There is a very fine line between winning and losing. There are times when that line looks like it is miles away, and there are times when it looks like we are ready to cross it.
I am going to cite observations and not statistics, although going 1-16 last night in a key portion of the game was a killer. Starting with guard play, I think DG honestly gives it all he has. But DG is so much slower than the average Big12 or D-I guards. Many times when he attempts to dribble penetrate, the hands of those guarding him and those giving ball side help swat it away, and he loses possession. I will give him kudo's for many times he is capable of setting up his opponent and getting by him for a layup, but the risk/reward with that seems to be awfully high.
That being said, DG is the best guard we have. We desperately need another point guard, and a shooting guard as well. Petie plays hard, no one can fault him for that, but he just doesn't have the physical tools it takes to compete in the Big 12 night after night.
Brackens is one heck of a player, and getting better. Craig not only is good, he plays hard night after night. Maybe his stats don't always show his talent, but boy is he good. He is in my opinion the most improved player and maybe the MVP of the BIg 12. He hustles, and he wants to win. He isn't out there for himself, that is seen in his face. We are very fortunate to have Craig.
Hamilton is getting better, but I would venture to guess, and I hope I am wrong, that he will get to a certain point and probably level off. He isn't very quick, and his vertical is somewhat limited. Saturday in the game against OU, twice I saw a ball come off the rim towards him high, and he jumped for it, but Griffin was behind him and literally was a foot higher than him. Hamilton had him boxed out, he just physically can't jump as high.
Lucca is a good kid. He just can't find that shooting touch, and I think an awful lot of that has to do with hands in his face or defenders bodying up against him. Not very often does he have a free range to fire. When he does, I like his odds. But rarely is he uncontested.
We just don't have any difference makers. I feel bad for Mac because of all the circumstances that have happened since he came, and I won't discuss that because it has been bantered around before in here. But it is too bad. But the bottom line is this group of kids collectively right now don't think they can win. I feel if they could get a couple of wins in a row, and steal one on the road somewhere, it might cause the mental turnaround it is going to take to get back in this thing. Confidence is a huge thing. When you have it, you are almost invincible. When you don't, you start believing the worst is going to happen to you.
In closing, I will say this. I rarely post because I don't offer much else to discuss, but I would implore the true Cyclone fans not to give up on this team. I would rather have Coach Mac then Frank Martin any day of the week. If that's what it takes to win, then give me average teams. I am offended by that guys way of coaching, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to take my 10 year old son to a game and sit behind him, or alot of other coaches in this league. Mac is a good man. He has won before, and he will win again. He needs to ctach a break, and he needs to recruit a couple of impact players. The thing about basketball, unlike football, is 2-3 kids can change the entire aura of a team.
I will back this team no matter what. If you are on here and being critical but never have played college sports, step back and ask yourself if you personally could do what you are asking others to do, even if God gave you the talent. It's easy to complain, but it's another to find resolve and fix it.
Good luck Mac and this years Clones.
