I've waited for a couple weeks to post this but can't wait any longer. This team lacks a real leader and has no mental toughness. They will make the tourney and maybe win a game. However, I don't see them advancing after 2nd round. Talent galore but mental midgets.
toughness
- Thread starter cyfan27
- Start date
Love Georges, but Hoiberg needs to yank him when he starts playing like he did in the second half. His legs go and we keep going at him on offense, then the other team abuses his bad D. Seems like we could manage his fatigue a bit better and play Nader a bit more. Not a negative post, just saying.
I'm so sick of hearing this all the time. People shoot well against us because we are a terrible defensive team. People shoot well from the FT line because our perimeter defense is garbage and we give up drives to guards.
This team's body language sucked in the second half. If they aren't allowed to run, this team folds like a cheap tent.
Very disappointing...
Very disappointing...
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Niang is an amazing leader, he just has off nights. BDJ shot selection has been pretty disappointing at times. Monte had a horrible game tonight. Jameel could have used some help down low tonight and got none. Bad loss tonight, but we can still make our mark and do some damage.
People have been saying on here and on the CF Podcasts that this team has a toughness that we haven't had the last few years. I've been wondering what they were talking about, because this team hasn't proven anything. Those teams over the last few years were clearly getting better throughout the season and becoming tougher. Except for the addition of McKay, I'm not sure we're really any better of a team than we were in November.
Maryland, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma. It isn't the losses it is the way they lose. Don't forget about the home win they blew an 18 point lead in. They don't compete for 40 minutes and don't play consistent D. People can still make excuses for them but the results don't change.
Does anyone notice every team we play on the road always shoots lights out? Hmmmm.....
D
Deleted member 6804
Guest
Terrible defense late first half and second half plus as coach Larry E would say we are soft! Real soft!
I think it starts with our coach.
In the first half this team played lights and was actually pretty good on the defensive end. Things started to go awry when Naz made a poor decision and took a tough shot on the break instead of dishing it to Monte. The missed shot resulted in it going the other way, and OU scored two points. Insignificant, right? That poor decision led to a rash of more poor decisions. By the time Hoiberg called timeout the damage had been done, with the lead cut to 5 (or 3) and the momentum firmly on OUs side. The downfall continued into the half and as we entered a game tied when we should have had a sizable lead (TOs, rebounds, and rushed possessions really killed us).
As has been the theme throughout the entire season, Fred failed to coax effort, intensity, and control from his players in the 2nd half of a game away from Ames. We've either lost by getting pounded in the 2nd half (Maryland, South Carolina, KU and now OU) or made runs because we were ill-prepared to start the game (Baylor, Tech). Our coach has done a **** poor job of getting 30 minutes, let alone 40, of solid intensity from out players away from Hilton. Honestly, I think Fred's demeanor is a little TOO laid back, with our players taking on that personality. Lose a 10 point lead, no big deal, I'll just let my players handle it. If Fred's going to be on the bench (and he IS obviously) he needs to impact the game via wisely using TOs (which he's terrible at) and INVIGORATING our players to bring that intensity out of them. Fred absolutely sucks in this regard.
The persona of this team can be summed up by it's rebounding, which is atrocious. It's one thing to be rebounded over, but this team is consistently gone THROUGH to get boards. That's really all I need to know about our tenacity and toughness. If the crowd (Hilton) isn't providing it, we don't have anything.
Right now Fred is a good coach. People need to be honest with the positives (there are plenty) such as talent, recruiting, individual offensive progresson, etc. that he's brought to the program. With that however, he's also provided team defense that often looks lost, terrible rebounding fundamentals, poor usage of timeouts (prevention), and a problematic lack of intensity.
Where I get frustrated at Hoiberg is that I see very little progress in his weaknesses. He's made no inroads at managing games since his arrival. Our team rebounding fundamentals are poor. The team defense is a joke. We consistently have issues with intensity away from home.
It's a shame really. This roster is flawed, but I don't think Fred is managing it very well either. I'm sure I'll get flamed for not being a "Hoi Boi" but some people need to wake up around here. It's not all roses with Fred (while not all thorns either).
In the first half this team played lights and was actually pretty good on the defensive end. Things started to go awry when Naz made a poor decision and took a tough shot on the break instead of dishing it to Monte. The missed shot resulted in it going the other way, and OU scored two points. Insignificant, right? That poor decision led to a rash of more poor decisions. By the time Hoiberg called timeout the damage had been done, with the lead cut to 5 (or 3) and the momentum firmly on OUs side. The downfall continued into the half and as we entered a game tied when we should have had a sizable lead (TOs, rebounds, and rushed possessions really killed us).
As has been the theme throughout the entire season, Fred failed to coax effort, intensity, and control from his players in the 2nd half of a game away from Ames. We've either lost by getting pounded in the 2nd half (Maryland, South Carolina, KU and now OU) or made runs because we were ill-prepared to start the game (Baylor, Tech). Our coach has done a **** poor job of getting 30 minutes, let alone 40, of solid intensity from out players away from Hilton. Honestly, I think Fred's demeanor is a little TOO laid back, with our players taking on that personality. Lose a 10 point lead, no big deal, I'll just let my players handle it. If Fred's going to be on the bench (and he IS obviously) he needs to impact the game via wisely using TOs (which he's terrible at) and INVIGORATING our players to bring that intensity out of them. Fred absolutely sucks in this regard.
The persona of this team can be summed up by it's rebounding, which is atrocious. It's one thing to be rebounded over, but this team is consistently gone THROUGH to get boards. That's really all I need to know about our tenacity and toughness. If the crowd (Hilton) isn't providing it, we don't have anything.
Right now Fred is a good coach. People need to be honest with the positives (there are plenty) such as talent, recruiting, individual offensive progresson, etc. that he's brought to the program. With that however, he's also provided team defense that often looks lost, terrible rebounding fundamentals, poor usage of timeouts (prevention), and a problematic lack of intensity.
Where I get frustrated at Hoiberg is that I see very little progress in his weaknesses. He's made no inroads at managing games since his arrival. Our team rebounding fundamentals are poor. The team defense is a joke. We consistently have issues with intensity away from home.
It's a shame really. This roster is flawed, but I don't think Fred is managing it very well either. I'm sure I'll get flamed for not being a "Hoi Boi" but some people need to wake up around here. It's not all roses with Fred (while not all thorns either).
Since Niang broke his foot, everything has been leading up to the 2015 NCAA Tourney. That has been the focus. Losing sucks! But, winning in March is the only thing that matters. The regular season is only important because it gets the team to March. Keep learning and growing. Peak in March...Play their best in the tournament. THAT is the goal. This Cyclone team has shown flashes of greatness. Keep working on becoming consistent. Win in the tourney...Win In The Tourney.
Getting beat by a ranked team isn't a bad thing.
Letting them get to the hole like it's street ball is a bad thing.