Mentioned several times in the presser. Clearly, something had been off with this group.
Wiz
I think the clarity is pretty simple, TK needs the ball in his hands because he makes everyone else better. I know he likes playing away from the ball and think he wanted to showcase he can be very effective off the ball as well. I get he wants to play at the next level and wants to show he is can play both guard positions, but him not running the show lowers the probability of them winning games.
I did not see the game, but following gamecast online when I could and it seemed like it was a layup drill for the boys yesterday. Sharing the ball, like shooting, is contagious and sure looked like they were sharing the ball. He makes his teammates better on offense in a similar way that Stevie does on defense, by setting the tone.
We had 60 points in the paint which also contributed to us shooting 70% on 2 point shots. If we're gonna have success, we need TK to know and be happy with his role.
Quote from: ATWizJr on January 16, 2024, 07:02:08 AM
We had 60 points in the paint which also contributed to us shooting 70% on 2 point shots. If we're gonna have success, we need TK to know and be happy with his role.
Nailed it.
Quote from: Goose on January 16, 2024, 01:32:25 AM
Wiz
I think the clarity is pretty simple, TK needs the ball in his hands because he makes everyone else better. I know he likes playing away from the ball and think he wanted to showcase he can be very effective off the ball as well. I get he wants to play at the next level and wants to show he is can play both guard positions, but him not running the show lowers the probability of them winning games.
I did not see the game, but following gamecast online when I could and it seemed like it was a layup drill for the boys yesterday. Sharing the ball, like shooting, is contagious and sure looked like they were sharing the ball. He makes his teammates better on offense in a similar way that Stevie does on defense, by setting the tone.
Quote from: ATWizJr on January 16, 2024, 07:02:08 AM
We had 60 points in the paint which also contributed to us shooting 70% on 2 point shots. If we're gonna have success, we need TK to know and be happy with his role.
I agree with Wiz's comment that TK needs to know and be happy with his role. I also agree with various poster's sentiment that Kolek has seemed frustrated the last few games. I'm not sure I have the same perspective as Goose, that Kolek
wants to play off the ball. My sense is that Sean was getting more playing with Kolek on the floor, which necessitated Kolek playing off the ball more. Sure, I could imagine that Kolek wants to develop and show more versatility, but I think we was frustrated with some of Sean's driving into the lane and getting lost in the trees (sort of like what Kolek himself did too often his first year at MU), limiting Kolek's ability as a playmaker. He got back to that today, made things happen and seems to have broken out of his funk.
I do fully agree with Goose's idea that Sean will be a productive PG for MU in the future, and that it should be (and now will be, with Sean out) Kolek that drives this year's team.
Goose. Without even seeing the game, you absolutely nailed it!
mug644
I could be off base on Kolek wanting to play off the ball, but I heard multiple interviews that he stated he liked playing with Sean on the court and that he really was an off guard for much his career. It definitely sounded like he wanted the freedom to play more off guard and having Sean at PG allowed that to happen. By no means do I think it was a crazy selfish ask, it just did not make the offense better. Again, my comments are 100% based off of interviews I heard from Kolek.
Goose. Again, you couldn't have summed up the last few weeks, let alone the Villanova game, any better with your above post!
Nice to see TK with the ball more but I do worry about him getting worn down without Sean playing.
Tyler is tough but playing 34+ min in the BE game in, game out is going to be brutal.
Quote from: Goose on January 16, 2024, 11:37:38 AM
mug644
I could be off base on Kolek wanting to play off the ball, but I heard multiple interviews that he stated he liked playing with Sean on the court and that he really was an off guard for much his career. It definitely sounded like he wanted the freedom to play more off guard and having Sean at PG allowed that to happen. By no means do I think it was a crazy selfish ask, it just did not make the offense better. Again, my comments are 100% based off of interviews I heard from Kolek.
Ah, I hadn't interpreted comments that I've heard from Kolek in that way; still, I'll not question it. He certainly wasn't playing like he wanted to (or could as effectively) play off the ball. As you said, he makes his teammates better when he is the playmaker. Go MU!
I also think Dano is right that Tyler playing 34+ min in BEast games will wear him down.
Quote from: MarquetteDano on January 16, 2024, 12:31:01 PM
Nice to see TK with the ball more but I do worry about him getting worn down without Sean playing.
Tyler is tough but playing 34+ min in the BE game in, game out is going to be brutal.
Teams are making a concerted effort to rough him up and the refs are seemingly fine with it.
Perhaps I misconstrued it, but I took Shaka's "clarity" comment as a reference to perhaps Kolek feeling pressure and being distracted by all the accolades, the future, outside opinions etc....All of that makes sense to me. Shaka and Kolek in the past have talked about pouring into the team and getting lost in the fight rather than allowing outside influences to impact performance. Hopefully Tyler found something late in the game, especially some of that confidence that he clearly lost.
Quote from: StillWarriors on January 16, 2024, 01:48:53 PM
Perhaps I misconstrued it, but I took Shaka's "clarity" comment as a reference to perhaps Kolek feeling pressure and being distracted by all the accolades, the future, outside opinions etc....All of that makes sense to me. Shaka and Kolek in the past have talked about pouring into the team and getting lost in the fight rather than allowing outside influences to impact performance. Hopefully Tyler found something late in the game, especially some of that confidence that he clearly lost.
That was how I interpreted the comments I heard in his short postgame radio interview.
Quote from: StillWarriors on January 16, 2024, 01:48:53 PM
Perhaps I misconstrued it, but I took Shaka's "clarity" comment as a reference to perhaps Kolek feeling pressure and being distracted by all the accolades, the future, outside opinions etc....All of that makes sense to me. Shaka and Kolek in the past have talked about pouring into the team and getting lost in the fight rather than allowing outside influences to impact performance. Hopefully Tyler found something late in the game, especially some of that confidence that he clearly lost.
100%
Quote from: Goose on January 16, 2024, 01:32:25 AM
Wiz
I think the clarity is pretty simple, TK needs the ball in his hands because he makes everyone else better. I know he likes playing away from the ball and think he wanted to showcase he can be very effective off the ball as well. I get he wants to play at the next level and wants to show he is can play both guard positions, but him not running the show lowers the probability of them winning games.
I did not see the game, but following gamecast online when I could and it seemed like it was a layup drill for the boys yesterday. Sharing the ball, like shooting, is contagious and sure looked like they were sharing the ball. He makes his teammates better on offense in a similar way that Stevie does on defense, by setting the tone.
Our guys played great, but what surprised me was Novas poor defense. Our guys on a few possessions just waltzed to the basket.
Quote from: ATWizJr on January 16, 2024, 07:02:08 AM
We had 60 points in the paint which also contributed to us shooting 70% on 2 point shots. If we're gonna have success, we need TK to know and be happy with his role.
Taking the ball inside worked well against Villanova and Creighton, because they are not physical defensive teams. They play not to foul. This did not work well against Providence, Seton Hall and Butler, because they play physical defense.
Quote from: bilsu on January 16, 2024, 04:48:00 PM
Taking the ball inside worked well against Villanova and Creighton, because they are not physical defensive teams. They play not to foul. This did not work well against Providence, Seton Hall and Butler, because they play physical defense.
Agreed but Providence and Seton Hall foul a.lot in reality. They just dont get it called a lot at home. I expect more free throws when we play them at Fiserv. Butler will be a battle but if we play even our B+ game we should win in Indy.