BigBlueBobby
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RE: JJ should have a winning season, but
(03-12-2021 10:16 AM)bit_9 Wrote: (03-12-2021 10:12 AM)Gilesfan Wrote: [quote='ODUBB35' pid='17319496' dateline='1615560157']
First of all, I want to thank JJ, staff, and players for an entertaining last few months. It was quite a remarkable turnaround after a horrible start and the monstrosity that was last season. Honestly, after being blown out by FIU in the conference opener, I wondered if we would win another game all season. To go from that to splitting with UAB and WKU on the road to get the double-bye in the tournament was quite a feat, and may have been JJ's best coaching job to date. He got the team playing hard together in a tough situation, and is correct that they came along way this season.
However, this last month or so was enjoyable because our lowered expectations due to shoddy play early on allowed us to separate this season from the big picture. The reality is that we were not that good, and that the #2 seed in the East was likely a fortunate result of scheduling cancellations. We were able to avoid series with LA Tech, North Texas, both of whom Marshall played (though they were able to avoid UAB). Not to get too far into hypotheticals, but scheduling those two would likely have resulted in at least two more losses (and I'm not sure we would have swept UTEP or UTSA either). Not to take away from the gritty efforts of the last few weeks, but a full schedule would have likely revealed that we are a mediocre team in a conference that isn't all that good. That's the reality of the big picture, and that reality hit home last night.
As Giles stated, we lost to a better team, and it's hard to overcome 21 points from 3 pointers (it was actually 27, but the point is taken). They hit 9-20 from downtown. All true, and the Monarchs put forth a solid effort despite being smaller and less talented. We got very little from Reece or Green. Hunter had been playing so well lately, but had an off night. If he hits a few of those shots, it's a different ball game.
But the big picture question: Why is North Texas more talented? Yes, they are a veteran group but so are we. I'm tired of hearing that it's because we are in CUSA. That fact hasn't stopped North Texas from recruiting talent. How the hell is North Texas outrecruiting us? They have neither the facilities, the budget, not the history that we have.
Ezikpe and Trice are warriors, but for those who think that size doesn't matter, UNT proved otherwise. Their frontline was 6'10" and 6'10" as opposed to our 6'7" and 6'8" (and those heights are doubtful, I would put Trice closer to 6'5"). It wasn't an effort issue from our guys. It came down to size (again, recruiting).
Don't look now, but teams like Rice and FAU are gaining on us. UNT and Marshall have already passed us by. JMU is also in our rearview mirror while we are stagnant. We need a change.
Granted, it took Kermit Davis 10 years are so to have success at MTSU, and once they lost him, they haven't been the same. W&M got rid of the only coach that even had moderate success, and they stink. However, they have always stunk.
So yes, there is a risk that we could end up biting pillows if we change coaches. I just don't see us going anywhere with the status quo. So many schools land bigs and shooters and we can't seem to land any. I know it's all hypothetical, and the late season run gave us just enough confidence to say "wait until next year". But I don't want to wait around for Bryant Stith's grandsons to take us to our next title. It's time for a change.
We hit 2 threes, they hit 9.
Remember we are without possibly our best player this year. I don't want to make excuses, you have to play with what you have, but I don't know that they out recruited us. We essentially played them toe to toe without Wade. Granted, we have to get better but it's a little too soon to say they've passed us. Marshall certainly has not, what have they ever done to pass us? They are a perinnial 150 team (last 5 years have seen 147, 149, 105, 157, 143) before they just had their best year under D'Antoni (before the quick exit). Rice is barely a top 200 team. We were significantly better than JMU.
They didn't beat us because of the front court battle. There 2 went for 17 points and 11 rebounds on 15 shots while ours went for 15 points and 7 rebounds on 13 shots. They won because they have guys that can hit open 3 pointers. In a low possession game, you cannot be outscored by 20 points behind the arc and expect to win. McBride, Reece, and Bell can all shoot. We got Hunter, Curry, Oliver jacking up 3s like they can shoot but are all low 30s 3 point shooters.
I always felt that this team would take us as far as Green would take us. Im surprised we won as many games as we did with how bad he was offensively.
Hunter and Long came on as the year progressed and hopefully they improve with a real offseason. We are going to need more from Oliver and Reece next year.
Agree with a lot of your points outside of the doom and gloom program outlook. Also don't agree with the bigs comment. Im not opposed to letting Jones enjoy retirement either.
I'm with ya on Green. He had all the intangibles but just couldn't get over something between the ears it seems. I hope Kalu hangs around and doesn't bolt like there's been some foreshadowing of. He too has such a high ceiling and we saw flashes of it in several games.
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Wouldn't it be nice to have a 6'10' to 7' productive center that would free up Kalu, Trice and Reese to play their natural position of 3 & 4. Since we don't have that luxury, we force them to play the 5 which puts them at a disadvantage when going up against the NT's of this conference. We didn't get to play LT but they have a bruiser that would have eaten us up. I am so sick of seeing 6'4" recruits I could scream. Yes they are probably good players but.... Why do we not recruit overseas anymore? Lot of good big talent coming from over there. JJ's recruiting gives us exactly what we are getting, mediocrity!!! It doesn't change, doesn't get better, or even worse, stays the same. I don't like it! I miss the excirement of BT days when we entered tournaments thinking we could or should win the damn thing. Now we hope we can win one game? Pathetic. This isn't the ODU basketball program I remember and long for. This isn't even worth getting excited over. Nothing will change as long as JJ is the coach.
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