Ugh. Down 3 with 5 minutes left. The one guy on their team that can shoot is hitting threes left and right. This reminds me of the Akron game, just without the awful start.

(02-01-2014 03:09 PM)emu steve Wrote:  I think Riley is ready for a big game.

Riley is !

WOW RAVEN LEE! Tied up with a minute left. We were down 6 literally 30 seconds ago.

Ugh tough luck there. Riley with a fantastic block and it goes right back to Miami, who hits a bunny. They're up 2 with 24 seconds left.

Terrible play call. I don't know why we wasted so much time for that.

Bad loss. Now we gotta win in Akron just to stay afloat.

Tough game to lose...

Dear Friends,
Boy Eastern just can't stand prosperity. Two nice leads and ends up losing. I think it's going to be a middle of the pack year.

Back to the same old same old might as have Boone back.

No offensive plan.

(02-01-2014 05:12 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  No offensive plan.

Yep and it's becoming a serious problem. If we aren't forcing turnovers or hitting miracle 3's, we don't score. I don't understand how his offensive system can be so poor.

At the risk of being taken out to the woodshed... I did say a little while ago, in another thread, that the jury was/is still out on Rob Murphy. I was told at that time, with some disdain, that he is a solid coach and that we would have a very good season and that the jury was in on him. This season is shaping up to be much like last season was in that we are losing way too many games in the final minutes and/or seconds.

I will say it again, the jury is still out on Rob Murphy's coaching ability. Yes, there is still a lot of season left but we are losing to teams we will be facing in the MAC Tournament and that is not an encouraging thing.

(02-01-2014 05:31 PM)HuronRob Wrote:  At the risk of being taken out to the woodshed... I did say a little while ago, in another thread, that the jury was/is still out on Rob Murphy. I was told at that time, with some disdain, that he is a solid coach and that we would have a very good season and that the jury was in on him. This season is shaping up to be much like last season was in that we are losing way too many games in the final minutes and/or seconds.

I will say it again, the jury is still out on Rob Murphy's coaching ability. Yes, there is still a lot of season left but we are losing to teams we will be facing in the MAC Tournament and that is not an encouraging thing.

I don't really think the jury is still out. After 2.5 years, we can confidently say Murphy "is what he is". He runs a good, active defense and gets his kids to play hard, but is lost offensively. The defense, plus the natural length and athleticism of our team, keeps us competitive with just about everyone we play, but the lack of offense holds us back from being a team that could win an NCAA Tourney game or two.

We all pretty much agreed before the season started that this year was our best chance to potentially win the MAC tourney and get a bid in the dance. I still stand by this and won't count us out until we lose in Cleveland, because I don't think there are any "dominant" teams in this league. If we can start closing out games better, we can beat anyone. This is fixable. The real question is: can Murphy fix it?

Great defense terrible offense.

(02-01-2014 05:15 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-01-2014 05:12 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  No offensive plan.

Yep and it's becoming a serious problem. If we aren't forcing turnovers or hitting miracle 3's, we don't score. I don't understand how his offensive system can be so poor.

We need a new offensive coordinator.

EMU beater from state of N.Y. 91
EMU beater from state of N.C. 89

That was a game as was Ohio - Toledo.

Miami and EMU... Not too much. :(

Hello all!

Well my girlfriend and I tried our best to help end the curse for EMU at Millett Hall. It was an interesting game and an interesting experience to say the least. Miami's motto for the season was Stand as One. My girlfriend asked me flatly as they were standing at the beginning of the game, quite simple why. I told her "they're just waiting for the first score." Then after the 7-0 run it was hilarious just watching the entire crowd sit down. I hate to admit it but I was glad when they finally scored as we didn't have to endure watching the game on their scoreboard which was essentially the online feed covered up with random stats. Plus their announcer enjoyed referring to the MAC as the "m a c" spelling each letter out. Beyond that though, pretty easy to get to and was an entertaining game down to the wire. Imagine how different our conversation would be if that last 3 went in instead.

I was shocked at how good the 3 point shooting was from both sides.. That I wasn't expecting at all. You also have to give eastern some credit at the end of the game for not folding when they fell down by 6 and they gave themselves a chance at the end of the game to win. In fairness that's all you can ask. As mentioned prior, we've been in every game which means that when MAC tourney play comes.. we should be confident against anyone if we just make one or two more plays.

I will agree though with the offense. Just way too much stagnant play, no good ball movement and just too many guys standing there looking clueless. It's what's holding this team back. We just need more set plays and better ball movement.

Ultimately our defensive effort is going to keep us in every game.. If we can find some identity offensively, perhaps this team can get hot. The Ohio game was really discouraging for the way we blew it at the end.. This game we did that to a degree but fought back to a tie game on the road in a city we haven't won at forever.

It was disappointing definitely but I can't fault the effort today. As I said, my girlfriend and I tried! :( We had fun except for the result.

Glad you were able to get to a game!

(02-01-2014 11:35 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Glad you were able to get to a game!

Yeah me too. I was up during Xmas break and was planning on attending the Rochester game but the threat of all that snow and ridiculous cold forced me to drive back early. The girl friend lives just outside of Cincinnati and actually graduated from HS at Millett, so it was a great compromise. I got her out to the Howard game as well at the beginning of football season.We might try to get up for the N. Illinois game back in Ypsi in March. We've got plans for a broadway show that were made months in advance for the 15th, so unfortunately I can't make what should be a great weekend back home.

Thought question of the day:

Posters here and on the main board seem to 'blame' the EMU zone for the inconsistent, mediocre, etc. EMU offense.

After watching 'Cuse put up 90+ points vs. a very good Duke team, my question is:

"Is there anything INHERITENT about playing a zone defense which should lead to that team playing sub-optimal offense?"

(02-02-2014 09:27 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Thought question of the day:

Posters here and on the main board seem to 'blame' the EMU zone for the inconsistent, mediocre, etc. EMU offense.

After watching 'Cuse put up 90+ points vs. a very good Duke team, my question is:

"Is there anything INHERITENT about playing a zone defense which should lead to that team playing sub-optimal offense?"

LONG TALL ATHLETES AND PLENTY OF THEM