Up Next: Drake

[panther-state]

Re: Up Next: Drake

Also as soon as I heard Pollard was officiating I had a bad feeling. He isn't responsible for us getting down by 20 and not playing D, so I'm not blaming the officials, but I just knew things were going to be difficult. Bad things happen when that man or Zelton Steed take the court.

[domedays]

Re: Up Next: Drake

[QUOTE=BCPanther;377243]I thought Deon got fouled on the layup before and thought it was going to happen again.

Tuttle literally got thrown by Enevold and should have gotten a 1 and 1...[/QUOTE

The only flaw in this logic is that you are implying that he would have made it with the bump. Over and over again we have seen that this just isn't true. He misses lay up after layup.
Very talented kid. Not a great player.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Up Next: Drake

Other teams have seemed to figure it out.

That's not a shot a Deon. There have been plenty of missed layups / bunnies in the past couple years.

Would I like to see our guys make more of the close ones? Of course. But we are also asking a 6 foot point guard to basically put the offense on his back and be perfect going against 6'8 - 7 foot guys on very contested drives to the hoop. It's just not gonna happen (being perfect, that is). The fact that he makes as many as he does is probably more surprising. We just don't have dominant 6'5" - 6'7" long, athletic power forwards to handle the inside dirty work, so Deon and Wes have to do a lot.

[Mudrafan]

Re: Up Next: Drake

We are not playing well on either side of the ball, this could be a long and very frustrating night! I yelled at the tv when Deon missed that wide open lay-up!

That has been the story of his career at UNI...

[panther-state]

Re: Up Next: Drake

That has been the story of his career at UNI...

Actually I think it's only been the story of this season strangely enough. I don't remember him struggling as much at the rim in the past but I also think he's anticipated more contact and more calls this season and that simply hasn't happened. Kwadzo used to do the exact same thing but was simply better at drawing a whistle.

[Mudrafan]

Re: Up Next: Drake

It's not quite as easy to make that layup as you are all making it sound, you know.

you cannot be serious. Then don't shoot it!!!!!

[panther-state]

Re: Up Next: Drake

So Drake could play on both sides of the ball, UNI couldn't hit a shot of any kind, I think a Drake fan cheered a time or two (could've been a sneeze) and I actually heard this exact phrase:

Yes, [the Knapp Center] is such a nice facility. I really enjoy getting to watch a game in this building.

I'm convinced that I'm in a Twilight Zone episode or something.

[Mudrafan]

Re: Up Next: Drake

Actually I think it's only been the story of this season strangely enough. I don't remember him struggling as much at the rim in the past but I also think he's anticipated more contact and more calls this season and that simply hasn't happened. Kwadzo used to do the exact same thing but was simply better at drawing a whistle.

He's missed point blank lay ups his whole UNI career.

[hoopfan]

Re: Up Next: Drake

you cannot be serious. Then don't shoot it!!!!!

You're right. Given the time and situation he should have pulled it back out, set up the offense and worked it around the perimeter for a good shot. To be clear, the previous sentence was sarcasm.

If Deon doesn't take some of these shots in the lane the alternative is at least 4 more 3 point attempts per game from the rest of the team. I'll take a guard, any of our guards, getting to the rim compared to guys chucking it from deep any day of the week.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Up Next: Drake

How is a school with an enrollment of 3,000 that plays in a glorified high school gym D-1? Serious question. Have never understood this.

Enrollment has nothing to do with competitiveness in D1 sports. This isn't high school. It's all about lineage, resources, and money. Off the top of my head, Notre Dame has an enrollment of less than 10K, but is the only school in the world with their own TV contract. Again, this isn't high school. If you want another example, look up the enrollment at Miami of FL.

Also, Drake just beat us. Whatever faults you think they have can't gloss that over.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Up Next: Drake

Actually I think it's only been the story of this season strangely enough. I don't remember him struggling as much at the rim in the past but I also think he's anticipated more contact and more calls this season and that simply hasn't happened. Kwadzo used to do the exact same thing but was simply better at drawing a whistle.

We must have been watching different teams the last three years because this absolutely has been the story of his career. I can't tell you how many times I've sent or received a "make a f@cking layup Deon" text over the last 3 years.

I see no similarity and his play and KA. The latter knew how to go in under control, kick out or stop for a mid range shot. DM does none of these with regularity. For years I've been faulting the coaches for not sitting him more for this type of play. Now they're actually doing just that and I'm not seeing much of a difference. He is what he is.

Too bad he couldn't get that one to go but shocked I am not.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Up Next: Drake

Would I like to see our guys make more of the close ones? Of course. But we are also asking a 6 foot point guard to basically put the offense on his back and be perfect going against 6'8 - 7 foot guys on very contested drives to the hoop. It's just not gonna happen (being perfect, that is). The fact that he makes as many as he does is probably more surprising. We just don't have dominant 6'5" - 6'7" long, athletic power forwards to handle the inside dirty work, so Deon and Wes have to do a lot.

The thing is...we aren't asking them to do that at all. It doesn't take a basketball guru to see our offense works best when we cycle through the post. Out of control drives are idiotic. The charge on Washpun was telegraphed 10 secs ahead. Drake knew exactly what was coming -- the announcer said is much that the MVC has figured these guys out.

Weak argument. Our guys aren't good at it and shouldn't be doing it. Look to the other bench. Carter had no trouble driving in amongst the trees all night.

[jegbomb52]

Re: Up Next: Drake

I'll be happy when this athletic season is over at UNI. I am sure there are good things going on with our Olympic sports but lets face facts, our "big two" have had a couple abysmal seasons in a row...

I'm not convinced that the leaders of these programs need to "go" but some serious conversations need to be had about the direction of these programs. In the last ten years these programs have been at the top of their game. Meanwhile not only have we slipped to mediocrity (or worse) but now schools like Wichita State and NDSU have raised that proverbial bar even higher than we set it in the last decade. From 1990 to 2010 UNI Football was the gold standard for the Gateway / MVC. From 2003-2010 UNI was the class of the Valley, obtaining several tourney bids including at larges and a sweet sixteen run. Those days are gone. Period. The momentum from this success is gone, from recruiting, to fan bases, just gone.

When our current athletic leader was hired there was no need to hire someone that was knowledgeable in the DI hiring process. Our most important programs had their guys at the helm and no thought was given to needing anyone else. We needed a pencil pusher, someone that could come in and "right" the ship monetarily and organizationally. That time in my opinion, is also done. Perhaps its not just our team leaders that need to have some reflection time.

ok, rip away....

[BCPanther]

Re: Up Next: Drake

I 100% agree with your last paragraph.

As far as above that, i don't think it's fair to compare to NDSU and Wichita. Those two programs had/are having historic runs that won't be duplicated. They are so far outside the norm that nobody is going to measure up.

The problem that nobody seems to get is that at a school like ours, with our budget we're not going to do any better than what we've got. Too many schools have gotten rid of guys for being generally solid and have just fallen apart. The grass isn't any greener.

[Codytwo]

Re: Up Next: Drake

The problem that nobody seems to get is that at a school like ours, with our budget we're not going to do any better than what we've got. Too many schools have gotten rid of guys for being generally solid and have just fallen apart. The grass isn't any greener.

Precisely! The only way Coach Jake leaves is on his own terms. We simply can't afford to buy out his contract. Not to mention, he's a perfect fit for this job.