Our philosophy

[ifarania]

I already posted this.. But I think it deserves its own thread:


I'm just glad this constructive critique is pouring out.. And I know it required an embarrassing loss and a weak start to precipitate it. (Nothing against tonight's opponent intended)

... That being said, it's the perfect time to look at our philosophy...

I love the energy and excitement of our offensive scheme.. It's fun to cheer for and I'm certain it'd be great to play in it... But it renders us one-dimensional and vulnerable.. and this is exacerbated by the fact that we can't shoot a lick. One dimension and we're poor at it??

Great teams can go small and run... but teams that win CHAMPIONSHIPS don't play like this for any considerable stretch. They're capable of going small and fast.. but they are marked by SOLID defensive intensity and execution, taking care of the ball, and a willingness to commit to the paint and the foul line. They just go small to change the tempo and throw off opposing defenses. If we want to win league titles, it's gotta change. I know this system developed out of the loss of several big fellas and an overabundance of great shooters.. But now it's time to change. I love watching our system, but I think all you hoop junkies out there know what I'm saying is true.

[CABUFan]

I think we need to differentiate somewhat between sticking with the current system, and continuing to play small players. I think JL's intention has been to stick with the system which he put in place 2 years ago out of necessity, but to implement it with bigger players who have guard-type skills.

I was hoping to see a lot more of WE and AT this year, but I can only assume that they would be getting playing time if they earned it. I don't think their lack of PT has much to do with the system, because if they were playing well, they would be taking minutes from DC and SS.

[Rusty 54]

I think that the system can work, the players are just not preforming as of yet this year. To be successful we need our guards to hit 3's. That hasn't happened yet. Our bigs also need to contribute inside, and they have not been ding that at all. We have players coming in that are skilled and partially came here to play in our system (JP) And it is really fun to watch when it is working. The main problem with our system in the last few years has been that we have run into teams that are just as quick, just as skilled at shooting, and are more athletic. It happens.

So far this year, McCain has not been a threat to score, and Warren is out. I thought if DC contributed we could have a great season. So far, he hasn't. Our offense overall seems to be without a go to scorer, that needs to be addressed if we want any success at all. And we need to start hitting our 3's.

Defensively everything has been mentioned, if not here then other places on the board.

IMO

[Chucky T's]

I thought JL & BU had a pretty good "blueprint" with the sweet 16 team...A big center (POB or Zack), decent size forwards (Cellus, Boogie) and good guards (Ruff, Will, Tony B). He got away from this blueprint out of necessity and he never went back to it. We had some success with the small line ups that followed but nowhere near the success that we had in 06'. I would like to see us go back to a bigger line up. I am not sure if we have the players to do this or not but I wish we would at least give it a try at some point. Just my 2 cents worth....

Let's start fresh and get a "W" tonight...and keep getting better!

GO BRAVES!

[Bradleyguy10]

The guard offense does work, and if you cut right down to it the sweet 16 system didn't work all that great until a miracle kicked in and everyone wanted to win and believed they could win and played their guts out to do it. The reason why a big lineup can't work (this year) is because our bigs aren't that good compared to other bigs but our guards are above average compared to other guards. However, I'm going to contradict myself, and say the only way it works is if you can shoot the 3 and we are not doing that. So my conclusion is......it's time to start experimenting with what you have Jim Les before it's too late. Also, I am a proponent of recruiting to a more traditional style lineup...but seeing as we haven't been recruiting towards that we have to put the best 5 out there (which isn't happening anyway)

Honestly though I think if the 2006-2007 team played the Sweet 16 team...I think the 06-07 team would've won.....65% of the time

[houstontxbrave]

It seems to me that the offense that JL wants to run he wants to run with bigger players in the places of those previous player who were smaller in size.

But it is missing one HUGE ingredient.... basketball players who can shoot the ball.

We do not have one player.. wilson, roberts, SM, Brown, DD take your pick who can make a jump shot on a consistant basis. Until our players hit open 16-22 foot shot consistantly this team regardless of offense it plays is not beating many teams.

We beat UIC because they played man to man and let us drive to the basket and get to the line. Florida dropped into a zone midway through the first half and thats all we have seen since and we have no ability currently to shoot a team out of it. Equally alarming are the number of offensive fouls and turnovers we creat against these zones.

[squirrel]

The Sweet 16 system was NOT the same system in place the first half of the 2005-06 season.

In fact it was the four-guard system that JL has stubbornly tried to hold on to. And it didn't work. But to that point, Andrews and Heemskerk were underutilized and lost inside. After Franklin and POB returned, he had more interior depth, but still tried to run the four-guard. And it didn't work. Also JJ Tauai went three games without a single minute.

After the Wichita game he was forced to blow the whole thing up and use his bigs adequately. Heemskerk was one of the main reasons BU advanced to that year's MVC Championship game. I believe JL implemented a unique hybrid with the ability to go big or four-guard that made BU a uniquely special team during that postseason.

[Bradleyguy10]

Fair enough...I stand corrected

[Chico]

Our guards, I don't consider Roberts a guard, shot 13 3 pointers yesterday. 7 by Sam. That is not enough against a zone. McCain is passing up shot after shot. Isn't he the kid who e-mailed JL and said he's in jail because he's killing em. Well EMc, start killing em here at BU.

[houstontxbrave]

The Sweet 16 system was NOT the same system in place the first half of the 2005-06 season.

In fact it was the four-guard system that JL has stubbornly tried to hold on to. And it didn't work. But to that point, Andrews and Heemskerk were underutilized and lost inside. After Franklin and POB returned, he had more interior depth, but still tried to run the four-guard. And it didn't work. Also JJ Tauai went three games without a single minute.

After the Wichita game he was forced to blow the whole thing up and use his bigs adequately. Heemskerk was one of the main reasons BU advanced to that year's MVC Championship game. I believe JL implemented a unique hybrid with the ability to go big or four-guard that made BU a uniquely special team during that postseason.

Heemskerk huh? He gave a few good minutes in the Valley Tourney but we made it to Sunday that year because Sommerville absolutely took over and dominated anyone and everyone on the block. I would have to say his performance was more of a reason then anything Heemskerk gave.

We also had a bunch of better more experienced basketball playing guards... Tauai, Franklin, Ruffin etc who gave us the ability to post up Sommerville and go high low with POB. Sommerville also stopped shooting 20 ft jumpshots and got to the block.

[it's boogie time]

. Heemskerk was one of the main reasons BU advanced to that year's MVC Championship game.

Heemskerk played a total of 6 minutes in the three MVC tournament games in 2006. I'm not sure where you were going with this.

You can play this style of offense if your have a bunch of guys that can hit threes and guards that can help out on the rebounding. On defense, you have to use a trapping, gambling style that utilizes thier undersized athleticism.

[ifarania]

I'm not saying small lineups don't work or that it doesn't lead to 20 win seasons...Small ball is great in doses.

My point is that our system doesn't win league championships.. And isn't that the goal?

[BUBrave28]

I distinctly remember Heemy playing some huge (not in number, I mean importance) minutes in the MVC tourny. POB and Zach got into some foul trouble and he played admirably, eating up some very very important minutes during vital stretches of those games when we needed him most.

[ph]

Heemskirk did what he could. What I found most admirable, was Heemy getting down on himself when POB played poorly "I did not push him (POB) hard enough in practice"

I'd like to hear that out of AT or WE about DC...

[squirrel]

Heemskerk played a total of 6 minutes in the three MVC tournament games in 2006. I'm not sure where you were going with this.

And all 6 of those minutes were effectively spent in the Wichita State semifinal, where he had 2 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist. Also, Paul Miller had a field day against POB scoring 15, and Heemskerk held him scoreless while in the game.