If you’re not in the mood for a long post, turn back now. It’s not too late.
I attended the Mosconi in Vegas from beginning to end and here are my impressions.
The Team Itself
Mark Wilson got it right as the two captain’s picks turned out to be our two strongest players. Skyler Woodward was the only member of Team USA that overachieved, Justin Bergman played about his usual speed and SVB, Dechaine and Deuel all played below their usual speed.
All the credit to Mark Wilson, though, as his two wild cards, both of them twenty-somethings, made the grade and showed us that they can contribute for years to come.
We went to bat with a stronger team than that of a year ago and that’s why it was closer. In my opinion, this team played a little below my expectations, as did the 2014 team, but this was a better team and it made for an exciting Mosconi Cup with a lot of exciting matches.
I’d also say that for a team that had two guys in their second Mosconi (Bergman, Dechaine) and a Mosconi rookie (Woodward), this entire team looked comfortable on the big stage.
All five players conducted themselves impeccably and showed good sportsmanship throughout.
Same Old Same Old – USA Terrible at Singles
Despite a very respectable record of 4-4 in the team matches, the USA went a forgettable 3-7 in singles, and only Corey Deuel had a winning record at 1-0, Bergman was 1-2, SVB was 1-2, Woodward was 0-2 and Dechaine 0-1.
The Venue
The setup at the Tropicana was superb, and congratulations to any and all who helped put the event together. Thank you to Barry Hearn and all at Matchroom.
The Break Rule
As far as the rules, I think it has long been determined that nine ball with break from anywhere in the kitchen is too easy for players of this caliber, but this was used a year ago and to the detriment of the world’s best breaker from the center, Shane Van Boening. This year, we had, arguably, the two best breakers from the center in the world in Shane and Mike D, but once again, the break rule eliminated much of this advantage that Team USA might have enjoyed.
The Individual Members of Team USA
Skyler Woodward
Quite appropriately hearing chants of “MVP” anytime he stepped to the table, Skyler was America’s best player in this Mosconi. He was brilliant in the Mosconi-ending Match 18 where he was unlucky to lose to Albin Ouschan’s miracle kick in at double hill which is why his record in singles looks shabby but he was great in doubles. Great debut for Skyler for sure.
Justin Bergman
Bergman was solid most of the way, particularly in his Day 3 win over Appleton, but ultimately, he shot himself in the foot by hooking himself at double hill against Feijen in Match 16 at a time when the US could have pulled with 9-7. Bergman is a rock solid player on the rise, and I’m curious to see how he performs in the biggest “big table” events in 2016, for he is not yet counted among those who can contend for a title at elite events like the DCC 9-ball, Super Billiards Expo, Turning Stone or the US Open 9-ball. I predict 2016 will be a breakout year for Justin.
Shane Van Boening
Not as bad as last year, but Shane still can’t find his form in this event. Admittedly, the break rule in use all but eliminates one of his biggest weapons. All that said, Shane rose to the occasion with two of the best clutch shots in the event in the carom nine to end day 2 and the jump-in of the one ball on Day 4 in the double hill rack against Boyes that led to victory.
Mike Dechaine
Mike was the hero in Match 1, in which he won two of the racks needed for victory. He also had to make a tough nine ball double hill and rose to the occasion. He and Deuel seemed headed for a team victory with a 4-2 lead, but in what could have been the match ending run out, Deuel got Mike on the wrong side of the seven ball, and Mike was not up to the difficult shot presented. The result was, ultimately, a 5-4 loss, in which both were to blame. Mike also had a chance (owning the double hill break) to get to double hill against Ouschan if he made a long, but missable, eight ball in rack eight and he wasn’t up to it. Albin then jumped in the eight to close out the match at 5-3. In Mike’s scotch doubles match with Shane, they lost both of Shane’s two breaks but broke and ran both of Mike’s two breaks, and that’s the only reason Shane had a chance to redeem himself with the double hill carom of the nine, so Mike should get a lot of credit for that win. Mike’s low point certainly came when he and Skyler were paired on Day 3. Mike had actually played perfectly up to a shocking miss on a dead straight nine in the side that would have kept them in the match at 4-3. Despite some solid play along the way, it was a disappointing Mosconi for Mike Dechaine who came up short at some critical junctures.
Corey Deuel
Despite very poor play against Vandenberg, Corey got enough rolls to open a 24-hour bakery and his 5-4 victory got Team USA it first singles win after his four teammates had been beaten. Corey had a solid moment or two along the way, but overall, he was Team USA’s worst ball pocketer and played the worst position of anybody on the team. This was not the same Corey we saw at the US Open 9-ball event just a few weeks ago.
Evaluating Team USA's Play
What Team USA Did Well
Team USA competed! They fought hard every day and made Europe work hard. Europe was 3-2 on Day 1, 3-2 on Day 2, 3-2 on Day 3, and all three matches on Day 4 went double hill. In other words, there were four exciting, competitive, days of play. That’s all one could ask for. I also think Team USA pocketed respectably and broke respectably.
What USA did Just Passably
I’d rate Team USA position play as just passable, and far inferior to that of Team Europe. Pattern play was just OK, and there’s much room for improvement. Bergman’s double hill position play error in Match 16 all but ended the Mosconi Cup, and with Shane on deck, it was a bitter pill to swallow, as Team USA might have had a chance to pull within 9-8.
What Team USA Did Poorly
For the second straight year, their defense and kicking were pitiful. It is impossible to win a Mosconi Cup playing this poorly in the moves game, and this is the biggest difference between Team USA and Team Europe. Maybe they’ll work on this next year, but right now, poor defense and kicking ensure Europe many more good looks at the table than they deserve. In fact, it wasn’t until the final match that Team USA played the moves game really well. Skyler was exceptional against Albin, and lost to a shot that many will, with some justification, call a fluke.
The Officiating
Officiating was superb all week. Nigel Rees and Ken Shuman are two of the elite, and managed both the play and the crowd effectively.
Mosconi MVP
I know that MVP is decided on a points system but maybe that has to change. Neither I nor those to whom I spoke felt Niels deserved to be MVP. Europe’s best player, by quite a bit, was Karl Boyes, and I hereby award him the lesser known but highly coveted “SJM MVP Award” for his performance in the 2015 Mosconi Cup.
The Mosconi Cup Socially
I was pleased to be invited to the after party and it was great. The mood was positive and festive, with the players, coaches, referees, announcers and a whole bunch of fans congregating to share some good times. I caught up with all ten players, the coaches and many friends and fans. I was also pleased to catch up with JimWych, Nigel Rees, Ken Shuman, Jay Helfert, Jerry Briesath, Jerry Forsyth, Mike Panozzo, Pat Fleming, Greg Sullivan, Mark Griffin and many other members of pool royalty.
Fellow AZBer Cuebuddy and I went to Gorilla Billiards twice and, with his buddy John, whom I’d met at the 2013 Mosconi, some pool and three cushion were played by all of us and we had a grand old time.
Sizing It Up for Next Year
In the post-Mosconi interview, Mark Wilson noted “We didn’t play our best.” Indeed they didn’t, but Mark, quite rightly, reminded his team of it, and perhaps they’ll take it to heart that they still have a long way to go if they want to beat Team Europe. I feel a lot better than I did a year ago, though, because with a nucleus of three twenty-somethings, the future is starting to look bright. Much work to be done, but our guys have bought in. Thanks to Mark Wilson and assistant Don Wardell for all their hard work in putting together and preparing the team.
I attended the Mosconi in Vegas from beginning to end and here are my impressions.
The Team Itself
Mark Wilson got it right as the two captain’s picks turned out to be our two strongest players. Skyler Woodward was the only member of Team USA that overachieved, Justin Bergman played about his usual speed and SVB, Dechaine and Deuel all played below their usual speed.
All the credit to Mark Wilson, though, as his two wild cards, both of them twenty-somethings, made the grade and showed us that they can contribute for years to come.
We went to bat with a stronger team than that of a year ago and that’s why it was closer. In my opinion, this team played a little below my expectations, as did the 2014 team, but this was a better team and it made for an exciting Mosconi Cup with a lot of exciting matches.
I’d also say that for a team that had two guys in their second Mosconi (Bergman, Dechaine) and a Mosconi rookie (Woodward), this entire team looked comfortable on the big stage.
All five players conducted themselves impeccably and showed good sportsmanship throughout.
Same Old Same Old – USA Terrible at Singles
Despite a very respectable record of 4-4 in the team matches, the USA went a forgettable 3-7 in singles, and only Corey Deuel had a winning record at 1-0, Bergman was 1-2, SVB was 1-2, Woodward was 0-2 and Dechaine 0-1.
The Venue
The setup at the Tropicana was superb, and congratulations to any and all who helped put the event together. Thank you to Barry Hearn and all at Matchroom.
The Break Rule
As far as the rules, I think it has long been determined that nine ball with break from anywhere in the kitchen is too easy for players of this caliber, but this was used a year ago and to the detriment of the world’s best breaker from the center, Shane Van Boening. This year, we had, arguably, the two best breakers from the center in the world in Shane and Mike D, but once again, the break rule eliminated much of this advantage that Team USA might have enjoyed.
The Individual Members of Team USA
Skyler Woodward
Quite appropriately hearing chants of “MVP” anytime he stepped to the table, Skyler was America’s best player in this Mosconi. He was brilliant in the Mosconi-ending Match 18 where he was unlucky to lose to Albin Ouschan’s miracle kick in at double hill which is why his record in singles looks shabby but he was great in doubles. Great debut for Skyler for sure.
Justin Bergman
Bergman was solid most of the way, particularly in his Day 3 win over Appleton, but ultimately, he shot himself in the foot by hooking himself at double hill against Feijen in Match 16 at a time when the US could have pulled with 9-7. Bergman is a rock solid player on the rise, and I’m curious to see how he performs in the biggest “big table” events in 2016, for he is not yet counted among those who can contend for a title at elite events like the DCC 9-ball, Super Billiards Expo, Turning Stone or the US Open 9-ball. I predict 2016 will be a breakout year for Justin.
Shane Van Boening
Not as bad as last year, but Shane still can’t find his form in this event. Admittedly, the break rule in use all but eliminates one of his biggest weapons. All that said, Shane rose to the occasion with two of the best clutch shots in the event in the carom nine to end day 2 and the jump-in of the one ball on Day 4 in the double hill rack against Boyes that led to victory.
Mike Dechaine
Mike was the hero in Match 1, in which he won two of the racks needed for victory. He also had to make a tough nine ball double hill and rose to the occasion. He and Deuel seemed headed for a team victory with a 4-2 lead, but in what could have been the match ending run out, Deuel got Mike on the wrong side of the seven ball, and Mike was not up to the difficult shot presented. The result was, ultimately, a 5-4 loss, in which both were to blame. Mike also had a chance (owning the double hill break) to get to double hill against Ouschan if he made a long, but missable, eight ball in rack eight and he wasn’t up to it. Albin then jumped in the eight to close out the match at 5-3. In Mike’s scotch doubles match with Shane, they lost both of Shane’s two breaks but broke and ran both of Mike’s two breaks, and that’s the only reason Shane had a chance to redeem himself with the double hill carom of the nine, so Mike should get a lot of credit for that win. Mike’s low point certainly came when he and Skyler were paired on Day 3. Mike had actually played perfectly up to a shocking miss on a dead straight nine in the side that would have kept them in the match at 4-3. Despite some solid play along the way, it was a disappointing Mosconi for Mike Dechaine who came up short at some critical junctures.
Corey Deuel
Despite very poor play against Vandenberg, Corey got enough rolls to open a 24-hour bakery and his 5-4 victory got Team USA it first singles win after his four teammates had been beaten. Corey had a solid moment or two along the way, but overall, he was Team USA’s worst ball pocketer and played the worst position of anybody on the team. This was not the same Corey we saw at the US Open 9-ball event just a few weeks ago.
Evaluating Team USA's Play
What Team USA Did Well
Team USA competed! They fought hard every day and made Europe work hard. Europe was 3-2 on Day 1, 3-2 on Day 2, 3-2 on Day 3, and all three matches on Day 4 went double hill. In other words, there were four exciting, competitive, days of play. That’s all one could ask for. I also think Team USA pocketed respectably and broke respectably.
What USA did Just Passably
I’d rate Team USA position play as just passable, and far inferior to that of Team Europe. Pattern play was just OK, and there’s much room for improvement. Bergman’s double hill position play error in Match 16 all but ended the Mosconi Cup, and with Shane on deck, it was a bitter pill to swallow, as Team USA might have had a chance to pull within 9-8.
What Team USA Did Poorly
For the second straight year, their defense and kicking were pitiful. It is impossible to win a Mosconi Cup playing this poorly in the moves game, and this is the biggest difference between Team USA and Team Europe. Maybe they’ll work on this next year, but right now, poor defense and kicking ensure Europe many more good looks at the table than they deserve. In fact, it wasn’t until the final match that Team USA played the moves game really well. Skyler was exceptional against Albin, and lost to a shot that many will, with some justification, call a fluke.
The Officiating
Officiating was superb all week. Nigel Rees and Ken Shuman are two of the elite, and managed both the play and the crowd effectively.
Mosconi MVP
I know that MVP is decided on a points system but maybe that has to change. Neither I nor those to whom I spoke felt Niels deserved to be MVP. Europe’s best player, by quite a bit, was Karl Boyes, and I hereby award him the lesser known but highly coveted “SJM MVP Award” for his performance in the 2015 Mosconi Cup.
The Mosconi Cup Socially
I was pleased to be invited to the after party and it was great. The mood was positive and festive, with the players, coaches, referees, announcers and a whole bunch of fans congregating to share some good times. I caught up with all ten players, the coaches and many friends and fans. I was also pleased to catch up with JimWych, Nigel Rees, Ken Shuman, Jay Helfert, Jerry Briesath, Jerry Forsyth, Mike Panozzo, Pat Fleming, Greg Sullivan, Mark Griffin and many other members of pool royalty.
Fellow AZBer Cuebuddy and I went to Gorilla Billiards twice and, with his buddy John, whom I’d met at the 2013 Mosconi, some pool and three cushion were played by all of us and we had a grand old time.
Sizing It Up for Next Year
In the post-Mosconi interview, Mark Wilson noted “We didn’t play our best.” Indeed they didn’t, but Mark, quite rightly, reminded his team of it, and perhaps they’ll take it to heart that they still have a long way to go if they want to beat Team Europe. I feel a lot better than I did a year ago, though, because with a nucleus of three twenty-somethings, the future is starting to look bright. Much work to be done, but our guys have bought in. Thanks to Mark Wilson and assistant Don Wardell for all their hard work in putting together and preparing the team.
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