71 shots tonight

[colhusker]

We took 71 shoots and made only 23.  That just HAS to improve.

 

Sorry for new thread, would not allow me to post in game thread.

[HuskerFever]

Just now, colhusker said:

We took 71 shoots.

 

I thought I was feeling a little woozy. Thanks for keeping track. I should probably go to bed before I pass out.

[tcp]

6 minutes ago, colhusker said:

We took 71 shoots and made only 23.  That just HAS to improve.

 

Sorry for new thread, would not allow me to post in game thread.

I dunno. That's sufficiently crappy enough to merit it's own thread, right?

[MichHusker]

Too many guys that are offensive liabilities on the court. We can't suck so much when Tai is on the bench. We just can't. Jacobson,Mcveigh, Taylor, Gill...all those guys and more just don't do enough to help us CONSISTENTLY be a good team 

[colhusker]

Tai is the latest in scorers got his points on 33% shooting.  We just need Miles to find a kid or two that can:

1) knock down open shots, everyone we've played that has a pulse when left open makes the shot, we don't

2) get a kid or two that can create shots and make them.

[jimmykc]

 colhusker:Before I read the posts I thought I was going to have to make a belated call to 911for you.

[49r]

In fairness, some credit should be given to Creighton and the defensive effort they gave.  Yes, we missed far too many bunnies, but there were what?  Maybe two uncontested jump shots all night for us?

[Coaches kid]

Not gonna help this year, but a few folks who have witnessed practices say Palmer is best shooter on the team right now. He also plays with swagger, which is something I don't see enough of with current crop right now.  I will temper expectations because I also heard Gill would be a 10-14 point scorer this year.  So, despite being totally frustrated last night, I will hold out hope that by mid to late January, the team might gel and find enough offense to win. 

 

The hope is based on the following: Despite his recent troubles, I believe Gill has the ability to be a guy who can get points. Right now, his confidence is shot, but if he can regain some semblance of his 4 star potential, he could help ease the load on Tai and Glynn. Next, even though he, like Gill, has struggled, McVeigh has the potential to heat up and knock down shots. Finally, it's obvious that Roby has some unique skills for a guy of his size. Once again, game experience and confidence are needed. He could create some mismatches and could eventually be a guy that could create his own shots. If even two of these three things happen, it will lead to more points. 

 

My concern with all of this is that over Miles' time here, our teams have never collectively played with confidence offensively. I say collectively because guys like Petteway and White didn't lack for confidence at the offensive end. Right now, guys seem to be thinking too much, instead of confidently attacking the rim or letting it fly. Exhibit A is Michael Jacobsen last night. I think Jake actually possesses some serviceable offensive skills. He has put it on the floor and attacked and he's clearly got a nice-looking stroke. However, you could tell he was over-thinking and not reacting to the game situations he encountered last night. The result is playing slow, hesitating, then forcing things which leads to failures. 

 

All that to say is that part of being a successful coach is instilling a sense of confidence in the players you put on the floor. I like much about Miles, but I think he could improve in instilling a confident mindset on the offensive end of the floor. 

Edited December 8, 2016 by Coaches kid

[HuskerBB]

Boy I hope you are right about Palmer. We really need to find a shooter.  Miles is recruiting at a whole different level from Sadler but I think they both fall into sort of a "recruiting geek" mentality where they pay too much attention to stars and rankings.  Guys who are great athletes are able to score in HS because they are so much better athletically than their counterparts.   In college everyone is bigger and quicker you need to adjust your game and shooting weaknesses get exposed.  The big, athletic guys who can really shoot the ball to Duke and North Carolina.  We end up with athletic guys that have weaknesses in their games that get exposed against this level of competition.  Now the guys Miles brings in our far, far better than what Doc was getting - but they are still guys that need time to adjust their games - and some never are able to make that adjustment.   What we need is to be able to complement those guys with kids who are really good fundamentally at shooting and/or passing - even if those kids may not be as athletic or have the same "star" power.    I saw Khyri Thomas play one time in HS and he was in foul trouble the whole game - but I thought wow this kid can play why are we (and others) not recruiting him.  Well he went to prep school - I assume grades were an issue - but credit to CU for seeing the talent that was there and giving him that opportunity.  He would look really good in a red uniform right now.

 

We need Gill to pick up his game and be a solid contributor - and you are right that we need to find a way to get him to play confidently.  He is not going to turn into a consistent shooter overnight - but there are things he can do to help us.  His ceiling is WAY higher than Taylor's and we need to push him to improve in the areas where he can help us.  I think the same thing about Roby and Horne. Sure they are deficient in some areas right now - but they will only get better by playing against real competition.  Live with the mistakes so that you get to enjoy the upside sooner when they learn from those mistakes.   Find a way to incorporate McVeigh into the offense in a way that emphasizes his strengths and hides his weaknesses.  We should not be running a system that forces him to put the ball on the floor and try to drive into traffic.  We have other players who can do that - Jack is not one of them.

 

We are asking Jacobson to be a completely different player this year than he was last year.  It is a work in progress but I think he is really adjusting very well.  You are right that he is probably still thinking too much rather than reacting - but that will come.  He is one player that we are giving a chance to work into a role. 

 

Ultimately we really are missing Andrew White.   The change to play Jacobson and Morrow together has worked out far better than I ever expected.  That would have freed up White to play the 3 in a way that would have taken advantage of his skills.  Then McVeigh could be the back-up 4 to come in and create a mismatch where he is getting open shots.  Much easier for Jack to get shots he can make against a 4 than when he is being guarded on the perimeter by an opposing wing who outmatches him in quickness.  To be effective he needs wide open looks and he doesn't get those against wing defenders - so he ends up rushing his shot I think.  A shooter like White had a much quicker release and the ability to make shots against more aggressive defensive pressure.  We have no one like that to put on the floor right now from what I have seen.   Maybe Horne can be that guy - but he seems a step slow right now also.  Strikes me as being a bit out of shape which seems hard to believe - but maybe he is just tentative from not being comfortable on the court yet.  But we have not seen enough of him to know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2016 by HuskerBB

[colhusker]

I would love the comment about Palmer, but I heard the same thing about Gill

[royalfan]

We certainly need to start prioritizing shooting on the recruiting front.  We need some guys beyond the arc that you sort of know it is going in when they are left open. 

[Dead Dog Alley]

Jack McVeigh is 14-28 from 3 against the four sub-100 RPI teams we've played, and 3-24 against the five better teams. Against better defenses he appears to get rushed, and doesn't ever look comfortable or in rhythm. He did have those big games against Indiana and Ohio State last year so maybe there's hope.

 

Anton Gill is a career 2 ppg scorer and right now that's what he looks like. Hopefully he can turn it around or else the scoring droughts will continue if Webster or Watson are on the bench.

[hhcmatt]

7 hours ago, colhusker said:

I would love the comment about Palmer, but I heard the same thing about Gill

 

You also heard the same thing about Petteway and White

[Art Vandalay]

I have not given up on Gill yet. I am not so sure he is 100% physically, does not look anywhere near the explosive athlete you saw on highlights. If that is true it can play on your confidence and that is extremely evident that he is lacking confidence right now. I hope he makes an effort to get into the lane early in the next few games maybe get to the line and get some confidence. I am guessing the jumper will start to come around as well if he does so.

[colhusker]

14 hours ago, hhcdimes said:

 

You also heard the same thing about Petteway and White

This is also true.

[colhusker]

14 hours ago, Art Vandalay said:

I have not given up on Gill yet. I am not so sure he is 100% physically, does not look anywhere near the explosive athlete you saw on highlights. If that is true it can play on your confidence and that is extremely evident that he is lacking confidence right now. I hope he makes an effort to get into the lane early in the next few games maybe get to the line and get some confidence. I am guessing the jumper will start to come around as well if he does so.

Art I have not given up on the kid.  Lord knows we will need him this season to step up.

[Coaches kid]

HuskerBB made a great point on this: "We end up with athletic guys that have weaknesses in their games that get exposed against this level of competition.  Now the guys Miles brings in our far, far better than what Doc was getting - but they are still guys that need time to adjust their games - and some never are able to make that adjustment.   What we need is to be able to complement those guys with kids who are really good fundamentally at shooting and/or passing - even if those kids may not be as athletic or have the same "star" power." 

 

I think this is part of what we are missing right now. We don't have really skilled role players. For example, for Chreighdumb, Cole Huff this year, or the Wragge kid from a few years ago. Big guys who were skilled shooters who could knock down open looks, but who could defend and rebound well enough to not be liabilities. I also think of Brian Conklin, but a guy like Andrew Drevo would fit this as well. To go way back, a guard who is a role player in this mold would be somebody like Brian Carr (great passer/ballhandler/shooter, but not a star player). The problem when we had Conklin, etc. is that we didn't have any Glynn Watsons or Terran Petteways to go with them. Finding and fitting guys into roles like this might help us avoid 6 minute scoring droughts and allow our talented recruits to grow into more complete players. 

 

[colhusker]

2 hours ago, Coaches kid said:

HuskerBB made a great point on this: "We end up with athletic guys that have weaknesses in their games that get exposed against this level of competition.  Now the guys Miles brings in our far, far better than what Doc was getting - but they are still guys that need time to adjust their games - and some never are able to make that adjustment.   What we need is to be able to complement those guys with kids who are really good fundamentally at shooting and/or passing - even if those kids may not be as athletic or have the same "star" power." 

 

I think this is part of what we are missing right now. We don't have really skilled role players. For example, for Chreighdumb, Cole Huff this year, or the Wragge kid from a few years ago. Big guys who were skilled shooters who could knock down open looks, but who could defend and rebound well enough to not be liabilities. I also think of Brian Conklin, but a guy like Andrew Drevo would fit this as well. To go way back, a guard who is a role player in this mold would be somebody like Brian Carr (great passer/ballhandler/shooter, but not a star player). The problem when we had Conklin, etc. is that we didn't have any Glynn Watsons or Terran Petteways to go with them. Finding and fitting guys into roles like this might help us avoid 6 minute scoring droughts and allow our talented recruits to grow into more complete players. 

 

Hard to argue with anything you said.