66 - 68- 63

[RuffRuff]

That presser felt intentional. Crux in a season when you see what you have, and have to start pushing buttons. Kids either start responding or not.

 

[Scottzer]

Those are our point totals in the last three games. If we scored 70 in each we would be 3-0 in that stretch not 1-2. Our shooting has been closer to 40% than 50% in this stretch. These three games are the only times we haven't reached 70 except Dayton.

Offense -not defense- is the larger problem. This is NOT to say our defense has been great. It hasn't been. Too many open threes. Too many back doors and too many easy drives to the rim. But you don't advance in the NCAAs scoring in the 60s. Didn't we learn this lesson?

This team needs to have high scoring games b/c the defense is so bad. But, I don’t necessarily agree with your point on scoring in the 60s and advancing - often this is precisely how you beat teams considered better than your own. The final 3 games of both 2011 and 2014 never reached the 70s - the high was 65!

 

[RuffRuff]

This team needs to have high scoring games b/c the defense is so bad. But, I don’t necessarily agree with your point on scoring in the 60s and advancing - often this is precisely how you beat teams considered better than your own. The final 3 games of both 2011 and 2014 never reached the 70s - the high was 65!

We took ten more shots than Creighton and shot 45%. That almost always wins games. Offensive issue is we don’t get to the line, which is the most efficient form of offense. Has been the reason I’ve wondered why we don’t at least try Tarris a bit more, but he’s hard to rely on given the consistent inconsistency.

 

[Marat]

We took ten more shots than Creighton and shot 45%. That almost always wins games. Offensive issue is we don’t get to the line, which is the most efficient form of offense. Has been the reason I’ve wondered why we don’t at least try Tarris a bit more, but he’s hard to rely on given the consistent inconsistency.

Exactly RuffRuff. We don't get to the line enough . The opponents consistently take more FTs so we complain about the refs. But the issue is players do not consistently attack the hoop trying to draw fouls.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Those are our point totals in the last three games. If we scored 70 in each we would be 3-0 in that stretch not 1-2. Our shooting has been closer to 40% than 50% in this stretch. These three games are the only times we haven't reached 70 except Dayton.

Offense -not defense- is the larger problem. This is NOT to say our defense has been great. It hasn't been. Too many open threes. Too many back doors and too many easy drives to the rim. But you don't advance in the NCAAs scoring in the 60s. Didn't we learn this lesson?

Pace is too slow. We aren't a running team, but offense has to be quicker, and they need more ball pressure in defense to up tempo.

 

[JohnFSilver]

We took ten more shots than Creighton and shot 45%. That almost always wins games. Offensive issue is we don’t get to the line, which is the most efficient form of offense. Has been the reason I’ve wondered why we don’t at least try Tarris a bit more, but he’s hard to rely on given the consistent inconsistency.

They don't get to line because the offense is a jump shooting team, and, the players don't force action. They need it attack more.

They need to be more aggressive and play more physical on offense.

 

[mauconnfan]

It’s obviously both in all reality. There’s an argument for either in every game. I would say first half in most of these games has been an offensive problem we’ve only seen 30 points in a first half once in the last 5 games or more. Diarra has his best first half all year yesterday but that was pretty much it, still ended up under 30 yet again. But at the same time Solo allowed Neal to think he was MJ by not guarding him well enough. This team has issues and it’s a little late to change much but hope some just suddenly get it! Seems Dan is trying to do just that.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

The largest problem with the very small same size in question is that two of the teams (the games we lost, not coincidental) prefer the slower pace, longer possessions that we normally play. The benefits of playing in that manner did not arise for us in those games as we made it easier for them to play as they prefer.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

If you are fixed on the pts we did score and why we didn't score more, then yes, you'll come up with Offense as the issue.

But then it would be equally true if we held our opponents to 65-67-62 and to do that we'd all say it was Defense as the issue.

Creighton was decided not by O or D, nor that lack of call on Diarra's 3.

Same as Memphis - they shot +10 free throws and made 9 more of them. We committed 17 fouls; they 8. You cannot argue it's the refs, when coming in we know they barely foul and we often foul. Sure take any play in isolation and you can say it was a bad call for/against us, but the game as a whole was tight, we lost by 5, not 35, and that could have been made up if

1. We played better O and scored 6 more
2. We played better D and limited them to 62
3. We only got called for 5 fouls

I think the answer is 2: Defense.

 

[Palatine]

You can add 69 versus Butler in regulation.

 

[HooperScooper]

You can add 69 versus Butler in regulation.

Worse. 68.

 

[sledog]

Fouls not withstanding, running a clinic on how to blow a 16 pt lead, and how to drive to the hoop.

 

[RuffRuff]

Worse. 68.

You are a man of details HS, that is a constant in Scotland BYard.

 

[HooperScooper]

You are a man of details HS, that is a constant in Scotland BYard.

Is that a bad thing? In my work life I have to be exact so I take that to other areas of my life. It’s a curse.

 

[RuffRuff]

Is that a bad thing? In my work life I have to be exact so I take that to other areas of my life. It’s a curse.

It's a great thing - and you are consistent!

 

[AllHusky]

We took ten more shots than Creighton and shot 45%. That almost always wins games. Offensive issue is we don’t get to the line, which is the most efficient form of offense. Has been the reason I’ve wondered why we don’t at least try Tarris a bit more, but he’s hard to rely on given the consistent inconsistency.

Would have thought Tarris would be emerging as Sanogo2.0+ by now. Bums me out, cause I think he has the stuff. Don't know if its a function of playmaking not set up for him, or he doesn't move in the system appropriately, but man, could we use that. In '22, we'd just dump it down there and let him(Sanogo) work. It was alot of our offense.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Would have thought Tarris would be emerging as Sanogo2.0+ by now. Bums me out, cause I think he has the stuff. Don't know if its a function of playmaking not set up for him, or he doesn't move in the system appropriately, but man, could we use that. In '22, we'd just dump it down there and let him(Sanogo) work. It was alot of our offense.

Tarris has a history of good half / bad half stemming from 2 years @ Michigan where he fouled out much less.

With him, it's when he fouls he gets down on himself; watching games I think we can see that in his expression and next couple actions. The issue is he suddenly is yanked for Johnson so continuity is at a premium.

Next year, if we don't get a '4' in the portal I would love to see Reibe at 5 and Reed, Jr. at the 4 but that is highly dependent on Stewart staying (mainly) or IA getting a shot at the 4. And Reed, Jr. did play '4' to Hunter Dickenson's '5' at Michigan his frosh year.

 

[TheChamps990411]

No Liam. This team healthy can get 70 in its sleep.

Those are our point totals in the last three games. If we scored 70 in each we would be 3-0 in that stretch not 1-2. Our shooting has been closer to 40% than 50% in this stretch. These three games are the only times we haven't reached 70 except Dayton.

Offense -not defense- is the larger problem. This is NOT to say our defense has been great. It hasn't been. Too many open threes. Too many back doors and too many easy drives to the rim. But you don't advance in the NCAAs scoring in the 60s. Didn't we learn this lesson?

 

[sdb1989]

No it’s not . We gave up 68 in a college game. We lost because of our inability to make 5-10 ft shots

Number of possessions in a game matter. How efficient was that 68? I can tell you that it’s been our rebounding and defense is largely why we’ve lost

 

[uconngb]

Number of possessions in a game matter. How efficient was that 68? I can tell you that it’s been our rebounding and defense is largely why we’ve lost

It’s amazing how much of this board is blind to this

 

[dennismenace]

When Dan Hurley talks about lack of toughness and tenacity, do you think he’s talking about on offense????

Well, we can't blame everything on Liam's absence which is exactly what he just did (see coaches and players commentary above). The question is what is he going to do as coach to fix the problem. Maybe he might try a page from JC and call timeouts and start getting in peoples faces. His commentary lacks accountability. He apparently will just critique everything without doing something different to stop the bleeding. This sounds more like an editorial than a coach.

 

[RuffRuff]

Would have thought Tarris would be emerging as Sanogo2.0+ by now. Bums me out, cause I think he has the stuff. Don't know if its a function of playmaking not set up for him, or he doesn't move in the system appropriately, but man, could we use that. In '22, we'd just dump it down there and let him(Sanogo) work. It was alot of our offense.

This season has has a clunky tone to it, between the early 3peat over-confidence to Maui to Liam’s injury. Top it off with all the Hurley stuff, our depth not being depth at all, the egregious defensive gaps and the flow is messy. Some seasons just don’t congeal the way you hope and this one is starting to feel that way. It makes you realize how delicate it all is, roster construction, gauging returners, etc. Post title hangover is a real thing, what makes title 2 so impressive. Hoping for the best but severely checking back expectations. I can see Selection Sunday being more stressful than anticipated.