Game 29: UCF 2/23 ESPNU 9:00

[leo from jersey]

Regardless if guys are not scoring if you cant get them to box out, then they have to go regardless. That's something that is taught in grade school. Unfortunately I see maybe one player transferring out and that's either madsen or mcginnis. He isnt going to push guys out to get better talent. If these guys are just not good enough, mentally weak or font listen then get them out asap. I dont necessarily believe they are playing like crap because of not enough practice, they have plenty of upper class men and are deep enough into season to know to share basketball and rebound. Unless he gets an extra scholarship or two and or the freshman are just ready to contribute immediately I dont see much hope for next season not to turn out like this one. But here's hoping they get a big who can rebound and skilli is or reed can give uc 5 to 7 pts a piece and defend and give some boards also.

agreed box out is taught in grade school. MM dad was a coach. The other night I saw him have position but a player pushed him out got the rebound and put it back for two. His daddy must be like many. They only want points. The MM did his well known hand off, stood and watch while the other player had a nice dunk. We could have kept Z. Harvey over that guy.

[Fox19bearcatbounce]

Longtime... totally agree... I guess the question is.... does that mean we are gonna have to wait until the entire roster turns over to see any REAL change ? Which guys on the current roster can be improved to the level needed to compete at this level ? Which guys have too low of a ceiling ? Then the ultimate question... Is CWM someone willing to "push someone out" if he has the chance to upgrade the roster via the portal or JC ? If yes... you turn it over a lot faster.

Regardless if guys are not scoring if you cant get them to box out, then they have to go regardless. That's something that is taught in grade school. Unfortunately I see maybe one player transferring out and that's either madsen or mcginnis. He isnt going to push guys out to get better talent. If these guys are just not good enough, mentally weak or font listen then get them out asap. I dont necessarily believe they are playing like crap because of not enough practice, they have plenty of upper class men and are deep enough into season to know to share basketball and rebound. Unless he gets an extra scholarship or two and or the freshman are just ready to contribute immediately I dont see much hope for next season not to turn out like this one. But here's hoping they get a big who can rebound and skilli is or reed can give uc 5 to 7 pts a piece and defend and give some boards also.

[BorisTheCat]

Longtime... totally agree... I guess the question is.... does that mean we are gonna have to wait until the entire roster turns over to see any REAL change ? Which guys on the current roster can be improved to the level needed to compete at this level ? Which guys have too low of a ceiling ? Then the ultimate question... Is CWM someone willing to "push someone out" if he has the chance to upgrade the roster via the portal or JC ? If yes... you turn it over a lot faster.

[longtimefan]

It’s easier to ingrain the right traits into guys when you bring them in as Freshman, then you create a culture that transfer guys are willing to buy into. We have guys who played 2-4 years elsewhere and never played for CWM before. When you bring guys like that in you also bring in whatever habits and culture they came from. I still say as we bring in the right guys things will turn around.

[Gmann]

Personally, I don't think the problems this team is having has anything to do with a lack of practice.
Basic skills, toughness and valuing the ball are traits that need to be ingrained long before players ever reach the college level. I've never seen bigs gets stripped of the ball so often and so easily as I have on this group. I can't see that it's any 1 or 2 players causing all the problems but just an overall lack of hustle from everyone. The only time it seems these guys ever attempt to put in any effort is when they are down 12-15 points (usually in the 1st 10 minutes of the game) but by then it's too late and they can't pull themselves out of the hole.
My only complaint with CWM is taking the blame for the poor performance, it's not helping the players. I'm hoping that in the locker room he calls out the bad plays to the players.

Totally agree.A month ago CWM was happy with the Memphis cancellation because they would have more practice time. It seems whether they have more or less time at practice the same fundamental issues remain. I can take losing games if I feel they are hustling and exercising sound fundamentals.

[John P]

Personally, I don't think the problems this team is having has anything to do with a lack of practice.
Basic skills, toughness and valuing the ball are traits that need to be ingrained long before players ever reach the college level. I've never seen bigs gets stripped of the ball so often and so easily as I have on this group. I can't see that it's any 1 or 2 players causing all the problems but just an overall lack of hustle from everyone. The only time it seems these guys ever attempt to put in any effort is when they are down 12-15 points (usually in the 1st 10 minutes of the game) but by then it's too late and they can't pull themselves out of the hole.
My only complaint with CWM is taking the blame for the poor performance, it's not helping the players. I'm hoping that in the locker room he calls out the bad plays to the players.

[Lobot]

There is an article that now appears in The Athletic that discusses the lack of quality practice time for UC basketball. For the members that do not have access to The Athletic, can someone that has read that article please be kind enough to explain what the article is all about? Thanks.

I wanted to paraphrase it for you but they article doesn't really say why they haven't had enough practice time. It simply states that they haven't. If I had to bet I'd say it was because of the rescheduled Memphis game and the weather. At one point we were playing 3 games in 6 days and I think we're doing that again starting this weekend because Houston got rescheduled. Hopefully they've been able to get some practice in after returning from Orlando.

I think Saturday is our last chance to secure a win going into the AAC Tourney. They won't get much practice after that with road trips to Houston and SMU back to back.

[leeraymond]

There is an article that now appears in The Athletic that discusses the lack of quality practice time for UC basketball. For the members that do not have access to The Athletic, can someone that has read that article please be kind enough to explain what the article is all about? Thanks.

[leo from jersey]

[QUOTE=Jeff Burk;n389550]

I have been trying to defend CWM but I totally agree that there are many areas that are coachable. For example, you cannot coach effort such as hustling down the floor for defense. rebounding and overall tenacity, but you CAN coach FUNDAMENTALS which I feel we are lacking and this is all about Coaching.

I think that you can coach hustle. There are many ways to get the attention, but these players got rid of a coach and perhaps some are afraid of them. If they are to go portal why worry. If you say just wait to next year, that is quitting and it is hard to recover. -- It may be a slow rebuild, but quitting won't speed it up.. I can't believe all these guys who claimed to have played and now quitting even for what is left.


https://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/93/58/480648833-michael-jordan-never-quit.jpg

[Jeff Burk]

[QUOTE=Fox19bearcatbounce;n389549]

There are more than a few players who are not necessarily high division one, whether it be size, athleticism and or ability. While we know to temper expectations, I also assumed that the little things they dont do would get fixed such as boxing out and taking more quality shots. The argument is it's his first year and it's a throw away year. To me whether your making the tournament or not and are building culture you have t o instill toughness and willingness to do the dirty work. I have not seen anything at all other than dd play that is a positive. I truly believe that miller could have these guys doing little things like boxing out and taking good shots, ball movement. I also read that cronins first year was abysmal and it was but if u think miller got division 1 left overs, croning got juco leftovers. The biggest difference was cronins team developed toughness and attempted to box out and take good shots , unfortunately they were no where near as big or talented as this team is. I seen where croning was going, u could sense they were going to be tough guys who did little things to muster enough points to win. I dont see Miller's plan, he might have one but I dont see anything other than selfishness and allowing the guys to do what they want without putting the effort I on the little things like boxing out. We see, I truly hope he has the chops to make some of these guys realize they are not going to do well in this higher division of basketball but will he is the question?

I have been trying to defend CWM but I totally agree that there are many areas that are coachable. For example, you cannot coach effort such as hustling down the floor for defense. rebounding and overall tenacity, but you CAN coach FUNDAMENTALS which I feel we are lacking and this is all about Coaching.

[Fox19bearcatbounce]

[QUOTE=longtimefan;n389548]

Well, this is interesting. I think what we have here is a lack of quality practice time leading to lots of other stuff ($)

https://theathletic.com/3147392/2022...pointing-loss/[/QUOT]

One note: the rebuild actually begins next season. This year was a throwaway, with players who don’t belong at this level.

There are more than a few players who are not necessarily high division one, whether it be size, athleticism and or ability. While we know to temper expectations, I also assumed that the little things they dont do would get fixed such as boxing out and taking more quality shots. The argument is it's his first year and it's a throw away year. To me whether your making the tournament or not and are building culture you have t o instill toughness and willingness to do the dirty work. I have not seen anything at all other than dd play that is a positive. I truly believe that miller could have these guys doing little things like boxing out and taking good shots, ball movement. I also read that cronins first year was abysmal and it was but if u think miller got division 1 left overs, croning got juco leftovers. The biggest difference was cronins team developed toughness and attempted to box out and take good shots , unfortunately they were no where near as big or talented as this team is. I seen where croning was going, u could sense they were going to be tough guys who did little things to muster enough points to win. I dont see Miller's plan, he might have one but I dont see anything other than selfishness and allowing the guys to do what they want without putting the effort I on the little things like boxing out. We see, I truly hope he has the chops to make some of these guys realize they are not going to do well in this higher division of basketball but will he is the question?

[longtimefan]

[QUOTE=Lobot;n389545]Well, this is interesting. I think what we have here is a lack of quality practice time leading to lots of other stuff ($)

https://theathletic.com/3147392/2022...pointing-loss/[/QUOT]

One note: the rebuild actually begins next season. This year was a throwaway, with players who don’t belong at this level.

[Lobot]

Well, this is interesting. I think what we have here is a lack of quality practice time leading to lots of other stuff ($)

https://theathletic.com/3147392/2022...pointing-loss/

[leo from jersey]

I have changed my mind. CWM needs to give us all a hug. BTW before we all sing unity sunshine songs about how the coaching has changed, did anybody notice the Temple coach the other night. He seemed to be extremely upset with his team in the lead and shared his feelings with players who made plays beneath his expectations. He won the game as a visitor. - I know Philly tough and I used to know Cincy tough. I can eat both Philly steaks and Cincy coneys with pleasure, but I can't say the same for efforts on the court.

[BorisTheCat]

Longtimefan, I agree with you that.. it's unfair to judge CWM too much on the current situation EXCEPT for... I think we would have given him a lot of credit if things were trending the other way... we actually did at the start of the season. I'd be interested in knowing how many roster spots he REALLY considers open... obviously, we have three recruits coming in but... coach's have a way of encouraging transfers if they can fill a spot with a better player... Just wonder if when the season is over, CWM gets a bit more hardcore on making this team better by possible personnel upgrades.