Well

[homunculus]

If you think the offense is dead - scored 97 vs Memphis in a 2 pt loss, 72 vs Colorado in a 1 pt loss, then 67 on Dayton who got more free throws than Bob's discount stores have ads - and we had the roughly the same FG and 3pt FG vs them.

Defense is the entire issue - not offense. In any of the game in Maui if we committed 10 less fouls we would have won at least 2.

The talk about the offense being bad is poor hindsight. Standard Boneyard backfilling of storylines based entirely off the “vibes” of the outcome. Missing wide open shots doesn’t mean you’re not running your offense. It’s not up to the level of last season but the system hasn’t been the problem.

We mostly got whatever we wanted on offense in Maui. Against Dayton they were unguarded on a large number of threes and layups - and simply missed. We led relatively comfortably for a good 50% of the Colorado game. Colorado’s biggest lead was 1. We looked less good against Memphis because we were getting fouled constantly, hence the complaints about the FT disparity.

Even the defense - while not good enough - hasn’t been quite as bad as people are making it out to be. I just rewatched the Memphis game. We outplayed them for long stretches of that game on both ends of the floor but they just kept making shots. Yes, we had far too many defensive breakdowns that led to fouls on drives or open 3’s - but Memphis still made more tough shots than easy shots. It also makes it easier to play offense if you know that simply flinging yourself at the defender and whipping your head back will get you free throws. We completely outplayed them on the floor in OT and officiating ended it.

 

[JerseyAlum]

The talk about the offense being bad is poor hindsight. Standard Boneyard backfilling of storylines based entirely off the “vibes” of the outcome. Missing wide open shots doesn’t mean you’re not running your offense. It’s not up to the level of last season but the system hasn’t been the problem.

We mostly got whatever we wanted on offense in Maui. Against Dayton they were unguarded on a large number of threes and layups - and simply missed. We led relatively comfortably for a good 50% of the Colorado game. Colorado’s biggest lead was 1. We looked less good against Memphis because we were getting fouled constantly, hence the complaints about the FT disparity.

Even the defense - while not good enough - hasn’t been quite as bad as people are making it out to be. I just rewatched the Memphis game. We outplayed them for long stretches of that game on both ends of the floor but they just kept making shots. Yes, we had far too many defensive breakdowns that led to fouls on drives or open 3’s - but Memphis still made more tough shots than easy shots. It also makes it easier to play offense if you know that simply flinging yourself at the defender and whipping your head back will get you free throws. We completely outplayed them on the floor in OT and officiating ended it.

I agree - offense is largely judged by stats, not flow and you have to watch the offense develop to see if we missed open shots, or players missed assignments, cuts, screens, etc. The only stat I like for offense is assists : FG made because if we make a bucket and there was an assist at least it wasn't someone who had to create on their own.

Hurley often says he recruits for offense and teaches defense (something like that). True team defense: man, zone, hybrid has to be learned by everyone as 2-3 players cannot carry 2-3 others making mistakes. So it will always look worse than it is until it clicks and all 5 on the floor are in sync. That is the hardest part of getting 4 new starters: takes time.

Baylor will be a tough out, even in Gampel but without AK who is our amazing point forward and decision maker. Stewart is more physically gifted and good things happen when he plays, but he is not an AK clone. The matchups tend to be in our favor (they are not especially tall). That said, the line is now -2.5 so expect this to be another close game.

 

[Huskybass]

Hurley runs a tight meritocracy 24/7. I'm sure based on how they were practicing last year, their roles and potential game minutes were clearly deliniated and carved out for them. They knew what to expect and did their best for improving as the year went on. Thus the increased minutes for Stew towards the end of the season. Solo improved, but not enough to take the place of Castle. Meritocracy dude. Not Idiocracy.

Complete bs. There is no way Johnson should still be starting over Reed. Everyone else can see it. Hurley isn't perfect, he's human.