b.c.redman
Member
LoBalbo when you need him. We could really use Louie's secret weapon to teach these kids how to play D! RIP Al.
@Marquette, Tues. Feb. 21, 8pm, FS1/570AM
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
We give up 65 at home which is excellent. 90 on the road which is brutal. Jekly & Hyde . Young teams struggle on the road. It's obvious we need some serious help up front (stating the obvious). Defense is always the last thing young teams figure out. I do put some of it on the coaching staff. But the talent upgrade is needed. Ellison, Mussini and AA aren't big east caliber players. What drives me crazy is missed assignments on transition D and lack of close out in the perimeter. Gotta believe they work on it. On to Georgetown...........
And doubt two transfers next season will cure the problem alone, takes commitment and effort across the board. Not looking for a grind it out style approach, but a culture embracing defensive importance, discipline & execution. Yes, team is young and physically overwhelmed most nights, but I sense we will never have the personnel to shoot it out with teams on a nightly basis. To me cheating, looking for steals occasionally bears fruit, but fools gold most nights. Blocks are also highlight fodder & too often a result of guys blowing by defenders. Lastly, open threes seems perpetual problem & big cause of digging early holes.
Obviously staff sees this and will hopefully over time get pendulum moving in right direction. It has been a decent season record wise, but a lot of work to be done, as expected in total rebuild.
It isn't a consolation
In my opinion ( and I have felt this way all year) something is just not right with Yakwe.I am not suggesting anything mental or anything because who knows what the problem really is but I watched him throughout high school and also his freshmen year and the one thing you could always count on with him is the motor. Skill wise he was always a work in progress but the first thing you would always hear from people is damn that kid plays hard. Where has this motor gone? System changing to favor guard play is understandable but I just don't see the same kid and a motor is just not something that disappears.
we are sju
Active member
With Ahmed you have to look at the positives, because his negatives can be reigned in. Biggest issue with him is the truly awful shots he takes. If you notice when he does this now Mullin immediately yanks him. Like after that one on four lefty shot he took. At least Ahmed has the talent to succeed and it is really about refinement. Even if he doesn't get under control, at worst you can bring him off the bench as a scorer / energy guy.
I would cut bait on Mussini and Ellison as far as being rotation players. Hopefully Lovett stays and Simon takes one or both of their spots.
Marquette recap:http://www.bigeastboards.com/
Class of 72
Active member
It isn't a consolation
I am not suggesting anything mental or anything because who knows what the problem really is but I watched him throughout high school and also his freshmen year and the one thing you could always count on with him is the motor. Skill wise he was always a work in progress but the first thing you would always hear from people is damn that kid plays hard. Where has this motor gone? System changing to favor guard play is understandable but I just don't see the same kid and a motor is just not something that disappears.
Good motor analogy Happy. Something is not getting done in the shop under the hood with some of these players. First Sima, now Yakwe, Ellison has never been tuned for prime time and none have any concept of playing hard nosed defense. Communication and repetitive execution are vital and some players either just don't get it or don't want to get it. Lovett may have a foot out the door. Ponds could be influenced by his attitude and some could be under the tutelage of Rick Pitino and still will be end of the bench players like Alibegovic and Ellison.
The coaches are rookies and have never had to deal with teens on this level. That hurts big time. I am not convinced Matt is suited to recruit upper level talent on his own without the cred of a great coach to play under by 5 star talent. The 4 star talent we have attracted is on the low end except for 2 or 3 players. We have a non-existent front court that neither rebounds or scores except for Bashir Ahmed. There have to be some big talented bodies added but the program is always in a state of flux with players leaving or underperforming. Without the addition of another big skilled player for next year I see only marginal improvement next year and not enough to sign the top targets.
The divorce with Slice set the recruiting back quite a bit in my opinion.
It isn't a consolation
I am not suggesting anything mental or anything because who knows what the problem really is but I watched him throughout high school and also his freshmen year and the one thing you could always count on with him is the motor. Skill wise he was always a work in progress but the first thing you would always hear from people is damn that kid plays hard. Where has this motor gone? System changing to favor guard play is understandable but I just don't see the same kid and a motor is just not something that disappears.
Good motor analogy Happy. Something is not getting done in the shop under the hood with some of these players. First Sima, now Yakwe, Ellison has never been tuned for prime time and none have any concept of playing hard nosed defense. Communication and repetitive execution are vital and some players either just don't get it or don't want to get it. Lovett may have a foot out the door. Ponds could be influenced by his attitude and some could be under the tutelage of Rick Pitino and still will be end of the bench players like Alibegovic and Ellison.
The coaches are rookies and have never had to deal with teens on this level. That hurts big time. I am not convinced Matt is suited to recruit upper level talent on his own without the cred of a great coach to play under by 5 star talent. The 4 star talent we have attracted is on the low end except for 2 or 3 players. We have a non-existent front court that neither rebounds or scores except for Bashir Ahmed. There have to be some big talented bodies added but the program is always in a state of flux with players leaving or underperforming. Without the addition of another big skilled player for next year I see only marginal improvement next year and not enough to sign the top targets.
The divorce with Slice set the recruiting back quite a bit in my opinion.
Slice had a year to recruit. He did nothing! All rep, no action. I'll take Matt over Slice any day of the week.
I do not have the BBall IQ most boarders have here but I did watch this game while taking heart burn pills. My takeaway
1. Marquette's 3 point baskets were just dropping from every angle early and we did not challenge the shots.
2. Ahmed has raw talent which needs to be developed somehow, his game reminds me of 90's ball but it doesn't really fit into college ball with all the foul calling.
3. I am still perplexed how Alibegovic gets minutes, he does not look comfortable out there or just comes off as an awkward player. Isn't this his last year? I thought he was a 5th year senior?
4. When we are down Lovett does try to make things happen and I can appreciate that but I actually think he needs to be more aggressive early on, we just don't have many options with this roster.
5. Mussini gets a lot of criticism here but I see him as a hustler and annoying mosquito on the court, he tries his best with defense given his body, I do not mind having him on the court longer and setting up open shots for him.
6. We are doing much better than last year.
1. Marquette's 3 point baskets were just dropping from every angle early and we did not challenge the shots.
2. Ahmed has raw talent which needs to be developed somehow, his game reminds me of 90's ball but it doesn't really fit into college ball with all the foul calling.
3. I am still perplexed how Alibegovic gets minutes, he does not look comfortable out there or just comes off as an awkward player. Isn't this his last year? I thought he was a 5th year senior?
4. When we are down Lovett does try to make things happen and I can appreciate that but I actually think he needs to be more aggressive early on, we just don't have many options with this roster.
5. Mussini gets a lot of criticism here but I see him as a hustler and annoying mosquito on the court, he tries his best with defense given his body, I do not mind having him on the court longer and setting up open shots for him.
6. We are doing much better than last year
.I do not have the BBall IQ most boarders have here but I did watch this game while taking heart burn pills. My takeaway
1. Marquette's 3 point baskets were just dropping from every angle early and we did not challenge the shots.
2. Ahmed has raw talent which needs to be developed somehow, his game reminds me of 90's ball but it doesn't really fit into college ball with all the foul calling.
3. I am still perplexed how Alibegovic gets minutes, he does not look comfortable out there or just comes off as an awkward player. Isn't this his last year? I thought he was a 5th year senior?
4. When we are down Lovett does try to make things happen and I can appreciate that but I actually think he needs to be more aggressive early on, we just don't have many options with this roster.
5. Mussini gets a lot of criticism here but I see him as a hustler and annoying mosquito on the court, he tries his best with defense given his body, I do not mind having him on the court longer and setting up open shots for him.
6. We are doing much better than last year
Nice post Roamer and your last line is the most important; losing stinks as does the uncertainty about the quality of our players and recruiting...STILL
it's less than two years and the job/undertaking was huge
AND
there has been improvement...
Time will tell all,
I remain optimistic, the alternative = we'll all be on heartburn & other meds - lol
Frustrating for sure not just for us...but the staff & kids - got to face the problems
all the best!
I do not have the BBall IQ most boarders have here but I did watch this game while taking heart burn pills. My takeaway
1. Marquette's 3 point baskets were just dropping from every angle early and we did not challenge the shots.
2. Ahmed has raw talent which needs to be developed somehow, his game reminds me of 90's ball but it doesn't really fit into college ball with all the foul calling.
3. I am still perplexed how Alibegovic gets minutes, he does not look comfortable out there or just comes off as an awkward player. Isn't this his last year? I thought he was a 5th year senior?
4. When we are down Lovett does try to make things happen and I can appreciate that but I actually think he needs to be more aggressive early on, we just don't have many options with this roster.
5. Mussini gets a lot of criticism here but I see him as a hustler and annoying mosquito on the court, he tries his best with defense given his body, I do not mind having him on the court longer and setting up open shots for him.
6. We are doing much better than last year
Re #4. The player who has to be more aggressive early in the games is Ponds, IMO. Too often, early in a game, I see him get the ball, and immediately pass the ball off in 1 second. Not even trying to make a play with it. He also never seems to call for the ball, which is admirable, but sometimes freezes him out, because his teammates are not looking for him (this has not been as much of a problem lately).
He's playing the 2 (when in with Marcus, which is almost always), so IMO, his job is to find, create and take shots.
I haven't read this whole thread so I'm sure this has been mentioned several times but we need to start the game playing as if we are 20 points behind. For whatever reason we are not ready to start the game and if we miss the first shot we are dragging for the whole half. This can and should be taught. Just brutal to watch.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
I do not have the BBall IQ most boarders have here but I did watch this game while taking heart burn pills. My takeaway
1. Marquette's 3 point baskets were just dropping from every angle early and we did not challenge the shots.
2. Ahmed has raw talent which needs to be developed somehow, his game reminds me of 90's ball but it doesn't really fit into college ball with all the foul calling.
3. I am still perplexed how Alibegovic gets minutes, he does not look comfortable out there or just comes off as an awkward player. Isn't this his last year? I thought he was a 5th year senior?
4. When we are down Lovett does try to make things happen and I can appreciate that but I actually think he needs to be more aggressive early on, we just don't have many options with this roster.
5. Mussini gets a lot of criticism here but I see him as a hustler and annoying mosquito on the court, he tries his best with defense given his body, I do not mind having him on the court longer and setting up open shots for him.
6. We are doing much better than last year
Regarding point 2, Ahmed really is a good fit for a closely called game, as he drives with power and can draw fouls. And it's the foul calls that often bail him out.
On point 5, Mussini is just too slow, small and lacking in strength to defend one on one at this level, and every opponent knows it. He has to be hidden better on defense, which can't be done with a straight man to man. On offense, of late, there has been little ball movement, resulting in minimal open looks for Mussini. He seems to be rushing his shots recently, trying to shoot 3's before he has a good grip on the ball. He also can't finish near the basket, something Ponds and Lovett can manage without being much bigger than Mussini.
On point 6, yes, we are doing better than last year. hard to see how we could not. Bigger question is are we doing as well as we should, and are we trending up for next season. We certainly aren't defending as well as we should. I still think we will be OK, but the 2018 recruiting season is looking very crucial for how the Mullin are will be perceived.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
He flew a long way to shoot 18% from 3, and that's supposed to be the strong point of his game. Anyone have a gut feeling or otherwise if he will be back next year?
we are sju
Active member
LOL. What was Barry Milhaven's number?
JackofVirginia
Active member
Kid still seems nervous, doesn't look to shoot. The funny thing is there hasn't been any change in his game since day one.