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Post by uncurselmu on Nov 19, 2009 16:47:55 GMT -5
"Some people need to step up, make plays down the stretch".... there in lies one of our major problems. The young men seem to think that stepping up to make a play means scoring. And it doesn't. There were long stretches were the wrong guys were attempting the wrong things to get points. Stepping up and making a play means - get a defensive stop. Get a big rebound. Get the ball to the right man at the right time. And we didn't do those three things for too many minutes. If you are having trouble scoring, your shot isn't falling - step up your defense. Don't keep forcing the shot. There are sooooo many other facets of basketball that players forget about. We really only have one or two players that take pride out of doing all those other things (Sweezy, anyone?). Most of the team wants their individual points, and highlight moments. Frustrating - but livable, because its immaturity, and the players can grow out of it. Focus on assists, rebounds and defensive stops. And the scoring will take care of itself. agreed, in that last ten minutes it felt like there were about 5 plays where we should have had a stop but then gave up the rebound for an easy put back layup. Falls squarely on the players not max good. those two 3 pointers killed us, and they shouldn't have slouched off of him after he made the first one. The tailgate was definitely solid, Pros: okayish turnout, had to have been around 300 people there, more having passed through over the two hour period. This is good because it wasn't out of control, and they University can't can it after one try. -good food, they had some outside vendors who had some awesome bbq and fried chicken. -nice and spread out. It wasn't overwhelming, and psafe didn't have a ridiculous presence. I honestly think the next turnout will have a twice the turnout, being on a weekend will help. and I think most underclassman didnt know they would be able to freely drink alcohol. No one was checking ID's, it wasn't fenced in, and you could bring your own booze. I assume a lot more underclassman will make it out to the next one considering they know they won't get busted for underage drinking unless they do something stupid to get psafe on them.
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Post by irishlion on Nov 19, 2009 16:53:34 GMT -5
The next home game is Thanksgiving saturday? That may lessen the crowd. However - if we can pull off a win at either USC or Tulsa (tough option), then that crowd will be there. We let the easiest of the first set of games slip through - now to get a tough one.
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Post by irishlion on Nov 19, 2009 17:13:17 GMT -5
There were two plays last night that truly peeved me. We are on defense. UCI breaks it down, and gets the shot. And a second attempt, and third and fourth all in the paint. Viney was the lone LMU body in the paint battling. Against three, and then four UCI players. He kept it alive as long as possible. At the end of the play, when UCI finally got it in the hoop - Viney looked around and saw his entire team had released for the offensive end. Not a single player had collapsed to help. As a defender and rebounder, you are doing what you can to stall until you get help. It never came. He looked irritated for a split second, got the ball and took it out of bounds to start the next possession.
Until we take pride on the defensive end - and protect our basket with all five bodies, we will not win any close games. It's defense and rebounding, Lions.
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Post by waterboy on Nov 19, 2009 18:37:46 GMT -5
Another factor that might boost our spirits for the next game, is that half the team was sick with the flu last night. That could explain why Davis's shot was short all night (1-10)and the lack of huslte from the big guys at the end of the game. How many loose balls where take by UCI when the ball was right next to us?.
Hopefully by Saturday everyone will be back at 100%.
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Post by ironlions on Nov 19, 2009 18:47:03 GMT -5
I know Edgar and Given were sick...didn't know about others not being well.
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Post by irishlion on Nov 19, 2009 19:08:46 GMT -5
If Larry was sick, that would explain the 1-10 shooting and lack of defensive presence. However - I saw many of the same issues in Montana - before the players came down ill. The posts on all three teams last weekend scored at will. And we made a couple of the outside shooters look like freaking Reggie Miller with our soft D.
Flu/colds? maybe. Lack of discipline and heart? More likely. These guys don't understand, yet, what it takes to win a game.
An example - off season preparation. We only have a few players that truly hit the weight room and conditioned throughout the off season. Our players don't understand how physical, how strong, how much quicker you need to be to play a competitive D1 level of basketball. And it shows in the inability to get through screens, or hold your man outside the paint, or box out, or muscle through to a loose ball.
Hopefully a couple of close losses - in games we should have won - will wake them up. Too late to get strong. But maybe we'll get brave. And hopefully, smart.
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Post by zagsfanforlife on Nov 19, 2009 19:15:52 GMT -5
Davis needs to play some defense. Unless your putting up 25 a game like Morrison was his junior year, you need to play more inspired d then he did yesterday. What I saw was softer than a pillow from him. A New York kid needs to show some grit. Sorry to upset you irishlion for saying something negative about a person, but seeing what I did of the game last night, it was something that frustrated the hell out of me. I dont care if you shoot 0-10, but something you can always control is your defensive effort. And i for one did not see that.
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Post by lmu2008 on Nov 19, 2009 19:40:45 GMT -5
Just checked the box score... 12 players got minutes last night...
We should have a 7-8 man rotation maximum!!! Players can't get into an offensive groove if they are coming in and out of the game all the time...
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Post by oldestlion on Nov 19, 2009 19:52:38 GMT -5
We're sick - we're hurt - we're young? Look around at other teams who play sick, hurt and inexperienced AND win. Let's not get into the excuses. The facts are simply that we don't yet play well - we're selfish, don't run sets, have excessive turnovers, stop rebounding at the wrong times and play horrible perimeter defense.
If this doesn't change and change in a hurry, we'll be saying "Wait 'til next year" again.
This team and the coaching staff are now under close scrutiny. Let's hope we show improvement every game.
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Post by irishlion on Nov 19, 2009 20:12:01 GMT -5
Aw, come on... I dislike the RANDOM negativity. Feel free to get on them about specifics - especially if you are spot on.
Saying "Don't put him in the game" is uncomfortable. "His defense is soft" is specific, and I can deal with that.
I am a firm believer that if your shot isn't falling, or you turn the ball over, get it back on defense. That's something that can be controlled. And we just aren't doing that right now. These Lions need to man up and play some defense.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Nov 19, 2009 21:47:19 GMT -5
Lots of good discussions and thoughts. I was at the game but also recorded the game and watched again - late into the evening. Regarding substitutions lets consider Kevin Young: started, scored 8 points with 3 rebounds and 1 block in first half - pulled at the 11:27 mark and does not return in the first half. Kevin was hot and should have come back after a short rest. Young - starts second half, now cooled off, pulled after 2 minutes on the court, returns at 12:08, pulled at 5:14 with 3 rebounds in second half, no points, does not return to the game. I am not sure we used him as well as we could in this game. Davis is 1 for 10. What do you do when one of your go-to guys is having an off night? Say its Kobe Bryant and Phil has to make the call - he will stay with his man and hope he works thru the down phase. Perhaps this was Max's approach and it's hard to argue about that. But if Larry is off - way off - two shots hit the side of the backboard, one airball, lots of clunkers not close in 1 for 10 - it may be merciful to give him a break and let Given have a few more minutes in the game. This is not a criticism of Larry - he is definitely one of our go to guys and our season will rise or fall with his game (plus Viney, Teel and a few other significant contributors). We all have our bad days and Davis had such a great tournament in Montana. You guys know I am a Given fan. He entered the game at 2:17 left in the first half and scored a great breakaway with body control for the layup. At the buzzer, he rebounded and just missed a put back on Viney's jumper. 2 points in two minutes, almost 4 points. Given does not return. My mind is asking "When Larry is having such a bad night, why not offer Given a few more minutes?" Another 2, 3, 4, or 5 points earlier on in the second half would have made a world of difference at the end of this game. My review of the game revealed all the problems I saw in person earlier in the evening yet with 2 and a half minutes to go, the score was tied and we got the ball. We were desperately looking for a score. At that time, scorers were Viney, Viney and Viney - JD next in line with 12, then Teel with 9, Garibay with 8. Kevin was on the bench with 8 in the first 8.5 minutes but little production in the second half. We needed a second man at the end and did not find one. We went to Larry who did his best and once to JD but could not get that man. Teel did score a relatively uncontested layup late and played a very good all around game but was not that go-to second man last night. And that pesky little guy 5'10" (Senior) Hunter buried those killing threes! Ouch! Where are you AI?
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Post by LIONS90045 on Nov 19, 2009 22:51:17 GMT -5
I forgot to mention Alex more - he made a great presence on the floor - put back a rebound under the basket without putting to ball on the floor - his size and bulk are much needed now. He got a great rise from the crowd with his near steal outside the 3 point line, great hustle, great desire Alex. 2 points, 1 rebound is 6 minutes (OK 2 turnovers according to the stat sheet), but Irvine noted his presence! Go Lions!
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