Just out......#25 in basketball

[Jordan 04]

In the spirit of noting all Cornell shout-outs, Jay Bilas referenced Cornell, unprompted, during an interview on Tony Kornheiser's show yesterday. During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

[Al DeFlorio]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

[Josh '99]

In the spirit of noting all Cornell shout-outs, Jay Bilas referenced Cornell, unprompted, during an interview on Tony Kornheiser's show yesterday.

Presumably Kornheiser just hadn't mentioned Cornell yet, because it seems safe to assume he would have eventually.  B-]

[Trotsky]

Presumably Kornheiser just hadn't mentioned Cornell yet, because it seems safe to assume he would have eventually.  B-]

Today he was too busy lecturing gays on how to react to their victory in DC.

The best thing about Tony is the constant reminder not to go back to Long Island.

[Jordan 04]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

[Al DeFlorio]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

I was speaking of last weekend's game at Newman against Penn, not the loss at the Palestra.

[ugarte]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

I was speaking of last weekend's game at Newman against Penn, not the loss at the Palestra.

I don't sweat the individual performances or strategic quirks when we win by 20.

[Jordan 04]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

I was speaking of last weekend's game at Newman against Penn, not the loss at the Palestra.

They shot 43% from 3-point range at home against Penn. Those aren't the nights I want them dumping it into Foote on a regular basis. Also, I didn't watch the game, but perhaps Foote took fewer shots because the defense collapsed on him leaving shooters open at the 3-point line?

[Al DeFlorio]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

I was speaking of last weekend's game at Newman against Penn, not the loss at the Palestra.

I don't sweat the individual performances or strategic quirks when we win by 20.

If Bilas is right about "front court size" and needing to "score and defend and get fouled in the paint" in order to "win in the tournament"--and I believe he is--then Cornell had better work the ball inside as they did against teams like Syracuse, Kansas, Alabama, Davidson, and St. John's. My point is there's no advantage to having a 7-footer who can "score and get fouled in the paint" if the offense doesn't get the ball to him there.  I don't see that as a "strategic quirk," I see it as a strategic necessity in order to have a chance to win an NCAA game.  If Foote can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Kansas's Cole Aldrich and win the MVP at the Holiday Festival, it just puzzles me when we go long stretches and sometimes entire games not taking advantage of his size and ability in the paint.

[phillysportsfan]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

I was speaking of last weekend's game at Newman against Penn, not the loss at the Palestra.

I don't sweat the individual performances or strategic quirks when we win by 20.

If Bilas is right about "front court size" and needing to "score and defend and get fouled in the paint" in order to "win in the tournament"--and I believe he is--then Cornell had better work the ball inside as they did against teams like Syracuse, Kansas, Alabama, Davidson, and St. John's. My point is there's no advantage to having a 7-footer who can "score and get fouled in the paint" if the offense doesn't get the ball to him there.  I don't see that as a "strategic quirk," I see it as a strategic necessity in order to have a chance to win an NCAA game.  If Foote can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Kansas's Cole Aldrich and win the MVP at the Holiday Festival, it just puzzles me when we go long stretches and sometimes entire games not taking advantage of his size and ability in the paint.

I agree, it is weird how Foote disappears in some games when Dale, Wrobo do not try to get the ball inside to him. But I guess when they are making the 3's you just keep shooting until they go cold. But I do not think strategy will prevent them from winning a first round game, Donahue will have ready. I know this is irrelevant but ESPN still has us as a 12 seed, but now playing Georgetown instead of Temple, that would be a bad matchup with Georgetown's athleticism

[ugarte]

During a discussion on what it takes to win in the tournament, Bilas talked about front court size and called out Cornell and their "7 footer" who can score and defend and get fouled in the paint.  He said he believed that gives Cornell as much of a chance to win a first round game as a higher-ranked, but undersized, team like Butler.

It does if Cornell tries to get the ball to Foote.  Against Penn he took two shots from the field and had one free-throw attempt.  That's called wasting a 7-footer on offense.

True, but the next night @ Princeton he became a key focus late in the game, as mandated by Princeton's defense on the perimeter. Hopefully those games were a learning experience.

I was speaking of last weekend's game at Newman against Penn, not the loss at the Palestra.

I don't sweat the individual performances or strategic quirks when we win by 20.

If Bilas is right about "front court size" and needing to "score and defend and get fouled in the paint" in order to "win in the tournament"--and I believe he is--then Cornell had better work the ball inside as they did against teams like Syracuse, Kansas, Alabama, Davidson, and St. John's. My point is there's no advantage to having a 7-footer who can "score and get fouled in the paint" if the offense doesn't get the ball to him there.  I don't see that as a "strategic quirk," I see it as a strategic necessity in order to have a chance to win an NCAA game.  If Foote can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Kansas's Cole Aldrich and win the MVP at the Holiday Festival, it just puzzles me when we go long stretches and sometimes entire games not taking advantage of his size and ability in the paint.

I agree, it is weird how Foote disappears in some games when Dale, Wrobo do not try to get the ball inside to him. But I guess when they are making the 3's you just keep shooting until they go cold. But I do not think strategy will prevent them from winning a first round game, Donahue will have ready. I know this is irrelevant but ESPN still has us as a 12 seed, but now playing Georgetown instead of Temple, that would be a bad matchup with Georgetown's athleticism

I think I may have been misunderstood. I didn't mean that "not passing to Foote" is a strategic quirk. I meant "not passing to Foote when everything else is clicking, leading to a blowout" is a strategic quirk. It would be strange if Coach Donahue yelled to the team "stop doing that thing that is working and force the ball down to Foote!"

I agree that to beat the best teams Cornell will need Foote involved in the offense. I also think that how Cornell uses Foote against Penn is a bad barometer for how Cornell will utilize him against a better team.

[Trotsky]

I think I may have been misunderstood. I didn't mean that "not passing to Foote" is a strategic quirk. I meant "not passing to Foote when everything else is clicking, leading to a blowout" is a strategic quirk. It would be strange if Coach Donahue yelled to the team "stop doing that thing that is working and force the ball down to Foote!"

I agree that to beat the best teams Cornell will need Foote involved in the offense. I also think that how Cornell uses Foote against Penn is a bad barometer for how Cornell will utilize him against a better team.

Would you please stop elevating the level of this thread? ::cuss::

[Al DeFlorio]

I think I may have been misunderstood. I didn't mean that "not passing to Foote" is a strategic quirk. I meant "not passing to Foote when everything else is clicking, leading to a blowout" is a strategic quirk. It would be strange if Coach Donahue yelled to the team "stop doing that thing that is working and force the ball down to Foote!"

I agree that to beat the best teams Cornell will need Foote involved in the offense. I also think that how Cornell uses Foote against Penn is a bad barometer for how Cornell will utilize him against a better team.

I'm concerned with the trend that has Foote averaging five shots per game in the last six Ivy games, one of which was a loss and another two were three-point wins decided in the final minute.  None of those three, nor the game at Harvard, were "blowouts" where "everything else" was "clicking."  The Penn game that I cited (with two Foote field goal attempts) just happened to be the most recent of the six--and of the season.

I'd also point out that in the two NCAA games played by Wittman, Dale, Foote and company, Cornell has shot a combined 6 for 26 (23%) from behind the arc in the first half, and 30% overall.  That's not a formula for wining a tournament game.