Milon has started 3 games for UCF, averaged only 20 minutes/game, is 2-20 from the field, including 1-14 from 3 point, and 1-3 from the FT line. Sometimes the hype is far greater than the results. I think Ayesa has shown the ability to fulfill the 3 point needs, as he becomes more ready to hold up on the defensive end.

Stanford executed their early gameplan to go right at Nate in the post. We didn't counter. I appreciate Nate and Andy being versatile from outside, but our offense evolved into both being 20 feet from the basket, and any size advantages were forfeited. Can't make moves to the rim, rebound, draw fouls, followup shots from 20 feet away. Our ball movement has got to make teams pay for double teams, including fast kickouts when the ball goes inside. The offense has a lot of expected development before league play. Defense, though, needs to be the ticket for this team's success. They were not good defensively last night, individually or collectively. We could take a big page from Stanford's help defense. It frustrates me to see opposing players get to the rim and players stand and watch. Stanford had 2-3 players stopping all shots inside. We'll learn. Rather our weaknesses get exposed now, so, they can be corrected.

I'd like to see Mehkel routinely be part of the rotation when Nate or Andy go to the bench. I think his shot altering and rebounding ability offsets any lack of offense and better plugs our inside vulnerability when only Nate or Andy are on the court. It allows Quinn to focus on his beyond the arc scoring and at 6'6" not have to play bigger than he is, or be as susceptible to players driving past him to the basket. Mehkel can protect the rim and not worry about foul accumulation.

I will add that Stanford exploited our pattern of going behind screens. If our guards are being taught to go behind, then the Tribe defender on the screener has got to step out and force the ballhandler/shooter farther out. If that's not corrected, then Riller, Roland, and the Hofstra guards will drill us.

(11-22-2019 01:27 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  I will add that Stanford exploited our pattern of going behind screens. If our guards are being taught to go behind, then the Tribe defender on the screener has got to step out and force the ballhandler/shooter farther out. If that's not corrected, then Riller, Roland, and the Hofstra guards will drill us.

I think they also exploited something about our passing that I noticed the last few games.

I'm not sure terminology, etc... but the offense seems to call for a lot of "reversing" the ball. Instead of a pick and role, the player picks, steps back, and after a step or so the ball handler passes back to the man picking. I noticed OU pick up on it in the last 4 minutes or so of their game and Stanford got a number of turnovers/deflections by anticipating that move. Our guys a couple of times seemed to do it completely blindly do it without regard for what the defender was doing.

(11-22-2019 12:51 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  I'd like to see Mehkel routinely be part of the rotation when Nate or Andy go to the bench. I think his shot altering and rebounding ability offsets any lack of offense and better plugs our inside vulnerability when only Nate or Andy are on the court.

Yes ^^^^^^. Plus, I don't think Mehkel will progress or develop if he doesn't get into games. These early games are the ones he needs to be in to get his feet wet and become accustomed to the new system -- before conference play.

(11-22-2019 12:40 PM)nj alum Wrote:  

(11-22-2019 12:07 PM)mrjoolius Wrote:  Ultimately though, and I know many disagree with me, I think regardless of coach - Milon, Pierce, & Audige were gone.

I agree with you that Pierce & Audige were gone.

I believe that the move was made to bring in a “name” coach to try to change their minds, and keep the team intact for this year, aka “the year”.

The “name” coach didn’t bite, they left, and more player losses ensued, wiping out all depth on a team that would have been our deepest in a long time. A fire became an inferno.

In my view, then and now, the AD should have stayed out of it, supported her coach, let the transfers happen, let the chips fall, and take the steps necessary to transition the program from Tony to the next coach.

Regardless, Dane and his staff are making the most of a bad situation. We all have to hope for some lightning this year, because a serious re-build commences thereafter.

People have been lead to believe that but I can assure you that Pierce and Audige were not gone...you are on the money though with your next statement.

They played a bad game with tired legs against Stanford at the end of a very hard road trip that involved three long flights...we're 4-2 with just one home game out of six. Seven of their next ten games are again on the road....if they
can keep their head above .500 for that stretch they'll be in decent shape. By the way, the first three CAA games
are consecutively on the road in that rugged stretch (Elon and the two strong teams, NEastern and Hofstra) on Dec 30
and Jan 3 and 4).

There are going to be good games and bad games with this evolving group of guys, so I'm giving them some slack right now,

And students won't be there Tuesday evening for the home game: Thanksgiving Holiday.

(11-22-2019 02:51 PM)Zorch Wrote:  

(11-22-2019 12:51 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  I'd like to see Mehkel routinely be part of the rotation when Nate or Andy go to the bench. I think his shot altering and rebounding ability offsets any lack of offense and better plugs our inside vulnerability when only Nate or Andy are on the court.

Yes ^^^^^^. Plus, I don't think Mehkel will progress or develop if he doesn't get into games. These early games are the ones he needs to be in to get his feet wet and become accustomed to the new system -- before conference play.

in the luncheon with Dane this was discussed. He sees Mehkel as the #3 center and only playing when neither Nate or Andy are on the floor. Since our rotation is set up for one of them to be on the court as center it minimizes the time for Mehkel. Think Mehkel is still lost at times in the flow of the game and this is his biggest issue,