Listened to the post-game radio show...Coach McDermott said that Jiri did not start because he was late for the morning shoot around. He also said that it was kind of the way the entire day went for him. "Guys need to learn that are accountable...their minutes on the court will reflect that."
Jiri
- Thread starter Kramer
- Start date
I was actually relieved that he didn't start. He hasn't been able to contribute significantly and he appears to disrupt the flow in the game. He came in at the 14:13 mark in the first half--that is exactly when the game changed course and Drake took control.
I was happy about that too. Some guys just never get it, and Jiri might be one of them. For his sake and the basketball team's sake, I hope he starts committing himself to improvement. Otherwise he's riding the pine next year.
Yep...he needs to establish himself on this team or finding playing time next year could be much tougher. I wonder what Coach's thoughts are with the interesting non-use of the bench...
I think not getting Jiri the ball is a main problem of the offense. He was open quite a bit today and we couldn't get him a shot. The times he did get the ball were usually good offensive possessions for us. That being said, it seems like whenever he's within 5 feet of someone he gets called for a foul. Jiri is not our problem.
Hour late or early? Do we want him to be on time so he can play? Or late so he gets benched? Tough call.
Since he is one of the few leftover from last year's team, I can understand how he may feel some seniority and ownership of the team, but it's time for him to put his ego on hold and be a role player. If he does that, he may be able to contribute in a positive way. Right now, him merely checking in at the scorer's table causes me anxiety.
Amy! Steppin your game up, I love it! You see something you don't like, you put the SMACKDOWN on it. He pissed me off last year, he cost us the game vs. UNI, and he doesn't consider his scholarship a privelege, but a right. Other things I don't like about Jiri are:
him shooting
him dribbling
him sitting on the bench and pouting
when he displays his euro-style big man 3-jacking crap
he's a second-rate desperation wayne morgan recruit
I'll be happy when one of two things happen: He plays like a man his height should or he sits on the bench.
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I love my football, but I understand basketball a bit better and can be quite passionate about it.
I agree with your list completely. I assume "plays like a man his height" equals being able to score in the paint? Because that is what he needs to do. Post up. I would also like to see him pass the ball. His shot is not solid enough for me to feel comfortable with him shooting it with each touch.
Until we get a player who decides he wants to play down low, post up and box out and rebound, it might be a long season. Another thing that is killing us is bench scoring. They showed the stat during the UNI and Drake game and in both cases, the other team's bench scoring is a WHOLE lot more then ours. Basically comes down to fresh legs on the court more for those teams.
I did see some improvement this game over the UNI game and if Dodie?(or whoever) didn't dribble before he took the jumpshotas time expired, we would have won which didn't even seem a possibility at the half point of the second half when we were down 16
I did see some improvement this game over the UNI game and if Dodie?(or whoever) didn't dribble before he took the jumpshotas time expired, we would have won which didn't even seem a possibility at the half point of the second half when we were down 16
It's not Jiri's fault that he isn't a banger. ISU should have recruited someone in Homan's mold before Jared left. This year we're going to be exposed again when a big guy (like Calvin, Coleman, etc.) gets the ball down on the blocks.
Jiri is better than people on this board give him credit for. Not sure why there is so much anomosity toward him. He shot 52% from the field last year and was our main threat down low. I realize that he shoots too many jumpers, but he is the only guy on our team who has good foot work near the basket (save for perhaps Wesley Johnson who can just jump over guys).
Why we didn't use Cory Johnson to help defend the post against Drake? Maybe GMac thinks his style wouldn't work against Drake?
See the highlighted above--LAST YEAR. New season, Jiri. New team members and new coach equals a new role for him. I will be the first to give the guy credit for a job well done. So far, I just haven't been able to do that.
Oh for pets's sake, layoff a bit. We lose a game and everyone wants to blame each player. He played within the offense today, but I think he made mistakes defensively. He had a couple good post ups in the middle of that zone. He almost took an outside shot but passed it up when he realized he wasn't that open. It was an improvement. Did you see him body up Keita on that one post move. Cleared a bit of space for the shot. HE DIDNT TAKE ONE OUTSIDE SHOT. In fact, I dont' think he hung out outside the 3-point line at all. So he has one bad shooting game and follows it up with a game where he didn't take a bad shot and everyone is still on his back. He didn't match up with anyone defensively besides Keita and that was the problem. We know Marsden and Johnson are sick. Maybe something's going around, he seemed especially lacsadasical and maybe that was why he was late for the turnaround. By the way, he also led the team in Rebounds per minute tonight. I think it was just the defensive matchups that caused us too much trouble.
What did he do in the game today to not give him credit offensively? He didn't match up defensively and that was the problem. 3/5 shooting, stayed inside, manned the middle of that zone, didn't step out and shoot, even passed out of a 17 footer he wanted to take. He had a cold shooting night against UNI and missed some open shots. Probably realized he took to many shots.
Today...he didn't do awful on offense. But, he didn't have as many touches. Probably a result of his performance versus UNI. I didn't realize I was attacking just his offense. Well, I'll play fair. His defense has been terrible. He refuses to get physical, move his feet, help in the paint. I would almost guarantee we never see Jiri take a charge. Kudos to Jessan Gray who has come up with a couple this season.
Like I said, I do not hate the guy. In fact, I think he can be an asset to this team. But, he needs to be disciplined, learn his role, and play with heart. When he does that, I will be the first to post how awesome his performance was. Until then, I reserve the right to question his play.
I think that Jiri could be an integral part of our offense...we're not overwhelming in size again this year but his 6'11'' frame should help (even at about 200 lbs or so (?)) but I think that the most disappointing part is the seeming lack of fire. He doesn't look like he wants to be a big part of the team when we need him to be. I'm not overly disappointed when I see Jiri or Gray maybe take a three per game but I get hugely frustrated when I see him in the post. I understand him giving up 30 lbs in some situations but at least body up. If you have to take an offensive foul to be aggressive and establish a presence, go for it. I'd rather see that fire than him running back and forth between the freethrow and three point line.
I agree completely with what you say about his defense.
But today on offense he did exactly what we needed him to. Give him props. He played 12 minutes and got 6 points. He stayed inside. Do you remember him getting the ball outside and praying he wouldn't shoot it? I don't think he hung out there at all. I remember once he had it at the elbow, thought about shooting and passed it up. He had some good post ups inside, really the only positive post ups we had all game.
Just because he didn't have a monster game doesn't me he didn't have a good one. If you give him props for his offense LAST YEAR, give him props today. It certainly wasn't his defense last year that made him a good player.