Losing at the FT line and Analysis

[bowlgoal]

First off, I hope our team stays positive and focused. It has to be more frustrating for the kids and coaches than any of us. Last night was the first time I didn't see all the players go to the student section after the game and it includes CJ who I think started that. I hope the players understand that comments on these boards are out of frustration and yes, I think this stuff gets back to them. We are so pleased with the progress of the program. And that progress has nothing to do with winning or losing these Big 10 games. Coach said he knows nobody cares where we were 0-4 coming into last night but if you watch the tape you will see the improvement. I watch every game live so I don't need to watch the tape. This team is as competitive as they have been in god knows how long. We lost by 39 to this northwestern last season. I think by 50 to Purdue. We haven't played them yet but that score will not be a 50 point blowout either.

Our defense is great. I think we fall into lapses sometimes off the frustration of our scoring droughts and teams score in bunches as we let up the defense. That can't happen. We need to defend for 40 minutes. I think we should add in some full court presses and traps not just in the last 2 minutes when we are down 10. I think we need to do it at points throughout the game. There's risk as these teams are fast but I think we need to take some risk to get turnovers and hold a lead.

If we could improve just one area of our game to make the difference it has to be FT shooting. I'm sure that we devote significant time to it in practice but I could we need to do more. I'm not sure if it's mental or not but o think NW missed only 2. If we could get out % up to a reasonable level, that's one change plus a few stops to winning instead of losing.

All and all, I'm confident in Pikiell. He's going to get this done. He's proven already that we are now competitive despite some of the deficiencies. Now we need to clean up the game and continue to recruit higher caliber players.

 

[RUJMM78]

First off, I hope our team stays positive and focused. It has to be more frustrating for the kids and coaches than any of us. Last night was the first time I didn't see all the players go to the student section after the game and it includes CJ who I think started that. I hope the players understand that comments on these boards are out of frustration and yes, I think this stuff gets back to them. We are so pleased with the progress of the program. And that progress has nothing to do with winning or losing these Big 10 games. Coach said he knows nobody cares where we were 0-4 coming into last night but if you watch the tape you will see the improvement. I watch every game live so I don't need to watch the tape. This team is as competitive as they have been in god knows how long. We lost by 39 to this northwestern last season. I think by 50 to Purdue. We haven't played them yet but that score will not be a 50 point blowout either.

Our defense is great. I think we fall into lapses sometimes off the frustration of our scoring droughts and teams score in bunches as we let up the defense. That can't happen. We need to defend for 40 minutes. I think we should add in some full court presses and traps not just in the last 2 minutes when we are down 10. I think we need to do it at points throughout the game. There's risk as these teams are fast but I think we need to take some risk to get turnovers and hold a lead.

If we could improve just one area of our game to make the difference it has to be FT shooting. I'm sure that we devote significant time to it in practice but I could we need to do more. I'm not sure if it's mental or not but o think NW missed only 2. If we could get out % up to a reasonable level, that's one change plus a few stops to winning instead of losing.

All and all, I'm confident in Pikiell. He's going to get this done. He's proven already that we are now competitive despite some of the deficiencies. Now we need to clean up the game and continue to recruit higher caliber players.

Recruiting higher caliber players is the solution but difficult to achieve when you lose so many league games.

 

[RUsince52]

They go 3-20 from 3 pts line which we would gladly take, but we respond with 1-12. 2 guys go 4-22 and the others make 18 baskets although not a great percentage. Too many empty trips while they score on the other end almost every trip. At one point we got 5 off Krebs in a row and didn't make a basket. I think we got fouled. I've never so many blocks against us. Gettys had a terrible game, passing up short jumpers to make a useless pass.
We just look bad on offense and the other team knows it's just a matter of time for them to click. Won't beat anyone else without luck. Doesn't seem like we are learning enough to win even against someone we should beat.

 

[bowlgoal]

They go 3-20 from 3 pts line which we would gladly take, but we respond with 1-12. 2 guys go 4-22 and the others make 18 baskets although not a great percentage. Too many empty trips while they score on the other end almost every trip. At one point we got 5 off Krebs in a row and didn't make a basket. I think we got fouled. I've never so many blocks against us. Gettys had a terrible game, passing up short jumpers to make a useless pass.
We just look bad on offense and the other team knows it's just a matter of time for them to click. Won't beat anyone else without luck. Doesn't seem like we are learning enough to win even against someone we should beat.

I hoped and thought that in one of these games we would have a hot shooting night and make our FTs but that has yet to happen. You need a breakthrough win to understand how it feels to close out a Big 10 team. We don't have that feeling yet. But if you went to the RAC last season for every game and watched hell on a basketball court; you have to very happy with the results one year later. We all want to win but I'm thrilled to know it's within reach.

 

[goru7]

Bowlgoal, I would think everybody has to be real happy with Coach Pikiell, the staff he has assembled, the substitutions patterns, the demand and focus on defense and rebounding, making us competitive immediately in 1 short year. Depth that has been created allows us to play harder for longer. Our length, height disrupts most teams we have faced.
The elephant in the room is shooting and why have we regressed so badly. We have been missing layups for years and with the exception of Corey , why the rest of our guards and our bigs do not use the simple bank shot off the glass is mind blowing. A lost art in this generation. Tim Duncan where have you gone! Yes our guards are not as talented or skilled but simple fundamentals would be a whole lot better than getting blocked at the rim.
Good shooting is about confidence, squaring your body to the hoop, and taking good shots. The disappearance of Issa and Mike these last 3 games is killing us. Mike gets down on himself so easily and goes into a worst funk. We were hoping as a junior and now a co- captain , he would flourish and up until 3 games ago he was. Laurent also disappearing compounds the problem. I guess the coaching staff has to figure it out but I think some tweaking must be done to get our confidence back. I would reinsert Issa and Laurent back in the starting lineup and bring Nigel and Mike off the bench. We need 1-2 threes from Issa and his coming off the bench has not jump started his offense or defense which was also engaged when he was starting. Laurent must be more assertive and not look to pass every time he touches the ball. Coach has said in the last 2-3 press conferences since Penn State that we have to limit our 3's to 10 a game. I think in today's college basketball you cannot do that. I think it has had a worsening effect on all our players. They all seem tentative and are passing up open looks early in the shot clock for more forced looks late in the clock. The other issue is confidence since we have also missed a ton of open 3's by Mike, Nigel and Corey and Issa. I think giving our guys a directive has affected their confidence. Our offense would look better playing inside out, and if CJ and Deshawn or Sa can make a couple of jump hooks early , then when they are being collapsed on , they can dish out and we should have a good look. You hit 1, then the confidence starts and maybe the shots start falling. We are playing too perimeter oriented with late pick and roll or drives into traffic and it is resulting in a worsening offensive output. Just my thoughts. Know some will say we just cannot shoot and that might be true but We have to try something different.

 

[motorb54]

We see so many blocks because when we get the ball inside the player is surrounded.
The opponents have no reason to worry about the kick out pass for a three point attempt. We have to be the easiest defensive game plan to make.

 

[RUJMM78]

Bowlgoal, I would think everybody has to be real happy with Coach Pikiell, the staff he has assembled, the substitutions patterns, the demand and focus on defense and rebounding, making us competitive immediately in 1 short year. Depth that has been created allows us to play harder for longer. Our length, height disrupts most teams we have faced.
The elephant in the room is shooting and why have we regressed so badly. We have been missing layups for years and with the exception of Corey , why the rest of our guards and our bigs do not use the simple bank shot off the glass is mind blowing. A lost art in this generation. Tim Duncan where have you gone! Yes our guards are not as talented or skilled but simple fundamentals would be a whole lot better than getting blocked at the rim.
Good shooting is about confidence, squaring your body to the hoop, and taking good shots. The disappearance of Issa and Mike these last 3 games is killing us. Mike gets down on himself so easily and goes into a worst funk. We were hoping as a junior and now a co- captain , he would flourish and up until 3 games ago he was. Laurent also disappearing compounds the problem. I guess the coaching staff has to figure it out but I think some tweaking must be done to get our confidence back. I would reinsert Issa and Laurent back in the starting lineup and bring Nigel and Mike off the bench. We need 1-2 threes from Issa and his coming off the bench has not jump started his offense or defense which was also engaged when he was starting. Laurent must be more assertive and not look to pass every time he touches the ball. Coach has said in the last 2-3 press conferences since Penn State that we have to limit our 3's to 10 a game. I think in today's college basketball you cannot do that. I think it has had a worsening effect on all our players. They all seem tentative and are passing up open looks early in the shot clock for more forced looks late in the clock. The other issue is confidence since we have also missed a ton of open 3's by Mike, Nigel and Corey and Issa. I think giving our guys a directive has affected their confidence. Our offense would look better playing inside out, and if CJ and Deshawn or Sa can make a couple of jump hooks early , then when they are being collapsed on , they can dish out and we should have a good look. You hit 1, then the confidence starts and maybe the shots start falling. We are playing too perimeter oriented with late pick and roll or drives into traffic and it is resulting in a worsening offensive output. Just my thoughts. Know some will say we just cannot shoot and that might be true but We have to try something different.

Trying something different will only happen with better recruiting which hasn't happened with past head coaches.The current squad simply lacks players with shooting skills.They play hard ,seem coachable but the shooting skillset is missing.