Campbell game thread

[UCalum08]

Nah. The poor FT shooting will get better.

Parker, Wright and S K will be automatic here in a few weeks. That always happens.

I'm more worried about the missed defensive assignments for easy buckets, turnovers by our non-amigos, and lack of movement on offense at times.

I don't see how you can be so sure the ft's will get better. We have some big games this OCC and missed ft's will haunt. I agree about the TO's because we probably easily left 10-15 points off the board just from stupid turnovers.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

The most discouraging thing to me was Jackson playing like a moron tonight. He's a junior. I love his energy but he still makes freshman mistakes.

Sanders looked pretty good tonight.

Defense was problematic. They just got sloppy and took their foot off the gas. I'm not too worried but they cannot afford to let up against better competition.

 

[UCalum08]

The most discouraging thing to me was Jackson playing like a moron tonight. He's a junior. I love his energy but he still makes freshman mistakes.

Sanders looked pretty good tonight.

Defense was problematic. They just got sloppy and took their foot off the gas. I'm not too worried but they cannot afford to let up against better competition.

Hahaha lol to your first comment, so so true. No need to say much more of that turrible showing by him.

 

[UnivCincy]

On the whole, the team looked lazy, as if they expected to win easily. This attitude was evident in the second half, especially. If the team takes this attitude into the Iowa State game, we're in a lot of trouble.

The free throws are a major concern, I think. You may argue that SK is a 74% FT shooter, that Parker is a 65% FT shooter, but those still are not great averages for guards. If SK could hit his FT at a 75% clip consistently, and if Parker were around that percentage, I wouldn't be concerned. I think Cronin will sharpen the team's focus and force the players to shoot a lot of free throws before Friday.

The turnovers are a major concern, too, I think. It seemed like they were careless, at times, and I hope that this can be attributed to the aforementioned attitude that they carried into this game.

In short, everything needs to be tightened up. It's early in the season, so I won't make any judgments just yet. As Cronin said in the post-game press conference, "It's November" and "things have been too easy for us."

My two favorite tweets from the night come from Lance McAlister:
- "It is a sight to see this team extend their arms on defense. Length and more length."
- "Watching Cheikh Mbodj in person this year for first time. It is stunning the change in his body from a year ago."

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

While I hate seeing us shoot Ft's so bad I know we will improve in that area. What concerns me is our ball handling. I like all the blocked shots and our rebounding has been very good but we are throwing the ball away at a alarming rate. It hasn't hurt us to this point because we have not been challenged but when we get in a close game FT's and turnovers are crucial. I think the guys are adjusting and will get better. Last year we played a true 4 guard offense with Dixion,Cash,Killa Parker, and Yancy. This year we have 3 guards and our lack of good ball handling is showing up as neither Rubles or Jackson have displayed the talent to make good passes. Most of which have been with very little pressure from the opposition or the pressure of perfroming in a close game. If it doesn't improve I can see Mick increasing the minutes Sanders gets with Rubles and Jackson coming off the bench. Last year one of our strengths was our ability to take care of the Basketball. Hope the guys improve.

 

[mplebanon]

I don't see how you can be so sure the ft's will get better. We have some big games this OCC and missed ft's will haunt. I agree about the TO's because we probably easily left 10-15 points off the board just from stupid turnovers.

Because typically the FT shooting always does get better as the season goes on.

Yancy was terrible early on last season, and by the end of the season, I never worried when he went to the line.

Terry Nelson commentated last night that as a head coach you want to work on it, but not to the point it mentally becomes an obstacle in the players minds. I agree.

Anyone who has played basketball knows that FT shooting is just repetition of shooting form. Find something you're comfortable with, that works, and repeat, repeat, repeat.

 

[ralph1950]

The Bearcats took the fight out of the Camels, 91-72.

 

[more cowbell]

Anyone else notice that David Nyarsuk's hands looked like they were made of stone? With that said, I imagine it is tough for UC to get pumped up for Campbell. Iowa State will be their first test.

 

[mplebanon]

A few more thoughts......

1. The game was in hand until Mick totally replaced the 1st team with all second teamers, and the lead quickly went from 20+ to like 12 points.

2. Campbell is expected to win their division of their conference. I was actually pretty impressed with their offense and you have to consider how undersized they were. Definitely the best mid-major we've played so far, and probably one of the best in the last 3 or 4 years. They were within 4 points of Iowa State in the last 5 mins of that game until IS pulled away.

3. Definitely was the most sloppy and undisciplined effort by the Cats, yet they still won by nearly 20 points and posted 91 on their opponent. Off night? If that was an off night, I feel pretty good about this team.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

A few more thoughts......

1. The game was in hand until Mick totally replaced the 1st team with all second teamers, and the lead quickly went from 20+ to like 12 points.

2. Campbell is expected to win their division of their conference. I was actually pretty impressed with their offense and you have to consider how undersized they were. Definitely the best mid-major we've played so far, and probably one of the best in the last 3 or 4 years. They were within 4 points of Iowa State in the last 5 mins of that game until IS pulled away.

3. Definitely was the most sloppy and undisciplined effort by the Cats, yet they still won by nearly 20 points and posted 91 on their opponent. Off night? If that was an off night, I feel pretty good about this team.

I agree. I think Campbell is much better than their name gives them credit for. They had some scorers and played well as a team. They're the type of team that can beat you if you let them. We had an off night and still won big.

I get it that we want consistent effort night in and night out, but I got to think it's tough to get up to play every game vs. no-name opponents. I'm guessing they weren't ready to play 40 tough minutes and that's what Campbell was ready to give us. Not that there's any excuse for it. SK looked tired, Jackson still looks like he's trying too hard. Rubles looked like a guy playing in his fourth game on a new level. Cash, minus a couple sloppy turnovers, looked good. And as bad as our free-throw shooting has been it should be pointed out he went 8-10 from the line last night. I'm not as worried about free-throw shooting as some, but it definitely has been an issue. They won't win this weekend shooting 50% from the line or in Big East play.

 

[Bearcat04]

You don't know that and if they continue to develop bad habits it will only be harder to break.

You were saying?

 

[UCalum08]

You were saying?

Haha I was thinking the same thing actually. I will gladly insert my foot in mouth. I just hope they make me keep it there after today!