BU 61 vs. UMKC 73

[ph]

I heard one of our walk ons is a dead eye shooter. Why not bring him in to bust the zone? He can't make our D worse then what it is??????

the problem, in practice, our team (reportedly) is full of deadly 3 point shooters. (just like our oponents) Perhaps the goal of practice should not be making a bunch of 3's, instead practice our D until we stop making 3's. Then once our D is working, tune the O to figure out how to make em in truely difficult circumstances, then tune our D again to stop that.

[ER3]

the problem, in practice, our team (reportedly) is full of deadly 3 point shooters. (just like our oponents) Perhaps the goal of practice should not be making a bunch of 3's, instead practice our D until we stop making 3's. Then once our D is working, tune the O to figure out how to make em in truely difficult circumstances, then tune our D again to stop that.

But according to Les we DID spend nearly all of the time in practice leading into the year working on our defense. Yikes!

Personally, I'm tired of hearing how great this team practices, how great player X looks in practice, how great player Y shoots the three in practice...If you can't perform the same way in game situations, it is meaningless.

In fact, I'm sure the team does look great in practice...how could they not? If BU is the team that is trying to guard BU in our practice drills, I'm sure there are non-stop easy drives to the basket, open looks at 3s, easy backdoors on botched overplays, and soft interior post play all day long.

[ph]

I'm OK with practice effort being a major influencer of PT. It's the rule JL set a few years ago, so it's fair enough.

I start to agree with you that sometimes I think practice production may be mistaken for effort (and we see how different internal vs game production seems)

[pfunk880]

In fact, I'm sure the team does look great in practice...how could they not? If BU is the team that is trying to guard BU in our practice drills, I'm sure there are non-stop easy drives to the basket, open looks at 3s, easy backdoors on botched overplays, and soft interior post play all day long.

[BUBalum05]

My goodness... Someone said it!!!! Way to hit it BradleyBrave! So to sum up under Les we have been:
6th
7th
8th
5th
4th
5th
and this year probably 6-10

Correct me if I am wrong, but when we finished 4th (the best year) weren't we tied for 4th? I could be wrong--getting old and forgetful.

That's an average of 5.83, which rounded is an average of finishing 6th. I do not see that improving this year. I am sorry to say that those numbers paint a very clear picture. The Sweet 16 run was great (thanks POB, Cellus, Boogie), but the rest (while it has been fast & exciting at time) the results have been mediocre at best and I am hoping that we get to the point that we are at least mediocre this year. Things better improve fast to get to the level of mediocracy.

Two of the years, Les has had to deal with being with out some of his best players. Forgive me for forgetting the years but Gilbert missed the middle of his Senior year and we went 2-10 in that stretch? Then last year with our Ruff, what was our record when he was out with the hernia surgery? Now we're starting this year without AW and it definitely affects the product we put on the court and ultimately the record. Let's hope AW gets back healthy and then judge the team. Look at the Patriots less Tom Brady, not an 18-1 team anymore, are they?

[SaintLouBrave22]

That's an average of 5.83, which rounded is an average of finishing 6th. I do not see that improving this year. I am sorry to say that those numbers paint a very clear picture. The Sweet 16 run was great (thanks POB, Cellus, Boogie), but the rest (while it has been fast & exciting at time) the results have been mediocre at best and I am hoping that we get to the point that we are at least mediocre this year. Things better improve fast to get to the level of mediocracy.

Yes, and even in the Sweet 16 run, we were the 5 seed in the Valley tournament...

Some of us are really starting to question whether this is a staff who can recruit the talent, but not get them coached into position to win conference championships and conference tournaments and what not...


Seems to me the same is starting to be said in Champaign for both their football and basketball programs...especially football as Zook has a history of recruiting players that underachieve in his system...


Could that be the same here?

[georgethedog]

But according to Les we DID spend nearly all of the time in practice leading into the year working on our defense. Yikes!

Personally, I'm tired of hearing how great this team practices, how great player X looks in practice, how great player Y shoots the three in practice...If you can't perform the same way in game situations, it is meaningless.

In fact, I'm sure the team does look great in practice...how could they not? If BU is the team that is trying to guard BU in our practice drills, I'm sure there are non-stop easy drives to the basket, open looks at 3s, easy backdoors on botched overplays, and soft interior post play all day long.

Man, you are right on. I had the same thought last night. We must look great in practice because we are playing US!

[SaintLouBrave22]

Man, you are right on. I had the same thought last night. We must look great in practice because we are playing US!

I was actually watching the game and started talking to Bussone and Versace on the tv because they kept talking about how great our practices are...

And that was EXACTLY what I said!

[georgethedog]

Two of the years, Les has had to deal with being with out some of his best players. Forgive me for forgetting the years but Gilbert missed the middle of his Senior year and we went 2-10 in that stretch? Then last year with our Ruff, what was our record when he was out with the hernia surgery? Now we're starting this year without AW and it definitely affects the product we put on the court and ultimately the record. Let's hope AW gets back healthy and then judge the team. Look at the Patriots less Tom Brady, not an 18-1 team anymore, are they?

All I can say to your post is other teams in the MVC and college basketball also have injuries. The injury excuse, while it is a valid excuse sometimes, is very weak indeed.

[Rusty 54]

All I can say to your post is other teams in the MVC and college basketball also have injuries. The injury excuse, while it is a valid excuse sometimes, is very weak indeed.

Who got hurt last year for CU, SIU, or Drake? The year before, did SIU or CU have big injuries? I would say that when Korver (I think) for CU went down a couple years ago and they still did well is an exception rather then the rule.

[cpacmel]

Who got hurt last year for CU, SIU, or Drake? The year before, did SIU or CU have big injuries? I would say that when Korver (I think) for CU went down a couple years ago and they still did well is an exception rather then the rule.

I don't want to sound mean but every team has injuries. Last year for example Josh Young was hurt for Drake. And it wasn't Korver that went down, it was Funk. SIU has already lost Evans. ISU has been playing without Rubin and Hill. Last year we missed Dom Johnson for quite a few games.

They call it depth for a reason and it's always been pretty important in college basketball.

[SaintLouBrave22]

I don't want to sound mean but every team has injuries. Last year for example Josh Young was hurt for Drake. And it wasn't Korver that went down, it was Funk. SIU has already lost Evans. ISU has been playing without Rubin and Hill. Last year we missed Dom Johnson for quite a few games.

They call it depth for a reason and it's always been pretty important in college basketball.

Well...not to discredit your post because I agree totally about your injury argument, but mentioning Rubin and Hill is pretty laughable in comparison to Young, Funk, Warren, and even Dom Johnson...

I'm not sure Rubin would smell the floor given your current lineup and Hill, I just don't think you could count on him to be consistent...

Otherwise, yes, I do agree

[cpacmel]

Well...not to discredit your post because I agree totally about your injury argument, but mentioning Rubin and Hill is pretty laughable in comparison to Young, Funk, Warren, and even Dom Johnson...

I'm not sure Rubin would smell the floor given your current lineup and Hill, I just don't think you could count on him to be consistent...

Otherwise, yes, I do agree

Was simply giving examples of injuries. Point taken on the comparisons. (was going off the top of my head on injuries)

Rubin had a good chance to be the starting PG this season and Hill adds big-time frontcourt depth for the Birds. Hill when healthy, will get a good number of minutes. Brandon Holtz, all 6'4 of him has been putting in some minutes in the frontcourt.

Warren averaged 30 minutes per game last season. I'm not so sure the combination of Rubin and Hill wouldn't be averaging 30 minutes if healthy now. (Last year Rubin averaged 6 minutes per game and Hill averaged 11 minutes per game as a freshman 2 seasons ago)

I don't want to make this about ISU. Injuries happen.

[Rusty 54]

I don't want to sound mean but every team has injuries. Last year for example Josh Young was hurt for Drake. And it wasn't Korver that went down, it was Funk. SIU has already lost Evans. ISU has been playing without Rubin and Hill. Last year we missed Dom Johnson for quite a few games.

They call it depth for a reason and it's always been pretty important in college basketball.

You're right, it was Funk. A little before my time following the Valley, I believe. I guess my point was, every team has injuries, but injuries to impact players matter a lot more. Take Eldridge off ISU, Stinnett off CU, Tatum off SIU two years ago, Falker off SIU last year, Coleman of UNI lat year, and so on. Of course depth is important. But some players production is easier to replace. To say that injuries are not a factor is IMO just not correct. Every team has them, but the severity of the injuries (both in terms of the actual injuries and who the injuries are to) plays a big part in how teams do.

[tornado]

you guys make my day.....and your avatar fits your assessment of the loss of Andrew Warren....
I have to admit I get a little snicker out of the comparison of losing Alex Rubin or Nick Evans to injury.....to BU losing Andrew Warren to injury!!

Rubin and Evans started a combined ZERO games for their teams last year and scored a total of 28 points between them!

Warren is the top returning scorer BU has and a teamleader as well, the ONLY player on the squad who has MORE than a single season of experience, and one of only two players on the entire squad who has more than 15 starts in his career for BU.

I should say the loss of Warren for Bradley is nowhere near comparable to SIU losing Evans or ISU losing Rubin, and to make such a comparison shows either a little lack of understanding or an intention desire to deceive.

Warren's loss would be more like ISU losing Eldridge, and like Indiana State a few years ago when they lost David Moss when they were 8-0 and ranked #1 in RPI, then subsequently lost their next 11!