12/15 - MBB vs. Northwestern

forensicbuzz

21st Century Throwback Dad
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Both years CDS has been here, he has essentially had a brand new squad, with no continuity. So, a slow start, with the team not really playing as a team yet doesn't surprise me. I don't like it, but there is little continuity from last year to this year. We have 2 sophomores on the team that played last year. Other than that, no one else has played together. If this is going to be the norm, then I don't think it will work. If we can maintain a core of players year-to-year, then I think we'll be fine. I do believe that by the time we're into league play, we'll be playing better and winning more.
 

MtnWasp

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We've played 5 games against Power conference schools and lost all 5

We've played 5 small conference schools and are 4-1 against them.

These numbers simply don't work. Moving forward, we will all look for improvement and for some sign that the corner has been turned. But a third of the way through our season we look to be on a treadmill. A coach can't take this long into the season and still be looking for his players to pull it together.

At some point, the coach is going to have to win more games.
 

g0lftime

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I actually disagree with CDS on this statement and blame him for Baye’s struggles. Yes, Baye has missed way too many open layups, but how many plays are being ran that gets Baye an open shot? How many times do our guards dribble for 28 seconds then throw up a 3? You can call a kid out all you want, but when you don’t run any action for him other than pick and rolls and just expect him to score without putting him in a position to do so, that’s on the coach.
Teams stopping the pick and roll this year with Baye and Nait. We haven't been a post up team. Mutombo gave us some Sunday. We better get better at shooting 3 ball. So far his NBA offense isn't working very well. Pro's shoot the 3 much better overall than most college players.
 

57jacket

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Opposing teams are simply not giving up the 3 pt. shot, pressing man to man at the 3 pt line. The pros don't do that to the extent teams are doig to us. Driving past the defender ( and shooting a floater or layup), or kivcking back out, is the obvious solution but we can't seem to do that.
 

jacket38

Jolly Good Fellow
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Opposing teams are simply not giving up the 3 pt. shot, pressing man to man at the 3 pt line. The pros don't do that to the extent teams are doig to us. Driving past the defender ( and shooting a floater or layup), or kivcking back out, is the obvious solution but we can't seem to do that.
I’m not a basketball guru, but what does a good coach normally do in this situation??? Change up the scheme? Coach harder?
 

gte447f

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I’m not a basketball guru, but what does a good coach normally do in this situation??? Change up the scheme? Coach harder?
I don’t claim to be a guru, but here are some basics.

When a player is under heavy on ball pressure, they either have to beat the pressure off the dribble or pass the ball to a teammate. If all of the teammates are under equally heavy pressure by their man, then there will be no passing options if all the teammates are standing still. Therefore, one of the classic ways to beat man to man defense is player movement and screening off the ball to get a teammate open to receive a pass. This is what we aren’t doing.

You can also provide a screen for the man with the ball, and we have been doing some of that . Last year we had a lot of success at times running a ball screen and roll game in the middle of the court starting near the top of the key, but this year we’re not doing it nearly as effectively. One reason is because teams are extending their pressure further out above the top of the key.
 

Peacone36

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Both years CDS has been here, he has essentially had a brand new squad, with no continuity. So, a slow start, with the team not really playing as a team yet doesn't surprise me. I don't like it, but there is little continuity from last year to this year. We have 2 sophomores on the team that played last year. Other than that, no one else has played together. If this is going to be the norm, then I don't think it will work. If we can maintain a core of players year-to-year, then I think we'll be fine. I do believe that by the time we're into league play, we'll be playing better and winning more.
There is no continuity anywhere in college basketball any longer. There are basically 4800 Thai hookers 110% committed until they suffer a broken shoelace.
 

57jacket

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I don’t claim to be a guru, but here are some basics.

When a player is under heavy on ball pressure, they either have to beat the pressure off the dribble or pass the ball to a teammate. If all of the teammates are under equally heavy pressure by their man, then there will be no passing options if all the teammates are standing still. Therefore, one of the classic ways to beat man to man defense is player movement and screening off the ball to get a teammate open to receive a pass. This is what we aren’t doing.

You can also provide a screen for the man with the ball, and we have been doing some of that . Last year we had a lot of success at times running a ball screen and roll game in the middl e of the court starting near the top of the key, but this year we’re not doing it nearly as effectively. One reason is because teams are extending their pressure further out above the top of the key.
Good post Gte. When I played( 50 years ago. LOL), the screen for teammates without the ball was standard play. I don't see any of that.
 

g0lftime

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Good post Gte. When I played( 50 years ago. LOL), the screen for teammates without the ball was standard play. I don't see any of that.
Cremins sometimes ran a double screen for Price. The pick and roll with Baye has been scouted and not as effective this year. Beating their man off the dribble forces the defense to adjust and usually opens someone. The few games I have watched is more of a quick pass and drive. Not often shedding the defender. Terry has been the most successful I have seen so far.
 

Techwood Relict

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I’m not a basketball guru, but what does a good coach normally do in this situation??? Change up the scheme? Coach harder?
In my modest coaching experience, I altered the scheme, as other posters discussed, to add elements to help the overall scheme. i.e. more screening, backdoor movement.
Basic offense and defense always start with free the ball and stop the ball. Rhythm begins with ball movement. Disrupt that and offense stagnates, much like we are currently witnessing.

I'd bet CDS is spending a lot of practice time on basics. Most everyone learns when they step up a level, just beating your man one on one is not as easy as it used to be. I suspect our improved recruits are facing this problem so far.

More motion, less stagnation. A fan can be hopeful.....
 

Tommy_Taylor_1972

GT Athlete
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There is no continuity anywhere in college basketball any longer. There are basically 4800 Thai hookers 110% committed until they suffer a broken shoelace.
Tech has produced a fair share of committed and tough players, with the most recent being Jose Alverado, who would run through a wall to win. The AJC compares the current team's first ten games being 4-6 with that of that of Bobby Cremins' first team in 1981-82. I will also compare these two teams. Bobby's team started out 4-6 as Tech today. Tech beat 7-2 Maryland on the road as one of their four wins. Their six losses included three other ACC teams, the last being Clemson at home. That game showed the toughness and desire to win, as the Journal reported below. In a 5-point loss, 6' 5" Sandy Spring's point guard Brooke Steppe played with an injured leg and ankle, re-injured it late in the game, and continued to play to win. His toughness and desire motivated the team to a 10-16 season with Brooke on the ACC All-Tourney team. The next year, he was on the first team All ACC team. He was drafted in the NBA first round 17th overall and played professional basketball for 13 years. I think that is the continuous commitment you mention, Peacone36. It is easily recognizable.
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Northeast Stinger

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Good post Gte. When I played( 50 years ago. LOL), the screen for teammates without the ball was standard play. I don't see any of that.
Last year CDS seemed to say until he was blue in the face, “Ya’ll aren’t helping each other out.” Weird, but I knew even in pickup games with total strangers to set a pick if someone was being smothered by a defender.
 

57jacket

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Good post Gte. When I played( 50 years ago. LOL), the screen for teammates without the ball was standard play. I don't see any of that.
As a matter of fact we ran a 3 man weave of the guards, which set a screen with every pass. I had forgotten that.
 

cpf2001

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Off ball screens shouldn’t be a mystery for a former Celtics assistant.

Everybody has high turnover these days. It’s quite possible that we’re trying to do something that takes more practice and gelling to make instinctual enough. (Of course, let’s see if this team even turns it around at all like last year.) But if so… that’s not the right scheme, then. Since there will be turnover again. It’s also very different from the last time Stoudamire was in the college ranks
 
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