SMU

[2bearcatdad]

Cumberland is really going to be a very good player. He continues to show the game is not to big for him. After getting a full year in our strength and conditioning program he will look entirely different next year. That 3 he hit late in the game was money. Kid has ice water in his viens. Nice to have his skills coming off the bench. The more he plays the better he will get. He is still learning but you can see it's just a matter of time before he becomes a real difference maker.

I don't know if taking that shot was a good idea, but it demonstrates how absolutely fearless this kid is. Unbelievable that he'd have the balls to take that shot. The fact that he drained it after staring down his defender tells you he's got a killer's mentality.

He's going to be special.

 

[coachpipe]

I don't know if taking that shot was a good idea, but it demonstrates how absolutely fearless this kid is. Unbelievable that he'd have the balls to take that shot. The fact that he drained it after staring down his defender tells you he's got a killer's mentality.

He's going to be special.

Mick told KJ to check in. Maybe Cumberland heard him because he was right in front of the bench. When he hit the shot, Mick called KJ back to the bench

 

[Garybearcat]

yes thought he shot the ball way to early. Went from a 9 point lead to a 7 and gave them mo heading into the locker room.

Yeah but we all wanted to hug him when he drained those 3's. We are never going to have the perfect game. We just need to keep playing harder and smarter each time out.

 

[UCBearcats]

It was until we went to Mick ball in the second half.

I'm constantly blown away by Mick's rational and post came comments. This is the best team Mick has ever had because they can score the basketball and they also play good defense, it feels like Mick doesn't realize why his team is good.

We had a double digit lead on SMU, we should have kept our foot on their throats. It's almost like every time we get a big lead Mick thinks we're going to hold that lead with defense and defense alone. Here's an idea, maybe don't bring in Quardi Moore and Trey Scott for an extended stretch while your entire lead dwindles away. The way you hold a big lead is by continuing to score the basketball while also playing better defense than your opponent. It seems impossible but I really don't think Mick understands that or he's just too stubborn to admit it.

Either way another good W for this squad, this team is good but I worry about our ability to win the big games or go on a run in a tourney format. Our coaching still needs a lot of work.

 

[#BearcatNation]

I'm constantly blown away by Mick's rational and post came comments. This is the best team Mick has ever had because they can score the basketball and they also play good defense, it feels like Mick doesn't realize why his team is good.

We had a double digit lead on SMU, we should have kept our foot on their throats. It's almost like every time we get a big lead Mick thinks we're going to hold that lead with defense and defense alone. Here's an idea, maybe don't bring in Quardi Moore and Trey Scott for an extended stretch while your entire lead dwindles away. The way you hold a big lead is by continuing to score the basketball while also playing better defense than your opponent. It seems impossible but I really don't think Mick understands that or he's just too stubborn to admit it.

Either way another good W for this squad, this team is good but I worry about our ability to win the big games or go on a run in a tourney format. Our coaching still needs a lot of work.

I bolded the portion that also had me screaming at my TV. There was no reason for that. I think there was also a period where Scott and Brooks were out there together. At least one of Gary and Kyle MUST be in the game AT ALL TIMES. I also don't know why Quad saw the floor at all. It's just not necessary in big games like this, and kills any offensive flow.

 

[justinhub2003]

I'm constantly blown away by Mick's rational and post came comments. This is the best team Mick has ever had because they can score the basketball and they also play good defense, it feels like Mick doesn't realize why his team is good.

We had a double digit lead on SMU, we should have kept our foot on their throats. It's almost like every time we get a big lead Mick thinks we're going to hold that lead with defense and defense alone. Here's an idea, maybe don't bring in Quardi Moore and Trey Scott for an extended stretch while your entire lead dwindles away. The way you hold a big lead is by continuing to score the basketball while also playing better defense than your opponent. It seems impossible but I really don't think Mick understands that or he's just too stubborn to admit it.

Either way another good W for this squad, this team is good but I worry about our ability to win the big games or go on a run in a tourney format. Our coaching still needs a lot of work.

Dude we had 15 deflections against a team not exactly known for protecting the ball. This was a bad defensive effort in the 2nd half. And I think Mick is exactly right, our offense was flowing so our guys thought it was cool to relax on the defensive end. It almost bit us in the ass.

 

[justinhub2003]

The only thing I was though Mick mismanaged was bringing in Quadri.



Quadri plays bad against bad teams, I just don't trust him in these kind of games.

I don't mind sitting Gary and Kyle for a few. But I'd rather see Brooks play than Quadri.

Quadri needs minutes in the first half. IF he does well, then he can earn some in the 2nd MAYBE. but man

 

[CHEER CINCY]

EYETEST: FAIL

This was a good resume win as SMU will likely be top 50 RPI by end of year. But other than that, still nothing that shows me we can make a deep tourney run.

We should have beat this team by 10-15 pts. Coach puts in Quadri Moore the "ZERO" aka Rusty Wallace and we crap the bed for 5 minutes giving up an otherwise comfortable lead.

 

[waterhead]

I bolded the portion that also had me screaming at my TV. There was no reason for that. I think there was also a period where Scott and Brooks were out there together. At least one of Gary and Kyle MUST be in the game AT ALL TIMES. I also don't know why Quad saw the floor at all. It's just not necessary in big games like this, and kills any offensive flow.

I would agree either Kyle or Gary needs to be on the court at all times. Or at worst maybe just one of the other three guys and go guard heavy if we are in big foul trouble. I did not like those substitutions.

 

[UCBearcats]

Dude we had 15 deflections against a team not exactly known for protecting the ball. This was a bad defensive effort in the 2nd half. And I think Mick is exactly right, our offense was flowing so our guys thought it was cool to relax on the defensive end. It almost bit us in the ass.

I'm not saying we couldn't have played better defense in the 2nd half, but going into a shell and relying on defense alone to hold your lead is not an effective strategy. We see this team do it time and time again and we see Mick make the same comments in the post game time and time again.

When you have a team on the ropes like we did there's no reason to suddenly go into a shell. Keep the pressure and keep the intensity on defense AND offense. You can't take out Kyle Washington and Gary Clark because you're not happy with their perceived effort on defense and replace them with Quadri Moore and Trey Scott for an extended stretch in the second half. In what world is Quadri's best production better than half of Washington's production? That's not the time to try to teach a lesson to your players, it's the time to try to win a basketball game.

We're not tough enough, we don't play hard enough, our guys fall in love with scoring and BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..........at some point Mick needs to realize that scoring the basketball is a critical part of the game. The reason why this team is better than any other that Mick has had is because we have 5 guys who are all legit scoring threats. It's time for Mick to start embracing his players offensive talents.

 

[juckerrules]

Agree with most, but as Mick said after, Gary was not a beast on the boards....5 boards for both him & Washington? Not good - he was awesome offensively, but Caupain was the man - 9 boards from that size & position? Bad ass game for Troy - and 6 assists and NO turnovers - just wow!
Exciting game, but I almost had to be carried out - I can't take that level of tension in my old age - all feels good with a win though

7 boards, not 9...but still

 

[#BearcatNation]

EYETEST: FAIL

This was a good resume win as SMU will likely be top 50 RPI by end of year. But other than that, still nothing that shows me we can make a deep tourney run.

We should have beat this team by 10-15 pts. Coach puts in Quadri Moore the "ZERO" aka Rusty Wallace and we crap the bed for 5 minutes giving up an otherwise comfortable lead.

Eyetest has to be my least favorite word used around college hoops. I'll take advanced analytics and statistics over someone's cloudy visual judgement.

We're still a top 20 team in basically every legitimate ranking, so I'm happy.

 

[waterhead]

EYETEST: FAIL

This was a good resume win as SMU will likely be top 50 RPI by end of year. But other than that, still nothing that shows me we can make a deep tourney run.

We should have beat this team by 10-15 pts. Coach puts in Quadri Moore the "ZERO" aka Rusty Wallace and we crap the bed for 5 minutes giving up an otherwise comfortable lead.

We have a great D even though we didn't play well in second half. Our offensive ability is miles better. Mick still needs a little help with end of game management...so I think the eye test is fairly good overall. He has done a good job getting this team to work hard on D and moving the ball better on O for the most part. Maybe he can start working on end of game plays and schemes now that the rest is in place.

I would much rather work for a good shot early in the clock than stall for a bad last second shot on most occasions at end of game. Unless we are up a lot more. Our last second shots have been atrocious for the most part.

 

[2bearcatdad]

I'm not saying we couldn't have played better defense in the 2nd half, but going into a shell and relying on defense alone to hold your lead is not an effective strategy. We see this team do it time and time again and we see Mick make the same comments in the post game time and time again.

When you have a team on the ropes like we did there's no reason to suddenly go into a shell. Keep the pressure and keep the intensity on defense AND offense. You can't take out Kyle Washington and Gary Clark because you're not happy with their perceived effort on defense and replace them with Quadri Moore and Trey Scott for an extended stretch in the second half. In what world is Quadri's best production better than half of Washington's production? That's not the time to try to teach a lesson to your players, it's the time to try to win a basketball game.

We're not tough enough, we don't play hard enough, our guys fall in love with scoring and BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..........at some point Mick needs to realize that scoring the basketball is a critical part of the game. The reason why this team is better than any other that Mick has had is because we have 5 guys who are all legit scoring threats. It's time for Mick to start embracing his players offensive talents.

You guys are ridiculous. You're actually making an argument that this team is successful despite Mick. Mick built this team. He coaches these kids on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

I think it's perfectly fair to say that this substitution should have been handled differently or we should've played more zone or whatever.

But I've got news for you guys who constantly rip on Mick. When the team is really talented, is ranked, has a top 50 (ish) offense and a top 5 defense, and is 14-2 - that all exists because of Mick - not despite him.

It might be time you rethink your "Mick sucks" narrative, but your arguments are looking more pathetic all the time.

 

[waterhead]

You guys are ridiculous. You're actually making an argument that this team is successful despite Mick. Mick built this team. He coaches these kids on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

I think it's perfectly fair to say that this substitution should have been handled differently or we should've played more zone or whatever.

But I've got news for you guys who constantly rip on Mick. When the team is really talented, is ranked, has a top 50 (ish) offense and a top 5 defense, and is 14-2 - that all exists because of Mick - not despite him.

It might be time you rethink your "Mick sucks" narrative, but your arguments are looking more pathetic all the time.

I don't mind him subbing to send messages at this point in the season. It was a very short time that didn't work out well when it happened but hopefully the message was received.

Now he has done a great job otherwise except for end of game management and play calls. That is the last piece of a puzzle that is what we will need in March to advance. I think he's done a great job so far this year outside of the end of game stuff. I hope he has it in him to improve that aspect.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

yes thought he shot the ball way to early. Went from a 9 point lead to a 7 and gave them mo heading into the locker room.

Hard to count on it bouncing up over the backboard. Inexcusable that we let them get all the way to the hoop like that. Not a great shot but 9 times out of 10 it doesn't end up like that.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Cumberland is really going to be a very good player. He continues to show the game is not to big for him. After getting a full year in our strength and conditioning program he will look entirely different next year. That 3 he hit late in the game was money. Kid has ice water in his viens. Nice to have his skills coming off the bench. The more he plays the better he will get. He is still learning but you can see it's just a matter of time before he becomes a real difference maker.

Yeah he's going to be a great college player. Beyond that, it will just be up to him deciding how dedicated he is to it all. He has some great tools. Very polished for such a young kid.

 

[Madman81]

I'm not saying we couldn't have played better defense in the 2nd half, but going into a shell and relying on defense alone to hold your lead is not an effective strategy. We see this team do it time and time again and we see Mick make the same comments in the post game time and time again.

When you have a team on the ropes like we did there's no reason to suddenly go into a shell. Keep the pressure and keep the intensity on defense AND offense. You can't take out Kyle Washington and Gary Clark because you're not happy with their perceived effort on defense and replace them with Quadri Moore and Trey Scott for an extended stretch in the second half. In what world is Quadri's best production better than half of Washington's production? That's not the time to try to teach a lesson to your players, it's the time to try to win a basketball game.

We're not tough enough, we don't play hard enough, our guys fall in love with scoring and BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..........at some point Mick needs to realize that scoring the basketball is a critical part of the game. The reason why this team is better than any other that Mick has had is because we have 5 guys who are all legit scoring threats. It's time for Mick to start embracing his players offensive talents.

did we really go into a shell in the second half? i thought we kept our foot mostly on the gas until the final few minutes, when we resorted to clock bleeding, iso shitball.

if the d would have held up during the stretch beginning with 5 minutes left in the first half through 10 minutes into the second half, we would have run them out of the gym.

 

[UCBearcats]

You guys are ridiculous. You're actually making an argument that this team is successful despite Mick. Mick built this team. He coaches these kids on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

I think it's perfectly fair to say that this substitution should have been handled differently or we should've played more zone or whatever.

But I've got news for you guys who constantly rip on Mick. When the team is really talented, is ranked, has a top 50 (ish) offense and a top 5 defense, and is 14-2 - that all exists because of Mick - not despite him.

It might be time you rethink your "Mick sucks" narrative, but your arguments are looking more pathetic all the time.

Mick's best teams have always won despite him. I hope at some point he will embrace offense as a critical part of the game of basketball, because I promise you if he doesn't this team will not live up to it's full potential.

This is a good team, anything less than a run to the Sweet 16 will be an epic failure. Emphasis on toughness and defense alone and minutes for Quadri Moore and Trey Scott aren't getting us to the Sweet 16.

 

[Madman81]

Hard to count on it bouncing up over the backboard. Inexcusable that we let them get all the way to the hoop like that. Not a great shot but 9 times out of 10 it doesn't end up like that.

it was way too early. you don't need to shoot with a chance at a putback before the half, especially against a team that's pounding your face in on the glass.

i was ready to say very nice things about kevin after the first half until the final 10 seconds.