The one thing that worked

[bga1]

Here is some reason for optimism: This disappointing team led the league in turnover margin- and that's considering conference play only. In fact it wasn't close. We had a +3 TO margin, with OSU the next best at 1.8. If Pitino can do that in Big Ten play with this squad, maybe this system can work in the Big Ten.

We were an average shooting team.
Near the bottom on rebounding
At the bottom on 3 pt FG %
Below average on FT% (which doesn't matter)

If we can field a team that can rebound better and continue with this ability to create extra possessions with turnover margin and then be able to convert those into points...the future could be good. Too often this year we would create a turnover but not be able to finish and take advantage on the other end. Or we would get a defensive stop and then not be able to rebound. Those are two things that can take the air out of a team in a hurry.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

Here is some reason for optimism: This disappointing team led the league in turnover margin- and that's considering conference play only. In fact it wasn't close. We had a +3 TO margin, with OSU the next best at 1.8. If Pitino can do that in Big Ten play with this squad, maybe this system can work in the Big Ten.

We were an average shooting team.
Near the bottom on rebounding
At the bottom on 3 pt FG %
Below average on FT% (which doesn't matter)

If we can field a team that can rebound better and continue with this ability to create extra possessions with turnover margin and then be able to convert those into points...the future could be good. Too often this year we would create a turnover but not be able to finish and take advantage on the other end. Or we would get a defensive stop and then not be able to rebound. Those are two things that can take the air out of a team in a hurry.

Thanks BGA, this is one of the main reasons I have optimism. There were MULTIPLE times this year where Pitino was able to turn teams over that we usually do not turn the ball over. The style CAN work, and he did it with a roster that wasn't built to run this type of ball. If he can get his recruits, they don't even have to be elite, we can at a minimum run a brand of basketball that is different and will catch many teams off guard. Is that what I want? To be a different team? Only if it equates to wins and a better than .500 Big 10 record on a consistent basis.

Get some guards that fit the program, get some size in the front court and we might see some nice results.

 

[tinyarch]

Good points.

Next year will be a learning experience for players that are almost all recruits of Richard Pitino. We will have buy-in to the system and we will have recruits who are eager to prove to the coach that he was right to have sought them out. We are going to be more athletic (but we will be raw). We will have stronger players who can attack the rim and even play above the rim. It will be fun to watch the team improve next season from the opening game to the last game of the season. I do not expect an NCAA bid and perhaps not even an NIT bid, but I do expect to see vast improvement from beginning to end. This year is officially done, time to look forward with optimism.

 

[mplarson7]

In addition to continuing to turn teams over, I think fixing the rebounding deficit needs to be a priority. The team looked much better (at least in my eyes) when they were able to secure a rebound and get out and run. Plus all the second chance points other teams put on us...brutal.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Talent is nice - players with "smarts" are nice - and if you can find players with talent AND smarts, you can get a lot done.

This year's team simply was not that talented, and showed an shocking lack of smarts at times.

As far as the turnover thing, that's great - but if you're going to play that style, you have to have depth - and this year's team had no meaningful depth.

I understand the program is in transition between two very different BB philosophies, but outside of Mason and King, I just don't see a lot of bright spots. Players like Konate, Gaston, Morris and Buggs need to lock themselves in the gym and weight room from now until next fall. If they don't show some major improvement, then it comes down to crossing your fingers that the FR can walk right in and immediately play at a B1G-caliber level - which is an awful lot to ask.

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[jovs]

In addition to continuing to turn teams over, I think fixing the rebounding deficit needs to be a priority. The team looked much better (at least in my eyes) when they were able to secure a rebound and get out and run. Plus all the second chance points other teams put on us...brutal.

This is what I was wondering, what were the stats on second/third chances, I am guessing that the numbers went against the Gophers and wonder how many of the loses might have been wins by just changing this stat.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

If they don't show some major improvement, then it comes down to crossing your fingers that the FR can walk right in and immediately play at a B1G-caliber level - which is an awful lot to ask.

I'll believe it when I see it.

If your expectation is elite level of play next year, then yeah it's an awful lot to ask. But if you truly believe what you mentioned in the post, that the program is in transition between two significantly different philosophies, then next year the FR do not have to play at the B1G caliber level.

Manage expectations fellas. It's going to be a process.

 

[cjbfbp]

In addition to continuing to turn teams over, I think fixing the rebounding deficit needs to be a priority. The team looked much better (at least in my eyes) when they were able to secure a rebound and get out and run. Plus all the second chance points other teams put on us...brutal.

In my view that is the #1 deficiency that needs to be addressed (#2 is better coverage on three point shooters).

People can talk about the turnover/steals prowess all they want but we still finished 6-12 in the conference with that high national ranking and I'm guessing that the non-conference contributed significantly to that national ranking. I do remember one conference game (Purdue at home) where we had a ridiculously high differential on turnovers/steals (something like plus 29) and still only won by something like four points. If we can have that high of a differential against a good team and the final score is still that close, obviously we have some important other issues to address.

 

[EG#9]

Here is some reason for optimism: This disappointing team led the league in turnover margin- and that's considering conference play only. In fact it wasn't close. We had a +3 TO margin, with OSU the next best at 1.8. If Pitino can do that in Big Ten play with this squad, maybe this system can work in the Big Ten.

We were an average shooting team.
Near the bottom on rebounding
At the bottom on 3 pt FG %
Below average on FT% (which doesn't matter)

If we can field a team that can rebound better and continue with this ability to create extra possessions with turnover margin and then be able to convert those into points...the future could be good. Too often this year we would create a turnover but not be able to finish and take advantage on the other end. Or we would get a defensive stop and then not be able to rebound. Those are two things that can take the air out of a team in a hurry.

This is a really good post and gives me a little more optimism for the future. I've never been concerned about a "style of play" not working in a particular conference or at a particular school. Any style of play can be successful if you have the right player to implement your system. I head Mike Ellis (assistant AD) on the radio last week with Doogie and he said Pitino was frustrated some by not being able to play the way he wanted to play due to athletic limitations on the roster. For the most part, he's trying to implement a system that requires better than average athletes on the defensive end on a team that was probably below average athletically at at least 3 of the 5 positions on the court. Even with those limitations, we lead the league in turnover margin so that is certainly a positive sign.