Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

[defkit]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

I just watched the Parker interview. Very interesting. I do like how candid he is.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that he isn't going to seek a new contract for the 2016 season. End date!

His take on "today's" players will make a good off-season discussion. (You know, Sunday night. )

BU Hockey: Truth

You read my mind, Bomber, just haven't had time to post since watching the video. So here goes (sorry, if I wait until the end of the season, I won't recall it well enough):

After hearing all he has to say about players, I feel even more strongly that he is simply too old to be able to relate to college players today. He really seems to have a chip on his shoulder for how they behave, what they expect, etc. I'm not saying his feelings are unwarranted, but they just don't go hand in hand with getting 20+ kids between then ages of 18 and 23 to play a long season as a unit and to commit fully to the team. The comment about how his daughter raises her kids...he clearly isn't saying it to mean that he thinks she is doing a bad job, but that the world has changed, and he is struggling to realate (heck, I am struggling to relate to it too...what is the deal with all this ridiculous profanity in songs and song titles these days???)

I also wonder if he's been reading the board, given his comment at the end about some fans perhaps not wanting him to coach anymore.

This was a great interview. Despite my current desire for a replacement, I have always wanted the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with him and get truthful answers to intriguing questions. The fact that he was willing to name players was great. And by and large, I thought he did a good job. Although I'm not sure having Bob Brown in the ice for the last face-off when you are up by a goal was what he really meant. I was wondering if Pandolfo or Bavis might have made that list, given their defensive play. But he named Drury which is always a good call.

 

[BigRedTerrier]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

After hearing all he has to say about players, I feel even more strongly that he is simply too old to be able to relate to college players today. He really seems to have a chip on his shoulder for how they behave, what they expect, etc. I'm not saying his feelings are unwarranted, but they just don't go hand in hand with getting 20+ kids between then ages of 18 and 23 to play a long season as a unit and to commit fully to the team. The comment about how his daughter raises her kids...he clearly isn't saying it to mean that he thinks she is doing a bad job, but that the world has changed, and he is struggling to realate (heck, I am struggling to relate to it too...what is the deal with all this ridiculous profanity in songs and song titles these days???)

After watching the short version I sort of agreed with this, but thought maybe it was just my perscpective clouding my interpretation of what he said.

But I just watched the long version and I'm shocked that he was so frank! Particularly when it was pointed out that he went back in time to pick the 6 players he'd want on the ice to finish a NC game up by one....heck, he essentially says kids today don't know how to play hockey.

If I'm a recruit, do I want to play for a guy who prejudges me like this? It's one thing coming in with a clean slate and earning respect...it's another when your disrespected and need to work hard just to get to the clean slate.

Loved the interview though...and was just shocked that he came out and said what I thought he was thinking, elaborating on comments he made in interviews before the 09 season and leaving no doubt.

Am I over-reacting? Reading too much into this? I'm sure recruits look at many things when deciding on a program...but hearing stuff like this from your prospective head coach certainly can't help...can it?

P.S. Maybe this is best left for the after season...couldn't help myself though when others brought it up

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

After hearing all he has to say about players, I feel even more strongly that he is simply too old to be able to relate to college players today. He really seems to have a chip on his shoulder for how they behave, what they expect, etc. I'm not saying his feelings are unwarranted, but they just don't go hand in hand with getting 20+ kids between then ages of 18 and 23 to play a long season as a unit and to commit fully to the team. The comment about how his daughter raises her kids...he clearly isn't saying it to mean that he thinks she is doing a bad job, but that the world has changed, and he is struggling to realate (heck, I am struggling to relate to it too...what is the deal with all this ridiculous profanity in songs and song titles these days???)

It's funny... I guess its all in ones perspective, but I took is comments about players today as showing he is very aware that kids are different today and knows (and has) a different approach than he did 10, 15, 20 years ago. To me it discredited the theory I've heard on here many times that he can't relate to the kids of today. I didn't get that he is struggling to relate at all.

 

[defkit]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

It's funny... I guess its all in ones perspective, but I took is comments about players today as showing he is very aware that kids are different today and knows (and has) a different approach than he did 10, 15, 20 years ago. To me it discredited the theory I've heard on here many times that he can't relate to the kids of today. I didn't get that he is struggling to relate at all.

I agree that he recognizes the change, and that he is changing his ways to adjust. Unfortuantely, I don't think he has been successful in doing so, whereas I think York has been tremendously successful in doing so. Perhaps the difference is a result of their distinctly different coaching styles. In other words, do the kids of today just need more love?

 

[pirate]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

It's funny... I guess its all in ones perspective, but I took is comments about players today as showing he is very aware that kids are different today and knows (and has) a different approach than he did 10, 15, 20 years ago. To me it discredited the theory I've heard on here many times that he can't relate to the kids of today. I didn't get that he is struggling to relate at all.

I think this is where assistants have to play a big role...it's like having guys at Penn State explain to JoePa that the big lights come on via electricity or they don't have to leave 4 days early to take the bus to Wisconsin and that the goal posts are supposed to be in the back of the endzone...Parker just needs some guys that can translate for him so the kids don't really think the game is played on a pond with skates lashed to your boots.;-)

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

hmmmm. if the boys lose tomorrow that may make nu a TUC, and our .400 record vs them will increase our overall TUC and maybe make us an at-large pick!!!!

alllllllllrighty!!!!!!!!

 

[BigRedTerrier]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

BU not playing a full 60 mins?! Well that's out of character...

 

[slurpees]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

BU not playing a full 60 mins?! Well that's out of character...

I'm not sure they played a full 5 minutes. Looked very, very young and inexperienced.

 

[defkit]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

First team to finish 4th in the beanpot in 30 years.

If we don't win two in a row, this will be the first team since 2001 not to get to the HE semis.

 

[BigRedTerrier]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

I'm sure the long-time fans will have examples, but in my 12 years of regularly attending games I've never seen a team get this much worse over the course of a season. Obv they weren't a number 1 team earlier on...but I at least felt like they were just a young team working out the kinks. Now it feels like every week another wheel falls off the bus. Tonight it was Milan, although it's not like the defense helped him...esp of that 4th goal jeeze.

I don't think we have any wheels left at this point...hope to be proven wrong though

 

[chickod]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

First team to finish 4th in the beanpot in 30 years.

If we don't win two in a row, this will be the first team since 2001 not to get to the HE semis.

Although some will say they don't believe in the "law of averages," it had to happen sometime, and what evidence was there to really expect it to NOT happen with this team? This may sound ridiculous, but it's almost as if that comeback in the championship game is working against them. They seem to think they can just "turn it on" whenever they have to, and it's been this way for the last two seasons (since they won it all). If I hear Bernie say one more time that we have to "match their intensity" I think I'll scream. Why can't they play with a sense of urgency BEFORE it's too late? Sorry, but blaming the coach for this just doesn't cut it. If the players don't have any pride, then either they're not as good as everyone thought, or they just don't have the right attitude. It shouldn't take external motivation in this situation...

 

[joen05]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

I'm sure the long-time fans will have examples, but in my 12 years of regularly attending games I've never seen a team get this much worse over the course of a season. Obv they weren't a number 1 team earlier on...but I at least felt like they were just a young team working out the kinks. Now it feels like every week another wheel falls off the bus. Tonight it was Milan, although it's not like the defense helped him...esp of that 4th goal jeeze.

I don't think we have any wheels left at this point...hope to be proven wrong though

I noticed this as well. It just doesn't seem like these guys have gelled very well. Perhaps its all the line shuffling that's been done this year, but I've never seen so many passes that went to nobody before. Just really lazy, uncaring play.

Millan has done decently this season given the defense in front of him, but has anyone else noticed that his play seems to be more defending himself than defending the net behind him? His body language keeps suggesting that he's getting rattled after each goal, and is taking too long to re-compose himself. He's also ducking a lot...

 

[slurpees]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

I noticed this as well. It just doesn't seem like these guys have gelled very well. Perhaps its all the line shuffling that's been done this year, but I've never seen so many passes that went to nobody before. Just really lazy, uncaring play.

One thing that's been characteristic of this team all season is they are just plain BAD at passing. It's not even really lazy passes, it's just the wrong ones, or very poorly executed ones that are behind a guy, in between his feet, too far ahead of him. It slows down the flow in the zone on a PP when a guy has to take a couple of seconds to contain the pass, allowing the defense to shift and re-set, and it also leads to a lot of bad neutral zone play including missed connections, overshots that lead to icing, or turnovers.

 

[BU Fan 84]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

I noticed this as well. It just doesn't seem like these guys have gelled very well. Perhaps its all the line shuffling that's been done this year, but I've never seen so many passes that went to nobody before. Just really lazy, uncaring play.

Millan has done decently this season given the defense in front of him, but has anyone else noticed that his play seems to be more defending himself than defending the net behind him? His body language keeps suggesting that he's getting rattled after each goal, and is taking too long to re-compose himself. He's also ducking a lot...

One thing that's been characteristic of this team all season is they are just plain BAD at passing. It's not even really lazy passes, it's just the wrong ones, or very poorly executed ones that are behind a guy, in between his feet, too far ahead of him. It slows down the flow in the zone on a PP when a guy has to take a couple of seconds to contain the pass, allowing the defense to shift and re-set, and it also leads to a lot of bad neutral zone play including missed connections, overshots that lead to icing, or turnovers.

I don't think passing is the problem. I think it's a symptom of the problem, which is either a very poor offensive gameplan or a very poor installation and coaching of an offensive gameplan. It just blows my mind how nonexistant any type of plan there is out there and where it really shows is the power play. This game tonight, for example, was not lost tonight. It was lost in October and November. There has been no improvement, and honestly looks so bad that I wonder if there's been any attempt to improve the overall gameplan. I think the best hockey we played was the first weekend of the season, and I remember the captains talking about the offensive strategy this year was to just go hard to the net and get garbage goals. They did it that weekend and had some decent results. Since then, they've totally gotten away from that. This team should be attacking, attacking, attacking. Not a whole lot of snipers on this team, and with Warsofsky sucking hard, we aren't getting much movement from the blueline. Instead of attacking, we get guys getting the puck and curling away from the net rather than going hard. If that's not the case, we see cycling, cycling and some more cycling and when the puck gets to the front of the net, we have two or three guys sitting behind the goal line rather than in a position to knock it in on the other side of the net. I think we got one goal tonight from a scrum in front of the net and most teams are going to get one like that a night, but we don't have a gameplan for any other type of goal, so we need a lot more than one per game in this manner. Especially with a guy like Rawlings in net - he's too big to use movement out in front to get him out of position to score on a shot because his size allows him to block more of the net; we need to get him knocked around, prone for a save and push the puck in.

As for Millan's body language, all I can say is I agree. I've said it before, it doesn't look good. Whether it just makes him look bad from a spectator's perspective, he actually gets down on himself and his team and it affects his play, or it gives inspiration to the opposing team that he might be mentally off his game and get some pucks on the net, it's not good and seems immature.

 

[quiddlet]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

Does anybody actually think this team will bounce back tomorrow?

It seems more likely based on how they've handled adversity this year they roll over 10-0.

 

[DaveStPaul]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

I went to all the trouble to look at the other teams near our position, and to figure out who to root for in the other leagues -- Harvard over Dartmouth; Wisconsin over CC; Ferris State over Western Mich; even the Mack over Maine -- and this game was just desserts. Serves me right for looking elsewhere. Should've taken the reverse route: Hey Northeastern -- congrats on advancing! They shouldn't even play the next game! I'm looking forward to golfing a little early!

 

[Jacques Joubert]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

BU looked really, really bad at times, especially on the PP. That said, I'm left wondering why NU is a 0.500 team. They can score, skate, pass, goal tend, and came right at BU. I just think they're a better team right now. Their PP was crisp and well run. BU's was sloppy, slow, and telegraphed. Almost gave up a couple of shorties and did give up a virtual one at the end of a PP. Wouldn't be surprised to see this NU reach the finals against BC. Would be an exciting rematch anyway.

Cue the discussion about how Cronin gets his team ready and Jack doesn't...I guess we won't have to worry about Sunday night...

 

[pirate]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

Might have been one of the worst all-around efforts I've witnessed. Parker sure isn't a game day coach anymore. They would have needed to pick it up a few notches to just be flat.

I started to think having #5 back wasn't helping at all, the shake up at D with Noonan out and Clendening moving over looked to disrupt a lot. The first NU goal, did we have anyone on that side of the ice?

Millan looked like he looked in 2009 in the NCAA's. Every weak toss at the net had a 50/50 chance of going in. It's like he needs glasses, every shot from more than 20 feet away looks like it is invisible the first 75% and only shows up a few feet away from him.

Agree on the passing, how many times did a puck leave our offensive zone after we had the last touch? Several times we came within a foot of giving up a 1 on none with a lazy pass across ice.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

Does anybody actually think this team will bounce back tomorrow?

Two straight Terrier W's are coming up. Tell me I'm sandbagging all you want but I predicted this before last night. Parker will have a trick up his sleeve here. He can't suspend or kick anyone off the team to wake the team up because it is the last game of the season if they lose and he can't afford to try that tactic. BUT... he'll do something like when he moved them out of their own locker room and made them use a visitor's or other locker room. Anyone remember what year that was?

Wouldn't be surprised to see this NU reach the finals against BC. Would be an exciting rematch anyway.

Unless UNH chokes it to UVM (possible but I'm not expecting that), then NU and BC would meet in the semis and not the finals. And truthfully, I don't know if there is another team I'd rather avoid now than NU aside from North Dagoata.

Relax folks... Jack has things under control. He'll make the Garden but at that point I'd say expect a loss.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?

Dunno nick.... My gut tells me to stick a fork in 'em.