CSNbbs

The problem throughout Pastners tenure has been a failure to connect and have his teams play consistently and intentionally at a high level. Sometimes we just come to play, looks like the players would prefer to be somewhere else. They never play with a killer instinct or understand the importance of playing 40 minutes a game, consistently, as hard as they can possibly play.

Oh I know we had the masked man training them but if they were going to war they would have been slaughtered the moment they landed their boats. Too many times this team has not come to play. Until Pastner lights a fire under their asses every minute of every game and demands consistent effort nothing will change. Pastners teams just haven't wanted it bad enough. It looks like over and over they get the big head and think the other team will just lay down for them.
When Pastner runs through a season with a team that plays their tails off every minute of every game, then maybe he and our program will be headed in the right direction. It appears Pastner picked up Cals ego but not his ability to motivate his teams to play hard and together.

I remember Dana Kirks theme was "Play Harder". Pastners theme appears to be, well he doesn't have one that defines his program. It isn't toughness, discipline, teamwork, or hard work. Maybe in the words of Coach Finch, (God rest his soul, I loved that man) "Lackadaisical" sums up the Pastner years.. that or as Andy Griffith would say "Pitiful, plum pitiful"

Maybe this team will learn to play hard defensively every minute of every game. Our shots may or may not go in but we can play hard all the time. His teams have been the most under achieving I have ever seen, I don't care how many wins they have at years end.

Rarely do they win early season games, beat rated teams, pull off upsets, or advance in any tournament other than the FedEx Forum Invitational. I hope it changes soon, because it would be the best thing for our city and boosters if Pastner developed his own competitive identity and could reel off some meaningful wins.

They start both seasons and half slow and have every year under Pastner.

Lets not forget X needed to adapt to a system before his success began here. And he would throw a temper tantrum if players played weak. Lastly, Pastner never lets 5 players play together to develop a cohesive identity. He has had way too quick of a hook. I understand the idea in principle, but his quick pull has been counter productive and hindered our development every year. Players make mistakes and had Pastner let Joe Jackson play through his mistake would have probably had 2, maybe 3 sweet 16s on his resume right now.

Pastner has been his own worst enemy and should give back money to the University ala Bobby Knight if he wants to endear himself to Tiger Nation at this point (ala Bobby Knight) He could say, fellows I have not lived up to your or my standards and want to give this program back 1 million a year. I think the fans would start to come back.

Heck, I would follow this team if Bobby Knight coached them because at least they would be disciplined. Pastner refused to hire a strong veteran coach and let him teach these kids. It appears the ego and negotiations he learned from Cal has gotten in his way. Now it will be his own greed if he doesn't surrender some of his own salary, at least enough to pay a top flight assistant or two, that will cause Tiger fans to say goodbye Coach. As smart as Pastner is he just doesn't get it and if he and Bowen want to blame it on the fans, well it spells doom for Tiger basketball.

Pastner could change all this but I doubt he will. Cal, even though he lied, knew what to say to endear himself to the fans. He also knew what to say to get his players to take pride and play hard for fans who loved this program as much as any fans anywhere in America. Somebody needs to give Pastner a vowel or two. I like the guy but he has dug his own grave here. I hope it changes for him, I really do, and for Memphis because I like the guy.


All that said, he isn't perfect and I wish he would do something to show Memphis that he understands his performance has not kept pace with his salary. I know its an easy call for me, but Pastner would likely recoup the money quickly and get the fans behind him. We are sick and tired of hucksters and Pastner knows he is taking advantage of Memphis and essentially crippling us right now.

If he cant turn it around and doesn't make a good faith effort to correct it then I don't care how long he stays here, how much he gets paid, I will have lost respect for him which is really sad, being that I thought he genuinely was a high character person. Does he really think he is getting paid 2.7 million dollars a year to lose to Ole Miss at home, get blown out 5x a season, fail to make NCAA tourneys and run off a fan base because he is too egotistical to let a genuine teacher do some bench coaching for him.

I'll never understand why he didn't hire Terry Tippett or someone who was a veteran teacher of basketball a long time ago. Our 5th grade girls team has better coaches and is more disciplined than his teams have been..and I mean that. Yeah B, we've turned the corner. I'm gonna keep on driving and find someting else to invest my time, energy, money and fervor to. I guess Pastner tried, but the saddest thing is he didn't give it his best. Folks can get mad at me but this is all true. Too bad Pastners ego developed faster than his coaching skills. It has caused what 20+ players to leave this program early?

I get it that our boosters are in a bind, which is why I think Pastner ought to man up and make it right but I doubt he will. He isn't mature enough. JMO guys. Glad the rest of you can take it. I can't and I wont. BTiger will have to cheer for me.

Thank you for letting me vent, I guess I see the potential with this years team an am just tired of watching them miscoached and mishandled to where they crash and burn when it is time for the bright lights. Not trying to be a miserable and I'm not going to hide begind an alias. This is how I feel, wish it were different. It hurts, it really hurts but I'm moving on.

]

We have different definitions of the word "few"

One example that exemplifies our lack of identity. When AN left all I heard from Tiger camp was 4-1 lineup and push the ball and score points (which we were awful at last year). Then after several bad starts to games, he finally changes the starting lineup and inserts Freshman J. Martin who, while playing pretty good D (hard to tell against that inept team), goes 1-6 from the field with several ill advised shots that would really hurt in a tight game.

Meanwhile, the player who fits the 4-1 scheme as well as anyone, A. Burrell, sits and doesn't play many meaningful minutes. If he wants to start Martin and have a Cincy style defense like last season, he better find 4 more mean SOB's on this team because that what it takes along with summer prep through practices till opening game. When asked about decision on who to start he said "Martin no doubt". Slap in face to Burrell and may have lost him mentally for season with that snub.

This team ,as you said, has no identity. Because Josh will not stick with any plan; he panicks before it has a chance and I don't think he has gumption to map out season strategy and stick to it.

(12-24-2015 12:43 AM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote: [ -> ]The problem throughout Pastners tenure has been a failure to connect and have his teams play consistently and intentionally at a high level. Sometimes we just come to play, looks like the players would prefer to be somewhere else. They never play with a killer instinct or understand the importance of playing 40 minutes a game, consistently, as hard as they can possibly play.

Oh I know we had the masked man training them but if they were going to war they would have been slaughtered the moment they landed their boats. Too many times this team has not come to play. Until Pastner lights a fire under their asses every minute of every game and demands consistent effort nothing will change. Pastners teams just haven't wanted it bad enough. It looks like over and over they get the big head and think the other team will just lay down for them.
When Pastner runs through a season with a team that plays their tails off every minute of every game, then maybe he and our program will be headed in the right direction. It appears Pastner picked up Cals ego but not his ability to motivate his teams to play hard and together.

I remember Dana Kirks theme was "Play Harder". Pastners theme appears to be, well he doesn't have one that defines his program. It isn't toughness, discipline, teamwork, or hard work. Maybe in the words of Coach Finch, (God rest his soul, I loved that man) "Lackadaisical" sums up the Pastner years.. that or as Andy Griffith would say "Pitiful, plum pitiful"

Maybe this team will learn to play hard defensively every minute of every game. Our shots may or may not go in but we can play hard all the time. His teams have been the most under achieving I have ever seen, I don't care how many wins they have at years end.

Rarely do they win early season games, beat rated teams, pull off upsets, or advance in any tournament other than the FedEx Forum Invitational. I hope it changes soon, because it would be the best thing for our city and boosters if Pastner developed his own competitive identity and could reel off some meaningful wins.

They start both seasons and half slow and have every year under Pastner.

Lets not forget X needed to adapt to a system before his success began here. And he would throw a temper tantrum if players played weak. Lastly, Pastner never lets 5 players play together to develop a cohesive identity. He has had way too quick of a hook. I understand the idea in principle, but his quick pull has been counter productive and hindered our development every year. Players make mistakes and had Pastner let Joe Jackson play through his mistake would have probably had 2, maybe 3 sweet 16s on his resume right now.

Pastner has been his own worst enemy and should give back money to the University ala Bobby Knight if he wants to endear himself to Tiger Nation at this point (ala Bobby Knight) He could say, fellows I have not lived up to your or my standards and want to give this program back 1 million a year. I think the fans would start to come back.

Heck, I would follow this team if Bobby Knight coached them because at least they would be disciplined. Pastner refused to hire a strong veteran coach and let him teach these kids. It appears the ego and negotiations he learned from Cal has gotten in his way. Now it will be his own greed if he doesn't surrender some of his own salary, at least enough to pay a top flight assistant or two, that will cause Tiger fans to say goodbye Coach. As smart as Pastner is he just doesn't get it and if he and Bowen want to blame it on the fans, well it spells doom for Tiger basketball.

Pastner could change all this but I doubt he will. Cal, even though he lied, knew what to say to endear himself to the fans. He also knew what to say to get his players to take pride and play hard for fans who loved this program as much as any fans anywhere in America. Somebody needs to give Pastner a vowel or two. I like the guy but he has dug his own grave here. I hope it changes for him, I really do, and for Memphis because I like the guy.


All that said, he isn't perfect and I wish he would do something to show Memphis that he understands his performance has not kept pace with his salary. I know its an easy call for me, but Pastner would likely recoup the money quickly and get the fans behind him. We are sick and tired of hucksters and Pastner knows he is taking advantage of Memphis and essentially crippling us right now.

If he cant turn it around and doesn't make a good faith effort to correct it then I don't care how long he stays here, how much he gets paid, I will have lost respect for him which is really sad, being that I thought he genuinely was a high character person. Does he really think he is getting paid 2.7 million dollars a year to lose to Ole Miss at home, get blown out 5x a season, fail to make NCAA tourneys and run off a fan base because he is too egotistical to let a genuine teacher do some bench coaching for him.

I'll never understand why he didn't hire Terry Tippett or someone who was a veteran teacher of basketball a long time ago. Our 5th grade girls team has better coaches and is more disciplined than his teams have been..and I mean that. Yeah B, we've turned the corner. I'm gonna keep on driving and find someting else to invest my time, energy, money and fervor to. I guess Pastner tried, but the saddest thing is he didn't give it his best. Folks can get mad at me but this is all true. Too bad Pastners ego developed faster than his coaching skills. It has caused what 20+ players to leave this program early?

I get it that our boosters are in a bind, which is why I think Pastner ought to man up and make it right but I doubt he will. He isn't mature enough. JMO guys. Glad the rest of you can take it. I can't and I wont. BTiger will have to cheer for me.

Thank you for letting me vent, I guess I see the potential with this years team an am just tired of watching them miscoached and mishandled to where they crash and burn when it is time for the bright lights. Not trying to be a miserable and I'm not going to hide begind an alias. This is how I feel, wish it were different. It hurts, it really hurts but I'm moving on.

Oh, here is what our coach looks like, I've bit my tongue on this one for years, its not Opie its Alfred E. Put it in the smack if you have to mods, sorry, I've just had all I can stomach of the here to date glorified AAU coach. I hope he proves me wrong.

Cliff Notes please....

Burrell should start every game. No one hustles more.

(12-24-2015 02:12 AM)MemphisTinker Wrote: [ -> ]Burrell should start every game. No one hustles more.

Very true and more evidence of Josh, A - overthinking everything and B - not understanding his personnel

It's craziness.

I'm ready for Pastner to be gone but the one thing on here that bothers me the most is the obsession to make fun of the guy. The cartoons, Joshie, Opie, etc. he hasn't been great for our program but he also could've been much much worse. Wanting him fired for his performance? Fine. Attacking his character I don't get.

(12-24-2015 12:43 AM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote: [ -> ]The problem throughout Pastners tenure has been a failure to connect and have his teams play consistently and intentionally at a high level. Sometimes we just come to play, looks like the players would prefer to be somewhere else. They never play with a killer instinct or understand the importance of playing 40 minutes a game, consistently, as hard as they can possibly play.

Oh I know we had the masked man training them but if they were going to war they would have been slaughtered the moment they landed their boats. Too many times this team has not come to play. Until Pastner lights a fire under their asses every minute of every game and demands consistent effort nothing will change. Pastners teams just haven't wanted it bad enough. It looks like over and over they get the big head and think the other team will just lay down for them.
When Pastner runs through a season with a team that plays their tails off every minute of every game, then maybe he and our program will be headed in the right direction. It appears Pastner picked up Cals ego but not his ability to motivate his teams to play hard and together.

I remember Dana Kirks theme was "Play Harder". Pastners theme appears to be, well he doesn't have one that defines his program. It isn't toughness, discipline, teamwork, or hard work. Maybe in the words of Coach Finch, (God rest his soul, I loved that man) "Lackadaisical" sums up the Pastner years.. that or as Andy Griffith would say "Pitiful, plum pitiful"

Maybe this team will learn to play hard defensively every minute of every game. Our shots may or may not go in but we can play hard all the time. His teams have been the most under achieving I have ever seen, I don't care how many wins they have at years end.

Rarely do they win early season games, beat rated teams, pull off upsets, or advance in any tournament other than the FedEx Forum Invitational. I hope it changes soon, because it would be the best thing for our city and boosters if Pastner developed his own competitive identity and could reel off some meaningful wins.

They start both seasons and half slow and have every year under Pastner.

Lets not forget X needed to adapt to a system before his success began here. And he would throw a temper tantrum if players played weak. Lastly, Pastner never lets 5 players play together to develop a cohesive identity. He has had way too quick of a hook. I understand the idea in principle, but his quick pull has been counter productive and hindered our development every year. Players make mistakes and had Pastner let Joe Jackson play through his mistake would have probably had 2, maybe 3 sweet 16s on his resume right now.

Pastner has been his own worst enemy and should give back money to the University ala Bobby Knight if he wants to endear himself to Tiger Nation at this point (ala Bobby Knight) He could say, fellows I have not lived up to your or my standards and want to give this program back 1 million a year. I think the fans would start to come back.

Heck, I would follow this team if Bobby Knight coached them because at least they would be disciplined. Pastner refused to hire a strong veteran coach and let him teach these kids. It appears the ego and negotiations he learned from Cal has gotten in his way. Now it will be his own greed if he doesn't surrender some of his own salary, at least enough to pay a top flight assistant or two, that will cause Tiger fans to say goodbye Coach. As smart as Pastner is he just doesn't get it and if he and Bowen want to blame it on the fans, well it spells doom for Tiger basketball.

Pastner could change all this but I doubt he will. Cal, even though he lied, knew what to say to endear himself to the fans. He also knew what to say to get his players to take pride and play hard for fans who loved this program as much as any fans anywhere in America. Somebody needs to give Pastner a vowel or two. I like the guy but he has dug his own grave here. I hope it changes for him, I really do, and for Memphis because I like the guy.


All that said, he isn't perfect and I wish he would do something to show Memphis that he understands his performance has not kept pace with his salary. I know its an easy call for me, but Pastner would likely recoup the money quickly and get the fans behind him. We are sick and tired of hucksters and Pastner knows he is taking advantage of Memphis and essentially crippling us right now.

If he cant turn it around and doesn't make a good faith effort to correct it then I don't care how long he stays here, how much he gets paid, I will have lost respect for him which is really sad, being that I thought he genuinely was a high character person. Does he really think he is getting paid 2.7 million dollars a year to lose to Ole Miss at home, get blown out 5x a season, fail to make NCAA tourneys and run off a fan base because he is too egotistical to let a genuine teacher do some bench coaching for him.

I'll never understand why he didn't hire Terry Tippett or someone who was a veteran teacher of basketball a long time ago. Our 5th grade girls team has better coaches and is more disciplined than his teams have been..and I mean that. Yeah B, we've turned the corner. I'm gonna keep on driving and find someting else to invest my time, energy, money and fervor to. I guess Pastner tried, but the saddest thing is he didn't give it his best. Folks can get mad at me but this is all true. Too bad Pastners ego developed faster than his coaching skills. It has caused what 20+ players to leave this program early?

I get it that our boosters are in a bind, which is why I think Pastner ought to man up and make it right but I doubt he will. He isn't mature enough. JMO guys. Glad the rest of you can take it. I can't and I wont. BTiger will have to cheer for me.

Thank you for letting me vent, I guess I see the potential with this years team an am just tired of watching them miscoached and mishandled to where they crash and burn when it is time for the bright lights. Not trying to be a miserable and I'm not going to hide begind an alias. This is how I feel, wish it were different. It hurts, it really hurts but I'm moving on.

Oh, here is what our coach looks like, I've bit my tongue on this one for years, its not Opie its Alfred E. Put it in the smack if you have to mods, sorry, I've just had all I can stomach of the here to date glorified AAU coach. I hope he proves me wrong.

Can you repeat that?

(12-24-2015 02:32 AM)uofmcamaro Wrote: [ -> ]I'm ready for Pastner to be gone but the one thing on here that bothers me the most is the obsession to make fun of the guy. The cartoons, Joshie, Opie, etc. he hasn't been great for our program but he also could've been much much worse. Wanting him fired for his performance? Fine. Attacking his character I don't get.

I agree with you Camaro.

(12-24-2015 07:43 AM)danny1 Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 02:32 AM)uofmcamaro Wrote: [ -> ]I'm ready for Pastner to be gone but the one thing on here that bothers me the most is the obsession to make fun of the guy. The cartoons, Joshie, Opie, etc. he hasn't been great for our program but he also could've been much much worse. Wanting him fired for his performance? Fine. Attacking his character I don't get.

I agree with you Camaro.

I only agree about the cartoons name calling etc. I don't 100% agree that we could have done worse. We are pretty bad and been that way with good talent for most of his tenure. At least a coach that failed by year three would have been gone and never been paid. Our program has gone to the chits and we are paying him out the arse

Athletic teams 'take on the identity' of their Head Coach. Tough people respect people that are as tough, if not tougher, than themselves. If players feel like their coach is a pushover, and doesn’t properly command control of the team, then they likely won’t respect him.

Pastner's teams were stacked with talent but seemed to lack the fire necessary to reach the finish line. Why? His teams carry his traits of nots, "not” emotional, “not” fiery and “not” inspired. He knows how he want them to play but they are a reflection of himself, which is a bunch of nots.

(12-24-2015 07:55 AM)Memphis Bunch Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 07:43 AM)danny1 Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 02:32 AM)uofmcamaro Wrote: [ -> ]I'm ready for Pastner to be gone but the one thing on here that bothers me the most is the obsession to make fun of the guy. The cartoons, Joshie, Opie, etc. he hasn't been great for our program but he also could've been much much worse. Wanting him fired for his performance? Fine. Attacking his character I don't get.

I agree with you Camaro.

I only agree about the cartoons name calling etc. I don't 100% agree that we could have done worse. We are pretty bad and been that way with good talent for most of his tenure. At least a coach that failed by year three would have been gone and never been paid. Our program has gone to the chits and we are paying him out the arse

I won't argue that. The product on the floor is not on par with what it should be, that's for sure. That said, I can't blame him for what he's paid. He has an agent that negotiated him a contract and we paid it. Any of us in that situation would keep collecting our checks too.

Good lord.

Even a glance saw a bunch of misstatements and more.

Venting is fine. But...try and use at least some reason. Embarrassing.

Let alone antithetical to a structured internet persona.

Done.

(12-24-2015 09:12 AM)uofmcamaro Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 07:55 AM)Memphis Bunch Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 07:43 AM)danny1 Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 02:32 AM)uofmcamaro Wrote: [ -> ]I'm ready for Pastner to be gone but the one thing on here that bothers me the most is the obsession to make fun of the guy. The cartoons, Joshie, Opie, etc. he hasn't been great for our program but he also could've been much much worse. Wanting him fired for his performance? Fine. Attacking his character I don't get.

I agree with you Camaro.

I only agree about the cartoons name calling etc. I don't 100% agree that we could have done worse. We are pretty bad and been that way with good talent for most of his tenure. At least a coach that failed by year three would have been gone and never been paid. Our program has gone to the chits and we are paying him out the arse

I won't argue that. The product on the floor is not on par with what it should be, that's for sure. That said, I can't blame him for what he's paid. He has an agent that negotiated him a contract and we paid it. Any of us in that situation would keep collecting our checks too.

Camaro if I'm not mistaken Paz has no agent..

Just buy into the super conference paradigm, and everything will be acceptable.

1. There will be four super conferences, probably 16 teams each. No question.

2. They will break away from the NCAA, form their own association, and commandeer all the sports TV in America forever. No doubt about it.

3. When they do, everybody not included may as well count on Juco transfers, never-tried or washed-up coaches, and listening to the broadcast on the radio, if at all, unless you're one of the couple thousand (or hundred for some teams) in the stands. It will happen, folks.

4. Anyone not already in one of the P5 conferences (65 teams, by the way -- do the math) should throw everything else under the bus and put all their money into football on the outside chance that they may, somehow, displace one of the ten B12 teams (eight, actually -- again, do the math, and don't forget ND) when the B12 folds. Anyone who disagrees is an idiot -- seriously. This is as certain as yesterday's news.

If you're really an optimist, you have your fingers and toes crossed that 16 isn't the magic, per super conference number, because that would make our chances about the same as hitting a straight flush on your first hand in Tunica tonight.

What I would suggest, since all of that is a foregone conclusion, is that we simply stop with all the pretence and man up. Read the writing on the wall for our program, and realize what we're, most likely, headed for -- sports purgatory.

If you do that, Pastner and 4 grand a night become acceptable, and everybody finds new hobbies. Much less stress, and much less waste.

Besides, what football team could possibly be worth watching without the 4 & 5-star recruits that won't ever come here after we miss out on the big invitation.

(12-24-2015 02:32 AM)uofmcamaro Wrote: [ -> ]I'm ready for Pastner to be gone but the one thing on here that bothers me the most is the obsession to make fun of the guy. The cartoons, Joshie, Opie, etc. he hasn't been great for our program but he also could've been much much worse. Wanting him fired for his performance? Fine. Attacking his character I don't get.

Part of that is he makes it a point. He still volunteers the silly info about not cussing, not drinking caffeine, and putting forth every fly by night personal growth gimmick to "motivate" his players.

(12-24-2015 02:20 AM)450bench Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 02:12 AM)MemphisTinker Wrote: [ -> ]Burrell should start every game. No one hustles more.

Very true and more evidence of Josh, A - overthinking everything and B - not understanding his personnel

It's craziness.

He is very bad at roster management.

Also, bad at using the bench to effectively motivate. He plays favorites to a disturbing degree. I love Chris Crawford, but he would go 10 minutes not trying on defense and making boneheaded plays and never get subbed while joe would make a good, aggressive play and miss the shot or get a charge and get yanked.

He's just not a good leader. Needs more seasoning

(12-24-2015 01:45 AM)tigers1125 Wrote: [ -> ]One example that exemplifies our lack of identity. When AN left all I heard from Tiger camp was 4-1 lineup and push the ball and score points (which we were awful at last year). Then after several bad starts to games, he finally changes the starting lineup and inserts Freshman J. Martin who, while playing pretty good D (hard to tell against that inept team), goes 1-6 from the field with several ill advised shots that would really hurt in a tight game.

Meanwhile, the player who fits the 4-1 scheme as well as anyone, A. Burrell, sits and doesn't play many meaningful minutes. If he wants to start Martin and have a Cincy style defense like last season, he better find 4 more mean SOB's on this team because that what it takes along with summer prep through practices till opening game. When asked about decision on who to start he said "Martin no doubt". Slap in face to Burrell and may have lost him mentally for season with that snub.

This team ,as you said, has no identity. Because Josh will not stick with any plan; he panicks before it has a chance and I don't think he has gumption to map out season strategy and stick to it.

You do realize that Martin & Burrell play two separate & distinct positions don't you?

I agree with Coach Pastner pulls/jerks young players way too quickly after mistakes instead of letting them learn from and play through them.

But you seem to take the other side of the argument when you talk about Martin's shot selection. That comes with playing early in a season & coaching them up before conference play.

As to identity; I think they know they're not a great outside shooting team but certainly know they can shoot at a respectable clip. They shot 45% vs Mississippi & 36% vs IUPUI.

The only player with real experience is Shaq & he needs to step up & be a real vocal style leader.

Dedric is averaging almost 16 & 10 as a Freshman who should be a HS Senior.

His upside is huge.

Whether Pastner will be here or not as HC next year is not as important as the young guys learning to play smart & hard.

.

You're all in outer space

(12-24-2015 01:48 PM)Cletus Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-24-2015 01:45 AM)tigers1125 Wrote: [ -> ]One example that exemplifies our lack of identity. When AN left all I heard from Tiger camp was 4-1 lineup and push the ball and score points (which we were awful at last year). Then after several bad starts to games, he finally changes the starting lineup and inserts Freshman J. Martin who, while playing pretty good D (hard to tell against that inept team), goes 1-6 from the field with several ill advised shots that would really hurt in a tight game.

Meanwhile, the player who fits the 4-1 scheme as well as anyone, A. Burrell, sits and doesn't play many meaningful minutes. If he wants to start Martin and have a Cincy style defense like last season, he better find 4 more mean SOB's on this team because that what it takes along with summer prep through practices till opening game. When asked about decision on who to start he said "Martin no doubt". Slap in face to Burrell and may have lost him mentally for season with that snub.

This team ,as you said, has no identity. Because Josh will not stick with any plan; he panicks before it has a chance and I don't think he has gumption to map out season strategy and stick to it.

You do realize that Martin & Burrell play two separate & distinct positions don't you?

I agree with Coach Pastner pulls/jerks young players way too quickly after mistakes instead of letting them learn from and play through them.

But you seem to take the other side of the argument when you talk about Martin's shot selection. That comes with playing early in a season & coaching them up before conference play.

As to identity; I think they know they're not a great outside shooting team but certainly know they can shoot at a respectable clip. They shot 45% vs Mississippi & 36% vs IUPUI.

The only player with real experience is Shaq & he needs to step up & be a real vocal style leader.

Dedric is averaging almost 16 & 10 as a Freshman who should be a HS Senior.

His upside is huge.

Whether Pastner will be here or not as HC next year is not as important as the young guys learning to play smart & hard.

.

In all fairness, Pastner has really gotten better about letting players play through mistakes. Not that he has a choice, really.