Hair On Fire

[vancedave56]

word

[Ricardo del Rio]

It's hard for me to articulate how disappointed I am in the loss against UE. I don't know if it is an internal issue, preparation issue, or a myriad of issues. Or if it is as simple as the other teams' understanding the Shockers' weakness and they continue to kidney punch it. I suspect it is more strategic, sprinkled with a little bit of lethargy and over-confidence.

For a team to play without focus and preparation this late in the season for so much at stake is indeed perplexing. It shouts out inconsistency for this team to be the only MoVal team to beat UNI and the only MoVal team to lose to UE.

HCGM will figure it out.

Regardless, let's support the team to victory against MSU. Perhaps the overwhelming support will instill short-term motivation and long-term inspiration to this team and indicate our incredible support, what we expect, and what the standards are when one puts on a Shocker uniform.

Be Loud!

:goshocks:

As I have said before, I would be a lousy coach. However, I think I have it figgered out.

1. Cannot defend post.
2. Cannot defend dribble penetration.
3. Cannot defend without fouling.
4. Refuse to play more that a token amount of zone.
5. Poor road team.
6. Unable to dribble penetrate and finish effectively.
7. Help side defense can be pretty damn crappy.
8. Cannot play effectively against a zone defense.

Just some observations from a dumb fan.

[ShockCounselor]

You may or may not make a lousy coach Ricardo but I think you accurately identified some key issues ... at least at the defensive end. Most of those connect significantly to ineffective team/help defense. Given equal athletic ability, it is nearly impossible to stop dribble penetration one on one. The offensive player has an advantage and you must have help and effective drops but there should also be perimeter digs by near defenders to deter the penetration. That was happening earlier in the year. And the fouling ... much of it on dribble penetration ... again is connected to a defender not having confidence he will have help. Other fouls though are just terrible mental break downs. If I see another effective two man trap blown by a stupid foul I may break something. The last thing you want to do if you have a good solid trap is foul. That's low BB IQ and shouldn't happen.

The TEAM defensive component is very ineffective right now. As to post defense, I actually think Blair and Ellis are pretty effective. Stutz has limitations and is still learning and gaining experience. Durley ... I just think we are only going to get so much from JT on the defensive end. He doesn't want to be too aggresive and foul which takes his defensive intensity down a notch.

IMO ... it just appears the team, in general has hit a little mental fatigue wall and coming out of that is a process ... not likely to happen in a single game so I'm concerned about tonights game with Missouri State. It's tough being a student athelete. Lots of demands.

[ShockCounselor]

EDIT ... "athelete" = athlete

I hate making spelling errors.

[Zardoz]

In his last season here Coach Turgeon lost the team. It appears that HCGM may be close to doing the same. As a fan I'm having some problems at guessing where the problem lies. Is it the coach not making the right calls or the players not executing? A bit of both or more one than the other?

I'm tending to think some of the players are reading their press clippings and are not playing the games they are capable of playing. Yes Durley and Stutz are capable of nailing the three, but we don't want that to be their first option. we want them battling down low. Their three's should be more to draw out the other team's inside players and open up the inside for our guards. Well all of you know this. We are not doing this. I thinking HCGM has had a Coming to god meeting. Be willing to do this or ride the pine.

[ISASO]

We absolutely have to stop settling for threes - it's the easy way out. When done with purpose, it can be effective. When done out of laziness, it's patheic, weak basketball.

Basketball is meant to be played from the inside out. Stop trying to cheat the basketball gods. Pound it into the paint!

[Ashockalypse]

Lost the team Zardos. Massive overstatement!