Starting Lineup

[heitclone]

I somewhat disagree, though I do agree that we don't have quite the capability that we did with Georges in the lineup. What we've seen is primarily spreading the floor and operating either one on one or two man game with the high pick and roll. It looks like that is good enough against average defensive teams, but doesn't quite do it against the better ones. We'll have to change it up a bit.

I think we are much worse at this than we have been in the past, we took for granted how easy guys like McKay and Niang made the PnR look. Watching this years team, I'm not sure we have a big who is comfortable setting screens. Bowie looked like he had no clue the last few minutes against Cincy, he was wiffing multiple attempts on each possession down the stretch. Young also has looked very out of place trying this as well. It seems like an easy thing but that play takes timing and depends on a quality screen. If we aren't setting a good screen on that play, we are just inviting another defender to help contain Monte. That's the biggest difference I've noticed offensively from last year to now.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I think we are much worse at this than we have been in the past, we took for granted how easy guys like McKay and Niang made the PnR look. Watching this years team, I'm not sure we have a big who is comfortable setting screens. Bowie looked like he had no clue the last few minutes against Cincy, he was wiffing multiple attempts on each possession down the stretch. Young also has looked very out of place trying this as well. It seems like an easy thing but that play takes timing and depends on a quality screen. If we aren't setting a good screen on that play, we are just inviting another defender to help contain Monte. That's the biggest difference I've noticed offensively from last year to now.

Where is the pessimistic button? I demand the pessimistic button!

 

[heitclone]

Where is the pessimistic button? I demand the pessimistic button!

Im sure that's how it comes off to some but it shouldn't be unrealistic to think some growing pains happen after you lose two bigs who had been on campus with Monte for 2.5-3 years. It's nearly impossible to expect the new guys to have the same timing, fluidity, etc...You hit the nail on the head when you said we needed to do something a little different to play to the strengths of this team, we can be just as successful but we may just have to win a little different than the last few years.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Im sure that's how it comes off to some but it shouldn't be unrealistic to think some growing pains happen after you lose two bigs who had been on campus with Monte for 2.5-3 years. It's nearly impossible to expect the new guys to have the same timing, fluidity, etc...You hit the nail on the head when you said we needed to do something a little different to play to the strengths of this team, we can be just as successful but we may just have to win a little different than the last few years.

I agree with that. Losing Georges was huge. Heck, even losing Nader was big. But Georges was just a different level of player in size, ball handling, passing and scoring.

 

[allfourcy]

I agree with that. Losing Georges was huge. Heck, even losing Nader was big. But Georges was just a different level of player in size, ball handling, passing and scoring.

And his number one thing.......the attention the opposing defenses had to give to stop us

 

[Dingus]

Lard and Malou might have been our two best posts.

I'm sure Jackson is not 100% either.

Prohm and TJ had quite the nice plan, it seems.

The injury bug and the NCAA got in the way.

Gives me trust/hope for the future, however.

Aw, I had totally forgotten about Malou. He'd be really nice to have right now.

 

[rholtgraves]

Yeah, having Malou, if he would have qualified would have been huge.

 

[Bubba Hubba]

My hope with this year's team is that, as we know, the coaches have focused far more on defense this year (and it shows!), but as a result, our offense is further behind where it would be normally (which is compounded by losing Nader and especially Georges).

It's a trade-off, and as of right now I'll take that trade-off because the defense has been so good. But we do need the offense to round into shape.