@UCF

[jacobkdoyle]

Again, I'm not talking about just yesterday's game. I get the impact a guy like Taco can have on the game, although Mick completely discounted in in his post game. There are ways to beat a guy like him inside, we just didn't find them.

Gary has minimal attempts from behind the arc so I really don't think the .08 3's he's attempting per game are having a huge positive impact on our offense. If it is I'm not seeing the reward from it, shouldn't stretching your big guys outside for 3's lead to more easy buckets inside? I'd rather Gary is inside on the post or occupying the circle in the zone than floating around the 3 point line waiting for a "wide open" look at a 3.

I understand the impact a big who can shoot 3's at a high percentage can have, but Gary isn't that player.

I have no problem with Clark taking open 3s.

 

[cincyguy13]

I watch a lot of college bball, (probably a lot of us do). To me I don't think other teams are running some kind of different offense than us. Mick has been a coach forever, I think he knows ever offense out there. And the problem seems to be only a road problem. How to fix the problem, I have no idea. I think it could come down to just making shots or it would be a home and away problem

 

[waterhead]

If you want to watch someone who knows how to play on the wing watch Cumberland. I think there were a couple times he had 2 defenders bite on his pump fake and then he just moved right past them creating a lot of scrambling. Even when his 3 is not falling he can still be effective. He tried a couple of floaters which didn't work great but he did get the defense scrambling for some assists and he did get a foul from Tacko.

It's not like other players don't try the pump fake...it's just that Cumberland is the only one who can seem to actually get the defenders to bite on it. It's not even like he's shooting 40+% from 3 but somehow he does it. His instincts as a basketball player are off the charts for a frosh. He knows WHEN and WHERE to move without the ball. I wish he would move around more actually...but not moving actually sets up the times when he does. He lulls them to sleep. His timing instincts are superb. His passing is also very very good.

Sometimes he goes a little too fast and gets stuck...but he can move the needle so I can forgive some of the times he turns it over.

 

[UCBearcats]

I watch a lot of college bball, (probably a lot of us do). To me I don't think other teams are running some kind of different offense than us. Mick has been a coach forever, I think he knows ever offense out there. And the problem seems to be only a road problem. How to fix the problem, I have no idea. I think it could come down to just making shots or it would be a home and away problem

I disagree with that. I think there are some coaches who run similar styles to Mick: Pitino, Bennett and Huggins immediately come to mind. Those guys have a lot more talent at their disposal though or maybe have created a few additional wrinkles to compliment that style (think Press Virginia).

There are plenty of other teams that are more dynamic than us offensively. Some with more talent and some with less.

Mick's style is Mick's style at this point, we've seen what he believes he needs to do to give his team the best chance to win. I'd love to see the staff be able to adjust better when things aren't going our way but I have opened my eyes a little bit this year. I used to be a firm believer than Mick's offense needed to change but I think the bigger issue has always been his recruiting. The more Mick recruits better players and players who can score the more dangerous we're going to become.

Mick's system isn't actually broken, it WILL work if he gets enough talent to make it effective. The bottom line is that Mick's teams need to be able to score to compete for championships, just like Pitino's, Huggins' or Bennett's. Playing great defense and being tough on the glass or in general will make you a dangerous team but you aren't going to win championships if you cannot put the ball in the basket.

If Mick and staff can figure out a way to keep the scoring up even when things aren't going entirely our way that would be a huge boost to this team. I can promise that in March things will not always be going our way, if all we do in response is continue to chuck up "wide open" brick after brick then we won't be sticking around very long.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

How do you not care who is running the offense when we score 49 freaking points!?!? You had no issue with Jenifer playing 0 minutes in the 2nd half after doing well in the 1st half?

We shot 29% from the floor. In a game I need offense especially considering we were getting nothing from our bigs I am not subbing JJ for TC regardless of the small sample he gave us yesterday. For us to be what we want to be TC needs to play and play well.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

We shot 29% from the floor. In a game I need offense especially considering we were getting nothing from our bigs I am not subbing JJ for TC regardless of the small sample he gave us yesterday. For us to be what we want to be TC needs to play and play well.

No one is saying Caupain needs to be benched. No one is saying Caupain needs to be benched. No one is saying Caupain needs to be benched. They played together yesterday, they could've again some in the 2nd half. Both of them. Not Jenifer for Caupain. But have Jenifer running the point.

We were on a 75.5 point pace when Jenifer was in.

We were on a 41.3 point pace when Jenifer was out.

How can you defend him not even getting in for a second in the 2nd half?

 

[cincyguy13]

I disagree with that. I think there are some coaches who run similar styles to Mick: Pitino, Bennett and Huggins immediately come to mind. Those guys have a lot more talent at their disposal though or maybe have created a few additional wrinkles to compliment that style (think Press Virginia).

There are plenty of other teams that are more dynamic than us offensively. Some with more talent and some with less.

Mick's style is Mick's style at this point, we've seen what he believes he needs to do to give his team the best chance to win. I'd love to see the staff be able to adjust better when things aren't going our way but I have opened my eyes a little bit this year. I used to be a firm believer than Mick's offense needed to change but I think the bigger issue has always been his recruiting. The more Mick recruits better players and players who can score the more dangerous we're going to become.

Mick's system isn't actually broken, it WILL work if he gets enough talent to make it effective. The bottom line is that Mick's teams need to be able to score to compete for championships, just like Pitino's, Huggins' or Bennett's. Playing great defense and being tough on the glass or in general will make you a dangerous team but you aren't going to win championships if you cannot put the ball in the basket.

If Mick and staff can figure out a way to keep the scoring up even when things aren't going entirely our way that would be a huge boost to this team. I can promise that in March things will not always be going our way, if all we do in response is continue to chuck up "wide open" brick after brick then we won't be sticking around very long.

Why isn't it an issue at home? I don't think he changes his style because it's a road game. If it was a system thing, it would be the same system at home, correct?

 

[waterhead]

No one is saying Caupain needs to be benched. No one is saying Caupain needs to be benched. No one is saying Caupain needs to be benched. They played together yesterday, they could've again some in the 2nd half. Both of them. Not Jenifer for Caupain. But have Jenifer running the point.

We were on a 75.5 point pace when Jenifer was in.

We were on a 41.3 point pace when Jenifer was out.

How can you defend him not even getting in for a second in the 2nd half?

So what are you saying Jacob? Bench Caupain? LOL!

I agree...keep trying things that are working (better). Don't keep trying things that aren't working and hope they do.

We have been trying things on the road that aren't working since Mick has been here. Forget small sample size...that's a very very big sample. Stick with the hot hand is a good start. Experiment with the lineup a little when we are struggling. Good coaches all do this.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Why isn't it an issue at home? I don't think he changes his style because it's a road game. If it was a system thing, it would be the same system at home, correct?

I'll be interested to see how things go next year on the road and/or vs a zone. The only option is Broome or Jenifer. I have put a lot of blame on Caupain over the past few years. So next year will be telling.

 

[waterhead]

Why isn't it an issue at home? I don't think he changes his style because it's a road game. If it was a system thing, it would be the same system at home, correct?

Either we have changed something and the tempo (or something) is different or we are just missing shots on the road which means we need to change our road strategy.

Either way...it needs fixing.

 

[cincyguy13]

I'll be interested to see how things go next year on the road and/or vs a zone. The only option is Broome or Jenifer. I have put a lot of blame on Caupain over the past few years. So next year will be telling.

I would too. I think the bottom line is talent. We all want the same thing. We want them to get back to that top 10 level every year and we are getting there but honestly we don't have the talent these top teams have. We don't have Malik monk who can get a basket without cal having to even call a play. Luke Lenard, Lonszo ball. If you have mainly 3 star talent guys, the consistentcy will struggle at time

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I would like to see a lot less of Kyle Washington and more of a 4 round 1 with Clark or Brooks.

 

[waterhead]

I'll be interested to see how things go next year on the road and/or vs a zone. The only option is Broome or Jenifer. I have put a lot of blame on Caupain over the past few years. So next year will be telling.

I think it could get better without adjusting road strategy but we have been a very bad road team throughout Cronin's tenure (as far as shooting % goes). I am not sure this is a Caupain thing although he certainly might be contributing a little the last few years.

This is a Cronin thing IMO. Maybe we just haven't had the right type of PG IDK...but that is a Cronin thing...if that is the problem.

 

[UCBearcats]

Why isn't it an issue at home? I don't think he changes his style because it's a road game. If it was a system thing, it would be the same system at home, correct?

The team hits shots at home and they don't on the road. To me it's about hitting shots vs not hitting shots regardless of home or road.

We live and die by the 3 as a team. What I'm looking for out of our staff is a way to score at a better clip even when the 3's aren't falling. Listening to our fans constantly chirp about "wide open shots" gets old after a while. You can't expect our players to knock down 3's at a 40% clip game after game after game, especially given the talent on our roster.

 

[cincyguy13]

I would like to see a lot less of Kyle Washington and more of a 4 round 1 with Clark or Brooks.

I think this is the direction it's going

 

[jacobkdoyle]

The team hits shots at home and they don't on the road. To me it's about hitting shots vs not hitting shots regardless of home or road.

We live and die by the 3 as a team. What I'm looking for out of our staff is a way to score at a better clip even when the 3's aren't falling. Listening to our fans constantly chirp about "wide open shots" gets old after a while. You can't expect our players to knock down 3's at a 40% clip game after game after game, especially given the talent on our roster.

Yeah like I said earlier...If we make 2 more 3s we're at 9-24 for 37.5%. That would've put us at 55. Big whoop.

 

[UCBearcats]

I would like to see a lot less of Kyle Washington and more of a 4 round 1 with Clark or Brooks.

Kyle is our leading scorer, I'm not sure what advantage taking him off the floor gives us? Maybe against a bad match-up for him, like Taco fall, it makes sense. Kyle is also good at hitting the mid range shot so I think there's a lot we could do to get him open for more of those shots.

Wasn't Kyle's specialty coming in supposed to be the baseline jumper? Has he even shot one baseline jumper this season?

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I think this is the direction it's going

I wouldn't mind a 24/16 split with Washington and Brooks. Maybe a little less of each if Clark is used at the 5. Washington will still get his points, and he won't struggle as much as he did yesterday. We were playing the tallest player.

 

[UCBearcats]

Yeah like I said earlier...If we make 2 more 3s we're at 9-24 for 37.5%. That would've put us at 55. Big whoop.

True, but 55 would have also won us the game. I get the point though, 55 won't cut it in March, that is for sure.

 

[cincyguy13]

Kyle is our leading scorer, I'm not sure what advantage taking him off the floor gives us? Maybe against a bad match-up for him, like Taco fall, it makes sense. Kyle is also good at hitting the mid range shot so I think there's a lot we could do to get him open for more of those shots.

Wasn't Kyle's specialty coming in supposed to be the baseline jumper? Has he even shot one baseline jumper this season?

Yeah, but he only shots them at really terrible times when he shouldn't