Drake Vs. UNI

[#1pantherfan]

The Panthers need this road win. They need to go into Des Moines and forget about the last 4 games and just relax and play basketball. Just don't try to do too much when things are going bad and we will be all right.

Prediction: UNI: 63
Drake: 58

[JCPanthers]

I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed in our effort last night. I'm not sure what it is, but these guys are not playing with the same intensity they were in the beginning of the season. If they don't start playing with a little more sense of urgency, we may be looking at the possibility of playing on Friday at the Valley Tourny.

Any one know why Coleman sat out the majority of the 1st half and the start of the second?

[RobFromCedarFalls]

i'm trying to avoid commenting on the game. 6 games in a row of this kind of play is going to give me a stroke at a young age.

I wasn't sure who UNI fans seemed more mad at last night, the players, the coaches, or the refs.

my attendance prediction for wed

2000.

pack the dome night doesn't work well when your team is playing like this.

i'm not selling my tickets or anything, but it's hard to get excited about spending my money and 2 hours a game just to sit there frustrated and talking to those around me about what on earth we're doing.

[Born-a-Panther]

Okay I couldn't be at the game - nor could I listen to it or watch it... so could someone just give me some kind of idea of what the heck went on for those two hours? Did we just shoot badly again? Did certain people not play? Did we show ANY emotion at all? Were the refs bad? What was our coaching staff doing?? I'm starting to get real frustrated, as I'm sure everyone else is... and I just don't understand what's happened all of the sudden.

[RobFromCedarFalls]

look at the stats. coleman, crawford, and jacobson in double digits, yet coleman and crawford did a lot of sitting. viet and josten played in the first half...viet had 2 airballs. we didn't push the ball inside. we didn't rebound. brooks was at an all time low. foster didn't play well. the refs sucked, but we lost it ourselves. mac doesn't get on the players at all. he spends time outs whining when he should be challenging our guys. no one really seems like they want to be here. at least it seems that way from the stands. i thought godfread seemed to have some heart which was nice. pete schmitt had a decent game. john little wasn't at his best. just seems like we have an entire team that is in a slump, and everyone has given up except crawford and coleman. this is just a short summary of my thoughts and opinions, but this post in no way summarizes everything. oh yeah, we also couldn't break their press. it's not a good press either.

[UNICats]

Drake Game (The Day After)

OK...here are some of my thoughts on the game last night:

1. We did a horrible job of rebounding on the offensive end. There were a lot of 'one and done' possessions. Drake challenged us to put it up from 3-point land with their zone defense. We did well in spurts (I believe we were over 50% from the 3-point arc), but the spurts where we did well was early and late.

2. Lonnie Randolph was UNBELIEVABLE from the free-throw line. I believe he was 22 of 24!! Late in the game, when our 3's were falling in, he was able to offset our successes with two free throws each possession. When we were forced to foul, he always seemed to be the one to get the ball. Great leadership from Lonnie and a clutch performance from the line.

3. The refs were far from great, but they were bad both ways. Anybody else shake their head at Aliou Keita's over-the-back foul with less than a minute in the first half?? He didn't even come close to touching anybody. There was also the double foul BS in the second where one ref called a charge against Drake and one called a block on us. The Refs can have different interpretations of how a play went, but get together, discuss the play, and make a decision. That was a lazy call by a crew that didn't want to take a stand. I don't care if the call went against UNI, just make a decision, make the call with confidence, and go on. Indecision ruins their credibility and snap decision-making in my book.

4. I love Mac and the work he and his coaching staff has done, but I do have to call them out on one thing. Last season in Des Moines, the Drake pressure caused many fits for the Panthers. We knew Tom Davis would have his full-court press going strong again. However, we struggled against it for most of the game. How can a team go up against a Davis-coached team and not be prepared for the press?? We seemed lost in many instances (5-second call, travel along the baseline, a 10-second call). You just have to be prepared for the pressure.

5. I am proud at how the Panthers kept themselves in the game late. They could have packed it in, but they kept coming. Once their 3-point successes late came around, it opened up the middle for Coleman. He had back-to-back dunks that were impressive. Too bad Randolph offset the points with his free throw exhibition.

6. One bright side in the game. Was anybody else impressed with how the Drake and UNI cheerleaders coordinated their timeout performances?? Both squads took the court at the same time and performed the same stunts. It was a fantastic display of talent, abilities, and sportsmanship. They even had the UNI cheerleaders throwing out mini basketballs with the Drake cheerleaders in the second half. Very cool scene to see the squads interact and not play the one-upmanship game against each other. Hats off to whomever came up with that idea.

Just some random thoughts as I ponder what could have been from last night. I had a great time with the Drake fans in Section T. A little Bulldog fan in front of me competed in the timeout contest where two boys put on Drake basketball uniforms and shoes and tried to make a shot. Bless his heart for trying, but he didn't win. I told him that he looked good in the Drake uniform and he was pretty proud of that!!

[Marc Wigim]

Something's gotta give. Seriously. The way our team is playing simply cannot stand. We are better than 5-5 in the Valley. We looked sloppy, we didn't rebound, and we played with absolutely no intensity whatsoever (with the notable exception of Erik Crawford). Things have to improve, and hopefully last night was the wake up call... it's put or shut up time for the Panthers.

I think at this point the team as seen the writing on the wall, and will start to shape up. At least that's my hope. If not, it could be a long rest of the season...

[Pantherpower]

I kinda chuckled at my wife's comment during the game last night. She said, "What is up with all of the 3 point shots??? It's like they think the basket is gonna bite them if they pass it inside."

She also made the comment that it was the 4th game in 8 days for the Panthers. Tough stretch...Hopefully, these guys will hit their stride before it's too late. Tough to watch the game last night.

[tcondon]

This team just didn't seem to be prepared to face a Dr. Tom team. You are going to face a soft press, then a trapping press. The press breaker was weak, and when picks were set by the guards, the picker wouldn't roll to the ball when the defense switched.

Of course, Drake is going to play 2-3 zone all game long as well. Their was little cutting and few touches inside and at the free throw line. Very frustrating to watch. Coleman and Stout didn't play together during the 2nd half, it was 4 guards and a post player. This team should not have losses @ Drake, Evansville and Bradley. One of those 3 is okay, but with this much talent, 0-3 is just plain sad. Time to bounce back in a big way. They still have 3 games against SIU and Wichita, plus the bracket buster. Plenty of time to get some great wins, but they need to beat the bottom feeders as well.

[AmesPanther]

Winning on the road is tough. Counting on the 3 to win usually means either a pretty win or a rough loss.

Winning the conference tourney has become a must.

[panther2317]

Tc...

the love affair with Dr. Tom must stop!

But, you are right, UNI was not ready for the press. They had countless turnovers and really didn't attack the press until the last five minutes of the game.

I was disappointed with the outcome, but I was happy to see the Panthers continue to play hard the entire 40 minutes. UNI finally started attacking the press and the zone during the last five minutes and I think that's how you will see UNI play Drake in the Dome in a couple of weeks. They will push the ball and they will try and penetrate the zone instead of being passive on the perimeter. I also think UNI shot their way out of their slump in those last five minutes, let's hope that carries over.

This team can still go on a run. Remember last season, it wasn't until February that UNI hit their stride and strung 8 wins together in a row. It could happen again! Stay positive. Don't turn into the typical Iowa fan with their "sky is falling" mentality. Be supportive of the team and get out to the Dome on Wednesday!!!

GO PANTHERS!!!

[Lovie Smith]

I am trying to remain positive but both the football season and the basketball season so far have been a let down. I know we can still run the table in the tournament but we need to start playing better (sorry to state the obvious). GO PANTHERS!

[tcondon]

2317, just when I think you can't be any more of an idiot, you make another post. I don't love Dr. Tom. You are an idiot for implying it over and over in these forums. Please find one time that i have ever said I wanted Dr. Tom to stay at Iowa. You will not find it. Tell me one time that I have ever said that I cheer for Drake because of Dr. Tom. You will not find that either. I understand you have buddies on the coaching staff at Iowa. I understand that you think Iowa fans are too hard on Steve Alford. But after this week, it will truly time for him to go.

[UNI Guy]

I'm just wondering how UNI could do so well in the non-conference games and play average in the MVC. I know the MVC is a very good conference, but I never would have thought that the Panthers would struggle against the cellar dwellers like they have.

Before the Drake game, I thought that UNI probably had to nearly win out the season to make the NCAA tournament, but now I think they will have to win the MVC conference tournament to make it. I don't see a team with 5 losses in conference from the MVC getting an at-large bit from the selection committee.

[RobFromCedarFalls]

even before the drake game our at large bid was gone.

the "sky is falling" mentality usually refers to people making a big deal out of something that isn't happening. i'm pretty sure that everyone on this board was optimistic longer than i expected. 6 horrid games in a row definitely is going to bring some criticism.