they just don't have the talent Holmes has. Holmes is supposed to be what 1st-3rd in the state depending on which poll you look at and can only come up with 59 points against VM. Also only beating Pendleton County be 11 points? I know there is times teams play really good when they know they are the underdog but this is starting to turn into a habit for the Dogs, keeping it close or losing come halftime. The Dogs of last year would be probably around 9-1 outscoring their opponents by 20 to 25 points a game. Holmes should be winning games against teams like Villa and Pendleton and Beechwood by 40 points and scoring 70 to 80 points against teams like these. I think the only good win they have had this year was against Memphis Central and against the team from Az. All the games Holmes has won this season, they haven't by any stretch of the mind been dominant throughout the entire game like they should be against some of these teams that they should be beating by 30. All I'm saying is ANYONE has a shot in 9th region this year. I'm just saying getting beat at halftime by a team like Villa isn't going to cut it for them one game when a team knows how to put a team away. Holmes is probably the favorite in the 9th by majority of the people but i think anybody that has watched Holmes play this year knows as well as I do that any team can beat them.

:sssh:

Edited December 29, 200916 yr by gold sunrise
Rule #13

And I know some Dog fans are going to get on here and think I'm bashing their team but I have all the respect in the world for the Dogs. I'm just trying to put a different look into people's perspective who thinks Holmes is "unbeatable" and "heavily favored"

Edited December 29, 200916 yr by bugatti
Rule 13

I haven't seen the Bulldogs play this year, will do so in a few days.

 

Is point guard play an issue?

I haven't seen the Bulldogs play this year, will do so in a few days.

 

Is point guard play an issue?

 

Huge issue. Jamel was the heart and soul of this high powered offense last season.

Huge issue. Jamel was the heart and soul of this high powered offense last season.

 

High powered offense? They only averaged 60 ppg last season.

Sportsmanship is the reason Holmes does not blow teams out as we can clearly see. Thats why they look bad at times it is cause they only play a slow tempo style when they should be running uptempo. The dogs lack a true leader on the team which is why they are struggling this year. The coaching staff probally would love to beat teams by 30 or 40 points but they realize the backlash they would get from other schools. Politics play a key role in how certain teams play which keeps the dogs on a short leash. As athletic as they are it would seem to be a no brainer but we dont see what this coaching staff has to contend with just keeping this group on the same page each and every day. At times it a challange to have them play as a team alot of selfishness has been displayed durning alot of this years game. Some players are still stuck down state and have yet to realize that this a new year so now you have to start over but this work even harder. The coaching staff also has to deal with alot of egos which make for a interesting year because all the players see and hear is how good they are no one wants to tell them the truth and that is if they plan playing at the next level they must start playing more as a team instead of like the superstars that they think they are this is high school many of them will be in for world awakening if and when they go on to college but at the end of the day you still have to suit up and play nothing will be handed to them just becasue Holmes is accross their chest and thats is what winning a state championship will do to you if lack discipline.

Wow ... a couple of interesting and difficult posts to read. I really hope they get everyone on the same page and quit having to deal with technicals and suspensions every week.

Its a myth that Holmes was "high powered" last year. 32-29 in the region final says it all. They're methodical. They play strong D. They don't run.

I think one of their biggest problems isn't talent, but inexperience.

 

Outside of Pittman and the Johnson Brothers, everyone is a new face.

 

Rice played last year but wasn't counted on to score the way he is now and didn't have a starting role last year either. He's currently averaging around 10 ppg and doing a great job for the Dogs but is still working on attacking the rim more and being more aggressive.

 

Avery played big time minutes at Conner last year and played AAU with Slusher, Johnson Brothers, and Pittman but is still making the transition in to Holmes' system.

 

The combination of Hayes, Mayfield, Herndon, and McClendon probably played a COMBINED 4 minutes per game last year.

 

Holmes will only get better as the season progresses but I wouldn't consider them the region favorite at this point.

I've seen the Dawgs play twice this year: a one point game at the half against Beechwood and a one point game at the half against Villa. There are a lot of 'A' schools that would be happy with that. Holmes should not be.

Its a myth that Holmes was "high powered" last year. 32-29 in the region final says it all. They're methodical. They play strong D. They don't run.

 

Exactly what I was going to say after reading this original post.

 

Holmes is a defensive team. They will take some lumps this year. They aren't going to run through the region like they did last year. They will struggle with Highlands and maybe another team in the 9th. They will have some tough matchups. But, ,they are still the defending state champs. They still return 4 solid players from that squad.

 

Just like many other teams in the state, they will have to get better. They will have to learn to play together again. They will have to adjust to the style of play from game to game.

 

Lets just remember.....when it came down to scoring and pusing the ball at Rupp Arena. They did it. At did it as well as anyone. Henley prepares his teams as well as any coach in the state.

Back to back titles in the state are very rare so they are on a very tough mission. 1991 and 1971 are the last two times it has been accomplished. They have the talent, desire and now they need the discipline which seems to be coming in large doses. Don't count this team out but don't be too disappointed if they lose some games. Everyone wants a chance at that cupie doll.

High powered offense? They only averaged 60 ppg last season.

 

Ok well I guess "high powered" was the wrong word to use. This year through the first 10 games of the season the highest amount of points they have scored is 61. Actually they have only reached 60 points or higher one time this year. Last year through the first 10 games of the season the highest amount of points they scored was 76. And last year through the first 10 games of the season they scored 60 or more points 7 times, reaching 70 5 of those times. So even if their offense isnt "high powered" like you said it isnt, it defintaley has decreased alot.

Exactly what I was going to say after reading this original post.

 

Holmes is a defensive team. They will take some lumps this year. They aren't going to run through the region like they did last year. They will struggle with Highlands and maybe another team in the 9th. They will have some tough matchups. But, ,they are still the defending state champs. They still return 4 solid players from that squad.

 

Just like many other teams in the state, they will have to get better. They will have to learn to play together again. They will have to adjust to the style of play from game to game.

 

Lets just remember.....when it came down to scoring and pusing the ball at Rupp Arena. They did it. At did it as well as anyone. Henley prepares his teams as well as any coach in the state.

 

Bingo on the bold, as Clyde also stated above. Holmes' success is due to the defense they play. They are not a scrambling, pressing, up and down the floor type team. They play defense. They rebound. They will take the break if they can get it. If not, they run their half court offense and work for a good shot.

I've seen the Dawgs play twice this year: a one point game at the half against Beechwood and a one point game at the half against Villa. There are a lot of 'A' schools that would be happy with that. Holmes should not be.

 

I was at both of those games, and I don't think Holmes was very happy at half with both of those games, but by the end of the game they were on the winning side of the scoreboard by double digits.

 

Holmes and Henley's motive is not to blow people out, look at the 45-24, 55-41 games vs HC last year, heck look at most of there games against teams they could have had there way with, they were all between 15-25 point wins with the exception of cooper who they only put up 58 on and won by 38. Henley doesn't want to blow teams out, he wants to beat teams comfortably but he isn't they guy who is going to run it up just because he can.

 

With all that being said, I do agree however that this Holmes team is not as good as last year. With the loss of 2 starters and a 6th man most teams will take a hit talent wise, especially early on while the new guys are learning there role and the returning 3 starters are adjusting there game to there new roles (Rico handling the ball more, Eli playing in the post more, and JJ having to increase his scoring output). They will be a tough team to contend with as the season goes on, and should get better and better every game. Is it happening as fast as me or other Holmes fans would like it to, no. But Henley has stated several times in the paper and talking to people out, that this team is a work in progress. If come regional tourny time, that progress is complete and this team is clicking on all cylinders they will still be a threat to cut down the nets, if not, well they will be like every other school in KY other than the 16 that go to Rupp. I think the talent of the big 3 and the experience in the big games over the past 2 years will help this come region time though.