Houston Cougars

[david aka the TYZ]

Classic game where the cats went in there and dominated the first half... got bored and let up. Combine that with Houston getting hot = close finish... Not what you want to see happen but overall not shocking.

I will say this isn't typical of what we've seen from this team. Years ago we always seemed to let up after a big lead. I think it was more than just letting up. They got hot and we got cold, we missed some free throws, got into foul trouble, but had we played with the same fervor we did in the first half I don't think they would've scored as much and I think we'd have been more focused to not get as cold. Again, good learning lesson, you just hope that they get the message as well as had they lost. They lose that game and they hang their heads and know why they lost. You win and maybe they make excuses and don't completely get the message. I'm sure Mick will drill it in their heads.

 

[Basketball.com]

I agree

There is no such thing as "with their tail between their legs" on the road in conference play. Complain all you want about the second half but whether it's by 20 or by 1 it all counts the same in the win column. Still goes towards building a resume for the tourney and seeding. Worry about the miscues in practice later this week. Never take winning for granted on the road in conference. Cats are setting themselves up to potentially be 19-2 before the showdown with Louisville. To think that would be possible after New Mexico and Xavier is astounding. So pumped for Cronin and the guys. Keep winning baby.

If I don't agree with nothing else you say I stand with you on this one. We won and that's it. I will take it any day, it is conference play a win is a win weather it's ugly or beautiful. I'm glad we won.

 

[ervins84]

I don't think tom izzo agrees that a win is a win. His team beat a highly ranked team in OT after blowing a 17 point lead and in his post game he was really disappointed in his guys.

Just as a team can play well and lose, they can play poorly and/or make mistakes and still win like UC and MSU did last night.

Still, I'd rather win than lose obv.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I don't think tom izzo agrees that a win is a win. His team beat a highly ranked team in OT after blowing a 17 point lead and in his post game he was really disappointed in his guys.

Just as a team can play well and lose, they can play poorly and/or make mistakes and still win like UC and MSU did last night.

Still, I'd rather win than lose obv.

I get there are things to work on and from a coaches perspective you don't want to see a team let up, but reality is sometimes a conference game in the middle of January isn't the most important game of the season. You're not going to play you're best 100% of the time and there is some truth to escaping with a win and being happy and learning from the growing pains. When teams are rolling I've heard coaches complain that there is no adversity and that guys get too big a head and worry about a future letdown. Coaches are never happy until the season is over and they cut down the nets. Then they worry about the next season.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

I don't think tom izzo agrees that a win is a win. His team beat a highly ranked team in OT after blowing a 17 point lead and in his post game he was really disappointed in his guys.

Just as a team can play well and lose, they can play poorly and/or make mistakes and still win like UC and MSU did last night.

Still, I'd rather win than lose obv.

Oh really...........



A 17-point collapse, a ping-ponging overtime period, and a high-profile conference win later — he looked understandably exhausted as he tried to wrestle the accompanying array of emotions into comprehension. And then, briefly, he settled on a cliched truth. “A win’s a win,” he said. He smiled.

http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/01/08/ohio-state-michigan-state-big-ten/

 

[ervins84]

Oh really...........



A 17-point collapse, a ping-ponging overtime period, and a high-profile conference win later — he looked understandably exhausted as he tried to wrestle the accompanying array of emotions into comprehension. And then, briefly, he settled on a cliched truth. “A win’s a win,” he said. He smiled.

http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/01/08/ohio-state-michigan-state-big-ten/

Oh really...? Try watching the press conference and see if that's what he believes. Context. How does it work?

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Oh really...? Try watching the press conference and see if that's what he believes. Context. How does it work?

Originally Posted by ervins84 View Post
I don't think tom izzo agrees that a win is a win


“A win’s a win,” he said. He smiled.

 

[ervins84]

Originally Posted by ervins84 View Post
I don't think tom izzo agrees that a win is a win


“A win’s a win,” he said. He smiled.

Watch the interview. He could not have been more sarcastic when he said it, which is the whole reason I even brought that phrase up in the first place.

Hence the "he smiled."

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Watch the interview. He could not have been more sarcastic when he said it, which is the whole reason I even brought that phrase up in the first place.

Hence the "he smiled."

Just watched it and agree with what you are saying.

 

[waterhead]

I will say this isn't typical of what we've seen from this team. Years ago we always seemed to let up after a big lead. I think it was more than just letting up. They got hot and we got cold, we missed some free throws, got into foul trouble, but had we played with the same fervor we did in the first half I don't think they would've scored as much and I think we'd have been more focused to not get as cold. Again, good learning lesson, you just hope that they get the message as well as had they lost. They lose that game and they hang their heads and know why they lost. You win and maybe they make excuses and don't completely get the message. I'm sure Mick will drill it in their heads.

The reason I think we let go of big leads in the past was because we had no depth and our guys playing 30+ minutes got tired. This year is the opposite (up until now) we have had solid (playable) depth. We are wearing other teams out and until this last game we have been doing a pretty good job of closing out games.

With Lawrence out and GG hurting that strategy may change a little.

 

[JackBauer151]

I was very relieved to see that we were able to get good minutes with big Dave in the game when we go to the zone. With our length and athleticism I think the zone can be a real weapon for us to use. Hell it saved us vs Houston. With Lawrence down and our depth a little depleted we will need to steal some minutes out there. If Dave plays like that going forward he can be a real contributor. The zone takes away him having to defend the pick and roll and allows him to play help defense with those long arms. Interested to see how Mick uses that going forward.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I was very relieved to see that we were able to get good minutes with big Dave in the game when we go to the zone. With our length and athleticism I think the zone can be a real weapon for us to use. Hell it saved us vs Houston. With Lawrence down and our depth a little depleted we will need to steal some minutes out there. If Dave plays like that going forward he can be a real contributor. The zone takes away him having to defend the pick and roll and allows him to play help defense with those long arms. Interested to see how Mick uses that going forward.

Jack like you, I was very impressed with How David N. responded. Not easy sitting on the bench or practicing for that matter when you are a senior and you getting next to know playing time. I did like the use of the zone as well considering are injuries. The draw back was I felt Rubles and JJ played a little like they were afraid to foul out instead of fast and aggressive in the second half. What my hope is that when Lawrence gets healthy the play of DN gives us anoher option we have tried and enables JJ and Titus to play free and easy. Now that doesn't mean JJ should go back to fouling people 30 feet from the hoop but if he picks up a foul defending the goal I'm fine. The defensive intensity in the first half as oposed to second half was like night and day against Houston.

 

[anbuc88]

I was very relieved to see that we were able to get good minutes with big Dave in the game when we go to the zone. With our length and athleticism I think the zone can be a real weapon for us to use. Hell it saved us vs Houston. With Lawrence down and our depth a little depleted we will need to steal some minutes out there. If Dave plays like that going forward he can be a real contributor. The zone takes away him having to defend the pick and roll and allows him to play help defense with those long arms. Interested to see how Mick uses that going forward.

When asked about playing time, Cronin has mentioned that there will be a game when Big Dave is instrumental. He saved us against Houston, and his presence will be needed until Lawrence returns. SK also mentioned how happy the team is when Dave's contributes, as he works just as hard as anyone else in practice. It was great to see him play a significant role in Tuesdays win.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

The reason I think we let go of big leads in the past was because we had no depth and our guys playing 30+ minutes got tired. This year is the opposite (up until now) we have had solid (playable) depth. We are wearing other teams out and until this last game we have been doing a pretty good job of closing out games.

With Lawrence out and GG hurting that strategy may change a little.

I think in the past we weren't as mentally tough or focused as this team is. Since we escaped with the win I will say that I am kind of happy this happened to them. Good learning lesson. They probably got a bit of a big head beating Memphis like they did and then destroying Houston in the first half, both on the road. Lets keep them humble and hungry. Even Mick in his post game press conference that someone posted didn't really seem upset like he has after some other games. I think he knows this is one of those things that happens in the growing process and that he can go in there and get loud at his players for it and they will understand that they can't let up. The win counts the same as it would had we won by 20 or 30.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I was very relieved to see that we were able to get good minutes with big Dave in the game when we go to the zone. With our length and athleticism I think the zone can be a real weapon for us to use. Hell it saved us vs Houston. With Lawrence down and our depth a little depleted we will need to steal some minutes out there. If Dave plays like that going forward he can be a real contributor. The zone takes away him having to defend the pick and roll and allows him to play help defense with those long arms. Interested to see how Mick uses that going forward.

Absolutely. Dave stepped it up. His minutes might have very well been the difference between the win and a loss.

 

[waterhead]

I think in the past we weren't as mentally tough or focused as this team is. Since we escaped with the win I will say that I am kind of happy this happened to them. Good learning lesson. They probably got a bit of a big head beating Memphis like they did and then destroying Houston in the first half, both on the road. Lets keep them humble and hungry. Even Mick in his post game press conference that someone posted didn't really seem upset like he has after some other games. I think he knows this is one of those things that happens in the growing process and that he can go in there and get loud at his players for it and they will understand that they can't let up. The win counts the same as it would had we won by 20 or 30.

It's hard to quantify just how much more mentally tough or focused we are over any team of the past...so I am not going to touch that one.

However, this season we have had 8 players averaging 17+ minutes and 9 players averaging 13 minutes. The year before that we had 6 and 7 respectively (with an injured Cash). That's two less in depth...(and I think our quality of depth is better as well). Go back two seasons and we had 6 guys playing 17+ minutes and 0 more playing 13+. To be completely accurate here we had 6 guys playing 21+ minutes and 0 more playing 10.2+ minutes.

How can you run an effective press all game when you only have 6 reliable players? How can you wear down a team? You can't...the opposite is going to happen...you are going to get worn down. With a choice between tired or unfocused...I would choose tired as the culprit. Last year we were a little deeper but you are still talking a main rotation of 6 or 7 (with an injured Cash) compared to 8 or 9. That is huge in terms of fresh legs and pressing IMO.