They're going to have a game or two every year where they shoot really well and win. Coincidentally last year that game was CMU at home, shot 55% and won. Nader played really well in that game as well. The key is to start winning games when they don't randomly shoot great.

It seemed like Balls and Baker played together quiet a bit in the back court tonight. I liked it. Offense seemed to run a little smoother.

Maybe go small more and try Balls/Baker/Bolin/Nader/Gray.

(01-24-2013 01:52 AM)7 Wrote:  They're going to have a game or two every year where they shoot really well and win. Coincidentally last year that game was CMU at home, shot 55% and won. Nader played really well in that game as well. The key is to start winning games when they don't randomly shoot great.

It seemed like Balls and Baker played together quiet a bit in the back court tonight. I liked it. Offense seemed to run a little smoother.

Maybe go small more and try Balls/Baker/Bolin/Nader/Gray.

Any lineup is worth trying, especially when the wins aren't stacking up.

(01-24-2013 01:51 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 02:11 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 01:51 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 01:42 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 12:43 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  Usually it's your over the top homerism that annoys, not your Debbie Downer routine. Sheesh.

So I guess we can only make predictions that fit what you think the score should be? What if I predicted 71-34 for the WMU game? Would I have been branded a psycopath?

No, you've just been whining non-stop is all I'm saying.

I am always optimistic at the start of the season. But year after year of this is really wearing on me. I refuse to paint a rosy picture when, IMO, it is far from it. This is the worst basketball playing I have seen in years - and we have played some pretty bad basketball for several years now. You may say that we are not bad, but I look at records and improvement from the previous year(s). This is my opinion. I am saying it as I see it. You can keep saying that we are the greatest team in the nation. That is your opinion. Why is YOUR opinion more valid than mine? Does your association with the team make your opinion more valid?

I didn't ask you to paint a rosy picture. I do disagree with you that this is the worst basketball in years, I think you're overreacting to one game, but that's just my opinion.

I didn't say NIU wasn't bad. Or even imply it. I didn't say your opinion wasn't valid. I just said you're whining.

Overreacting to one game?? How about 5 wins in each of the last two years and 3 (now 4) so far this year? I'd say it's more like several seasons than one game.

I just hope that going forward their off-nights are only every other game, or every third game, and not 9 out of 10 games like it's been. With a young team you have more inconsistency, but at least have that good game more than once a month.

(01-24-2013 01:51 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  I didn't ask you to paint a rosy picture. I do disagree with you that this is the worst basketball in years, I think you're overreacting to one game, but that's just my opinion.

I didn't say NIU wasn't bad. Or even imply it. I didn't say your opinion wasn't valid. I just said you're whining.

I think DogFan is right here. They did win last night. Overall, though, they are playing terrible basketball. Terrible. I go to every home game. It isn't fun any more. It hasn't been fun in a long time. I go and continue to go because I hope to see the turnaround. I'm growing old waiting.

The frustration from DF (and me) is that there is not improvement. They are not showing that they know the basics/fundamentals this year, especially. I'm understanding that a new coach needs time to build up the talent level. However, in year two, the team should be able to consistently make layups.

Oh, and get off my lawn.

(01-24-2013 10:28 AM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 01:51 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  I didn't ask you to paint a rosy picture. I do disagree with you that this is the worst basketball in years, I think you're overreacting to one game, but that's just my opinion.

I didn't say NIU wasn't bad. Or even imply it. I didn't say your opinion wasn't valid. I just said you're whining.

I think DogFan is right here. They did win last night. Overall, though, they are playing terrible basketball. Terrible. I go to every home game. It isn't fun any more. It hasn't been fun in a long time. I go and continue to go because I hope to see the turnaround. I'm growing old waiting.

The frustration from DF (and me) is that there is not improvement. They are not showing that they know the basics/fundamentals this year, especially. I'm understanding that a new coach needs time to build up the talent level. However, in year two, the team should be able to consistently make layups.

Oh, and get off my lawn.

Heh.

Fellas, after reading multiple posts and threads about the state of NIU basketball under MM earlier this week...I am glad you guys pulled out the road victory against the chips. Excellent win.

(01-24-2013 10:58 AM)EA3 Wrote:  Fellas, after reading multiple posts and threads about the state of NIU basketball under MM earlier this week...I am glad you guys pulled out the road victory against the chips. Excellent win.

We're like the stock market. Depression one day, bull market the next.

(01-24-2013 11:08 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 10:58 AM)EA3 Wrote:  Fellas, after reading multiple posts and threads about the state of NIU basketball under MM earlier this week...I am glad you guys pulled out the road victory against the chips. Excellent win.

We're like the stock market. Depression one day, bull market the next.

I hear ya. I know MM took some heat on this board after the loss to us. But he should also get some praise for getting his team to perform on the road after a nasty loss. Sounds like they put Saturday in the rearview mirror.

(01-24-2013 11:22 AM)EA3 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 11:08 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 10:58 AM)EA3 Wrote:  Fellas, after reading multiple posts and threads about the state of NIU basketball under MM earlier this week...I am glad you guys pulled out the road victory against the chips. Excellent win.

We're like the stock market. Depression one day, bull market the next.

I hear ya. I know MM took some heat on this board after the loss to us. But he should also get some praise for getting his team to perform on the road after a nasty loss. Sounds like they put Saturday in the rearview mirror.

Yea I don't know what happened. I didn't see the game so can't really comment. Does look like they forgot about the Saturday game, which is good.

(01-24-2013 09:41 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I just hope that going forward their off-nights are only every other game, or every third game, and not 9 out of 10 games like it's been. With a young team you have more inconsistency, but at least have that good game more than once a month.

See I don't think they have off nights 9 out of 10 games. They my not be winning but for the most past they've been relatively competitive. The problem with their lack of overall talent and expierence is when they do have an off night it ends up like the WMU and Seattle games. It's almost like a self fulfilling prophecy too. When you win as few games as this team does it had to be very hard to get up for every game, but if they don't get up for a game they're going to get rolled. There have been very few games in MM's tenure that I sat there and thought the team wasn't competing and that's why I still have faith in him.

(01-24-2013 11:39 AM)7 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 09:41 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I just hope that going forward their off-nights are only every other game, or every third game, and not 9 out of 10 games like it's been. With a young team you have more inconsistency, but at least have that good game more than once a month.

See I don't think they have off nights 9 out of 10 games. They my not be winning but for the most past they've been relatively competitive. The problem with their lack of overall talent and expierence is when they do have an off night it ends up like the WMU and Seattle games. It's almost like a self fulfilling prophecy too. When you win as few games as this team does it had to be very hard to get up for every game, but if they don't get up for a game they're going to get rolled. There have been very few games in MM's tenure that I sat there and thought the team wasn't competing and that's why I still have faith in him.

What I meant was, most games they don't shoot very well from the floor, or from the free throw line. It isn't usually as bad as it was Saturday, but still not very good. I was considering those to be offnights - I mean if you're scoring 40, 50 points, that's not good. Especially considering that occasionally they get hot and shoot well - but that doesn't happen often.

(01-24-2013 11:39 AM)7 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 09:41 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I just hope that going forward their off-nights are only every other game, or every third game, and not 9 out of 10 games like it's been. With a young team you have more inconsistency, but at least have that good game more than once a month.

See I don't think they have off nights 9 out of 10 games. They my not be winning but for the most past they've been relatively competitive. The problem with their lack of overall talent and expierence is when they do have an off night it ends up like the WMU and Seattle games. It's almost like a self fulfilling prophecy too. When you win as few games as this team does it had to be very hard to get up for every game, but if they don't get up for a game they're going to get rolled. There have been very few games in MM's tenure that I sat there and thought the team wasn't competing and that's why I still have faith in him.

Right, you don't outrebound teams because you're not trying. They are just awful on offense and only okay on D. They have such little wiggle room that when they are sluggish, they get rolled.

Improvement isn't a package that just shows up and all the sudden everything is better. It comes slowly and frustratingly.

(01-24-2013 08:48 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 01:51 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 02:11 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 01:51 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(01-23-2013 01:42 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  So I guess we can only make predictions that fit what you think the score should be? What if I predicted 71-34 for the WMU game? Would I have been branded a psycopath?

No, you've just been whining non-stop is all I'm saying.

I am always optimistic at the start of the season. But year after year of this is really wearing on me. I refuse to paint a rosy picture when, IMO, it is far from it. This is the worst basketball playing I have seen in years - and we have played some pretty bad basketball for several years now. You may say that we are not bad, but I look at records and improvement from the previous year(s). This is my opinion. I am saying it as I see it. You can keep saying that we are the greatest team in the nation. That is your opinion. Why is YOUR opinion more valid than mine? Does your association with the team make your opinion more valid?

I didn't ask you to paint a rosy picture. I do disagree with you that this is the worst basketball in years, I think you're overreacting to one game, but that's just my opinion.

I didn't say NIU wasn't bad. Or even imply it. I didn't say your opinion wasn't valid. I just said you're whining.

Overreacting to one game?? How about 5 wins in each of the last two years and 3 (now 4) so far this year? I'd say it's more like several seasons than one game.

I still say this is a fine place to vent, but venting implies a long buildup then a release....not repeated releases, then it becomes whining. That's really all I was getting at.

(01-24-2013 12:22 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 11:39 AM)7 Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 09:41 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I just hope that going forward their off-nights are only every other game, or every third game, and not 9 out of 10 games like it's been. With a young team you have more inconsistency, but at least have that good game more than once a month.

See I don't think they have off nights 9 out of 10 games. They my not be winning but for the most past they've been relatively competitive. The problem with their lack of overall talent and expierence is when they do have an off night it ends up like the WMU and Seattle games. It's almost like a self fulfilling prophecy too. When you win as few games as this team does it had to be very hard to get up for every game, but if they don't get up for a game they're going to get rolled. There have been very few games in MM's tenure that I sat there and thought the team wasn't competing and that's why I still have faith in him.

Right, you don't outrebound teams because you're not trying. They are just awful on offense and only okay on D. They have such little wiggle room that when they are sluggish, they get rolled.

Improvement isn't a package that just shows up and all the sudden everything is better. It comes slowly and frustratingly.

Honestly my biggest disappointment with the team is they aren't better on defense. They should be, IMO. Especially with the size and athleticism of Nader, Bolin, Springs, and Bowie.

Did I hear correctly? We WON last night?

(01-24-2013 12:25 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  I still say this is a fine place to vent, but venting implies a long buildup then a release....not repeated releases, then it becomes whining. That's really all I was getting at.

For a minute there, I thought you were talking about something much different...

I don't know if DF has had multiple releases in years.

NIU is more than serviceable on defense: 170 out of 345 D1 teams in points allowed....I think the mental lapses, failure to get in gaps and weakside help and multitude of fouls contribute to the image of their defensive deficiencies..........of course, most of that comes with youth....I do believe the huskies put very good pressure on the ball....defend the post darn well, especially for usually being undersized and do a pretty good job stopping leading scorers from having big nights...however, their transition D is not good and the rotation with guards, particularly, getting back and STOPPING the ball is a major weakness. I have no doubt it will be corrected but the point guards seem not to have had much D taught to them in high school......they are improving but a ways to go...

On the offensive side, the shooting is a bigger problem against man to man....in last night's zone, the PGs were able to penetrate the lane and kick or dish for open shots...they have had much more trouble getting to the paint against physical teams that play man and pressure the ball..

The huskies looked very good last night in transition--often shredding the CMU press and getting 3 on 2 breaks and making pretty good decisions (still too many offensive fouls, though)..The ball movement, all night was excellent and this team is very unselfish... Turnovers continue to plague the team but most guys are starting to value the ball more and are not making so many "unforced errors"....freshman will get 5 second calls and that will improve...i just hope our guys never again receive a pass and step OUT OF BOUNDS....that has happened in too many games and says to me they are caught up in the excitement of the game.

I believe MM has done a great job of emphasizing offensive spacing but the kids, at times, get pressured out of where they need to be and, perhaps panic, causing shot clock trouble which leads to forced shots...

Overall though, all the gripes after the WMU game were unwarranted.....this team is a work in progress but sometimes it is baby steps....and then a step back....

(01-24-2013 03:03 PM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 12:25 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  I still say this is a fine place to vent, but venting implies a long buildup then a release....not repeated releases, then it becomes whining. That's really all I was getting at.

For a minute there, I thought you were talking about something much different...

I don't know if DF has had multiple releases in years.

In years, yes. Five over a five-year period. Not bad, eh?

(01-24-2013 04:12 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 03:03 PM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 12:25 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  I still say this is a fine place to vent, but venting implies a long buildup then a release....not repeated releases, then it becomes whining. That's really all I was getting at.

For a minute there, I thought you were talking about something much different...

I don't know if DF has had multiple releases in years.

In years, yes. Five over a five-year period. Not bad, eh?

Once a year? Must be like Krakatoa when it happens.