LMU Lions vs. UCR Highlanders

[Moose]

Excuse me, do the players substitute themselves? When you point out the fact that substitution patterns impacted the game you question the coaches. In theory every minute is as important as the previous one and the next one. In reality, the pressures, effects and fatigue that exist in the first five minutes and last five minutes of each half are the most critical. Each minute is not the same.

Although we can focus on many items that have influenced our record to this point, turnovers most recently, rebounding before that, bigs not getting enough shots, and free throws before that; I would pose that the biggest factor is the lack of individual commitment to play defense. UCR is not a good offensive team and they shot nearly 50%. That has been true for every one of our opponents. Bad individual defense and bad team defense. Too many slams and layups throughout the game. We have to find five guys who are willing to play 35 seconds of defense every time the opponent gets the ball. Not one or two or three guys playing D for 10, 15, or 20 seconds. But 5 guys playing 35 seconds of hard nosed individual defense. Make one more free throw in regulations and you win. Make one more basket instead of turning the ball over and you win. MAKE ONE MORE STOP AND YOU WIN!!! Tention's teams in the past have played great defense. This team is not, at least not yet.

[dead3man]

Ok I agree to disagree. I think this young team is good and will be great and will get it done. Got to love the debate though. I still think the momentum changed at that 13 min streatch.

[lmu]

I would have played the starters another two or three minutes to open up a bigger gap before resting them. We had the momentum, should have gone for the kill instead we showed them an open door to victory.

The bench didn't hold its ground during that stretch either. It's like they were lost, they were looking at each other "Are we supposed to go hard with a 10-point lead?" or "Are we on the court just to rest the starters?" Something about the bench mentality I didn't like.

And yes, the defense has been poor. I've been wanting to say this just waiting for someone to bring it up. Teams were having too easy a time to score on us. Our players seem to think it's ok to give up a basket because we will get it back on the other end. Err....no.

And the turnovers....oh boy, back to square one again.

[fanblade]

Good news is I think we are finding the right starting lineup. I was hoping that Counts would have taken that last shot in regulation other than JZ. I heard the attendance was a little over 200 people. Ouch. But with this record I'm nervous about what sort of turnout we can get against MSU.

I think you might be right lmu about the replacements having some "deer in headlights" mentality when they came online during the big lead. Is that the most dominating lead that LMU has played this season? It may have been too much pressure for them, not enough urgency to widen that lead.

I'll also be happy once I stop becoming numb to "player X has thrown the ball over player Y's head again." Hopefully we can get there... and relatively soon.

[lionspride]

Agree with Dead3man's comments. Wow, that is two times in a row. Our thoughts seem right on. I realize it is easy to say, but we NEED to win games that our in our grasp. This one got away from us. We LOST the game by beating ourselves.

Fanblade....I am extremely worried about this upcoming Wednesday night's game attendance. I will be there in full force, but there better be more than 1,000 people. ANY thing below 1k will be completely embarrassing. Mississippi State and our Lions deserve a good crowd. It should be an interesting game. MState is .500 on the season and our Lions are very slowly improving (EXCEPT for TURNOVERS and DEFENSE). Our starting line up gels together. We just need the reserves to step it up or have our starters go even longer without a break.

O.J. and Deadwiler seem to be pulling their weight. We need Tim to get the ball and produce consistently. For this team to win, Deric needs to step it up as well.

See you all WEDNESDAY evening. I sure hope this is going to be a stronger home outing than our performance against Arkansas Little-Rock. If it is anything like that, our fans (no matter how large or small the attendance) will be extremely vocal. Patience is wearing thin.

GO LIONS!

[heartofalion]

Hey Dead3man, how can you question the wholesale subs and say that's why we lost and then later say "don't bring up the coaches"??Don't start something and then run away with your hands up and say, "who me"? Go Lions!

[lionspride]

heartofalion said:

Hey Dead3man, how can you question the wholesale subs and say that's why we lost and then later say "don't bring up the coaches"??Don't start something and then run away with your hands up and say, "who me"? Go Lions!

I am not taking any sides on this one, but I will say if someone is trying to question why someone is questioning the coaches...well I must admit that I have to question some of the coaching substitutions in the first 4 games. It was completely ridiculous. If you don't know your players and need to trying wholesale rotations in the game, I question whether you are trying to win that particular game or PREPARING for the upcoming games. My comments apply to the at least the first 4 games. I have said this on a couple of occassions on these boards.

Regarding the substitutions made in the second half of the UCR game, well....I have a take on this one. The starters only played 7 minutes into the second half. You are up by 9.....I think our starters could have made it another 3-5 minutes to put the game out of reach. It did not happen. A quick collapse ensued and then we had to throw out those starters to stop the bleeding and ask them to re-build the lead. That may be asking a TON for a young team. The coaching staff knows this team's abilities (well, I sure hope so by now) and should know a WIN is what is crucial for confidence in young players. A loss in which we beat ourselves is a MAJOR set back with an upcoming schedule that for our purposes is rather brutal. This was a win we needed. And at 13:11 in the second half was changed. That was a change in which the coaches made. Not the players. That is how I see it.

[dead3man]

heartofalion said:

Hey Dead3man, how can you question the wholesale subs and say that's why we lost and then later say "don't bring up the coaches"??Don't start something and then run away with your hands up and say, "who me"? Go Lions!

Ok HeartOfaLion,

Hows this for a response to your post, I would not have made the changes. Does that make you feel better but I'm not a Coach or the Coach. My opinion is still when we made the change it change the momentum of the game. Now having said that their is still the expectations for the players who came in to get it done. By the way, can I have a D*@! opinion or should I just be a fan that agrees with everything everyone does. Shoot you really wouldn't want to see/hear the emails, text or phone calls I have with my own because when he screws up I come down HARD. Just like the 8 TO's in a game, the 3 the other night having more TO's than assist and especially the one he threw over the head of his teammate on an inbound play. So just let it be what it is. If your opinion is I'm calling out the Coach then thats your take but I'm not and was not but again I can agree to disagree.

Have a Great day.

[heartofalion]

Hey Dead3Man, I have no problem with one sharing an opinion. That;s what we all do on these boards is share opinions. I also have no problem telling it like it is. I don't like calling out certain players though, when we lose. It's a team effort. In your original post, you stated, "we lost that game with wholesale substitutions". "That was a game changer". And then in a later post, you say, "don't bring up the coaches". I just think your second post is a little bit hypocritical. Because IMO, your first post is correct. That mass substitution changed the momentum of the game. And the coach subbed the players. So hopefully no hard feelings. Let's go get some W's. And by the way, the kid is getting better all the time!

[dead3man]

heartofalion said:

Hey Dead3Man, I have no problem with one sharing an opinion. That;s what we all do on these boards is share opinions. I also have no problem telling it like it is. I don't like calling out certain players though, when we lose. It's a team effort. In your original post, you stated, "we lost that game with wholesale substitutions". "That was a game changer". And then in a later post, you say, "don't bring up the coaches". I just think your second post is a little bit hypocritical. Because IMO, your first post is correct. That mass substitution changed the momentum of the game. And the coach subbed the players. So hopefully no hard feelings. Let's go get some W's. And by the way, the kid is getting better all the time!

I don't think anything I said is hypocritical. I love the team and the coaches but I would not have made wholesale changes, I'm going for the kill. Thats me. I love LMU and the Coaching Staff but that doesn't mean I have to agree. Shoot I don't agree with politicians, news people, the normal person on the street, boards, business decisions etc.

I guess what I'm saying is I hope your skin is thick because I probably won't agree but guess what my opinion is just that mines.

I will stand by my words in all post and keep it moving.

Got to love those lions but just WIN baby WIN!