1. Our team was less talented, but fought hard and had a shot in the air to win it at the end. A loss is a loss, but after the performance in Akron on Wednesday, I take todays effort as a positive.
2. Today may have been Jared Kleins coming out party. He was the best player on the floor for WMU. Seemed to be the only one that can possibly create his own shot. And going against DJ Cooper, he held his own. Austin Richie didnt play much in the 2nd half.
3. Sometimes I wonder if Hawkins wouldnt be better served to coach rather than cry about every call. They arent going to change the calls and you set the tone for your team as whiners. He seriously, argued about something every time down the court.
4. At one point late in the 1st half, we had all of our subs in the game. With the exception of David Brown, I dont know if any of them can score at all. Some of these guys might turn into decent players, but how can Hawkins have them all out there together?
5. Darius Paul was basically shut down today. I he isnt scoring, I dont know where we are going to find consistent points. We just dont have a go to scorer. Whittington was 2 for 12 today. Hutch is a complimentary offensive player. And everyone else is not a go to guy. I dont know how we are going to score enough to win much in the conference.
All that said, I take todays effort as a positive that can be built on.
Went to the game in the second half with my daughter. She's big on the cotton candy. Anyway, we got jobbed by Shovel Face in the final minute. Whittington throws down a rebound dunk that should have been an and-one, Shovelface takes the bucket away and calls Whittington for an offensive foul. The defender can't stand under the net and get a charge. It was one of a few late calls that were vintage MAC officiating.
David Brown and to a lesser extent Jared Klein can create a shot off the dribble. Like to see them on the floor more and would like to see Richie get some of Pokes minutes at the 2.
Shane and Paul have to finish inside, or at least show some ball fakes, a little patience and maybe get to the line.
I believe the call was on Brown for an offensive foul and not on Whittington. That is what Robin Hook said in the play by play.
Whittington was clean on his part and Brown was moving forward as he passed the ball but, without the benefit of replay, I don't know who was in his path if anyone.
That was a tough call for us, but probably a legit one.
(01-12-2013 02:55 PM)bostonbronco Wrote: Hmmm, Klein is making our earlier comments look a little sour.
Jared Klein was listening to Hawk when he had the ball stolen, after Hawks "stupid" command to go for the last shot of the half with 35 seconds left.
Coaching this half time last shot decision we went from 1 point down to 5 down and never got a shot off? Why go for the last shot of the half, it changes our tempo on offense! Who cares & what difference would it make, halftime "momentum" say all coaches. Stupid decision!!
Hawkins is terrible coach, he left Hutchinson on the bench in the second half for 10 minutes, and Ohio built the lead to 12. With 3:35 to go assistant Coach Bates had to remind Hawkins! Hutch was on the bench?
That was two errors that cost us the game.
#1 going for last shot of half, cost us 4 points, (we lost by 2)
#2 leaving your most athletic player with the most experience on the bench for 10 minutes in the middle of the second half, and forgetting about him!!!!!
Quote:Hawkins is terrible coach, he left Hutchinson on the bench in the second half for 10 minutes, and Ohio built the lead to 12. With 3:35 to go assistant Coach Bates had to remind Hawkins! Hutch was on the bench?
Do you sit close enough that you actually witnessed this?
I mean, I've forgot when I've had key players sitting too long, but I was just a dunderhead middle school coach.
Our team fought hard in this game, and had some good moments. Except for guarding the 3 on the wing, our defense was good.
For gauds sake we need someone who is a CONSISTENT threat from 3. It seems like our opponents hit BIG 3's against us, but we not only miss ours, but can't even get em. If you all saw that game against Akron Wed, the Zips broke open the game beginning of 2nd half from outside. Killed us.
The 3 point basket has transformed college basketball in so many ways and it seems like everybody else has it as a weapon and we don't. It's danged embarrassing. We are supposedly a college basketball team and we can't shoot the rock. I can not remember the last killer 3 point shooter we have had.
For some reason Hawkins teams consistently shoot poorly. Why doesn't he do something about that. I'm getting sick and tired of sitting in the stands watching other teams bury 3's at critical moments in the game, while our guys throw brick after brick toward the backboard. Really, it takes all the fun out of watching.
Talk about helping our inside guys, if we could get a couple pure shooters from outside, it would open up that middle big time.
Sorry about the rant, but I don't get it.
(01-12-2013 06:37 PM)bostonbronco Wrote: I believe the call was on Brown for an offensive foul and not on Whittington. That is what Robin Hook said in the play by play.
Whittington was clean on his part and Brown was moving forward as he passed the ball but, without the benefit of replay, I don't know who was in his path if anyone.
That was a tough call for us, but probably a legit one.
:lauramac:DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US WITH PERFECT VIEW UNBLOCKED BY ANYTHING OHIO MAN WAS NOT SET AND WAS COMING TO MEET HIM. MAC OFFICIAL TAKING CONTROL OF GAME AS USUAL. THEY MISSED MANY KEY CALLS AS USUAL. That didn't lose the game missing 5-6 layups and 7 f.t. in the first half did that.
WE FOUND A POINT GUARD THOUGH, IF HE DOESN'T START SOON THEN I TOO WILL JOIN THE ANTI HAWK BANDWAGON.
(01-12-2013 05:49 PM)Chipdip Wrote: Went to the game in the second half with my daughter. She's big on the cotton candy. Anyway, we got jobbed by Shovel Face in the final minute. Whittington throws down a rebound dunk that should have been an and-one, Shovelface takes the bucket away and calls Whittington for an offensive foul. The defender can't stand under the net and get a charge. It was one of a few late calls that were vintage MAC officiating.
100% AGREE. IT WAS A HORRIBLE CALL. BUT THIS CONFERENCE HAS A DECADES LONG HISTORY OF THE OFFICIALS BEING BIGGER THAN THE GAME ITSELF. We were also talking about how the "alleged" super stars of the M.A.C. have always been allowed a few extra steps with the ball and a few extra seconds in the lane. This has gone on for what seems like ever and Our "stars" have also benefitted from it. Reitz, Reed, Williams it is just that we haven't had the number of premier players over the past 30 years that Kent, Ohio,Akron, Ball State have had.