DWB

Wanted to give it to Geronimo, but TJD's 5 blocks made the difference to me.

The nice thing about being somewhat pessimistic is either: You're right, or You're pleasantly surprised

Sounds like a Rivals board over there. Lots of 4 letter words that offended me (well almost...lol)

When you guys re-watch the game again, take a look at this adjustment on D that we made. I think one (not the only one) adjust that Woody made on the defense, was how we handled high ball screens while we were on defense. Opponent ball handler dribbles from elbow to top of circle, where an offensive man sets the high ball screen...today (as opposed to other games) our guy on defense for the screener, didn't hold his position against the screener, but rather backed up to let our defensive guy on the ball handler "slip thru" unabated, and be able to recover almost instantly to the ball handler. Prior to this we got smothered on the screen or were forced to go behind our own defensive man to get back to the ball handler, most of the time too late.

Well in all fairness....I remember a reputable coach saying "a bad shot is like a turnover", so I guess my perception of turnover was clouded by a bunch of forced, bad shots. More than normal.

If we had played this hard in AZ, KS, RU, and the conference, and still had this record, I don't think we'd be complaining nearly as much. But...we didn't and here we are. Fighting for our lives. If we can carry over this intensity, we'll be competitive.

Bates only had 1 stat....1 RB. Can't have that from him. Need MUCH more. Steals, points, RB's. And he played 22 minutes.

Only 8 TO's. Seemed like 28.

Hope we play like it's tied to the finish

This might be the best D we've seen since middle of last year.

Agreed, but I bet he shoots at least 2 threes in the 2nd half.

Hope Malik and TJD get paired up some more. They were pretty effective.

If we could figure a way to play as hard on offense as we are on defense, we'd be a lot tougher to beat.

Sorry John, not even close. Better, but not nearly as intense as Rutgers was on us. IMO.

I have a hard time accepting that we are practicing "hard". Maybe relative to each other, but to the competition? Highly doubtful. I agree the real competition is exposing our lack of playing hard.

Too hot for the snowflakes

Hole is already dug, we're standing on one edge, and the guy with the skid loader to fill with dirt are on the other side. It's put up or shut up time.

Maybe we should do a pool on how many 3's Davis & Gilmore get....

SIAP, but here's a link to Michael Lewis interview with D-bag Jim Coyle. Gets really interesting around 15 minute mark. (Courtesy of a poster on BTB).

The only way that is going to happen is if you take some drugs and halucinate...

I don't want to open pandora's box of guys claiming I'm crazy, don't know what the hell I'm talking about, yada, yada, yada. But...since you asked... To my eyes we are not playing with enough intensity, not getting after it, and I'm not sure we've set a screen (other than a high ball screen 25'+ from the bucket) in a month. And the screens that do get set are not utilized properly by the ball handler. If you look at the way AZ used their screens, vs how we use ours, we're still in kindergarten, they're in college. I'd remove Kopp and JG from the starting lineup and use them to give other guys a blow. I'm not crazy about Bates, esp on defense, but he is decent on offense. I'd play Gunn some more, I'd play Duncomb to rest TJD, and leave Malik at the 4. I'd bring back Gallo to the starting line up because he understands the game, and has a better motor than anyone on this team. And (this is where I'll get killed), I'd play Leal with some meaningful minutes and tell him he has a green light. Right now JHS is trying too hard, esp after the NW game, but I think he's probably tied with TJD for the most important player on the floor. (doesn't mean he's the best player necessarily, but he is important on the floor. Just got to get him to slow down a ½ gear on his passing. Mainly because the other guys are usually not ready for his passes (see JG film) Ok...let the stoning begin !

I'm glad you guys are as positive as you are. Not me. Until there are some MAJOR changes to this lineup I don't see us getting any better than what we've been for all the losses. Not my style to be this negative, but I'm also a realist. I'd be interested to hear what you guys say is the catalyst that will change how we play tomorrow vs how we've played for the past 2 weeks.

For those of you who haven't seen BSU play, Lewis has them playing very well. Great defense, good offense and he's using somebody else's roster that wasn't impressive last year. Want somebody with toughness and grit? (good traits IMO), knows Xs & Os? He should at least be a candidate in the mix to replace Woody. (You can say he doesn't have the experience, but at this point how could it be worse?

I think we should join the "Cupcake Conference". Maybe we could be competitive there.

Woody said in one of his early pressers (maybe even the first one where he was announced as coach) that if he couldn't get it done, he's resign, and not wait to be fired. Guess we'll see how honorable he really is.