What changes would you make?

[sdspider]

Right now as coach for our next game.

I would add more ball pressure for most of the game try to get some steals.

I thought the one thing our D was known for was limiting the three. Too slow to get out after we double or just good shooting?

Honestly it's on coach but it's also the players, we lost KO who was the heart and soul and we are seeing how big ANO was as well I guess. No other way to explain it with everyone else back and another year of practice.

 

[SpiderK]

Right now as coach for our next game.

I would add more ball pressure for most of the game try to get some steals.

I thought the one thing our D was known for was limiting the three. Too slow to get out after we double or just good shooting?

Honestly it's on coach but it's also the players, we lost KO who was the heart and soul and we are seeing how big ANO was as well I guess. No other way to explain it with everyone else back and another year of practice.

I think we are seeing how bad a couple of our non performing players really are. It can't be hidden or made up for anymore.

 

[ur2K]

How can you pressure for extended periods when you only play 7?

 

[fatherspider]

Right now as coach for our next game.

I would add more ball pressure for most of the game try to get some steals.

I thought the one thing our D was known for was limiting the three. Too slow to get out after we double or just good shooting?

Honestly it's on coach but it's also the players, we lost KO who was the heart and soul and we are seeing how big ANO was as well I guess. No other way to explain it with everyone else back and another year of practice.

Need to change to a different style of D because this group just isn't equipped to play it effectively. Match up zone requires quickness and great communication and it seems these guys just can't match up to the speed of the competition. too often we can't contain the ball handler and that is essential for this type of D. The initial defender keeps getting burned off the dribble then others need to help leaving open shooters or open big man.

 

[fatherspider]

How can you pressure for extended periods when you only play 7?

I don't think extending the match up man to man will be effective. We can't stay with the ball handlers. We have to contain the ball handlers and stop the penetration better. 2-3 or 1-3-1 zone is this crews best hope imo but I doubt if they have ever played anything but the match up. So cm might not have any choices.

 

[wr70beh]

I don't think they've ever practiced anything else, either, and it may be too late to teach a new philosophy on defense. That would have to come next year.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Figure out why everyone is torching us from 3 and make that stop happening.

 

[Eight Legger]

Start SDJ, Fore, Wood, TJ and Terry. That's our most productive lineup and we need to let Fore and Wood get into the flow of the game more. They are hit or miss because their playing time is sporadic and unpredictable. Switch to a straight 2-3 zone until we figure out how to switch effectively.

 

[SpiderRick]

Right now, I would try ANYTHING different. I used to love watching the old Dean Smith teams, when he would pull all the starters and insert the second team. Those guys would come in fired up, and the starters would be sitting and cheering them on. They always seemed to give 4-5 minutes of productive work while resting the starters. So at this point in time we've got nothing to lose by trying something different and dramatic. Even if it doesn't work, so what, nothing else is working anyway, and at least the starters get some rest.

We have gotten HAMMERED our last three away games.
Need I add in those three games, 27 out of 59 free throws. NOT A TYPO, 27/59, not even good for a mediocre middle school team. Maybe, just maybe, fatigue is a factor.

Now I'm awaiting the "travel problems, bad officials, the other team shot lights out" thread.

 

[Spider B]

I agree with switching up the starting lineup. Also, Mo is right about the D. We shot 50% from the field last night and still got hammered. Can't continue the other team to shoot lights out from 3. I think some of it is just bad luck and catching teams when they are hot from 3, but a lot of URI's 3 point shots were wide open looks. If our D is terrible with our defensive specialist in, why not play the guys with more offensive talent?

 

[Ulla1]

When the opposing teams shoot 60.5% (23/38) from three point land as Saint Joe's and Rhode Island have done collectively the last two games, your defense is not working and you are in deep trouble. OSC

 

[SpiderGuy]

I agree with switching up the starting lineup. Also, Mo is right about the D. We shot 50% from the field last night and still got hammered. Can't continue the other team to shoot lights out from 3. I think some of it is just bad luck and catching teams when they are hot from 3, but a lot of URI's 3 point shots were wide open looks. If our D is terrible with our defensive specialist in, why not play the guys with more offensive talent?

I'd be shocked if he changes the starting lineup. If I were betting, I would lay odds that last night's starters will be the same starters at the end of the year. CM hasn't demonstrated much flexibility... period over the years for "change". What you see is what we were in Year 1 and will be in Year 10.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Need to change to a different style of D because this group just isn't equipped to play it effectively. Match up zone requires quickness and great communication and it seems these guys just can't match up to the speed of the competition. too often we can't contain the ball handler and that is essential for this type of D. The initial defender keeps getting burned off the dribble then others need to help leaving open shooters or open big man.

Dead on!

 

[SpiderFan]

I'd be shocked if he changes the starting lineup. If I were betting, I would lay odds that last night's starters will be the same starters at the end of the year. CM hasn't demonstrated much flexibility... period over the years for "change". What you see is what we were in Year 1 and will be in Year 10.

And dead on again

 

[SpiderFan]

Got to be honest and I know sometimes I make cracks about the staff/Mooney but if we drop the next game at Fordham, I truly believe he should be fired on the spot. We just played two of the teams who weren't even predicted to be one of the elite teams in the conference (I take out Rhody due to Matthews lost season).

I know it won't happen, but that's where the AD's mind should be...

 

[Hanca]

Hope CM mans up and makes many coaching changes. He will not so another year of NIT excitement.

 

[3genspider]

I don't think they've ever practiced anything else, either, and it may be too late to teach a new philosophy on defense. That would have to come next year.

But who is gonna teach CM?

 

[3genspider]

I'd be shocked if he changes the starting lineup. If I were betting, I would lay odds that last night's starters will be the same starters at the end of the year. CM hasn't demonstrated much flexibility... period over the years for "change". What you see is what we were in Year 1 and will be in Year 10.

Time for some Senior leadership, at least one of the two needs to say "Coach, I think we might be better off as a team if I come off the bench"

 

[Eight Legger]

The other change that has been mentioned by many here in years past is the obvious need for a high-level assistant coach who has no ties to Mooney or to our program. Enough with hiring former Mooney players or guys who have basically only coached for Mooney. How does he expect to get any different ideas if everyone is used to being subservient to him?

 

[kneepadmckinney]

I don't think it is a problem on offense. Our offense is as good as it's been in 10 years, save the Harper/Anderson senior year. I also have no issues with how Deion is playing--he's taking 2-3 shots a game, making 60% of them, and otherwise grabbing 5 boards, the only one getting any blocks, etc. There is no offense in the NCAA where all 5 players need to score over 10ppg. So I don't think having Deion in there is the issue, given how he is playing.

I would, however, reduce Trey's playing time because I don't think he has been nearly as effective on either side of the ball other than the Wake game. Khwan is faster and more disruptive on both sides of the ball, and is equally as good as Trey at driving to the basket, and is a much better perimeter threat. I think our best team, taking into account both sides of the ball, is: Terry, TJ, ShawnDre, Khwan and Deion, with Marshall as the 6th man and Trey as the 7th man.

And since this is a "what would you do" and not "what do you think Mooney will do", I agree with the chorus of folks asking to utilize multiple defenses during the course of the game to disrupt the other team's offensive flow.

Also teach boxing out. Because we still don't do that.

 

[Ulla1]

I don't think it is a problem on offense. Our offense is as good as it's been in 10 years, save the Harper/Anderson senior year. I also have no issues with how Deion is playing--he's taking 2-3 shots a game, making 60% of them, and otherwise grabbing 5 boards, the only one getting any blocks, etc. There is no offense in the NCAA where all 5 players need to score over 10ppg. So I don't think having Deion in there is the issue, given how he is playing.

I would, however, reduce Trey's playing time because I don't think he has been nearly as effective on either side of the ball other than the Wake game. Khwan is faster and more disruptive on both sides of the ball, and is equally as good as Trey at driving to the basket, and is a much better perimeter threat. I think our best team, taking into account both sides of the ball, is: Terry, TJ, ShawnDre, Khwan and Deion, with Marshall as the 6th man and Trey as the 7th man.

And since this is a "what would you do" and not "what do you think Mooney will do", I agree with the chorus of folks asking to utilize multiple defenses during the course of the game to disrupt the other team's offensive flow.

Also teach boxing out. Because we still don't do that.

kneepad, you are spot on with Deion. He has been making substantial contributions n defense and his shot selection is good as evidenced by his high field goal percentage. OSC

 

[ur2K]

I'd like to see a little more fire around the whole team. When things start turning, someone needs to step up and get in someone's face to play better and not accept losing as a possibility. There doesn't seem to be a clearly defined leader on this team.

When KA, Gonzo and Smitty were playing, you knew those guys weren't going to go down without a fight.

 

[keefusb]

A few things we could change, but I predict will not change one iota because there is no incentive for CM to change anything:

1.) Start KF and MW for DT and TD, or at least give them a lot more of the minutes that DT and TD currently get.

2.) Bring back the "Posse" or whatever we used to call our bench guys who would come in for a few minutes as a unit and press the crap out of the opposing team, giving the starters a break, sort of like what UNC used to do with the "Blue Team" before Dean lost his marbles. We could insert JJ, JP, PF, DT, and TD for a few minutes and play full court high pressure and see what happens.

3.) Send one guy to the weak side to crash the offensive glass on missed shots. If successful, try sending two guys and let the remaining 3 defend against a fast break. Try boxing out and preventing put-backs on the defensive glass.

4.) It is too late this season to change much about our defense other than the "Posse" idea.

5.) Bring Dick Tarrant back for a "motivational speech" that includes the players and current coaching staff. Lock the door, and let DT do his best Marine DI impression. Hire a proctologist to help Dick find his foot after he breaks it off in CM's a$$.

All wishful thinking because NOTHING will change in Unicorn Land (aka the RC) until 2021.

 

[Eight Legger]

I agree that overall, Deion has played within his limitations offensively this year. But is he giving us enough defensively to warrant 30 minutes a game? I would rather see Wood play 30 minutes a game, because I think the net result would be a positive. Wood can score 15 points+ a game if he plays those kind of minutes, and I don't think he's going to be allowing 20 points a game on defense. Taylor scores 4 points a game or so, and I don't think he's saving 16 a game on defense.

 

[3genspider]

I agree that overall, Deion has played within his limitations offensively this year. But is he giving us enough defensively to warrant 30 minutes a game? I would rather see Wood play 30 minutes a game, because I think the net result would be a positive. Wood can score 15 points+ a game if he plays those kind of minutes, and I don't think he's going to be allowing 20 points a game on defense. Taylor scores 4 points a game or so, and I don't think he's saving 16 a game on defense.

MW won't last 30 minutes, he picked up 2 quick fouls is first half and has shown a propensity to pick up fouls quickly. all for him getting more time, but if his shot isn't falling then pull him.

 

[Eight Legger]

MW won't last 30 minutes, he picked up 2 quick fouls is first half and has shown a propensity to pick up fouls quickly. all for him getting more time, but if his shot isn't falling then pull him.

Valid point, but I guess my thought is that we don't know how he would approach things if he were a starter and knew he could potentially play a starter's minutes. He may know he's getting 15 minutes max right now, so he can afford to be a little more aggressive on defense, hence the fouls. Or maybe he would still foul the same as a starter, I don't know. But I'd like to find out.

 

[urmite]

Figure out why everyone is torching us from 3 and make that stop happening.

Yes, It is amazing that we went from 16th last season to 309th this season on 3 point defense %.

Plus has our offense looked like it is having fun other than the UNI & ODU games? How do we get the flowing offense we had in those games?

 

[urmite]

Got to be honest and I know sometimes I make cracks about the staff/Mooney but if we drop the next game at Fordham, I truly believe he should be fired on the spot. We just played two of the teams who weren't even predicted to be one of the elite teams in the conference (I take out Rhody due to Matthews lost season).

I know it won't happen, but that's where the AD's mind should be...

Maybe SJU wasn't predicted to be good, and URI was expected to drop without Matthews, however I'm not sure they will end up bad teams by March, and that isn't just against us.

 

[keefusb]

Nay but seriously brethren, URI was shooting lights out last night, but they were doing an excellent job setting screens for the shooters, especially on the baseline 3's. We just couldn't get a defender to switch or fight through the screens quick enough to put any pressure on the shooter. I think I have to give Hurley some credit for that.

 

[fatherspider]

Hope CM mans up and makes many coaching changes. He will not so another year of NIT excitement.

NIT? NIT?
(Trying to get the Playoffs? Playoffs affect)

 

[SpiderGuy]

kneepad, you are spot on with Deion. He has been making substantial contributions n defense and his shot selection is good as evidenced by his high field goal percentage. OSC

Statistically if a player takes one to three shots a game and makes one or two, then the points are minimal value added. You really need to quantify with absolutes & not percentages. How many points is DT averaging per game? If he were to shoot 100% and makes 2 to 4 points a game, does that tell you anything?

 

[CarolinaSpider]

What changes?

- CM said in postgame focus on defense. Well if that is true then teach to fight through screens or step out higher to allow primary
defender to get around screen and not get a small man on a big. Also be willing to go to a zone every now and then to simply show
something different.
- find a staff member who can recruit the type player we need ( not defense first, but strong ability to shoot) So far this freshmen class
has shown very little ability to consistently score, though Fore has had moments of brilliance. Also stop recruiting so many kids who are
projects. Sherod and Buckingham may be the first players in a long time who may push the starters big time. Not sure on Golden as we
we have not had much luck with big men lately.
- Play 3 guard offense at times simply to create more quickness and possibly having 5 players on the floor who can shoot. Use them for
fullcourt pressing and speeding up play. Don't advocate for long stretches cause makes us small but leaving TJ and TA on floor with them
gives us more firepower but we may get killed on the boards.

 

[Ulla1]

Just heard commentary on the great game between Kansas and Oklahoma. One of the commentators pointed out that both teams had four scorers plus a defensive specialist/good screener on the floor. Cannot see why a lineup that includes Deion plus four scorers such as TJ, Shawndre, Terry, Marshall or Khwan could not be effective. Let's get it done! OSC

 

[fan2011]

To everyone saying we need different players in for DT and TD because they lack offense, that is not going to solve any of our problems. We have one of the most potent offenses in the country. We shoot ~38% from 3 (55th best in the country) and ~55% from 2 (27th best in the country). Trey and Deion don't hurt our offense because even though they are not scoring the shots they do take are very efficient. Trey is shooting 54% and 45% from 2 and 3, Deion is shooting 68% and 46%. They are both being extremely efficient. The only thing they have done poorly on offense is shoot free throws, which I concede can be a big problem, but their replacements don't seem to shoot free throws any better.

Only one person can score on each possession. By asking Trey and Deion (or the players you want to replace them with) to score more you are asking them to shoot more, to use more possessions. This means someone else will be using less possessions. Right now TA (25%), TJ (20%) and SDJ (17%) use a very large part of our possessions (62%), so by asking DT and TD (or their replacements) to score more you are asking TJ, TA and/or SDJ to take fewer shots. If you think KF/MW/DT/TD should be taking shots away from TJ/TA/SDJ then I don't know what to tell you. TA, TJ and SDJ have stayed very efficient despite the number of possessions they use for us.

If TD and DT were taking bad shots and not scoring efficiently with the possessions they used they would be hurting our offense, but that is simply not the case. They have not hindered our offense this year to the degree many on here claim and have actually performed their roles within the offense well. Replacing them with better offensive players would not have an appreciable effect on our offensive performance since we can only score once per possession and the possessions used by TD and DT are being used very efficiently (as are the possessions used by TA/TJ and SDJ). The main reason any of our players should be playing less time is if their replacement can improve our defensive play more than we lose on offense when they are in. Defense should be Mooney's number 1 priority, I really hoped he would have it fixed by now but it seems like it may never get there this year. If we did play with the traditional defensive efficiency of a Mooney team while maintaining our current offensive potency this team would be on par, if not superior to, our 2010/2011 teams.

 

[SpiderRick]

Start Wood instead of Taylor. We're not playing good defense anyway, so why do we need a defensive specialist in there? We can't stop our opponents, so we have to try and outscore them. I know Wood has been streaky, but at least when he's in a hot streak we have a chance. And maybe if he's starting he will gain consistency. Taylor has had more than ample time, even after his 2nd year injury, to get it done. We need a change, we could use more offense to take the pressure off Allen/Cline/Jones, and Wood needs more time. I don't see how it could make things any worse, and if nothing else matters, Wood is back next year.

 

[97spiderfan]

Deion is providing some valuable minutes for us by playing good defense and taking a few selected shots each game, getting some blocks. There are several times during the game where you can say "hey that was a good play by Deion", most of those plays are on defense

I don't know when the last time I said, "ooh look at the play Trey just made". He is like an invisible man out there, like Deion was last year.

Khwan is a freshman and will have his freshman games like last night and will make freshman mistakes, but even in bad games for Khwan he is still making noticeable good plays. He had a good steals last night, got involved in some offensive rebounds, and generally made you notice that he was out there. Khwan's ceiling is so much higher than Trey's and his floor might include a few more mistakes than Trey makes per game, but even than he is still making more plays than Trey makes. Khwan is also bringing a fresh energy to the game.

I know Mooney is not going to change much of anything because that is what he does or doesn't do in this case. However, I think my one suggestion for change that is just screaming right in the face is that Khwan needs to be starting over Trey. Mooney desperately needs to make a change just to underscore the sense of urgency in this situation and to give us some type of new look. I think probably even Trey recognizes this deep down. Start Khwan, please.

 

[fatherspider]

Anyone notice the sdj's frustrTion level was at a super high level last night starting with a gesture after missing a short jumper at about 12 minute mark then going wild after missing half ending layup that could have cost him a foul. My feeling and this is just MY feeling, nothing else, is that he likely didn't practice much to stay off the ankle and didn't have it. Coach had practiced w other guys in case he couldn't go so he played a lineup without him often. I can't see that if he was hurting that he would be in there with 4 minutes left down 17. He also never seemed to display pain and was moving fine. His lack of any production was a big factor in the blowout so I dwelled on a possible reason, nothing more.

To everyone saying we need different players in for DT and TD because they lack offense, that is not going to solve any of our problems. We have one of the most potent offenses in the country. We shoot ~38% from 3 (55th best in the country) and ~55% from 2 (27th best in the country). Trey and Deion don't hurt our offense because even though they are not scoring the shots they do take are very efficient. Trey is shooting 54% and 45% from 2 and 3, Deion is shooting 68% and 46%. They are both being extremely efficient. The only thing they have done poorly on offense is shoot free throws, which I concede can be a big problem, but their replacements don't seem to shoot free throws any better.

Only one person can score on each possession. By asking Trey and Deion (or the players you want to replace them with) to score more you are asking them to shoot more, to use more possessions. This means someone else will be using less possessions. Right now TA (25%), TJ (20%) and SDJ (17%) use a very large part of our possessions (62%), so by asking DT and TD (or their replacements) to score more you are asking TJ, TA and/or SDJ to take fewer shots. If you think KF/MW/DT/TD should be taking shots away from TJ/TA/SDJ then I don't know what to tell you. TA, TJ and SDJ have stayed very efficient despite the number of possessions they use for us.

If TD and DT were taking bad shots and not scoring efficiently with the possessions they used they would be hurting our offense, but that is simply not the case. They have not hindered our offense this year to the degree many on here claim and have actually performed their roles within the offense well. Replacing them with better offensive players would not have an appreciable effect on our offensive performance since we can only score once per possession and the possessions used by TD and DT are being used very efficiently (as are the possessions used by TA/TJ and SDJ). The main reason any of our players should be playing less time is if their replacement can improve our defensive play more than we lose on offense when they are in. Defense should be Mooney's number 1 priority, I really hoped he would have it fixed by now but it seems like it may never get there this year. If we did play with the traditional defensive efficiency of a Mooney team while maintaining our current offensive potency this team would be on par, if not superior to, our 2010/2011 teams.

what about the fact that only having three guys with the potential to score means that you don't have to defend the other two meaning the three potential scorers are now covered far more aggressively. Trey and DT are liabilities on offense

 

[fan2011]

what about the fact that only having three guys with the potential to score means that you don't have to defend the other two meaning the three potential scorers are now covered far more aggressively. Trey and DT are liabilities on offense

That would be a factor if it had any effect on our 3 guys ability to score. Even with 'increased defensive attention' SDJ, TJC and TA still score more efficiently than almost anyone else in the country, especially at their usage rates (kenpom has TA at 16th best offensive player in the country, TJ as 18th for high usage players). TJ for example is shooting more efficiently than over 98% of D1 players, for TA the number is over 90% and for SDJ over 80%. Also, Deion and Trey are #1 and #3 on the team in terms of shooting efficiency this year, if you don't cover them they will score. We can make much bigger strides by playing at least AVERAGE defense.

 

[97spiderfan]

We assume that Deion and Trey must be really good defenders because they are such poor offensive players, but if they were indeed really good defensive players, than why is our defense so bad.

 

[fan2011]

We assume that Deion and Trey must be really good defenders because they are such poor offensive players, but if they were indeed really good defensive players, than why is our defense so bad.

That is a good question and one that needs to be answered. If reducing their playing time increases our defensive performance than we need to do it.