(01-21-2015 10:30 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote: (01-21-2015 10:25 PM)temoxley Wrote: (01-21-2015 10:09 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote: The team that I saw in person against VCU and Duke is not a .500 MAC team. The post game comments from both games (from opposing fans and coaches) suggest we are NCAA tourney worthy that would give some teams a headache.
If that team can somehow figure it out by the MAC tournament, we'll be fine...
Why does a group of seniors need to figure it out when we are more than half way through the season?
Exactly. 4 returning starters, 3 of whom are seniors. Unexplainable. Hence the growing frustration.
i empathize with your frustration. it's been a kinda crappy season. the explanation is that basketball success has a lot to do with teamwork and chemistry. there are aspects of our teamwork that -some games- are excellent. we are capable of a lot of quick aggressive ball movement without lots of turnovers, for example. the problem is this team is learning how to lose better than how to win. fans tend to assume good juniors will be great seniors. often, guys peak as juniors. last year the team had good chemistry, more fire and confidence they would win close games (which grew as they did).
juice has been inconsistent, often great but occasionally lackadaisical, too often the guy he's matched up with seems to want it more. i love juice's game and ability, but this year he isn't maximizing his penetration skills and taking games over with the bounce. he's usually good, but makes more bad plays than last year.
drummond has gone from a glue guy to somewhat unglued. our least efficient offensive player. who also hasn't made the expected impact on the boards or defense. still, he plays hard and is a team leader. it's just he led better as a junior. last year's team chemistry had a place for him. today he was guarding brewer or manley. i haven't seen the box score but i bet those guys were their top scorers.
last year jonjon williams was able to be a part time gun off the bench. he didn't play as much but had the green light and his teammates looked for him. this year, he plays more but is the 5th option on the court. he scores in spurts but can't get in much of a rhythm. there was a first half possession when we swung the ball quickly and drummond got a pretty good look at an elbow 3, but jonjon was wide open for a short 3 in the corner. drummond chose not to swing the ball for a last pass and took (missed) the 3. last year drummond would have swung the ball to jonjon or matt smith or pearson and crashed the offensive boards. poor chemistry.
last year, when we needed a big hustle play we had pearson. we had a guy who wanted to win more than anyone else on either team. and he happened to be a great athlete. this year, we are not making as many hustle plays down the stretch of games. nobody seems unwilling to lose.
spoon is good and plays his game. he has probably been the only veteran who has improved both individually and as a team player, but he's a finisher and rebounder mostly, not a guy that initiates a lot of teamwork.
right now we are simply a team with similar talent to last year, but much less chemistry. it is a long season and coach k will earn his money down the stretch. something will have to give. hopefully, the changes will be positive. it might be as simple as a change in tempo or starting lineup.
on the flip side
today we saw the true nathan boothe. an excellent ball handler and passer who can be an offensive weapon if you run offense through him consistently. i bet both he and jonjon have great years next season.
stuckey mosley is on the cusp of being a real good scoring point guard. we may not see it till next year, but watch out.
lauf does not need to become a scorer. he needs to rebound, play defense, make foul shots and layups.
garber should have a red light outside of 12 feet. no way that guy on this team should be taking a 22 footer with 25 seconds on the shot clock.
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MBB: Toledo at Kent State game thread
