With a pair of capable senior guards on the floor, who had played against this same team weeks before, it's hard to suggest they didn't know how to attack UCF effectively on offense. Has fatigue become a factor? I saw a lot of shots on the front of the rim which can be indicative of that. But what to make of SMU at this point in the season with their very short bench? They seem to be rolling based on their recent scoring performances.

As many of us keep saying, get to the Sweet Sixteen and the UCF game will be long forgotten. Alternately, go down in the first game of the NCAA with a performance that poor and people will point back to the game in Orlando as the turning point-- when the wheels came loose in what has been, so far, an excellent regular season.

(02-28-2017 11:55 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  With a pair of capable senior guards on the floor, who had played against this same team weeks before, it's hard to suggest they didn't know how to attack UCF effectively on offense. Has fatigue become a factor? I saw a lot of shots on the front of the rim which can be indicative of that. But what to make of SMU at this point in the season with their very short bench? They seem to be rolling based on their recent scoring performances.

As many of us keep saying, get to the Sweet Sixteen and the UCF game will be long forgotten. Alternately, go down in the first game of the NCAA with a performance that poor and people will point back to the game in Orlando as the turning point-- when the wheels came loose in what has been, so far, an excellent regular season.

If you look at how the Bearcats have fared in the last 10 games over the past decade, they have not performed well down the stretch. Fatigue may be a big factor.

(02-28-2017 11:09 AM)bearcatjim Wrote:  Yeah I don't think he slept on them. Just underestimated how bothered Tacko made guys like Gary, Kyle, and Troy. The win the first time masked some of that. They were freaked out. Needed a few more ways of making Tacko commit to a shooter with a quick pass to open guy. And it would be nice if we would have hit more open shots.

This is why I think he slept on UCF.

But maybe after this last brick show, Mick will finally not default to this team's improved shooting to carry the offense.

Troy bricked a few of the most wide open shots you'll ever see.

(02-28-2017 01:21 PM)DownOnRohs Wrote:  

(02-28-2017 11:09 AM)bearcatjim Wrote:  Yeah I don't think he slept on them. Just underestimated how bothered Tacko made guys like Gary, Kyle, and Troy. The win the first time masked some of that. They were freaked out. Needed a few more ways of making Tacko commit to a shooter with a quick pass to open guy. And it would be nice if we would have hit more open shots.

This is why I think he slept on UCF.

But maybe after this last brick show, Mick will finally not default to this team's improved shooting to carry the offense.

Troy bricked a few of the most wide open shots you'll ever see.

Many may disagree with me on this... but this where I have problems with Mick's philosophy. If you believe that defense wins, and defense travels on the road, I think you have to use your bench. It's hard work switching all the time, and grinding out on D til the shot clock dies. Defensive minded teams have to use their bench more unless you're a Syracuse type team, and play with length out of a 2/3.

It some times looks like our guys treat offense as their time to rest.

Fatigue is the #1 factor. I seen it and called it 3weeks ago. No way troy, Washington, and Clark should play over 30+ min a game. Mick don't even think about subbing until the 2 nd tv timeout in both halfs. He needs stop been so stubborn and come to realization that Cumberland/jenifer might have games where they outperform kj/troy. He's been trying to force his two SR guards to become something their not for 4yrs now. We not winning in March if jenifer only playing 8min a game.

I don't think Mick has ever slept on any team or been unprepared for a game. Not his style at all. My take is that he/the staff actually over prepared them for Tacko to a point that everyone was thinking way too much every time they got inside 3 point range. That obviously wasn't intentional & not blaming Mick. We are lucky to have him.

Instead of attacking the hoop & not worrying about a blocked shot or 2, they took the exact opposite approach. Hesitate, worry, think, adjust the shot after you already started shooting... No chance.

Not taking anything away from Tacko. He is a huge presence & game changer in there. Our guys played scared inside & probably the worst they will play but still only lost because of a missed dunk with 2 seconds left.

25-4 is fine with me. Next game can't get here soon enough.

Playing against taco or not against him we still build houses on road.

If we was scared against taco, I hate to see us play lottery pick

(02-28-2017 10:56 PM)cincy11 Wrote:  I don't think Mick has ever slept on any team or been unprepared for a game. Not his style at all. My take is that he/the staff actually over prepared them for Tacko to a point that everyone was thinking way too much every time they got inside 3 point range. That obviously wasn't intentional & not blaming Mick. We are lucky to have him.

Instead of attacking the hoop & not worrying about a blocked shot or 2, they took the exact opposite approach. Hesitate, worry, think, adjust the shot after you already started shooting... No chance.

Not taking anything away from Tacko. He is a huge presence & game changer in there. Our guys played scared inside & probably the worst they will play but still only lost because of a missed dunk with 2 seconds left.

25-4 is fine with me. Next game can't get here soon enough.

Cronin HAS to make a deep run with this crew...if he can't...it's a problem that will have to be dealt with.