By Brian Delaney
Ithaca Journal
December 5, 2009
ITHACA -- Following Thursday's practice, the Cornell men's basketball team gathered in the film room on the second floor of Newman Arena to watch Steve Donahue's version of a horror show.
Wednesday night's 104-98 overtime victory at Bucknell came with plenty of positives for the Big Red, not the least of which was sweeping a grueling four-game set in six days. But clips from that game and the two previous ones, targeting defense, served as a stark reminder of how much improvement remains ahead.
"I just think we got very casual at the defensive end," Donahue said. "Our communication is poor; our ball pressure has been poor; our ball screen defense has been poor; and I think it showed (Wednesday). (Bucknell) did a terrific job and they exposed us and drove the ball right down our throats."
Drexel shot 68 percent in the second half of Sunday's game in Philadelphia, and Bucknell scored at clips of 50 and 55 percent on Wednesday. Those percentages marked the first time in two seasons that Cornell has allowed 50 percent shooting or better in three straight halves of basketball.
Ironically, Bucknell was involved in the last sequence in December 2007, when the Bison shot 55 percent from the field in an 88-73 win at Sojka Pavilion.
"A lot of the difference is we've been playing teams that are more athletic and not really running their offense," Cornell guard Louis Dale said. "Kind of one-on-one and (we're) guarding guys with more space and I think this time, (Bucknell) was really bent on running their offense and getting the best shot they could. And they screened a lot, and I think that's where we had the most trouble."
Sunday's opponent, Saint Joseph's (3-3), is a blend of athleticism and smart offensive sets. The Hawks have lost three straight, but beat Cornell 71-67 last year at the Palestra. The catalyst in that win, 6-foot-9 forward Ahmad Nivins (26 points, 16 rebounds), is now playing professionally in Spain.
Senior guard Darrin Govens (12.5) and jack-of-all-trades small forward Garrett Williamson (11.5 ppg) lead the Hawks in scoring. Game time is 2 p.m. at Newman Arena, Cornell's final game before a two-week layoff for finals.
Phil Martelli is in his 15th season at the helm of a program with a storied tradition in Philadelphia, but one that was picked to finish in the bottom layer of the Atlantic 10 this year.
"You can see they are solid defensively," Donahue said. "Low field goal percentage defense; they don't turn the ball over that much. I think (Martelli's) got to figure out a way that they're going to be successful. Are they going to push the ball? Are they going to play solid man-to-man? I think that still needs to be figured out, but you can see he's a good coach. They have a good plan. They don't shoot themselves in the foot, they play hard and they share the ball."
After Wednesday's 28-point, 18-rebound performance, Jeff Foote is now nearly averaging a double-double at 14.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Coupled with his 15-point showing against Drexel, which came over 20 foul-plagued minutes, Foote has responded to Donahue's demands that he be more assertive offensively.
Bucknell chose not to double-team, or even send partial help to, the 7-footer. The tradeoff was Cornell (6-2) attempted only ten 3-pointers. It made six.
"Coach D kind of got on me during the week in practice as far as being too passive and looking for my teammates and not being selfish enough," Foote said. "I did all that work over the summer, so I took it to heart and it worked for me."
Like his teammates, Foote can be better defensively. There were several occasions Wednesday when he was a step slow in rotating toward a penetrating guard, defending Bucknell's big men on the perimeter or altering a shot.
Cornell has three days to amend its defensive struggles, an eternity considering its recent schedule. After Sunday, the Big Red doesn't play until a Dec. 20 game against Davidson at Madison Square Garden.
"We've played halves of pretty good defense," Donahue said, referring to games against Toledo, Vermont and Drexel. "It's just apparent to me (Wednesday night) that we don't have that mentality right now that we're going to need for us to be a really good team."
Coach: Phil Martelli (15th season)
Record: 3-3
Last time out: The Hawks lost to Rider, 81-73, on Nov. 30.
Probable starters: Idris Hilliard (6-foot-7, 220 pounds, Junior, F), Todd O'Brien (6-11, 248, Soph., F/C), Chris Prescott (6-2, 188, Soph., G), Garrett Williamson (6-5, 200, Sr., G), Darrin Govens (6-1, 187, Sr., G).
Key reserves: Bryant Irwin (6-7, 218, Soph., F), Carl Jones (5-11, 146, Fr., G), Justin Crosgile (5-11, 179, Fr., G), Charoy Bentley (5-11, 181, Jr., G).
Statistically: Through six games, St. Joe's is getting outrebounded by a margin of 8.2 boards per game. Rider owned a 44-32 edge on the glass. ... Crosgile made his college debut Monday with 12 points, after missing the first five games with a hand injury. ... O'Brien is a Bucknell transfer. ... Hilliard had 14 points and 10 rebounds against Cornell last year, a 71-67 Hawks win at the Palestra. ... Jones had 16 big points in St. Joe's best win this year, an 84-80 decision over Boston College.
Outlook: Last season, the trio of Hilliard, Ahmad Nivins and Tasheed Carr combined for 55 of St. Joe's 71 points. Nivins and Carr have now graduated, while Cornell returns nearly its full complement of players. At the end of that game, Martelli jokingly questioned something to the effect of, 'What idiot would schedule a game up there next year?" in referencing Cornell's returning contingent.
No matter the season, an Atlantic 10 team is always capable of beating an Ivy, and it was only five years ago that St. Joe's reached the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament behind Jameer Nelson and Delonte West. Martelli's talent may have dipped since, but they've already beaten Patriot League favorite Holy Cross and ACC-member Boston College.
The Hawks will be well-coached and far from intimidated by a tough road venue -- they turn around and play No. 3 Villanova on Wednesday night at the Palestra.
Cornell must play better defense, especially containing penetration and stepping out on shooters. There are no "bad" matchups for the Big Red in this game, although Hilliard killed them last year. Play up to its capability, however, and Cornell should enter finals break with a 7-2 record.
Record: 3-3
Last time out: The Hawks lost to Rider, 81-73, on Nov. 30.
Probable starters: Idris Hilliard (6-foot-7, 220 pounds, Junior, F), Todd O'Brien (6-11, 248, Soph., F/C), Chris Prescott (6-2, 188, Soph., G), Garrett Williamson (6-5, 200, Sr., G), Darrin Govens (6-1, 187, Sr., G).
Key reserves: Bryant Irwin (6-7, 218, Soph., F), Carl Jones (5-11, 146, Fr., G), Justin Crosgile (5-11, 179, Fr., G), Charoy Bentley (5-11, 181, Jr., G).
Statistically: Through six games, St. Joe's is getting outrebounded by a margin of 8.2 boards per game. Rider owned a 44-32 edge on the glass. ... Crosgile made his college debut Monday with 12 points, after missing the first five games with a hand injury. ... O'Brien is a Bucknell transfer. ... Hilliard had 14 points and 10 rebounds against Cornell last year, a 71-67 Hawks win at the Palestra. ... Jones had 16 big points in St. Joe's best win this year, an 84-80 decision over Boston College.
Outlook: Last season, the trio of Hilliard, Ahmad Nivins and Tasheed Carr combined for 55 of St. Joe's 71 points. Nivins and Carr have now graduated, while Cornell returns nearly its full complement of players. At the end of that game, Martelli jokingly questioned something to the effect of, 'What idiot would schedule a game up there next year?" in referencing Cornell's returning contingent.
No matter the season, an Atlantic 10 team is always capable of beating an Ivy, and it was only five years ago that St. Joe's reached the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament behind Jameer Nelson and Delonte West. Martelli's talent may have dipped since, but they've already beaten Patriot League favorite Holy Cross and ACC-member Boston College.
The Hawks will be well-coached and far from intimidated by a tough road venue -- they turn around and play No. 3 Villanova on Wednesday night at the Palestra.
Cornell must play better defense, especially containing penetration and stepping out on shooters. There are no "bad" matchups for the Big Red in this game, although Hilliard killed them last year. Play up to its capability, however, and Cornell should enter finals break with a 7-2 record.
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