(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

Good post, but at this point I believe this is everyone's opinion.

Copied and pasted below from an article in Daily Memphian. Seems that all the teams in our conference are licking their chops to play us. Very frustrating.


“It’s crazy, because Coach (Ross Hodge) told us not to get surprised on how open we’re gonna be,” said the Mean Green’s Jason Edwards.

“But it was always surprising,” chimed in teammate John Buggs III with a laugh. “For us to get clean looks early, it’s confidence-building. Once (you) see one go in, it’s like, ‘The next four probably can go in.’”

(02-17-2024 10:04 AM)RandyW_Class83 Wrote:  Copied and pasted below from an article in Daily Memphian. Seems that all the teams in our conference are licking their chops to play us. Very frustrating.


“It’s crazy, because Coach (Ross Hodge) told us not to get surprised on how open we’re gonna be,” said the Mean Green’s Jason Edwards.

“But it was always surprising,” chimed in teammate John Buggs III with a laugh. “For us to get clean looks early, it’s confidence-building. Once (you) see one go in, it’s like, ‘The next four probably can go in.’”

That's the most frustrating thing about this group. The lack of awareness/ability/desire to play D for the whole game. It seems every conference team is able to run whatever they want against us. And that is a direct 180 from previous Penny teams.

(02-16-2024 07:21 PM)memphisike Wrote:  We can’t Bust the TREY or Check the TREY

35+% shooting from the TREY is not terrible. Upper half of the NCAA, and 4th in the AAC. Good enough that it's not the issue.
The problem is our TREY defense. We are 12th in the AAC, and 255th in the country in 3D.

(02-17-2024 10:36 AM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 07:21 PM)memphisike Wrote:  We can’t Bust the TREY or Check the TREY

35+% shooting from the TREY is not terrible. Upper half of the NCAA, and 4th in the AAC. Good enough that it's not the issue.
The problem is our TREY defense. We are 12th in the AAC, and 255th in the country in 3D.

Ya, pretty simple. We leave people wide open. No exaggeration, UNT probably had 20+ wide open threes. A fat middle aged church league team could have compete against the Tigers right now because they would rain threes down all night...

(02-17-2024 11:00 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(02-17-2024 10:36 AM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 07:21 PM)memphisike Wrote:  We can’t Bust the TREY or Check the TREY

35+% shooting from the TREY is not terrible. Upper half of the NCAA, and 4th in the AAC. Good enough that it's not the issue.
The problem is our TREY defense. We are 12th in the AAC, and 255th in the country in 3D.

Ya, pretty simple. We leave people wide open. No exaggeration, UNT probably had 20+ wide open threes. A fat middle aged church league team could have compete against the Tigers right now because they would rain threes down all night...

We do this every game. The Tigers are one of the worst 3 point defenders in the NCAA (268 out of 300). Opposing teams coaching staff can read stat sheets. But damn this seems like something the staff could work on and improve before the AAC tournament.

(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

I think Quinerly not scoring is as big an issue as Jones

(02-17-2024 11:28 AM)tigerlands Wrote:  

(02-17-2024 11:00 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(02-17-2024 10:36 AM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 07:21 PM)memphisike Wrote:  We can’t Bust the TREY or Check the TREY

35+% shooting from the TREY is not terrible. Upper half of the NCAA, and 4th in the AAC. Good enough that it's not the issue.
The problem is our TREY defense. We are 12th in the AAC, and 255th in the country in 3D.

Ya, pretty simple. We leave people wide open. No exaggeration, UNT probably had 20+ wide open threes. A fat middle aged church league team could have compete against the Tigers right now because they would rain threes down all night...

We do this every game. The Tigers are one of the worst 3 point defenders in the NCAA (268 out of 300). Opposing teams coaching staff can read stat sheets. But damn this seems like something the staff could work on and improve before the AAC tournament.

I have put it out there multiple times, it is very easy and clear to see why we give up so many shots... It simply comes down to basic fundamental defense.

1. We overplay most every pass which results in open drive lanes, defensive collapse and easy kick outs to open shooters
2. Off ball defenders ball watch constantly resulting in losing their man where he ends up wide open
3. Weakside defenders needlessly collapse on drives where they have no ability to help (but like above they are simply ball watching like a bug to a light) resulting in their man being left wide open on the perimeter
4. We literally dare people to shoot. For some reason we intentionally close out slow and with hands down 90% of the time.

Jourdain is the absolute worst at ball watching and losing his man (he gives up a lot of easy buckets every game) and Walton is also particularly bad. Malco thinks he is a guard and is constantly overextending when he gets switched out on guards so he fouls on the perimeter or gets blown by. Jayden gives effort defensively but is just too slow and gets beat constantly.

All of that is clear on tape and every opposing coach is absolutely abusing us with it.

They're getting paid whether they win or lose
What do they care about fighting

Need to sit Walton and Jouridan
And start cooper and Pierre

I was pulling hard for Cooper and Pierre. What the heck....play 'em!!

(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

Exactly right. We need to go primarily with a zone defense to help offset our lack of team speed. It can’t be any worse than that atrocious defensive effort we had today.

(02-16-2024 10:56 AM)Steve davis Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 06:39 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  

(02-15-2024 11:38 PM)Steve davis Wrote:  It seems to me that the 10 game winning streak they had was just fighting. There wasn’t any game plan, and they played well. I want to see that again with this team out talenting the other team. I believe Penny is right now. Go and fight.

I'd love to share your optimism but I believe it is misplaced.

The game plan?

That too...

(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

Spot on.

(02-16-2024 12:34 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

Our problem is not food speed it is discipline.
1. Our hands are almost always down instead of one up
2. We ball watch and get back door
3. We ball watch and needlessly collapse leaving wide open shooters
4. We close out like we are daring players to shoot

A zone does not fix any of that, we would have the exact same problems in a zone. It is basic fundamental skills and unfortunately every team under Penny has shown the same lack of attention to basic fundamentals.

I guess a zone could not be much worse but before we went zone I would at least try a man defense that is not switching every time two players even cross each other. We switch even when screens are not involved.

No basics, too much switching, no heart.

I give you exhibit A that Penny has lost this team. He asks them to fight and that’s the performance they put forth. Maybe it’s time for a new coach, but it’s definitely time for a new batch of players with better attitudes and character.

(02-19-2024 07:27 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 12:34 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

Our problem is not food speed it is discipline.
1. Our hands are almost always down instead of one up
2. We ball watch and get back door
3. We ball watch and needlessly collapse leaving wide open shooters
4. We close out like we are daring players to shoot

A zone does not fix any of that, we would have the exact same problems in a zone. It is basic fundamental skills and unfortunately every team under Penny has shown the same lack of attention to basic fundamentals.

I guess a zone could not be much worse but before we went zone I would at least try a man defense that is not switching every time two players even cross each other. We switch even when screens are not involved.

No basics, too much switching, no heart.

I really think we over switch. We do not do a particularly good job switching. Even when we do we end up with our center on their PG or SG and our PG on their center. Just mismatches all over...

(02-19-2024 10:54 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(02-19-2024 07:27 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 12:34 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(02-16-2024 11:23 AM)Antonio5fan Wrote:  As the box score indicates when David Jones doesn't score big the team loses. Why does a guard have to have almost half of the teams rebounds. Answer: You have 6'10'' and 6'11'' guys who don't want to get hurt. Malcolm does his part but can't stay on the floor long enough. Giving up 3s has been the story of the decline of this team all season. I don't believe North Texas shoots like they did in this game all the time.

The Tigers don't have a stopper like Antonio Anderson, Bobby Parks or a rim protector like Larry Kenon or Keith Lee. I watch other teams play defense and get out on 3 point shooters. Somewhere down the line Penny is going to have to admit him not playing a zone defense at all is costing the Tigers' wins. This team doesn't match up well on defense. They are just too slow to cover open shooters who pass the ball around to find an open shot. Guarding from 8-10 away won't stop the 3 ball. They have to get up on people. Anyway, it's too late. Unless the Tigers win the AAC tourney they are not going to make the Big Dance. This is just one man's opinion.

Our problem is not food speed it is discipline.
1. Our hands are almost always down instead of one up
2. We ball watch and get back door
3. We ball watch and needlessly collapse leaving wide open shooters
4. We close out like we are daring players to shoot

A zone does not fix any of that, we would have the exact same problems in a zone. It is basic fundamental skills and unfortunately every team under Penny has shown the same lack of attention to basic fundamentals.

I guess a zone could not be much worse but before we went zone I would at least try a man defense that is not switching every time two players even cross each other. We switch even when screens are not involved.

No basics, too much switching, no heart.

I really think we over switch. We do not do a particularly good job switching. Even when we do we end up with our center on their PG or SG and our PG on their center. Just mismatches all over...

It's beyond frustrating because you know that Dandridge/Tomlin/Jourdain is either going to foul, get blown by for a bucket, or JQ is going to give up a layup to their C. I'm with a few others that we should switch to a 1-3-1. I say add in a full court zone press to try and speed up the game. Will we suck at playing zone like we do man? Probably but it can't be any worse than what we are doing now. We have the length so we may as well try the 1-3-1 or even a 3-2.