Buy into WHAT???

[mrcoachdude]

Thanks coach. I was afraid of that, but good to know.

I am not sure it is all about effort...I am thinking its about the type of "D" they are playing and the need for continuity between players...much like running an offense..you have to be in the right spot and help in the right manner to make it effective...a player in the wrong spot or playing "D" in the wrong manner messes up the set...

I guess there may be effort issues as well...

[LittleBrave]

Well, we are undefeated against those teams so far this year.

I like everyone's optimism but if there are signs from the exhibition game, our undefeated mark in the Valley will come to a halt at Game #1.
Let's be realistic that if our defense gives up 86 to a D-II school, we are not close to being ready to start the season. If defense will be our staple this season, we should be holding these weaker teams to under 60 points.

I am not so psyched anymore for this Friday's game - I will see the score the following morning instead of following every few minutes on the gametrack, hoping we'll take a convincing lead which never seems to happen.

Without question, we should win by double-digits on Friday and even hold a double-digit lead for most of the game - no matter who is on the floor!!!

DSE is looking to be a big key to this season, and Will needs to show that he improved more than anyone going into the summer and that he's not intimidated.

[shaunguth]

I care about one thing, winning basketball games, against teams that play at the MVC level or better

Why not call out the entire soph class? Did you not see the numbers they put up against a D2 team? Why are they off the hook in that game? What are they going to do when they face an MVC team? Seems it would make more sense to at least mention them if you're going to bring up our two best players that didn't even play in the game.

[ER3]

The frustrating thing to me is that this just seems to be an annual cycle of dysfunction that we have been dealing with for several years now...

- We start organized practice..."we're working exclusively on defense...there's gonna be a new committment to defense and rebounding...we're gonna hang our hats on our defense...defense is gonna be our focus...we've had some great practices...guys are really coming together on the defensive end...defense...defense...defense..."

- Game time...here's a chance to show the public everything we've been working on...and this is what we see...much of the same things that we have seen for three years now...poor rotations on defense...guys consistently being out of position...chasing the ball...wide open threes given up over and over again...silly, undisciplined fouls...just an overall lack of cohesion to any semblance of a defensive "system"...

- postgame analysis from Les..."guys just aren't buying in...I'm very disappointed in the veteran leaders of this team...playing time is completely up for grabs...the guys that buy in and show that they want to play defense will play, the others will sit...buy in...blueprint...defense...focus...buy in...lather...rinse...repeat..."

- A few games later...playing time hasn't changed for anyone...we've looked good in a couple games, really bad in a couple others...defensive intensity/energy/focus looks good in brief stretches, but the same bad habits and poor execution exists...

Same old, same old...same lip service, different year...

We'll see how this season plays out...but it just seems like this is a movie I've seen before, and I really didn't enjoy it the first 3 times I saw it...

I have high hopes for this year's team...with the talent and experience we have in place, top 3 in the Valley should be the floor of our expectations, not the ceiling...

It's only an exhibition game, and I'm not disturbed by the result itself as much as I am by the fact that this same equation of "guys not buying in + effort is lacking + empty "playing time up for grabs" threats from the coach = underwhleming season" is already starting to come to the surface...that's what is frustrating to see out of this game, IMO...

Hopefully Coach Platt can make progress with these guys on the defensive end and we'll see a much better product on the floor on Friday night...

[LittleBrave]

Why not call out the entire soph class? Did you not see the numbers they put up against a D2 team? Why are they off the hook in that game? What are they going to do when they face an MVC team? Seems it would make more sense to at least mention them if you're going to bring up our two best players that didn't even play in the game.

Very good point here Shaunguth. According to the box score and people's assessment of indiv. players, our seniors held their own - in fact, they were the best of the night! Not sure what he saw in the younger guys like DSE, JE and MK that would give them the edge to play ahead of DD, AW, SM.
I just don't see Les sitting any of the seniors due to lack of production, hustle, intensity, etc.

[BradleyJD]

And a little secret....every year, sometime during the year, Coach Les gives the if they don't play D they wont play.

And Coach Les only really stuck to it one time, with Cellus, and eventually he went on to have his best stretch as a Brave and went to a sweet 16.

I would sit Andrew for as long as it takes.

And no I absolutely don't care about his 26 points. I care about one thing, winning basketball games, against teams that play at the MVC level or better

I have to agree with you on this. You have to put your foot down and prove that DEFENSE is what you want. If all you do is threaten the players, then you are wasting your breath and time.

Send a message and bench the guys who do not give 100% on both ends, all the time.

The players will either learn to give their all, or they will learn to sit on the bench.

[Future Walk-On]

As someone was saying.....I think our "help defense" SUCKS. Its like if a guy is thinking that someone is going to get beat...he bolts to help and there is 5 feet between him and his man....we are bad at timing....I would rather have a guy take a 20 foot shoot with 1 foot of separation than a 2 foot shot with 5 feet of separation....we are bad at compromising

[srw]

How the heck do you figure that? I think those are the two best players on the team. To me it's not even a question. How could we possibly get worse with them playing?

Why would you edit a quote of mine and then attribute it to me.

I said

This team defense is likely to get worse when Sammy and Taylor get back, not better.
(sammy's feet problems are likely to have him somewhat out of shape and effect his lateral movement; taylor is taylor, and working on the nba draft)



I stick by it

[srw]

I really agree with this. I care about more than winning basketball games (unfortunately I think I'm in the minority on this), but I really think all the praise AW gets goes to his head. I like AW and think he can be a great player for us. But after his comments from KW, and his lackluster play in MVC last year, I get very frustrated with him. I question how much he's had to work for 'it,' I see a guy who talent-wise and athletically could really set himself apart from the other players in the MVC, let alone our team. But it's just not clicking, he seems to 'play lazy' to me, and scores tons, except when it's a close game.

Plays lazy because he has never been in shape that I have seen. Remember DSE's tweet about his eh girth.

Makes me question how good he is.

[srw]

I have to agree with you on this. You have to put your foot down and prove that DEFENSE is what you want. If all you do is threaten the players, then you are wasting your breath and time.

Send a message and bench the guys who do not give 100% on both ends, all the time.

The players will either learn to give their all, or they will learn to sit on the bench.

To be fair this is predicated on having a coach that "knows" how to teach defense.

If thats a given, then the "effort" card comes into play.

I don't know the real answer to this...But the story has a groundhog day ring to it.

[thefish7]

Why would you edit a quote of mine and then attribute it to me.

I said

This team defense is likely to get worse when Sammy and Taylor get back, not better.
(sammy's feet problems are likely to have him somewhat out of shape and effect his lateral movement; taylor is taylor, and working on the nba draft)



I stick by it

If Sammy is slowed down by ankles I'm going to worry about his defense also... It was a problem (kind of a big one in all honesty) early last year, but his ankles and defense got better in time. Taylor, I'm not so sure, is a defensive liability. I think he's just a decent defender, but a very very good rebounder. Even if he doesn't deny as many shots, he'll cut down on second chances for the other team.

[squirrelgotdead]

I really agree with this. I care about more than winning basketball games (unfortunately I think I'm in the minority on this), but I really think all the praise AW gets goes to his head. I like AW and think he can be a great player for us. But after his comments from KW, and his lackluster play in MVC last year, I get very frustrated with him. I question how much he's had to work for 'it,' I see a guy who talent-wise and athletically could really set himself apart from the other players in the MVC, let alone our team. But it's just not clicking, he seems to 'play lazy' to me, and scores tons, except when it's a close game.

Exactly. His shot with roughly 28 seconds to go against Quincy was way too early and ill-advised. Not what I want to see from AW the senior. In practicality it was a turnover on perhaps the most key possession of the game.

[amckillip]

Why would you edit a quote of mine and then attribute it to me.

I said

This team defense is likely to get worse when Sammy and Taylor get back, not better.
(sammy's feet problems are likely to have him somewhat out of shape and effect his lateral movement; taylor is taylor, and working on the nba draft)



I stick by it

That is not what you said, you edited your post.

[mrcoachdude]

Why would you edit a quote of mine and then attribute it to me.

I said

This team defense is likely to get worse when Sammy and Taylor get back, not better.
(sammy's feet problems are likely to have him somewhat out of shape and effect his lateral movement; taylor is taylor, and working on the nba draft)



I stick by it

Probaly have a point...but I believe the issue to be team defense...not so much individual..so if TB and SM are better at grasping the team defense concept..it would make us better...and I believe that to be the case...

[shaunguth]

That is not what you said, you edited your post.

Yes........I saw that as well. Absolutely amazing!