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MGoPodcast 12.12: Eyeblinders and Earmuffs Comment Count

Seth December 7th, 2020 at 8:07 AM

1 hour and 35 minutes

The Sponsors

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1. UCF Recap

starts at 1:00

We liked 65% to 85% of that game, depending on whether we were bothered by Kenpom time. Being bothered by Dickinson's minutes at the beginning isn't original anymore. Being bothered at block/charge calls on the other hand.

[The rest of the writeup and the player after The Jump]

2. Harbaugh Extension?

starts at 23:18

The news so we discuss its likelihood, what it means for Harbaugh and the staff, and then try to talk ourselves into it when we're really more of the opinion that we'll just have to do it again soon..

3. Hot Takes, Women's Hoops, and Hockey

starts at 41:52

Muppets-worthy win over Notre Dame for the women's hoops team, which has more than Naz as the two Browns, one homegrown the other stolen from Nebraska's bench, have created one of the best forward groups in the country. Amy Dilk is coming on now too with a lot fewer turnovers. Hockey, well, it was and it wasn't. They are young, and getting pillaged for the next series.

4. Around the Big Ten wsg Jamie Mac

starts at 1:04:15

Indiana football. Frames punts on 4th and 1 and it goes 20 yards. Possible play-in opponents.

MUSIC:

  • “Running"—Baby Huey
  • “The Good Times Are Killing Me”—Modest Mouse
  • “I Don't Know”—Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
  • “Across 110th Street”
THE USUAL LINKS:

 

Really enjoying watching some sports that I get some enjoyment out of. It's good stuff!

 

Comments

spiff

December 7th, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^

Re: Dickison's minutes - one advantage of brining him off the bench is that he can then play the remainder of the half without sitting back down. So his total minutes in the half are probably what they'd be if he started, sat, then came back on. Plus you get the benefit of that bench unit really providing a spark if needed. 

My guess is Juwan was anticipating having the current starting unit get off to a better start, then have a potent bench unit come in. If they continue struggle out of the gate, he may be forced to switch.

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing him start either.

Joined: 05/18/2009

MGoPoints: 1723

tragictones

December 7th, 2020 at 10:33 AM ^

I know the Cook troop gets off on mocking Franklin's coaching decisions, but the write up here is dumb.  First, they try to make the punting decision look worse by lying about how far it went (It was a 31 yard punt, but for some reason they try to claim it was 20 yards.) Plus, there's nothing wrong punting at fourth and 1 from your own 34 yard line (they leave out the field position, again trying to mock).  That's not a controversial decision at all.  Cheap take trying to get laughs.

Joined: 07/23/2010

MGoPoints: 1232

bronxblue

December 7th, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^

Yeah, I looked it up as well and thought them ragging on Franklin there was unfounded.  I still think Franklin is a bit of a putz as an in-game coach but punting on 4th-and-1 from your own 34-yard line (and it going 31 yards) is pretty defensible.  Plus, he went for it twice on 4th down in reasonable situations, including on 4th-and-13 on the Rutgers 31 to start the game.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171779

ca_prophet

December 7th, 2020 at 5:49 PM ^

These decisions get hammered out of proportion to their fraction of the overall coaching job.  Like it or not, James Franklin has had success despite any in-game-tactical-issues, because he recruits well, gets quality assistants and generally puts his players/coaches in position to succeed by playing to their strengths; those things are far more important than missing out on a few percentage points every 4 games.

 

 

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7089

Teeba

December 7th, 2020 at 10:33 AM ^

Juwan played and coached in the NBA for a quarter century, and his assistant coach is around 170 years old, so as much fun as it is to second guess the coaches, I'm going to trust them that they know what they're doing in regards to Davis and Dickinson and Chaundee and Eli.

Joined: 09/25/2019

MGoPoints: 3282

bronxblue

December 7th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^

Yeah, this constant grousing about minutes seems asinine to me.  He likely realizes that it's going to be a compressed, tough season and so keeping guys healthy, engaged, and not overwhelmed with minutes will pay off in the long run.  Freshmen, even talented ones like Dickinson, struggle with extended college minutes as the season progresses, and so it makes total sense that Howard would want to spread out those minutes to guys like Davis and Johns as well, plus the lineup flexibility those guys give him shouldn't be ignored.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171779