How do we get rid of Jake?

[UNIAlum95]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

Not that I want to get rid of Jake but our late season performance begs a question. Is this due to fatigue? It seems every year we go through late season shooting slumps where we don't seem to have the legs or discipline to square and hit a shot. Is this due to being overworked in practice? Since this has become a characteristic of Mac/Jake teams, is there something in their routine that has these guys off their game in February?

[ceaser150]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

I see the annual February meltdown as the equivalent of a mediocre AAA pitcher getting called up to pitch in the majors. Typically they cruise through the first 3 innings 3 up and 3 down. However in the 4th inning the batters get a second look at the pitcher and they begin to hit him hard. It seems like the second time through the conference they figure us out. With the exception of the 2 teams that don't play zone (SIU and MSU) every other team has played us tough the second time. I don't see that changing.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

I see the annual February meltdown as the equivalent of a mediocre AAA pitcher getting called up to pitch in the majors. Typically they cruise through the first 3 innings 3 up and 3 down. However in the 4th inning the batters get a second look at the pitcher and they begin to hit him hard. It seems like the second time through the conference they figure us out. With the exception of the 2 teams that don't play zone (SIU and MSU) every other team has played us tough the second time. I don't see that changing.

I see it differently...These guys are getting many of the same looks they got at the beginning of the year (but weren't knocking down), the middle of the year (but made shots at an unbelievable rate), and now are still getting good looks but aren't making squat. This is a mental thing more than physical or a scheme thing. The biggest thing I notice is the lack of smiles and "fun" out on the court the past 3 or 4 games. Creighton, they let the pressure get to them in front of a great crowd and a chance to sew up the title and they lost. Unfortunately, when teams are playing out of their head, one setback can turn into a collapse (Drake had a quasi collapse to end last year). The Cubs collapsed AGAIN last year. It is about momentum...positive or negative.

[UNIAlum95]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

If it is mental, why does it happen every year?

I can just see PJ and Kyle playing mental games with the players.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

If it is mental, why does it happen every year?

I can just see PJ and Kyle playing mental games with the players.

I'm just talking about this year...in years past we had 6 or 7 man rotations (under Mac) and last year we just didn't have a complete team all year with losing two PG's. The entire offense was screwed all year last year.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

I see it differently...These guys are getting many of the same looks they got at the beginning of the year (but weren't knocking down), the middle of the year (but made shots at an unbelievable rate), and now are still getting good looks but aren't making squat. This is a mental thing more than physical or a scheme thing. The biggest thing I notice is the lack of smiles and "fun" out on the court the past 3 or 4 games. Creighton, they let the pressure get to them in front of a great crowd and a chance to sew up the title and they lost. Unfortunately, when teams are playing out of their head, one setback can turn into a collapse (Drake had a quasi collapse to end last year). The Cubs collapsed AGAIN last year. It is about momentum...positive or negative.

I agree. It's not like the teams in our league don't know us, we've had a similar system for 6 or so years. It is a matter of our guys hitting their shots. Right now we are scuffling and it's affecting everyone on the outside.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

it shows the importance of not relying on the jump shot

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

it shows the importance of not relying on the jump shot

No, it shows the importance of being able to make more than 25% of your jumpshots. There is no team in any level of b'ball that can win without jumpshooting. I really don't think we have "relied" on our jumpshooting this year, either. Koch and Jordan have had some good games / points. We do, however, rely on the shooters making shots at a closer to 40% clip...as any team does.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

No, it shows the importance of being able to make more than 25% of your jumpshots. There is no team in any level of b'ball that can win without jumpshooting. I really don't think we have "relied" on our jumpshooting this year, either. Koch and Jordan have had some good games / points. We do, however, rely on the shooters making shots at a closer to 40% clip...as any team does.

BINGO. In our 9 losses, we have shot 25% from 3. (We shoot 41% in our wins). In only one of our losses did we shoot better than 33% (against Indiana State-and that was due to the 2nd half flurry).

[jman2004]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

it shows the importance of not relying on the jump shot

Don't MANY teams in college basketball "rely" on a jump shot?

[fur ball]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

Last year we blamed every single lost game on not having a true point guard. It is good to at least not see that excuse this year. We sure do come up with a variety of reasons though. Bad refs... Bad jump shots...bad free throws...bad offense....bad defense...no confidence in shooting...

[fur ball]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

Not that I want to get rid of Jake but our late season performance begs a question. Is this due to fatigue? It seems every year we go through late season shooting slumps where we don't seem to have the legs or discipline to square and hit a shot. Is this due to being overworked in practice? Since this has become a characteristic of Mac/Jake teams, is there something in their routine that has these guys off their game in February?

I have no idea -- but I actually think this is a good very good question. How does our practice/workout schedule compare to that of other teams? How much time off do the players get a week? How long are their practices on non-game days? How long/hard are their practices on game days? What is their lifting schedule during the season?

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

Last year we blamed every single lost game on not having a true point guard. It is good to at least not see that excuse this year. We sure do come up with a variety of reasons though. Bad refs... Bad jump shots...bad free throws...bad offense....bad defense...no confidence in shooting...

Huh?? Excuses are different than explanations. Losing both PG's last year was not an excuse. Missing free throws is not an excuse. Shooting 20 something percent from outside the paint is not an excuse. Those are facts. I don't get your point, I guess.

[fur ball]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

Huh?? Excuses are different than explanations. Losing both PG's last year was not an excuse. Missing free throws is not an excuse. Shooting 20 something percent from outside the paint is not an excuse. Those are facts. I don't get your point, I guess.

OK --Oops - sorry. Let me rephrase then. Last year we blamed our lost games on the fact that we didn't have a true point guard. At least this year we have different facts to blame the lost games on like.. bad refs... shooting 20 something percent from the outside... missing free throws.... not being able to make a jump shot....

[jman2004]

Re: How do we get rid of Jake?

OK --Oops - sorry. Let me rephrase then. Last year we blamed our lost games on the fact that we didn't have a true point guard. At least this year we have different facts to blame the lost games on like.. bad refs... shooting 20 something percent from the outside... missing free throws.... not being able to make a jump shot....

What's your point?

Are you saying that we're not very good and as fans we just make excuses? I don't understand what you're getting at.

Sheik is right. Most of the "excuses" (except officiating - which is an "excuse") are actually facts. No point guard. Shooting percentage. Missed free throws . . . etc.