Temple

[waterhead]

Could not have said this any better. So I'll re-state it in a different way:
I've seen this at the NBA level (from an insider's perspective) and I've seen it at the college level: I'd rather have a team that can score than a team that plays D in the regular season (both would be nice though!), because in the NCAA tournament everyone will play hard and play tougher D. You have to have guys that can score in the dance. That's not to say I think UC has enough shooters/scorers, or that a team suddenly becomes a defensive juggernaut in the tourney...but for years, we saw Bearcat teams overachieve by out-working and out-toughing teams in the regular season, only to lose in the NCAA tournament because they didn't have enough scoring talent or their margin for error talent wise was too thin. Iowa State, West Virginia, UCLA (they of the 3 NBA players), etc.

This team has enough talent. What they don't have is a burning desire to be great. There is still time to get this team back on track defensively. They can still have a very special season. A lot of teams look like road kill in December and January become great. It's up to them.

All that said: today was unacceptable and embarrassing. No sense in point-by-point bitching because we'd be here all night. They were thoroughly out-played, out-coached, out-efforted. Temple deserved to win.

Spitballing from a layman's perspective? I'd like to see more man to man defense. SOOOOO sick of watching a lazy zone double team beaten easily for a parking-lot-open 3 pointer or a ridiculously easy entry pass lead to a layup. Man to man might actually wake these guys up and speed up tempo. Just a thought.

BOOM!

and boom

 

[Doogle]

I know the play you are talking about. Actually, I think he did that multiple times today.

I say start Tobler on Saturday, and I'm being serious. Fire the students and the crowd up and send a message to the players. Lol, don't stay with him long (unless it's working). Just tell him to bang and bust his ass.

Jenifer, Evans, Tobler, Caupain and whomever decides to show up and practice hard over the next 3 days.

 

[waterhead]

Makes you wonder why we recruited him (twice). Funny thing is he developed into a pretty good player at the JUCO level and once we got him back into our system he's regressing. I wonder if he would have ever developed into as good of a player as he is now had he spent his entire 4 years with this staff.

Oh come on!!!!

Seriously????

Wasn't he second team all AAC last year? Are we really going to do this?? Why recruit him?? Geesh

 

[waterhead]

I know the play you are talking about. Actually, I think he did that multiple times today.

I say start Tobler on Saturday, and I'm being serious. Fire the students and the crowd up and send a message to the players. Lol, don't stay with him long (unless it's working). Just tell him to bang and bust his ass.

Fun idea L-T!!! I like it

 

[UCBearcats]

Oh come on!!!!

Seriously????

Wasn't he second team all AAC last year? Are we really going to do this?? Why recruit him?? Geesh

The first line of that post was in jest, the rest of it was not.

 

[L-T]

Jenifer, Evans, Tobler, Caupain and whomever decides to show up and practice hard over the next 3 days.

I like it!

 

[TheLongHaul]

I think Evans was pulled on that play (not sure why). Ellis had 12 points and 7 boards today. Next closest in boards was Evans with 5....Clark had 4 and Caupain 3. Not good. He was on the speaker podium in the presser after the game which means coach thought he did something right or at least more than everyone else not named Caupain.

I have been fairly dissappointed in Ellis this year not being significantly better but I can't put it on him in this game.

I never said Ellis was to blame for this game. But IMO he didn't play a good game and really has been disappointing all year. And rebounds and points do not in any way shape or form speak to his defense, which was my sole argument.

As for Mick putting Ellis on the presser, that means squat to me. Obviously Mick knows more about basketball than me but I can't say I've ever seen eye to eye on who he thinks played a good game and who he thinks should be on the floor. Shaq was on the floor in the final critical minutes and he decided to take 2 three's even though he sucks at shooting threes. Obviously he clanked both of them. He plays KJ way to much and has since he's gotten here.

 

[L-T]

If we can't stop Temple's guards, Tulsa's may eat us alive.

 

[waterhead]

The first line of that post was in jest, the rest of it was not.

OK...but how can you say he has regressed from Juco (which is not comparable whatsoever) or are you saying he has regressed from last year only?

Either way, there are no stats that will suggest it other than turnovers. His other numbers are up...rebounds points etc. Up more than everyone but Cobb in points and up more than everyone in rebounds per 40 minutes.

yes, I understand we have played cupcakes...but how do we quantify his regression?

 

[UCBearcats]

OK...but how can you say he has regressed from Juco (which is not comparable whatsoever) or are you saying he has regressed from last year only?

Either way, there are no stats that will suggest it other than turnovers. His other numbers are up...rebounds points etc. Up more than everyone but Cobb in points and up more than everyone in rebounds per 40 minutes.

yes, I understand we have played cupcakes...but how do we quantify his regression?

I'm saying he regressed from last season to this season. He certainly hasn't progressed. He left (got kicked out, whatever) our program to go to JUCO and came back a pretty good player. He DEVELOPED but now that he's back in our system he's regressing. Odd how that works.

 

[waterhead]

I never said Ellis was to blame for this game. But IMO he didn't play a good game and really has been disappointing all year. And rebounds and points do not in any way shape or form speak to his defense, which was my sole argument.

As for Mick putting Ellis on the presser, that means squat to me. Obviously Mick knows more about basketball than me but I can't say I've ever seen eye to eye on who he thinks played a good game and who he thinks should be on the floor. Shaq was on the floor in the final critical minutes and he decided to take 2 three's even though he sucks at shooting threes. Obviously he clanked both of them. He plays KJ way to much and has since he's gotten here.

Ok on Ellis...I'm not going to argue there about his D.

However Shaq was hitting 33% before this game and hit 2 of 4 tonight. He has changed his shot...and it's noticeable. He's probably already shot more 3's than last year and at a higher rate. KJ and Caupain are shooting worse in terms of %. I don't think Shaq is a volume shooter but let's make sure we understand what is currently going on.

 

[L-T]

Chad Brendal challenged me a few weeks ago to explain the fundamentals of this goofy 52 or 25 defense that we play. I think I finally have it figured out. I think the 52 means that we need 7 players on the floor before it works!

 

[waterhead]

I'm saying he regressed from last season to this season. He certainly hasn't progressed. He left (got kicked out, whatever) our program to go to JUCO and came back a pretty good player. He DEVELOPED but now that he's back in our system he's regressing. Odd how that works.

At what is he regressing? His points are up per 40 minutes more than anyone but Cobb and his rebounds are up more than any other big per 40 minutes.

How do you define regression other than what you think you are seeing? His blocks are down slightly but not much. I'm not sure on steals or assists because I haven't checked.

I expect more from him...but until someone can show me the regression in stats I don't care too much for "it seems like".

 

[waterhead]

Chad Brendal challenged me a few weeks ago to explain the fundamentals of this goofy 52 or 25 defense that we play. I think I finally have it figured out. I think the 52 means that we need 7 players on the floor before it works!

Haha...what does 25 mean?

 

[L-T]

I'm saying he regressed from last season to this season. He certainly hasn't progressed. He left (got kicked out, whatever) our program to go to JUCO and came back a pretty good player. He DEVELOPED but now that he's back in our system he's regressing. Odd how that works.

Ellis, Clark, and Deberry have all regressed from last year no matter what the stats say. Everyone can see that with their eyes.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Haha...what does 25 mean?

That's how many open 3s we give up

 

[waterhead]

That's how many open 3s we give up

ugghhhh

 

[waterhead]

Ellis, Clark, and Deberry have all regressed from last year no matter what the stats say. Everyone can see that with their eyes.

If I can watch with my eyes the regression as the stats get better I will be OK with that

 

[L-T]

Haha...what does 25 mean?

I have no idea. I've read a ton of basketball books, have coached for maybe 30 years, and I have no idea what the 52 or 25 defense does. If you have it figured out, explain it to me. Mick is apologizing to Bearcat nation for his defense, so I doubt we'll see the 52 or 25 explained in any books anytime soon. It may remain a mystery.

 

[UCBearcats]

At what is he regressing? His points are up per 40 minutes more than anyone but Cobb and his rebounds are up more than any other big per 40 minutes.

How do you define regression other than what you think you are seeing? His blocks are down slightly but not much. I'm not sure on steals or assists because I haven't checked.

I expect more from him...but until someone can show me the regression in stats I don't care too much for "it seems like".

Gold jacket, green jacket, regression, flat line, who gives a shit?? So maybe regression isn't the right word but he certainly it isn't getting better. His IQ remains low and he still fails to show improvement in the most coachable of areas. Like how to create space in the post, not putting the ball on the floor every time you catch it, and the simple fundamentals of defensive positioning. Considering the fact that he was a preseason all conference player it would be nice if we saw significant improvements in his play from last season to this season.