The football season ended (kind of) for EMU. I guess with national signing day Feb 1 and spring ball, college football never really goes out of season.

Someone once joked to me about football in the south: football season, bowl season, and then spring ball.

Well, hard to believe our football season (on the field) ended less than a week from the end of the MBB OOC season.

I just wonder if LBSU is the final tuneup OR if Murphy make shuffle lineup and strategy and go closer to what he had last season.

If it were me, I'd be tempted to go with JT4 at center, Jones at '4', Nobles playing his game somewhere up front. Let Steele spell JT4 at center.

I might be wrong, but I also sense that Murphy is holding back for the start of the conference season. He knows he needs one of the two best conference records/post seasons to make the NCAAs or NIT. As fans on the main board noted, other than Akron and Ohio the MAC isn't exactly killing it this year.

Someone (one or two teams) will get hot during the conference season...

I just don't believe the 'experiment' with JT4 and Steele worked, not because they can't play but I still believe, as apparently others do, that JT4 is not a zone '4'.

Steve,

I love your enthusiasm and information on EMU Basketball but there's no way a team that loses to an average to good Syracuse team by 50+ points is going to win the MAC or make the NCAA tournament.

I've seen this team play a couple times this season and even with all of our talent, we will be lucky to finish 2 games over .500 in the league.

Murphy simply can not coach this team up but I will be at our home games rooting for Coach Murphy and EMU Basketball!

Go EMU!!!

(12-25-2016 03:53 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Steve,

I love your enthusiasm and information on EMU Basketball but there's no way a team that loses to an average to good Syracuse team by 50+ points is going to win the MAC or make the NCAA tournament.

I've seen this team play a couple times this season and even with all of our talent, we will be lucky to finish 2 games over .500 in the league.

Murphy simply can not coach this team up but I will be at our home games rooting for Coach Murphy and EMU Basketball!

Go EMU!!!

You are saying the team is not playing well and I don't really disagree.

What I am saying is that I hope the team that we have seen recently is not the same team we'll see vs. CMU after New Years.

What I'm getting at, is that Murphy may need to undo some changes so that the team closer to its potential.

(12-25-2016 09:55 AM)emu steve Wrote:  The football season ended (kind of) for EMU. I guess with national signing day Feb 1 and spring ball, college football never really goes out of season.

Someone once joked to me about football in the south: football season, bowl season, and then spring ball.

Well, hard to believe our football season (on the field) ended less than a week from the end of the MBB OOC season.

I just wonder if LBSU is the final tuneup OR if Murphy make shuffle lineup and strategy and go closer to what he had last season.

If it were me, I'd be tempted to go with JT4 at center, Jones at '4', Nobles playing his game somewhere up front. Let Steele spell JT4 at center.

I might be wrong, but I also sense that Murphy is holding back for the start of the conference season. He knows he needs one of the two best conference records/post seasons to make the NCAAs or NIT. As fans on the main board noted, other than Akron and Ohio the MAC isn't exactly killing it this year.

Someone (one or two teams) will get hot during the conference season...

I just don't believe the 'experiment' with JT4 and Steele worked, not because they can't play but I still believe, as apparently others do, that JT4 is not a zone '4'.

I would like to see a 122 zone or man to man defense he just Doesn't have the players for the 221 or what ever the zone he is playing now. To me he lines up 4 across with the who ever is center under the basket. Many times a guard or forward gets past this and the center has a 2 on 1 disadvantage.

(12-27-2016 09:33 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-25-2016 09:55 AM)emu steve Wrote:  The football season ended (kind of) for EMU. I guess with national signing day Feb 1 and spring ball, college football never really goes out of season.

Someone once joked to me about football in the south: football season, bowl season, and then spring ball.

Well, hard to believe our football season (on the field) ended less than a week from the end of the MBB OOC season.

I just wonder if LBSU is the final tuneup OR if Murphy make shuffle lineup and strategy and go closer to what he had last season.

If it were me, I'd be tempted to go with JT4 at center, Jones at '4', Nobles playing his game somewhere up front. Let Steele spell JT4 at center.

I might be wrong, but I also sense that Murphy is holding back for the start of the conference season. He knows he needs one of the two best conference records/post seasons to make the NCAAs or NIT. As fans on the main board noted, other than Akron and Ohio the MAC isn't exactly killing it this year.

Someone (one or two teams) will get hot during the conference season...

I just don't believe the 'experiment' with JT4 and Steele worked, not because they can't play but I still believe, as apparently others do, that JT4 is not a zone '4'.

I would like to seeva 122 zone or man to man defense he just Doesn't have the players for the 221 or what ever the zone he is playing now. To me he lines up 4 across with the who is center undervtje basket. Many times a guard or forward gets past this and the center has a 2 on 1 disadvantage.

Super, your analysis is on the money. If you play a zone the defense can not allow dribble penetration because it results in a 2 on 1. Also can't allow the pass into the free throw line area because cutters go baseline for dunks (aka SMU over, and over, and over). Murphy's zone tries to guard the perimeter 3pt shooters from getting good shots. However if the offense is patient or if the ball is allowed to go into the paint, it can be kicked out for an open look. There are too many holes in a zone defense which is why 99℅ of teams do not play it very often.

Typically you play zone when you do not have the athletes but Murphy is more athletic at virtually every position against MAC foes and should go man atleast occasionally.

We discussed the zone ad nauseum and Murphy is not going to run a man to man. Could lead to his undoing and it is so frustrating because he's a decent recruiter.

Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

(12-27-2016 11:43 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

Agree Sam. What's frustrating is that we see it but Murphy apparently doesn't. If his contract does not get renewed there will be no tears in my beer.

Let's be honest, EagleSam and Super are both right - we don't play zone defense well and have very little structure on offense. Murphy has been able to recruit enough talent to keep him hovering around 0.500 (take out the NIAI, Div 3 victories).

I am going to support this team...



..

I think the bandwagon emptied out after the Syracuse beat down. No respectable team loses by 48. Period. End of story.

(12-28-2016 12:46 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  I think the bandwagon emptied out after the Syracuse beat down. No respectable team loses by 48. Period. End of story.

Yep. Back to the CMU board goes Bob.

Game day.

I assume JT4 is playing. Toney????

(12-27-2016 02:34 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 11:43 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

Agree Sam. What's frustrating is that we see it but Murphy apparently doesn't. If his contract does not get renewed there will be no tears in my beer.

I disagree. You play zone to coverup a weakness in a player mostly a forward or center but it can be used for yor off guard. For man to man you need speed and quickness.

(12-29-2016 10:43 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 02:34 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 11:43 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

Agree Sam. What's frustrating is that we see it but Murphy apparently doesn't. If his contract does not get renewed there will be no tears in my beer.

I disagree. You play zone to coverup a weakness in a player mostly a forward or center but it can be used for yor off guard. For man to man you need speed and quickness.

Guys, Murphy did NOT decide to play zone to cover for un-athletic players. Bond, JT4, Lee, etc. are plenty athletic.

Murphy is a 'systems' guy. He plays a system. Adapts his players to that system. Recruits for that system. etc. etc.

Because he plays a zone it does NOT follow that JT4, Bond, Lee, etc. are not athletic to play man-to-man.

If I follow Luckeyone, they may be BETTER man to man players than zone players.

(12-29-2016 12:27 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 10:43 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 02:34 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 11:43 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

Agree Sam. What's frustrating is that we see it but Murphy apparently doesn't. If his contract does not get renewed there will be no tears in my beer.

I disagree. You play zone to coverup a weakness in a player mostly a forward or center but it can be used for yor off guard. For man to man you need speed and quickness.

Guys, Murphy did NOT decide to play zone to cover for un-athletic players. Bond, JT4, Lee, etc. are plenty athletic.

Murphy is a 'systems' guy. He plays a system. Adapts his players to that system. Recruits for that system. etc. etc.

Because he plays a zone it does NOT follow that JT4, Bond, Lee, etc. are not athletic to play man-to-man.

If I follow Luckeyone, they may be BETTER man to man players than zone players.

Steve/Super,

Like both of you, I have followed EMU Basketball since 1985. I was recruited to play college basketball but I was not good enough to actually play it. I have been an assistant and head coach to D1 basketball players in the AA-Toledo area for 10 years. I can tell you that Murphy's players are probably the most athletic in the MAC at three positions : shooting guard (Raven Lee), point guard (Tim Bond) and JT4. We are at our best when we push the ball up the floor on fast breaks and we can do so because we're athletic. I, for one, believe Murphy's players are more suited for a man to man defense; however, while he is coach, we will never know. It's been going on season 6 now and a man to man defense is not going to be displayed on EMU's home floor. EMU runs zone strictly based on Murphy's strategy.

Lyke hired a man to man defensive strategist to coach women's basketball. I wonder how much longer she waits to fix the basketball program? Would a 0.500 MAC season save Murphy's job??

Hopefully we'll fare much better than that but the season has been very, very disappointing so far with little interest.

(12-29-2016 05:14 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Game day.

I assume JT4 is playing. Toney????

Chad Bush just said Toney is out.

(12-29-2016 01:56 PM)EMUAARON Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 05:14 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Game day.

I assume JT4 is playing. Toney????

Chad Bush just said Toney is out.

Yes, and Nobles will start.

Bond will start at PG.

(12-29-2016 01:09 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 12:27 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 10:43 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 02:34 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 11:43 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

Agree Sam. What's frustrating is that we see it but Murphy apparently doesn't. If his contract does not get renewed there will be no tears in my beer.

I disagree. You play zone to coverup a weakness in a player mostly a forward or center but it can be used for yor off guard. For man to man you need speed and quickness.

Guys, Murphy did NOT decide to play zone to cover for un-athletic players. Bond, JT4, Lee, etc. are plenty athletic.

Murphy is a 'systems' guy. He plays a system. Adapts his players to that system. Recruits for that system. etc. etc.

Because he plays a zone it does NOT follow that JT4, Bond, Lee, etc. are not athletic to play man-to-man.

If I follow Luckeyone, they may be BETTER man to man players than zone players.

Steve/Super,

Like both of you, I have followed EMU Basketball since 1985. I was recruited to play college basketball but I was not good enough to actually play it. I have been an assistant and head coach to D1 basketball players in the AA-Toledo area for 10 years. I can tell you that Murphy's players are probably the most athletic in the MAC at three positions : shooting guard (Raven Lee), point guard (Tim Bond) and JT4. We are at our best when we push the ball up the floor on fast breaks and we can do so because we're athletic. I, for one, believe Murphy's players are more suited for a man to man defense; however, while he is coach, we will never know. It's been going on season 6 now and a man to man defense is not going to be displayed on EMU's home floor. EMU runs zone strictly based on Murphy's strategy.

Lyke hired a man to man defensive strategist to coach women's basketball. I wonder how much longer she waits to fix the basketball program? Would a 0.500 MAC season save Murphy's job??

Hopefully we'll fare much better than that but the season has been very, very disappointing so far with little interest.

We agree on a lot.

The question is philosophy: will Murphy continues to play the zone even though he has the talent to play man to man.

Also, I would junk the JT4 at '4' experiment and play him at center w. Steele backing him up.

Sidearms sports status page sucks, not working correctly, AGAIN!

(12-29-2016 12:27 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 10:43 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 02:34 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(12-27-2016 11:43 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Again, if you're not effective enough to defend a zone properly, you're not going to defend well in man-to-man either. I love how you guys think switching defenses will magically make the effort/skill problems go away.

We don't have a good defensive team this year, especially inside. That won't change in man-to-man. We are going to have to outscore teams in the MAC, and I don't know if we can do that.

Murphy's downfall will be the lack of an offensive system, not the zone defense.

Agree Sam. What's frustrating is that we see it but Murphy apparently doesn't. If his contract does not get renewed there will be no tears in my beer.

I disagree. You play zone to coverup a weakness in a player mostly a forward or center but it can be used for yor off guard. For man to man you need speed and quickness.

Guys, Murphy did NOT decide to play zone to cover for un-athletic players. Bond, JT4, Lee, etc. are plenty athletic.

Murphy is a 'systems' guy. He plays a system. Adapts his players to that system. Recruits for that system. etc. etc.

Because he plays a zone it does NOT follow that JT4, Bond, Lee, etc. are not athletic to play man-to-man.

If I follow Luckeyone, they may be BETTER man to man players than zone players.

Reminds of boone and his "only man to man defense " where he would have been much better off playing a zone. where in my post did i say they weren't athletic?

Nobles!!!!