@Iowa State

[JasonS]

We were so gassed in the second half but this team showed the desire to keep playing awesome D and continued to rebound.

The rebounding was amazing last night! The entire first half, Iowa St, with their players crashing the boards, had 0 offensive rebounds! Crazy! The offensive rebounding is what kept them in the game in the first half and, of course, defense travels.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I agree he's not the guy we need with the ball in his hands with 5 seconds left. Evans is that guy. And for god sakes...if you have the ball with 8 seconds... don't stand there and let it dwindle to 4 before you make a move.

Everybody thinks Mick tries to play a slow down offense. We play a motion offense. As long as TC is running the Point we will never be a up and down team. That is not playing to his strength. TC takes care of the ball, Rebounds and gets the offense started. Mick's offense would look a whole lot better if guys would shoot the ball when they are open. Again I am not advocating we start launching shots seconds into the shot clock but if you get a good look take it. Certainly it will also depend on where we are in the game but guys have to take open looks and it also helps if we can make a few. I bet our shooting % would climb if we did this instead of giving the ball back to TC with 5 seconds on the clock. How many shots do you think Gary has passed up this year. Evans too.

 

[waterhead]

The rebounding was amazing last night! The entire first half, Iowa St, with their players crashing the boards, had 0 offensive rebounds! Crazy! The offensive rebounding is what kept them in the game in the first half and, of course, defense travels.

We held them to 80 points below their season high in regulation....lol! Moved up to 8 on KenPom.

 

[waterhead]

Everybody thinks Mick tries to play a slow down offense. We play a motion offense. As long as TC is running the Point we will never be a up and down team. That is not playing to his strength. TC takes care of the ball, Rebounds and gets the offense started. Mick's offense would look a whole lot better if guys would shoot the ball when they are open. Again I am not advocating we start launching shots seconds into the shot clock but if you get a good look take it. Certainly it will also depend on where we are in the game but guys have to take open looks and it also helps if we can make a few. I bet our shooting % would climb if we did this instead of giving the ball back to TC with 5 seconds on the clock. How many shots do you think Gary has passed up this year. Evans too.

I agree about taking open shots. Especially after we have tried to get it down low. As for the motion...we played our best half of the year against Lipscomb and then forgot how it worked in the next game.

We won! I'm ecstatic! Hope we go back home and work on the offense a little...or a lot

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

We held them to 80 points below their season high in regulation....lol! Moved up to 8 on KenPom.

Hopefully what this game means to the team is they now know how hard they have to play to win against a good team in a hostle environment. if they bring that kind of effort every night we can have a nice season. I truly believe the offense will get better as the season goes on.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

A example passing up shots happened with JJ in the game. (By the way I thought him, Brooks and Scott all made contributions to the win.) We were working the ball around the perimeter and the clock was winding down. He had penetrated and came out on the other side of the court and the ball found him again wide open on the wing. he did not take his shot but passed it back to the top of the key with the shot clock winding down. Forcing KJ to launch one with pressure in his face. Mick Subbed for him at that point and as he was walking down the bench Mick said something to him. I believe it was, hey you got to take that one or something similar because JJ shock his head affirmative.

 

[waterhead]

Hopefully what this game means to the team is they now know how hard they have to play to win against a good team in a hostle environment. if they bring that kind of effort every night we can have a nice season. I truly believe the offense will get better as the season goes on.

Mick has to sell the offensive strategy to the team as hard as he sells D. Imagine if he took players out for not executing more picks, not taking open shots, or not being aggressive. I know it sounds silly but how else do you drive that point home?

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Mick has to sell the offensive strategy to the team as hard as he sells D. Imagine if he took players out for not executing more picks, not taking open shots, or not being aggressive. I know it sounds silly but how else do you drive that point home?

I see your point but defense is more effort then execution. There is much more of a feel to the offensive side of things. Your shot may not fall every night but we can still win the game if we limit the opposition. Someone said it, defense never takes a night off. I think the guys work hard on offense I just think it takes much more time to gain the feel and confidence on the offensive side of the ball. It also is tougher to blend talents offensively then it is defensively. I think he understands this and gives them a bit more leeway. When I played, if my man beat me down the floor I was coming out of the game. if I missed a wide open shot I didn't get pulled unless I was having a real bad night and shooting with teammates open.

 

[waterhead]

I see your point but defense is more effort then execution. There is much more of a feel to the offensive side of things. Your shot may not fall every night but we can still win the game if we limit the opposition. Someone said it, defense never takes a night off. I think the guys work hard on offense I just think it takes much more time to gain the feel and confidence on the offensive side of the ball. It also is tougher to blend talents offensively then it is defensively. I think he understands this and gives them a bit more leeway. When I played, if my man beat me down the floor I was coming out of the game. if I missed a wide open shot I didn't get pulled unless I was having a real bad night and shooting with teammates open.

I didn't say anything about taking someone out for missing shots. It's not rocket science to set picks or take open shots or be more aggressive when you get the ball.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I didn't say anything about taking someone out for missing shots. It's not rocket science to set picks or take open shots or be more aggressive when you get the ball.

I don't think it is that easy but OK! Time for me to rake some leaves.

 

[waterhead]

I didn't say anything about taking someone out for missing shots. It's not rocket science to set picks or take open shots or be more aggressive when you get the ball.

Let's take Gary for example. He's very efficient when he gets the ball. Cronin says he wishes Gary would be more aggressive but it's just not his nature. Really? That's how it ends? He would never accept that excuse on defense or boxing out.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Jacob we really don't have a player outside of Evans that can take a guy off the dribble in that situation and he seems reluctant to do it. The pnly guard who went to the hoop last night was the guy most want benched and that is KJ. If Evans would be a bit more aggressive TC wouldn't end up with the ball in his hands with 2 seconds on the shot clock and have to heave a difficult shot.

Another good thing about the win was it really looked as if Clark had woke up and wanted the ball on occasion. He actually shot a wide open 3. He made that shot last year and while I don't want him firing to many he can make it and should take it if wide open. It would lead to better shoots and we wouldn't be throwing up heaves As the shot clock runs down.

Great game and effort but I look for our offensive efficiency to be much better as the year goes on.

Waite, we didn't even try the 2 for 1. If we had tried and couldn't get a look that'd be one thing...but we dont even try. It's stupid basketball. It's indefensible. It has cost us before, it could've cost us last night, and it will cost us again. We have an SR Conference POY at PG and an NBA wing. And we can't even try?

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Let's take Gary for example. He's very efficient when he gets the ball. Cronin says he wishes Gary would be more aggressive but it's just not his nature. Really? That's how it ends? He would never accept that excuse on defense or boxing out.

WH there is a certain continuity to running a offense. Plus it requires confidence and skills that are different then playing defense.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Waite, we didn't even try the 2 for 1. If we had tried and couldn't get a look that'd be one thing...buy we dont even try. It's stupid basketball. It's indefensible. It has cost us before, it could've cost us last night, and it will cost us again. We have an SR Conference POY at PG and an NBA wing. And we can't even try?

Coach was more comfortable at that point in the game with taking their time and getting a good look and playing defense. what can I tell you.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I don't know if anyone realizes how incredible our defense played last night. That team was averaging almost 90 a game. They were at home. Their PG averages 6.5 assist a game and he had 5. The entire team had 7. Think back and recall how many open looks they had. I can count on one hand. How many run outs. Very few. This was a team that liked to get up and down the floor. we didn't just play good defense we played freaking great defense. We also hit some very clutch shots. Gary's in regulation, Evans 2 FT's and every time it looked like the game may get away KJ came through with a hoop to stop a run.

Waite, someone pointed out that they scored 130 on Citadel and only averaged 73 otherwise (even less now).

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Guys I got to go get the yard raked or you two will get me in trouble. It was great talking basketball today with ya. Will chat later. Go Cats!!!! So happy for the team.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Waite, someone pointed out that they scored 130 on Citadel and only averaged 73 otherwise (even less now).

Thanks jake. So without the 130 it is around 73.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Trying to figure out what is going on with Troy? Some of his shots weren't even close. I know he's not a sharp shooter but he's not THAT bad! I think he's pressing and thinking too much. He needs to let the game come to him and play within his ability.

I said it last season that he needed to tweak his form. I also wonder why he needs to lead the team in the bench press. His shooting has been bad for a long time now. Doubt it improves much.

 

[#BearcatNation]

Everybody thinks Mick tries to play a slow down offense. We play a motion offense. As long as TC is running the Point we will never be a up and down team. That is not playing to his strength. TC takes care of the ball, Rebounds and gets the offense started. Mick's offense would look a whole lot better if guys would shoot the ball when they are open. Again I am not advocating we start launching shots seconds into the shot clock but if you get a good look take it. Certainly it will also depend on where we are in the game but guys have to take open looks and it also helps if we can make a few. I bet our shooting % would climb if we did this instead of giving the ball back to TC with 5 seconds on the clock. How many shots do you think Gary has passed up this year. Evans too.

5 billion percent agreed here. Our offense could always use a little more motion, cutting, and overall better ball movement, but my biggest issue is guys getting open looks with 15 seconds left on the shot clock, passing it up, and we end up heaving a prayer as the shot clock expires. Drives me nuts. Clark, Cumberland, and Jenifer were the biggest offenders last night. If you're open, JUST SHOOT! If you're right by the hoop, GO UP WITH IT! What the shot clock is at does not matter, unless you're like up by 12 with under 4 minutes left in the game. Half our team team needs more confidence in their scoring abilities.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

WH go back and re-watch the game and look at how many possesions ended with TC have to hoist up a shot. Creating off the dribble is not his strength. We have been trying to force that roll on him for 2 ears now. When others are open they need to shoot the ball. Clark finally took a 3 last night. he didn't make it but he has shown he can knock it down and needs to take it when its open. I' m not saying he should hoist it up with 25 seconds still on the shot clock but you have to be aware of the shot clock and what is a makeable shot. Hopefully this will come as the season goes on.

Another reason why taking 8+ seconds to get the ball up the floor hurts us. We seriously have 18 seconds to get anything done by the time the first pass is made.