2023-2024 GAME 1 - Nov 7 at North Texas 7:00 PM

[BrockLesnar]

Feel free to not watch then so you aren't tortured watching a dog **** roster.

No, we're going to be ok. I was referring to lack of toughness. Despite our out rebounding them by one we still gave up too many offensive rebounds and N Texas won by getting too many second chance points. The missed shots at the end are irrelevant if we hit the boards and hold them to one shot. You tell me how giving up 10 offensive boards is going to equal the Dance. How about them there 9 second chance points? Yeah, that's what I thought...

[unsc_seizethemeans]

I'm not saying that the season's over but I think it's fair to say that that's a pretty disappointing result given all the hype around the team that's been building for months. Specifically on the defensive end, as it sure seems like, once again, teams are going to shoot the three ball abnormally well against us.

This is what gets me, too. We were all pumped because we returned everyone from a mediocre season, and most of those players' issues still seem to be a problem.

Heard all about how good this freshmen class is. Rubin is hurt so can't judge anything on him yet, but Pock looked completely lost and gave up 2 wide open threes defensively, both of which went down (of course). Jake got his ass off the floor and I don't think he came back in the rest of the game. I was honestly dumbstruck at how bad he looked. Not trying to pile on the kid but man, he had a single minute out there before Jake had seen enough. I didn't think Taylor even played but I see he logged 2 minutes in the box score.

It's only one game, and some things looked good. Hutson is the kind of player we've lacked for a while - a big guy who makes his defender work to stop him from getting offensive rebounds, and who doesn't look overwhelmed when he has the ball at the 3-point line in this offense we run. Heise is a really solid player. Wolf is a threat when he's on. I wasn't paying close enough attention to see what they were doing to keep Bowen out of it, but we know Bowen is going to have much bigger games than last night. Tytan is solid. North Texas shot the **** out of the ball from 3, but in the first half, they were all wide open 3s. Still don't expect 9/11 shooting, but 6/11 or 7/11 on wide open shots isn't unreasonable, and that's still way too high a percentage to be giving up. And again, we still win this game in regulation if just 1 of those 3s misses.

It's just frustrating to do this year after year, where returning players have the same issues they had previously. Henry's game doesn't seem to have changed much at all. Duax has only had 1 offseason with UNI but he looks like the exact same player - good effort defensively but isn't doing anything offensively. Campbell has the same ball-handling issues. Still don't really think Daniel is a D1 player. We're always good for 2-3 sequences that seem like any competent team would have left behind them years ago, like having a 3-on-1 fast break and our layup attempt is the easiest blocked shot that 1 defender will have all season. I forget who it was, but we had another transition layup attempt get blocked easily because our guy couldn't figure out how to use the hoop or his body to protect his shot. It's just maddening to watch. Obviously other teams are allowed to make great plays against us, but some of these just shouldn't be happening.

Again, one game, and we still win the damn thing if Wolf is able to sink that wide open 8 footer as time expired. But I feel that frustration too. Felt like I knew, before the game started, that we'd be here in this thread after the game with posts like "well it's only one game" and "damn refs cost us the game." And both of those are probably at least mostly true lol. Still sucks

[BrockLesnar]

This is what gets me, too. We were all pumped because we returned everyone from a mediocre season, and most of those players' issues still seem to be a problem.

Heard all about how good this freshmen class is. Rubin is hurt so can't judge anything on him yet, but Pock looked completely lost and gave up 2 wide open threes defensively, both of which went down (of course). Jake got his ass off the floor and I don't think he came back in the rest of the game. I was honestly dumbstruck at how bad he looked. Not trying to pile on the kid but man, he had a single minute out there before Jake had seen enough. I didn't think Taylor even played but I see he logged 2 minutes in the box score.

It's only one game, and some things looked good. Hutson is the kind of player we've lacked for a while - a big guy who makes his defender work to stop him from getting offensive rebounds, and who doesn't look overwhelmed when he has the ball at the 3-point line in this offense we run. Heise is a really solid player. Wolf is a threat when he's on. I wasn't paying close enough attention to see what they were doing to keep Bowen out of it, but we know Bowen is going to have much bigger games than last night. Tytan is solid. North Texas shot the **** out of the ball from 3, but in the first half, they were all wide open 3s. Still don't expect 9/11 shooting, but 6/11 or 7/11 on wide open shots isn't unreasonable, and that's still way too high a percentage to be giving up. And again, we still win this game in regulation if just 1 of those 3s misses.

It's just frustrating to do this year after year, where returning players have the same issues they had previously. Henry's game doesn't seem to have changed much at all. Duax has only had 1 offseason with UNI but he looks like the exact same player - good effort defensively but isn't doing anything offensively. Campbell has the same ball-handling issues. Still don't really think Daniel is a D1 player. We're always good for 2-3 sequences that seem like any competent team would have left behind them years ago, like having a 3-on-1 fast break and our layup attempt is the easiest blocked shot that 1 defender will have all season. I forget who it was, but we had another transition layup attempt get blocked easily because our guy couldn't figure out how to use the hoop or his body to protect his shot. It's just maddening to watch. Obviously other teams are allowed to make great plays against us, but some of these just shouldn't be happening.

Again, one game, and we still win the damn thing if Wolf is able to sink that wide open 8 footer as time expired. But I feel that frustration too. Felt like I knew, before the game started, that we'd be here in this thread after the game with posts like "well it's only one game" and "damn refs cost us the game." And both of those are probably at least mostly true lol. Still sucks

Those shots at the end don't matter if we don't give up the 9 second chance points, unacceptable block the f&$k out.

[BCPanther]

Those shots at the end don't matter if we don't give up the 9 second chance points, unacceptable block the f&$k out.

We scored 17 second chance points.

You're yelling at clouds.

[BrockLesnar]

We scored 17 second chance points.

You're yelling at clouds.

Doesn't matter either. What the issue is would be our defensive end. No way N Texas gets to 68 in regulation if we give fewer than 9 second chance points. Coach is always about our defense first and foremost. We give up only 8 then they get only 67.

[orangetennis]

Those shots at the end don't matter if we don't give up the 9 second chance points, unacceptable block the f&$k out.

Can't find this stat anywhere but I feel like 9 second chance points isn't a terribly large number.
The majority of UNTs offensive boards came off second half missed 3s. And it's tough to box out on 3 pointers as the carum area is so large. It's mostly luck.
Of all the things to nit pick on last night's loss, I don't think this one is very high on the list.

[orangetennis]

Oh no! Not the moves of one of the best players to ever wear the uniform that won the Larry Bird award!!!!!

Woops! I meant Bennet Koch. :facepalm

[BrockLesnar]

Can't find this stat anywhere but I feel like 9 second chance points isn't a terribly large number.
The majority of UNTs offensive boards came off second half missed 3s. And it's tough to box out on 3 pointers as the carum area is so large. It's mostly luck.
Of all the things to nit pick on last night's loss, I don't think this one is very high on the list.

We have decent shooters and athletes. We are not elite though. Our system and talent is built on defense. We are built to win 68-67 not 84-83. Yeah, it is luck but it is also desire to beat another guy to the ball. That's how we can get it done. We'll continue to lose close games without strong defense and rebounding. Sure there are 17 or so games on the schedule that we win with a lack of rebounding, but if we're going to win the close ones it takes guarding the penetration, blocking out, causing turnovers, and getting to the loose balls.

[BrockLesnar]

I am hopeful getting Rubin healthy and more post play practice with the other guys at the 5 will solve most of the problems and we'll get it going, again.

[BrockLesnar]

BTW, I wish we had more pissed off fans. Maybe, we could have more of a home court/field advantage in basketball and football. I have been to enough wrestling meets though. We should all be more like them!

[orangetennis]

Someone said this earlier in the thread but I'll reiterate it because it's true; there is almost a zero % chance of at large selection for MVC teams right now that it relegates early season games as essentially meaningless preseason. The only games that matter for our postseason chances come in March in St Louis.
It makes little sense to get all hot and bothered about the outcome of these games because they will most certainly not decide our fate. Play hard, compete, learn, improve, and stay healthy. When we reach the end of Feb, that's when it's important that this team is firing on all cylinders. Not November.

[BrockLesnar]

If you approach the non conference season as having basically zero chance at an at-large bid, which is factual, these games are much more palatable. Our season is about league play, and playing our best in March.

We played pretty well, Heise looked awesome, Hutson is exactly what we were missing in the middle, and we have a very good and deep roster. Many many positives from game 1, especially considering the opponent.

We have a miniscule chance to be an at-large but the task is beyond our capability. We would have to win almost all if not all the remaining non-conference, win almost every league regular season game, and go two out three in St. Louis. So yeah, out of thirty four we need to be 30-4/28-6. In other words comparable to 2015 I believe we went 31-5 give or take. So, we're not getting it.

[sevelev711]

BTW, I wish we had more pissed off fans. Maybe, we could have more of a home court/field advantage in basketball and football. I have been to enough wrestling meets though. We should all be more like them!

Wrestling is a very different sport with a very different crowd energy, it's not apples to apples.

[hediondo19]

Can we start getting separate game threads for 'sky is falling' posters?

[BCPanther]

Can we start getting separate game threads for 'sky is falling' posters?

I'm in favor of a whole thread where Brock can yell at clouds...