Yes I stomached that loss twice. I just wanted a better understanding of we could look so good in the first half and then blow the second half. Here is what I saw, both bad and good:
1) Oxtule is struggling, and they are not at fault. Derrick does not know how to or is afraid to make an entry pass (more on this later). The new rules are also killing them (more on this later)
2) I hate the new rules....so so much. The things that they do call compared to what they don't is mind boggling to me. They are calling them correctly but Davante isn't getting half the calls he did last season and its killing us on defense. Moreover, it affects are entire style of play. We use to be a good second half team because teams would bruised and battered by the time the final minutes rolled around. We can't do that anymore and its killing us late in games
3) I don't know who the "passer" on this team is. I have defended Derrick repeatedly but his lack of entry passes to the big fellas is killing us. But not all the blame is on him. I don't know who on the team can do it. Jake, no. Mayo, no. Anderson, love the kid but no. Taylor, hells no. What I would like to see is more Jamil at the point, he has pretty good vision and make the entry pass into the post
4) All talk of Jake not being a sniper should stop now. After his 4/7 performance tonight he is shooting over 40%for the season and more than doubles what anyone else on our team has in 3PM. He stretches out the defense and played superb D tonight....BUT
5) Jake is a role player. He can't drive, he can't pass, and he is an average rebounder. He needs to be on the floor (otherwise defenses will crowd the middle even more) but we need another player in at the same time who can penetrate. Mayo and Jake at the same time maybe?
6) Stealing this from a friend of mine but Cullen Neal has taken the honor of "white cbb player I want to punch in the face the most" away from Sam Dekker. Didn't like the kid, but damn did he torch us tonight. He averages 6 ppg and 33% from 3 and he went off for 24 and 6/8. He misses even two of those, and this is a very different ball game.
7) I'm SO glad Juan didn't transfer. Kid is a ballhawk. I want to see him on the floor more
8) We need to find a better way to defend teams with two dominant big men. Bairstow and Kirk were never in the paint at the same time. Whichever one Davante or Chris was guarding would wander to the perimeter and get our big man away from the hope. This allowed for easy drives and offensive rebounds
9) I need more BANE in my life.
10) I have no idea what to make of Trey J.
11) The lineup that I don't think has ever happened but I would like to see: 1) Jamil 2) Mayo 3) Thomas 4) Anderson/Bane 5) Oxtule
12) This game was a lot closer than it felt at the end. We cut it to 4 with under a minute left and Jake missed the front end of a 1 and 1. He hits both of those...all of the sudden its a very winnable game. Also, that Neal kid was possessed today. That won't happen to us everytime
This sounded very optimistic..BUT again, if JT and De Wilson continue to start we will struggle to make the NIT
I joined the Derrick moratorium so what I can say wrt item 3 is that Jamail is our best PG, best initiator of the offense, best passer, and has more options from the top of the key with the ball than anyone else on the team.
It's so annoying when our guys hesitate at the top of the arc or when they're open for shots. The majority of our players lack confidence shooting the ball besides a few. I don't cringe when our players make shots but I do when we take jump shots. Whenever we hit jumpers I feel like throwing my hands in the air and yelling hallelujah...so many buckets down low or on free throws.
Jamil does that two step thing at the top when taking it down court. Then we swing the ball around the perimeter a bunch and don't execute much of anything. Eventually we are forced into dumping it down low for a forced Oxtule shot or Jamil doing some tough hook or turnaround. Our guys still show their flashes once in a while but I am still surprised when they do. If only Burton was a bit further along on D he could be playing more and scoring 10 a game easily. The young guys are on a short leash so they're playing too tentative on offense.
Our offense is just plain bad. It's losing us these "real" games because we can't execute as many plays with the current squad. Losing two great play makers and a cog in Lockett really did a number on the offense. Afraid we won't improve soon enough to make the big dance.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on December 22, 2013, 12:58:11 AM
Yes I stomached that loss twice. I just wanted a better understanding of we could look so good in the first half and then blow the second half. Here is what I saw, both bad and good:
1) Oxtule is struggling, and they are not at fault. Derrick does not know how to or is afraid to make an entry pass (more on this later). The new rules are also killing them (more on this later)
8) We need to find a better way to defend teams with two dominant big men. Bairstow and Kirk were never in the paint at the same time. Whichever one Davante or Chris was guarding would wander to the perimeter and get our big man away from the hope. This allowed for easy drives and offensive rebounds
Good points. Our big guys were outplayed today. When that happens, it is going to be hard for us to win.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on December 22, 2013, 12:58:11 AM
7) I'm SO glad Juan didn't transfer. Kid is a ballhawk. I want to see him on the floor more
+1000
Good things happen when Juan is in the game. He gets us extra possessions with his boards and steals, and disrupts the other team's offense with his deflections. Hard to understand why he played only 15 minutes last night...notably, most in the first half. Hmmmm....
Quote from: CTWarrior on December 22, 2013, 04:23:30 AM
Good points. Our big guys were outplayed today. When that happens, it is going to be hard for us to win.
Neal went off, and they had a few role players that hit big shots down the stretch. I think that combination just broke our back--had a good game plan, played some really good defensive possessions, but a few things didn't bounce our way.
Unfortunately, I feel like this is becoming a thing for us this season--we're lacking that X factor to push us past adversity. I hope that they can still discover it in conference play, but right now we seem to be a team with a lot of great pieces, but unable to put the whole thing together.
Quote from: MUMountin on December 22, 2013, 10:10:11 AM
Neal went off, and they had a few role players that hit big shots down the stretch. I think that combination just broke our back--had a good game plan, played some really good defensive possessions, but a few things didn't bounce our way.
Unfortunately, I feel like this is becoming a thing for us this season--we're lacking that X factor to push us past adversity. I hope that they can still discover it in conference play, but right now we seem to be a team with a lot of great pieces, but unable to put the whole thing together.
That was one of my issues with this game. We had such defensive inconsistency. We'd have a good run, then suddenly couldn't get a stop to save our lives and when it seemed like we would, bailed them out with a foul. At times we are a great defensive team, but there are definitely some holes, especially with some of our more potent offensive weapons. Gardner and Burton especially can be brutal at times, and sometimes it seems like that frustration on the defensive end leads to some wild shots on the offensive end that have no chance.
Anyone else hear the announcer completely misinterpret what a turkey was? He said that Marquette had given up 2 turkeys, which was when the defense allowed three straight baskets. Umm...no.
I think play Jamil, JJJ, Burton, Juan, and Ox. Duane if he comes back, JT and Der.Wil. Otule looks lost. He's no BB player, can't depend on Mayo to play or not. If Taylor can play, play until he can't
go. I don't think we know the whole Taylor story. But play your future and the hell with the vets,
"for they do not know what they are doing". Pounters. :( :( :( :( :( :)
Quote from: MUMountin on December 22, 2013, 10:10:11 AM
Neal went off, and they had a few role players that hit big shots down the stretch. I think that combination just broke our back--had a good game plan, played some really good defensive possessions, but a few things didn't bounce our way.
Unfortunately, I feel like this is becoming a thing for us this season--we're lacking that X factor to push us past adversity. I hope that they can still discover it in conference play, but right now we seem to be a team with a lot of great pieces, but unable to put the whole thing together.
The two "X" factors we're lacking that we had in seasons past:
1. Somebody to break down the defense and create either for himself of teammates. Doesn't have to be the PG, but has to be somebody.
2. Dearth of fastbreak baskets, especially against good opponents. We do not create enough havoc on defense to get these opportunities, and when we do get a semi-break on a long rebound or something, we don't have the penetrators and/or finishers.
Then again ...
I'm not sure I should call these "X" factors, because any truly good team has the ability to both of these things.
Quote from: MU82 on December 22, 2013, 11:30:18 AM
The two "X" factors we're lacking that we had in seasons past:
1. Somebody to break down the defense and create either for himself of teammates. Doesn't have to be the PG, but has to be somebody.
2. Dearth of fastbreak baskets, especially against good opponents. We do not create enough havoc on defense to get these opportunities, and when we do get a semi-break on a long rebound or something, we don't have the penetrators and/or finishers.
Then again ...
I'm not sure I should call these "X" factors, because any truly good team has the ability to both of these things.
Yup.
And Derrick and Jake don't fit that billing.
Neither can create their own shot.
Jake can't push the ball though Derrick can.
The rebounding last night made me sick. New Mexico got 37.5% of the available offensive rebounds (12/32), while we only pulled down 28.6% (10/35). And that despite Kirk sitting a bit of the second half with foul trouble. Too many extra possessions for them.
Jake has to play with Todd.
Been saying it forever. That's where his 3s came from yesterday.
Jake is an asset if the d has to worry about Todd who can shoot or drive.
Jake obviously can't shoot if Derrick freaking Wilson is the threat.
Final minutes desperate for a comeback. Dwil and Chris in the game. That isn't bad coaching. That is AWFUL coaching.
Ox musta started readin' his preseason pub, a'ina?
Quote from: 4everwarriors on December 22, 2013, 03:07:18 PM
Ox musta started readin' his preseason pub, a'ina?
He should have stayed fat