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(02-11-2024 09:21 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(02-11-2024 07:56 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  I think Vik is an example of the guy who was not up to task for the upgrade in conference. You can get away with his game in the AAC. But unfortunately for Vik, Tulsa, ECU and Wichita aint walking though that door anytime soon.

I hear this theory, but performance prior to this recent 6 game scoring swoon never really seemed to support it. Prior to it his best performances were often against the best teams/power conference teams.

Last year he had:
17 against arizona
12 on 6-7 shooting against OSU
12 against Louisville
16 on 6-8 against X
22 in the first Houston game
22 on 11-13 in the first Memphis game
15 in the second Houston game
20 against UCF

This year prior to the 6 game slump he had:
15 against Georgia Tech
17 against Xavier
17 against BYU
17 against Texas
only 7 against Baylor, but reasonably efficient in the 7.
11 on 5 of 6 from the floor against TCU

I think he's had to make the biggest adjustment to the changing roster composition (Aziz/Reynolds additions). I think he's struggled with his role and finding where he can be effective.

But more importantly, his biggest fault as a player is that he has always been a bit of a head case. Teams could get under his skin (which hasn't happened as much lately), but I think he's in his own head right now. He's thinking... he's not playing as aggressively when he catches the ball...hell he's not getting many touches in the high or low post...and hasn't been assertive when he does. He misses his first shot and he seems to play timid.

It's clear Wes and the staff still believe in him and don't think this team can reach its potential without him playing well...but he's struggled with his scoring to crazy degree the last 6 games...and has been downright awful all around on the floor twice (WVU and Houston). I think in the other games he's been good on the glass, with his decision making, his defense, and hustle type plays...but they need him to be a scoring threat and he hasn't been for 6 games.

I've always been middle of the road with Vik because of his lack of athleticism. But I think this conversation is less about him and more about rotations that Wes puts in. The two big lineups are offensively challenged. We should be going with one big only and spread the minutes across Reynolds/Aziz/Vik. Then get our best in there after that...Skillings, Jizzle, Day Day, Simas, Newman, maybe CJ. I think Wes implemented this for the most part finally last game. If he stays with this we will be more successful.

And is it time for Skillings to start or you keep bringing him off the bench. Perhaps having him in there at the beginning would help us not get into early holes we often find ourselves in. He gets his minutes so not concerned overall game, but just starting point.

Lunardi second team out. Need Iowa St badly.

(02-11-2024 11:59 AM)bcat1997 Wrote:  Lunardi second team out. Need Iowa St badly.

It’s the season. Lose and fall to 2-4 at home in conference

(02-11-2024 12:26 PM)DownOnRohs Wrote:  

(02-11-2024 11:59 AM)bcat1997 Wrote:  Lunardi second team out. Need Iowa St badly.

It’s the season. Lose and fall to 2-4 at home in conference

A loss puts us at 2-7 in Q1 games. It drops us further toward the bottom of the conference standings at 4-7 with a road trip to Orlando next. We really need to split one of these games at home goes without saying...

2 comments on Vik.
1. Wes should've benched him to start the second half Houston was going to empty the gun after the end of the half the whole world knew this.

2. Wes tell Vik the only shot you can shoot on my team is inside the lane shoot anything else and I'm throwing someone in for you. Shoot a 3 in practice and I'm throwing you out of practice.

(02-11-2024 02:08 PM)icehole6 Wrote:  2 comments on Vik.
1. Wes should've benched him to start the second half Houston was going to empty the gun after the end of the half the whole world knew this.

2. Wes tell Vik the only shot you can shoot on my team is inside the lane shoot anything else and I'm throwing someone in for you. Shoot a 3 in practice and I'm throwing you out of practice.

Wes did bench him to start the second half. Skillings started in his place.

This makes it hurt even more...

The staff potentially ruined Vik by recruiting over him with the transfers and telling him he was a 4. I don’t know how you get it back this year as these things tend to be resolved in the off season. It wouldn’t shock me to see him move on after this year.

In the back of my mind, I keep thinking this program won’t make the tournament until every Brannen recruit is gone. Vik is the last one and has the least amount of taint from the previous regime but there is something symbolic about having a holdover recruit from that staff even if he didn’t play.

This team is tracking for the NIT unless they win the next three games. I am not as concerned with making the tournament this year as much as I don’t want this season to fall apart. If the Cats split the next 8 games and fail to do damage in the conference tournament that is a lot easier to stomach than watching it spiral out of control. For example Cronin’s 3rd season finished the season losing 6 out 7 and went from the bubble to no postseason. Wes has to everything he can to find 4 wins before selection Sunday to at least give this program at 20 wins, a post season, and real expectations going into year 4.

(02-11-2024 02:32 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  This makes it hurt even more...

Portal parity at work.

(02-11-2024 02:30 PM)levydl Wrote:  

(02-11-2024 02:08 PM)icehole6 Wrote:  2 comments on Vik.
1. Wes should've benched him to start the second half Houston was going to empty the gun after the end of the half the whole world knew this.

2. Wes tell Vik the only shot you can shoot on my team is inside the lane shoot anything else and I'm throwing someone in for you. Shoot a 3 in practice and I'm throwing you out of practice.

Wes did bench him to start the second half. Skillings started in his place.

My bad.

(02-11-2024 02:32 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  This makes it hurt even more...

A couple observations. First, that chart is only through 59 games. Every year listed [outside of the COVID year] seems to average around 80 games. That percentage for this year is still in play. That said, it is a spike in the trend. Second, our next opponent ISU was ranked #14 last Monday after suffering a loss on the road to Baylor. They've since won two in a row over Texas and at TCU. There's a chance that they will be ranked AP #10 since the four teams above them have all lost games since the last ranking - Illinois, Wisky [twice], Auburn and Baylor. Would love to get another crack at a top ten in 5/3rd. We shall see...

(02-11-2024 06:06 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(02-11-2024 02:32 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  This makes it hurt even more...

A couple observations. First, that chart is only through 59 games. Every year listed [outside of the COVID year] seems to average around 80 games. That percentage for this year is still in play. That said, it is a spike in the trend. Second, our next opponent ISU was ranked #14 last Monday after suffering a loss on the road to Baylor. They've since won two in a row over Texas and at TCU. There's a chance that they will be ranked AP #10 since the four teams above them have all lost games since the last ranking - Illinois, Wisky [twice], Auburn and Baylor. Would love to get another crack at a top ten in 5/3rd. We shall see...

A crowd as energized as Saturday's was would certainly help tomorrow night. We're now at the point where ISU is a "must win" scenario to stay in the hunt for March Madness.

(02-12-2024 08:57 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  A crowd as energized as Saturday's was would certainly help tomorrow night. We're now at the point where ISU is a "must win" scenario to stay in the hunt for March Madness.

Maybe. We are a solid bubble team, fighting other bubble teams to get in the tournament. And as some famous announcers say in March, "Bubble teams tend to lose. It's what they do."

(02-12-2024 10:56 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  

(02-12-2024 08:57 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  A crowd as energized as Saturday's was would certainly help tomorrow night. We're now at the point where ISU is a "must win" scenario to stay in the hunt for March Madness.

Maybe. We are a solid bubble team, fighting other bubble teams to get in the tournament. And as some famous announcers say in March, "Bubble teams tend to lose. It's what they do."

True, but it's the last ranked Big 12 team to visit Fifth Third this season and one would think the odds are better of taking down a highly ranked opponent here than on the road.

(02-10-2024 07:39 PM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  Adam Hyrcaniuk just called and said Vik is an embarrassment to the Slavic genome.

That’s damn funny and a blast from the past.

(02-11-2024 02:39 PM)UCBearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  This team is tracking for the NIT unless they win the next three games. I am not as concerned with making the tournament this year as much as I don’t want this season to fall apart. If the Cats split the next 8 games and fail to do damage in the conference tournament that is a lot easier to stomach than watching it spiral out of control. For example Cronin’s 3rd season finished the season losing 6 out 7 and went from the bubble to no postseason. Wes has to everything he can to find 4 wins before selection Sunday to at least give this program at 20 wins, a post season, and real expectations going into year 4.

This season reminds me a lot of the 2015-2016 season. An ok, but inconsistent offense, a mostly great defense... an incredible amount of close, heart breaking losses.

They were 32 kenpom (same as us right now actually). Their losses included:

Butler by 2
Iowa State by 2
SMU by 2
Temple by 2 (2OT)
Memphis by 4
Tulsa by 2 (OT)
UConn by 7 (4OT, with the 3/4 3OT game tying shot from UConn in .8 seconds)
St Joseph's by 2

They finished 322 kenpom luck factor, we're currently 341.

That team did just enough to make the tournament (ended up a 9 seed). Hopefully this team can do the same.

(02-11-2024 02:32 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  This makes it hurt even more...

^^^^^
If I were that guy's parents I would have named him Barra.