(02-11-2018 08:19 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-11-2018 08:04 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(02-11-2018 07:10 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-10-2018 11:51 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-10-2018 11:45 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  You keep saying things as if they are fact, and it simply isn't the case. Our defense is among the best in the conference, and that is proven by several different statistical factors. Our offense and free throw shooting are, statistically, among the worst in the league and continue to handicap us. Combine that and it leads to mediocrity. Hence, the 5-7 record.

Indeed, as Sam indicates: in sports the best (offense [or defense]) combined with the worst (defense [or offense]) will probably produce a mid-pack result.

Indeed, EMU is TWO points from a 7 - 5 record (the regulation margin in the two BG games). And 5 - 7 is a mid-pack record.

One other thing was on display today: Most teams do not have two bad halves of basketball. What we saw was more typical. Each had one good half and one really bad half.

I agree Murphy's teams do play some very good defense. Like Luckey, however, I am frustrated at the 100% all consuming aspect to it as well as the offensive rebounding it allows. In my opinion our lack of offense is a direct result of the emphasis on the precious "zone" instead of developing any offensive strategy. It also dominates our recruiting efforts as we go after long, lanky, fast guys who can play it well. BG's two 3 point shooters Frye and Fox simply are not EMU material because they are not athletic enough to contribute to our zone defense but they indeed shredded it twice this year with 3 pointers.

Yes Steve we do have a great zone defense but like Castro does with the women's team we need to make an adjustment at times. If a team is killing us with put backs on missed shots or drilling open threes, it's time to come out of the zone for awhile. That's what successful coaches do.

We made BG look pretty silly yesterday in the first half. They came out of the locker room looking for the high post to baseline pass and made a lot of baskets. They also crashed the offensive boards. Murphy, to his credit tightened up the zone but then the threes started raining. That is what coaching is all about and why we consistently lose the second half of our games.

Uh oh Jerry,

You just criticized the zone. Watch out, Steve and Sam are going to attack you LOL :-)

Luckey we play a GREAT zone like Steve and Sam point out. We just don't need to be obsessed with it.