UCONN

[Bcatfollower]

Scott just had his worst game of his career, he has been inconsistent but not bad. Against Tulsa he nearly had a double-double and played reasonably well.

Scott's problem offensively is that he wants to play facing the basket. He can hit the mid-range jumper (see vs Tulsa) but he is too willing to settle for the long-range just inside the 3-point line jumper. He also isn't consistently good enough off the dribble to not make mistakes. The only thing he is consistently good at is passing, but that only works when teams are dumb enough to guard his long jumper. He needs to learn to play with his back to the basket to be consistent, but I doubt he will.

I wouldn't give Diarra all his minutes, but I would definitely start giving Diarra minutes. Fredericks continues to be useless, four guards with Moore in works okay, but at some point Cumberland at the 4 on D is going to get exposed. Diarra brings the size we need and the shooting ability we need. Yes, he gets out of position on O and D at times, but we need him, so maybe it's time to throw him into the fire at let him learn on the go.

Agreed. Maybe not all minutes but he should be getting some. His talent is there just needs experience. He could give us more than scott does

 

[cincycpaw]

I think Keith and Trevor Moore arent utilized properly. I would like to see Moore get some more minutes and when he is in run some off the ball plays for him to get him an open look at a 3.

I would just like an offense that isn’t throw it around a bit on the perimeter while Jarron runs his butt off around the court from side to side. I would like to see way more movement from everyone else. I’d also like to see, if Mick is going to continue to rely on 1:1 so much, that he runs plays to get some other good matchups, rather than just Cumberland. I feel he tried for Scott sometime, which is good...though Scott has proven most of the time to be unable to take advantage when he is “the guy”. I’d like to see Williams posting up for sure.

 

[skyblade]

Who? Brooks misses 3 layups/dunks a game. Tre is an energy guy, what offense skill set does he have. Keith is a good slasher but air balls or banks 3 shots a game. Good shooters don’t do that. Broome has had 2 good games in the last month. I like these guys, and I don’t think mick is a great offensive mind, but what do we expect? We can’t shoot at all. Talent is the problem. Can we play better, of course. Especially in this league but we don’t have the players

Not sure what you are watching. This team is rated higher offensively in Kenpom then last years team was (and I believe last years team was Mick's best ever offensively). We are athletically and physically bigger/faster/stronger then almost any team we will play in conference.

Brooks has turned into a solid offensive player, he is shooting 62% from the field. He may miss a layup/dunk here and there, but he has become a threat offensively.

Keith also is a major threat. He can hit a three now and then and is always a threat to get to the rim. He does take ill advised mid-range shots now and then, but he is a consistent double digits scorer.

Tre hasn't figured it out yet. He wants to be a stretch 4, but he doesn't have the shooting ability to be one. He needs to figure that out.

Broome wants to be a bulk shooter and a 3 point shooter at times. He needs to figure out his game is driving to the rim. When he does that he is excellent. When he is taking early 3's he is an offensive liability.

Good shooters miss, most of the miss more often then they make shots.

Defense is our problem.

 

[Uclawrugby]

Always love posts defending a college coach by saying the players suck. It’s college....he brings the players in.

I do think there is a lot of truth to Mick playing a little scared at the end of games, not allowing a real offense to be run. But in reality we hardly run one most of the game.

I understand what mick is doing, because as a fan I want Cumberland to have the ball all the time when we need a basket. But I’m a nervous fan, I’d expect more from the coach.

Interesting that Mick called out his assistant coaches in the post game, I wonder what that was all about...anyone know?

Not sure but no one has really talked about the impact of loosing Larry Davis. He was with Mick for a long time and I got the impression he may have had some insights that Mick lacked. I was at the Purdue tourney game he coached that was a big win. It may be something to bear in mind as we see how the team adjusts or doesn’t adjust against higher caliber talent.

 

[cincycpaw]

Also - did anyone see Hurley staring down some UC fan that was yelling at him as he was leaving the floor (by the tunnel?).

This guy is already my least favorite coach.

 

[ervins84]

This team is rated higher offensively in Kenpom then last years team was (and I believe last years team was Mick's best ever offensively).

Just to clarify, we are scoring 3.2 points less per 100 possessions than last year although we are ranked 3 spots higher. For whatever reason offense appears to be down everywhere this season.

 

[cincyguy13]

Always love posts defending a college coach by saying the players suck. It’s college....he brings the players in.

I do think there is a lot of truth to Mick playing a little scared at the end of games, not allowing a real offense to be run. But in reality we hardly run one most of the game.

I understand what mick is doing, because as a fan I want Cumberland to have the ball all the time when we need a basket. But I’m a nervous fan, I’d expect more from the coach.

Interesting that Mick called out his assistant coaches in the post game, I wonder what that was all about...anyone know?

Not defending mick. Agree with everything you said. He needs to recruit better players. Always said that. It’s not the players fault. They are trying, they simply don’t have the talent. Could mick do better coaching the offensive. Yes. I also always said that. On this team, I want the one player to have the ball that can create something. That is what I’m defending.

 

[cincycpaw]

Not defending mick. Agree with everything you said. He needs to recruit better players. Always said that. It’s not the players fault. They are trying, they simply don’t have the talent. Could mick do better coaching the offensive. Yes. I also always said that. On this team, I want the one player to have the ball that can create something. That is what I’m defending.

Ok, I understand but you can’t do it every play for like 10 minutes of game time. That’s a final 4 minute type of offense at best.

 

[cincyguy13]

Ok, I understand but you can’t do it every play for like 10 minutes of game time. That’s a final 4 minute type of offense at best.

It’s fine if we have the players. Give it to Jarron, let him drive and kick it out for an open look. He’s basically player a point forward, James guarded role. It’s an NBA/ iso style offense. The problem is we don’t have shooters to surround him and he’s the only great option at doing it. Cane and Keith aren’t as good enough passers.

Defense is also an issue. Agree with that too

 

[cincyguy13]

It’s fine if we have the players. Give it to Jarron, let him drive and kick it out for an open look. He’s basically player a point forward, James guarded role. It’s an NBA/ iso style offense. The problem is we don’t have shooters to surround him and he’s the only great option at doing it. Cane and Keith aren’t as good enough passers.

Defense is also an issue. Agree with that too

That’s way I never understood why he didn’t recruit more shooters. They seem they would be great in his offense

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Not sure but no one has really talked about the impact of loosing Larry Davis. He was with Mick for a long time and I got the impression he may have had some insights that Mick lacked. I was at the Purdue tourney game he coached that was a big win. It may be something to bear in mind as we see how the team adjusts or doesn’t adjust against higher caliber talent.

I touched on this as well before the season and was ridiculed. LD was best recruiter on staff and was basically a head coach. Mick directly stated in the UConn postgame that he was not happy with his coaching staff.

 

[sedziobs]

I touched on this as well before the season and was ridiculed.

You got into a fight with one person (Chad). No one else said anything negative. You even tried to keep the fight going two months after it ended. Let it go.

 

[BearcatsNE]

Those guys aren’t consistent in my opinion. They don’t really create for anyone else

Dude Mick has everyone screwed up. Mick doesn’t want anyone to do anything. Those guys seem to play well in the first half then Mick plays the showcase game. He only knows 1 play in the 2nd half. Sad

 

[BearcatsNE]

What would happen if for once Mick breathe believe in the other guys and ran more plays for those guys. I’ll tell what would happen. This team would seriously be dangerous. Just try it, we really do have the players to do so.

 

[GarradJ21]

We need more natural talent bad. It's depressing. Our team is decent and we play hard most of the time but it would be nice to have a few more guys with natural talent.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

You got into a fight with one person (Chad). No one else said anything negative. You even tried to keep the fight going two months after it ended. Let it go.

It was a simple disagreement, LOL, only reason I responded is b/c CB said LD couldnt beat ECU on the road when he was HC, well Mick didnt either

 

[cincycpaw]

Another question about this game...it seemed to me that under the basket was too often had a help defender flying to try and block the shot, with no chance really, resulting in easy offensive boards.

Perhaps it's that we've been so good in the past it has colored my opinion of what I saw Saturday night. And maybe I'm letting a couple of instances cloud
my entire thinking...but I think this is something that also needs fixed...in addition to the 3 pt defense.

 

[Uclawrugby]

I touched on this as well before the season and was ridiculed. LD was best recruiter on staff and was basically a head coach. Mick directly stated in the UConn postgame that he was not happy with his coaching staff.

Yes. I personally saw an uptick when LD coached and pretty sure he is Mick’s senior in terms is coaching experience. That said I have never heard a head coach publicly call out assistants in any sport at any time. I find it incredible that any head coach would ever shift blame to the guys he hired and is 100% responsible for at least not in public. Can’t imagine what was going through his head.

 

[cincrulz11]

Yes. I personally saw an uptick when LD coached and pretty sure he is Mick’s senior in terms is coaching experience. That said I have never heard a head coach publicly call out assistants in any sport at any time. I find it incredible that any head coach would ever shift blame to the guys he hired and is 100% responsible for at least not in public. Can’t imagine what was going through his head.

mick doesn't really think rationally when he's that pissed off

 

[cincycpaw]

mick doesn't really think rationally when he's that pissed off

Or during a game when a team is coming back on them.