NIT picking

[leeraymond]

When I went to bed last night I was more sympathetic to the misfortunes of UC basketball. When I woke up this morning I was not sure about this program. Here are some of my concerns (if anyone gives a damn): 1) UC shot 50% last night, 45.5% from three, and hit for 81 points in regulation and STILL LOST; 2) UC had 10 games on national TV this season and lost EIGHT of them (80% losing rate on national TV this year alone); 3) Since Miller has been the coach, UC has been on national TV about 44 times (give or take one) and has lost 27 of those games. That is a 61% losing rate on NATIONAL TV over a three-year period; 4) UC has lost an average of 14.3 games a year since Miller has been the coach. It is very hard to get to the NCAAs with those numbers of losses unless UC wins the BIG 12 (not likely).

Miller's teams give up too many points and because of that, his teams lose a lot of games. For next year, Miller has to be extra careful with what players he brings into the program. He needs a bigman that can play on the perimeter and score consistently. Maybe McKinley (I think I spelled his name correctly) can be that guy. Also, UC needs a point guard that can lead the team. James is a shooter that hogs the ball. There were a few moments in the Indy State game where James refused to pass the ball to the open man and the results were a disaster. Thomas is reckless with the ball. If Miller brings in a floor leader, as Leo suggests, what tensions will that create in the locker room? Both James and Thomas think they can run the show.

This team needs a lot of work to get ready for next season. Next season is the start of Miller being under the microscope. Every game and every decision will be scrutinized. With every loss the drum beat will get louder. UC has some good talent already on the roster and some good talent coming in. I hope that the transfers that Miller brings in will actually play and NOT ride the bench. More importantly, Miller has got to figure out how NOT to lose so many games next season.

[GoBearcats31]

A number of tough, disappointing losses this season. But on the whole, I found this to be a very entertaining season and, if this program doesn't get ravaged by the NIL/portal, there is a lot of upside heading into next year with a core of James, Skillings, Lukosius. Of course, stakes are going to be very high in what should be a "must dance" season. I guess we have 7 or so months to worry about next year.

And...here...we...go...

Thanks to John, Ody, the walkons and all who epitomized Bearcat basketball this season.

[leo from jersey]

THINKING BASKETBALL PLAY OF THE YEAR
SL being fouled at the end and throwing up a shot hoping to get 3 free throws instead of just standing and being fouled. He didn't get the three, but he shows BB smarts.

[leo from jersey]

Overall, a very enjoyable and entertaining season. I saw growth in the team and in CWM. Would I liked to have seen more wins -- OF COURSE-- Now it is time to play the portal and everyone will know what I believe has held this team back. A floor leader -- If we learned anything from ISU last night was they had one and ours threw the ball away with the game on the line. Again, it isn't all your hot shooting at the beginning, but taking charge and leading the team to victory at the end. I think we have two very good off guards and throw SL in there as a play all over sort. Get your floor leader and get a big who will play with desire plus Bearcat toughness and not sulk. The Cats have 3 shooters and a slasher in DS .I think they have 3 coming in next year and I know all three can score. In the portal and I believe there will be room, get your floor leader, big and a defensive ace who doesn't kill you on offens (Newman at the last). Work these guys hard in the off season on ball handling, sliding (playing with their feet) and strength . Have that monster factory work hard on Aziz's endurance. He plays hard with effort and more is needed.

BRING ON HOUSTON AND FOR THE SAKE OF UC HISTORY, KICK THE STUFFING OUT OF X

I really enjoyed the team, but hard work to be done and some must buy into CWM's program.

[leo from jersey]

You got it figured our. Assist/TO was a big difference in this game although we capitalized on it in the first half. The real turn around in the game was the no-call/T/FT/ISUball sequence. Miller was right to go ballistic, but he should have kept it on ths sideline. When he's half way out into the court, the ref has no choice but to T him up. But there's more to this loss that remains unspoken - why does Miller hate Vik so much that he'd rather risk losing games than putting him on the floor? Vik was the perfect foil for Avila. IMO had he played Vik considerable minutes, Avila would not have had the line he did. All that said, I want to congratulate the Cats on their 40 minutes of hustle. They played their hearts out and made a game of it all the way to the end. Next year will be interesting.

Did you watch VIK the last time he was in. I am an old crippled up legally blind man, but I would have put up a better effort. VIK hurts the team at this present state of things. Who knows why and who is to blame. It is just a problem.

[leo from jersey]

I've got to agree with this in this case. They actually matched up well on the wings with Skilling/Neuman, they had a decent point guard who could shoot. Wes had one advantage, his vaunted depth. He should have been rotating his three big me in constantly and making Larry Nerd play D on every possession. Instead he doesn't even play Lahkin, who probably is the guy that matched up the best against him.

There is not reason that that guy wasn't in foul trouble if you focused on getting the ball inside and making him stop people.

You have to have a guard who one wants to get it inside and two knows how. Outside of the lobs, there was only one successful pass inside in the first half but a lot of mid range jump shots which didn't go down in the second halh. SL got the ball twice in a row to DS for 2 baskets then he hit a three due to ISU going onto DS. After that, the ISY coach changed his defense and our lead guard didn't break it very well.

[leo from jersey]

Really poor second half defense. We got exposed on some very simple actions, reverting to old habits instead of the scouting report.

The guys don't see the floor and as you say they react and don't think. In a game it is hard to think of all the tendencies especially with an offense you seldom see. Therefore, your wits have to be sharp and think/play in the now. yes, I wished that the guys had learned the scouting report, but we have too many one dimensional players and so they are confused and easily overplay to compensate. Insread of thinking, they over reacted.

[red_n_black_attack]

Is it me or does Miller appear to lose just about all of the games that really matter. I do not think I have ever seen such a hard luck coach; if you believe in that type of thing. This team cannot keep a lead to save its life. Up by nine at about the half-way point in the second half and then the team just falls apart. Simas had three turnovers in the second half. James stopped passing the ball late in the game. Simas and James tried to do too much. Aziz, once again, gave up a big three late that changed the outcome of the game. Man, this team is a tough watch.

What is it about Miller's UC teams that they can NEVER win those games that really matter? It does NOT matter if the team they are playing is good or not (think Oklahoma State AT HOME and WV on the road). If there is something meaningful to play for, so far Miller's UC teams have not won those games. WHY is it that Miller's UC teams CANNOT win those types of games? I guess when it comes down to it, Miller's teams cannot stop anybody when it really needs to. UC gave up 53 points tonight in the 2nd half alone. UC also had at least 8 turnovers as well in the 2nd half.

Okay, this season is over with for UC. I have to admit, UC was a lot better than I thought it would be. UC truly held its own in the BIG 12. By the way, there are only TWO BIG 12 teams left in the Post-Season (Iowa St. and Houston). Maybe the BIG 12 was NOT as strong as people thought. To get back on track, this was a decent year for UC basketball. For Miller, the spotlight is going to be on him big time next season. I believe that UC has some scoring punch, assuming most of the players return. However, Miller has got to do something different with his defense. Miller's defenses CANNOT TAKE TEAMS OUT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO OFFENSIVELY. I hope that Miller understands that next year is a crucial year for his career. If UC is in the same situation next year as the last two (NIT or worse), Miller may begin to hear the war drums beat. Miller has shown that he has some coaching talent. Now let's see if he can take his coaching to another level. Cannot wait for next season. Good luck to coach Miller.

Miller game plans, calls the plays, and the players have to execute the plays. Other than Simas and Landers, Wes hasn't gotten great players of the Portal. No offense to Newmann, but a 100% healthy CJ likely starts at the 2, with DayDay/Jizzle, Skillings, Simas, and a center (likely Vik as that team needs a big man with mobility and passing). I'm excited to add Rayvon to that mix with Jizzle getting a vastly increased role next year. The talent on the team is getting better each year under Wes, and winning those close games is something the team will need to figure out. We have seen that Jizzle can be just as much a go to player as Simas, and hope that Skillings dazzles while not getting careless at times. Having three go to players makes it difficult on the defense. We really only had one go to player this season.

[red_n_black_attack]

I'll tell you what's up with Vik in three letters..... NIL.... No one is going to convince me otherwise.

As in foreign players aren't allowed to get it and the rest of the team is allowed?

[bearcatjd]

Well we had a suiccessful season even though we didn't make the NCAA. We have discovered our superstar guard & with our incoming recruits, should have another great season.
Hopefully we don't lose any of our better playes to NIL.

[Rufus]

The Vik thing is really puzzling. I can't imagine we see him back next year unless there's something up that we just don't know. Anyway best of luck to him going forward.

I'll tell you what's up with Vik in three letters..... NIL.... No one is going to convince me otherwise.

[leeraymond]

Is it me or does Miller appear to lose just about all of the games that really matter. I do not think I have ever seen such a hard luck coach; if you believe in that type of thing. This team cannot keep a lead to save its life. Up by nine at about the half-way point in the second half and then the team just falls apart. Simas had three turnovers in the second half. James stopped passing the ball late in the game. Simas and James tried to do too much. Aziz, once again, gave up a big three late that changed the outcome of the game. Man, this team is a tough watch.

What is it about Miller's UC teams that they can NEVER win those games that really matter? It does NOT matter if the team they are playing is good or not (think Oklahoma State AT HOME and WV on the road). If there is something meaningful to play for, so far Miller's UC teams have not won those games. WHY is it that Miller's UC teams CANNOT win those types of games? I guess when it comes down to it, Miller's teams cannot stop anybody when it really needs to. UC gave up 53 points tonight in the 2nd half alone. UC also had at least 8 turnovers as well in the 2nd half.

Okay, this season is over with for UC. I have to admit, UC was a lot better than I thought it would be. UC truly held its own in the BIG 12. By the way, there are only TWO BIG 12 teams left in the Post-Season (Iowa St. and Houston). Maybe the BIG 12 was NOT as strong as people thought. To get back on track, this was a decent year for UC basketball. For Miller, the spotlight is going to be on him big time next season. I believe that UC has some scoring punch, assuming most of the players return. However, Miller has got to do something different with his defense. Miller's defenses CANNOT TAKE TEAMS OUT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO OFFENSIVELY. I hope that Miller understands that next year is a crucial year for his career. If UC is in the same situation next year as the last two (NIT or worse), Miller may begin to hear the war drums beat. Miller has shown that he has some coaching talent. Now let's see if he can take his coaching to another level. Cannot wait for next season. Good luck to coach Miller.

[sedz]

We scored 1.14 points per possession, so a solid offensive performance. 58% effective field goals is about as good as we can hope for with this team. We only got to the rim 17 times, which was disappointing, but we made up for that by making 10 threes and over 50% from midrange. We weren't able to rebound like we are used to though, pulling down only 27% of our misses.

The defense was a disaster in the second half, as we surrendered 53 points over the final 20 minutes. After a poor shooting first half, Indiana St ended up scoring 1.20 points per possession on 56% effective field goals for the game. They got to the rim 10 more times than we did and knocked down 13 threes while attempting only one midrange shot all game. Incredible discipline for them to continue turning down bad shots despite trailing most of the game. The best players were as advertized. Avila scored 18 from the field on 15 shots and added 4 free throws, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals to lead all players with 6.6 net points. Kent scored 16 on a perfect 5 for 5 from the field and 4 for 4 at the stripe and added 7 boards.

Our best player was Simas, who overcame 3 turnovers to post 3.9 net points by scoring an efficient 22 points from the field on 17 shots. Newman and Jamille were the only other players with positive net points, as they combined for 14 points without missing a shot. Jizzle was our worst player statistically with negative 4.5 net points. He scored 20 from the field but needed 23 shots to do it. Jizzle took an insane 14 midrange shots and made them at a solid 50% clip, but even that was a bad shot for us since we were converting 8% higher as a team. Add in 0 for 4 from deep, only one free throw, and 3 turnovers and you end up with a negative impact. Skillings had the worst defensive box plus minus - he had trouble with screens and got burned by back door cuts. Dan also had 4 turnovers, but he did pull down 12 boards.

On to the offseason.

[WestCoastAlum]

I agree with this. I know it is the end of the season and he is no long a freshmen but his minutes tell a different story. We lost this game because of bad officiating but also because we had a 11 assists to 13 turnovers. Before anyone starts James had 5 assists to 3 TO. Not great but also not awful especially for someone who played almost all of the game. I knew on some of his shots he was going to miss because he was hustling all over the place and had to be tired from sprinting up and down the court. Indiana State had 18 assists to 8 TO's and that is what I feel one the game for them. The no look pass from that one guy running down the court was just fantastic. They were a very skilled team.

I'm going to miss Newman and still have no idea what has happened to Vik.

You got it figured our. Assist/TO was a big difference in this game although we capitalized on it in the first half. The real turn around in the game was the no-call/T/FT/ISUball sequence. Miller was right to go ballistic, but he should have kept it on ths sideline. When he's half way out into the court, the ref has no choice but to T him up. But there's more to this loss that remains unspoken - why does Miller hate Vik so much that he'd rather risk losing games than putting him on the floor? Vik was the perfect foil for Avila. IMO had he played Vik considerable minutes, Avila would not have had the line he did. All that said, I want to congratulate the Cats on their 40 minutes of hustle. They played their hearts out and made a game of it all the way to the end. Next year will be interesting.

[longtimefan]

I've got to agree with this in this case. They actually matched up well on the wings with Skilling/Neuman, they had a decent point guard who could shoot. Wes had one advantage, his vaunted depth. He should have been rotating his three big me in constantly and making Larry Nerd play D on every possession. Instead he doesn't even play Lahkin, who probably is the guy that matched up the best against him.

There is not reason that that guy wasn't in foul trouble if you focused on getting the ball inside and making him stop people.

One reason he wasn’t in foul trouble is our bigs only score on lobs. I just have to wonder what was going on with Vik.