Jacob I agree with you to a certain degree. You can be a efficient offense and still not race up and down the floor. It may not be as entertaining but it can be effective.
yup.I think we can still push when its appropriate. But when I say limit possessions, I mean limit the other teams possessions by playing great defense and forcing them to shoot at the tail end of the shot clock. It reduces possessions but not on our side.
without effective 3 point shooting you won't win in today's college game. Regardless of time of possession we have been giving up way to many open looks. Doesn't matter if they are early in shot clock or late. A open look is a open look.It can be. But typically I think you'd have to be a big 3 point shooting team to maintain good enough offensive efficiency at a slow pace.
Really our defense has been fine most of the year. The 2nd half of the last 2 games are obviously the biggest exceptions. But I believe before Butler, our opponents were something like 344 out of 351 in length of possession...and our overall tempo is up 92 spots from last year. That's a good balance. And we are still actually 0.7 pts better this year than last year in AdjD.
I agree long haulThe offense has had about zero to do with the defense. Their defense hasn't been giving up points because they are run & gun. They have been giving up way too many open looks from 3 and allowing too much penetration in their half-court defense which has nothing to do with their "new" offense. Hell, I'm not even sure what's new about their offense, they just play a little quicker.
without effective 3 point shooting you won't win in today's college game. Regardless of time of possession we have been giving up way to many open looks. Doesn't matter if they are early in shot clock or late. A open look is a open look.
The last two games I was disappointed in our defensive effort. We also haven't been as dominating on the glass. It's almost like the team thinks it can turn it on and off at will. Beating cupcakes will do that to you at times.
from some of Mick's comments this week he is trying very hard to impress upon his team that you have to play both ends of the floor. He has been praising X quite a bit which I think is meant to motivate and challenge his team. He knows to win his guys must outwork the opposition. Play strong defense and grow offensively. The problem has been the players haven't kept the same edge defensively or on the glass.Yes I agree.
from some of Mick's comments this week he is trying very hard to impress upon his team that you have to play both ends of the floor. He has been praising X quite a bit which I think is meant to motivate and challenge his team. He knows to win his guys must outwork the opposition. Play strong defense and grow offensively. The problem has been the players haven't kept the same edge defensively or on the glass.
Yes. This is the nuts and bolts of it. I thought Mick's response after Morgan State was spot on. He definitely got everyone's attention...and I think even scared some of our fans.
I'm concerned with the mental toughness with this team, something I haven't been worried about in a few years.
I agree. I said earlier, who on our team is going to step up, keep our players heads up when X goes on a run? Or when the refs screw us over? Or when our players get in foul trouble. (It's going to happen) I'm just worried about it snow balling quickly. Who has that toughness on our team? I don't think anyone can point to one guy. Even Cronin hasn't even been able to name a player. He is asking each player what they bring to our team.
At least a lot of the guys were in the Purdue game, so they should all know to keep their heads up when the other team makes a run. I think KJ can be this guy though. It is obvious to me that he has made a point to be more aggressive with that ball and in his rebounding/around the basket play this year. Then you factor in his on the ball defense. He can be a little cocky, but sometimes we need that. And he doesn't seem to waver.
At least a lot of the guys were in the Purdue game, so they should all know to keep their heads up when the other team makes a run. I think KJ can be this guy though. It is obvious to me that he has made a point to be more aggressive with that ball and in his rebounding/around the basket play this year. Then you factor in his on the ball defense. He can be a little cocky, but sometimes we need that. And he doesn't seem to waver.
They were also all on the team last year when we were down by 12 at halftime to X. Didn't win the game but showed toughness then to not give up. Game was obviously at home but still.
I'm concerned with the mental toughness with this team, something I haven't been worried about in a few years.
But why would it be any worse than last year? Because Jermaine Sanders is gone? This is the same team as last year with the exception of few good recruits added in and minus one average player.
i think it is obvious that in changing our offense our defensive preparation and execution have suffered. The challenge for team is to continue to develope offensively while getting back to our level of defense. Don't know many teams who have been successful as a team by not being able to play both ends of the floor. You will never win a championship by playing one over the other.