Nobody expected the Tribe to beat Louisville or Duke (though they played both tough, particularly the latter). A rising Rhode Island squad was a tough road beat, too. But dropping consecutive contests to Central Michigan and Hampton, even if both were away from the Kap, rankles at the same time as it instructs. This team is, as the saying goes, what its record says it is.
That record says that it's 6-5 after a convincing 65-54 road win at Old Dominion last night. The victory in Norfolk was W&M's first away win of the season. They still haven't lost at home. Daniel Dixon scored a career-best 36 points, while no other Wren tallied more than 6. It was a weird game from a weird team.
(Historical side note: Dixon's 36 set a new record for points scored by a player at ODU's Ted Constant Center. Scott Smith, a good but not great center from my time in Williamsburg, still owns the EagleBank Arena, nee Patriot Center, scoring record. He dropped 39 on George Mason in their building in 1990.)I do believe that'll be this year's story. Tony Shaver's got a weird group. They're capable of scoring in bunches, averaging 81.0 points per game. And they'll give up a whole lot, as well (opponents are getting 72.1 ppg against the Tribe). More oddly, though, is the manner in which they're accruing their offense. In their first five games, five different players led the team in scoring. All told, through 11 contests, seven different guys have topped the team in points. Eight different dudes have led in rebounding, now that we're looking for oddities.
On the one hand, that bespeaks balance. After Dixon's 14.2 ppg, and fellow senior Omar Prewitt's 13.8, there are six guys averaging between 5.8 and 10.8 points per contest. Eight players average 2.8 or more boards, led by Jack Whitman's 6.0 per game. Any given night, a lot of Tribesman are capable of stepping up.
That balance also papers over some inconsistency, though. Despite their team-leading scoring output, both Dixon and Prewitt have inexplicable lapses in performance. Each senior has had a game this season where he scored zero points. Prewitt's scored five or fewer three times. Prewitt sat out a big part of the game against Milligan because he'd violated team rules. Senior leadership that's inconsistent could be a giant red flag.
We thought last year's team was going to the NCAA Tournament, and in Terry Tarpey and Sean Sheldon, it had terrific and visible leadership. This year's team probably isn't, and doesn't (at least not in the same way). But lightning finds its way into bottles.
And we've definitively proven that we know fuck all, so let's roll the balls out and see what happens. CAA play starts tomorrow at Northeastern. Let's go Wrens.
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43 comments:
Squeaker, very sorry for you, my friend. Glad you are there for him.
Adding levity to the gravity, two GTB/FOGTBers each roofed Scott Smith in the championship intramural volleyball game back then. Neither have much in the way of ups these days, but that's what glory days silly self congratulations are all about.
I remember Scott Smith from going to see our family friend Todd Cauthorn hoop it up for the Tribe. Todd had a nice career as a professional baller in Sheffield, England. He has a couple of large teenagers who are pretty strong players. We'll see if either of them make their way across the pond to play for their pop's alma mater.
On another note, I had a lovely breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Marls this morning in the Star City. Marls did real well there.
zdaughter dropped her first f bomb today. She turns three in April.
Congrats Z. You must be proud!
That sounds about right. It's even better when they do it in front of relatives.
I posted in this in the comments of the last post before I realized I new post was up:
Saw The Roots last night. 7 or 8th time but first in about 6 years. Two hours of great music with two cool George Michael and Prince tributes included. Good times.
Throwing the wife a surprise birthday party tonight. Planning the party hasn't been that bad. Dealing with all her friends who have to have every last bit of info about said party has been far less easy. Just show up to the party at the appointed time.
(I've gotten text messages from two of her friends making sure I know what I'm doing since I originally posted at 2:30.)
how is phil forte still in college? he's got to be dave's age.
I'm pretty sure Ryker Fyfe was the name of a character played by Sylvester Stallone or Nicholas Cage in a Bay or Bruckheimer movie.
The surprise party came off without a hitch (I know all of you were very concerned). I left the wife to party with friends while I've taken the youngest child home. It allows me to be anti social while also looking like a great husband/Dad who's staying home with the kid. In reality, I don't want to go out but am okay with a few couch bourbons.
I was mostly made of plastic
Two Phish shows in three nights, and no major party fouls. Those guys are still on their game. Tons of old school stuff tonight.
Random moment of the night - I'm 99.69% sure I saw Chris Broussard on my train to NYC tonight. I couldn't help but double-take. He seemed unenthused by my recognition.
the missus and i were overserved at the rock show last night. fitting that i'll spend the last day of this shit year feeling like ass.
good start for the tribe in boston
I'll take Washington and Clemson with the points today. Also, I'm very thankful that this is the last time ill have to juggle NYE/Wife's birthday/CFB playoffs. Not scheduling these games for New Year's Day from the start was hubris at its finest.
I would normally agree w/ Mark, but the wife and I have zero planned for tonight, and I am eagerly awaiting two games, and then bed at 11 PM. Tacos and a six-pack for dad.
If my wife's birthday wasn't NYE that would probably how NYE would work for us at this point too. But it is so her friends usually are around and I have to participate because, you know, it's her birthday.
Mini summit with Rootsy in Roanoke was good stuff. He was quick to identify Mrs. Marls' superiority to me in all meaningful ways. (Other than total back hair she out kicks me in all ways).
Roanoke is a good town. We should do a summit there some time soon especially given the close access to the Harvester Performance Center and the acts they get.
Chico McClatcher is a fantastic name.
Washington is not afraid of Alabama. This game is physical.
The forearm shiver on the pick-6 was impressive.
Way to jinx it...
I've been outspoken about how average Bama's offense is. That and Washington's defense is why I thought this game would be close. Don't know if the UW offense can do enough to win this though.
As I'm typing that, Bama pick six. The amount they score on D is ludicrous.
Happy to be the mush, TR.
a man saban's age shouldn't get that angry. can't be good for his health.
I understand his frustration. Only team stopping Bama in the 2nd half is Bama.
i'll be spending my new years eve nursing a couple of beers and going to bed by 11. this hangover is no joke.
I remain thoroughly unimpressed by Bama's offense.
alabama's playing like dogshit right now. kinda like they know they're so much better than washington that they don't need to put forth much effort. that tends to bite a team in the ass.
I'm jealous of all of you staying home tonight. I'm only going to a house party but even that is more than I'm interested in.
that'll do
The light seems to have come on for Bo Scarborough late this season. A frightening thought for Bama opponents in 2017.
I typed that the play before Scarborough's TD run. Impressive.
Made chili for tomorrow. Then tenderloin and lobster Mac n cheese for this eve. Day drank while doing so. Will be in bed by 10 at latest.
Maybe it will take some time but am not digging the new Most Interesting Man in the World. The lines suck worse.
Oh, you mean Old Slightly Hispanic Michael Phelps? Yeah, I don't dig him either.
Malik Hooker is good at football, has a tremendous name and wears XXXL gloves. Quite the combination.
i'll one-up everyone on the going to bed early thing . . . after a long day or snowboarding and sledding, we are done with a 30 rock marathon and getting ready for bed now. bill bryson will put me to sleep by 9:30.
After buying the wife an iPhone 7 for Xmas, I am proving unworthy of making the phone switch at home. Unable to open SIM tray on new phone. So wife now has text, but no phone, on new phone. Merry Xmas to her. My last big fail of '16.
Are Clarence and I, the only ones staying up late tonight? (Past 11)
I am awake but likely will go to bed soon. Watching the odometer flip isn't worth as much on the margin as an extra 30 minutes of sleep.
I'm up. Peppa looks AMAZING.
Lionel bitches.
Was supposed to be in bed but.
KQ and I up with kids and just enjoyed the Snoop/Young MC/Tone Loc/Naughty by Nature mashup. Like the former Oklahoma Qb, I M Hipp.
Oklahoma - Nebraska, QB - RB, you say tomato, let's call the whole thing off.
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