Offseason Memo

[ojaipony]

What the team needs to work on to take it to another level next year (goals: AAC championship and NCAA Final Four)

- Learn how to handle prosperity (we are no longer an underdog - that's an extremely different perspective, everyone is going to be gunning for us now and we will "sneak up" on no one). This is hard to do in the offseason other than just talking about it, maybe some training courses, etc.
- Free throws. Free throws.
- B Moore gains 10 pounds of muscle minimum.
- Yanick gains 10 pounds of muscle minimum (and finds a nasty streak somewhere). Work on bball IQ. Live in the weight room and tape room (as in watching tape).
- Cannen taste tests and finds an energy drink he likes (10 pounds of muscle would be good). Hit the weights young man and continue to work on that nice 10-12 foot jumper. It's sweet and differentiates you from most big men. Work on foot speed and post moves.
- Frazier gains 10 pounds of muscle. Lives in the tape room (as in watching tape). He HAS to improve his bball IQ. Continue to work on his shot - he needs to be money next year. Attend a ball handling clinic. Keep that ball low and less reliant on crossover.
- Nic needs to hang from the monkey bars and hope his body stretches more. Work on getting his mind right - poise and leadership . . . maybe attend a few training seminars. Otherwise, keep doing what you do. Very few flaws in this young man's game. Great shooter, passer, dribbler. Just needs to work on the mental part and refine all the little things.
- Markus Kennedy. Get a personal trainer and take your fitness to an even higher level. Gain about 5 pounds of muscle or so and lose about 2-3% more body fat. Run, run, run. Take some leadership courses. He seems to be a natural leader, we'll need him even more refined next year. Great skills already, keep working on the little things.
- Sterling. Work on your jump shot and foot speed. Watch tape from last year and learn from "mistakes" - you learned a lot from Luke Hancock and Austin Hollie. "The little things". Sky's the limit for this cat.
- Tolbert. Get eligible! Hang with the guys as much as possible off the court. Scrimmage a lot with them. Just get into the culture and develop deep relationships with all of them and especially LB. Can have a special senior year.
- Manuel. Work on your jump shot and continue to develop your dribble skills keeping the ball low. Improve Bball IQ and get around coaches/watch tape/understand how to best utilize your skill set (work on your strengths and get more aware of your weaknesses and apply accordingly).
- Eman. See notes on Tolbert. Work on your jump shot, dribbing skills, bball IQ, get into the weight room, spend as much time with LB and Eric Snow as possible. Learn your craft my man. The world is yours. Put in the work and you'll have it.

What do you think?

[FriscoChuck]

In addition: study hard, make grades, have fun but stay out of trouble.

[LA_Mustang]

Good list. I think everyone needs to work on their outside jumper (Sterling, Nic, Eman and KF). Eman is going to draw so much attention that outside jumpers are going to be there all game. There's a reason UK fans are pulling their hair out because they didn't get Mudiay. Every school in the country would love to have a PG who draws that much defensive attention.

[ojaipony]

In addition: study hard, make grades, have fun but stay out of trouble.

Ah yes. Then there's that. I'm hoping we have quality kids and provide them with good support. This is the biggest x factor isn't it.

[Big12Mustang]

- Learn how to handle prosperity (we are no longer an underdog - that's an extremely different perspective, everyone is going to be gunning for us now and we will "sneak up" on no one). This is hard to do in the offseason other than just talking about it, maybe some training courses, etc.

This is 90% of the work needed.

[ojaipony]

Good list. I think everyone needs to work on their outside jumper (Sterling, Nic, Eman and KF). Eman is going to draw so much attention that outside jumpers are going to be there all game. There's a reason UK fans are pulling their hair out because they didn't get Mudiay. Every school in the country would love to have a PG who draws that much defensive attention.

Agree. Poise and shooting. 2 general themes the team needs to focus in on all offseason.

Our team FG % was very good because we like to get a lot of points in the paint. Nic's 3pt % was very good, but we need 2-3 more guards who have a 40%+ FG and 30%+ 3 pt FG on, what, a minimum of 30 shots? What should the percentages be.

Interesting, after I looked at everyone's shooting percentages, they were actually all pretty good. Maybe more of a style of play - LB just likes to get it inside as best option.

Here's a sampling per ESPN:

Manuel - 45% FG, 43% 3pt
Sterling - 47% FG, 37% 3 pt
KF - 41% FG, 40% 3 pt
Nic - 46% FG, 43% 3 pt

Of course, Nic took far more shots (especially 3s than Manuel but very similar shooting percentages interestingly enough). Sterling percentages higher but very very few 3s.

Interesting. I'm wondering how accurate this is. From ESPN.

[Digetydog]

Good list. I think everyone needs to work on their outside jumper (Sterling, Nic, Eman and KF). Eman is going to draw so much attention that outside jumpers are going to be there all game. There's a reason UK fans are pulling their hair out because they didn't get Mudiay. Every school in the country would love to have a PG who draws that much defensive attention.

Agree. Poise and shooting. 2 general themes the team needs to focus in on all offseason.

Our team FG % was very good because we like to get a lot of points in the paint. Nic's 3pt % was very good, but we need 2-3 more guards who have a 40%+ FG and 30%+ 3 pt FG on, what, a minimum of 30 shots? What should the percentages be.

Interesting, after I looked at everyone's shooting percentages, they were actually all pretty good. Maybe more of a style of play - LB just likes to get it inside as best option.

Here's a sampling per ESPN:

Manuel - 45% FG, 43% 3pt
Sterling - 47% FG, 37% 3 pt
KF - 41% FG, 40% 3 pt
Nic - 46% FG, 43% 3 pt

Of course, Nic took far more shots (especially 3s than Manuel but very similar shooting percentages interestingly enough). Sterling percentages higher but very very few 3s.

Interesting. I'm wondering how accurate this is. From ESPN.

Because of LB's emphasis on getting a better shot, I don't think that Sterling Brown took "enough" outside shots to ever get in on a good run. BUT, his the shots he did take generally looked pretty good.

Manuel needs to put some arc into his shot b/c it is very difficult to make "line drive" jump shots. Idea: Put a guy on a ladder with broom in front of him and make Manuel shoot over the broom. He should spend the off season think about rainbows.

[ojaipony]

Idea: Put a guy on a ladder with broom in front of him and make Manuel shoot over the broom. He should spend the off season think about rainbows.

That's old school - I remember doing that back in grade school AAU ball (well, the broom part anyway). Love it.

[SMU 86]

KF also needs to work on his ball handling as well imo.

[PonySnob]

KF's #1 job between now and August is to get real familiar with his text books........

[SMU Section F]

KF's #1 job between now and August is to get real familiar with his text books........

My source may be biased, but I've heard some positive things on this front. Definitely needs to keep at it though.

[ojaipony]

KF also needs to work on his ball handling as well imo.

Agreed. Added. Missed that.

[Ponyneighbor]

This is great. Was actually going to write something (somewhat) similar to this under the heading of "Who will make "the leap"?". A few additional thoughts:
1. This year we had 3 players who were basically indispensable, because while we had 11 players who were all solid college players who play defense at an average to well-above-average level, only three of them (Nic Moore, Nick Russell, Marcus) were an offensive threat. When one of those three (particularly Moore or Marcus) went down due to foul trouble or injury, we were basically screwed. That is why so many of the players on your list need to work on their shot - even if they can't create shots off the dribble (which is probably something that can't be learned), they will still help the team immensely if they can be a threat to score from the outside (which probably can be learned)
2. I'd be surprised (and very disappointed) if at least 2-3 of the returning "interchangeble parts" (the players other than Nic and Marcus) didn't make a "leap" next year. I'm really hoping we go to the first game next year and it is immediately obvious that a couple of those guys (e.g., Sterling, Cannan, Ben, Yannick) are materially improved players.
3. Totally agree that basketball IQ is an issue, but expected with a young team. So many dumb passes, poor body language (thought that improved later in the year).
4. #2 and #3 combined should make us an NCAA tournament team. If Mudiay is as good as/better than advertised he will be a significant upgrade over Russell and we should be a legit final 4 contender
5. It became clear in these last few games than Yannick's early production was a result of him being the tallest player on the court against weak competition, not because he's Wilt Chamberlain 2.0 and LB was part of some conspiracy to keep him on the bench. That being said, he seems athletic and you can't teach 6'11, so there may be potential there
6. Keith certainly didn't play like a McDonald's AA this year. His defense early in the year was attrocious and I'm still not sure he knows the playbook. REALLY hoping he's one of the ones who makes "the leap", because we really need his shot.

[SMUstangs22]

Add to the list:

Frazier learn to dribble with a purpose, keep the ball low, and use your body to aid in making some room off the dribble.

Frazier has talent. But hes used to high school jukes and height getting him clean shots. Keep the ball around the waist, not mid torso and its a huge improvement. Continue to grow as distributor, it can help you score when you are a double threat.


Larry Brown: dig up old tape and notes from 1988.....


Ryan Manuel aka fire cracker: That is my nick name for him. Do not listen to these people. Your jump shot should not be your area of focus. You are tremendous athletically but you are not in control. Learn to control your explosiveness, especially around the basket, and you become a much bigger threat.

[friarwolf]

Ryan needs to find 3 spots on the court that he has confidence in shooting-wise. 2 spots outside the arc and somewhere around the elbows. Hoist up 100 shots per day from those 3 spots…………...