Next Years Team

[deadeyededric]

If we would have made an effort to get the ball inside to Mckay and/or Niang, instead of going 6-23 from 3, we would have won this game. We were 24-65 on FG's today

 

[Gunnerclone]

This is his point though. If we have to play like there is no tomorrow to beat a 15 seed, we are not as talented as you think we are.

That was always the bittersweet truth most on CF refuse to believe. Instead of recognizing the hell of a job the team and staff did, we used the high frequency of playing near our best and turned it into undeserved shots at the team.

We lose? Must be heart and effort. We are a shot-making team...we need to make shots to win (not just 3Ps). As a team we are not naturally talented at defense (although that was fine today), rebounding, FT, ball-handling, etc. Physical play and being away from home can impact shot-making teams with no contingency for when they don't fall. Defense and rebound are talents. Yeah, effort goes a certain ways, but some guys just are not good rebounders. Imo UAB was more athletic than us as a team.

Yep, if it was all about heart and effort I'd be in the NBA hall of fame right now and getting caught with hookers in NYC. There's a saying I hate more than any other and it's a loser quote:

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"

The more accurate quote is:

"Talent beats hard work when hard work doesn't have any talent"

 

[acgclone]

I totally agree our talent level is way overrated on here.

Fred has done some really nice things with a group of unheralded players.

 

[isuno1fan]

If we would have made an effort to get the ball inside to Mckay and/or Niang, instead of going 6-23 from 3, we would have won this game. We were 24-65 on FG's today

McKay got owned when he got the ball inside. So did Niang. They had better athletes than we did. Cripes. McKay got stuffed twice at least.

 

[acgclone]

If we would have made an effort to get the ball inside to Mckay and/or Niang, instead of going 6-23 from 3, we would have won this game. We were 24-65 on FG's today

Not sure what game you watched, but we forced it into McKay way too much early on in the first half. Niang was on the bench most of that half with foul trouble.

In the second half, we ran our offense through Georges most of the time, but he didn't make shots that he normally hits. Georges and McKay were being bothered by UAB in the paint in the second half.

Our problem was we missed at least 5-6 WIDE OPEN 3's.

You hit 1-2 of them and it's a totally different outcome.

 

[jdoggivjc]

If we would have made an effort to get the ball inside to Mckay and/or Niang, instead of going 6-23 from 3, we would have won this game.

Problems with this statement - first, Niang spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble - not exactly going to be able to get the ball inside to him that way. Second, the two 6'9" guys got to Niang - did not look good at all. Looked uncharacteristically tentative in the lane, chucking up shots without showing patience. And third, McKay was not the aggressor inside that we've become accustomed to seeing. When our two guys aren't getting it done inside, well, there's not much more choice other than to chuck up 3s.

 

[DesignerClone]

This is his point though. If we have to play like there is no tomorrow to beat a 15 seed, we are not as talented as you think we are.

That was always the bittersweet truth most on CF refuse to believe. Instead of recognizing the hell of a job the team and staff did, we used the high frequency of playing near our best and turned it into undeserved shots at the team.

We lose? Must be heart and effort. We are a shot-making team...we need to make shots to win (not just 3Ps). As a team we are not naturally talented at defense (although that was fine today), rebounding, FT, ball-handling, etc. Physical play and being away from home can impact shot-making teams with no contingency for when they don't fall. Defense and rebound are talents. Yeah, effort goes a certain ways, but some guys just are not good rebounders. Imo UAB was more athletic than us as a team.

Bingo.

 

[Wesley]

I wouldn't say "teach defense", I think our guys showed great ability to play D in stretches this year. How about finding someone to build toughness and consistency. This season was INCREDIBLY inconsistent. The talent is there, but I would say I felt we only played with reckless abandon for 40 minutes of the Arkansas, Iowa, and KU (at Hilton) games. Maybe that loss @ TT did something to this team's confidence. I know they had already lost to South Carolina before that in a similar fashion to today, but I didn't feel like the effort really dropped off until after that loss. Then there was the week in February with the two road wins that tempted me to buy back in.

I'll always love the Cyclones, but gosh, this year's team could not play defense when it mattered more times than we could get away with. Some great stretches, especially in the big comebacks, but the consistency was not there for the full 40 minutes. Hopefully this will light a fire under these guys to feel like they have something to prove next year. It will take time to heal from the loss today though.

Three games of balls to the wall. Still looking for that great shooter.

 

[67CY]

Post game comments from returning players that UAB may have wanted the game more really concerns me. Why wouldn't a team with plans for a deep run in the tournament want it more? Will we continue to hear this from them next year or will they finally decide to show up for every game.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

I know I'm going to get attacked for it, but I'm excited to move on from this group of seniors. Mainly hogue and BDJ. Those two were very big head cases. They allowed a lot more to get to them than most players. I understand when players play with emotions, but when you pout instead of moving to the next play it affects the team in a negative manner. Idk the type of demeanor our newcomers are going to have but I hope they play with a chip like niang. The problem this team had was the allows one bad play to grow into two. I know we won some comeback games, but for the most part this team was mentally weak.

You should be attacked for it. I bet you were a big "not sweating enough" guy. Hogue played with the chip on his shoulder you ask for. Don't be a little ***** just because he didnt put up the numbers you wanted.

 

[IAStubborn]

Talent won't mean anything if they have the same attitude this team had.

Dumbest post of the year. This team tried to do to much they. Did not have attitude Problem. loved this team just had some flaws like 99% of teams. You just have to hope and get lucky. Thsee guys had a good game plan and every break broke their way. We got beat. Do not make this about lack of want or desire though. That couldn't be more wrong.

 

[Wesley]

Post game comments from returning players that UAB may have wanted the game more really concerns me. Why wouldn't a team with plans for a deep run in the tournament want it more? Will we continue to hear this from them next year or will they finally decide to show up for every game.

You are saying we do better with the 25 year old mature player like last year?

 

[CyTwins]

I totally agree our talent level is way overrated on here.

Fred has done some really nice things with a group of unheralded players.

So when we're top 10 preseason next year it means our talent level is way overrated everywhere?

 

[Gunnerclone]

Post game comments from returning players that UAB may have wanted the game more really concerns me. Why wouldn't a team with plans for a deep run in the tournament want it more? Will we continue to hear this from them next year or will they finally decide to show up for every game.

I'll never understand why people put much stock in to these kinds of comments. People tell people what they want to hear. I bet if you asked the same question tomorrow after watching film and grading out you'd get a much more scientific answer.

 

[Spam]

Post game comments from returning players that UAB may have wanted the game more really concerns me. Why wouldn't a team with plans for a deep run in the tournament want it more? Will we continue to hear this from them next year or will they finally decide to show up for every game.

Kentucky is the only team that has shown up for every game this year. **** happens.

 

[tyler24]

You should be attacked for it. I bet you were a big "not sweating enough" guy. Hogue played with the chip on his shoulder you ask for. Don't be a little ***** just because he didnt put up the numbers you wanted.

Had nothing to do with numbers. Body language rubs off on others. I loved hogue last year because he didn't sit and complain at refs the entire year, this year his attitude changed. I like players who just play ball. Go watch mckay, when something doesn't happen like he would want, he just moves on. Idc about numbers, I care about how you respond. The seniors in this class didn't respond, they complained.

 

[Gunnerclone]

So when we're top 10 preseason next year it means our talent level is way overrated everywhere?

I think what people should be saying is, "we don't have as much talent as I want". Our talent isn't overrated it's about top 15, 2nd place regular season, conf. tourney championship, high seed in the NCAA talent, right where we ended up and probably right around where we'll be next year.

 

[deadeyededric]

So when we're top 10 preseason next year it means our talent level is way overrated everywhere?

Kind of what I was thinking. We have a big time PG, an all-american in Niang, legitimate big-man in McKay, and a pretty good supporting cast. This team was not lacking talent.

 

[ThatllDoCy]

Fred will need some time to sit down, decompress and evaluate the program. I agree he needs to bring in someone or institute a commitment to defense. I don't care how good you are as a team you have to play good defense. It is our next step. I don't see it as contradictory to being a good offensive team either.

5th year Coaching, 4th NCAA, still a very good start to a legendary career.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Had nothing to do with numbers. Body language rubs off on others. I loved hogue last year because he didn't sit and complain at refs the entire year, this year his attitude changed. I like players who just play ball. Go watch mckay, when something doesn't happen like he would want, he just moves on. Idc about numbers, I care about how you respond. The seniors in this class didn't respond, they complained.

This isn't High School anymore. There are much more powerful forces at work at this level.