Chip a wa-y to win

[vogue65]

Need to ditch havoc.  Gives way more than it takes.  Start playing solid defense rather than chasing steals.

Bingo!

[vogue65]

Havoc works with an element of surprise.
However, with a plan just look for the open man, or two.  Do the math, ditch the havoc defense.

[Scoop Snoop]

If he does shut it down during a game, he should do it when we are getting our ass kicked by a mediocre team so that all of us doomsayers will get even more pissed than the teams meltdown because we can't take our frustrations out on the board. That would be great during the holidays. Rocky,have at it. Suspect there will be plenty of opportunities.

You're perpetually pissed all the time anyway, so whether the site is up or not-in your case-is totally irrelevant.   

[The Sultan]

You're perpetually pissed all the time anyway, so whether the site is up or not-in your case-is totally irrelevant.   

His wife has kept him down for so long that he's just turned bitter. Sitting in his basement, with his Warrior pennant and his cooler full of Busch Lite, he can't help get mad that players now have their names on their jerseys and "wierd" hairstyles.

[brewcity77]

Just finished watching. The final score didn't do justice to how close that was. Defense was abysmal. Didn't force turnovers, allowed too many second chances, open threes, and good lord the driving lanes were wide effing open.

On offense, Chase is embracing the Kam role. He was the difference between a win and am embarrassing loss. Just played sloppy. And how on earth are we seven games in and back to trying to figure out rotations? Just uninspiring all around.

[NCMUFan]

Do you mean that the schools should actually employ the team members, allow them to unionize, and sign them to guaranteed contracts of various lengths?

Sure. But that's not what they want.

No, I was thinking more like Doctors, Dentists, Architects, Engineers.  They are professionals.

[The Sultan]

I said this earlier, but CMU had a couple wide open threes, in the hands of their shooters, that if they would have hit could have changed this result. Thank goodness they missed.

[Scoop Snoop]

Just finished watching. The final score didn't do justice to how close that was. Defense was abysmal. Didn't force turnovers, allowed too many second chances, open threes, and good lord the driving lanes were wide effing open.

On offense, Chase is embracing the Kam role. He was the difference between a win and am embarrassing loss. Just played sloppy. And how on earth are we seven games in and back to trying to figure out rotations? Just uninspiring all around.

The bolded are the same words (except that I said embarrassing win) I used when my wife returned home from a day in Charlottesville and asked me how the game went.

The infamous 17 seconds capping a poorly played game almost extinguished all hopes I had that this team could turn things around. Yesterday's game finished me off. I am hoping to have to eat those words later in the season but seriously doubt that I will need to.  

[Uncle Rico]

No, I was thinking more like Doctors, Dentists, Architects, Engineers.  They are professionals.

Not anymore

[WarriorFan]

Here's an inspiring thought for those who like to support the underdog:
It's possible that every team remaining on the schedule (except Valpo) is better than MU. 

So, let's go support the underdog!

[NCMUFan]

We have now become the trap game.

[HutchwasClutch]

I said this earlier, but CMU had a couple wide open threes, in the hands of their shooters, that if they would have hit could have changed this result. Thank goodness they missed.

Ok, and if Gold knocks down a few of the many open 3's he had, we win much more comfortably and put them away earlier.  You can apply this argument to most basketball games at any level for the team that lost.

There were good moments yesterday.  Much to clean up, like again playing way too fast on offense, leading to bad shots. That and overall, frustrating how many poor shooting games from 3 our guys have, and has become the norm under Shaka.  Tough to win in this day when you're shooting in the 20's or low 30's from 3. 

This board consensus was too high and overrated the team last season when there were obvious problems and we were just escaping with wins from December on.  Now, it's barely three weeks into the season and a young team is trash and full of wasted scholarships. 

[The Sultan]

Ok, and if Gold knocks down a few of the many open 3's he had, we win much more comfortably and put them away earlier.  You can apply this argument to most basketball games at any level for the team that lost.

There were good moments yesterday.  Much to clean up, like again playing way too fast on offense, leading to bad shots. That and overall, frustrating how many poor shooting games from 3 our guys have, and has become the norm under Shaka.  Tough to win in this day when you're shooting in the 20's or low 30's from 3. 

This board consensus was too high and overrated the team last season when there were obvious problems and we were just escaping with wins from December on.  Now, it's barely three weeks into the season and a young team is trash and full of wasted scholarships. 

I agree with your first two paragraphs.

But I think it's pretty plain to see that the sophomore and junior classes are a problem.

[HutchwasClutch]

I agree with your first two paragraphs.

But I think it's pretty plain to see that the sophomore and junior classes are a problem.

That may well be the case.  But I think it's reasonable to give them more than three weeks to get comfortable in their new roles and find themselves.  There's a ton of season left. 

[Pakuni]

This board consensus was too high and overrated the team last season when there were obvious problems and we were just escaping with wins from December on.  Now, it's barely three weeks into the season and a young team is trash and full of wasted scholarships. 

Except, it's not really a young team. This team has nine players averaging double-digit minutes. Three have been in the program for four years (albeit one spent much of a year injured). Three others have been in the program for three years. We're not running a bunch of freshmen out there. A majority of the lineup is upperclassmen.

I get that some of those older players don't have a ton of game experience, but isn't that kind of the point of RGV? Players spend a couple years growing in the program and then are ready to go as soon as their opportunity arrives? What's the use of RGV if third-year players still need to time to develop when they get their chance to play?
And no, given the importance of early season nonconference games, it's not reasonable to punt on the first month of the season while players adjust to new roles. The cycle of college basketball means players adjust to new roles every year.

[HutchwasClutch]

The guy who deserves criticism is Gold.  The only senior besides Ross and still a crap shooter even though supposedly was going to be a stretch 4 or 5. He rebounds pretty well and his defense is ok.  That's about it. Very disappointing player on a team that badly needs much more production out of him. 

And Owens is a big concern.  He's shown nothing except being very capable of giving up the ball. Three straight without a point.

[The Sultan]

That may well be the case.  But I think it's reasonable to give them more than three weeks to get comfortable in their new roles and find themselves.  There's a ton of season left. 

I mean, we have no choice but to do that.

[HutchwasClutch]

Except, it's not really a young team. This team has nine players averaging double-digit minutes. Three have been in the program for four years (albeit one spent much of a year injured). Three others have been in the program for three years. We're not running a bunch of freshmen out there. A majority of the lineup is upperclassmen.

I get that some of those older players don't have a ton of game experience, but isn't that kind of the point of RGV? Players spend a couple years growing in the program and then are ready to go as soon as their opportunity arrives? What's the use of RGV if third-year players still need to time to develop when they get their chance to play?
And no, given the importance of early season nonconference games, it's not reasonable to punt on the first month of the season while players adjust to new roles. The cycle of college basketball means players adjust to new roles every year.

You just provided the major hole in it's not an inexperienced team argument. 

And teams often get much better from November to March. What, you've never witnessed that in your life following major college ball?  A first month of struggle and inexperienced mistakes is a new concept for you?  If anything, Shaka and his staff are not helping this team by preaching to play fast on offense in the hopes of more possessions. I think Shaka's gets a poor grade how he's handled the team early season. The way he wants them to play is not where their confidence and comfort level is yet. 

[79Warrior]

The guy who deserves criticism is Gold.  The only senior besides Ross and still a crap shooter even though supposedly was going to be a stretch 4 or 5. He rebounds pretty well and his defense is ok.  That's about it. Very disappointing player on a team that badly needs much more production out of him. 

And Owens is a big concern.  He's shown nothing except being very capable of giving up the ball. Three straight without a point.

Gold has improved his defense and rebounding. His shooting is what it is. Never that great and not getting any better. He is never turning into Steve Novak. The defense can sag off him because he is not much of a threat. Very disappointing. The team lacks a go to shooter. We better hope Chase stays healthy of it will be a train wreck.

[wadesworld]

What do you want us to do about it?
You're not gonna change his mind, so why even bother suggesting it.

I want him to play different types of defenses throughout games so that I can evaluate whether the team should be playing those or not. He owes it to me.

[Scoop Snoop]

I want him to play different types of defenses throughout games so that I can evaluate whether the team should be playing those or not. He owes it to me.

KUDOS!

[Pakuni]

You just provided the major hole in it's not an inexperienced team argument. 

So, what's the point of bringing guys along slowly for 2+ years if they're going to play like freshmen as soon as they get their opportunity (and tank the first month of the season in the process)? I'd rather just play freshmen, then. At least they'll be ready to go by the time their sophomores and juniors.
Again, one of the main supposed benefits of RGV is that players hit the ground running once their time arrives. Now you're telling us that a guy who's been around three years still needs a month-plus to adjust? What have these guys been doing for the past 2-3 years if it wasn't preparing for their time to play?

And teams often get much better from November to March.

The problem with this is twofold:
- most teams get much better from November to March. The Indiana team that thumped MU by 23? That's an entirely new roster with a new coach, and is only going to get better as the season progresses. Maryland is going to get healthier and more accustomed to what their new coach wants. Dayton has three new starters. They're likely to improve with more time together. Marquette isn't going to make a massive leap while 360 other teams are stuck in neutral.

- if you have any serious tournament aspirations, you can't throw away the first month of the season while your players adjust. These games are massive toward building a tournament resume. Last year's Marquette team might not have made the tournament without its wins in the first month of the season. And if they did, they'd have been sent to Dayton. Teams don't have the luxury of being bad during the nonconference schedule.