1. Jop has inexplicably lost his 3-point shot. Completely. Form looks the same to me, but results are abysmal.
2. Stevie is a shadow of himself. I presume he is beat up.
3. Kam is using the 4th different form on his jumper in 4 years. This one isn't working.
4. Ben is definitely gimpy

Quote from: TSmith34, Inc. on February 22, 2025, 04:17:03 PM1. Jop has inexplicably lost his 3-point shot. Completely. Form looks the same to me, but results are abysmal.
2. Stevie is a shadow of himself. I presume he is beat up.
3. Kam is using the 4th different form on his jumper in 4 years. This one isn't working.
4. Ben is definitely gimpy

I'm going to guess this time of year everyone is beat up. It's an excuse.

Time to step up or this going to be an ugly last couple of weeks.

Quote from: Zog from Margo on February 22, 2025, 01:11:41 PMNeed to back to "Where the Streets Have No Name" for the intro. Irish bands get it done.

Did they change the intro song??

It's easier for a hurting 3 pt. shooter to shoot than a banged up driver to drive.
Nice guys, but they get intimidated.
Teams have our number.
Put three guys under the basket and let Marquette throw up bricks.
On offense shoot threes that go in.
Paint touches are highly overrated.
Interesting that we don't get fouls called against our competition.  They just let us shoot.

Oh, and they had a week off.  How will it go Tuesday after just a few days recovery?

Quote from: Norm on February 22, 2025, 08:38:02 PMDid they change the intro song??

No

Quote from: vogue65 on February 22, 2025, 08:54:18 PMIt's easier for a hurting 3 pt. shooter to shoot than a banged up driver to drive.
Nice guys, but they get intimidated.
Teams have our number.
Put three guys under the basket and let Marquette throw up bricks.
On offense shoot threes that go in.
Paint touches are highly overrated.
Interesting that we don't get fouls called against our competition.  They just let us shoot.

Oh, and they had a week off.  How will it go Tuesday after just a few days recovery?

They didn't have a week off - they played Tuesday night.

Quote from: vogue65 on February 22, 2025, 08:54:18 PMIt's easier for a hurting 3 pt. shooter to shoot than a banged up driver to drive.
Nice guys, but they get intimidated.
Teams have our number.
Put three guys under the basket and let Marquette throw up bricks.
On offense shoot threes that go in.
Paint touches are highly overrated.
Interesting that we don't get fouls called against our competition.  They just let us shoot.

Oh, and they had a week off.  How will it go Tuesday after just a few days recovery?

Welcome back?

2 posts today.
2 posts 1/3/25.
Before that? 3/31/24.

Where you been?

Quote from: jesmu84 on February 22, 2025, 10:48:33 PMWelcome back?

2 posts today.
2 posts 1/3/25.
Before that? 3/31/24.

Where you been?

Recently pardoned?

The team is physically worn down.  Ben is nowhere near as mobile as he was earlier in the year, and its evident his shin/lower legs are bothering him. I suspect Stevie is also really limited by his achilles.  Kam also has a ton of wear and tear accumulated through his heavy load on both ends.

This team thrived on being able to create turnovers and convert for easy scores.  Their energy and activity level aren't at the same level as earlier in the season, and I don't think for one second its due to lack of heart. 

It sounded like things were dialed back last week during the off week, with guys getting individual work in, some practice limited, but Shaka mentioned more time together.  In my opinion, it seems like the squad probably needs a break from each other/practice/the grind.

Love our squad and Shaka - they work their ass off, but it might be time for the work to be dialed back, and try to find some fun in this last month of the season.

Honestly, this is what we've been for a long time, but the W/L results papered over the actual level of play reality. Since December 8, the day after the Wisconsin game, we rank #46 in T-Rank. So for 2-1/2 months, we've been playing like a bubble team.

Our 8-0 start was the best in over a decade, the 6-0 Big East start was the best since the Amigos, those things made it easy to ignore some of the deficiencies that have been there a long time.

The first month, we looked great because we were lethal at the rim and the turnover differential gave us a possession advantage. We weren't shooting well from three, but historically that has always positively regressed to the mean in January/February, so we looked like contenders.

Instead, teams were able to pack the paint as the shooting never came around. The turnover disparity isn't as stark; we had 22+% TO rate in 7 of our first 10 games, but just 5 of 17 since. And Kam has gone from NPOY contender good to First Team Big East good, which just isn't good enough to lift the offense to the top-15 level it was at.

I'm not one to give up on the season. Sometimes getting out of conference play is the best thing you can do, and 3/5 Big East losses came the second time a team played us. I still think we can be in that 5-7 seed range and depending on the draw get to the second weekend, maybe even Elite Eight. But I do have a hard time realistically seeing this team reach the heights that felt possible in early December.

I blame the fans first and foremost.

Also, too much time in the boxing ring, not enough time boxing out.

We still *COULD* get to my magical 25/25 Adj OE / Adj DE rankings by tourney time. Need to get healthier, and continue to see guys step up (e.g., Royce, Zaide, DO and his length pawz)... regardless of where the regular season ends up, this team will be a scary foe in the tourney for most opponents... Jolp has a night.. or Ben knocks down 3/5 from deep to help.. one or more of the frosh or sophs step up big time in a game.. Kam goes god mode, etc... lots of paths to pull off 'upsets'...

But the thought of us getting pummeled in a 6/11 game right from the tip isn't difficult to imagine either. #pray