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Post by beaverstever on Mar 22, 2016 15:10:04 GMT -8
The thing that would help Eubanks the most would to have a couple wings that do not play Matador Defense. I can't count the times he was attacked from the backside when one or another of our wings went to sleep and didn't prevent a cut to the hoop.
I am all for Eubanks adding bulk. I think the whole team needs more bulk except maybe Duvivier who is thick. Add Big G--he is wide and thick.
What I would like to see is a game of 2 on 2 with three teams, Eubanks, NDiaye, Big G paired with a guard--the "floor" is limited to 15 foot radius from the basket--Play to 11 baskets, blood and guts, no holds barred-losers sit. Play for about two hours straight and go take a shower. Do it over and over. Figure out how to get the ball above the rim or keep the other guy from getting it above the rim. Find out who really wants to play. Have some kind of ref to prevent actual bloodshed or injury, but play their butts off for a couple months. I bet next year we would not see opposing guards curling into the paint (at least they would pay a price). I bet we would see our guys figure out how to get the ball over the lurking big men trying to stop them (or at least would figure out that maybe it is better strategy to kick the ball out to another player rather than take a facial.
To paraphrase Gen George Patton, "God, I love this game."
GZR
As one who has seen more than a few practices I can share a couple of personal notes: -they practice a ton of rotational defense... lots of box drill... getting to weak side help, not allowing cutters to pass between defender and ball, hedging/with weak side rotations; -they do as much rebounding/situation work... 3-on-3, 4-on-4, team, transition, etc. There are a few guys who just are not basketball "smart". I have no idea about their academics, but play is consistently stopped for the same few players who are constantly out of position, slow to get to help side, leave their feet on an almost constant basis. Watching our games you can easily guess for yourself which players may fall into this category. At times a couple of them have an "un-coachable"/dismissive attitude and make the same mistakes over and over and throw little temper tantrums requiring an assistant to grab them off the floor, take them aside and try to placate them and explain. It happened early and all throughout the season. Adding bulk to some of our players is the least of the worry. They have to UNDERSTAND their assignments, WANT to be coached, and EXECUTE what they are asked to do. That is the trait that allows under talented teams to beat the more talented team. As we add talent and we are, some of our players that were "regulars" are going to slowly get left by the wayside. As the incoming talent has more hoop experience, are better overall basketball players, and if they do a better job of executing the defensive philosophy will be key players, newcomer or not. The best thing about us adding talent is that practice is going to be much more competitive, and so will the 'fight' for playing time. We need at least one more mobile big for 2016. Next Fall some will step up and compete, others will not. This post bums me out because I get the impression that some of the players that you mention as not being very coachable are returning. 3 of our 5 frosh are sons of coaches - should be the most coachable kids on the team. From everything I've read, JaQuori will bring a hard-working, ready to improve attitude daily, and Kone looks like he's in a similar mold, so I think you are correct that the leash will get shorter for guys who don't improve. It does frustrate me though to watch a team like Wichita State execute at a very high level with mid-tier talent and wish my team did the same. You know the reason why they are successful is that they are very coachable (and have a good coach). |
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Post by baseba1111 on Mar 22, 2016 15:30:16 GMT -8
As one who has seen more than a few practices I can share a couple of personal notes: -they practice a ton of rotational defense... lots of box drill... getting to weak side help, not allowing cutters to pass between defender and ball, hedging/with weak side rotations; -they do as much rebounding/situation work... 3-on-3, 4-on-4, team, transition, etc. There are a few guys who just are not basketball "smart". I have no idea about their academics, but play is consistently stopped for the same few players who are constantly out of position, slow to get to help side, leave their feet on an almost constant basis. Watching our games you can easily guess for yourself which players may fall into this category. At times a couple of them have an "un-coachable"/dismissive attitude and make the same mistakes over and over and throw little temper tantrums requiring an assistant to grab them off the floor, take them aside and try to placate them and explain. It happened early and all throughout the season. Adding bulk to some of our players is the least of the worry. They have to UNDERSTAND their assignments, WANT to be coached, and EXECUTE what they are asked to do. That is the trait that allows under talented teams to beat the more talented team. As we add talent and we are, some of our players that were "regulars" are going to slowly get left by the wayside. As the incoming talent has more hoop experience, are better overall basketball players, and if they do a better job of executing the defensive philosophy will be key players, newcomer or not. The best thing about us adding talent is that practice is going to be much more competitive, and so will the 'fight' for playing time. We need at least one more mobile big for 2016. Next Fall some will step up and compete, others will not. This post bums me out because I get the impression that some of the players that you mention as not being very coachable are returning. 3 of our 5 frosh are sons of coaches - should be the most coachable kids on the team. From everything I've read, JaQuori will bring a hard-working, ready to improve attitude daily, and Kone looks like he's in a similar mold, so I think you are correct that the leash will get shorter for guys who don't improve. It does frustrate me though to watch a team like Wichita State execute at a very high level with mid-tier talent and wish my team did the same. You know the reason why they are successful is that they are very coachable (and have a good coach). I would not be bummed at all. We have an above average coach... he has to learn on the run as he himself is not used to having this amount of talent flow in and play versus this level of competition. I have no doubt WT will adjust and grow!! The flow of talent must stay at least as high as the first recruiting class... but, some are sleeping on two kids of of Montana that could not play and seem very athletic and coachable. They are not starters per se, but can give valuable upgraded minutes as subs. The transfer reminds me a little of Hanchett (sic)... physical/hard worker and has some game. He is the kind that can some in and do some dirty work. WT will not fall into the Eddie Payne rut of letting the "indians" run the show... he is the "chief" and everyone knows it. He is a "my way or the highway" guy and can even be more so when he has 8-13 talented bodies to play with. I am not a prognosticator, but I can see us being remarkably better on Team D/rebounding. That in and of itself will gives us more possessions. And, seeing as we were a below average shooting team that could improve with more of a inside game/possessions. Don't get me wrong we'll miss GPII for many reasons, but as far as pure stats we will replace those easily with the (3) guys coming in. Add the Utah JC we have a tougher, more mobile Olaf with rebounding and an inside game, and he should shoot better from 3 on a consistent basis. Have no idea what the record will be... injuries, academics, etc... but, I expect us to be better offensively and defensively. I truly expect 9-10 guys will see court time. The key component is the development of "team"... leaders who are respected and the players truly buy in to the coaches and system. This is WT's team now... I expect year three to be the beginning. |
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