Coming into Saturday’s game there was only one team left on paper that Longwood was supposed to beat…the Presbyterian Blue Hose. The 4-16 Blue Hose came into Farmville with only one Division I win and conference win, which was against Liberty. Presbyterian was also rated as the nation’s second worst team according to KenPom.com With the fans expecting a win, and hopefully a convincing one after Tuesday’s embarrassment, the Lancers were once again flat and out-coached for an 81-72 loss. It was the first road win in over 11 months for the Blue Hose.
For historical context, Presbyterian is very much toiling and mediocrity like Longwood. The school started a Division I schedule in 2007-08 and has gone 54-117 since then. The Blue Hose best year came last year when they went 14-15 overall and 8-10 in the conference. Presbyterian’s head coach is Gregg Nibbert, who the school gave a vote of confidence on in the DI transition and is in his 24th year at the helm. Nibbert has lead the Blue Hose to the NAIA tournament and then four appearances in the NCAA DII tournament. Beyond the success on the lower levels, Nibbert also took down Cincinnati on the road a year ago. With both team sporting similar records and setbacks the year, Nibbert and his team came into the game with a level of passion and intensity that was not close to being matched by Longwood.
Longwood should have had the Blue Hose well scouted as both teams played in the same Las Vegas tournament in November. The coaching staff were given an opportunity to watch PC lose to Cornell 89-55 and lose to Florida A&M 69-55. Longwood beat Florida A&M 86-63 in the same tournament and only lost to Cornell by 6 points.
The Lancers went into halftime yesterday down 39-36. Longwood struggled in the first five minutes of the second half and the Blue Hose lead grew to ten points. Longwood then went on a 9-0 run to bring the game within one with seven minutes left. Down the stretch Longwood faltered giving up a 15-4 and an 11 point lead with just over 1:30 left in the game. The frustration was apparent from many individuals on and off the court and the fans on both sides of Willett Hall seemed absolutely deflated. One of those individuals was assistant coach Doug Thibault. Usually a mild mannered coach who isn’t very vocal on the bench, Thibault emotionally yelled at the players and referees on two occasion. It is visibly apparent that frustration is boiling over in Farmville.
All five starters scored in double-figures for Longwood except Lucas Woodhouse, who had 9 assists. On the post game radio show there was an attempt to highlight Woodhouse’s passing as a positive to take away from the game, Mike Gillian responded by throwing Woodhouse under the bus and citing the game being too fast and his turnovers down the stretch as a reason for defeat. Woodhouse did turn the ball over 5 times, but only one turnover in the last five minutes turned into point for PC and that was after a timeout was called by Nibbert and LU had a chance to regroup. The other kicker was playing Woodhouse all forty minutes on Saturday, which is tough for any player, much less a point guard. Mark Parker had been averaging over 11 minutes per game in the last four games, but he was not given an opportunity to play. Instead, Gillian went with a 7-man rotation with Jeff Havenstein playing only nine minutes.
Longwood now ranks as the nation’s fourth worst team according to KenPom. Longwood is in the midst of an eleven game losing streak, which is the second worst in school history. The worst game in 2004-05 in Gillian’s second year at the helm. Three of the next four games for Longwood will come on the road, including their next game against 9-10 (4-3) High Point on Wednesday.
Its pretty bad when you can’t even fire the coach during the season because the assistants are too clueless to even run the team….Longwood Basketball is a flat out joke and an embarrassment to Alumni and former Lancer Athletes…Troy Austin needs to get his head out of his ass and let Gillian walk or he can go too….
I am tired of watching this team get completely out coached. The team runs better when the run the floor and not have to wait for coach to call some slow evolving play from the sidelines. I also have never seen a coach call more ill timed timeout than him. He loves to call them when HIS time is on a run or has mo. Watch the tapes. It is bizarre. I do believe the game has past him by. I do agree also that the assistants have no chance of running the team even if you put all 3 together. Coach has some job security with the AD, but even that has to run out at some take point. He needs to quit throwing kids under the bus when most of what we see every game is a reflection on him. Some young players are doing well in spite of it all Woodhouse, Kessens at times. Robinson and TT need to just take over the game at some point. They should average 15 + every game. The guys are getting the ball in go position. Time to hit those easy layups, 2 footers and open 3 ‘s . I really hope this week has better outcomes. I will be watching. There are people who do care if they win or lose, the coaches and some players need to have the same passion. At least fake it if not because it is glaring at times. Wish I could say more good things, but just frustrated.
Yea the clock management is one of the most perplexing things. There was a point where we scored late in the game Saturday, the momentum was swinging, and instead of pressing and playing some tough defense, “TIMEOUT LANCERS”. I don’t know why I’m surprised by it any more but I always have a WTF? reaction.
The same can be said for substitutions, its like they are preplanned. Someone will get hot and they are put on the bench. I don’t get it.
I am with you 100 percent. It really is like they are preplanned. Robinson in Asheville last week was hot from 3, what does that get him but a break on the bench. He never regained the hot hand until late in the game. Coach has to look in the mirror and see he has a lot to do with this losing streak. I am an ex college athlete and I have always said the players on the field or court have to take most of the blame, but I truly cannot say that with this team. There are 10 times each game where you scratch your head and wonder if everything you ever knew or saw about basketball has been wrong because coach goes against logic way too much. Just hope the players realize they need to go with what they know when they can.