In the latest NCAA Division 1 Basketball Defensive Statistics, Toledo ranks 320 out of 347 Teams giving up an average of 79.7 points per game. Of the 38 teams giving up 79 points per game or more, only 7 teams have winning records. Of those 7 winning teams, 4 teams average 81 points per game or more on offense which is what Toledo averages (27th nationally). Those 4 teams are Central Michigan, Marshall, Portland St and Nebraska Omaha. What these statistics tell me is that teams like Toledo that give up this amount of points per game put a tremendous amount of pressure on their offense to outscore their opponents on a game to game basis. If you look at Toledo's 12 losses this year, many of them very close, it is a lack of defensive stops in crunch time that is the major reason why their record is what it is. You cannot fault their overall effort this season, but you can fault their lack of defensive execution!

I agree--I don't think it's a case of guys not giving effort (maybe not playing as smart as needed on D, but not thru lack of physical effort). I think we can put 5 guys on the floor who can be an offensive threat against any non-top 20 team in the country, and those stats you reference bear that out. Unfortunately, as potent as our offense can be, execution on D has cost us possessions, leads & games.

I did think that in December the D was looking better (comparatively speaking), but it has regressed since then. I'm sure the lack of quality depth has factored in, because it takes energy to play defense well, and we just look like a team that is running out of gas.

Remember what happened last year.

(02-06-2017 10:36 AM)Screwball Wrote:  Remember what happened last year.

Unfortunately, I do. No way that squad should have finished with a losing record in the MAC. Going to take a big effort from more than a few guys for this season's team to finish better than last season's. Were 2 games under, and have 8 games left, with 5 of them being against teams we've already lost to. Not saying that means we'll get swept, just that the road will be tough.

Even more disappointing is that coach never really addresses this. Maybe a passing comment occasionally. Must not think it's a problem.

I like TK, but the increasing lack of emphasis on defense may be his downfall...

TK is known as an elite offensive coach. He's never put a good defensive team on the floor, although Rian Pearson kinda willed us to some decent defensive performances for a couple years. The flip side is a so-so team that plays good d but sucks on offense gets you fired pretty fast and turns off fans faster. You'd think he'd learn from last year about shortening his bench down the stretch and having his team burn out. This year he seems to be doing the same thing. You also gotta decide if a guy who is pretty good on offense but generally terrible on d is worth keeping on the floor 30 minutes a game-will not call him out here.