There is enough blame to go around on this team, and it's hard to pick only one factor. Here is what I saw today.
EFFORT - This is the one aspect of performance that a Player can control game to game. In my opinion, we lacked effort today. At times we looked like we were playing with our feet in cement.
1. We must have lost 5 balls out of bounds because our Players stood flat footed and reached for the ball or tried to control it with one hand. All it takes is to move your feet and play through the ball.
2. We gave up at least 5 Offensive Rebounds because we failed to block out. You don't have to be a 5 Star Recruit to learn how to rebound. Put your body on someone before you go after the ball and get it. Nobody stepped up on the Defensive end to take charges and there were too many plays through the Lane where we never challenged the ball handler. That's just want to and effort.
ABILITY - Nobody gets to this level without ability, but sometimes that physical ability doesn't translate to basketball sense. It takes some effort to work on fundamentals. You just can't show up for practice to participate in the 3 Point and Dunk Contests.
1. We have nobody on this team who can pass the ball effectively and particularly feed the Post Players where they can do something with the ball. Too many careless unforced turnovers from our guards.
2. Brunk needs to take the ball to the basket strong the minute he gets an advantage. He missed at least three lay ups and free throw opportunities by playing with the ball too long. TJD is going to have to learn to hit an occasional turn around jumper and face up to keep the Defense Honest. Right now he is something of a one trick Pony, catch the ball back to the basket, back down and spin.
3 . We still to have to many players receiving passes where they are not in a position to be an Offensive threat. They are facing the back court, the side line and have their feet so unbalanced they can't re arrange them to face the Basket. TJD had one of these with about two minutes left. he took a pass at the free throw line looking toward the back court and had his feet totally twisted and off balance.
4. Robbie Hummel was doing color on the telecast today. He mentioned his former Teammate Chris Kramer, and it reminded me of a former Ohio State player from 10 years ago, Aaron Kraft. Similar in that their teammates loved them and opponents hated them. Neither one of them was a huge scorer in College, but they stuffed a stat sheet. Assists, Rebounds, Steals, Few Turnovers, usually guarded the best Offensive Player on the other team, and could do the things down the stretch to help win games. Because of the things they were willing to do, they made those on the floor with them better and more effective. We don't have anyone with that Leadership Skill.
COACHING - A Coach can only attempt to put Players in the best position to win games. The Coach can't shoot, defend, or rebound. Teams have perceived Coaching problems for several reasons:
1. The Players don't buy into the Coach's System and Program and try to run the show their way.
2. The Coach doesn't have the Personality or Strength to deal with the issue and let's the Players get away with it. Pretty soon nobody on the team has respect for the Coach, and the Inmates control the Asylum.
3. The Coach wants to fit his Players into the System he wants to run without considering their strengths and weaknesses Like trying to fit the square peg in the round hole and nobody is happy.
Thoughts?
EFFORT - This is the one aspect of performance that a Player can control game to game. In my opinion, we lacked effort today. At times we looked like we were playing with our feet in cement.
1. We must have lost 5 balls out of bounds because our Players stood flat footed and reached for the ball or tried to control it with one hand. All it takes is to move your feet and play through the ball.
2. We gave up at least 5 Offensive Rebounds because we failed to block out. You don't have to be a 5 Star Recruit to learn how to rebound. Put your body on someone before you go after the ball and get it. Nobody stepped up on the Defensive end to take charges and there were too many plays through the Lane where we never challenged the ball handler. That's just want to and effort.
ABILITY - Nobody gets to this level without ability, but sometimes that physical ability doesn't translate to basketball sense. It takes some effort to work on fundamentals. You just can't show up for practice to participate in the 3 Point and Dunk Contests.
1. We have nobody on this team who can pass the ball effectively and particularly feed the Post Players where they can do something with the ball. Too many careless unforced turnovers from our guards.
2. Brunk needs to take the ball to the basket strong the minute he gets an advantage. He missed at least three lay ups and free throw opportunities by playing with the ball too long. TJD is going to have to learn to hit an occasional turn around jumper and face up to keep the Defense Honest. Right now he is something of a one trick Pony, catch the ball back to the basket, back down and spin.
3 . We still to have to many players receiving passes where they are not in a position to be an Offensive threat. They are facing the back court, the side line and have their feet so unbalanced they can't re arrange them to face the Basket. TJD had one of these with about two minutes left. he took a pass at the free throw line looking toward the back court and had his feet totally twisted and off balance.
4. Robbie Hummel was doing color on the telecast today. He mentioned his former Teammate Chris Kramer, and it reminded me of a former Ohio State player from 10 years ago, Aaron Kraft. Similar in that their teammates loved them and opponents hated them. Neither one of them was a huge scorer in College, but they stuffed a stat sheet. Assists, Rebounds, Steals, Few Turnovers, usually guarded the best Offensive Player on the other team, and could do the things down the stretch to help win games. Because of the things they were willing to do, they made those on the floor with them better and more effective. We don't have anyone with that Leadership Skill.
COACHING - A Coach can only attempt to put Players in the best position to win games. The Coach can't shoot, defend, or rebound. Teams have perceived Coaching problems for several reasons:
1. The Players don't buy into the Coach's System and Program and try to run the show their way.
2. The Coach doesn't have the Personality or Strength to deal with the issue and let's the Players get away with it. Pretty soon nobody on the team has respect for the Coach, and the Inmates control the Asylum.
3. The Coach wants to fit his Players into the System he wants to run without considering their strengths and weaknesses Like trying to fit the square peg in the round hole and nobody is happy.
Thoughts?
