That it does. Way too many layups and dunks for BSU.

We need a nice little run here!

I like that Murph is playing Harris at center.

Lets hope Ross makes these... CMU wins, looks like Toledo will win as well will NIU

HORRIBLE LOSS

OK, I was following the last three minutes via EMU's website with Sidearm. For those that were there, was that a legit foul that was called on Riley at the end?

Ugh. Heartbreaking loss. Don't understand how team as big as we are is outrebounded so consistently. Everyone points to our offensive deficiencies, yet the rebounding is much more troubling. If that doesn't get straightened out, we'll finish last in the division.

Either way, this team can be so frustrating. Riley gave up at least two easy layups that he could've swatted without jumping. Balkema tries hard, but simply can't outrebound more athletic guys. Our best lineup is Sims-Thompson-Harrison-Bryant-Harris. Sims takes better care of the ball than Ross. Hopefully Murphy uses that group more regularly. Riley doesn't deserve to play more than 10-15 minutes right now.

Seven footer with no shots nor rebounds. How annoying.

(01-09-2013 09:28 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Ugh. Heartbreaking loss. Don't understand how team as big as we are is outrebounded so consistently. Everyone points to our offensive deficiencies, yet the rebounding is much more troubling. If that doesn't get straightened out, we'll finish last in the division.

Either way, this team can be so frustrating. Riley gave up at least two easy layups that he could've swatted without jumping. Balkema tries hard, but simply can't outrebound more athletic guys. Our best lineup is Sims-Thompson-Harrison-Bryant-Harris. Sims takes better care of the ball than Ross. Hopefully Murphy uses that group more regularly. Riley doesn't deserve to play more than 10-15 minutes right now.

We are out rebounded because of bad positioning we seem to always be in the wrong place and we are being easily being boxed out.

Gentlemen,
We are all in agreement on this loss, however, we really knew this was a bad team that has regressed like the football team. Just be prepared for a long season with maybe fifty fans at the last home game. Some of you are going to say, how can I be so negative after one game? This was a team we were supposed to beat, and is not supposed to be one of the better teams in the MAC West. And we were playing on our home court! I am so disappointed. I was hoping that the basketball team would remove some of the bad smell of the football season, but not to be.

If we can't beat BSU at home, just who exactly should we expect to beat?

This is a bad, bad team. But like you said Ken, everyone paying attention has known that for awhile.

(01-09-2013 09:28 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Ugh. Heartbreaking loss. Don't understand how team as big as we are is outrebounded so consistently. Everyone points to our offensive deficiencies, yet the rebounding is much more troubling. If that doesn't get straightened out, we'll finish last in the division.

Either way, this team can be so frustrating. Riley gave up at least two easy layups that he could've swatted without jumping. Balkema tries hard, but simply can't outrebound more athletic guys. Our best lineup is Sims-Thompson-Harrison-Bryant-Harris. Sims takes better care of the ball than Ross. Hopefully Murphy uses that group more regularly. Riley doesn't deserve to play more than 10-15 minutes right now.

I'm definitely on board with the thinking here, especially about the rebounding. Riley looked as if he didn't really want to be out there and he's naturally the guy that commits the foul with .6 left. I'd honestly have no problem with Murphy sending a message by just leaving him on the bench for an entire game or two. It also seemed to me that these guys don't have any fire or emotion either. Offensively though I thought EMU looked decent. There actually seemed to be a bit more cohesiveness which is sort of comforting against a pretty good defensive team.

On the positive, I do think it's sort of funny that for as bad as EMU's interior defense was in this game, for how bad our rebounding and for as well that Ball State shot the ball in this game, this game ultimately was tied with 8-9 seconds left. Then when you get down to a situation like that, it's down to one shot anything can and often does happen. In addition, this is also just the first game in conference.

On a more personal note, anyone have a University of Michigan Basketball poster I can post in my classroom?* That one would be a lot easier to explain than my alma mater with a poster that is citing "Together, we will make you believe." All they've done so far is put me into a state of disbelief.

Ironically, as a random side note. Yesterday, Louisville Central(the HS I teach) played the #1 team in the state and were winning 73-72 with 10 seconds left and the ball and end up having a jump ball called against them, and the other team wound up making the winning shot at the buzzer to win 74-73. So maybe that EMU poster is bringing some bad karma to Louisville....

* - I don't really want to spend or have anyone spend the $50 they probably would charge for it.

(01-09-2013 10:14 PM)holybovine Wrote:  If we can't beat BSU at home, just who exactly should we expect to beat?

This is a bad, bad team. But like you said Ken, everyone paying attention has known that for awhile.

Yep. This team stinks. You'd have to be crazy to think that this team could turn it around. It is just a poorly coached team with a bunch of guys who cannot shoot. Period. Anyone who knows anything about basketball can see that.

Can we all now agree that Riley is completely useless. He reminds me of when Joe Barry Carroll, a 7 footer played with no emotion for the Golden State Warriors. He sucked so bad that everyone started calling him Joe Barely Cares. That is Riley to a tee. To think that he is ever going to get better...well, you'd have to be a glutton. He is what he is.

Murphy has to go. This program is a mess. At least the football team was mildly entertaining. This is just torture. We need a new direction and I wouldn't trust Gragg to make another hire ever again.

(01-09-2013 10:46 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(01-09-2013 10:14 PM)holybovine Wrote:  If we can't beat BSU at home, just who exactly should we expect to beat?

This is a bad, bad team. But like you said Ken, everyone paying attention has known that for awhile.

Can we all now agree that Riley is completely useless. He reminds me of when Joe Barry Carroll, a 7 footer played with no emotion for the Golden State Warriors. He sucked so bad that everyone started calling him Joe Barely Cares.

Great reference! I had almost forgotten about JBC. That comparison is right on. Benoit Benjamin also says hello.

Ahhh, the enigmatic, mystical, mysterious conundrum that is the uninspired big man.

Tough loss, those are always hard to take. I'm not ready to wash the season down the drain on a single game. Ball State shot out the lights with low percentage 3s most of the first half. Some nights that happens. When teams are hot from the outside it negates the zone. The lack of inside defense in some cases needs to be corrected. I've said I thought the incoming talent this year in the MAC West was going to make it more competitive.

Look the program was going anywhere under Ramsey. Sometimes Murphy takes a chance like Lee and you have to like Ross. And for next year Ward may be the best EMU recruit in a long time.The problem we could have used another front court player more mobile and a bigger scoring threat than Harris, Balkema and Riley and Murphy bet on the wrong horse Mr. Still. Murphy pulled a few tricks last year and the team was competitive. I think the Still matter and the carpetbagging with Orlando left a not so great feeling for many of us long term EMU fans.

I hope Murphy matures as a coach and makes better judgments recruiting wise and in running the program. This is only his second year he retooled with transfers as a quicker way to build the program. Lets see how the rest of the season plays out.

(01-09-2013 11:10 PM)holybovine Wrote:  

(01-09-2013 10:46 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(01-09-2013 10:14 PM)holybovine Wrote:  If we can't beat BSU at home, just who exactly should we expect to beat?

This is a bad, bad team. But like you said Ken, everyone paying attention has known that for awhile.

Can we all now agree that Riley is completely useless. He reminds me of when Joe Barry Carroll, a 7 footer played with no emotion for the Golden State Warriors. He sucked so bad that everyone started calling him Joe Barely Cares.

Great reference! I had almost forgotten about JBC. That comparison is right on. Benoit Benjamin also says hello.

Ahhh, the enigmatic, mystical, mysterious conundrum that is the uninspired big man.

Benoit Benjamin! Perfect!

(01-09-2013 09:11 PM)HuronDave Wrote:  OK, I was following the last three minutes via EMU's website with Sidearm. For those that were there, was that a legit foul that was called on Riley at the end?

it was a foul. that pass was there for Ball State all night and our bigs did nothing to correct it. Bond would get a pass on the baseline about 10' from the basket, take 1-2 dribbles and lay it up. Riley, Balkema and Harris were all unable to properly adjust for it. frustrating stuff.

i think the 2-3 zone works well, but there doesn't seem to be many adjustments made when a team is doing a specific play well against it.

(01-10-2013 07:15 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Tough loss, those are always hard to take. I'm not ready to wash the season down the drain on a single game. Ball State shot out the lights with low percentage 3s most of the first half. Some nights that happens. When teams are hot from the outside it negates the zone. The lack of inside defense in some cases needs to be corrected. I've said I thought the incoming talent this year in the MAC West was going to make it more competitive.

Look the program was going anywhere under Ramsey. Sometimes Murphy takes a chance like Lee and you have to like Ross. And for next year Ward may be the best EMU recruit in a long time.The problem we could have used another front court player more mobile and a bigger scoring threat than Harris, Balkema and Riley and Murphy bet on the wrong horse Mr. Still. Murphy pulled a few tricks last year and the team was competitive. I think the Still matter and the carpetbagging with Orlando left a not so great feeling for many of us long term EMU fans.

I hope Murphy matures as a coach and makes better judgments recruiting wise and in running the program. This is only his second year he retooled with transfers as a quicker way to build the program. Lets see how the rest of the season plays out.

I don't see it happening. First off, I don't see much "coaching" going on during the game. He makes no adjustments at all. You can't just play a 2-3 zone and nothing else. It would be like driving on the highway on cruise control. It may work well for long stretches, but eventually you have to adjust for traffic.

Also, how do you have a 7 footer who goes 0 points and 0 rebounds in 23 minutes against an undersized team? That is unheard of. The fact that Riley has shown no improvement under Murphy speaks volumes.

If it was simply a matter of Ball State being a good team, pulling the upset, I'd be willing to give them some time. Fact of the matter is, Ball State is a far less talented team. A guy like Fields having his way inside with Riley? Can't happen, unacceptable.

It's always 'next year this, next year that.' Next year never seems to arrive here at EMU.

Okay so here is my take on the game last night.

I will start with Deshonte. When I heard he is coming to EMU I called a friend who is a big time basketball personality in Detroit and asked him about Mr. Riley. This was his answer "That mother***** is sorry as hell." Looks like my friend was right Mr. Riley is sorry as hell. To be honest I think I'd rather have Matt start that Riley.

DEFENSE:

Awful, just awful. Last year's team was so much better defensively but why?? I think the Seniors this year have no balls. Yes, last years Seniors were not the most talented group ever but they had heart and they got it done on the defensive end. BSU got the ball inside way too many times and I know for the fact that our big guys are supposed to front the bigs in the middle from getting the ball. In Syracuse zone that we run, when the ball enters the paint the zone is pretty much broken as we saw last night. Another thing that got under my nerves is the constant gambling for steals, gambling is a sign on laziness and it puts everyone else on the court in the disadvantage. Finally, rebounding. We have bunch of soft guys on this team point blank. Nobody can go up, grab the ball and keep it in their hands. Sad but true. We got bullied on the boards.

OFFENSE:

Well, we miss Lampley for sure. We also miss Dailey and Green. Some might not agree with me but we need guys that stay within themselves and know their capabilities. Bryant thinks he can pull of Kobe moves. Harrison could be much better if he stayed within himself as well. We have no production from the middle but then again there is no plays run for the big guys and when they are posting up we don't feed them. I do not know if Murph doesnt trust them or he just doesnt think they can score. Still, offense shouldnt be all that important we can just look back on last years team. If you stop people more times than they stop you you will most likely win the game.

(01-10-2013 11:27 AM)realistEagle Wrote:  OFFENSE:

Well, we miss Lampley for sure. We also miss Dailey and Green. Some might not agree with me but we need guys that stay within themselves and know their capabilities. Bryant thinks he can pull of Kobe moves. Harrison could be much better if he stayed within himself as well. We have no production from the middle but then again there is no plays run for the big guys and when they are posting up we don't feed them. I do not know if Murph doesnt trust them or he just doesnt think they can score. Still, offense shouldnt be all that important we can just look back on last years team. If you stop people more times than they stop you you will most likely win the game.

I'm not sure Bryant and Harrison WANT to do too much, be the go to guy.

The question is if they don't do it WHO WILL?

Riley? NO!

Harris? No.

Ross? not really.

DT can score but how many minutes do he play?

This team needs someone to carry the team on his back and I don't know who it is.

For all of the criticism of Riley I don't see a lot of plays for Harris and a lot of points by him.

We have trouble getting all of the bigs good feeds, etc.

Maybe we miss a PF who could do the face up jumper?