Can someone please explain something to me.

[Future Walk-On]

Simple Question: What are we doing on offense?

I took it upon myself about half way through the game to start watching individual players for multiple, entire possessions to see what they do.

1. I counted numerous offensive possessions where we did not set 1 screen. ONE.

2. Warren struggled, Ok. Did anyone notice that he rarely had an open shot? Did anyone notice how he rarely made moves off the ball? Did anyone notice how late in the game, down only single digits, we couldn't make one "basketball" effort to get him a shot?

Down the stretch did anyone notice what we did? We passed the ball around and stood there. Then someone randomly drove the lane.

I REALLY need someone to explain basketball to me. I saw Warren stand at the three point line for entire possessions. I saw us FORCE FEED A DANGEROUS PASS to WE 8 feet out on the baseline into a trap. WTF is that going to do? What is WE possibly going to do in that position besides throw a no look over the head pass to a guy cutting.....yeah cutting..whats that I have no idea anymore.

WHAT ABOUT RUNNING AW HIM OFF SOME SCREENS? What is with basically ISO calls to DSE and WL?

What is a OH let's attempt to give JP a post feed for only the 2nd time in the game, late in the game, when we need a basket the most. That might randomly work.

I just don't get our mentality when we have no screening or any attempt to get AW free for a good look....etc......

DEFENSE: Not going to get into this....but just watch our guys....

1 screen is set and our players get LOST and CONFUSED. I saw it multiple times. Fay flash screens and WE completely loses him. How is this possible? No communication either.

[AZ BU Fan]

Its inexplicable......

[ghunt]

I have noticed simialar things on offense, too. They do not even run/execute the same way they used to--to the point that it does not even look like the offensive "system" former coach Merfield described to me as the "system" they were going to stick with. I have seen it countless times in many sports--the coach is beholden to a given system with little to no flexability, and then when the personnel do not match the system, either the coaches do not adjust, or they have such a mish-mash of available players, the coaching staff has trouble adjusting and virtual chaos ensues. Jim's system absolutely requires three to four three-point threats on the floor any given time, and three guys whom can penetrate--the point from the key and guards/small forwards from the wings. We have not had the first requirement for about three years now, and even with TB and Sam healthy, we barely met the latter. Now, we have neither--WL is reallyclosest thing to a slashe we need and AW is decent, but more of a spot up guy.

I am not sure which way to go with the personnel given lack of definitive tools for particular offensive sets. You could go with some sort of a traditional motion offene, but there is no muscle what-so-ever to muscle and post-up on the blocks. Also, you mention lack of screens off the ball--Jim's system really only has high ball-screens, and again, we do not have any power forward-types who can set good screens, especially traditional off-ball screens.

Given the prospective skills and sizes of future recruits and projected rosters, I am not really sure or close to confident in the near term future of the program. I will get slammed for this, but even when we were healthy, it was effectively the same, if not slightly less experienced team from last year, and that one was barely .500. So, even with Sam and TB coming back and minus AW, well AT, WE, MK are likely not to develop much more, so, well, I'm not too postive, am I? Sorry, but I see no light at the end of the tunnel, but a miracle would be nice (players flipping switches unexpectedly, transfers, new coach/players). The physical ability (speed, leap, size) is not even in the players we have any more--WL is about it, and when is the last time we had multiple players whom averaged 20+ points as high schoolers or jucos (at strong schools/conferences) before they came to BU?

On a positive note, I do like the general effort, they have not rolled over yet--especially Dodie. Oh well, we still have most of the MVC season to go :-)

[squirrelgotdead]

On a positive note, I do like the general effort, they have not rolled over yet--especially Dodie. Oh well, we still have most of the MVC season to go :-)

While I agree I have seen many things I like, I don't see how any one can say this straight-faced when our average margin of defeat in league play is 12.67 and includes 2 games (1 home) against probable play-in teams.

[thefish7]

The hardest thing for me to watch was all the times JP rolled off of pick or faked a pick and no one got him the ball as he ran unimpeded to the rim. They weren't even looking. Then he had 10 points off of sweet finishing including actual back to the basket post moves and somehow the guy plays like 8 minutes or something in the second half so that we can... I guess, play Eastman???? It was diving me nuts.

[bustudent]

And how many times do we have to watch a big man get a good rebound and just stand and hold it while EVERYONE breaks for the other end of the floor. I would bet I saw Will do this about 4 times, if he immediately would have kicked it up to a wing that was flying up the floor we have an easy lay up or 2 free throws.

[mrcoachdude]

The hardest thing for me to watch was all the times JP rolled off of pick or faked a pick and no one got him the ball as he ran unimpeded to the rim. They weren't even looking. Then he had 10 points off of sweet finishing including actual back to the basket post moves and somehow the guy plays like 8 minutes or something in the second half so that we can... I guess, play Eastman???? It was diving me nuts.

AGREED !!!!!!!!!!!! Wow was that frustrating...


"2. Warren struggled, Ok. Did anyone notice that he rarely had an open shot? Did anyone notice how he rarely made moves off the ball? Did anyone notice how late in the game, down only single digits, we couldn't make one "basketball" effort to get him a shot? "

Warren worked his behind off trying to get open...and ran off a bunch of screens away from the ball...he is going to get that kind of pressure all season...

[thefish7]

AGREED !!!!!!!!!!!! Wow was that frustrating...


"2. Warren struggled, Ok. Did anyone notice that he rarely had an open shot? Did anyone notice how he rarely made moves off the ball? Did anyone notice how late in the game, down only single digits, we couldn't make one "basketball" effort to get him a shot? "

Warren worked his behind off trying to get open...and ran off a bunch of screens away from the ball...he is going to get that kind of pressure all season...

Re: Prosser, man he was active last night. He was all over the place. I thought he was in the midst of playing about the best game I've seen a big guy play for BU in a long time. I hope the coach notices watching the film, because at least from section 2 Prosser looked aggressive and for several games now he's been finishing very well.

Re: Warren, yeah I agree with mrcoachdude. Warren, I thought, played hard all night, including moving off the ball. The amazing thing was to me that a bunch of those FGs he missed were wide open "easy" shots as far as what AW usually makes. I chalked it up to an off night, not him not working enough to create shots for himself.

[Majik45]

Prosser was the only highlight for me last night. He looked good and actually gave us a post threat. He's going to be a good one. If only he would have come a few years earlier.

[Future Walk-On]

Yeah I meant at the end of the game when we were down only 6 or 8.

I didn't see Warren come off of one screen. Maybe he was tired or I missed them.

I have seen him working hard though.

[LittleBrave]

Prosser was the only highlight for me last night. He looked good and actually gave us a post threat. He's going to be a good one. If only he would have come a few years earlier.

Going by the stats, DSE had a good night (18 pts). However, I watched about 25 minutes of the game and I think he only scored 1 pt. in that span. When did he get all those points?
I don't remember hardly any open looks for BU tonight, but a ton for SIU.

[ManMythLegend]

Yeah I meant at the end of the game when we were down only 6 or 8.

I didn't see Warren come off of one screen. Maybe he was tired or I missed them.

I have seen him working hard though.

FWO, I saw this at the end of the game as well. One thing that really honked me off was late in the game when we were making a run, Warren had a chance to grab an offensive rebound, but made 0 effort to go after a ball that hit the floor. SIU ended up with it and scored on the break ending our run. I give the kid credit, he worked very very hard for most of the game, but if AW only scores 10 points...we aren't beating anyone in the Valley.

Defense was atrocious in the first half. I think SIU shot 65% for the half because they were usually wide open. We on the other hand were shooting 30% for most of the game until DSE Hulked out and showed us his true potential.

JP needs to see the floor more, for as bad as we were playing MK and AT didn't see the floor and I'd say that if they really aren't that good then they should move on. I still had some hope before this game, but this team and coaching staff need to figure something out quick or this will be our worst season in awhile.

[Dallas Brave]

Unless you've got beasts underneath, I'm not sure what offensive scheme will work in basketball if you don't have players who can consistently knock down the 12-15 jump shot.

JP is the real deal and it is fun to watch him improve every game. As stated earlier, if I was coaching I would move DSE to the point and insert MK into the lineup. Somebody besides AW on this team needs to be able to hit an outside jumper. DSE has potential, but he is best from the arc or driving to the hoop. His mid-range game needs work.

[LittleBrave]

Unless you've got beasts underneath, I'm not sure what offensive scheme will work in basketball if you don't have players who can consistently knock down the 12-15 jump shot.

JP is the real deal and it is fun to watch him improve every game. As stated earlier, if I was coaching I would move DSE to the point and insert MK into the lineup. Somebody besides AW on this team needs to be able to hit an outside jumper. DSE has potential, but he is best from the arc or driving to the hoop. His mid-range game needs work.

JP is in the running for All-freshman team. Other MVC freshmen looking good so far and have the potential to be really good in the Valley:

Jake Odum (ISU-blue)
R.J. Mahurin (ISU-blue)
Rayvonte Rice (DU)
Doug McDermott (CU)

Anyone else I missed? Nathan Scheer for MSU will be good too, but his numbers are not impressive and Missouri State has a veteran starting 5, so his P.T. seems limited. WL will be good with the right system and when he learns to play under control.

[real fan]

FWO, I saw this at the end of the game as well. One thing that really honked me off was late in the game when we were making a run, Warren had a chance to grab an offensive rebound, but made 0 effort to go after a ball that hit the floor. SIU ended up with it and scored on the break ending our run. I give the kid credit, he worked very very hard for most of the game, but if AW only scores 10 points...we aren't beating anyone in the Valley.

Defense was atrocious in the first half. I think SIU shot 65% for the half because they were usually wide open. We on the other hand were shooting 30% for most of the game until DSE Hulked out and showed us his true potential.

JP needs to see the floor more, for as bad as we were playing MK and AT didn't see the floor and I'd say that if they really aren't that good then they should move on. I still had some hope before this game, but this team and coaching staff need to figure something out quick or this will be our worst season in awhile.

We teach our guys to block out instead of going for the ball when rebounding, Egolf blocked out Fay after a miss by backing him all the way into the SIU bench instead of going after the ball which in turn let another Siu player come in a get a rebound that fell to the floor.