Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

I think the issue is scoring droughts in general are the problem. UCONN went 9 minutes without scoring and we went 7 during that same stretch.

There are a lot of warts on this team (lack of inside scoring, stupid fouls/turnovers, talent etc.). However, not being able to finish down the stretch is a sign of mental weakness, poor execution and coaching.

More like bad basketball IQ - jack-up threes and bad shot selection at critical points, poor ball handling and passes that quite frankly shouldn't be attempted. Since league play, it seems like it's 3 vs 5 on the offensive end of the court. All the opposing defense has to do is pressure the ball and the Cats wilt worse than Valentines roses.

Too tired to finish strong?

Does our Coach's in-season strength and conditioning philosophy comes into play?

(02-22-2013 10:05 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

This has been the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team (once Big East play began)

I tend to agree with FLIP. BBall IQ is lacking. Georgetown is a great example. You were able to get back into the game by driving to the hoop. You have them on the ropes with 5 guys in foul trouble. They abandon the driving and go back to dribbling on the perimeter and jacking 3's. Fouling at inopportune times. However, the free throw shooting really drives me nuts. I think we would have 3 more wins, if we made half of our misses, ie GT / I think Providence was another.

(02-22-2013 10:52 AM)bearcatmill Wrote:  I tend to agree with FLIP. BBall IQ is lacking. Georgetown is a great example. You were able to get back into the game by driving to the hoop. You have them on the ropes with 5 guys in foul trouble. They abandon the driving and go back to dribbling on the perimeter and jacking 3's. Fouling at inopportune times. However, the free throw shooting really drives me nuts. I think we would have 3 more wins, if we made half of our misses, ie GT / I think Providence was another.

Include STJ and UNM where we lost by 1.

(02-22-2013 10:46 AM)OneUChoopsfan Wrote:  Too tired to finish strong?

Does our Coach's in-season strength and conditioning philosophy comes into play?

Or does our Coach's lack of Coaching adjustment come into play?
We're not playing the Little Sisters of San Moritz.

(02-22-2013 10:05 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

That's a total of 20 points in 29:42 with the game on the line!!

In that span I'd like to see what percentage of the shot attempts were 3-pointers.

I agree the basketball IQ is lacking on this team and that is disturbing with so many veterans at the guard position with so much experience. The other thing killing this team and I hate to say it is Cash's inability to hit the open shot now. He was always clutch and reliable when he got an open shot in critical situations like we've seen over the last several losses where UC had a chance to win or put the game away. He has just not delivered like he has in the past. Looking back to last night he missed a number of good open looks late in that game. It's been the same in a number of situations like that as they've gotten into the heart of Big East play.

(02-22-2013 02:57 PM)Marcus Wrote:  The other thing killing this team and I hate to say it is Cash's inability to hit the open shot now. He was always clutch and reliable when he got an open shot in critical situations like we've seen over the last several losses where UC had a chance to win or put the game away. He has just not delivered like he has in the past. Looking back to last night he missed a number of good open looks late in that game. It's been the same in a number of situations like that as they've gotten into the heart of Big East play.

He got a wide open, top of the key 3 with 2 minutes left and UC up 1 last night that I was sure he was going to hit. That's his shot, it wasn't 3 steps behind the line, he caught a swing pass and stepped into it - everything was there for him and it would have been a huge bucket. He bricked it, Napier came down and got fouled and tied it with a FT. So frustrating. A month ago he would have buried it. I guess he's just beat up, but I keep thinking he's going to turn it around and UC will be fine.

(02-22-2013 02:29 PM)Bearcat04 Wrote:  

(02-22-2013 10:05 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

That's a total of 20 points in 29:42 with the game on the line!!

You've got to be careful about cherry-picked stats like that and I say that in two respects.

First, I'm sure there were other games where UC scored better than those examples when the game is "on the line" (not to mention the important fact "on the line" is being defined/determined arbitrarily AFTER the results are known). What's UC's average during ALL those periods and how does it compare to their opponents is a more meaningful measure. Although it also begs the question of how to play/coach better when the game is "on the line" as opposed to playing/coaching better "in general" (and I don't say that in reference to UC or Mick in particular.)

Secondly, it's also a pretty good bet those times weren't chosen randomly. Instead it's probably right after a UC score. So rather than saying they scored only 20 points in 29:42 of "game on the line", they might well have scored something closer to 32 points (if they were 2 point baskets) in 29:48 of "game on the line". That may not be great either, but considering they were up in most of those games and at least theoretically looking to use up clock it might actually be a fairly reasonable rate.

Quote:In that span I'd like to see what percentage of the shot attempts were 3-pointers.

I'm not sure what that tells us assuming we're all in favor of taking good (meaning open shots near the line) 3 pointers by quality shooters like SK and Cash (well at least earlier this season). I'm sure UC has taken some bad 3 pointers during those stretches that hurt us, but how much of that is that they just didn't go in? (as opposed to the bad 3 point shots UConn took in OT that all seemed to go in?)

It's frustrating to lose close games, but I think most of it is simply the result of playing good teams in close games (which is going to happen almost always in our conference) and the ball not bouncing our way lately. Well that and the fact that Cash just isn't the same - but I'm not sure what to do about that rather than letting him play his way back and hoping it comes sooner rather than later...

(02-22-2013 10:05 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

Great post Nacho A team that has this much trouble closing out (and has had that trouble all year) is just not very good.

(02-22-2013 10:05 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

Good post Nacho, here's what I've been thinking, is it possible that by playing tough sit down defense for roughly 30 seconds of opponents possesion that UC is the team wearing down ( tired legs make shots come up short ). This is where I think Mick is wrong. To be a defensive team like UC is you have to have a center ( someone who can back is opponent down under the basket and score ) that can take the scoring load off of the guards and forwards who are constantly running around on defense. Still say the only way for UC to play is constantly rebound and go and never quit running, you are looking for a 2 on 1,3 on 2, 4 on 3 or 5 on 4 and take the first open shot available. That is the only way to use the advantage that UC has over other teams, their athleticism.

(02-22-2013 10:05 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  Here’s a trend I wish UC would magically somehow correct.

UConn game – up 53-47 with 4:21 left in the game. Score just 2 points in the last 4:21.
G-town game – up 51-50 with 6:53 left. Score just 4 points in the last 6:53.
Pitt game - up 48-47 with 5:54 left. Score just 4 points in the last 5:54.
Prov game – down 1 with 3:25 left. Score just 4 points in the last 3:25.
Cuse game – up 54-48 with 3:46 left. Score just 1 point in the last 3:46.
New Mexico game – up 49-48 with 5:23 left. Score just 5 points in the last 5:23.

End of game scoring droughts cost UC all of these games.

Pretty much what I've been saying on all the threads, but you backed it up with the actual facts.

Good post.

I think we are all trying to reinvent the wheel with these theories. We need some guys to hit shots, same story the whole season. Last year's team had a killer instinct, this year's team just doesn't seem to have it.

These guys are not consistent scorers. Never were. Never will be. No matter how much fans lionize them or hope or justify or pontificate.

Having to play 3 on 5 when we have the ball is a nice touch, too.

@LanceMcAlister
#Bearcats last 15 games (7-8): Averaging 9.1 PTS first 8 minutes of games, shooting 33% last 9 minutes of regulation http://www.quickfixsports.com/basketball...he-bubble/

(02-23-2013 01:24 PM)Bearcat04 Wrote:  @LanceMcAlister
#Bearcats last 15 games (7-8): Averaging 9.1 PTS first 8 minutes of games, shooting 33% last 9 minutes of regulation http://www.quickfixsports.com/basketball...he-bubble/

How come Lance is tweeting about the Bearcats now they are struggling? Where was he when we started out 12-0 or after we kicked Pitt's junk in the dirt in Pittsburgh?