MSU vs UCF game thread

[TheRef]

It's the Gildan Invitational in Charleston, SC.

MSU is currently favored by 4 1/2. Should be interesting to watch for sure.

Game is on ESPN2 at 4:00 PM CST

[Dawg61]

Hail State! Anyone got a starting lineup? Game airs on ESPN2 starting at 4pm Central.

[TheRef]

Starting 5 for MSU

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxfoCYBXAAAwaBP.jpg

[Cloak]

MSU is currently favored by 4 1/2. Should be interesting to watch for sure.


Figured we'd be favored by more. Go Dawgs

[TheRef]

Figured we'd be favored by more. Go Dawgs

UCF is a good team. Think Nichols, but bigger.

[BulldogBear]

What time is tipoff?

[TheRef]

What time is tipoff?

4:00 PM CST on ESPN2

[Dawg61]

Tyson Carter is easily the biggest surprise so far.

[TheRef]

Tyson Carter is easily the biggest surprise so far.

Without a doubt...

Takko Falls, however, is SEVEN FOOT, EIGHT INCHES

[Dawg61]

UCF has a 7'6 dude

[confucius say]

Is tipoff delayed?

[TheRef]

Is tipoff delayed?

Nope. It tipped off right at 4

[Big4Dawg]

9-5 UCF

This 7'6 guy is destroying us

[Dawg61]

Terrible shot by Ready, absolutely nobody under the basket to rebound it but UCF guys

[Cloak]

Not the start we wanted, but yeah that #24 is going to be hard to guard.

[Dawg61]

Kegler is going to be in foul trouble a lot

[drummerdawg]

Don't like our small lineup in this game.

[BulldogBear]

4:00 PM CST on ESPN2

Yeah, it would've paid off if I'd actually read the OP!!!!!

[starkvegasdawg]

Got to take son to karate. This will be my go to until 5:30.

[Coursesuper]

They are getting blown out right now, looks men against boys.

[DudyDawg]

Slow start. Gotta get some stops. Bad shot from ready on the pull up 3 in the middle of a UCF run. Gotta stem the tide with a stop here

[BeardoMSU]

Kegler is going to be in foul trouble a lot

He'll learn. We knew these guys were gonna be young, but I'm really excited watching these guys play.

[trob115]

Doesn't help the refs are calling any fouls on them!

[BulldogBear]

Good grief, we're down 18-7

[Dawg61]

Peters suspended wtf

[BeardoMSU]

So why is Peters suspended? Any word?

[Dawg61]

So why is Peters suspended? Any word?

No clue but it's just for today's game supposedly

[Irondawg]

I'm not a fan of our offensive set. We get pushed so far out so easily.

And we are simply not good at all defensively

[Dawg61]

Why do they not pass to the 7'8 guy every single time. Can't stop that

[BulldogBear]

Spoon with a 3. Down 22-10.

[BeardoMSU]

No clue but it's just for today's game supposedly

Moultrie knee, no doubt**

[msstate7]

2016 = year to forget in state men's athletics (shaping up that way)

[BulldogBear]

Keglar with a 3 closes gap to 24-13

[MarketingBully]

7 fouls to none. Yeah, I believe that.

[MarketingBully]

Why are they only calling fouls on us? UCF is fouling just as much. 7-0. FU refs.

[BulldogBear]

2016 = year to forget in state men's athletics (shaping up that way)

It's still early in this game but I have to admit that 9m in my expectations for this season have already been lowered.

UCF 28, MSU 13 -11:23 1st half

[Dawg61]

UCF already in the bonus, Tako Fall gonna have the game of his life vs us. Mother****! 28-13 UCF 11 min left 1st half

[Bothrops]

We're gonna lose today. Still can grasp defense, not sure what the deal is.

[Irondawg]

7 fouls to none. Yeah, I believe that.

It's legit in some ways although they've called a few touch passes on us. We're basically throwing it aroudn the NBA 3 point line until someone jacks up a 3. No attacking the basket, which is stupid b/c the best thing to do against the 7'6 guy is to try and get him in foul trouble.

Meanwhile they are much more aggressive off the dribble on offense and are spreading out and getting easy dumps into their giant

[thf24]

Where are the three second calls on Fall? He's just camping under the basket, no way he shouldn't have drawn a few of those by now.

[MarketingBully]

UCF already in the bonus, Tako Fall gonna have the game of his life vs us. Mother****! 28-13 UCF 11 min left 1st half

How the hell do they have 0 fouls is what I want to know.

[Irondawg]

So Fall averages 7 points and has 10 points in 8 min against us

[DudyDawg]

Man. Haven't blocked out the big man one time.

[DudyDawg]

We have absolutely 0 dribble penetration

[Irondawg]

7 of our 13 shot attempts so far are 3's

[Dawg61]

Omfg they actually called a foul on UCF

[thf24]

We're gonna lose today. Still can grasp defense, not sure what the deal is.

The deal is we have a team full of freshmen who suddenly aren't allowed to play defense the way they've been taught all their basketball careers. More of an issue for us being so young, with only three players who had a chance to get used to the new rules last year.

[Dawg61]

Nobody but Spoon wants to make a shot apparently

[MarketingBully]

This team will give Howland heartburn.

[DudyDawg]

The deal is we have a team full of freshmen who suddenly aren't allowed to play defense the way they've been taught all their basketball careers. More of an issue for us being so young, with only three players who had a chance to get used to the new rules last year.

It's not just that at all. Poor help on ball screens from Holman at least two or three times already. Fouls are part of it but far from the biggest issue

[thf24]

Carter is stone cold.

[confucius say]

Stupid basketball. Jump shots get you beat with the new rules. Go to rim. All contact is a foul now. Literally, all. Can no longer no touch on dribble drive or at rim.

[Dawg61]

Points in the paint. UCF 22 MSU 0

[Irondawg]

ucF shooting 70% so far and it's not just because they're red hot. They're getting easy, easy shots.

I dont think it's because our guys are having to play defense differently. I think it's because a lot of these guys have never played defense period. If you've ever watched AAU games you know what I'm talking about.

[DudyDawg]

I know it's early but a lot of the signs are not good for this team. Players not high fiving on subs, walking off the floor like they don't wanna be there, walking straight to their seat and plopping down. Our players don't give a **** right now. We need an attitude adjustment.

[Irondawg]

If Im Howland I basically tell the guys that the next person to take a 3 is sitting the rest of the game. 11 of 19 shot attempts 3's so far

[Cloak]

delete

[MarketingBully]

We are in big time trouble this game. IJ is reverting back to shoot first PG which we have no shot in any game this year when he does that.

[BulldogBear]

Got to take son to karate. This will be my go to until 5:30.
8:22 left till halftime, UCF leads 38-15

[Dawg61]

No offensive charge? No technical for hanging on the rim? Really frustrated right now

[BulldogBear]

40-15

[BeardoMSU]

Oh just an elbow to the face...nothing to see here.

[MarketingBully]

I know it's early but a lot of the signs are not good for this team. Players not high fiving on subs, walking off the floor like they don't wanna be there, walking straight to their seat and plopping down. Our players don't give a **** right now. We need an attitude adjustment.

You get all that from two games in? Give it a rest. We knew this team is going to have growing pains but the talent is there.

[Dawg61]

UCF is making everything too, dude drains a 3 and gets a foul call

[DudyDawg]

No offensive charge? No technical for hanging on the rim? Really frustrated right now

Looking a lot like last years effort

[Irondawg]

I thought I was going to enjoy watching this team even thought I knew there would be bumps in the road. I'm questioning that after watching them play 3 times.

We play like a church league team on both ends. And that might not even be fair because most church league teams I've been on play better defense.

We are just awful on defense and look lost on offense.

[DudyDawg]

You get all that from two games in? Give it a rest. We knew this team is going to have growing pains but the talent is there.

I meant in this game. Has nothing to do with talent. Games like this will happen. Attitude is something you can control

[Bothrops]

They get fouled on about every shot attempt, and we can't do anything. Not exactly what I had in mind.

[Dawg61]

Team mutiny cause Peters is suspended?? This is some horseshit basketball right now

[DudyDawg]

Team mutiny cause Peters is suspended?? This is some horseshit basketball right now

What was he suspended for?

[BeardoMSU]

Lets not go off the deep end with our overreaction, guys. We knew this team would be young. We knew they'd have growing pains. Lets see how they improve before we burn the ****ing house down.

[Irondawg]

UCF is making everything too, dude drains a 3 and gets a foul call

Most any team with a pulse would be shooting over 60% with their shot chart. They've made a few tougher shots but most of what they are getting is wide open looks

[MarketingBully]

I thought I was going to enjoy watching this team even thought I knew there would be bumps in the road. I'm questioning that after watching them play 3 times.

We play like a church league team on both ends. And that might not even be fair because most church league teams I've been on play better defense.

We are just awful on defense and look lost on offense.

How do you play defense when everyone is in foul trouble and anything you do is called? The new ref rules are shit and have ****ed us up the most because of our youth.

[Irondawg]

That's about the 3rd or 4th time we've gone for the pump fake and then fouled them when they pulledup for the jumper

[Dawg61]

Refs have ruined basketball

[CadaverDawg]

Me coming here to check the score....

https://media.giphy.com/media/4pMX5rJ4PYAEM/giphy.gif

[Bothrops]

Refs have ruined basketball

Unless you're playing against us.

[Dawg61]

He just said "make him cum on top of you"

[BeardoMSU]

Me coming here to check the score....

https://media.giphy.com/media/4pMX5rJ4PYAEM/giphy.gif

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/56/5a/cd/565acd85c73c67112aaa603b44c8e5e9.gif

[DudyDawg]

They are only on pace for about 120

[Irondawg]

How do you play defense when everyone is in foul trouble and anything you do is called? The new ref rules are shit and have ****ed us up the most because of our youth.

Today has nothing to do with the new rules. We're woefully out of position constantly and they are making us pay for it.

[BeardoMSU]

He just said "make him cum on top of you"

Is Shep calling the game?**

[Dawg61]

Fouls MSU 93 UCF 2

[Dawg61]

Can't wait to go on a 24-0 run and still be losing

[DudyDawg]

Today has nothing to do with the new rules. We're woefully out of position constantly and they are making us pay for it.

Lot of communication issues. When to switch and when not to. Better effort the last two minutes tho. Maybe we can make a run and make things interesting

[MarketingBully]

19 freethrows to 3. Yeah, that is fair.

[Irondawg]

19 freethrows to 3. Yeah, that is fair.

Are you even watching the game? We haven't earned hardly any chances to be at the stripe.

really surprised Howland didn't go zone at all with how they were dismantling our defense

[Liverpooldawg]

It's a bunch of freshmen and one or two decent soph. What the heck did y'all expect?

[Dawg61]

26-4 points in the paint now Jay Williams!!

[DudyDawg]

It's a bunch of freshmen and one or two decent soph. What the heck did y'all expect?

I did not expect being down 25 with five minutes left in the half

[DudyDawg]

We are about to come back and win tho. Mark it

[Dawg61]

It's a bunch of freshmen and one or two decent soph. What the heck did y'all expect?

You even watching the game? No you are just trolling

[DudyDawg]

We missed a good opportunity for a 2 for 1

[RocketDawg]

How were we favored by 4 in this game? We're down by 20 at the moment. And geez, that guy is tall!

[Dawg61]

I like Datcher, he has been a pleasant surprise so far

[Irondawg]

Effort level better these last 3 minutes and it's showed up on both ends. I like Datcher.

But I still don't know what exactly our plan on offense is

[Cloak]

State down 20 at the half.

[BulldogBear]

Halftime

UCF 53, MSU 33

Wow, can't wait for basketball season***

[HoopsDawg]

No energy. Terrible game plan. Post defense is awful. Carter is going to struggle all year defensively. Ready is still Ready. Other than that, great half.

[CadaverDawg]

State down 20 at the half.

https://media.tenor.co/images/a29ed0028f041f8204f8812b4dc1c58d/raw

[MarketingBully]

Two things that are killing us when we play bigger teams. 1) Howland isn't starting Herard for whatever reason as he is a true center. He is starting Holman out of position as he is a stretch four. 2) Kegler is fouling like a mofo so he is taking himself out of the game because he is having trouble guarding bigger fours and is fouling. Sure, Herard is fouling but why not start Holman at the four and Kegler at the three and have Carter come off the bench. Start Herard at the five not Holman. He is putting us at a serious disadvantage with the smaller lineup especially against bigger teams. I have no idea why he is starting Holman anyway.

[Irondawg]

The reason Cal is so successful at KY with a huge freshman group every year is because he gets them to buy into putting some effort into defense. They tend to struggle offensively as well b/c so many of these guys are used to 2 things (1) Not putting much effort in on defense and (2) Likewise nobody putting a lot of effort in against them defensively.

As a coach, getting them to learn to play at a higher level offensively takes more time that getting them to focus more on effort on defense.

[Irondawg]

I'll also add that while Q is our best player, we don't see seem to have a few of those " I hate to lose" type guys. We haven't had any of those in a while and if I'm howland it's the biggest thing I need to find in recruiting.

[klong-dog]

Because Holman is one of our most productive players. Herrard and Kegler are getting fouls called left and right.

[TheRef]

I'll also add that while Q is our best player, we don't see seem to have a few of those " I hate to lose" type guys. We haven't had any of those in a while and if I'm howland it's the biggest thing I need to find in recruiting.

Q is someone I'd hate to lose due to the spark he can provide the team. When Nick comes on campus next year, he will DEFINITELY be someone we need to keep as long as possible.

[Liverpooldawg]

You even watching the game? No you are just trolling

Not watching, but I was a season ticket holder for 25 years. Unless you are UK or Duke when you play a bunch of freshmen you are going to get stuff like this. They will get better.

[smootness]

This is why setting expectations for a team full of unknowns is pointless. Howland's Year 2's are hardly better than Year 1's. Year 3 is when the big jump comes.

[CadaverDawg]

Q is someone I'd hate to lose due to the spark he can provide the team. When Nick comes on campus next year, he will DEFINITELY be someone we need to keep as long as possible.

Think he meant "They" don't seem to hate to lose. Not that we have guys he wouldn't mind losing, ha.

[Liverpooldawg]

This is why setting expectations for a team full of unknowns is pointless. Howland's Year 2's are hardly better than Year 1's. Year 3 is when the big jump comes.

Exactly

[HoopsDawg]

What is Holman doing??!

[DudyDawg]

There's our senior point guard with two unforced TO's

[DudyDawg]

Carter gonna have some issues defensively but that boy can shoot

[TheRef]

There's our senior point guard with two unforced TO's

Second one wasn't on him though. That was a good pass on the 2nd TO

[Irondawg]

Think he meant "They" don't seem to hate to lose. Not that we have guys he wouldn't mind losing, ha.

Yep, I can see how that would be misread. We need a few guys that are going to go to bed pissed off tonight and when they watch the film get on some guys asses about putting forth better effort.

[HoopsDawg]

What is Holman doing??!

Glad we took him out. He is lost defensively right now.

[DudyDawg]

Second one wasn't on him though. That was a good pass on the 2nd TO

He will get credited with it as the passer. It was catchable but late by a dribble and behind Kegler

[DudyDawg]

i like kegler's aggression. If he can learn to play without fouling he will be a very good player this year. I'm sure that will come.

[HoopsDawg]

What is Ready doing on the baseline defensively and that's 4 cheap fouls on Keglar.

[Dawg61]

that's 4 cheap fouls on Keglar.

just let him foul out every game he isn't going to ever learn anyways

[Dawg61]

Tako Hall a future lottery pick. Nobody on the planet can stop him from 4 feet away.

[smootness]

This game will end up being good for us in the long run. Good to have their eyes opened this early so they realize they are in no way there. The talk about 'Kentucky does it, so why not us?' is mostly harmless but was always kind of crazy.

[msstate7]

Haven't watched any 2nd half. Are we playing any zone?

[LC Dawg]

We really need to win these last two football games because the ups and downs and learning curves of basketball season won't ease the pain of a losing record in football. I am still excited about our basketball program though.

[MarketingBully]

Has that Fall kid been in the paint the whole game? Do they call three seconds anymore?

[DudyDawg]

Haven't watched any 2nd half. Are we playing any zone?

Couple times. Not a ton

[MarketingBully]

Six seconds in the lane on Fall my gosh he is not getting away with that the rest of the season.

[DudyDawg]

Here's to hoping this is our worst game of this pre conference slate. Following the Rick ray tradition of letting a player set their career high against us today

[msstate7]

is our offense just shooting 3s?

[MarketingBully]

From what I can tell our biggest problem is fouling. Yes, fouling led to this disaster.

[DudyDawg]

is our offense just shooting 3s?

Pretty much. Q has been the only one with the ability to dribble penetrate with any consistency

[MarketingBully]

is our offense just shooting 3s?

No, what is killing us is we don't have a consistent post threat so we can't get the ball inside to get fouled and we don't have a slasher like Wright driving it to the goal. With the way they call fouls, I wouldn't mind starting Wright over Carter just to get teams in foul trouble.

[DudyDawg]

Took us until 2:15 in the second half to dig hard on Taco

[Dawg61]

The 7'8 guy has completely ****ed us up this game. He singlehandedly intimidated our entire team into playing off their game on both sides of the ball. We will lose to almost every team bigger than us. Oh yea and we had about 30 fouls.

[MarketingBully]

Took us until 2:15 in the second half to dig hard on Taco

Really all you had to do was double team the guy and he turned it over. The next team who plays them will see that and take advantage of what we did for a few minutes. Not sure what Howland was thinking letting him get the ball 8 feet from the goal. I think what must have killed us was the 7-0 foulapalooza to start the game.

[msstate7]

We have a sec player of year candidate, senior pg, 4* players everywhere on this roster, and we were favored... no excuse for this showing. We weren't playing a ranked team or even a good midmajor. We just got destroyed by a very average team. Pathetic

[MarketingBully]

We have a sec player of year candidate, senior pg, 4* players everywhere on this roster, and we were favored... no excuse for this showing. We weren't playing a ranked team or even a good midmajor. We just got destroyed by a very average team. Pathetic

They had one good player too. We allowed him to dominate because A) we backed him and allowed him to get the ball eight feet from the goal and B) we never doubled him to force turnovers or to see what he would do with pressure. Yeah, no excuse for getting blown out by a team like that. Howland needs to figure out who he wants to start in the post. Holman is not a center period. Start Herard and Datcher at center and have Holman spell Kegler.

[MarketingBully]

Or start Kegler at the small forward and start Holman at the stretch four. Bench Carter and start Ready, Q, Kegler, Holman, and Herard as your starting five. Holman is not a center.

[BayouDawg]

today was a turd of a performance there's no way to sugar coat it. Some of the problems I saw today I can just shrug off as us being young. There are some other things that really concern me though.
Our on ball defense is just as bad if not worse than it was at this time last year. We can't keep anybody out of the lane, we don't move our feet, and this leads to us fouling like crazy. Also our boxing out is comical. That's just effort and Howland needs to have a come to Jesus meeting with the players tonight. Being young isn't an excuse to not know how to box out.
On offense our ball movement and movement without the basketball is horrible. For the most part we just pass the ball around the perimeter and settle for contested jump shots. As tight as the whistles are this year, use that to your advantage and attack the basket with dribble drives. If the defense collapses kick it out and use ball reversals. You have to move the defense. Part of the problem is our floor spacing is not good at all. We have some really good shooters that can make a defense extend if we'll align properly and actually MOVE without the ball. Hopefully Howland can get this team to come together because there is certainly potential.

[Dawg61]

Spoon, Carter, Kegler, Holman, Herard is our best 5 but that leaves us with no PG.

[civildawg]

Howland is known to be a defensive guy and we suck at defense. Makes me scratch my head because our basketball team put an effort out that our football team usually does.

[tcdog70]

Tako Hall a future lottery pick. Nobody on the planet can stop him from 4 feet away.

Our Freshmen for sure could not stop Him. This new deal with the fouls is not MSU friendly. We have got to learn how to defend. Ready is still a liability on defense. Q needs a touch every trip . He is our best ,why not put it in His Hands.

[msstate7]

Mizzou took #11 to OT and lost by 1. I'm sick from our performance

[smootness]

We have a sec player of year candidate, senior pg, 4* players everywhere on this roster, and we were favored... no excuse for this showing. We weren't playing a ranked team or even a good midmajor. We just got destroyed by a very average team. Pathetic

You're right...but again, this is a team full of unknowns. You just never know what a guy will be right away. There will be struggles, for sure.

[DogsofAnarchy]

Super Moon on December 14th.




It's the Gildan Invitational in Charleston, SC.

MSU is currently favored by 4 1/2. Should be interesting to watch for sure.

Game is on ESPN2 at 4:00 PM CST

[smootness]

Howland is known to be a defensive guy and we suck at defense. Makes me scratch my head because our basketball team put an effort out that our football team usually does.

We're absurdly young?

[msstate7]

You're right...but again, this is a team full of unknowns. You just never know what a guy will be right away. There will be struggles, for sure.
Really hope we bounce back strong tomorrow.

[MarketingBully]

Mizzou took #11 to OT and lost by 1. I'm sick from our performance

Lehigh took Xavier down to the wire and lost by 3. We play Lehigh our next home game. Should be interesting.

[MarketingBully]

Here's a quick question. How the hell can our freshmen even do anything when the first 5 minutes of the game the foul descrepency is 7-0. Until they get it through their skulls to listen to Coach Howland on how he wants to play defense, we will have games like this. Kegler had three of those seven fouls very quickly. Kegler was in big foul trouble quickly in the first game as well. It's a long season and they will get it. We are only two games in.

[tcdog70]

Our offense is better when we use the George Karl dribble penetration offense. But we need Q to be the trigger Man.

[BayouDawg]

Here's a quick question. How the hell can our freshmen even do anything when the first 5 minutes of the game the foul descrepency is 7-0. Until they get it through their skulls to listen to Coach Howland on how he wants to play defense, we will have games like this. Kegler had three of those seven fouls very quickly. Kegler was in big foul trouble quickly in the first game as well. It's a long season and they will get it. We are only two games in.

When we finally learn how to stop a dribble drive you'll be amazed at how the fouls decrease. when you let teams drive the lane at will you're gonna foul a lot with these tight whistles. Which is why I can't understand why we don't use that to our advantage on the offensive end. Why don't we attack the basket more? I just don't understand it.

[MarketingBully]

I think we will be fine but I think we will be something like 9-3 going into the SEC season. I think we take a couple of more lumps to figure out A) you can't play defense like you did in high school and b) we need to penetrate, drive, and dish to setup shots on the outside to get shots not just pass it around the perimeter. We will be fine by SEC season.

[MarketingBully]

When we finally learn how to stop a dribble drive you'll be amazed at how the fouls decrease. when you let teams drive the lane at will you're gonna foul a lot with these tight whistles. Which is why I can't understand why we don't use that to our advantage on the offensive end. Why don't we attack the basket more? I just don't understand it.

So you're left with a delimma then. To stop a good dribble drive, you play zone. Which is probably why we have seen mostly zone the first two games and will continue to see it. These new rules heavily favor teams like Syracuse who Boeheim has perfected his zone. Howland hates to play zone and is a man to man guy. But zone is how you stop the dribble drive. Man to man is not good at it unless you're team is really really great at man to man which we are not at the moment.

[Dawg61]

Howland is known to be a defensive guy and we suck at defense. Makes me scratch my head because our basketball team put an effort out that our football team usually does.

Can't play defense with these new rules. It has ruined college basketball. It's like holding getting called on every single play in football. Wouldn't be very fun to watch anymore would it. That's what college basketball currently has become.

[MarketingBully]

Can't play defense with these new rules. It has ruined college basketball. It's like holding getting called on every single play in football. Wouldn't be very fun to watch anymore would it. That's what college basketball currently has become.

He may have to play zone with these new rules especially bigger teams that can't shoot from the perimeter. It was dumb as shit to play man against UCF. If we had forced them to shoot from the perimeter and played a good match up zone which doubled that Taco guy, we would have won that game by 10+ points. Howland is going to have to get over himself if he wants to coach with these new rules. The days of only playing man are over.

[BayouDawg]

He may have to play zone with these new rules especially bigger teams that can't shoot from the perimeter. It was dumb as shit to play man against UCF. If we had forced them to shoot from the perimeter and played a good match up zone which doubled that Taco guy, we would have won that game by 10+ points. Howland is going to have to get over himself if he wants to coach with these new rules. The days of only playing man are over.

I think you're right about having to play zone. I'm a man to man guy but I do like mixing in zone from time. These new rules are ridiculous but I figure the refs will tone it down by January

[chef dixon]

Their big man got us off any sort of game plan we might have had with the first dunk of the game. And once he started establishing himself as dominant then the officials start to favor him. Its just the nature of basketball officiating. I'm not super down on this game though. We will get better. They were just much more crisp and experienced overall. We've got a lot of ironing out to do.

[Political Hack]

This is why setting expectations for a team full of unknowns is pointless. Howland's Year 2's are hardly better than Year 1's. Year 3 is when the big jump comes.

If he does it in 3 years after what he inherited it'll be a miracle, and I think he may just do it. I think we might be pretty good at some point this year too. This is a developmental season for sure, so as long as they continue to develop I think most people will be happy.

[preachermatt83]

If he does it in 3 years after what he inherited it'll be a miracle, and I think he may just do it. I think we might be pretty good at some point this year too. This is a developmental season for sure, so as long as they continue to develop I think most people will be happy.

This

[MarketingBully]

If he does it in 3 years after what he inherited it'll be a miracle, and I think he may just do it. I think we might be pretty good at some point this year too. This is a developmental season for sure, so as long as they continue to develop I think most people will be happy.

Well Howland did say that the biggest improvement in a player is from year one to two. If that is the case, he will definitely do it in year three. I think the biggest problem we have had period these first two games is players like Kegler and Wright have gotten in foul trouble boom within the first five minutes of both games. Both those players had three fouls in both games in the first half limiting how hard they could play on defense pretty quickly. If we can have a game where we have committed less then ten fouls in the first half, we will blow the other team out. IMO, the fouling is what is holding us back.

[thf24]

Their big man got us off any sort of game plan we might have had with the first dunk of the game. And once he started establishing himself as dominant then the officials start to favor him. Its just the nature of basketball officiating.

I feel like the fact they were letting him camp under the basket practically as long as he wanted is what killed us in regards to defending him. Double team or not, if that guy actually has to move with the ball a little, I doubt he's nearly as much of a threat.

[smootness]

Agreed, but he's inherited terrible situations everywhere he's been. The situation at UCLA was a disaster.

[Duckdog]

Im ready for baseball

[maroonmania]

By the time I got home from work the game was over but I have to say I am losing a little faith in Howland's coaching (no doubt he is a great recruiter). I mean I really felt with all the veterans last year plus Malik and Q he should have found a way to get that team to the NIT. Now starting this year, with all of the talent brought in we have a white knuckler win against mighty Norfolk State and we get skull drug by UCF. I KNOW we are young, young, young, but dang, basketball is the game where sheer talent means the most over experience. I could be happy if we had won the first game comfortably and lost yesterday in a competitive game. Not very happy with the results so far though. This team will have to come a long, long way to go to even have a chance at any post-season.

[MarketingBully]

Not going to defend Howland for the shit show we saw yesterday; however with that said, we are having a hard time adjusting to the new foul rules. Until we adjust to the new rules, we will lose games we should win period. You can't have players like Kegler getting three fouls in the first half and he has done it both games. We have to learn to play defense without fouling. If that means playing zone, so be it. I hate that he hates playing zone because in today's basketball you have to do it.

[HoopsDawg]

I feel like the fact they were letting him camp under the basket practically as long as he wanted is what killed us in regards to defending him. Double team or not, if that guy actually has to move with the ball a little, I doubt he's nearly as much of a threat.

Exactly! We let him get position without even a challenge and we never tried to front him. It was a bad game plan.

[HoopsDawg]

By the time I got home from work the game was over but I have to say I am losing a little faith in Howland's coaching (no doubt he is a great recruiter). I mean I really felt with all the veterans last year plus Malik and Q he should have found a way to get that team to the NIT. Now starting this year, with all of the talent brought in we have a white knuckler win against mighty Norfolk State and we get skull drug by UCF. I KNOW we are young, young, young, but dang, basketball is the game where sheer talent means the most over experience. I could be happy if we had won the first game comfortably and lost yesterday in a competitive game. Not very happy with the results so far though. This team will have to come a long, long way to go to even have a chance at any post-season.

We signed some talented players, but none came college ready like Q was last year. For example Tyson Carter. I really like him and he's going to be a good player, but physically he is not ready for college basketball yet. Keglar is probably the most talented guy but he has to learn how to play team basketball especially shot selection. He had some issues at Oak Hill too and it's going to take time for him to mature. We have talent, but we have 4 year players, not 3 and done and certainly not one and done talent.

[lachepas565]

We signed some talented players, but none came college ready like Q was last year. For example Tyson Carter. I really like him and he's going to be a good player, but physically he is not ready for college basketball yet. Keglar is probably the most talented guy but he has to learn how to play team basketball especially shot selection. He had some issues at Oak Hill too and it's going to take time for him to mature. We have talent, but we have 4 year players, not 3 and done and certainly not one and done talent.

I somewhat get what you're saying, but there's no better place to get a kid ready for college than Oak Hill. If you're saying he's not ready after a year there, it may be a long project.

I think it's a lot to ask a freshman to come in and take on a major roll in the first game and I think he will be fine - with that said, I watched a freshman for Iowa look really good last night and no matter what, there should be more talent than UCF. The wins need to start coming soon.

[HoopsDawg]

I somewhat get what you're saying, but there's no better place to get a kid ready for college than Oak Hill. If you're saying he's not ready after a year there, it may be a long project.

I think it's a lot to ask a freshman to come in and take on a major roll in the first game and I think he will be fine - with that said, I watched a freshman for Iowa look really good last night and no matter what, there should be more talent than UCF. The wins need to start coming soon.

I'm saying that were some warning signs at Oak Hill that gave me pause.

[Dawg61]

I'm saying that were some warning signs at Oak Hill that gave me pause.

Yes Kegler seems immature and not bright. He is loaded with natural talent and he has NBA size already though. I say just play him the entire first half and let him foul out every single game. He is never going to listen or learn till he wants to.