(02-15-2021 08:48 PM)kevster Wrote:  Win or lose, this team lacks offensive focus. I have to wonder if they run any plays. Passing is sloppy. Shooting is just terrible. It seems like they don’t even try for the first ten minutes of a lot of games.

I’m hoping they mature by next season. It really does remind me of a Bartow offense.

Too many last second shots to win or to lose. More likely lose. Bad memories.

Am I the only one who holds his breath every time one of our guys passes the ball?

(02-15-2021 10:09 PM)kevster Wrote:  Am I the only one who holds his breath every time one of our guys passes the ball?

Yes and the hard part is that our guys clearly have the talent to win the conference if they can just play together. Frustrating.

(02-16-2021 05:35 AM)bucfan81 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:09 PM)kevster Wrote:  Am I the only one who holds his breath every time one of our guys passes the ball?

Yes and the hard part is that our guys clearly have the talent to win the conference if they can just play together. Frustrating.

Too many turnovers, poor spacing on the floor etc.

Far too often, they are a collective of individuals instead of a synchronized, synergistic team. Trying to mesh a bunch of new players during Covid didn’t help this predicament. Will need to get it all together by the tournament.

Right now I either see them being one and done , or win the whole darn thing. Unfortunately leaning towards the former at the moment. Please prove me wrong.

(02-15-2021 08:48 PM)kevster Wrote:  Win or lose, this team lacks offensive focus. I have to wonder if they run any plays. Passing is sloppy. Shooting is just terrible. It seems like they don’t even try for the first ten minutes of a lot of games.

I’m hoping they mature by next season. It really does remind me of a Bartow offense.

From a layperson's perspective (I've never been a coach or player), it has been rare to see an ETSU team that has consistently ran plays over the past 20 years. A couple years ago when we had Rodriguez and Armus we consistently ran plays inside for them, but other than that its been this free flowing style of basketball that I'm not a huge fan of.

Everyone on here is picking up on the same things, and I'm sure the coaches have consistently worked with the players on these sloppy passes and the shot selection. It's weird to see these same things continue to be problems.

I agree with most of the criticisms of Bucs play here, but...

On the somewhat brighter side, we have come within an A.J. Caldwell Hail Mary and a time out that wiped out Damari Monsanto's last second 3 of being 2-0 against Chattanooga. And they are as talented as any team in the SoCon at this point. A couple of years ago we were 0-2 against UNCG, and beat them in the Tournament finals.

We need to shake this off and get focused, because we play tomorrow against a Mercer team with a very strong offense, and Saturday against a quirky Samford bunch. The team that wins the SoCon this year will be the one that can play tough and gritty through adversity. A lot of teams will have a shot.

(02-16-2021 07:10 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:48 PM)kevster Wrote:  Win or lose, this team lacks offensive focus. I have to wonder if they run any plays. Passing is sloppy. Shooting is just terrible. It seems like they don’t even try for the first ten minutes of a lot of games.

I’m hoping they mature by next season. It really does remind me of a Bartow offense.

From a layperson's perspective (I've never been a coach or player), it has been rare to see an ETSU team that has consistently ran plays over the past 20 years. A couple years ago when we had Rodriguez and Armus we consistently ran plays inside for them, but other than that its been this free flowing style of basketball that I'm not a huge fan of.

Everyone on here is picking up on the same things, and I'm sure the coaches have consistently worked with the players on these sloppy passes and the shot selection. It's weird to see these same things continue to be problems.

Yes I think most of us here share these same feelings. The talent is there but they have to play together. They would be a tough team to beat then.

(02-16-2021 09:57 AM)bucfan81 Wrote:  

(02-16-2021 07:10 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:48 PM)kevster Wrote:  Win or lose, this team lacks offensive focus. I have to wonder if they run any plays. Passing is sloppy. Shooting is just terrible. It seems like they don’t even try for the first ten minutes of a lot of games.

I’m hoping they mature by next season. It really does remind me of a Bartow offense.

From a layperson's perspective (I've never been a coach or player), it has been rare to see an ETSU team that has consistently ran plays over the past 20 years. A couple years ago when we had Rodriguez and Armus we consistently ran plays inside for them, but other than that its been this free flowing style of basketball that I'm not a huge fan of.

Everyone on here is picking up on the same things, and I'm sure the coaches have consistently worked with the players on these sloppy passes and the shot selection. It's weird to see these same things continue to be problems.

Yes I think most of us here share these same feelings. The talent is there but they have to play together. They would be a tough team to beat then.

Sloan, Monsanto, Smith & Ty were 6 for 29 last night. Might be time to work on the offense.

(02-15-2021 09:15 PM)JWBUC Wrote:  Chattanooga is not intimidated anymore. Why would they be ?

Right. We were Chatt's daddy for what, only 3 years? (Beginning with the raucous, epic game in Freedom Hall when HMP and Tuoyo (as well as everybody else, too) went at it with vengeance and big-boy pants all around. I guess 4 years if one includes that one - as after beating them again in Chatt-town, they didn't win another game the rest of the year, and their big slide commenced pronto.) With their almost free-fall into the near-pits, I don't think any here would have predicted such a comeback this soon. Some here were even 'hoping' that Chatt would right the ship enough to be competitive in the SoCon again. BIG props to Lamont Paris for the job he's don't there.

[edit/addition: The way the two games to them were lost this year is clearly of Shakespearean level; and I don't know what that portends for the future, but good chance this year, or these two games, will be watershed moments in this rivalry.]

The write up in the Kingsport paper said an assistant coach called timeout.
I did not know that was allowed, but I may be wrong

(02-16-2021 11:38 AM)Stateman Wrote:  The write up in the Kingsport paper said an assistant coach called timeout.
I did not know that was allowed, but I may be wrong

Heiar and Shay look so much alike on TV with the masks on it was hard to tell. I initially thought it was Heiar but after going back and watching a few times I think it was Shay. He owned it in the JC press. I’m having a hard time remembering a more gut wrenching end of game scenario for the Bucs. At least with giving up a last second winner it’s the other team taking it from you. In this case it was given away.

Edit: after watching several more times And zooming in it was definitely an assistant. Shay takes the blame for it though.

Shay made the right call. It's only because Monsanto hit the shot that you are blaming Shay. If Monsanto misses, then Shay thankfully made the right call. How many on this board can honestly say," you would not have called timeout to setup your best play". You can't have it both ways.

Bucs lost this game the same way they lost their other conference games, bad execution in all phases. It seems most of our players think they are excellent shooting guards and ball handlers. Bucs don't play their position. Defensively, they constantly lose their man and give up in the paint shots and wide open 3s. Offensively, throw up 3s, bad passes, driving in to double and triple teams, timid play in the post, can't finish at the rim, very little drive and kick to 3pt shooters. Individually, Bucs have as good or better coaching staff, the best athletes, but playing as a team, less than average. Just no continuity. What is aggravating, they constantly watch video, they see their mistakes, coaches put them thru defensive and offensive sets for each game. Coaches go over and over the gameplan with each player and what do they do when game starts....they normally will run the offense for 3 or 4 possessions and then it's one on one playground ball, turnover city. Defensively they play better, simply because they are better athletes and can cover many of their mistakes with speed and quickness but are susceptible to pick and rolls and high screens.

Yes, we all see the same type of play everygame and Bucs win if 2 or 3 players get hot and score 20 or more but if the Bucs have to rely on offensive execution, with everyone doing their job, they lose.

Offense.....hot or cold. Sporadic at best
Defense.....best in league. Keeps Bucs in game

‘76 you’re correct. It shouldn’t have come down to that play. So, so many poor shots early in the possession, turnovers and free throws. At least this year we don’t have to wait long for football season.

(02-16-2021 03:15 PM)MTBuc Wrote:  ‘76 you’re correct. It shouldn’t have come down to that play. So, so many poor shots early in the possession, turnovers and free throws. At least this year we don’t have to wait long for football season.

Yes. Neither game with Chatt was lost on the last play. At some point I hope the coaches show the mistakes to them and they start to play the way the coaches want them to.

(02-16-2021 03:07 PM)Buc76 Wrote:  Shay made the right call. It's only because Monsanto hit the shot that you are blaming Shay. If Monsanto misses, then Shay thankfully made the right call. How many on this board can honestly say," you would not have called timeout to setup your best play". You can't have it both ways.

Bucs lost this game the same way they lost their other conference games, bad execution in all phases. It seems most of our players think they are excellent shooting guards and ball handlers. Bucs don't play their position. Defensively, they constantly lose their man and give up in the paint shots and wide open 3s. Offensively, throw up 3s, bad passes, driving in to double and triple teams, timid play in the post, can't finish at the rim, very little drive and kick to 3pt shooters. Individually, Bucs have as good or better coaching staff, the best athletes, but playing as a team, less than average. Just no continuity. What is aggravating, they constantly watch video, they see their mistakes, coaches put them thru defensive and offensive sets for each game. Coaches go over and over the gameplan with each player and what do they do when game starts....they normally will run the offense for 3 or 4 possessions and then it's one on one playground ball, turnover city. Defensively they play better, simply because they are better athletes and can cover many of their mistakes with speed and quickness but are susceptible to pick and rolls and high screens.

Yes, we all see the same type of play everygame and Bucs win if 2 or 3 players get hot and score 20 or more but if the Bucs have to rely on offensive execution, with everyone doing their job, they lose.

Offense.....hot or cold. Sporadic at best
Defense.....best in league. Keeps Bucs in game

All they have to do is listen to the coach's show when it comes on. Coach Shay describes exactly what they are doing wrong and how they need to do it right. I think if we have any success during the remaining part of this season will depend on Bucs running the offense and not taking random shots. Keep playing the good defense and start running the offense they way they do in practice. Do this, and there is no excuse for this much talent to lose any more SoCon games. Go Bucs!

I agree, the right play calling will get us the wins. Random shooting is a gamble that doesnt always work. Looks like the team is finding out how tough the Socon is....go bucs beat mercer and focus one game at a time...

  151420809_4031052173594752_2178548435900155513_o.jpg (Size: 118 KB / Downloads: 33)

Great picture. Thanks for sharing.

^ people will always come before sports. The flag is not sacred. Life is sacred. Proud to see our team coming together behind something that matters to their heritage. Glad to see the coaching staff supporting them. If you don’t like it, don’t come back to Freedom Hall. Fly your flags at home.

(02-16-2021 03:07 PM)Buc76 Wrote:  Shay made the right call. It's only because Monsanto hit the shot that you are blaming Shay. If Monsanto misses, then Shay thankfully made the right call. How many on this board can honestly say," you would not have called timeout to setup your best play". You can't have it both ways.

Coach Shay did indeed make the right call, which was to NOT call a timeout. He had his best play already set up, designed off a missed free throw, and executed perfectly by the players.

First off, the timeout call was clearly made by an assistant coach, not Shay. If it had been Shay's intention to call a timeout, then all five players and every coach would have been screaming for a timeout as soon as the Bucs got the rebound. Nowhere in that sequence does Shay show the slightest intention to call a timeout. Neither do any of the players or other coaches, with the exception of the one lone assistant.

Often, the easiest way to get an open shot is after a rebound, especially with four of the Mocs crashing the board. Its apparent from the replay, the rebounders were instructed to kick the ball out to either Damari Monsanto on the right, or David Sloan on the left, as both of those players slid into position for an open shoot. It's obvious that Shay's call was to grab the rebound and kick the ball out for a good shot — which they got.

So, kudos to Ledarrius Brewer for shooting a miss that hung on the rim. Kudos to Vonnie Patterson for great effort to make a great rebound and for finding the open Monsanto. Kudos to Monsanto for sliding further down to give Patterson a clear lane to make the pass, and of course, for making the shot. Kudos to Coach Shay for having the team perfectly prepared for this exact scenario, and for NOT throwing one of his assistants under the bus in the aftermath.

And, kudos, too, for the final play. It was perfectly designed and executed to get Monsanto the open shot. I'm sure he thought he had made it. It was dead on line, just a whisker, and I mean a whisker, too strong.