Now that we have played 5 teams that are better than us, and lost to all 5 (Miami, SH, Wis., PST and MST), we must admit that following weaknesses of our team have been exposed. Pikiel and his staff must get the player's to correct or adjust to these items, otherwise we will continue to lose every game on our remaining schedule, as each of our losses have occurred for essentially the same reasons.
Here's my take:
1. We miss too many easy shots. I'm not talking about outside shots that are 15' or more from the basket. I'm talking about point blank layups and put-backs. There are at least 3-6 missed chippies per game; perhaps more, if I analyzed a shot chart. We desperately need every point. If you cannot make a layup or you miss a put-back, you must be taken out of the game. A missed layup is a killer. Repeat offenders are CJ, Freeman, Laurent, Diallo and Johnson. In my view, we are missing these easy shots because we are out-manned physically and athletically and so we think we must play fast around the basket. Freeman is the perfect example. He is so freaked out by having to play against bigger stronger guys, that he rushes every offensive move -- as if saying to himself -- "I better move quickly, otherwise I will get stuffed!" Slow down and make the shots that we should be making!
2. We miss too many foul shots. Making a foul shot is the only skill that is totally on the player himself. There is no one else at the line but you. It's time to be selfish. You either make the shot or you don't. How do you get better? It's totally muscle memory, hand eye coordination -- repetitive practice. You need to shoot at least for 1/2 hour straight every practice and make at least 75%. You should not be missing 1 out of 2. There is no excuse. In my view, I knew we were going to lose the MST game the other night when we missed 4 fouls shots in a row early in the game. We have no ability to make up for these lost points. We have several players that can drive to the basket. This is the strength of our offense. If this is to continue to occur, then we need to hit our fouls shots. Otherwise, it might as well be considered a turnover. Consider the Depaul game. We won the game (played 11/17) by 7 points by a score of 66-59. In the Depaul game we made 23-29 foul shots. In the MST game, we lost 93-65 and missed 15 out of 27 foul shots (several of which were the front end of 1-1). Had we made 75% of those missed foul shots, made the missed layups and putbacks, we would have been in the game at the end.
3. We need to jump when we rebound and when we play defense around the hoop. CJ is prime offender. The man does not jump more than 2" off the ground. His opponents regularly jump over him to snare rebounds or score. In the SH game (first half), no one jumped for rebounds. Against the 5 teams noted above, our rebound numbers are way down. We are playing more talented big men and we need to ratchet up our effort on the boards. Put a body on someone and don't forget to jump!
4. One of our strengths is that we have a deep team. Other than having Corey on the floor as much as possible, there is no other player (perhaps other than Williams when we need an outside shot) that has a real impact on our team whether he is playing or not. That being the case, where we have so many interchangeable parts, in my view, we should pressing more often than we have to date. Not just every once in a while, but nearly all the time. Playing a more aggressive defensive style hides our weakness as a poor shooting team. We have many interchangeable parts. Use these parts more efficiently -- not just to see if another player can make a shot.
5. When Doorson and Diallo sub in for CJ, they do nothing on offense other than set picks for the guards at the top of the key area. I think we need to weave in a more of an inside, low post offense first when these payers are in the game. Let Doorson and Diallo try to make a post move once a decade. It will open up the offense for the rest of the team.
6. Freeman must shoot jumpers. He cannot continue to force up the back to the basket shots that were so successful against the Niagara's and Central Conn. of the world. He is undersized and he must accept that. If he uses his quickness and makes a few outside shots, he can the drive by the bigs who have to come out and guard him. He needs to embrace the skill set that he has that make him different. He cannot continue to believe that he can overpower larger or more athletic players. And, by the way, make a dunk shot once in awhile.
7. Someone other than Williams must be able to make a wide-open in rhythm outside shot. The chief offenders are Thiam, Sanders, Johnson, Eugene and Laurent. They need to take these 3 point shots when they are presented. It's nothing more than taking it in rhythm -- that's the key, not to force the shot or take it while contested. We rarely make open shots -- it's incredible. Once Sanders and Johnson can make a 3 in the game, their defenders have to come up and play them. If that occurs, the defenders are in trouble, because Sanders and Johnson are probably the 2 quickest guards in the BIG when getting to the basket.
8. Reduce turnovers. The goal should be no unforced errors. Control what you can control. No cross court, lazy passes. No passes at the feet of big men. No hand-off of the ball to the opposing player when you start an offensive possession.
This is the recipe. If we don't use this recipe to play our game, we will not win a game in the BIG, unless our opponent has a seismic collapse.
Here's my take:
1. We miss too many easy shots. I'm not talking about outside shots that are 15' or more from the basket. I'm talking about point blank layups and put-backs. There are at least 3-6 missed chippies per game; perhaps more, if I analyzed a shot chart. We desperately need every point. If you cannot make a layup or you miss a put-back, you must be taken out of the game. A missed layup is a killer. Repeat offenders are CJ, Freeman, Laurent, Diallo and Johnson. In my view, we are missing these easy shots because we are out-manned physically and athletically and so we think we must play fast around the basket. Freeman is the perfect example. He is so freaked out by having to play against bigger stronger guys, that he rushes every offensive move -- as if saying to himself -- "I better move quickly, otherwise I will get stuffed!" Slow down and make the shots that we should be making!
2. We miss too many foul shots. Making a foul shot is the only skill that is totally on the player himself. There is no one else at the line but you. It's time to be selfish. You either make the shot or you don't. How do you get better? It's totally muscle memory, hand eye coordination -- repetitive practice. You need to shoot at least for 1/2 hour straight every practice and make at least 75%. You should not be missing 1 out of 2. There is no excuse. In my view, I knew we were going to lose the MST game the other night when we missed 4 fouls shots in a row early in the game. We have no ability to make up for these lost points. We have several players that can drive to the basket. This is the strength of our offense. If this is to continue to occur, then we need to hit our fouls shots. Otherwise, it might as well be considered a turnover. Consider the Depaul game. We won the game (played 11/17) by 7 points by a score of 66-59. In the Depaul game we made 23-29 foul shots. In the MST game, we lost 93-65 and missed 15 out of 27 foul shots (several of which were the front end of 1-1). Had we made 75% of those missed foul shots, made the missed layups and putbacks, we would have been in the game at the end.
3. We need to jump when we rebound and when we play defense around the hoop. CJ is prime offender. The man does not jump more than 2" off the ground. His opponents regularly jump over him to snare rebounds or score. In the SH game (first half), no one jumped for rebounds. Against the 5 teams noted above, our rebound numbers are way down. We are playing more talented big men and we need to ratchet up our effort on the boards. Put a body on someone and don't forget to jump!
4. One of our strengths is that we have a deep team. Other than having Corey on the floor as much as possible, there is no other player (perhaps other than Williams when we need an outside shot) that has a real impact on our team whether he is playing or not. That being the case, where we have so many interchangeable parts, in my view, we should pressing more often than we have to date. Not just every once in a while, but nearly all the time. Playing a more aggressive defensive style hides our weakness as a poor shooting team. We have many interchangeable parts. Use these parts more efficiently -- not just to see if another player can make a shot.
5. When Doorson and Diallo sub in for CJ, they do nothing on offense other than set picks for the guards at the top of the key area. I think we need to weave in a more of an inside, low post offense first when these payers are in the game. Let Doorson and Diallo try to make a post move once a decade. It will open up the offense for the rest of the team.
6. Freeman must shoot jumpers. He cannot continue to force up the back to the basket shots that were so successful against the Niagara's and Central Conn. of the world. He is undersized and he must accept that. If he uses his quickness and makes a few outside shots, he can the drive by the bigs who have to come out and guard him. He needs to embrace the skill set that he has that make him different. He cannot continue to believe that he can overpower larger or more athletic players. And, by the way, make a dunk shot once in awhile.
7. Someone other than Williams must be able to make a wide-open in rhythm outside shot. The chief offenders are Thiam, Sanders, Johnson, Eugene and Laurent. They need to take these 3 point shots when they are presented. It's nothing more than taking it in rhythm -- that's the key, not to force the shot or take it while contested. We rarely make open shots -- it's incredible. Once Sanders and Johnson can make a 3 in the game, their defenders have to come up and play them. If that occurs, the defenders are in trouble, because Sanders and Johnson are probably the 2 quickest guards in the BIG when getting to the basket.
8. Reduce turnovers. The goal should be no unforced errors. Control what you can control. No cross court, lazy passes. No passes at the feet of big men. No hand-off of the ball to the opposing player when you start an offensive possession.
This is the recipe. If we don't use this recipe to play our game, we will not win a game in the BIG, unless our opponent has a seismic collapse.
