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(12-02-2023 12:47 AM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(12-02-2023 12:44 AM)FNblazer Wrote:  It’s never as good as you think it is, and it’s never as bad as you think it is. That 5-game stretch I mentioned before from late Jan to mid Feb will define this season.

Our season is already defined super early, as it has been every other year under AK. Conference tourney champions or bust. That 5 game stretch doesn’t really matter now. Literally the only thing that matters is the conference tourney. We’d go 0-5 in that stretch right now.

Which is a shame bc we actually have a good schedule this year that could be at large worthy if we didn’t look like a complete **** show on the court.

This team isn’t good. Don’t get your hopes up for conference tournament. This team is a .500 team in league play at best

(12-02-2023 12:55 AM)FNblazer Wrote:  Yep. Before the McNeese loss we actually had a 2-4 game margin for error in conference. Now we’re effed. Gotta use the rest of the OOC to prep for conference play. Just beat Drake since I’ll be there in person. Please.

I was going to come to that game but I don’t think I am now. Don’t like the vibes from the team right now from the top down. AK’s piss poor body language is starting to get to me. You don’t want your team quitting and Gaines out there sulking and guys just doing whatever the F they want to do?? Then show some damn passion, hold players accountable, and for the love of god quit walking to the bench with ur head down and then checking out and putting your head in your hands. I don’t like a team and a coach that quits. That’s the vibe I got from the team against mcneese and it’s the vibe I get from AK 2-3 times a game.

I get it man, your players are frustrating AF to watch, but YOU RECRUITED THEM. You are their leader. Right the ship. Your body language as a leader says a TON to your players.

I at least got to see us win a game this year at MTSU. If the body language, poise, and vibes around the team improve I’ll reevaluate my decision. I don’t mind a team losing, but the way these games have gone down is too much and I don’t want to waste my time watching that.

Amen Answer! But my choice is more straightforward: a couple of hours in my favorite place, or more time at the in laws’ house.

https://twitter.com/jellyfam_j/status/17...4160649405

Eric Gaines has been anywhere from 73% to 79% shooting free throws at LSU and UAB. For his college career he is at 76%. His current 59% is a full 17 percentage points below his average. I don’t get it.

He has missed at least one free throw every game this season, and two or more on five occasions. Going 4-9 last night is unacceptable. There must be something wrong with his shooting mechanics.

The refs were terrible but we went 22-33 from FT line. For the math illiterate out there, THAT IS ELEVEN POINTS WE GAVE UP. 66.7%

I can't believe how often USM would run a play and pass to a shooter at the elbow or top of the key or wherever and the UAB defender would either backtrack to the basket or not pick them up. the shooter would have 5-10ft of space in front of them no hand in the face. of course, they make those shots.

I don't understand the offense just like i didn't under Mike Davis of just running around for 25 seconds and then somebody sling up a shot at the rim. where are all the screens and give and go's and set plays? THERE ARE NONE BEST I CAN TELL.

im looking at the remaining schedule. right now, we are lucky to finish the season .500 and come into the AAC tourney as a super low seed.

If we play the way we have the last 2 games we could legit go 1-4 the last 5 games in the OOC schedule.

(12-02-2023 11:03 AM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  If we play the way we have the last 2 games we could legit go 1-4 the last 5 games in the OOC schedule.

those game mean game except to find the perfect roster and attitude on the bench and in the court ,,,we need a pg ,,,gaines cannot play pg
next year ,,an hs winner hc will be nice ,,,,we need someone hungry and want to recruit beside transfer

The Bartow Standard

All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

In 1994, Gene saw most of his team graduate or flunk out. He returned no starters, and those who did return had seen only trillions action.

So he loaded up on transfers and jucos, many of them highly-rated. They started out by losing to American-Puerto Rico and it went downhill from there. Fleeing a dorm room in the middle of the night ahead of a warrant. Hiding in an undisclosed location to avoid a drug test. Girlfriend punching. And the first losing record in UAB history.

The lesson?

Talent is not enough. That team was loaded with "talent." But the best player, a solid character and well-respected, was also quiet and withdrawn, not a vocal leader. Coaches can't be team leaders. It has to come from within the locker room. Twenty-nine years ago (damn!) it did not.

There's no indication that the current team has the off-court problems of the 1994-95 squad. But it has plenty of them on the court.

All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

(12-02-2023 12:21 PM)58-56 Wrote:  The Bartow Standard

All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

In 1994, Gene saw most of his team graduate or flunk out. He returned no starters, and those who did return had seen only trillions action.

So he loaded up on transfers and jucos, many of them highly-rated. They started out by losing to American-Puerto Rico and it went downhill from there. Fleeing a dorm room in the middle of the night ahead of a warrant. Hiding in an undisclosed location to avoid a drug test. Girlfriend punching. And the first losing record in UAB history.

The lesson?

Talent is not enough. That team was loaded with "talent." But the best player, a solid character and well-respected, was also quiet and withdrawn, not a vocal leader. Coaches can't be team leaders. It has to come from within the locker room. Twenty-nine years ago (damn!) it did not.

There's no indication that the current team has the off-court problems of the 1994-95 squad. But it has plenty of them on the court.

All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

I get what you are saying, but Gaines isn't a leader - by personality and by his play on the court.

If he were a leader on the court he wouldn't be shooting sub 60% from the free throw line, including missing NUMEROUS crunch time free throws, dribbling balls off his foot, bookending highlight-worthy no look passes with ugly turnovers, STILL to this day driving and jumping in the air with no F*cking clue what he is doing with the ball.

I think our leader(s), if we have one or more, will have to come from some combination of JD, TT, and Butta.

Gaines does not play winning basketball. He is our "best player," and we see what building around a player like that is getting us. Nowhere.

Having a leader from the bench is pretty damn important. AK doesn't look like a leader with his shoulders slumped, sitting on the bench with his head in his hands. I get it - your players are frustrating AF to watch. I'm sure they're frustrating AF to coach too. But it's your job to coach them and be their leader. His body lanuage speaks volumes. If your coach is looking like that on the sideline, it's no wonder guys aren't running to the front of the line to be leaders on the court.