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Amen on the pure shooter

bga1 said:
. ... A pure shooter if there is one would be the #2 priority.
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Right after our sieve-like defense, this is the deficiency that most often pops into my head. Every team needs a 3-point shooter who, every time he lets one fly, you feel like it's going in the basket. We don't have one of those. For most of Blake Hoffarber's career he was one of those guys. I also think of MSU's Bryn Forbes, who started his career in the Horizon League. Those kind of shooters, we just don't have them on our roster very often. Even if they're only 1-trick ponies, they're so valuable.
 

60's Guy said:
I haven't watched much this year but did last year... and you are only noting one end of the floor bga1...Buggs often seems not be aware of what defense we are in....maybe that's it in addition to attitude.
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Its true, and the problem isn't just on the defensive end. He disappears. The last couple games he was in he did nothing.

In the OSU game he played 17 minutes, was 0-3, 1 rebound, 1 TO and 3 PF.
Against Milwaukee, he played 23 min., was 0-3, 1 rebound, 2TO, 2 assists.

2 rebounds, no points in 40 minutes.
 

Go4 said:
someone needs to tell bad gopher that dr. tom hasn't coached at iowa in 17 years. using examples from the 90s when its 2016 doesn't help your case.

it is very hard to run and press in the big ten, as evidenced by the last 15 years.
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You are right. This is a tough, defensive half-court league. I'm very familiar with Dr. Tom's career and he typically played about 10 guys which helped his pressing style. Pitino doesn't have 10 reliable guys. Also, as someone noted quite correctly, it's doubly tough to play a fast paced style if you don't rebound.
 

Go4 said:
someone needs to tell bad gopher that dr. tom hasn't coached at iowa in 17 years. using examples from the 90s when its 2016 doesn't help your case.

it is very hard to run and press in the big ten, as evidenced by the last 15 years.
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MSU is still a good example of a contemporary team that gets a lot of fast break baskets. As bga noted, rebounding is part of it, but recognizing opportunities and knowing what to do is another part of it.
 



Bad Gopher said:
It still seems like a happy family, but the players can't be feeling good about the lack of success. If valuable guys do transfer out, I'd speculate that the main reason is one of the reasons for the fans' discontent: Pitino promised this fast-paced, full-court pressing, fast-breaking style of play, and we don't play it. This isn't what most of these players signed up for. And I refuse to accept that it's impossible to run the floor in the Big Ten. At least two of MSU's late baskets against us were them beating us back down the court, and one of them was on a made basket (!). You might have to pick your spots, but you can run and press in this conference. Iowa under Tom Davis pressed all the time.
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It doesn't look like a happy family to me. Terrible body language on the court and in the huddles. Lazy defense. Contributing players on a thin team intermittently benched. Terrible players getting too much time. Murphy, in particular, looking increasingly less engaged. It looks like Pitino has lost this team.
 

jamiche said:
It doesn't look like a happy family to me. Terrible body language on the court and in the huddles. Lazy defense. Contributing players on a thin team intermittently benched. Terrible players getting too much time. Murphy, in particular, looking increasingly less engaged. It looks like Pitino has lost this team.
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Eh. I think with some players yes. Buggs he never had since day 1. Joey I think you're right, he shows less effort every game.

That'd be about it though. McBrayer tends to still be with him, Konate, Dorsey. Murphy for the most part is just a low intensity guy (body language wise) like Ralph was. Doesn't mean he's been "lost". Mason I also wouldn't say is lost by any means. Morris continues to at least play hard.

Anyways, Buggs is the only one I think he's lost and he never had Buggs on his side since the second he was hired.
 

Maybe he'd have Buggs if he played him!

I'm a firm believer in rolling out your 5 best players regardless of position and then playing to their strengths. I'd just start with next season's development now and go with:

PG: Dorsey
SG: Mason
SF: Gilbert
PF: Murphy
C: Buggs

Bring in King, Morris and McBrayer for instant energy and see if any are hot. Konate only sees the floor to rest Murphy.

Play with four on the perimeter on offense and have Murphy work the middle setting screens for cutters and rolling afterwards to the bucket. Put Buggs and Murphy down low on defense and play a 3-2 defense to challenge the perimeter. I'd never go man to man!

If we are going to be this bad, I'd start working the young guns as much as possible and coach them up. Screw losing with bad (limited) Seniors.

At the very least do this a couple of times to light a fire under King and Konate.
 

Otis said:
Maybe he'd have Buggs if he played him! I'm a firm believer in rolling out your 5 best players regardless of position and then playing to their strengths. I'd just start with next season's development now and go with: PG: Dorsey SG: Mason SF: Gilbert PF: Murphy C: Buggs Bring in King, Morris and McBrayer for instant energy and see if any are hot. Konate only sees the floor to rest Murphy. Play with four on the perimeter on offense and have Murphy work the middle setting screens for cutters and rolling afterwards to the bucket. Put Buggs and Murphy down low on defense and play a 3-2 defense to challenge the perimeter. I'd never go man to man! If we are going to be this bad, I'd start working the young guns as much as possible and coach them up. Screw losing with bad (limited) Seniors. At the very least do this a couple of times to light a fire under King and Konate.
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Buggs was pretty anti Pitino when he was hired. (Or very anti-whoever wasn't tubby would maybe be better phrasing) I can't speak to if that is the case now or not, but it wouldn't shock me if it was the case.

If it were simply ability stuff, Buggs would likely be playing. But if Pitino is going to reward presumably poor attitude and poor effort what type of message does that send and culture does that create? In the NBA, yes, players rule essentially. In the NCAA, Pitino has to run the program and create a culture of respect, not one where if you're even sort of good you can do whatever you want and play over guys who work their butt off every day.
 



So that is why King is so entitled? Cause he works his butt off? Hard-workers are usually good rebounders! It's all a matter of position and will to beat the other guy to the spot and box him out. King sucks at rebounding! Thus in my mind he is not a hard worker.

If you bring it in practice and don't bring it in the games, get used to splinters!
 

scher215 said:
Buggs was pretty anti Pitino when he was hired. (Or very anti-whoever wasn't tubby would maybe be better phrasing) I can't speak to if that is the case now or not, but it wouldn't shock me if it was the case. If it were simply ability stuff, Buggs would likely be playing. But if Pitino is going to reward presumably poor attitude and poor effort what type of message does that send and culture does that create? In the NBA, yes, players rule essentially. In the NCAA, Pitino has to run the program and create a culture of respect, not one where if you're even sort of good you can do whatever you want and play over guys who work their butt off every day.
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I agree. However, the obvious inconsistency is Morris, the most me first gopher since Kris Humphries, plays and Buggs sits. Last year Eliason, though somewhat immature, hustled like crazy in games sat while someone who wasn't close to ready played. Forget about how the dynamic plays with the fans. It can't play well internally. If you are Nate Mason, would you rather pass the ball to Buggs where something good might happen or Konate where it will be turned over or Morris where it will get stuck?
 

jamiche said:
I agree. However, the obvious inconsistency is Morris, the most me first gopher since Kris Humphries, plays and Buggs sits. Last year Eliason, though somewhat immature, hustled like crazy in games sat while someone who wasn't close to ready played. Forget about how the dynamic plays with the fans. It can't play well internally. If you are Nate Mason, would you rather pass the ball to Buggs where something good might happen or Konate where it will be turned over or Morris where it will get stuck?
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Morris does get frustrating at times but he's still one of the best scorers on a team that struggles to score. Over the past 5 games Morris is averaging 14.1 ppg, 49% FG and 50% 3 pt, yet you want to replace that with players that are even more inconsistent?
 

Carlos this year's primary whipping boy for all things Gophers

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Morris does get frustrating at times but he's still one of the best scorers on a team that struggles to score. Over the past 5 games Morris is averaging 14.1 ppg, 49% FG and 50% 3 pt, yet you want to replace that with players that are even more inconsistent?
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Put me in this camp. I understand why people get on Morris, he does plenty of head-scratching things, but he's still one of our 3 best players, and I don't see a lack of effort on his part. If the effort wasn't there, I get it, but I don't see him dogging it out there. With this team's many, many limitations, why should Pitino bench one of his best scorers/perimeter shooters, and a guy that is capable of getting to the lane and scoring in some traffic?

Two years ago it was Oto (and to a lesser extent Austin) sucks, last year it was EE sucks, and this year it's Morris, who holds the current edge over Joey for the fans' favorite whipping boy this season. This team has a lot bigger issues than Carlos' individual shortcomings. He is what he is, and I'll still take him on the floor at the end of the game (along with King, Mason, Murphy, and TBD) if by some chance the Gophers still have a chance to win it.
 



GopherWeatherGuy said:
Morris does get frustrating at times but he's still one of the best scorers on a team that struggles to score. Over the past 5 games Morris is averaging 14.1 ppg, 49% FG and 50% 3 pt, yet you want to replace that with players that are even more inconsistent?
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Makes you wonder who these great basketball minds are...
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Morris does get frustrating at times but he's still one of the best scorers on a team that struggles to score. Over the past 5 games Morris is averaging 14.1 ppg, 49% FG and 50% 3 pt, yet you want to replace that with players that are even more inconsistent?
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I'm more and more thinking this. His ball stopping drives me insane, inability to defend a back door cut, long two point jumpers, passing up open shots for worse shots and ignoring his teammates for his own shots. But at the same time he is one of the best shooters on the team and along with Mason can bail us out when the offense stalls. So while he's not my favorite player, on this roster of poor shooters he is a necessity.
 

I don't know how people get the idea that Buggs is a top talent on this team. To me that is just wishful thinking because he is athletic. Again:
In the OSU game he played 17 minutes, was 0-3, 1 rebound, 1 TO and 3 PF.
Against Milwaukee, he played 23 min., was 0-3, 1 rebound, 2TO, 2 assists.

2 rebounds, no points in 40 minutes.

And this doesn't measure his 'contribution' on defense.
Remember, when he was a prep student, we couldn't find his stats and the conclusion he wasn't playing much then.
Lots of scrutiny is justifiably on Pitino, and I suppose giving Buggs time couldn't hurt terribly, but again, its probably wishful thinking that it will have an impact. As E9 said, his transformation to a player who knew what was going on probably would have happened by now if it was going to.
 

Otis said:
So that is why King is so entitled? Cause he works his butt off? Hard-workers are usually good rebounders! It's all a matter of position and will to beat the other guy to the spot and box him out. King sucks at rebounding! Thus in my mind he is not a hard worker. If you bring it in practice and don't bring it in the games, get used to splinters!
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I do think King has lost some effort this year. He noticeably isn't as active as prior years. However, I do think from what Pitino has said he continues to work hard in practice and do the right things off the court. Part of the problem too is his physical limitations do cap him at a certain point.

That said, no clue why he can't rebound more. It is more than just effort. Just as defense is more than just effort. But he should be better than he is. I Don't know if all the defensive breakdowns and having to help just makes everyone collectively bad at rebounding or what. But it is a huge problem.
 

Otis said:
So that is why King is so entitled? Cause he works his butt off? Hard-workers are usually good rebounders! It's all a matter of position and will to beat the other guy to the spot and box him out. King sucks at rebounding! Thus in my mind he is not a hard worker. If you bring it in practice and don't bring it in the games, get used to splinters!
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I'd also add rebounding out of a zone is harder too in general

(Side note: no clue why we play so much zone)
 

I was a 5'11" PF who averaged 9 rebounds a game. Maybe it's because my ass is so wide but I think he should be better.
 

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