JoshuaG

ECU 22 USF 15 with 6:40 left

Mercurius is on the court, finally getting a bit of a larger dose of playing time

Back to back treys for ECU, we are also in the bonus

ECU already in the bonus with 9 minutes left in the first half

Jaleel draws the foul after banging on the inside

Do you think COA loses Mercurius? He's one of his recruits, isn't he? I think he sees potential in him, just only a freshman and needs time to develop. I think anyone with a Spanish sounding name sticks around.Cash money gets no playing time as it is. Sounds like a transfer to me. Only people getting less pt are Bodway and Clayton.In most programs Freshman don't get that much playing time to begin with. We really shouldn't be setting the precedent where freshman should be expecting to play heavy minutes all the time. You can only play 5 guys at a time on the court and until recently even Bo wasn't seeing great minutes but maybe he's proven to coach he's ready to step it up. perhaps the limited playing time is enough for Mercurius to step his game up in practices and in the minutes he's getting to show he deserves more. I don't like the scenario where the players can govern their minutes or leave the school after 1 season. Pure freshman should put up or shut up. Guerrero needs to be out there as a pure Freshman because we lack size, he's showing great potential and needs immediate experience to develop quicker at his size. Collins is a veteran, Perry had a season under his belt, Allen is a senior veteran, Guerrero needs to be there as I said, and now Bo is stepping up. Unfortunately Cousins gets playing time because he's a big guy (has shown a little skill growth in the past few weeks though, you can tell someone is working him hard in practice). And finally Morillo is a little more experienced at another college and shows the confidence needed to shoot the ball at this level. I'd hope Mercurius wouldn't whine about minutes already in his career and take his ball and go home. Next season we lose Allen and POSSIBLY Collins. Sure we have new recruits coming in, but isn't Peters the only player available immediately with experience or do we have other good transfers with immediate availability besides any new freshman? It's open tryouts in the offseason for playing time and Mercurius should earn more time or it just shows he's not good enough to play and may eventually leave. There are, however, some players out there fine with the free education, traveling the county, attending games and practices and only playing 5-15 minutes a game. Maybe he's one of them. Not to disparage Mercurius, he just needs to work at it, maybe get some court time if he can earn it. I'm not saying he's not good, I'm not even saying he doesn't deserve a chance. I'm just saying that if he is going to be back he has to show something to Antigua in some form because he will be looking for contributors. He has worked to get a Montero verbal but he needs a schollie. I think Dre may be also be drawing the short straw as well unfortunately. And again, I don't want to put down these youngsters or wish ill on them. I just think that from a basketball perspective COA will probably make room for himself to work with.

My biggest coach problem is why he continues to play zone defense. This team can't play zone and gets lit up everytime he does. We don't have enough bodies. This is it. Probably to give the players a little rest so they can increase the offensive speed and intensity and not get burned out by the 3rd quarter. This season is about rebuilding, I don't think the coaching staff is anticipating much success now and will do things like speeding up the offense to create a culture change. The bodies will come next season and next season will include another offseason of conditioning where it'll allow them to increase defensive intensity as well. But this season is about developing offense skills/ speed which can take a bit longer than an offseason. That's my interpretation anyway. Agreed one hundred percent. Even the wins that we accumulate this season will be a pitch to our recruits. Though thinking long term, I don't think that we should fill every scholarship available this year. After making room for Montero I would like to see us save a couple for the next season. Tricky situation to be in.

I like to hear Chris Perry is optimistic about his return as a Bull, I like to see those updates from Rouca, but I'm having a hard time seeing 6 or 7 new faces. Even without Dre and one other, I'm having a hard time seeing how we can get that many. I can account for 5 at max 6. I can't see Antigua quiting on many more. Could be wrong though.

Tonight I learned: Zeigler is still athletic, but maybe with the right coaching and floor time he might become a lot more effective. Holston can actually shoot on occasion. That was actually a revelation for me. Dinero is dinero from the charity strip, I think I heard them say 91% for him? Someone actually thinks Cousins can be great for us, And we REALLY can't stop turning the ball over. Thoughts on the above?

My heart stopped about three times during that game! Zeigler, athlete and he's improved his finish at the rim. All these professors and I just want to finish my BSN.

I wish I cold be there. Hell I wish I could find a way to watch the game on the interwebs

I remember coming into this season Perry said they had a rigorous conditioning regimen which is why he lost weight coming into this season. Guerrero gained bulk and it's helping him in the post. I'm sure they will be in for some real running this summer.

+1 I apologize for being incorrect earlier

I agree, I think we will see Antigua crank up the pace next year. Whoever is back from this year will go through one hell of a fitness plan this summer

Now that's funny right there lol. It's funny because it's true

I've read this before and I want to say 12.

I get that. His body language on the court shows he has a negative outlook, his lack of hustle getting back up court on plays is just lazy, and his awareness on defense is pure bewilderment. But every team needs some bugs, even if it's just to occupy space. We do not have the back court to rely on pure shooting and transition offense

I could agree with that for the most part, but here is my thing. If we can't pull in another big, Jaleel won't go anywhere. Guerrero and Luis Santos is not enough up front. If we keep Perry then maybe we can make it work but we oils still be thin inside

We started ice cold, they lost what little confidence they had and stayed stagnant the rest of the game. Then we lost the paint and disappeared from the game. Anyone care to talk analysis with me? Keep me from crying in the shower

I'm dying inside....we lost the paint and stopped our slight scoring. I'm at a lost for words

Cmon, this is a positive zone, bring positive vibes and objective data to play.

He might have gotten in his own head on that one. Focus is lacking Definitely. Proof is the quick FT motion and the miss. In his own mind we've already lost, so the game don't matter? Potentially. Just me trying to be overwhelmingly positive, he's been getting more time on the court. I think his nerves about playing time and already next season: he knows he has to show up to play, making him anxious each possession

He might have gotten in his own head on that one. Focus is lacking

Our only 3-point threat now? Currently our only threat...now

And then Holston turns the ball over.....