AUSCgrad2016

The difference when that happened with McLemore was that we only needed to win 2 of our last 5 games to win the SEC, and we did. This is just the beginning of conference play and we are already struggling with average to below average teams. And again, I want to hear a valid argument how we almost lost to one of the worst teams in the conference who was playing without two of their starters and only 6 of their players played more than 10 minutes with Broome playing the majority of the game? Please someone explain to me how that doesn’t concern you for the near future?

As for my lineup that would give up too many rebounds, first, we already are getting beat on the boards, what’s a few more? But really, as simple as this may seem, guys are going to have to be more aggressive and attack the boards instead of running back on offense since we don’t have much inside presence now.

Well, if I was Pearl, now that Broome will be out for a few weeks, I would play Villanova ball on offense: 4 guards/wings and one big man. We can’t run our offense thru Cardwell or Chaney so we need our best shooters on the floor at the same time, which would be Pettiford, Denver, CBM and Kelly. I would run iso or drive and kick out to an open guy on the perimeter. That looks like the only strategy that could work because of our lack of interior presence and depth as well. On defense, we have to play zone, which we saw some of it today, especially towards the end of the game. We can’t match up man to man anymore, we don’t have the size nor depth as well as Chaney and Cardwell being foul machines, so we have to hope our guys can play like they did in the second half on defense.

So I need someone to sugarcoat or put a positive spin on today’s game: we just played probably the worst or one of the worst teams in the league, on top of they were playing without two of their starters, and we still almost lost. I’ve been criticized for being too negative about this team for their decline in performance the past 3 weeks, so I’m honestly asking, now that Broome is out for a few weeks, what’s everyone’s opinion of this team? Again, putting into perspective of this game, they were without two of their best guys and still almost won. I don’t know how that’s not an indictment of our decline in play since conference play has started.

DII

Sorry, on the phone so it’s difficult for me to see what it will look like once I post, so I will be more cognizant of this, thank you!

First, the reason I provide those types of anecdotes from my experience playing basketball is because those adjustments and solutions did work for the most part. Secondly, just because you coach at a higher level doesn’t mean you know the most. From being around basketball for so long, there are many college coaches in lower divisions who I believe are great tactical coaches and would run circles around many of the Division 1 coaches. Also, you have to remember that it’s about who you know and having connections to the right people and having some luck to be provided the chance to coach at the highest level. A great example of this is Brad Stevens who was at Butler before he left for the NBA. He wasn’t even in the coaching business when he decided to become a video editor for Butler and the head coach at the time recognized how insightful and analytical Brad was and gave him a shot to be part of the staff. When the coach retired, he told the AD that he wanted his successor to be Brad Stevens and the rest is history.
My point is just because the coaches I played for didn’t coach at major programs doesn’t mean they know anything or don’t know as much. Basketball is basketball, it’s not that intricate and difficult to grasp, they’re not teaching thermal dynamics and organic chemistry here haha. So yea, when I see something that is easily correctable since I have had that experience before but see a coach at this level not see it, it does frustrated me and flabbergast me how they allow it continue to happen. I also know this too, the higher the level of competition in basketball the coach, the more stubborn and rigid they are with sticking with their philosophy. For Pearl, it has worked for the most part, but it’s also why it probably has hindered him from winning a championship and being more successful in the tournament because he gets stubborn. Again, that’s most coaches at these levels, they believe they know everything when in reality they really don’t. Not saying that Pearl is that and I have said he’s the best thing that has happened to our basketball program, but he does have some deficiencies when it comes to adjustments and coaching his team out of being complacent and having mental lapses.

I honestly believe that Tre made the right decision for himself. He’s a key part to Michigan’s success right now and looks like a great fit for them. And it wasn’t like the staff just got some scrub who they hoped would be good. Pegues was one of the top guards in the portal and dominated the Southern Conference when he was there and part of some big time games at Furman. There was no way of knowing this would happen, but it sometimes happens and it’s been unfortunate for him and us that he hasn’t panned out.

Getting back to the game, I rewatched most of it and it frustrates me even more with what happened last night. Our defensive pressure has been slacking the past 4 games. No way we should have ever let Texas score 55 points in the second half. And again, we let one guy take over and keep them in the game. That’s exactly what killed us time and again last year, where we would allow a guy go off for 24 plus points and keep the other team in the game or outright beat us. I honestly don’t know what Pearl and the staff is coaching and telling the guys how to defend when that happens. I was taught if a guy starts making 3 shots in a row, we would switch and see who can take him, give him different looks and even be more physical with that guy. Worked most of the time. I don’t see that with us. It’s like Pearl and our team continues to believe that the guy who is dominating us is eventually going to cool off, as in we make no adjustments. That’s what was so irritating last night. We were up 14 with 3 minutes left. There literally should have been a plan to not allow Kaluma to get the ball, yet he would get open shots are get the ball at the top of the free throw line and was allowed to dictate how we would defend him, which is a recipe for disaster.
That, along with our second half collapses we are having are becoming a disturbing trend with this team. Our first 2 SEC games should have easily been 20 plus wins against average teams. Our January schedule is actually pretty easy on paper, yet, they are making this way too difficult than it actually is. As I said last night, this style of play is not sustainable for success in the tournament. It would be one thing if this was in the tournament and the mantra is just win and survive. But this is January, against teams we clearly overmatch and out talent yet we are having difficulty putting teams away. It’s like once this team is up 16-18 points or more, we literally just quit and allow the other team to hang around and make it a game when those game should have been blowouts, like this team lacks the killer instinct. That’s a coaching issue. It was the same issue for us last year. We look great for like 30 minutes of the game and look unbeatable and then instead of delivering the knockout punch, we would allow the game to be much closer than it really was because of our lapses and complacency towards the end of games.

Ok assuming this has been directed at me, this another poster started earlier. I guess I’m really confused. I honestly don’t care about the downvotes, as you can tell I keep coming back to try and discuss actual basketball. What I was saying is that I don’t understand the concept of downvotes in the first place. If you disagree with me, just say that. I think it’s actually really childish to downvote someone. I’ve disagreed with so many on here about our basketball team, and I’ve told them that, but not once have I ever downvoted someone. That’s your opinion and I don’t take it personally, like I said, I have way more important things in my life to be concerned about than what some message board warrior says about me.

I appreciate it that. And for others, as the poster said above, apparently you weren’t here in preseason as well as early in the season when we won Maui. I have hyped up our team ALOT. I know what this team is capable of, however, I’m also not going to just be a homer because I root for Auburn. These last few games Auburn has clearly regressed. These lapses are the same ones from last year. Clearly Pearl has not coached these guys on how to stop the bleeding whenever a team goes on a run. It’s a good thing we are up so much because these games are now getting tighter and tighter. It’s a pattern with this team.
And for the poster who said I’m not here during the game, yea, I know, it’s because I’m watching it and waiting for the game to end to give my thoughts about it and process what happened. Again, I don’t just post negative comments, I have posted many times after a big win about the good things. Lately though, there’s really been nothing to be really positive about. We are struggling to put away mediocre teams we clearly outmatch and we haven’t even played the toughest games yet. That’s not good. So yes, I’m not going to say everything is great and as long as we win by 1 that’s all that matters, because I know this type of play is not sustainable for success, seen it fail too many times in basketball.
One last thing, I was ready to gloat after we were up over 20 with under 10 minutes left, but then Auburn began to Auburn again.