That game was an absolutely perfect encapsulation and repeat of everything that has been wrong with Charlotte basketball for the better part of the past decade. It had all of the elements we are used to:
53-45 lead that evaporated due to a lack of focus and effort. The other team sensed it, outhustled us, and took the game over. From then on out it was ETSU’s game.
A complete breakdown of the offense and defense:
A) we couldn’t find our post man int he middle of the 2-3 zone, despite excellent poistion and him begging for the ball. Our midget PG couldnt see him and no one else could get it to him
B) The other team calls a TO late in the game and executes a play for a thunderous alley oop that sets the comeback in motion, later on they call another TO and get points off of it too.
C) We call a TO near the end and the best shot we can get is a desperation 3 by our PG, who is about the 4th person on the floor that you’d want to shoot it. Miraculously, like several other shots, it goes in. We hide the fact that we cannot run an offensive set for the last 10 minutes of the game by making a bunch of low % 3’s. Deuce even does his best Demon/Leemire impression, falling down as he hits one.
D) No one gets back on D, and we give up multiple wide open looks down the stretch.
E) No one boxes out, and they get several key rebounds.
F) the kid who hits the winning shot - its the only shot he takes or hits the entire game. Yep. The only one.
G) The normally dependable player, only having to hit 1 FT to seal at least a tie, and 2 to ice the game, misses both.
Once again, following this team is like trying to watch scrambled porn in the 80s as I try to make out every 10th word on the postgame show or I sit huddled over a bootleg internet feed like I’m some kind of Al Qaeda Cell trying to decode my jihad directions…
It doesnt matter who our coach is. We are playing the exact same game we have played forever. It’s so cliche anymore that you dont even have to see the end of the game to write the game story. David Scott, just call us, we’ll tell you at the 10 minute mark, and you can file your story early and get on with your day.
I tellya what guys, I just dont know how much longer I can watch this same story play itself out over and over and over. This isn’t about this coach, or these kids - it’s a culture of… “ehh fuckit. That was good enough, right”?
What a dagger in the heart. I think that was that guys first points of the game. But why did Major put Luka in on defense for the last play instead of say Derrio? I would think Derrio or someone else would be faster. But have to protect the 3 line but it was an ugly broken play.
We played like sh*it to start the game again. 3 TO in the first minute. Probably 5 TO in 5 minutes. Not going to win like that. This pisses me off. AND BE AWARE OF DEFENDERS BEHIND YOU! Good grief. and all these dumb passes. I about flipped when Mayfield in-bounds the ball by just tossing it acting like no ones around. He has moments of brain farts I guess. We’ve had so many TO on in-bound plays.
Observations…
Henry needs to protect the ball better on offense. He turns the ball over wayyyy to much. Also, he needs to drive more to the basket and either finish or dish it. He stands at the top of the key too much head boppin away and just passing it around. He nneds to create for his teammates and that’s where he’ll get his assist. It was good to see him make the 3 ball but I want to see him drive like Deuce and little ol dijuan harris. BUT HE PLAYS INCREDIBLE DEFENSE, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT!
Mayfield looked lost and needs to hit his free throws
EVIC, he just hasn’t shown me anything. I had higher expectation, not sure where he fits in. I dont see him as a offensive threat.
T Williams surprised me the most tonight. He looked comfortable and wasn’t scared to pass the ball down low on some nice crisp passes. He also finished on those drives. I’d rather see him out there more than EVIC and Luka right now. He plays smart and lets the game come to him. He showed the most potential and I only saw him for a few minutes.
Duece, he played a great game and knocked down some key shots. He took maybe 2 shots out of the flow but for the most part, he played well. There’s no reason he shouldn’t see 20 minutes a game.
Braswell, he played hard and would like to see him have some help down low. Was great to see him hit his FT.
Derrio, had a few TO but was surprised to see him get hardly any minutes. Maybe Major reads NNN?
-Henry can shoot?
-Major remembered Briscoe was on the roster
-Good foul shooting until the end
-T. Williams probably deserves the chance to play a few more minutes
Negatives:
-Turnovers
We obviously had more negatives, but really if we hold the turnovers to a reasonable number we easily win that game.
I think this puts our season in better perspective, going 2-0 against two awful teams wasn’t a good indication of this team. Losing two straight to two awful teams hopefully isn’t a great indication either, but the fact is that we aren’t a good team right now.
My biggest disappointment is how undisciplined we are right now. Wasn’t Major supposed to bring the Big 10/Thad Matta defensive-minded, smart basketball gameplan? The excuses about being young, short-handed, not having Major’s players, etc… start to run out. Memphis has an extremely young team and committed 12 turnovers in two overtimes today (5 of which were by a senior, go figure). Yes, Memphis has a different level recruit that we do, that certainly helps, but at the end of the day it comes down to coaching and right now we are getting out played and out coached.
I’d much rather see an extremely boring team that is well coached and plays smart than the product we are putting out there every game.
Up 2 points with 8.6 seconds left with a time out to burn and you get the ball into Mayfield??? Why is Green sitting on the bench at that time. He can at least hit 1 free throw. I just do not understand how you do not take your time and burn a timeout if need be and get the ball to someone who can hit free throws. Mayfield already choked in CMU game and was 1-5 going in to that shot.
We were once again out rebounded and ETSU has been dominated on the glass so far this year.
Someone posted question about wanting a coach who can recruit but can not coach versus good X O’S coach but can not recruit. Looks like we better hope Major can recruit.
Oh, and one other thing - the officiating was once again bush league. No, I’m not blaming the loss on it at all. We got away with some ridiculous calls. It just contributes to the culture of no one is really serious about basketball.
NA. I told BigTimeNiner the same thing today. I can not tell one single difference in how we are playing than in years past. We have to be averaging at least 25 3’s a game and tonight Braz gets only gets 8 shots. If you are going to play that way start Deuce at the PG with Green backing him up and let Henry share the 2 with T Will and lets go.
I can not believe where our program is and feel really bad for the kids who have been here the last 8 years or so.
I lived thru the Wissel years and I have my scars and I feel the same feeling now as I did then esp when Major starts talking about hustle plays and the number of loose balls we should go after.
good point, I didn’t think about that. Also, when he took Briscoe out on the last play for defense, I would of rather seen Green or even T Williams over Luka. Luka isnt quick enough imo.
[quote=“TheShowDawg, post:11, topic:25924”]NA. I told BigTimeNiner the same thing today. I can not tell one single difference in how we are playing than in years past. We have to be averaging at least 25 3’s a game and tonight Braz gets only gets 8 shots. If you are going to play that way start Deuce at the PG with Green backing him up and let Henry share the 2 with T Will and lets go.
I can not believe where our program is and feel really bad for the kids who have been here the last 8 years or so.
I lived thru the Wissel years and I have my scars and I feel the same feeling now as I did then esp when Major starts talking about hustle plays and the number of loose balls we should go after.[/quote]
You’re entitled to your rant. ETSU zone gave Braswell no looks though. Had two or three men on him every time he caught the ball in the post, which is what is supposed to happen. He either has to go quickly (when he did, he scored) or pass out of the zone instead of forcing up shots. That aside, you’re entitled to your rant.
I don’t know who runs our clock but before our final foul shots we inbound the ball make two passes and the clock goes from 9.4 to 8.6 seconds. Seems like 2 or 3 seconds should have went off during that period of time.
All I can say is that I am disgusted we lost and that I hope we turn it around. Although honestly I am starting to get ready for another 10-20 season. (Seriously I am so pissed right now)