IMO there are several factors that have contributed to the up and down performance of this squad. I listed the 3 most impactful in a previous thread.

The fourth factor is Hawk. Good guy by all accounts. Does a good job with the program overall as evidenced by recruiting and managing the kids while they are under his watch. No felons, no NCAA investigations, no embrassaments to speak of, generally competitive teams that represent the University in a very positive light.

So how does Hawk figure into this up and down season. Better yet, his entire tenure at WMU. If changes are needed that will bring improvement will they be brought about?

It's my opinion and I wont saddle anyone else with my dopedom but I believe the success of a team is predicated on utilizing the parts at hand in a manner that squeezes out the most of abilities so the 5 fingers act as one fist (to overuse a Coach K'ism taken from others no less).

In otherwords, shape the strategy to fit the players you will play so their strengths are magnified, weaknesses minimized and to the point where they can be blended showing only the collective strength.

I have a list of 3 things that ID and possibly explain things under Hawk's tenure.

1. Hawk is principled. In other words, he has values he is commited to and can articulate as to why he holds them and isnt flip flopping around.

Moral decisions are one thing. The type of defense or offense you play is all together different. If you shape your morals based on circumstances you are at best a opportunist but most would see you as a hypocrit. Running an offense or defense to fit your personnel and or a changing things up to fit a circumstance in a game is considered at least, appropriate.

He isnt flexible. He sticks with what doesnt fit. He trys to make it fit. Hey!

Dribble drive a couple years ago, with the intention of isolating Joe, using DK and spotting Workman/Drews makes sense. But wait. You have Shawntees a 4 in a 2's body and a possession PG in Mike Redell. It's called the dribble drive for a reason and 2/3's of it can't turn the corner, handle under pressure or create and make J's on their own. Dre was fine but he wasnt really an primary option and to know you are option # 4 or 5 is less than confidence building. Ooops.

Don Lawson, a stud, who runs like a deer and can play above the rim is asked to stand still and hold position on the block and then make 99% of his moves below the rim. In fact, below his waist (footwork). Same with Flen. Ooopps.

MD, Ward, DK, Flen and DLaw and only FC press when an assistant begs you as you are down 10-12 at home vs. BG. Why isnt that a staple? Throw in 'Tel and DB and you can keep the heat on. Ooopps.

Hayden Hordemann at PG. The kid is willing and even able (to a point). Meet Lewis Jackson of Purdue. Ooops. HH2 is a shooter. AR is a scorer. Scorers can also be playmakers. DJ Copper. AI. Just a shooter can't be a playmaker: Ben Gordon.

Matt Stainbrook trying to defend screen and rolls out on the floor in space. See KSU last year. Buffalo and their motion O last year. Ooopps.

2. Hawk doesnt trust himself so he doesnt trust the kids. Or he doesnt trust the kids so he doesnt trust himself.

Hawk swore he wouldn't play DK into the ground. He'd balance the PT, save legs, develop young talent and things will peak at tournament time.
Look, I loved DK dropping 38 on KSU and then in the tourney watching him torch others in quarters and semi's but as the year wore on, so did DK. His accomplishments were even more noteworthy since even one including the blind and deaf guy in the corner knew David would wind up with the ball trying to score.
I'm not second guessing the confidence in DK. I am second guessing both the short and long term wisdom of not developing others so DK would be even more impactful. In that tournament, DB has a career game (CMU?) and D Ward drains a 3 against Akron (semi's) but they never see the floor again. A career game for DB should have happened at the beginning of February and DW should have been logging 25 mpg. So when DK came out he could actually catch his breath.

The schedule: Hawk now having said he wouldnt do it again is also saying I don't trust the kids and or I don't trust myself with the kids. A schedule like this should have been embraced. And I believe it was until the results rolled in (including the give away at SDSU) and the moaning by fans that it "was the schedule". You have the horses, you have the carrot of PT for some, only two potential newcomers out of a 12 man rotation. Let the freaking thing go! Full speed ahead. Kick open the doors and take no prisoners. Even with the bit pulled back deep into the Bronco's throat we still competed against SDSU, Iona and Colorado. I dont know who'd we play if we beat Iona (Maryland) but whoever it would have been they were beatable too. 2-4 wins out of the first 5 games sets a whole different tone. A tone of confidence. Trust.

3. Hawk micromanages.
OU game. Ball in transition, shot clock off and OU is mentally suspect. Hawk calls a time out. I watched him frenetically draw up a play. What's to draw up? You should have 3-4 go too's practiced to death. No need to be hyper. If you need a TO fine. But the freneticness of his presentation (as a former teacher) doesnt impart knowledge nor allows you to read whether they are understanding your comments. It's distracting to watch. Can you imagine listening to it? Have the plays practiced, remind them of the clock and the D you want them in after they score. "Let's go!" Personally, I dont call a TO, I run my transition O and call out a play if we back it out. Make Ohio make the play. Don't give them time to be coached.

Same thing KSU, Akron and Buffalo. Practice makes perfect. Let the kids play. Ultimately they must. Don't give the other coach a chance to focus his team, change up on you and force you to do something your not prepared for. Trust the kids. Or trust what you already imparted in weeks and months of practice.

Now last night, I saw somethings that bode well. The competition or lack thereof helped.
1. Delay game that put an emphasis on keeping an eye open to take a gimme. And it was well executed.

2. AR at point when DW on the floor. Bodes well for next year. We will need at least 2 PG's next year, minimally.

3. I saw Hawk's adjustments to NIU both on D and O.
On D they took away the baseline on the wing screen and roll. Forced it to the middle, collected help waiting so our big wouldn't get caught in space. Possible weakness- slip screen to roll and slip screen to corner for J. Fortunately, NIU didnt have that corner shooter in their arsenel.

On O, they went high low with the posts putting Matt up high (to pass or snipe) and overloading the floor to one side creating space on the other. Freeing w-s shooters to move in more open space and occasionally our low post guy to move from one side to the other without catching and being doubled team immediately.

Could not agree more.

But at the end of your writing, one thing you forgot to include...We were playing a WEST TEAM that is a bottom dweller. You cannot all of a sudden say, "We fixed some things, Hawkins might have got it".

Tired of we get one petty win and all of a sudden we feel as if Hawk is a genius, not saying you did that, just putting it out there before everyone starts thinking that just because of the @NIU win, all of a sudden he is a good coach.

Nobody including Hawk is fooled by Wednesday nights performance. He understands NIU is not UNI or Akron or anyone else of note.

He had an opportunity to have the kids work on things and it worked out.
The kids, for the most point were ebulent with the result. They played hard, did not play down to the comp.

One step at a time.

They hung with the 4 best in the league losing by no more than a couple possessions with most on the road.

Build some confidence. Develop a swagger (again) and I hope that the tough OCC schedule will pay dividends with a completely healthy squad.

WMU may need to play 5 games. But those on the other side of the bracket will be knocking one another off too. We just need to lock in, play loose (Hawk- let the kids play for crying out loud) and be prepped to play instinctively (have your pet 2 inbounds and last second m-m and zone O practiced and ready to go) and dont call TO's. Let the kids finish the ride of the wave all the way into the shore. Get the stop, run it up, score or pull it out knowing how you want to attack and let the skill take over. We have the ball, pressure is on them to stop us. Let's see if they know what to do on the fly (manage clock, who they do or don't foul, who not to leave to help out on or to dbl team or not).

Trust yourself and the kids. That's what it is all about.

I have read too often the seniors don't lead. BULL.

Don't confuse execution with leadership. Patton didn't kill a single Nazi. But he did inspire. I will post another thread shortly on my view of the 3 seniors. It won't roll the way many of the white bread or is it bred(?) want it but they have proven time and again their ignorance is theirs, not the kids.

(02-17-2012 10:38 AM)gobaseline Wrote:  Nobody including Hawk is fooled by Wednesday nights performance. He understands NIU is not UNI or Akron or anyone else of note.

He had an opportunity to have the kids work on things and it worked out.
The kids, for the most point were ebulent with the result. They played hard, did not play down to the comp.

One step at a time.

They hung with the 4 best in the league losing by no more than a couple possessions with most on the road.

Build some confidence. Develop a swagger (again) and I hope that the tough OCC schedule will pay dividends with a completely healthy squad.

WMU may need to play 5 games. But those on the other side of the bracket will be knocking one another off too. We just need to lock in, play loose (Hawk- let the kids play for crying out loud) and be prepped to play instinctively (have your pet 2 inbounds and last second m-m and zone O practiced and ready to go) and dont call TO's. Let the kids finish the ride of the wave all the way into the shore. Get the stop, run it up, score or pull it out knowing how you want to attack and let the skill take over. We have the ball, pressure is on them to stop us. Let's see if they know what to do on the fly (manage clock, who they do or don't foul, who not to leave to help out on or to dbl team or not).

Trust yourself and the kids. That's what it is all about.

I have read too often the seniors don't lead. BULL.

Don't confuse execution with leadership. Patton didn't kill a single Nazi. But he did inspire. I will post another thread shortly on my view of the 3 seniors. It won't roll the way many of the white bread or is it bred(?) want it but they have proven time and again their ignorance is theirs, not the kids.

^this! YES!