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Post by Wolf on Jan 14, 2015 21:18:42 GMT -5
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Post by Dr J on Jan 15, 2015 10:57:35 GMT -5
Could be an interesting game. Hopefully, Steven Davis will be back. We probably need to play more zone and uptempo offense to counter the possible size difference. If we try to play man to man and predominately slower half court offense we will lose again.
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Post by wsuraider09 on Jan 15, 2015 11:19:29 GMT -5
Hate to look out the future, but if anyone hasn't paid attention, here's our upcoming schedule:
Valpo, @milwaukee, @detroit, @oakland, GB, @csu
I think that makes this Saturday's game a must-win game if we are going to try to have a first-round bye. If you haven't taken a look at overall standings, Green Bay is on their way to running away with the league, with CSU, Valpo, Detroit and us a leg behind. The rest of the league has a losing conference and overall record, and are really out of contention to earning a first round bye....having said that...after Valpo, our next 3 opponents have lost a combined ONE home conference game (Milwaukee to GB). And as much as I want to think we will compete with those 3 teams, you'd feel a hell of a lot better winning this game at home to Valpo. We've obviously got something to prove to Milwaukee after they dismantled us on national TV last year, and Detroit wants to pay us back for beating them earlier this season...long story short, we have to beat Valpo.
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Post by wolf41 on Jan 15, 2015 12:58:29 GMT -5
The lost last night was huge in my mind. I never expected to finish in the top 3, but had hopes for a 4th place finish. That now becomes an uphill fight in my mind.
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Post by wsuraider09 on Jan 15, 2015 16:31:09 GMT -5
Yeah. I'm with you completely. Now we're fighting to not start the post-season on the road. You can't win this league losing games at home...in our 06-07 campaign we didn't lose a home conference game, and went 5-3 on the road. That's what it takes to win this league, and we haven't played that well in conference since BD took over. It all starts with protecting your home court.
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Post by Dr J on Jan 15, 2015 20:47:07 GMT -5
In my opinion, we are going to need to play more zone defenses to protect Karena and Yoho from fouls. Karena, usually gets 2 fouls a game on blocks trying to stop the dribbler outside. At his team could play a trapping zone and cover the middle much better. We give up too many points on the screen and roll. We also need more movement on the offensive end and less just passing around the perimeter. I am convinced if we passed for two, three or four passes then started more movement it would confuse the defense. It was interesting tonight watching basketball on TV. Cincy was passing the ball around the perimeter a lot. The commentators said you can't win in today's college games by just doing that offense.
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Post by dogbert on Jan 16, 2015 12:01:56 GMT -5
I don't disagree with you about playing more zone Dr. J but it just isn't going to happen. The only way Karena gets protected is when he is pulled from the game and we go with our 4 guard 1 small forward lineup. I don't get why we seem to hate big guys! I don't follow recruiting that closely but I don't think we have any size coming. One of the guys sitting out this year is tall but looks like he would blow away in a light breeze. Has anyone noticed Maverick Morgan hardly plays for Illinois? I'm not sure how good the kid is but he at least has a division 1 body. We need a transfer like that.
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Post by wsuraider09 on Jan 16, 2015 12:30:44 GMT -5
We've needed that since Pleiman graduated
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Post by ohiopirate on Jan 16, 2015 13:08:31 GMT -5
It looks like Roderick Davis has the frame to put on some solid size and be a nice inside player for us in a year or two (or three). He had a couple nice offense/defense possessions in a row against CSU before letting his man get behind him for a layout. Have noticed some improvement from him. If he makes the same improvement that Stephen Davis did between last year and this year I will be very happy.
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Post by uptempo on Jan 16, 2015 18:24:11 GMT -5
It looks like Roderick Davis has the frame to put on some solid size and be a nice inside player for us in a year or two (or three). He had a couple nice offense/defense possessions in a row against CSU before letting his man get behind him for a layout. Have noticed some improvement from him. If he makes the same improvement that Stephen Davis did between last year and this year I will be very happy. It would of been nice if R. Davis had gotten a lot more minutes in the OOC games. He might of gotten enough experience where he could be a big asset now. But no, he played very little, is not ready for prime time, and this season for him has been wasted. It was the same way with S. Davis last year. |
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Post by wsuraider09 on Jan 16, 2015 19:39:26 GMT -5
Hate to play devil's advocate...but we could actually just recruit big guys...
I know that's a foreign thought to this board.
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Post by wsuraider09 on Jan 16, 2015 20:04:35 GMT -5
Valpo is going to be without two starters:
Keith Carter- 10 ppg, 30 minutes per game at guard..One of their best all-around players and ball distributors, 50% from the field, 42% from 3 point range
Lexus Williams- 6.5 ppg, 23 minutes per game at guard. 42% 3 pointer shooter (2013-14 stats)
It appears, at least on paper, that our advantage will be in guard play. Hopefully our three senior guards will recognize that, and put the team on their shoulders. Karena/Davis are both going to have their hands full down low with 3 players who are 6'9+ and 220+
I would expect us to play some zone to force the ball to the perimeter where our guards can be our better defenders...Valpo will obviously try to force our play inside..and hopefully we are able to knock down some perimeter shots. I would expect a lot of fast plays to try to use our speed and agility as an advantage to beat their bigs, and get to the free throw line. However, we can't be the FT shooting team that we were against CSU on Wednesday. Valpo has had a few extra days to prepare...but, like I said earlier, I think this is about as close to a must-win game as you can get. We can't go 3 on the road after 2 straight home losses.
I expect this team to realize that, acknowledge it, and feed off of what should be a decent crowd on Saturday and bring the victory home. Protecting home court is essential. I think this could be a big game for my dark horse, Grant Benzinger.
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Post by Big D on Jan 16, 2015 21:18:34 GMT -5
I don't disagree with you about playing more zone Dr. J but it just isn't going to happen. The only way Karena gets protected is when he is pulled from the game and we go with our 4 guard 1 small forward lineup. I don't get why we seem to hate big guys! I don't follow recruiting that closely but I don't think we have any size coming. One of the guys sitting out this year is tall but looks like he would blow away in a light breeze. Has anyone noticed Maverick Morgan hardly plays for Illinois? I'm not sure how good the kid is but he at least has a division 1 body. We need a transfer like that. We have 2 post players sitting out this year. Parker Ernsthausen was 6-9, 210# at the start of this season. He has put on 10# since arriving at WSU this past summer. He will probably play between 220-230# next year. Zach Lett was 6-9, 240# at the start of this season. He put on 15# since he arrived at WSU this past summer. He will probably play around 245-250# next season. Roderick Davis is 6-8, 225#. He came in at 215# this past summer. He will hopefully be in the 230-240# range next year. Karena is 6-10, 255#. We will have plenty of size next year. |
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Post by hhgreen on Jan 16, 2015 21:59:20 GMT -5
I agree we will have some size next year but can the coach use a team with size properly. I can't stand when our big guys go out to defend people out front and then get caught on a screen trying to scramble back in the paint to defend a layup and get a foul doing it.
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Post by Sixth Man on Jan 17, 2015 12:12:12 GMT -5
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vs. 
