SEA33HAWK
All American
Posts: 3,200
Joined: Aug 2014
Reputation: 52
I Root For: UNCW
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Reflections......
I've taken the time to seriously reflect on our season thus far. While I do agree the coaching staff has to take ownership for game planning and adjustments, I see something else that is a key issue to the success of this team. In games like Gardner Webb and Delaware, I noticed them coming out the blocks with no energy and lack of focus. And, in games like Eastern Illinois and Drexel, they came out with a lot of energy and were very focused. The played with a sense of purpose. The Delaware game was not lost because one or two guys had bad games. I have a hard time seeing where anybody played really good in that game.
In the Drexel game, most everybody contributed to the win. We had five guys in double figures, with three scoring twenty or more. We had Toews with his 14 assists and Cacok with another double double. But we also had a solid game scoring and defending from Gadsden. And even though O'Connell didn't score, he had seven boards, an assist and a very impressive block. He also defended very well.
But what seems to be a key to our play is the play of Cylla. When he is scoring and mentally involved in the game, it seems that is more energy and focus with the whole team. Now, I don't know if somehow the team feeds off of his energy in some way, but something sure looks to click there. What I do know is this team is not always mentally ready to play a game. And that for sure lies on the shoulders of the coaching staff.
The Delaware game was a little different on the whole, because there was a two edged sword there. Our team was flat from the beginning. But, to give the Blue Hens some credit, they were on fire. Especially Horton. Our defense actually pushed them back off the three point line and they answered with threes from well beyond the NBA three point range. So, just in that case, I can say zone would have not helped. I really don't know how defend a team that's shooting that hot, except maybe hope they eventually go cold.
I would like to see us mix up our defense more with zone and also more press. We have a deep enough bench to do that. But the staff definitely needs to find a way to to keep this team more focused and playing with the energy to get the job done. I saw players today diving after balls and winning on the 50-50 loose balls. Made reminisce about the Goldsberry days. But I digress.
This is not the kind of team that can let one or two players put them on their backs to win. We have to have many contributors to the success of each and every game.
(This post was last modified: 01-12-2019 07:24 PM by SEA33HAWK.)
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01-12-2019 07:20 PM |
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