I actually think we can play with this team, maybe win. Lets not overreact to the last few games, we have always known that we play down to competition, and we will continue to do this as long as we have Bartow. But we play better against better teams, and i think this NC Central team i a bit overrated.
I will be most interestedto see how Rembert responds. He jas played poorly lately and his confidence should be down. Also, i hope we do not start Riley, he is much better off the bench.
(01-30-2015 05:45 AM)etsubuc Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think we can play with this team, maybe win. Lets not overreact to the last few games, we have always known that we play down to competition, and we will continue to do this as long as we have Bartow. But we play better against better teams, and i think this NC Central team i a bit overrated.
I will be most interestedto see how Rembert responds. He jas played poorly lately and his confidence should be down. Also, i hope we do not start Riley, he is much better off the bench.
Riley didn't start last night and played what might have been his worst game. As for NC Central being overrated, well I am sorry but the only team I see being overrated at this point is ETSU, by you.
I don't think we are very good. I think we have some very good athletes who are out there playing poor street ball against teams that have real coaches. Having good athletes does not make a good team, unfortunately. For example, Jalen Riley coached well could be an amazing player. Jalen Riley in this system is a liability that we would be better off without in about half of the games.
But the fact is that we play up and down depending on our competition, and have for several years. I bet we will look much better against NC Central.
We can look better and still lose, no worry there.
I think we have a good team. I really do. I think we're every bit as good as UTC or Wofford. I don't look at Wofford's roster and think "man these guys are better players than our guys." We are small, but by choice: We could play Banks at the 4 and Bates at the 5 and have a prototypical lineup.
I think the difference is failure to adapt. Our novelty has ended and teams have figured out ways to eliminate and/or disrupt Rashawn or Jalen, for example.
As for this game, I won't be surprised if we play very well or lay an egg.
Riley is giving me PTSD flashbacks of Tim Smith. He's obviously talented and he plays hard, but everybody in the gym knows he is going to solo act and drive in any crunch situation, hell or high water. He doesn't make players around him better and he doesn't force the defense to make hard choices.
He's a great change of pace and he has potential to keep opposing bigs in foul trouble. Murry has to be able to create plays with the offense, not prayers.
Good teams don't lose games like Furman, UNCG, and VMI. Good teams don't lose double digit leads almost nightly. Good teams finish the job. We have the pieces and potential to be a good team but we are not one. I think we won some games on pure talent and some guys having career nights but the team effort hasn't been there.
(01-30-2015 10:10 AM)ETSU-07 Wrote: [ -> ]Good teams don't lose games like Furman, UNCG, and VMI. Good teams don't lose double digit leads almost nightly. Good teams finish the job. We have the pieces and potential to be a good team but we are not one. I think we won some games on pure talent and some guys having career nights but the team effort hasn't been there.
Triple dittos.
(01-30-2015 09:48 AM)Bucfaithful Wrote: [ -> ]I think we have a good team. I really do. I think we're every bit as good as UTC or Wofford. I don't look at Wofford's roster and think "man these guys are better players than our guys." We are small, but by choice: We could play Banks at the 4 and Bates at the 5 and have a prototypical lineup.
I think the difference is failure to adapt. Our novelty has ended and teams have figured out ways to eliminate and/or disrupt Rashawn or Jalen, for example.
As for this game, I won't be surprised if we play very well or lay an egg.
We might have "Talent" as much as or even more then those teams even. Maybe that is debatable but we are not a good team. Two different things.
(01-30-2015 01:07 PM)bucfan81 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-30-2015 10:10 AM)ETSU-07 Wrote: [ -> ]Good teams don't lose games like Furman, UNCG, and VMI. Good teams don't lose double digit leads almost nightly. Good teams finish the job. We have the pieces and potential to be a good team but we are not one. I think we won some games on pure talent and some guys having career nights but the team effort hasn't been there.
Triple dittos.
This.
In response to Bucfaithful, we have the choice to start a prototypical lineup if desired, but the reality is that Banks and Bates can't stay out of foul trouble, and there are no subs to play the whole game prototypically. Even without foul trouble, I wouldn't count on either player to last the whole game effectively. We lost Ron Giplaye to injury, but our frontcourt deficiencies and lack of team cogency are products of Bartow's systematic preference for undersized athletes, most often guards. We have the potential to have a good bunch of guards playing coordinated, but there is just not a top 100 roster or demonstrated play this year. Not yet. He can recruit 'em (athletic guards/small forwards), but he can't get 'em to play team basketball. And he sure as heck can't get 'em to grow 2-3 inches and gain 20lbs after the fact. We remain disposed to a couple hot shots each year on a short bench. I was optimistic this year, and still would not be shocked if we pull an upset and win the conference tourney going in 4th or 5th place; but I've lost my positive edge. I'd rather the Bucs NOT go to the dance just to get blown out 35+ by Kentucky again (which could very well happen if the lowest or closely seeded Bucs survive a buy in game and then get hitched with the #1 program). My hopes now lie in the next two seasons, which would be bolstered by a new head coach. I like the assistants.
Valid points, gentlemen, I hear you, I really do. In the final analysis, good teams win, and right now we're not doing that.
My point is that we've beaten several good teams this season and we're losing by slim margins despite playing poorly. If we play incrementally better for the remainder of the season, then I think we're right back in it. I think we can play incrementally better, even accounting for the "Bartow factor".
I'm not trying to spin here - mediocrity is unacceptable - but I also don't want to stand on the ledge either. I won't be at all surprised if we pull a string of wins together and land high in the standings and possibly win the conference tournament.
My biggest concerns in finishing the season are the evident lack of motivation on the team right now and the return to form by Bartow. This just isn't the team or coaching that started the season, and it won't finish it well unless everyone snaps out of this funk.
(01-30-2015 02:05 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote: [ -> ]Valid points, gentlemen, I hear you, I really do. In the final analysis, good teams win, and right now we're not doing that.
My point is that we've beaten several good teams this season and we're losing by slim margins despite playing poorly. If we play incrementally better for the remainder of the season, then I think we're right back in it. I think we can play incrementally better, even accounting for the "Bartow factor".
I'm not trying to spin here - mediocrity is unacceptable - but I also don't want to stand on the ledge either. I won't be at all surprised if we pull a string of wins together and land high in the standings and possibly win the conference tournament.
I wouldn't be surprised if the bucs got hot and won the tourney but I also wouldn't be shocked if they lose 6-8 more down the stretch. Having the early OOC success was great but it's made the conference collapse especially crushing. We knew the team had limitations but winning early got my hopes up that it could be a special season. Instead we have once again found ourselves a middle of the pack team in a back of the pack league.
(01-30-2015 09:48 AM)Bucfaithful Wrote: [ -> ]I think the difference is failure to adapt.
I lay this at Bartow's feet.
The FIRE BARTOW thread has 32,000+ views. Holy smokes the admin has got to wake up. I know there is more to it than wins/losses, but a winning program takes care of everyone and everything else.
In Noland we trust.
Prepare to lose to a MEAC team. By double digits.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
The paragraph below caught my attention in NCCU's game notes. Looks like they may be pretty good at taking away the 3 and limiting offense. If that holds true in this one, the Bucs could have a long afternoon.
DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
Under the leadership of sixth-year head coachLeVelle Moton, NCCU believes its identity is rooted in playing defense. As evidence, the Eagles rank among the NCAA Division I top-10 in three key defensive categories: fourth in three-point percentage defense (26.8%), sixth in field goal percentage defense (36.0%) and ninth in scoring defense (56.1 points allowed per game).
(01-31-2015 04:21 AM)BucsFan Wrote: [ -> ]The paragraph below caught my attention in NCCU's game notes. Looks like they may be pretty good at taking away the 3 and limiting offense. If that holds true in this one, the Bucs could have a long afternoon.
Long night, game time is not until 7pm tonight. That sucks. I have things to do on Saturday and a late ballgame gets is going to disrupt that. A 4pm start would be much better. If the women's game is going to get in the way, move it, not the men's game. Let them start at noon.
(01-31-2015 09:45 AM)RodShaw2 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-31-2015 04:21 AM)BucsFan Wrote: [ -> ]The paragraph below caught my attention in NCCU's game notes. Looks like they may be pretty good at taking away the 3 and limiting offense. If that holds true in this one, the Bucs could have a long afternoon.
Long night, game time is not until 7pm tonight. That sucks. I have things to do on Saturday and a late ballgame gets is going to disrupt that. A 4pm start would be much better. If the women's game is going to get in the way, move it, not the men's game. Let them start at noon.
Oh yeah.....ordinarily I prefer the 7 PM start times on weekends as it gives me most all of the day to get done what I want or need to get done. The 4 PM starts seem to just screw up the middle of the day for me. Today is an exception though as UVa plays that other team from Durham at 7 tonight too. Decisions, decisions......
Honestly, If you told me losing every game from here on out would get bartow fired, Id be totally okay with it.