So after last night's game ... POLL

[CL82]

... I'm feeling a little better. The team played hard and completed against a team that ought to have been a very tough match up for us. No one likes a loss, but it seems like we are headed in the right direction. I'm still not convinced that we'll be a tournament team, but I have a little more hope this morning.

 

[SubbaBub]

That was a winnable game, they choked it in the last 6 minutes.

 

[whaler11]

Neither. Same.

 

[Wordbomar]

Slightly better but it means nothing if we lose both Wichita State and Auburn imo

 

[CL82]

Neither. Same.

Good point, I'll add that as a choice. Although I'm afraid that people will cluster there.

 

[Palatine]

The game that bothered me was Maryland beating Coppin State by 50.

 

[Scoe]

Im not feeling any better I haven't forgotten about last year, or the Arkansas game. Watching the offense still makes me cringe being down one or 2 buckets with this team feels like were down by double digits.

 

[Brochacho]

Felt like a better version of the MSU game. Didn't get dominated from tip to final buzzer like Arkansas and Cuse. Still worried we end up 7-7. Arizona to Alabama is a hell of a turn around for two true road games. Wichita State will be ready to pounce. Ollie's never won in Tulsa. Cautiously optimistic we can pick off Auburn, show up in Tulsa, and maybe give Wichita a game. I think I'm back to the morning of the Arkansas game, as opposed to half time of Coppin State, for how I feel about the outlook of this team.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

The bottom line is that games aren't 20 mins (Michigan State) and they aren't 35 mins (Arizona) and they certainly aren't 0 mins (Arkansas).

They team has a couple decent players, but lacks any sort of cohesion or plan when on the court.

Due to their individual talent, they can go some runs and keep a game close, but the cream rises to the top and I don't think they'll win many games against decent teams.

 

[CL82]

The bottom line is that games aren't 20 mins (Michigan State) and they aren't 35 mins (Arizona) and they certainly aren't 0 mins (Arkansas).

They team has a couple decent players, but lacks any sort of cohesion or plan when on the court.

Due to their individual talent, they can go some runs and keep a game close, but the cream rises to the top and I don't think they'll win many games against decent teams.

Arizona made plays at the close of both halfs. Remember when that used to be our signature? I do.

 

[8893]

Progress is not linear.

35>20

Still finding themselves without AG in the mix; and maybe he and/or Sid will be in the mix soon. Warning: that may also mean another adjustment period.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Arizona made plays at the close of both halfs. Remember when that used to be our signature? I do.

I do, but as I mentioned in a different thread, even when we were down 2 with the ball I knew we weren't winning.

Odd because even a few years ago, down 10 I would never count us out.

 

[CL82]

Progress is not linear.

35>20

Still finding themselves without AG in the mix; and maybe he and/or Sid will be in the mix soon. Warning: that may also mean another adjustment period.

I'm not sure Alterique is the answer. He plays hard but it's not like we ran smoothly with him at the point.

(I'm also not convinced that he'll play again. Shoulders are tricky once they are subluxed.)

 

[August_West]

The game that bothered me was Maryland beating Coppin State by 50.

Did Wofford beating UNC bother you?

How about BC beating Duke?

 

[August_West]

I'm not sure Alterique is the answer. He plays hard but it's not like we ran smoothly with him at the point.

(I'm also not convinced that he'll play again. Shoulders are tricky once they are subluxed.)

Alterique is the answer. **

Trust me on this.

Always trust content from ADub

(** Healthy. Which actually may never be a reality)

 

[BlueDogs]

The bottom line is that games aren't 20 mins (Michigan State) and they aren't 35 mins (Arizona) and they certainly aren't 0 mins (Arkansas).

They team has a couple decent players, but lacks any sort of cohesion or plan when on the court.

Due to their individual talent, they can go some runs and keep a game close, but the cream rises to the top and I don't think they'll win many games against decent teams.

It's hard to win games with poor discipline in execution. The pseudo iso NBA offense with a few token perimeter passes KO runs just reinforces the disjointed, sloppy play IMHO. What the kids did last night is really pick up the intensity attacking the glass and on D (mostly), but they don't play smart and playing smart is very coachable. It's hard to sustain maximum effort for 40 minutes when you shooot yourself in the foot constantly.

 

[junglehusky]

Well, still looks like we will need to go on a run in the AAC tourney, and based on last night the chances of that increased by what, 2%? So that's either positive or neutral depending on your threshold and disposition.

 

[willie99]

the poll results appear to indicate there's a "silent majority", which is a good thing

 

[junglehusky]

Alterique is the answer. **

Trust me on this.

Always trust content from ADub

(** Healthy. Which actually may never be a reality)

Another game with anemic assists had me (and everyone, probably) in this wavelength.

 

[Kenny11]

I feel ok. Maybe slightly better. If jalen showed up yesterday, we would have had a chance.
At least with the way Cobb, diarra, and Carlton competed, you can actually see some bright spots for the future and even for conference play this year.

We have to have a very good conference record this year. We don’t have enough talent to compete with Michigan State and Villanova but we do have enough talent to win in the aac. Ollie needs to do that.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Alterique is the answer. **

Trust me on this.

Always trust content from ADub

(** Healthy. Which actually may never be a reality)

I'll suggest a modification to this view. This team will look better with a healthy Gilbert and without Adams. That's not a knock on JA, who is a good player. But those two do not mesh very well.

 

[8893]

I'm not sure Alterique is the answer. He plays hard but it's not like we ran smoothly with him at the point.

But it's not like we have much of a legitimate sample size, either.

He may never be healthy, and that will suck, but I think he has/had/will have a lot of what we appear to be missing, both tangible and intangible.

 

[August_West]

Another game with anemic assists had me (and everyone, probably) in this wavelength.

And yeah, thats a huge part of it. But its so much more. He is by far the most vocal floor leader, still is now from the bench. And he is very disruptive on defense, has the Boatright and Napier knack of making Point guards miserable and starting the offense really high. If a good guard gets Alterique one on one going to the basket, Alterique still has some learning to do in that setting, but we are a better team with him on the floor 25-30 minutes a game even if he doesnt score a point.

 

[August_West]

I'll suggest a modification to this view. This team will look better with a healthy Gilbert and without Adams. That's not a knock on JA, who is a good player. But those two do not mesh very well.

I actually buy that.


My one comeback would be, is that in 2 years they've played ,what, 6-7 games together? But their chemistry in those isnt great.

Jalen confounds me.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Unlike the Arkansas game, Bill Walton was still (partially) paying attention to the action on the court during the 2nd half last night.

That's improvement.