Pregame Fight?

[the_one_32]

I was sitting in my seat about 45 minutes before gametime when I saw Larry Davis and Lance Stephenson walking back to the lockerroom during shoot arounds. As they entered the lockerroom for about 10 seconds the door stayed open and you could see Lance and Larry in each others faces about to fight. The head trainer had to seperate them and gave them a talking to. About 10 minutes later when they returned Larry was still acting childish and running his mouth but Lance showed maturity and didn't respond. Larry got so out of hand he was grabbed by the shirt by an assistant coach and taken to the lockerrom once again where I'm sure he got chewed out. The animosity between the two was apparent when during lineup announcements Lance Stephenson ignored Larry Davis' attempt for Lance to "hit the rock" and Lance stared Larry down. Anybody have any idea what this stems from?

 

[Thegreatone]

I was sitting in my seat about 45 minutes before gametime when I saw Larry Davis and Lance Stephenson walking back to the lockerroom during shoot arounds. As they entered the lockerroom for about 10 seconds the door stayed open and you could see Lance and Larry in each others faces about to fight. The head trainer had to seperate them and gave them a talking to. About 10 minutes later when they returned Larry was still acting childish and running his mouth but Lance showed maturity and didn't respond. Larry got so out of hand he was grabbed by the shirt by an assistant coach and taken to the lockerrom once again where I'm sure he got chewed out. The animosity between the two was apparent when during lineup announcements Lance Stephenson ignored Larry Davis' attempt for Lance to "hit the rock" and Lance stared Larry down. Anybody have any idea what this stems from?

Don't know. I am not too worried though. 15 guys who are 20 years old are going to have little things pop up and they will forget about it tomorrow. No big deal in my opinion because they both played pretty well.

 

[swg]

Not great news, but solid reporting! This stuff cannot happen on a team that wins. One of the driving forces behind winning teams is unity. Cronin has got to have someone take over the leadership position on the team, if they are to succeed next year. Obviously (and unfortunately), Bishop will not be that guy. Lance will probably be the most natural suspect, as Gates just doesn't have it in him.
I'd like to see Cash step up towards the end of next year, and assume that role.

 

[Not Guilty]

Not great news, but solid reporting! This stuff cannot happen on a team that wins. One of the driving forces behind winning teams is unity. Cronin has got to have someone take over the leadership position on the team, if they are to succeed next year. Obviously (and unfortunately), Bishop will not be that guy. Lance will probably be the most natural suspect, as Gates just doesn't have it in him.
I'd like to see Cash step up towards the end of next year, and assume that role.

Not true at all. This stuff happens all the time in team sports. Not every team is going to have perfect chemistry. You have to be able to move on from it though.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

Not true at all. This stuff happens all the time in team sports. Not every team is going to have perfect chemistry. You have to be able to move on from it though.

Agreed.

This is twice that Lance has had "altercations" with teammates. Rumors of Bishop v. Lance and Davis v. Lance have one common denominator: Lance.


However, I'm of the belief that Davis and Bishop have horrible attitudes and are selfish. I think there is some jealousy going on, but do not have facts to support it.

Bottom line: "Buy in" or get gone!

 

[TheShoeFits]

Not true at all. This stuff happens all the time in team sports. Not every team is going to have perfect chemistry. You have to be able to move on from it though.

Just watched "First and 10" on ESPN2 yesterday. I can't recall who they were talking to. It was either Tom Izzo or Mateen Cleaves.

Anyway, they were telling a story about how Cleaves and Mo Peterson had each other by the throat.

This stuff happens all the time with every D1 school. Even on my high school basketball team. We had two of our better players constanly fighting. It never effected the way they played with each other or the way The team performed.

No big deal.

 

[ready2go]

Just watched "First and 10" on ESPN2 yesterday. I can't recall who they were talking to. It was either Tom Izzo or Mateen Cleaves.

Anyway, they were telling a story about how Cleaves and Mo Peterson had each other by the throat.

This stuff happens all the time with every D1 school. Even on my high school basketball team. We had two of our better players constanly fighting. It never effected the way they played with each other or the way The team performed.

No big deal.

Agree!

A fairly dominant small college northeast had fights every week in practice. That program has 10 national titles.

Its about competing and having a passion for the game. Do you blame those guys for being jealous? IMO if they weren't, then they don't care about the game anymore.

 

[Thegreatone]

Agree!

A fairly dominant small college northeast had fights every week in practice. That program has 10 national titles.

Its about competing and having a passion for the game. Do you blame those guys for being jealous? IMO if they weren't, then they don't care about the game anymore.

Wooster?

 

[swg]

Not true at all. This stuff happens all the time in team sports. Not every team is going to have perfect chemistry. You have to be able to move on from it though.

In practice, on a football field...sure. Right before a tourney game? Not on my team it doesn't. God help someone if I were coaching and I found out about it.
Why? Because during the game, I don't want fractured play (ie...I'm not passing to him).

 

[ready2go]

In practice, on a football field...sure. Right before a tourney game? Not on my team it doesn't. God help someone if I were coaching and I found out about it.
Why? Because during the game, I don't want fractured play (ie...I'm not passing to him).

I don't necessarily agree that fighting is all that bad for a team. Competiton breeds success.

I will say though that it comes down to the program on how to handle it. If Mick knew about it, he sure didn't address it. At one point in the game Larry Davis shot a 3 from the side. He hit the other side of the rim and an offensive rebound was made. Immediatly that ball was rebounding, Larry demanded the ball right back. And guess what he shot it again from the same spot within 5 seconds. The commentators said Mick was screaming at Larry for the bad shot selection.

To me that shows the situation was not dealt with and Larry was acting childish. If Lance can do it, why can't I? is how I see it for Larry.

 

[swg]

One of the first things BK did at ND was to change a number of non-football related things. He set up a training table, and had video games/foosball type stuff put in the area around the weight room.
When Jones came here, he had the players do team-building exercises (the video is in the Butch Jones Blog thread).

Why did they do these things? Team unity. It's about knowing each other, fighting FOR each other, and becoming together. I know there are players on the football team that rarely if ever talked to one another...so I applaud what BJ did.

I'm not suggesting that your opinion is wrong, or that I'm right, but I am saying that as a coach, I wouldn't like it one bit. I would also do things similiar to what BK and BJ are doing. The biggest problem I have with it is timing. Weber St should have been the common enemy, not ourselves.
BTW-did you notice how crappy the team started out? Related? Maybe not, but who knows.

 

[ready2go]

One of the first things BK did at ND was to change a number of non-football related things. He set up a training table, and had video games/foosball type stuff put in the area around the weight room.
When Jones came here, he had the players do team-building exercises (the video is in the Butch Jones Blog thread).

Why did they do these things? Team unity. It's about knowing each other, fighting FOR each other, and becoming together. I know there are players on the football team that rarely if ever talked to one another...so I applaud what BJ did.

I'm not suggesting that your opinion is wrong, or that I'm right, but I am saying that as a coach, I wouldn't like it one bit. I would also do things similiar to what BK and BJ are doing. The biggest problem I have with it is timing. Weber St should have been the common enemy, not ourselves.
BTW-did you notice how crappy the team started out? Related? Maybe not, but who knows.

I can see your argument, but these guys aren't girls. Meaning grudges aren't held for months and years. Often grudges between men help propel them further, ignite the team and are over in a matter of minutes.

Along more of the lines you are thinking. I truly believe a lot of this is due to that fact that players don't know their roles. For instance, Toyloy has no business trying to score. He is in there for defense and offensive rebounding. Dear God, please no jumpers from him anymore. Not everyone can be the go to man on the team.