The real problem with this team

[kingcy]

Is its sets on Offense. When pass and move around they score and do very well. But there are times when they all spread out and look at each other like do it yourself, then the next time they are all standing close to each other talking about their plans for after the game. I just dont get that. That cannot be all on Mac, can it?

 

[Clones21]

They dont work as a TEAM. Im not blaming McD any more, because i have come to senses that this is mostly on the team.

 

[singsing]

This thread should have read "The real problem with the five individuals on the floor". Team is not a good word to describe ISU basketball.

 

[IcSyU]

Again, offense for the most part this season, including tonight, isn't the issue. Defense is, not offense. We have plenty of guys will to play offense...none willing to play defense.

 

[kingcy]

Again, offense for the most part this season, including tonight, isn't the issue. Defense is, not offense. We have plenty of guys will to play offense...none willing to play defense.

If they are why dont they work harder to get open?

 

[Clone5]

Again, offense for the most part this season, including tonight, isn't the issue. Defense is, not offense. We have plenty of guys will to play offense...none willing to play defense.

Check my posts before the season. I said our biggest problem would be defense. We have zero guys who are defense first type players.
Our offense is ok as long as we're pushing the tempo but when we don't we're back to watching DG dribble for 25 seconds and putting up a bad shot.
Anybody else sick of complaining about this team? I guess we just aren't going to meet expectations yet again.

 

[IcSyU]

If they are why dont they work harder to get open?

Scoring points isn't the issue. We're doing fine in that department. It's stopping the other team from doing so that is the big issue. We want to try and outscore every team instead of playing defense and taking it to them. Our lack of playing defense leads to a lack of rebounding.

 

[Skyh13]

Anybody else sick of complaining about this team? I guess we just aren't going to meet expectations yet again.

We have a winner...

We're marginally better than last year. Maybe hang in with some tougher teams a little bit, but still see that little "L" next to the results.

 

[CoachBob]

Again, offense for the most part this season, including tonight, isn't the issue. Defense is, not offense. We have plenty of guys will to play offense...none willing to play defense.

This +1

Effort, heart, nastiness, will to work --- whatever you want to call it....


I hate to say it but the effort needed is not born in the kids, it is created by the head coach imo. Practice needs to be a nightmare - every day.

I know I am beating a dead horse, but with this talent LE would have had a plan for the guard and they would not have put up damn near 90 points.

 

[mt85]

They dont work as a TEAM. Im not blaming McD any more, because i have come to senses that this is mostly on the team.

This team is soft mentally and physically and that is a direct result of how they are coached.

It is too bad because the individual pieces are in place for a very good basketball team.

 

[cayin]

Maybe the team should watch video of some of the mentally tougher ISUs like the 2005,2001, 1997, 1996, 1995, and even 1994 when Loren Meyer got hit by the train and had to miss the conference part of the season. That 1994 team had no choice to but to toughen up and play together or they would have gotten hammered every night out without a Loren Meyer. I remember watching them take highly ranked KU, OSU, and league champion Missouri to the wire.

 

[cyclonenum1]

Last night was the first I have seen of ISU this year. Frankly, I was very impressed with the overall talent level of the team. We definitely have some guys that can play.

However, there are some issues that appear (IMO) to be causing us problems:

+ We do not play with enough tenacity on either end of the court. On offense we do not fight for position and try to get what we want. Often this leads to starting our half court offense much further out than is desired. On defense we we do not fight to deny what the other team is doing and we allow far too many offensive rebounds.

+ The roles and playing rotation do not seem to be understood by everyone on the team. I think there is confusion about who is being expected to do what job on both ends of the court. I am also not sure McDermott is giving the right guys the most minutes and using the right combinations.

+ This team looked much better in transition than they did in the half court offense. I believe they really need to try and push the issue in terms of going up-tempo as opposed to just taking it when it is there.

What is amazing is some posters in this thread want to lay all this at the feet of the kids. Sorry, that dog is not hunting here...I am laying it at the feet of the guy that gets paid the most in the MBB program...our head coach.

We have the talent to have a very good season and surprise some people this year (make no mistake...Duke could have been had last night) but we appear to have a coach that does not understand how to inspire the kids at this level (kids that are hoping to impress NBA scouts) and how to effectively capitalize on the talent on his team to win games.

Give a Johnny Orr in his prime this team last night and they beat Duke.

 

[JUKEBOX]

Can't rebound

 

[tee1up]

Here we go with "Johnny Orr would have won". He is a great coach, wonderful character and we are lucky to have him on our side. But those of you old enough to remember have to recognize that some of the worst ***-kickings I have ever seen were taken by Orr-lead teams whenever we went on the road. Great at Hilton, absolutely blown out by good teams on the road.

 

[HoopKnowledge]

Duke is the #5 ranked team in the country for a reason. Also, they have a Hall of Fame coach. ISU will be better in the long run for playing this game. Still early. Have faith.

 

[isucyfan]

Here we go with "Johnny Orr would have won". He is a great coach, wonderful character and we are lucky to have him on our side. But those of you old enough to remember have to recognize that some of the worst ***-kickings I have ever seen were taken by Orr-lead teams whenever we went on the road. Great at Hilton, absolutely blown out by good teams on the road.

Agree completely.

I'm convinced some people here are still wearing their Zubaz and Hypercolor shirts.

 

[mt85]

Here we go with "Johnny Orr would have won". He is a great coach, wonderful character and we are lucky to have him on our side. But those of you old enough to remember have to recognize that some of the worst ***-kickings I have ever seen were taken by Orr-lead teams whenever we went on the road. Great at Hilton, absolutely blown out by good teams on the road.

I loved JO but as you said his teams struggled mightily away from Hilton. This team needs a bit more of LE instilled toughness and rebounding discipline. I'm pretty sure, however, that most of the current players could not have handled LE's coaching methods.

 

[superfan]

This +1

Effort, heart, nastiness, will to work --- whatever you want to call it....


I hate to say it but the effort needed is not born in the kids, it is created by the head coach imo. Practice needs to be a nightmare - every day.

I know I am beating a dead horse, but with this talent LE would have had a plan for the guard and they would not have put up damn near 90 points.

This team is soft mentally and physically and that is a direct result of how they are coached.

It is too bad because the individual pieces are in place for a very good basketball team.

Hypothetical question.

Let's say for a moment that the drama/ego issues coming out in the other thread are legit. How do you coach a team hard if the players threaten to "take their ball and go home" (transfer, quit, etc.) If they don't get their way?

I mean, it'd be nice to just call their bluff and work their butts off, but the program is already under ptessure. I don't think it can afford another mass exodus...

 

[TruClone]

Duke is the #5 ranked team in the country for a reason. Also, they have a Hall of Fame coach. ISU will be better in the long run for playing this game. Still early. Have faith.

Early? We have 1 more non-conf game left and then IT starts. We have heard this for the past 4 years, the time is NOW. NOW is all I care about, not expectations. Time to stop lollygagging and play ball!

 

[kingcy]

Hypothetical question.

Let's say for a moment that the drama/ego issues coming out in the other thread are legit. How do you coach a team hard if the players threaten to "take their ball and go home" (transfer, quit, etc.) If they don't get their way?

I mean, it'd be nice to just call their bluff and work their butts off, but the program is already under ptessure. I don't think it can afford another mass exodus...

Other coaches to it. You cannot allow that to happen as a coach. You cannot allow your players to call the shots. At somepoint both sides need to get it figured out. I really feel sorry for Mac right now.