Drake 11/20
- Thread starter CH_Spider
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You are right, we must develop that killer instinct and that sense of urgency.
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
after you watch the game, get back to me on if you think Grant or Mooney was the problem. we had 3 starters contribute very little on the offensive end. Grant certainly wasn't one of them.
If you go read Homer's post re Mooney, he is the problem because these things happen to his team over and over and over, year over year over year. It sounds like Grant had a great game, and I like that he plays with fire - BUT when these things hit us time after time after time at the most in opportune times - yes it is coaching, yes it is culture, yes certain things just are not corrected or emphasized.
We have 50 effing players on the team - BUT did not pick up a legit scoring guard or interior help - so that is roster mismanagement. I have pointed out the holes on our roster year after year after year - and they always come to fruition. Yes, Cayo was pretty good last year - though you have also pointe out some major deficiencies defensively - but he could have gotten hurt. No legit replacement on the roster.
We have 50 effing players on the team - BUT did not pick up a legit scoring guard or interior help - so that is roster mismanagement. I have pointed out the holes on our roster year after year after year - and they always come to fruition. Yes, Cayo was pretty good last year - though you have also pointe out some major deficiencies defensively - but he could have gotten hurt. No legit replacement on the roster.
The most bothersome part of the Drake loss is that we have seen this movie before. Its a close game at half - as expected - Drake is a good team on their home floor. But we come out of halftime, looking good and ready to put them away. We go up 8 with 15 minutes left - but don't score for nearly 4 minutes and Drake cuts the lead to 2. Then we push lead to 8 again with 6 minutes left, but only score 1 point for the next 4 minutes and next thing you know - we are down 5 with 2 minutes left. 2nd half scoring droughts and letting our offense effect our defense (or lack of defense) has been a crutch of Mooney teams ever since those back to back NCAA years.
Thinking back on our NCAA teams - you always know the other team is going to make a run. That is when you really have to buckle down and focus on Defense (something we can't do) AND you need someone on offense to get a bucket and stop the bleeding. Mooney's NCAA teams had KA and Gonzo. And Gonzo on defense as well. Even JW NCAA team had Skrocki - who seemed to always get to the free throw line when needed, and Dobbins on Defense (not to mention whole team played hard nosed defense). And even JB teams, he seemed to always be able to call a timeout and draw up a play to get a bucket and/or would switch defenses just for a possession to two to throw the other team off guard.
I just feel like since KA and Gonzo left, Mooney has not been able to find the right remedy for these 2nd half droughts. And its both players and coaches. Coaches need to use timeouts, get the guys settled on defense, and/or draw up a play to get an easy bucket, good look, or free throws. Players need to execute, and especially experienced players - which we have many - need to understand what is happening and stop the run themselves.
But what concerns is here we are, same issue, again and again - even with 6 year players.
Thinking back on our NCAA teams - you always know the other team is going to make a run. That is when you really have to buckle down and focus on Defense (something we can't do) AND you need someone on offense to get a bucket and stop the bleeding. Mooney's NCAA teams had KA and Gonzo. And Gonzo on defense as well. Even JW NCAA team had Skrocki - who seemed to always get to the free throw line when needed, and Dobbins on Defense (not to mention whole team played hard nosed defense). And even JB teams, he seemed to always be able to call a timeout and draw up a play to get a bucket and/or would switch defenses just for a possession to two to throw the other team off guard.
I just feel like since KA and Gonzo left, Mooney has not been able to find the right remedy for these 2nd half droughts. And its both players and coaches. Coaches need to use timeouts, get the guys settled on defense, and/or draw up a play to get an easy bucket, good look, or free throws. Players need to execute, and especially experienced players - which we have many - need to understand what is happening and stop the run themselves.
But what concerns is here we are, same issue, again and again - even with 6 year players.
It always feels like we just expect the droughts to happen and play like it. Self-fulfilling prophecy time after time after time.
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
And beating those decent teams is what gets you an at-large bid to the NCAA's.
What happened to the in-bounds play under the basket that was so effective for TJ? Surely Grant can make those. And maybe Tyler/Nathan or even Matt as well?
Did you miss seeing it work during the game?
I mean, for real. We had like 5 of those in the last 2 games.
Yes, exactly. Though I was responding to an earlier comment which I cannot now find (so maybe it was on another thread and I just added it in the wrong one) about not having a play at one point under our own basket, and maybe that we needed a timeout to come up with one?
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