(11-22-2022 02:57 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  What a shame. This team really was just one decent post player away from what could be a special season…someone even just 6’8” but with some muscle who can make some basic contributions at both ends of the court for 20 minutes a game. Edu isn’t going to be that guy (and that’s no reflection on him; the fact that we even 10 minutes from him is amazing given what he’s gone through ). Neither is Lorentsson, even if he is 6’8” (not even close to his preferred style of play). Just my opinion, but it doesn’t look like we made much effort to land a post player, other than a true freshman who’s redshirting.

You just saw back-to-back games where a bigger body inside would have meant something for the Rockets— maybe even a win or 2. You can’t expect Cochran to cover this up every game just because he’s strong. More post mismatches to come when we play a few MAC teams.

You’d think with over 300 D1 schools that we couldn’t find one 6-9, 6-10 post guy who could sort of defend and rebound and was strong. He didn’t even have to be a scorer.

Instead we sign 2 6-2 guards and a 6-8 wing man who is mostly lost on the court.

The scary part is what about next year. We didn’t sign a post player, graduate possibly all 3 after this season, hence our only returning post is a 6-7 RS freshman.

So much for building a résumé for an at large bid.

(11-22-2022 04:24 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote:  

(11-22-2022 02:57 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  What a shame. This team really was just one decent post player away from what could be a special season…someone even just 6’8” but with some muscle who can make some basic contributions at both ends of the court for 20 minutes a game. Edu isn’t going to be that guy (and that’s no reflection on him; the fact that we even 10 minutes from him is amazing given what he’s gone through ). Neither is Lorentsson, even if he is 6’8” (not even close to his preferred style of play). Just my opinion, but it doesn’t look like we made much effort to land a post player, other than a true freshman who’s redshirting.

You just saw back-to-back games where a bigger body inside would have meant something for the Rockets— maybe even a win or 2. You can’t expect Cochran to cover this up every game just because he’s strong. More post mismatches to come when we play a few MAC teams.

You’d think with over 300 D1 schools that we couldn’t find one 6-9, 6-10 post guy who could sort of defend and rebound and was strong. He didn’t even have to be a scorer.

Instead we sign 2 6-2 guards and a 6-8 wing man who is mostly lost on the court.

The scary part is what about next year. We didn’t sign a post player, graduate possibly all 3 after this season, hence our only returning post is a 6-7 RS freshman.

Makes me wonder: what if Mihai had stayed? Yes—he was a project, that’s for certain. But he did have that 1 game at Ball State where you could just get glimpses of how he could help 5-7 minutes a game.

Swap Lorentsson (who’s been a bust through these first 4 games) out for Mihai & keep the rest of this roster, and we might have had something this season.

And given the slow (& in some cases horrendous) starts we’ve had this season, maybe it’s time to stop the experiment with Farmer starting? His stat line isn’t anything special, so maybe tomorrow TK starts someone else—Maddox or Edu or Cochran, if his injury status allows—to try something to yield a better first 5-7 minutes of the game?

(11-22-2022 03:11 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  I wasn't able to watch the game because I refuse to pay for FloSports - but I am shocked that we won this game. Our radio guy said that y'all are projected to win the MAC and return 4 starters from a 26-win team. That is super impressive and I hope that ECU basketball can be at that level one day.

We haven't made an NCAA tournament appearance since the early 90's, and HOPE that we may have found our head coach in Mike Schwartz. Life is hard as an ECU basketball fan, but we're starting to get excited about this young, scrappy team.

Best of luck the rest of the way, Rockets!

Good stuff, and thanks. As others have already said, we have quite the drought too. Good luck!

(11-22-2022 02:57 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  What a shame. This team really was just one decent post player away from what could be a special season…someone even just 6’8” but with some muscle who can make some basic contributions at both ends of the court for 20 minutes a game. Edu isn’t going to be that guy (and that’s no reflection on him; the fact that we even 10 minutes from him is amazing given what he’s gone through ). Neither is Lorentsson, even if he is 6’8” (not even close to his preferred style of play). Just my opinion, but it doesn’t look like we made much effort to land a post player, other than a true freshman who’s redshirting.

You just saw back-to-back games where a bigger body inside would have meant something for the Rockets— maybe even a win or 2. You can’t expect Cochran to cover this up every game just because he’s strong. More post mismatches to come when we play a few MAC teams.

This.

I am as guilty as can be. I once again drank the cool-aide. Both these games exposed us for what we are - and aren't. Nothing against Shumate or Milner, but they can't make up for not having a legitimate 5. They would look great as our 3 and 4 - if we had a legit 5 - and we don't.

AJ will no doubt help this year, but even if he was completely healthy, I don't think he has the size/muscle inside to compete with large bodies. As I've said, basketball is a physical sport and beef matters - even if it's a clod. Our bigs get pushed around inside when the other team posts up - we have no answer. Then they beat us on the boards as well.

Example; late in the game we needed a stop and rebound. They got 4 or 5 shots because they got the rebounds and finally made one. Our guys got pushed away.

Both these games were very physical IMO. Our linebackers (and Maddox isn't small either) did a decent job out front - but the the size and girth inside killed us.

Every team we play going forward is going to spin up these last two games to see what worked and what didn't. Expect everyone in the MAC (cause that's all that matters at this point if you want to get to the dance) will try to slow down the game and bang inside. Once again, our lack of size (beef) inside is our Achilles heel.

I don't remember what Nathan Boothe weighed in at, but he would look pretty good right now, and he wasn't even that big. Even as a Jr.

Tomorrow's game is a matchup of two league favorites who did not expect to be playing in the 7th place game as we play Horizon League favorite Northern Kentucky at 11 a.m.

I don't know how that will work out. Maybe get clipped again, but if I were Coach K - no more games before it's dark. :-)

Trying to find some sunlight in this darkness; like yesterday, looking at the stat sheet, it's pretty wild how well both these teams that beat us shot the ball. I hope neither loses another game all year.

I need to go delete a post where I said this could be the year... Nah, I'll leave it out there so I can remember not to forecast championships in any sport at UT. Better to be surprised than disappointed..

It's a long season. we'll see how the team adjusts to failure after not handling early success very well. Defense in this tournament has been a problem, while not moving and sharing the ball at the same level as the first 3 games has hurt. Remember, that with misses you don't get to set up your d, run press, etc...

on a related note, UAB beat Georgia today to go to 4-1. Kansas City knocks off 5-0 Indiana St to reach the tourney title game. Each team's destiny is still unsettled and changing. Remember that elite 8 Kent St team struggled the first month of the season before finding its groove.