[jcmanson]

We can all agree yesterday's game was a complete embarassment in front of a national audience, but how do we get better moving forward?

And let's refrain from the "get a new coach" comments.

[PAmedic]

oh no.

this is not turning the page.

[SuperJon]

I can already tell you the generic answers that will be said:

Recruit a big man.

Play defense.

Do something other than shoot three's.


That's what they're all going to say.

[grm]

Might be easier said than done, but all of SJ's generics are probably fitting.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

And those would all be correct.



tell Smitty and Brolin to go dunk on someone



Feed the Post


Screen


Pass More


Bench Kyle Ohman


Pray for Tyler Baker

[thepostman]

And those would all be correct.



tell Smitty and Brolin to go dunk on someone



Feed the Post


Screen


Pass More


Bench Kyle Ohman


Pray for Tyler Baker

wow...i agree with you on everything here!! crazy!!

and we also need to learn the meaning of boxing out...get a freaking body on somebody, its not that hard

[SuperJon]

I still think the one intangible that everyone is overlooking is leadership. This team has absolutely none of that on the floor. Last year it was Alex and Teejay. We simply haven't had someone step up. It's going to have to be one of the younger guys. Smitty is a great player but he's not a leader. That's no a knock on him, it's just not who he is. I can see Seth stepping into that role but he hasn't yet. Someone on the floor has to be able to pull the guys together and either calm them down or get in their faces other than a coach.

[LUconn]

Time and Defense. That's it. We're not normally gonna shoot that bad. But we've got to focus on playing defense. Everybody knows freshman are notorious for not playing D, but where was Anthony's defense? That's what he used to be known for until he started scoring points. I doubt he was instructed to not play defense anymore.

On the other hand RMK knows that's a glaring weakness so I can't imagine that he's not emphasizing it in practice. It just needs to take hold. And I'm sure it'll improve with time.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Ouch

[jcmanson]

I think Brolin needs to be used like HP used AZ for 4 years. Put him on the block and give him the ball. In this conference I think he can be a threat down there. Although I've never seen him play in the paint since he's been on the perimeter the first 2 games, but he seems to be that kind of player.

Anthony and Seth both need to demand the ball more especially when we are having a hard time shooting. Seth started to do that in the 2nd half yesterday.

And obviously our defense, but that's just going to take time.

[LUconn]

“It was just embarrassing,” Smith said. “You work real hard in practice and then we just came out and played nothing like ourselves.”

Does that mean the gameplan they practiced was not what they executed or does that mean they just played like suck which is "nothing like ourselves".

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Practice?

[kingaling42]

wow...i agree with you on everything here!! crazy!!

and we also need to learn the meaning of boxing out...get a freaking body on somebody, its not that hard

Actually trying to box out is hard if you look at what LU did yesterday- played a ton of zone defense with 5 guards for the most part.. boxing out is a lot harder in zone with rebounding lanes wide open for UNCA/opposition..

For how to get better-

• 1. Like it or not you have to give your guys some time to develop and get used to playing D1 ball..
  2. Acknowledge that you simply missed a ton of open shots yesterday- chalk some of that up on playing at 2pm & on the road- not an excuse but it's an adjustment that many of your players haven't done until yesterday..
  3. Someone has to step up to fill the void that TJ left- 3rd in the nation in assists is tough to replace when no one steps up..
  4. Quit expecting that Seth is going to be like big brother each and every game at this point- he'll probably get there & I'll probably hate seeing him against us in years to come..
  5. See how they react in their next game out- that's the test of their character and resolve- to take a butt kicking and get mad about it enough to change..

These are marks of your coaching as well.. far too early for your expectations to result in many of the posts on here- thus far at least..

[Cider Jim]

A little but does anyone know if practices are still open to the public? I'd love to hear what coach has to say to the players in practice after the Asheville game.

[Ed Dantes]

Step one: score.
Step two: stop other team from scoring.

(the preceding was more penetrating of an analysis than anything said on any ESPN telecast, ever)

[flamesbball84]

I still think the one intangible that everyone is overlooking is leadership. This team has absolutely none of that on the floor. Last year it was Alex and Teejay. We simply haven't had someone step up. It's going to have to be one of the younger guys. Smitty is a great player but he's not a leader. That's no a knock on him, it's just not who he is. I can see Seth stepping into that role but he hasn't yet. Someone on the floor has to be able to pull the guys together and either calm them down or get in their faces other than a coach.

I 100% agree with that. Also need to work harder - if you are settling for long range jumpers and three pointers all game long, you are not working hard. If you are continually letting the other team beat you for offensive rebounds, you are not working hard. If you are standing around and not diving on the floor and flying around all over the place for loose balls, you are not working hard. If you work as hard as you possibly can for 40 minutes (or more if its OT obviously), it can help cover up a lot of dumb mistakes that freshman will inevitably make - and that is all about effort, has nothing to do with skill or experience, and it will force your teammates to do the same if they want to continue to receive the same amount of playing time and continue to have the same role or even improve their role on the team.

[Iwasneverhere]

Step one: score.
Step two: stop other team from scoring.

(the preceding was more penetrating of an analysis than anything said on any ESPN telecast, ever)

Thanks Madden

[prototype]

1) Change the starting lineup. At least change the positions, so all of America doesn't laugh at us. You know how many friends asked me why we started 5 guards? 3 said the same thing - "Division III schools play 5 guards". At least let's make the other team think we are going to try and play down on the blocks.
My Starting Lineup - Don't like starting Austin, but he is the only big body we have. (Don't even bring up McMasters - we need someone that can actually has experience playing in the post and Smith played down there in High School).

G - Johnny Stephene
G - Seth Curry
F - Anthony Smith
F - Brolin Floyd
C - Austin Smith

6th Man - Kyle Ohman (Maybe he will find that fire again)(And this even pains me - I'm not a big "beat your chest when you hit a wide open shot" fan)

2) Play Man-to-Man defense. The teams we play are not that big and there is no reason we can't get motivated to play D. All our players are athletic to play defense - are they disciplined and willing to?

3) Help Seth and Anthony get some better looks. I don't remember one pick being set for either Anthony or Seth against Asheville or Montreat. We need to run an offense - if nothing else, a simple motion offense with high and low post movement. Teams will press our guards if they are not worried about protecting the drive or defending the low post

4) Make more adjustments - It seemed that we did nothing to change the game on Tuesday. What adjustments did we make, because it looked like the same team that came out of the locker room after the half.

5) Get McKay fired up!!!! I don't particularly care for coaches getting to fired up, but come on - I would have pull every starter off the floor, put in all bench players and let my team have it. Did McKay even raise his voice or look like he was upset with the team? I know he is a coach that believes in making his points during practice and not at the games, but this team is young and games are like practice - and he won't have that luxury this year.

6) Rebound!! Teams that commit to shooting threes all game have to crash the boards knowing that you will shoot a lower percentage. We have been out rebounded the last two games.

VMI is only shooting 4 more threes a game than us. We are not even in the top 100 in rebounding

[Fumblerooskies]

Proto...one of your all-time best posts.

[prototype]

Thanks. I have had some time to cool down. I want us to improve. I want us to compete. I want McKay not to just recognize our weaknesses, BUT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. We have to take advantage of the Curry years. We will get more exposure the next 4 years than we ever have in our history in Basketball. What will people remember - 1) That team had Seth Curry and couldn't compete? or 2) Davidson and Liberty - they are the example that smaller conference teams can compete with big conference teams.

[LUconn]

1) Change the starting lineup. At least change the positions, so all of America doesn't laugh at us. You know how many friends asked me why we started 5 guards? 3 said the same thing - "Division III schools play 5 guards". At least let's make the other team think we are going to try and play down on the blocks.
My Starting Lineup - Don't like starting Austin, but he is the only big body we have. (Don't even bring up McMasters - we need someone that can actually has experience playing in the post and Smith played down there in High School).

G - Johnny Stephene
G - Seth Curry
F - Anthony Smith
F - Brolin Floyd
C - Austin Smith

6th Man - Kyle Ohman (Maybe he will find that fire again)(And this even pains me - I'm not a big "beat your chest when you hit a wide open shot" fan)

2) Play Man-to-Man defense. The teams we play are not that big and there is no reason we can't get motivated to play D. All our players are athletic to play defense - are they disciplined and willing to?

3) Help Seth and Anthony get some better looks. I don't remember one pick being set for either Anthony or Seth against Asheville or Montreat. We need to run an offense - if nothing else, a simple motion offense with high and low post movement. Teams will press our guards if they are not worried about protecting the drive or defending the low post

4) Make more adjustments - It seemed that we did nothing to change the game on Tuesday. What adjustments did we make, because it looked like the same team that came out of the locker room after the half.

5) Get McKay fired up!!!! I don't particularly care for coaches getting to fired up, but come on - I would have pull every starter off the floor, put in all bench players and let my team have it. Did McKay even raise his voice or look like he was upset with the team? I know he is a coach that believes in making his points during practice and not at the games, but this team is young and games are like practice - and he won't have that luxury this year.

6) Rebound!! Teams that commit to shooting threes all game have to crash the boards knowing that you will shoot a lower percentage. We have been out rebounded the last two games.

VMI is only shooting 4 more threes a game than us. We are not even in the top 100 in rebounding

HOF post.

[Cider Jim]

With all due respect to Prototype and his cult-like following, why do you like Stephene over Sanders at PG?

[flamesbball84]

first of all D3 schools don't start five guards - not even lowly Lynchburg and Randolph starts five guards. if you think that then you've never seen a D3 game and have no business making any statements on it...

other than that, good post.

[Iwasneverhere]

With all due respect to Prototype and his cult-like following, why do you like Stephene over Sanders at PG?

Because Sanders hasn't done much. He distrubuted the ball "ok" against MC but did NOTHING against UNCA. Stephene can at least score.

[heartless]

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