When they rebound well, they are almost unbeatable. When they don't they are good but not great.
I think it starts with our coach.
In the first half this team played lights and was actually pretty good on the defensive end. Things started to go awry when Naz made a poor dech Fred (while not all thorns either).
I've waited for a couple weeks to post this but can't wait any longer. This team lacks a real leader and has no mental toughness. They will make the tourney and maybe win a game. However, I don't see them advancing after 2nd round. Talent galore but mental midgets.
When they rebound well, they are almost unbeatable. When they don't they are good but not great.
It's a shame really. This roster is flawed, but I don't think Fred is managing it very well either. I'm sure I'll get flamed for not being a "Hoi Boi" but some people need to wake up around here. It's not all roses with Fred (while not all thorns either).
That is why it is called mental toughness and leadership
I've waited for a couple weeks to post this but can't wait any longer. This team lacks a real leader and has no mental toughness. They will make the tourney and maybe win a game. However, I don't see them advancing after 2nd round. Talent galore but mental midgets.
I think it starts with our coach.
In the first half this team played lights and was actually pretty good on the defensive end. Things started to go awry when Naz made a poor decision and took a tough shot on the break instead of dishing it to Monte. The missed shot resulted in it going the other way, and OU scored two points. Insignificant, right? That poor decision led to a rash of more poor decisions. By the time Hoiberg called timeout the damage had been done, with the lead cut to 5 (or 3) and the momentum firmly on OUs side. The downfall continued into the half and as we entered a game tied when we should have had a sizable lead (TOs, rebounds, and rushed possessions really killed us).
As has been the theme throughout the entire season, Fred failed to coax effort, intensity, and control from his players in the 2nd half of a game away from Ames. We've either lost by getting pounded in the 2nd half (Maryland, South Carolina, KU and now OU) or made runs because we were ill-prepared to start the game (Baylor, Tech). Our coach has done a **** poor job of getting 30 minutes, let alone 40, of solid intensity from out players away from Hilton. Honestly, I think Fred's demeanor is a little TOO laid back, with our players taking on that personality. Lose a 10 point lead, no big deal, I'll just let my players handle it. If Fred's going to be on the bench (and he IS obviously) he needs to impact the game via wisely using TOs (which he's terrible at) and INVIGORATING our players to bring that intensity out of them. Fred absolutely sucks in this regard.
The persona of this team can be summed up by it's rebounding, which is atrocious. It's one thing to be rebounded over, but this team is consistently gone THROUGH to get boards. That's really all I need to know about our tenacity and toughness. If the crowd (Hilton) isn't providing it, we don't have anything.
Right now Fred is a good coach. People need to be honest with the positives (there are plenty) such as talent, recruiting, individual offensive progresson, etc. that he's brought to the program. With that however, he's also provided team defense that often looks lost, terrible rebounding fundamentals, poor usage of timeouts (prevention), and a problematic lack of intensity.
Where I get frustrated at Hoiberg is that I see very little progress in his weaknesses. He's made no inroads at managing games since his arrival. Our team rebounding fundamentals are poor. The team defense is a joke. We consistently have issues with intensity away from home.
It's a shame really. This roster is flawed, but I don't think Fred is managing it very well either. I'm sure I'll get flamed for not being a "Hoi Boi" but some people need to wake up around here. It's not all roses with Fred (while not all thorns either).
I've waited for a couple weeks to post this but can't wait any longer. This team lacks a real leader and has no mental toughness. They will make the tourney and maybe win a game. However, I don't see them advancing after 2nd round. Talent galore but mental midgets.
Niang is an amazing leader, he just has off nights. BDJ shot selection has been pretty disappointing at times. Monte had a horrible game tonight. Jameel could have used some help down low tonight and got none. Bad loss tonight, but we can still make our mark and do some damage.
That mentally tough team from last year got destroyed at WVU, and won 3 conference road games.
But somehow managed to get to the sweet 16 without one of its best players.
This year the conference is considered the best in the country.
Let the season play out
I've waited for a couple weeks to post this but can't wait any longer. This team lacks a real leader and has no mental toughness. They will make the tourney and maybe win a game. However, I don't see them advancing after 2nd round. Talent galore but mental midgets.
We lose to a ranked team on the road shooting out of their mind and we lack toughness.
okay...
We let them?We let them blow us out in the second half....
I think a lot of message board posters lack mental toughness as well, especially when melting down after losing to a very good ranked team on their court after that previously mentioned ranked team played very well. But that's none of my business.
Agree. Rebounding is an attitude/effort thing, along with defense. They have the physical tools to be good at both.
Should be a interesting last 7 games.