Game 3: Minnesota Game Discussion

Two biggest factors in the loss was Defense (lack there of) and shot selection. 
If we can improve on those two things we will win a lot of games.

I am shocked that Sima is still so soft and just doesn't understand the defensive scheme.  He can't be on the floor in late games if he doesn't improve on the defensive side of the ball.

Overall tons of positives in this game.  I truly think we were the better team last night.

I don't know why we'd play zone with such a tiny team? Our front court sans Owens was pathetic. They played better last year. Sima is lost. Yakwe has bad habits.

We aren't going to many games giving up so many easy baskets and scoring so few. Many of you remember Christian jone's amazing performance in the big east. We lost that game. As good as jones was on offense he was terrible on defense. If we played Marquette the same way 10 times we would have lost all 10.
Lovett and ponds were great offensively. But they didn't stop anyone. They took and hit crazy shots. And we gave up easy ones. That is not a way to win.
To many times last year this happened. Since we had no talent , we got blown out early but low level teams. Their was no plan in many games on defense. Their didn't look to be a plan last night. That kid went left at will.
I take no joy in bashing the coach. But the way they play they will give up 90 to every decent team on the schedule. And we are going to lose every game unless The other team has terrible night shooting.

Amar came in and missed 3 shots. Why is he playing? Why is he allowed to shoot? Yes he is our 10-12 man, a 10-12 can hurt you if they come in a game and take 3 bad shots and don't play defense .

This was the outcome I expected.  We're still a young team.
That said, I understand some of the complaints about how we looked in the process. 

Amar came in and missed 3 shots. Why is he playing? Why is he allowed to shoot? Yes he is our 10-12 man, a 10-12 can hurt you if they come in a game and take 3 bad shots and don't play defense .

Maybe because he plays harder than Malik Ellison and Yankuba Sima? Hey remember when Sima was already better than Obekpa, because I don't.

Why didn't Freudenberg play?

Mullin was trying to win the game would be my answer.

If Ellison is the most improved player on our team, then we are in for a long season.

If Ellison is the most improved player on our team, then we are in for a long season.

The dazzling array of misses was pretty impressive. I especially liked the one where he almost shot it over the backboard.

Amar came in and missed 3 shots. Why is he playing? Why is he allowed to shoot? Yes he is our 10-12 man, a 10-12 can hurt you if they come in a game and take 3 bad shots and don't play defense .

those shots were wipe open and uncontested. he has to take and make them

Quote from: TONYD3 on November 19, 2016, 08:33:15 AM

Amar came in and missed 3 shots. Why is he playing? Why is he allowed to shoot? Yes he is our 10-12 man, a 10-12 can hurt you if they come in a game and take 3 bad shots and don't play defense .

those shots were wipe open and uncontested. he has to take and make them

No. he is not a good shooter . Bad shooters who don't play defense shouldn't play and absolutely shouldn't shoot. Brining Amar in and giving him the green light is a recipe for disaster. I remember the Syracuse game. I also remember every other game he has played.
Maybe Williams can guard someone. If he can give him amar'a minutes. Our 4th foward needs to come in play defense and not do anything stupid. Taking 3 long 3's in 2 minutes is stupid. He was wide open for a reason.
If Williams can't guard anyone, both need to sit and never play.

Watched the game last night with an MAAC coach and this was his assesment

"The bigs try to block everything and as such take themselves out of rebounding position, this team will get killed on the Off boards all season. They also have atrocious hands. They are to be commended, they play hard as all hell but are too limited and have no post game. Brown will change that. Ahmed is a tough kid, I think he's used to being the alpha dog but will settle in nicely. Obviously this team will live/die with kids in backcourt.  So skilled but transition D and ball pressure is a must for this team to be even little competitive. The nights they don't hit their shots could get UGLY, but skill level so high. Be patient with the German kid, saw him at practice and he can play, just needs to get used to speed of the game. Cant figure out where Elllison fits in, which is ok but neither does he or the coaching staff."

Quote from: valgoth on November 19, 2016, 10:03:35 AM

Quote from: TONYD3 on November 19, 2016, 08:33:15 AM

Amar came in and missed 3 shots. Why is he playing? Why is he allowed to shoot? Yes he is our 10-12 man, a 10-12 can hurt you if they come in a game and take 3 bad shots and don't play defense .

those shots were wipe open and uncontested. he has to take and make them

No. he is not a good shooter . Bad shooters who don't play defense shouldn't play and absolutely shouldn't shoot. Brining Amar in and giving him the green light is a recipe for disaster. I remember the Syracuse game. I also remember every other game he has played.
Maybe Williams can guard someone. If he can give him amar'a minutes. Our 4th foward needs to come in play defense and not do anything stupid. Taking 3 long 3's in 2 minutes is stupid. He was wide open for a reason.
If Williams can't guard anyone, both need to sit and never play.

Alibegovic and Williams aren't the problem. Sima, Yakwe and Ellison are the weakest links right now. They are careless and clueless defenders who aren't able to score to make up for it. They need to be coached. Why are we even bothering w this zone shit? Play f'n man to man, and cut out this weak ass defense. It's pathetic.

Zone won't stop anyone. May hold opposition to 80 points a game though.

Zone won't stop anyone. May hold opposition to 80 points a game though.

I'm disappointed in our coach. Not one returning player has improved. That is on the staff.

Quote from: TONYD3 on November 19, 2016, 10:11:40 AM

Quote from: valgoth on November 19, 2016, 10:03:35 AM

Quote from: TONYD3 on November 19, 2016, 08:33:15 AM

Amar came in and missed 3 shots. Why is he playing? Why is he allowed to shoot? Yes he is our 10-12 man, a 10-12 can hurt you if they come in a game and take 3 bad shots and don't play defense .

those shots were wipe open and uncontested. he has to take and make them

No. he is not a good shooter . Bad shooters who don't play defense shouldn't play and absolutely shouldn't shoot. Brining Amar in and giving him the green light is a recipe for disaster. I remember the Syracuse game. I also remember every other game he has played.
Maybe Williams can guard someone. If he can give him amar'a minutes. Our 4th foward needs to come in play defense and not do anything stupid. Taking 3 long 3's in 2 minutes is stupid. He was wide open for a reason.
If Williams can't guard anyone, both need to sit and never play.

Alibegovic and Williams aren't the problem. Sima, Yakwe and Ellison are the weakest links right now. They are careless and clueless defenders who aren't able to score to make up for it. They need to be coached. Why are we even bothering w this zone shit? Play f'n man to man, and cut out this weak ass defense. It's pathetic.

Sima is averaging over 8 points in less then 16 minutes a game

5 offensive rebounds for Owens. Like what this guy brings to the table

I'm not impressed with Minnesota, but we're playing horribly right now.  Too much individual ball has allowed Minnesota to get back into it.  I think this is part of Mullin's NBA-style.  It's good to play that style when you have NBA-level talent across the board.  Unfortunately, we don't have that kinda talent.

The universal "green light" to shoot needs to be reined in. I understand that Mullin wants guys to be confident, but just seems that there are times when they seem to feel like it's their turn to hoist a long distance 3 at the most inopportune time (Amar is repeat offender). I know we will have to live and die with the performance of our guards. But, I wouuld like to see more aggression on the part of our big guys. Too tentative. The kid Lynch on Minnesota is an example - not very agile or extremely talented but super aggressive on offense and defense.

That said, I was happy that we fought back and had an opportunity to steal the game. And, think we have promise.[/quote]

"The bigs try to block everything and as such take themselves out of rebounding position, this team will get killed on the Off boards all season.

Saint John's had 54 rebounds last night, Minnesota had 40, what game were you and the coach watching.

Minnesota recap: http://www.bigeastboards.com/