The Issue...

[hoopmanx]

as I see it is defense. Before the season, many questioned how the loss of the seniors will effect play. How will we find leadership . Do we have enough size? Don't get me wrong, those issues matter, but its what we're not doing well, that we ALL thought we'd do well, that's truly killing us.

The expectation was that we had 6-6 length or more everywhere which would make us a team that could man up and wear you down. Everyone rebounding well from their position etc. So far, we aren't stopping the ball and are giving up uncontested 3's. We're rebounding just fine, not really getting hurt by opposing bigs when we're on D, but teams are shooting good percentages from the field and we're still giving up career nights to random kids from 3.

Now, I'm not absolving Jank from our defensive woes, its on him. That said, everything we hope to accomplish on O goes away w/o playing the type of defense we all hoped and thought we'd play. Jank spoke of playing faster, shooting more 3's, less inside/out etc. We're seeing none of that b/c we're inbounding after most possessions. No stops, no boards, no pushing tempo.

This was never a team designed to wear you down in the half court. Only Froling has block moves. Sure, we need better movement on O, better decision-making, more aggression from kids like Shake, but mostly we need to commit to the new style. Only way to make the commitment valid is to start by getting stops. We werent supposed to play the same way w Shake at point vs Nic. No reason to even try. Sometimes, even when we get stops and can push, we don't out of old habit. Have to ditch that mentality.

Simply, we need to hunker down on D, get stops, and advance the ball. This entire year will be frustration if we settle into the half court every time. We need some easy buckets, cant outwork folks for everything. We have some athletes that can get up and down, use them. On O, work Shake of a high screen and say get to the rim or find someone popping or spotting up. That's how you get numbers, 3 on 2, 2 on 1 etc. So far, its all contested. We can do better by design, but it starts w/D and a commitment to the new style.

[Wild Mustang]

Definitely agree with you. I believe Ira said last night that everything starts with our defense. SMU has played great defense for stretches, but definitely has lapses. Kids dropping 22 foot jumpers is not bad defense, see the kid from Delaware State...sometimes we have to give credit the other team for making plays. I just wish that our defense was more consistent. Good defense leads to good offense.

[sadderbudweiser]

Dumb question here: Why exactly are teams torching us from three? The percentages are outrageous. Just luck or better looks than we should be giving them?

I agree completely with this assessment and you could see it in that 10 minute stretch last night. Defense completely created offense and the half court shackles came off. It is what this team can do best.

One problem is the depth needed to sustain it for a full game. Sterling and Ben are our defensive catalysts and they played some major minutes last night.

Another problem is that the talent level of the competition will be much improved in many coming games. Faster, stronger, quicker than what we faced last night.

But it does start with D and shutting down those threes.

[Junior]

A lot of being good on D is wanting to play it. It takes effort, and a lot of it. Not seeing that so far this year.

[sadderbudweiser]

IT was on point about Sterling and Ben, as vets, knowing where to be most of the time. It shows and needs to be all five guys on the floor working on D. I think Dashawn has it and I see some of it in Ben E. Harry is catching on. Shake's length is good for a few turnovers as long as he doesn't give them right back. Jarrey just needs to keep his butt on the floor. We need more than 15-18 minutes from him.

[PonyFan32]

Shake's length is good for a few turnovers as long as he doesn't give them right back.

You mean shake's not supposed to steal it, then dribble once, jump in the air and fire a bullet pass up the court when a lob would work just fine given that Froling is the only guy within 30 feet of the hoop? That play killed me yesterday.

[LA_Mustang]

Teams shot the three well against us under LB, too.

[Stallion]

yeah but the thought was that we were going to replace Nic Moore with taller Guards who presumably would defend the perimeter 3 better-I made the same comment 3 minutes into Sunday's game. Disappointing

[sadderbudweiser]

Shake's length is good for a few turnovers as long as he doesn't give them right back.

You mean shake's not supposed to steal it, then dribble once, jump in the air and fire a bullet pass up the court when a lob would work just fine given that Froling is the only guy within 30 feet of the hoop? That play killed me yesterday.

how'd you guess?

[JasonB]

Part of the reason we haven't been beat inside is because of the help defense. We are backing off the line to help inside. Problem is everyone in today's game can hit an open jumper (sorry Gu).

Also, when we closed Michigan tight, they killed us on the dribble and butchered us inside.

Not having a point hurts us on defense Everyone moves up a slot - Brown and foster are great defensively against a 3, but a little to slow against a 2. Shake is good against a 2, but not good against a point.

McDowell would help. Has the quickness to defend the point and would let the others slide over.