Fundamentally Inept Right Now

ZRF

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2015
4,362
2,109
113
Right now I think it's fair to start to question the staff's ability to recognize (repetitive) fundamental flaws and make adjustments, both at the individual and team level. The number of things this team does, game in and game out, that costs it games are mind-boggling.

1. No offensive game plan. I think most of us have a realistic view point when it comes to having explosive athleticism and the problems that creates. It also doesn't help when, in some cases, guys are missing wide open looks. With that said, we often come down the court and waste 15 seconds cycling and the ball 6 feet beyond the arc. This causes a repetitive issue of having to jack up crap shots late in the shot clock. There should be a greater focus on getting the ball up the court quicker and looking to initiative meaningful ball movement, as in things that will lead to baskets or open looks. Early in the season guys were cutting to the basket, we looked run the offense through Osun (was better today but was compromised by fouls/being dinged up), and or driving in and kicking out. We are basically maximizing our natural deficiencies by making us (as a team) extremely easy to guard.

2. Over-helping on defense. This has been a constant issue and one I do not understand. Time and time again we are either play good defense and giving help when it's not needed, or having 3 guys collapse to a ball handlers in the lane. It's leading to defensive meltdowns and wide open shooters. It's a team-wide issue but the biggest offender is Holmes. He has absolutely no idea what he is doing defensively and over-helps on nearly every possession. I think at least half of our defensive breakdowns could be directly attributed to him. It's been so pervasive and has gone on so long that it appears the staff isn't addressing it. If they are guys like Holmes need to be benched for it. It's hard to win when guys have wide open corner 3s on every possession.

3. Staff's inability to influence outcomes within games. At some point it's hard to shrug off being constantly outplayed and out coached in every 2nd half. From questionable substitutions, not anticipating opponent adjustments, to not utilizing timeouts to manage game flow, this team is a constant second half trainwreck. From the outside coaches make little in the way of noticeable adjustments. The only 'adjustment' I noticeably see is the occasional switch to zone, a defense we are futile at running.


Basically this team looks like a ship without a rudder, one floating aimlessly at sea. At some point the staff needs to make some philosophical adjustments to get this team on track. What we are seeing is will beyond individuals struggling. Today epitomized most of what we've been seeing over the last 5 to 6 games.
 
Right now I think it's fair to start to question the staff's ability to recognize (repetitive) fundamental flaws and make adjustments, both at the individual and team level. The number of things this team does, game in and game out, that costs it games are mind-boggling.

1. No offensive game plan. I think most of us have a realistic view point when it comes to having explosive athleticism and the problems that creates. It also doesn't help when, in some cases, guys are missing wide open looks. With that said, we often come down the court and waste 15 seconds cycling and the ball 6 feet beyond the arc. This causes a repetitive issue of having to jack up crap shots late in the shot clock. There should be a greater focus on getting the ball up the court quicker and looking to initiative meaningful ball movement, as in things that will lead to baskets or open looks. Early in the season guys were cutting to the basket, we looked run the offense through Osun (was better today but was compromised by fouls/being dinged up), and or driving in and kicking out. We are basically maximizing our natural deficiencies by making us (as a team) extremely easy to guard.

2. Over-helping on defense. This has been a constant issue and one I do not understand. Time and time again we are either play good defense and giving help when it's not needed, or having 3 guys collapse to a ball handlers in the lane. It's leading to defensive meltdowns and wide open shooters. It's a team-wide issue but the biggest offender is Holmes. He has absolutely no idea what he is doing defensively and over-helps on nearly every possession. I think at least half of our defensive breakdowns could be directly attributed to him. It's been so pervasive and has gone on so long that it appears the staff isn't addressing it. If they are guys like Holmes need to be benched for it. It's hard to win when guys have wide open corner 3s on every possession.

3. Staff's inability to influence outcomes within games. At some point it's hard to shrug off being constantly outplayed and out coached in every 2nd half. From questionable substitutions, not anticipating opponent adjustments, to not utilizing timeouts to manage game flow, this team is a constant second half trainwreck. From the outside coaches make little in the way of noticeable adjustments. The only 'adjustment' I noticeably see is the occasional switch to zone, a defense we are futile at running.


Basically this team looks like a ship without a rudder, one floating aimlessly at sea. At some point the staff needs to make some philosophical adjustments to get this team on track. What we are seeing is will beyond individuals struggling. Today epitomized most of what we've been seeing over the last 5 to 6 games.

I wholeheartedly agree. Look, we’ve squandered early leads for the 2nd straight game and wasn’t able to make adjustments when down. It’s completely embarrassing and this is the point you have to hold the staff accountable. If we don’t right this ship we don’t deserve to be in the postseason at all.
 
Right now I think it's fair to start to question the staff's ability to recognize (repetitive) fundamental flaws and make adjustments, both at the individual and team level. The number of things this team does, game in and game out, that costs it games are mind-boggling.

1. No offensive game plan. I think most of us have a realistic view point when it comes to having explosive athleticism and the problems that creates. It also doesn't help when, in some cases, guys are missing wide open looks. With that said, we often come down the court and waste 15 seconds cycling and the ball 6 feet beyond the arc. This causes a repetitive issue of having to jack up crap shots late in the shot clock. There should be a greater focus on getting the ball up the court quicker and looking to initiative meaningful ball movement, as in things that will lead to baskets or open looks. Early in the season guys were cutting to the basket, we looked run the offense through Osun (was better today but was compromised by fouls/being dinged up), and or driving in and kicking out. We are basically maximizing our natural deficiencies by making us (as a team) extremely easy to guard.

2. Over-helping on defense. This has been a constant issue and one I do not understand. Time and time again we are either play good defense and giving help when it's not needed, or having 3 guys collapse to a ball handlers in the lane. It's leading to defensive meltdowns and wide open shooters. It's a team-wide issue but the biggest offender is Holmes. He has absolutely no idea what he is doing defensively and over-helps on nearly every possession. I think at least half of our defensive breakdowns could be directly attributed to him. It's been so pervasive and has gone on so long that it appears the staff isn't addressing it. If they are guys like Holmes need to be benched for it. It's hard to win when guys have wide open corner 3s on every possession.

3. Staff's inability to influence outcomes within games. At some point it's hard to shrug off being constantly outplayed and out coached in every 2nd half. From questionable substitutions, not anticipating opponent adjustments, to not utilizing timeouts to manage game flow, this team is a constant second half trainwreck. From the outside coaches make little in the way of noticeable adjustments. The only 'adjustment' I noticeably see is the occasional switch to zone, a defense we are futile at running.


Basically this team looks like a ship without a rudder, one floating aimlessly at sea. At some point the staff needs to make some philosophical adjustments to get this team on track. What we are seeing is will beyond individuals struggling. Today epitomized most of what we've been seeing over the last 5 to 6 games.
Agree, 2 straight years of this. Not a good trend so far in TJs tenure.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Lineup
Agree, 2 straight years of this. Not a good trend so far in TJs tenure.
Yeah! It's almost like he had a plan that got totally shot before the year... Like a guy they thought they had declare for the NBA, and a starting pg tear his acl. To call this a trend and be concerned about it when he hasn't had his full compliment of players and teams have more talent. If this happens next year, then we can talk. But it won't happen.
 
In terms of natural talent, probably the least offensively talented team in the conference therefore it has to win through defense. The shooters are slumping right now so the offense looks even worse. It's cute how the internet coaches want the staff "held accountable " Exceeded expectations for the year in my book. I'm sure some will be upset if they don't make the sweet 16.
 
Yeah! It's almost like he had a plan that got totally shot before the year... Like a guy they thought they had declare for the NBA, and a starting pg tear his acl. To call this a trend and be concerned about it when he hasn't had his full compliment of players and teams have more talent. If this happens next year, then we can talk. But it won't happen.
And today we were playing a team without their starting PG who took a leave just days ago. You can’t have one player change everything. Especially when you have had the whole season to adjust.
 
And today we were playing a team without their starting PG who took a leave just days ago. You can’t have one player change everything. Especially when you have had the whole season to adjust.
2 main pieces that were our main offensive stalwarts. That leads directly to our problems on offense. You cant coahc away that talent gap.

If that talent gap was on tj (ie recruiting misses etc) then absolutely blame him. But that talent gap isn't on him.

Throw into that our main pg last year leaving for Texa$ you had a perfect storm for a terrible record. Tj has overperformed both years with not the bets talent.
 
2 main pieces that were our main offensive stalwarts. That leads directly to our problems on offense. You cant coahc away that talent gap.

If that talent gap was on tj (ie recruiting misses etc) then absolutely blame him. But that talent gap isn't on him.

Throw into that our main pg last year leaving for Texa$ you had a perfect storm for a terrible record. Tj has overperformed both years with not the bets talent.
Why are you counting AJ? He was never on the team! Should CMC say well, our one year wasn’t as great because Joe Butrow went to LSU and not ISU? I understand how Williams was a hit but Lipsy has done better than expected and we honestly don’t know how Williams would have pencilled out. Ward was supposed to be decent, wouldn’t you count that as a miss? You are trying to have it both ways.

I have to ask, if a team is limited talent wise, is that the players fault?
 
And today we were playing a team without their starting PG who took a leave just days ago. You can’t have one player change everything. Especially when you have had the whole season to adjust.
You can make points for and against things without blatantly lying. Cortes for OU had started one game all year, and his minutes had been dwindling of late.
 
The staff has had some failures this season, despite the team still achieving at a level greater than what the talent level might suggest. For one, Osun Osunnyi has been a pretty big disappointment and the staff has failed to figure out how to get him more involved or how to unleash him to his full potential. We could've expected a slight numbers dip with the step up in competition from the A10, but he has been a shell of the player he was at Bonaventure for most of the season. I think the staff has been trying to square peg him into a round hole all season long. You can tell he thinks too much when he's out there. He is not free to be the guy he is meant to be. A guy who blocked a lot of shots, grabbed a lot of rebounds, and dunked a lot of basketballs for 4 years in Philly.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: jbhtexas
A 2-22 season and then a sweet 16. TJ has done this with band-aids.

Is poor free throw shooting on coaching?

Our starting guard out for the season.

Above average transfers. Maybe he is coaching great and they have overachieved

Lose your two best players...from last year
 
Last edited:
A 2-22 season and then a sweet 16. TJ has done this with band-aids.

Is poor free throw shooting on coaching?

Our starting guard out for the season.

Above average transfers. Maybe he is coaching great and they have overachiever.

Lose your two best players...from last year
When the losses start to pile up over a short period of time, we like to freak out and ask questions and point fingers. It is fair for us as fans to want answers for why the wheels have fallen off and it doesn't appear as though adjustments are being made.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Lineup

Help Support Us

Become a patron