Welp, another turd against a bottom-half MAC team. It's on the road, which shouldn't be too much of a disappointment, but crapping the bed against BGSU at home makes this one harder.

Regardless of whether the players or Murphy deserve the blame for this particular loss, we've seen far too many dreadful starts in the MAC under Murphy's tenure.

(01-13-2018 06:17 PM)emdypo Wrote:  Nobody is saying that the players don't share the blame. But anybody with two eyes can see their is talent on this team. So, if the issue isn't talent, then you could blame the players on occasion for poor play or poor effort. But this type of performance is epidemic of Murphy coached teams. I've watched this same game 100 times in Murphy's tenure, its defined by sloppy play, odd player substitutions, long runs by the other team, and poor offensive play by EMU.

Doesnt matter whose fault it is when you lose because ultimately the head coach will gain credit for Ws and blame for losses due to not having talent, not preparing his team, lack of in-game ability, lack of strategy...pick one.

(01-13-2018 06:22 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Kudos to this German kid who's hitting threes from wherever. Too little too late for this comeback.

Yep, he put the dagger into EMU. We tried to come back and take the lead but he kept hitting the trey.

I did NOT like Murphy's substituting. It was like he thought we were playing No. Michigan and could turn it on whenever we wanted.

It should be very, very obvious that we have a huge hole behind JT4 and like it or not, we have to play JT4 for 36 minutes unless the game is a blowout. We need a blowout game (fair number in the MAC this year) to substitute in the big men.

We will really need to go JUCO or graduate transfer to get an experienced post player for next year, regardless of whether or not JT4 returns.

I'm starting to get the feeling Thompson won't want to come back after another season of near .500 conference record and 2nd round tournament loss.

Dear Friends,
The last three pointers by Northern is what killed us. They were making those shots right out of their butts. Yes, we didn't play well, but those were just pure luck. I do agree that the MAC season is over. Another .500 record at best.

Yep, murphy's bizarre substitutions, especially in the 2nd half, did not help at all. If you want Isaiah Green to get some run, do it in the 1st half. And why no McAdoo today?

At the same time, when both Groce and Minnie were walking turnovers in the 2nd half, you have to put SOMEONE on the wing to get them out of there. Should've just put Nobles and Bond back there with either Ellison, Harris, or McAdoo at guard. I have no clue why he went to Green.

(01-13-2018 06:34 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Yep, murphy's bizarre substitutions, especially in the 2nd half, did not help at all. If you want Isaiah Green to get some run, do it in the 1st half. And why no McAdoo today?

At the same time, when both Groce and Minnie were walking turnovers in the 2nd half, you have to put SOMEONE on the wing to get them out of there. Should've just put Nobles and Bond back there with either Ellison, Harris, or McAdoo at guard. I have no clue why he went to Green.

Agree. Substitutions is the ONE thing the coach really controls.

Forum posters talking about playing the bench, playing the frosh, etc. etc. but the coach has to take responsibility for substitutions and playing time, and tonight was not the time to go deep into the front court depth.

Could have saved it for next week against lesser opponents at home if a lead opens up.

The one other thing I didn't like is how he recruited for the front court. I still don't know what position Green, a JUCO plays. King and Jones are as green as grass.

Lack of solid experience post players behind the starters are killing us in these games. This is not the first time it has happened.

I think we got a pretty good shake from the officials. And Ken is correct, German hit 3 three pointers that were just plain un-defendable, which proved to be the dagger.

That being said we start possibly the nation's longest lineup and yet get out rebounded consistently. NIU got a lot of offensive rebounds after missed free throws while we often don't have anyone on the lane when we are shooting them even though we suck shooting free throws.

Rebounding is just plain effort and we have only one player who expends effort here. Minnie actually did tip one in late in desperation but I think that with our length we should be getting a whole lot more baskets this way.

Murph was obviously out-coached once again today. He seems to be concerned with only the 2-3 zone defense thus we do nothing else particularly well.

Mixed feelings. This is the only way we're getting a new coach.

(01-13-2018 07:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Mixed feelings. This is the only way we're getting a new coach.

Season was over after BGSU. At this point, we should all be pulling hard for less than 20 wins.

I believe we all would Murphy to succeed but the past two seasons and this one have been disappointing and not to the level Murphy rebuild the program to

(01-14-2018 06:05 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I believe we all would Murphy to succeed but the past two seasons and this one have been disappointing and not to the level Murphy rebuild the program to

Not all.