Game 19: at Evansville

[06panther10]

Problem is that if you don't start AJ with the ball, you're not going to get it to him. There isn't a team on earth that's going to allow him to catch off a screen or an action. It's a weird spot to be in.

1500 points in 87 games is kind of hard to argue against.

Then the staff needs to figure out a new strategy, this is not acceptable. If our only play in the clutch is a low percentage fadaway jumper off the dribble, or he drives right into the defense for a turnover for the 100th time then its time for something new. If he is is drawing attention off ball, one of our many shooters will be open or Bowen can drive the basketball.

A really pathetic basketball game tonight. An absolute joke that we almost lost this game. 1 FG in the last 10 minutes. Cant get the ball in yet again. Turnovers galore. No toughness or urgency against a crap team.

I continue to absolutely love our players and the way this roster stacks up on paper and yet am mystified at how little this coaching staff is getting out of this team. I would give the coaching staff an F for the season. Really getting tired of watching this.

[BCPanther]

We don't fix stuff with this staff. We continue to be 4-6th place. That's the peak for this group of coaches. We're stuck with them due to the buyout until 2029. Just have to get used to it.

So the regular season title in the last real season was a fever dream?

[Wxcpanther]

So the regular season title in the last real season was a fever dream?

Nevermind that this is literally year 1 with this current staff of coaches.

[PantherAlum09]

I'm glad they won, but it's not exactly satisfying. Illinois State and Bradley are going to be tough, too. We are in the play everyone close mode right now, so it can be pretty much guaranteed. On top of that, they both are playing very well, and Bradley already beat us at their place. Carter has disappeared on offense, and was out of the game way too much tonight. I like Henry's potential, but give me Carter and Phyfe tonight.

[06panther10]

Nevermind that this is literally year 1 with this current staff of coaches.

Is this a joke?

We lost KG and replaced him with Tuttle who was already on staff, and that constitutes a “new staff”??? lmao no.

UNI is probably in the 90th percentile in the country with coaching staff continuity right now.

[Khan4Cats]

We won in Indiana, something UNI has never done a lot of. Take it and get home safely.

[Blue42]

Then the staff needs to figure out a new strategy, this is not acceptable. If our only play in the clutch is a low percentage fadaway jumper off the dribble, or he drives right into the defense for a turnover for the 100th time then its time for something new. If he is is drawing attention off ball, one of our many shooters will be open or Bowen can drive the basketball.

A really pathetic basketball game tonight. An absolute joke that we almost lost this game. 1 FG in the last 10 minutes. Cant get the ball in yet again. Turnovers galore. No toughness or urgency against a crap team.

I continue to absolutely love our players and the way this roster stacks up on paper and yet am mystified at how little this coaching staff is getting out of this team. I would give the coaching staff an F for the season. Really getting tired of watching this.

End of 1st half with 6 seconds left...pretty much AJ going one on one and a 26 footer with a hand in his face.

Don't u let AJ bring it down and run a screen for Bowen to pop out top of key for a 3? Or Berhow? Or Heise?

Let AJ make the guys around him better.

Not 1 guy playing and 4 watching.

[BCPanther]

Then the staff needs to figure out a new strategy, this is not acceptable. If our only play in the clutch is a low percentage fadaway jumper off the dribble, or he drives right into the defense for a turnover for the 100th time then its time for something new. If he is is drawing attention off ball, one of our many shooters will be open or Bowen can drive the basketball.

A really pathetic basketball game tonight. An absolute joke that we almost lost this game. 1 FG in the last 10 minutes. Cant get the ball in yet again. Turnovers galore. No toughness or urgency against a crap team.

I continue to absolutely love our players and the way this roster stacks up on paper and yet am mystified at how little this coaching staff is getting out of this team. I would give the coaching staff an F for the season. Really getting tired of watching this.

That's. That's hard to argue any differently.

I think we've got the most versatile roster in the league and it does get pretty stale.

[CyCarp]

End of 1st half with 6 seconds left...pretty much AJ going one on one and a 26 footer with a hand in his face.

Don't u let AJ bring it down and run a screen for Bowen to pop out top of key for a 3? Or Berhow? Or Heise?

Let AJ make the guys around him better.

Not 1 guy playing and 4 watching.

Myself, I'm 100% okay with that shot. Running the clock then either not getting a shot up or throwing up a 28 foot prayer as the shot clock expires is what's gonna drive me to the nut house.

[BrockLesnar]

So the regular season title in the last real season was a fever dream?

It's beyond irrelevant. The time is now. We have to win three in St Louis to salvage a thing. We're done there in the semi-final round.

[BrockLesnar]

Y'all are missing the point with the NBA talk. He's not going to be THE guy on an NBA roster, he's going to be A guy. He's seen elite shooter and a legit 6-4+.

He is a 10 minute a night guy that can hit stand still 3s. It's not like he's going to be the focus of the defense and he defends well enough to guard the 2 and 3 in short spurts. He's going to get a look.

Not a chance. He has done a great job to physically build strength. It will serve him well in Europe. He still can't guard the NBA level guard and can't beat him off the dribble. He never was an NBA level guy even if his hip injury had not occurred.

[hoopfan]

Problem is that if you don't start AJ with the ball, you're not going to get it to him. There isn't a team on earth that's going to allow him to catch off a screen or an action. It's a weird spot to be in.

1500 points in 87 games is kind of hard to argue against.

They were able to get him the ball in a set with under a minute left in the 1st half going 2 for 1. AJ gets the ball pretty frequently in a position for a catch and shoot. The issue is he rarely shoots and instead takes a few dribbles and settles for a harder shot. In the 2nd half he caught one in the corner opposite the bench. He passed up the 3, had some fancy dribbling and then took a step back 3 in the corner. The shot went in, but he made it way harder on himself. I'm not questioning his talent, but it feels like he makes the game harder than it needs to be for him.

[hoopfan]

That's. That's hard to argue any differently.

I think we've got the most versatile roster in the league and it does get pretty stale.

A question on the versatility for discussion purposes only as I don't necessarily disagree...the roster is versatile, but does it matter if the roster isn't consistent? Two weeks ago this board was gushing over Cole and Tytan and they haven't been able to find ways to continue to be really effective. Same with Kimmons. Carter, Phyfe and Henry combined for 6 turnovers tonight and 5 FG. I mentioned in a previous post Trae's inconsistencies, but he's still getting 35+ minutes per night.

Heise and Pickford are about the 2 most consistent guys. This board can rag on Pickford's offensive limits all they want, but you know what you're going to get with him. He'll get a couple cheap buckets and doesn't take many bad shots and then will guard the best player on the other team and is willing to rebound. Heise isn't flashy, but makes good decisions and doesn't really force anything and is an effective defender. It's an interesting team as they have shown flashes of being able to play with and beat anybody, but those flashes are not happening enough.

[Gboom23]

Well, we won despite playing some truly awful basketball in the second half, so I’ll take it. Hopefully it’s another wake-up call for the guys.

One thing I don’t get is that for every single pregame interview Jake gives with Rima, he talks about how much he loves our bench and that we have a real advantage over the other team when it comes to depth. I generally agree with that statement. But then when we get to the second half of games, it’s the same 6 guys playing the last 16 minutes. I get playing the guys that have carried you to a lead, but I also think there is something to getting fresh legs in the game.

The lack of substitutions doesn’t surprise me because it’s been happening for years, but getting some fresh blood in the game throughout the second half may help with the ridiculous droughts we have seen the last couple games as well.

[orangetennis]

They were able to get him the ball in a set with under a minute left in the 1st half going 2 for 1. AJ gets the ball pretty frequently in a position for a catch and shoot. The issue is he rarely shoots and instead takes a few dribbles and settles for a harder shot. In the 2nd half he caught one in the corner opposite the bench. He passed up the 3, had some fancy dribbling and then took a step back 3 in the corner. The shot went in, but he made it way harder on himself. I'm not questioning his talent, but it feels like he makes the game harder than it needs to be for him.

AJ is not a catch and shoot guy the way Trea is. For some reason he needs to dribble or head fake before he pulls up for a jumper.