Game 7: Richmond @ UNI

[Schack]

I see the first NET rankings of the season are out this morning. UNI comes in at 246 out of 358 D1 teams.

[UNIChippewa]

I see the first NET rankings of the season are out this morning. UNI comes in at 246 out of 358 D1 teams.

That's absolutely inexcusable coming from this program. The good news is that there's nowhere to go but up.

[UNIAlum95]

So I've been stewing on what I watched yesterday and just can't figure it out.

Defense - Held them to 60 points. Not great but not bad either. I want to be upset with our defense but Richmond hit some shots that were really well contested and Burton had an AJ like game where he just didn't miss. I think you have to be happy with a 60 point defensive effort.

Offense - Shot over 41% from the field and out shot Richmond for the game. We had guys driving the basket and it wasn't just one or two guys, we had everyone going to the the basket and we've been asking for that all year. We just didn't finish enough of those. Anyone complaining that we take too many 3 pointers doesn't know what they are talking about. The 22 attempts yesterday puts us squarely in the middle of all D1 men's basketball programs. We just shot like crap and this team needs the 3 point shot to be competitive. One glaring missing component was Phyfe and his back to the basket play. No one else is doing that on this team. Henry is much more comfortable playing from the top of the key and that fits what the coaches are trying to do. But you don't have a banger in the post and its going to hurt when you can't buy a 3 pointer.

Coaching - I'm not happy with the performance but I'm also struggling with what to say here. The team had open looks at 3 and shot like crap. They had open looks in the lane and didn't convert enough of them but still managed to shoot 41%. Coaches can't make the shots. One glaring item already brought up by others is how do you not go back to Tytan after a 4-4 performance in the first half. That's inexcusable and has been a Jake problem for years. He will go to the bench in the first half and then will not sub in the second beyond his top few players no matter how they are performing.

Individually - You have to get more from AJ and Trae. You can't have them 5-21 from the floor. That's not going to cut it. I also think you've got to get Born into the offense. Only 2 shots for him isn't good enough.

Again, none of this matters as long as we get our crap together for the conference season. Try anything and everything now so that we have some idea of how to win a game in January.

[Born-a-Panther]

One glaring item already brought up by others is how do you not go back to Tytan after a 4-4 performance in the first half. That's inexcusable and has been a Jake problem for years. He will go to the bench in the first half and then will not sub in the second beyond his top few players no matter how they are performing.

Individually - You have to get more from AJ and Trae. You can't have them 5-21 from the floor. That's not going to cut it. I also think you've got to get Born into the offense. Only 2 shots for him isn't good enough.

All of this exactly.

[06panther10]

Its all coaching at this point. There is nothing else to blame for this season. AJ is back, the roster is loaded, the roster is deep, the roster is experienced. Literally no excuse. I said the same thing last week, but that is where we are right now. The coaches do not have this team ready to play at a high level.

To hear Coach Jake talking about how we are making progress and settling into a lineup soon at today’s presser is mildy infuriating. How do you not have a set lineup and finely tuned squad? Its the same ****ing team you have had for 3 years.

This is not a “we are progressing” and “we are getting better every day” type team. This team was ready to win NOW and you know Coach Jake thought the same thing with how aggressively he scheduled. This has been an abject failure.

[CincyPanther88]

I see the first NET rankings of the season are out this morning. UNI comes in at 246 out of 358 D1 teams.

That high?

[UNIAlum95]

Its all coaching at this point. There is nothing else to blame for this season. AJ is back, the roster is loaded, the roster is deep, the roster is experienced. Literally no excuse. I said the same thing last week, but that is where we are right now. The coaches do not have this team ready to play at a high level.

To hear Coach Jake talking about how we are making progress and settling into a lineup soon at today’s presser is mildy infuriating. How do you not have a set lineup and finely tuned squad? Its the same ****ing team you have had for 3 years.

This is not a “we are progressing” and “we are getting better every day” type team. This team was ready to win NOW and you know Coach Jake thought the same thing with how aggressively he scheduled. This has been an abject failure.

Great post and I agree 100%. This starts and ends with Jake and for him to be talking about lineups and progress is unacceptable. This is the deepest roster I can remember. I won't buy any arguments that Phyfe's condition has changed anything either. All of these problems existed before the last 1.5 games. He should be taking ownership of this and if he's not willing to step up to the mic and say this is on him not having the team where they need to be, someone needs to remind him of that.

[BCPanther]

You'd have to have a media person that wasn't terrified of losing access. We're 10 years and a second administration that is more than happy to pull access immediately if you even sniff at criticizing any program.

I've been told that even PSC volunteers that mildly criticize any program are asked to take down anything critical.

All of these questions about Jake and Farley are 1000% fair at this point.

[BobCat]

So I've been stewing on what I watched yesterday and just can't figure it out.

Defense - Held them to 60 points. Not great but not bad either. I want to be upset with our defense but Richmond hit some shots that were really well contested and Burton had an AJ like game where he just didn't miss. I think you have to be happy with a 60 point defensive effort.

Offense - Shot over 41% from the field and out shot Richmond for the game. We had guys driving the basket and it wasn't just one or two guys, we had everyone going to the the basket and we've been asking for that all year. We just didn't finish enough of those. Anyone complaining that we take too many 3 pointers doesn't know what they are talking about. The 22 attempts yesterday puts us squarely in the middle of all D1 men's basketball programs. We just shot like crap and this team needs the 3 point shot to be competitive. One glaring missing component was Phyfe and his back to the basket play. No one else is doing that on this team. Henry is much more comfortable playing from the top of the key and that fits what the coaches are trying to do. But you don't have a banger in the post and its going to hurt when you can't buy a 3 pointer.

Coaching - I'm not happy with the performance but I'm also struggling with what to say here. The team had open looks at 3 and shot like crap. They had open looks in the lane and didn't convert enough of them but still managed to shoot 41%. Coaches can't make the shots. One glaring item already brought up by others is how do you not go back to Tytan after a 4-4 performance in the first half. That's inexcusable and has been a Jake problem for years. He will go to the bench in the first half and then will not sub in the second beyond his top few players no matter how they are performing.

Individually - You have to get more from AJ and Trae. You can't have them 5-21 from the floor. That's not going to cut it. I also think you've got to get Born into the offense. Only 2 shots for him isn't good enough.

Again, none of this matters as long as we get our crap together for the conference season. Try anything and everything now so that we have some idea of how to win a game in January.

In agreement.

[BrockLesnar]

He takes over a game alright. To the point…he plays us out of it. From day one of him stepping on campus…he was given the team (pg) and full green light. Not even Jordan had that at North Carolina. Mid-level schools don’t win in these arrangements. They win through team basketball. Period.

Oh good Lord, there you are, again. Go figure, we lose and the chirping never stops. If wins happen over teams following St Bonaventure you'd stay in your basement bunker all Winter. Yes, retirement becomes you.

[hoopfan]

So I've been stewing on what I watched yesterday and just can't figure it out.

Defense - Held them to 60 points. Not great but not bad either. I want to be upset with our defense but Richmond hit some shots that were really well contested and Burton had an AJ like game where he just didn't miss. I think you have to be happy with a 60 point defensive effort.

Offense - Shot over 41% from the field and out shot Richmond for the game. We had guys driving the basket and it wasn't just one or two guys, we had everyone going to the the basket and we've been asking for that all year. We just didn't finish enough of those. Anyone complaining that we take too many 3 pointers doesn't know what they are talking about. The 22 attempts yesterday puts us squarely in the middle of all D1 men's basketball programs. We just shot like crap and this team needs the 3 point shot to be competitive. One glaring missing component was Phyfe and his back to the basket play. No one else is doing that on this team. Henry is much more comfortable playing from the top of the key and that fits what the coaches are trying to do. But you don't have a banger in the post and its going to hurt when you can't buy a 3 pointer.

Coaching - I'm not happy with the performance but I'm also struggling with what to say here. The team had open looks at 3 and shot like crap. They had open looks in the lane and didn't convert enough of them but still managed to shoot 41%. Coaches can't make the shots. One glaring item already brought up by others is how do you not go back to Tytan after a 4-4 performance in the first half. That's inexcusable and has been a Jake problem for years. He will go to the bench in the first half and then will not sub in the second beyond his top few players no matter how they are performing.

Individually - You have to get more from AJ and Trae. You can't have them 5-21 from the floor. That's not going to cut it. I also think you've got to get Born into the offense. Only 2 shots for him isn't good enough.

Again, none of this matters as long as we get our crap together for the conference season. Try anything and everything now so that we have some idea of how to win a game in January.

One of these guys has played 71 minutes over the last 2 games and has gone a combined 4-14 and 1-8 from 3. He's contributed 10 total rebounds and 4 TO's and 1 assist in that stretch while giving up 26 yesterday to Burton. Not ideal for winning games.

[QCPanther05]

Oh good Lord, there you are, again. Go figure, we lose and the chirping never stops. If wins happen over teams following St Bonaventure you'd stay in your basement bunker all Winter. Yes, retirement becomes you.

I do agree with him that building a team around one player, which is what Jake did with AJ, is risky business. This team relies on one player too much and doesn’t play as a team. So maybe we don’t have the elite individual players; we could at least compete as a team. Seems like currently there no “team” and I think it’s because everyone else rises and falls with AJ and he’s a little down right now. Next year would be brutal without him.

[BCPanther]

One of these guys has played 71 minutes over the last 2 games and has gone a combined 4-14 and 1-8 from 3. He's contributed 10 total rebounds and 4 TO's and 1 assist in that stretch while giving up 26 yesterday to Burton. Not ideal for winning games.

Yeah. Something happened there. Outside of a couple really short stretches, he hasn't been anywhere near the player he was two years ago, especially defensively.

I'd argue that's the biggest reason we really struggled last year (we probably should have been better even with the injuries) and why this year has started like it has.

[BrockLesnar]

I do agree with him that building a team around one player, which is what Jake did with AJ, is risky business. This team relies on one player too much and doesn’t play as a team. So maybe we don’t have the elite individual players; we could at least compete as a team. Seems like currently there no “team” and I think it’s because everyone else rises and falls with AJ and he’s a little down right now. Next year would be brutal without him.

He's just a cranky old man who loves to rub someone's nose in it. No, he's wrong. A team is either built for a system that have athletes that fit the system or you build a team of many talented players. The power 5's get the talent. So, we're stuck with building a system. We're lucky to get one three star guy in a typical class. It doesn't help that we lack a practice floor/facility. So, you can see what happens in a recruiting war. The next season is on the coaches. They may not have Phyfe either. He might even retire this season. His health is the concern. He has a lot to think about. So, the coaching staff have got their work cut out.

[PantherAlum09]

So I've been stewing on what I watched yesterday and just can't figure it out.

Defense - Held them to 60 points. Not great but not bad either. I want to be upset with our defense but Richmond hit some shots that were really well contested and Burton had an AJ like game where he just didn't miss. I think you have to be happy with a 60 point defensive effort.

Offense - Shot over 41% from the field and out shot Richmond for the game. We had guys driving the basket and it wasn't just one or two guys, we had everyone going to the the basket and we've been asking for that all year. We just didn't finish enough of those. Anyone complaining that we take too many 3 pointers doesn't know what they are talking about. The 22 attempts yesterday puts us squarely in the middle of all D1 men's basketball programs. We just shot like crap and this team needs the 3 point shot to be competitive. One glaring missing component was Phyfe and his back to the basket play. No one else is doing that on this team. Henry is much more comfortable playing from the top of the key and that fits what the coaches are trying to do. But you don't have a banger in the post and its going to hurt when you can't buy a 3 pointer.

Coaching - I'm not happy with the performance but I'm also struggling with what to say here. The team had open looks at 3 and shot like crap. They had open looks in the lane and didn't convert enough of them but still managed to shoot 41%. Coaches can't make the shots. One glaring item already brought up by others is how do you not go back to Tytan after a 4-4 performance in the first half. That's inexcusable and has been a Jake problem for years. He will go to the bench in the first half and then will not sub in the second beyond his top few players no matter how they are performing.

Individually - You have to get more from AJ and Trae. You can't have them 5-21 from the floor. That's not going to cut it. I also think you've got to get Born into the offense. Only 2 shots for him isn't good enough.

Again, none of this matters as long as we get our crap together for the conference season. Try anything and everything now so that we have some idea of how to win a game in January.

I think this is one of those instances where the stats don't really tell the true story. Our FG % was severely skewed by layups on back cuts. Our overall shooting was horrendous. If we shoot 41% and 25-30% from 3, then that's a different story. The fact we shot so poorly from 3 with the looks we had is truly incredible. We blew that game. There's really no way around it. If Richmond plays that poorly offensively, you have to take advantage and win the game. We just shot even worse from 3.

And as much as I want to put Jake through the grinder for the start they have had, I'm not sure Sunday's game is the one for it. Tytan was 4-4 from the field, sure. But they needed to gain on Richmond by hitting some threes. That isn't Tytan's game. If we kept Tytan in and surrounded him with shooters, that's a different story. The players were set up for success on Sunday. We just could not hit a shot. They have had a couple games now where the three has disappeared, but you can't argue they didn't have the looks Sunday.