The Youth Excuse...

[Rick]

When you dont get the ball below the top of the key you wont have many free throws. We just dont do that much except to CB.

[cycoticfan]

We only have two guys with more than 30 free throw attempts this year. By comparison, Nebraska has eight. Lucca has attempted 11 free throws this year.

That area HAS to improve dramatically by next year. We're leaving easy scoring opportunities because we can't draw contact.

This team is built from the outside in so you won't get to the line alot. What this team needs to improve is
1. Defense
2. Mental toughness
3. Attitude

They try to get back in the game through offense. How did NU and everybody else we played tough get away? They played defense that created offense.
They also were tough enough to withstand our weak attempts to get back in the game.
Also, our opponents seem to play with a chip on their shoulder once they get ahead, like " I dare you to come ionto the paint on me". When you look at our opponents in most losses, theyt have all three of the above, But it starts with defense.

[Ficklone02]

Here are some of the characteristics of our team....step away from the emotional aspect of our struggles and do a overall assessment of the following and ask yourself if such a team ever has a chance to win in big time basketball:

-sends one, every great once in a while two guys to the offensive boards.
-never tries to jam outlet passes
-never allows more than one legitamite athletic guard to handle the ball in the same possession on the court. (petey is not athletic enough, he doesn't allow booze to handle the ball, and rarely do DG/DB play at the same time)
-almost always plays the same nonattacking defense.
-offense depends on one guy bringing the ball up the floor, three point shots, and one post guy.
-pulls certain players for making aggressive mistakes (in particular booze)
-instead of teaching guys to make plays on offense, instead drills players to play like robots, who have no idea what to do when the set play is well-defensed

So what does the above result in?
No easy baskets in transition or halfcourt set. (must rely on all-american post player, and if opponent doubles big, depends on three point shooting only)

No easy baskets from defense, and never creates any confusion or unconfortableness for offense.

A guarantee that one guy will not be able to handle a full-court press....resulting in double digit free points off turnovers for the opposition every game.

In addition, no free points off in bounds plays.

How do you propose we win with a game plan like that? We lose most games before they start.

[cyclonenum1]

We only have two guys with more than 30 free throw attempts this year. By comparison, Nebraska has eight. Lucca has attempted 11 free throws this year.

That area HAS to improve dramatically by next year. We're leaving easy scoring opportunities because we can't draw contact.

The last 6 posts have all been very solid posts in my opinion.

The highlighted item above is absolutely astounding. If you look at the top teams in the country, they, invariably, have shot far more FTs than their opponents. In fact, I recall that this was actually a huge point of emphasis with Tim Floyd and motivated his style of play.

Ultimately, this lack of FTs is directly attributable to the style of play that we are attempting to undertake. In my opinion the game of BB in general is best played inside - out as opposed to outside - in...we clearly are trying to play outside - in. As many have noted before, reliance on the three becomes difficult in an athletic conference like the Big 12 and as the season wears on and legs get progressively more tired.

I am also astounded at the total aversion our current coach seems to have to pressing...except in desperation. I understand that we may not have the "horses" to do a lot of pressing right now, but the strategic ploy of throwing the press on once in a while can be very effective...especially in generating some easy baskets...which we get precious few of. To clarify, I do not condone a 40 minutes of hell Nolan Richardson type of approach but using the press as another weapon in your arsenal is smart coaching in my opinion.

Lastly, our last coach got a lot of heat for not winning more with some pretty talented players. Shouldn't McDermott get some of the same heat...we had Taylor, Johnson, and now Brackins and we have not won. I certainly give McDermott credit for getting these guys...of course, I also think he is partly at fault for the first two leaving. As I have said previously, I will not hold McDermott at fault if Brackins leaves early and is a top pick. Again, I just wonder why we are not winning more with some pretty talented guys having been around during these past three years?

[BigBake]

Here are some of the characteristics of our team....

I can only rebut two of your points...the rest are valid.

- We don't send players to the offensive glass by choice. This is to prevent easy defensive transition baskets. KU is traditionally awesome at getting transition baskets...I guess it's to stop this.

- Booze was yanked because he was getting schooled on the block. Other wise yes I love his hustle and going to the hole.

[BryceC]

Plus the fact that if Brackings goes pro, how can you blame that on GMAC?

I wouldn't blame that on McD. The reason behind players leaving and the turnover problems bother me only in the sense that we've lost some good ones. Really I don't hold it against McD.

IMO the only thing I care about is winning. McDermott's responsibility to me is to put a competitive team on the floor and I don't care how that happens*. So far it hasn't happened and that is the problem. Players come and go.

*Obviously, he needs to do this while functioning within the rules.

[Ficklone02]

I can only rebut two of your points...the rest are valid.

- We don't send players to the offensive glass by choice. This is to prevent easy defensive transition baskets. KU is traditionally awesome at getting transition baskets...I guess it's to stop this.

- Booze was yanked because he was getting schooled on the block. Other wise yes I love his hustle and going to the hole.

Precisely the reason you should try and jam the outlet passess.....so that you can send one more guy to the offensive boards.

I know what you are talking about with booze not matching up well in the post, but in general terms he seems to get pulled for aggressive mistakes....aggression is what this team needs. Good reply.

[BigBake]

And I don't think even I agree with our rebounding philosophy. Maybe it's to make up for our lack of speed? (to get back on D quicker I mean)

[BigBake]

....aggression is what this team needs. Good reply.

Agreed...I saw Booz fly to the hoop for a rebound against A&M and it brought back memories of Clark...first time I was reminded of his play all season.

[Clone_12]

The last 6 posts have all been very solid posts in my opinion.

The highlighted item above is absolutely astounding. If you look at the top teams in the country, they, invariably, have shot far more FTs than their opponents. In fact, I recall that this was actually a huge point of emphasis with Tim Floyd and motivated his style of play.

Ultimately, this lack of FTs is directly attributable to the style of play that we are attempting to undertake. In my opinion the game of BB in general is best played inside - out as opposed to outside - in...we clearly are trying to play outside - in. As many have noted before, reliance on the three becomes difficult in an athletic conference like the Big 12 and as the season wears on and legs get progressively more tired....No, it's much more attributed to the fact that Petersen and Staiger can't penetrate than it is our style of play...

I am also astounded at the total aversion our current coach seems to have to pressing...except in desperation. I understand that we may not have the "horses" to do a lot of pressing right now, but the strategic ploy of throwing the press on once in a while can be very effective...especially in generating some easy baskets...which we get precious few of. To clarify, I do not condone a 40 minutes of hell Nolan Richardson type of approach but using the press as another weapon in your arsenal is smart coaching in my opinion. You just answered your own question...we absolutely do not have the horses to throw on an effective press right now.

Lastly, our last coach got a lot of heat for not winning more with some pretty talented players. Shouldn't McDermott get some of the same heat...we had Taylor, Johnson, and now Brackins and we have not won. I certainly give McDermott credit for getting these guys...of course, I also think he is partly at fault for the first two leaving. As I have said previously, I will not hold McDermott at fault if Brackins leaves early and is a top pick. Again, I just wonder why we are not winning more with some pretty talented guys having been around during these past three years?

Morgan's teams complimented Stinson and Blalock with guys like Homan, Vroman, Clark, Sullivan, and Carr...Wesley Johnson, Brackins, and Taylor are all very talented players no doubt, but they haven't had even close to the same supporting cast that Wayne's teams had mostly through players he inherited...I realize it is McDermott's responsibility to recruit good enough supporting casts to win...but you also have to realize that he has caught some very bad breaks, and take that into consideration...you also have to take into consideration that role players aren't always productive at all as underclassmen.