Somehow the whole is less than the sum of its parts

[Huskybass]

I really think KO is the right guy to run the program long term. But this team is really underperforming badly. The talent is there. Bazz, Boat, Niels, DeAndre, Amida, Lasan and Omar will all play professionally somewhere.

It amazes me that a team with this much talent hasn't found a way to blend it better. They looked great early against Harvard when they ran. I really think this team needs to up tempo every game to play well and make a deep run in March. If the games stay in the 50's and 60's we look awful and will make an early exit.

Run, run, run...

 

[bazzdog]

Exactly-we have never been a great half court team-our MO has been pressure 1-2-2 or 1-3-1 in the Ollie years-I thought we were going to see more of it this year....

 

[Strummer]

I really think this team needs to up tempo every game to play well and make a deep run in March.

 

[Strummer]

Bring Out the Gimp!

I'd love to see full bore for 40 minutes a game. We have a deep bench in terms of guys who can come in and play intensive defense. We've got great speed on the ball on O. We've got guys who can finish on the break (DD, NG, and KroMAH (kill that guy)).

Run baby! Our half court sucks.

Seems like we're playing to our weakness rather than our strength.

 

[RichZ]

Is it that we play bad in low scoring games or is it that when our perimeter shots are falling we look good and naturally score more?

 

[Kitaman]

Fast breaks have a prerequisite; the outlet pass, which has a prerequisite; the rebound, which has a prerequisite; a rebounder.

At this point we have to work backwards to get to a running game.

 

[CTBasketball]

Its hard to run a fast break when your quickest players (guards) are the ones grabbing the rebounds.

 

[Inyatkin]

Is it that we play bad in low scoring games or is it that when our perimeter shots are falling we look good and naturally score more?

I don't get why it's so complicated. We rely on good shooting. We had it early in the season, and looked great. Our shooting fell off, all the sudden we're not trying hard enough, or not relentless, or less than the sum or our parts. No, we're just not shooting well, mostly.

 

[Gurleyman]

The talent level is also below what we are accustomed to. Only one team in the entire JC era didn't have a first round pick on it (1999-2000). This years team probably doesn't either, unless Brimah develops down the road. I don't think Bazz has the athleticism or DD the skillset.

That 1999-2000 team struggled badly at times too despite a veteran presence, but maybe could have had a nice run without the KEA sprained ankle. Their weakness was different - they had 4s playing the 3, instead of 3s playing the 4.

 

[freescooter]

I don't get why it's so complicated. We rely on good shooting. We had it early in the season, and looked great. Our shooting fell off, all the sudden we're not trying hard enough, or not relentless, or less than the sum or our parts. No, we're just not shooting well, mostly.

We won games, but to say we "looked" great is a bit of an exaggeration I think. We looked great against Florida, maybe Detroit, but we struggled against BC, struggled against Maryland, struggled with Indiana, didn't look great against Loyola. Despite their names, Maryland, BC and Indiana aren't very good this year. I think this team has been showing its weaknesses since November. late game heroics just covered a multitude of sins.

 

[Inyatkin]

We won games, but to say we "looked" great is a bit of an exaggeration I think. We looked great against Florida, maybe Detroit, but we struggled against BC, struggled against Maryland, struggled with Indiana, didn't look great against Loyola. Despite their names, Maryland, BC and Indiana aren't very good this year. I think this team has been showing its weaknesses since November. late game heroics just covered a multitude of sins.

Huh, you're weighing in with a pessimistic take on things? I'm shocked.
The point is that it extends to last year, too. Our best play coincided with our best shooting, which is no surprise because we're so perimeter oriented. We can't paper over bad shooting the way some other teams can, not without any discernible inside presence.

 

[Peacefrog]

I don't get why it's so complicated. We rely on good shooting. We had it early in the season, and looked great. Our shooting fell off, all the sudden we're not trying hard enough, or not relentless, or less than the sum or our parts. No, we're just not shooting well, mostly.

Agreed. I'm not convinced we are "underperforming" overall. We have terrible rebounding and no inside game on offense. We have good guards and perimeter shooting but when that goes south we are going to struggle. That is what we are seeing over the last couple of weeks and it shouldn't really come as a surprise. I think our performance has been pretty representative of the talent on the team. We are a fringe top 25 team and that is right about where we are.

 

[freescooter]

I actually don't think we disagree in our analysis of this team. I said back at the beginning of the season that this team would go as far as its guards can carry it. That's pretty much what has happened.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I actually don't think we disagree in our analysis of this team. I said back at the beginning of the season that this team would go as far as its guards can carry it. That's pretty much what has happened.

Be honest, you haven't enjoyed a season this much in many, many years. I don't think you've ever been so excited.

 

[Husky68]

Need to take advantage of every "quick numerical/position" play given be it fast break, quick half court shot or penetration. Find Bazz coasting parts of games to have ability to play 40 minutes and be key guy in winning time, only way he can do it; he also doesn't make the easiest play on drives/fast breaks (maybe little too much Chris Paul attempt). Why can't Giff. be a poor mans Hamilton; at least make defenders chase you. DD needs to finish. Not sure how you solve 2 small guards trying to defend other teams fast break, make more shots and contest offensive rebounds to slow other teams down. If you don't have a break away dunk, give ball up to Bazz or Boat on fast break; no Omar, DD, Giff, dribbling; even LK.
Bigs snatch the damn rebound with one hand; get opposite shoulder into opponent so can't reach over to tip ball away; especially TO as when he jumps in traffic with 2 hands the ball is always gone before he reaches it.
Play offense faster, what is this walking down the court, stop all this dribble/isolation stuff unless one of these guys is going to morph into Derrick Rose; Bazz and Boat are saving themselves 'cause they do all the set up work; only 240 minutes to go around and if want some quality Giff, LK, and Omar minutes need to have more of only Bazz or Boat in while the other is pushing tempo and the wings are bringing it every second of every possession; fast tempo on both ends means more steals, deflections, shot opportunities and 2o minutes of fast tempo gives Giff 8-10 shots rather than 2-3, Omar can miss 2 shots without thinking he only has one more and that's it. A team that is small, can shoot, and is athletic should play 94/40 (all 94 feet for 40 minutes).
Team can win with crappy offensive centers if they rebound and defend; that's all should have these guys do; offense is set pick and fight for weakside rebounding position.
This is prime year for Kemba/Butler/George Mason type team to get to FF; why not UConn; but 1st need to get into tournament.

 

[ZenConn]

This is prime year for Kemba/Butler/George Mason type team to get to FF; why not UConn; but 1st need to get into tournament.

We're not rebounding enough.

Butler (National Championship run #1)
Their top 3 rebounders were their forwards avging 17.7 rpg.

Butler (run #2)
Their top 3 rebounders combined 17.8 rpg. 3rd leading rebounder was Shelvin Mack with 4.5

UCONN Championship run
Top 3 rebounders combined 19.3 rpg. 2nd leading rebounder was Kemba with 5.4. Lamb was also rebounding 4 ppg in 4th.

George Mason (FF run)
Top 3 rebounders combined 19.2 rpg. All 3 were forwards. Jai Lewis was 6'8 and close to 300 lbs.

This year:
Top 3 rebounders combine to get 14.8 rpg. 2 of them are our point guards.

After watching the game last night, the lack of rebounding brings up the following points:

• We aren't getting enough easy buckets. Fast breaks are down to a minimum because all 5 of our guys including our guards/wings are helping out getting rebounds. This makes us work harder on the offensive end in regards to running sets or having our guards break down the defense.
• All the guys seem to be gassed by the time they get into running an offensive set with so much effort being put into getting a defensive rebound. This is especially true for our guards. I can't possibly imagine fighting for every single defensive rebound against guys that are 8 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than me and then going on the offensive end and trying to run a team's offensive set.
• Our front line needs to occupy space when going for a rebound either by putting big players in on the front line or by making yourself bigger when boxing out. That's how AB and at times, TO were effective. AB and TO should not be falling to the floor everytime there is contact. The percentage of us just having a missed shot drop into our lap increases if we reduce the space that the opposing players can position themselves for a rebound.
• DD needs to step up. I see that his play changed for the Harvard game. Rather than working the corner baseline the entire game, he was working to get himself in more of a triple threat position. He'll get more shots and hopefully more offensive rebounds this way. He's averaging 13 and 5. If he increases it to 16/17 and 8, the team will be in much better place. Perhaps like a Gordon Hayward who averaged 16 and 8 during Butler's championship run.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Pudge]

I think it is very telling when we read that YOU think we played well early Weds ... when I think (and KO stated) it was our defense in the second half that stepped up and made Harvard lose. Flow is good at times. But, we are going to win when you see darn good teams shoot 35% or less.

Rebounding? We are a flawed team. We seriously need a rebounder/interior defender. This roster is lacking. Many also miss that our game has been maintained for a long time with our Bigs also being good positionally. Rotations. Screens. Box-outs. I think we have a flaw here too; and, that is something DD is deficient as well.

Good early? I think, like many years, this is a developing team. We will see.

 

[freescooter]

Be honest, you haven't enjoyed a season this much in many, many years. I don't think you've ever been so excited.

No. I find this particular team sort of boring despite close games. I don't know why or if its the style of play, I'm just down on the whole AAC thing, or no Pitt, no Syracuse, no Georgetown, or what. My guess is that I've been following the Huskies longer than most folks here. I want the best coach out there. I am skeptical that that is who we have right now. But we'll see. But its funny to read other people, many of whom were falling over themselves trying to argue that Ollie was Jim Calhoun 2.0, now raising the very points I raised when Ollie was hired. I do find that gratifying, I have to admit. My favorite comment was that "being a 'coach on the floor' isn't the same as being an actual head coach." I remember saying exactly that and being roasted for it. LOL...

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

No. I find this particular team sort of boring despite close games. I don't know why or if its the style of play, I'm just down on the whole AAC thing, or no Pitt, no Syracuse, no Georgetown, or what. My guess is that I've been following the Huskies longer than most folks here. I want the best coach out there. I am skeptical that that is who we have right now. But we'll see. But its funny to read other people, many of whom were falling over themselves trying to argue that Ollie was Jim Calhoun 2.0, now raising the very points I raised when Ollie was hired. I do find that gratifying, I have to admit. My favorite comment was that "being a 'coach on the floor' isn't the same as being an actual head coach." I remember saying exactly that and being roasted for it. LOL...

No, I think you love it. There's got to be a reason you've literally never posted when they play well.

Incidentally, I'm not sure how much gratification I'd get from some of the people on here agreeing with you. It's not actually the case that you and the other loonies know more about coaching than the staff, you just think that.

 

[tentoes4rings]

The talent level is also below what we are accustomed to. Only one team in the entire JC era didn't have a first round pick on it (1999-2000). This years team probably doesn't either, unless Brimah develops down the road. I don't think Bazz has the athleticism or DD the skillset.

That 1999-2000 team struggled badly at times too despite a veteran presence, but maybe could have had a nice run without the KEA sprained ankle. Their weakness was different - they had 4s playing the 3, instead of 3s playing the 4.

I agree that the talent really isn't that good by our standards. Unfortunately DD hasn't developed the way many of us hoped and may be just a fringe NBA prospect at this point. I'd say Bazz is our only guy who is a sure NBA player and even he isn't an automatic. Compared to the top teams in the country we look pretty pedestrian. The future looks brighter with Purvis, Hamilton and Ali coming in the next 2 years but we may well have to just lick our wounds this year and hope Brimah, Daniels and others improve significantly by next year.