CSNbbs

http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.db...ID=1322757

I heard the last 20+ seconds. Too busy enjoying celebrating grandson's 3rd.

Both teams shot reasonably well, overall. The key is our "shooters", Drews and Ricks did not. I distinquish between a scorer and a shooter. Kool and Reitz are scorers (all which ways and you don't have to be red hot, scorers find a way, even if ugly).

Drews and Ricks 1-9 FG, 1-8 3 balls.

Frac and Berger come in at 8 boards, 5 assists, 1 TO, 3-5 Fg, 1 steal and 1 block avg'g 17 minutes. Very efficient, Just what you want and I believe, fairly, can expect. However, it did not offset the duldrums created by poor shooting from our shooters.

14-17 FT's. Very very good.

Redell, had 5 assists and reportedly 0 TO's but I thot I read he had a 5 second call against him. Not sure what to make of that, but even 5-1 ratio is exceptional. 2-6 FG, 2-5 treyville. Not sure I want that many hoists, but not being there and reading what Derek and 'Dre did Mike made the best of open looks.

It's a win, ugly, but it's early, it only would have mattered if it was a loss. Hopefully, it will be just one W, early on, soon forgotten in the total body of work.

Post Loyola, DD came out of the lockerroom with a look of a guy just told his dog died. Not sure if it carried over, not sure if it matters. What is a concern, is that he seems limited to shooting deep balls. As I have said, I havent seen or read that he is pump faking and driving in for mid range J's or all the way to the hole. I haven't seen any fluidity or comfort in the post. If this continues he will be very easy to deny. I don't think anyone would ignore him, but his looks are coming on drives illiciting his man helping and then getting a kick out or Joe getting doubled and a kick out. Nothing he is initiating.
I could point out he had only 1 reb. in 20 minutes. But UD only had 3 offensive bounds all night, Joe only had 2-3 boards all night. Sometimes the ball doesnt bounce your direction but you have your guy sealed off and boxed out. Job well done, but it doesnt register in a stat.

DD is not only our best shooter, possibly the leagues. He needs to continue playing and being encouraged that even if he isnt "filling it up" he can and is needed to contribute elsewhere. His shot isnt going anywhere. Focus on the other things and let the shot come to him. It will.

McLemore, I am sure was pressing. Back home, knowing he'd get limited minutes, likely was "jacked" and then hacked! Almost, predictable. I suspect, that if the team performed better in the 1st half MM would have been given some leash or at least another run at it after chilling, blowing into a paper bag, over on the pine. He too, needs minutes like DL to develop. He brings both the athleticism and ball skills that Derek squared do not.

I know I drone on about Berger, you'd think his name was, Deep Dish Chicago Style, but he brings the little things that are critical. He also can be an offensive contributor both mid range and the post. He still is thinking about "it", and just needs to let go. I utterly assure you, he will be needed in this capacity in some big and pivotal games. And I dont mean, necessarily the marque games, though that would be a given. I mean, against a Buffalo, a BGSU, a Valpo. Games where someone other than Joe DOES attack the rim and glass with confidence. A game like what I just listed is the type that "keeps us on a roll", "stems the tide" or "gets us over the hump". Usually the type that you appreciate in retrospect.

It is early, has been exciting and will be long. "Peeking" is for pervs, peaking is for March.

Glad I am not the only one who sees real value in keeping Berger going. He is a big contributor. This is a key win in that we overcame a 23 year jinx at this venue and got another true road win.

Quote:Redell, had 5 assists and reportedly 0 TO's but I thot I read he had a 5 second call against him. Not sure what to make of that, but even 5-1 ratio is exceptional.

The defender was just close enough to keep the count going. I don't think anyone in the gym thought he was "guarding" him.

23 years?

I have to tell No that 33rd anniversary trip is off.

What was I thinking?

"Honey, the 23 best years of my life!"

If Hershberger could give 20 minutes, go 3-6, drop a couple of free throws, and most important, pull down 6 to 8 boards, I'd start him.

DD can produce off the bench as well as starting. My only wish is that when he's going 3-3 from 3 that Hawk not yank him in favor of fresh legs. He's a rhythm shooter, so let him get and stay in rhythm.

I'm a Hershberger doubter until I see some consistent play. I know DD can go south for awhile but last year he showed he can take over a game, something Andrew has yet to do.

Depending on match ups.

But I would continue to start DD. AH is comfortable coming off the bench.

The only twist is defensively. WMU is already "short" with a 6'2 Gary at the wing.

Start DD, as I said, encourage him to excell in those other critical areas. I know his " internal barometer" is tied to his success shooting. Somehow we need to counter that with some other areas for him to experience success. Not coddling, but also not throwing him under the bus.

IMO, DD is a wing. I'm not sure he is physical enough to go to war on the D glass (again, match ups). But as long as Redell is getting it done, it frees Kool to move and receive the ball w/o someone always squarely in front of him, and the same for Shawntees. Any angle or crack of space these guys get can be exploited both off the drive or catch and shoot. DD shooting skill is ideal for these two being dual threats and Joe going mano y mano inside. But on the D end he must be more of a positive factor.

Frac is not nearly the 3 threat as DD. IMO, DF is ideally suited for 12-17 ftrs and putting it on the deck from that range. Not the banger that Berger is, or having his length, but his mindset is more Samuri than Drews.

As I said at the outset, Kool, Gary and Joe are set. Gary's development and the play of Redell would determine who plays at the 1, 3 and 4. Redell has held to the 1, Shawnee has not displayed the needed O or handles to merit the 2, pushing Kool to 1. That being said, he's our best athlete and defender, that leaves the 3 to him. So DD has only the 4 for significant PT. My thot was MM might challenge at the 3 or 4 pushing Gary and Kool over or DD to just the 3, but he is too young yet. But worth the early season time to develop.

Without Hess, AH maybe worth more off the bench. He has played some of the 5 and effectively. Both on D and when they run "punch", going 4 out and 1 in and the 1 in is the primary. AH gets excellent position, he just needs to not think, but just score.

TIP of the day. I would demand Berger has at least 2 throw downs and Drews 1. Intentional, challenging, not their 1st reaction (too cautious), but a tone setter and a shifting of their paradigm. Not asking. Telling. If not, grab some pine!

Quote:He's a rhythm shooter, so let him get and stay in rhythm.

^what he said.

When DD tries to get inside, he's developed a habit of clearing space with his forearm and then pivoting back for his fadeaway. He got called on it at Loyola (the shot went in but didn't count), and I think he got a similar foul at Detroit (hard to tell from the radio).

Anyway, he needs to work with Clayton to fix up his inside moves so he can get off the contested shot inside without getting the offensive foul. He doesn't seem to be fast enough to get inside to the hoop on drive speed alone, he needs to get some kind of moves put together that let him create a little space. He needs that to be ensured his defender is honest and not in his grill all the time.

Burger did a nice job at the end of the first half of the Loyola game. I believe Joe and Lawson had 2 fouls so we went small with Burger at the 5. He did a nice job playing against longer people. He has exeeded my expectations so far this season.

Quote:23 years?

I have to tell No that 33rd anniversary trip is off.

What was I thinking?

"Honey, the 23 best years of my life!"

Oops. I did mean 33 years since we won here, not 23.
Time flies when you are underpaid.