Big XII tourney ‘25

[sedz]

Perhaps someone who is statistically minded could manage this: If you projected a reasonable free throw shooting percentage for a team and applied that to our losses I wonder how many additional games we might have won just by hitting free throws. Wes' teams have been notriously bad.That is just a matter of practice,practice practice.Clearly our guys don't have that kind of dedication.

I've mentioned this a few times, but the problem is our good free throw shooters don't get to the line. We don't attack the rim with our guards, so only the bigs shoot free throws. Jizzle, Day Day, and Simas all shoot 75-80%. But they have only attempted 156 free throws combined for the season. Compare that to Alabama, whose PG has been to the line 211 times by himself. Alabama has big guys who shoot 50-60%, but they don't go to the line nearly as much as their good shooters. It's a scheme problem.

Of course there are some big guys who are good shooters, but they have generally always been that way. They didn't become good shooters because their college coach made them practice. Aziz and Mitchell have always been poor FT shooters. We knew what we were getting. And yet we still chose to implement a scheme that doesn't put our guards on the line.

Our FT rate is #358 in the country. That's the 7th lowest rate in the entire country. That's the question that needs answered. But Wes doesn't have an answer. His teams have always had very low FT rates, even at UNCG.

[longtimefan]

Perhaps someone who is statistically minded could manage this: If you projected a reasonable free throw shooting percentage for a team and applied that to our losses I wonder how many additional games we might have won just by hitting free throws. Wes' teams have been notriously bad.That is just a matter of practice,practice practice.Clearly our guys don't have that kind of dedication.

Poor FT shooting is nothing new at UC, we’ve been below average for a long time across multiple coaches.

[bearcatlifer]

Perhaps someone who is statistically minded could manage this: If you projected a reasonable free throw shooting percentage for a team and applied that to our losses I wonder how many additional games we might have won just by hitting free throws. Wes' teams have been notriously bad.That is just a matter of practice,practice practice.Clearly our guys don't have that kind of dedication.

[bearcatlifer]

If the Crown Tourney is a payday for the university and some of these guys wont play then I
would recommend withholding any further NIL money that hasn't been paid. In fact I would sue them for breach of contract. Someone somewhere needs to take a stand in this circus.

[bearcatbret]

If I recall correctly, Lahkin was injured in each of his seasons at UC. He just seemed injury prone.
On a different note, Bearcats bow out of Big 12 Tournament with 76-56 loss to Iowa State; the 'Crown' next?

[Gmann]

The Cyclones are trying to beat BYU without Keshawn Gilbert & Tamin Lipsey, the latter who appeared to pull a groin muscle yesterday.

At the half, ISU lead BYU, 53-49, after trailing early by 10. From the Under 12:00 to the Under 4:00, Curtis Jones went wild for 22 points (6 treys).

Final: BYU 96-92. Saunders 23. The Cyclones really need Gilbert and Lipsey, if they're going to advance in The Dance. Jones ended with 31 for ISU.

It's a pleasure watching 2 talented, well-coached teams, like these 2 go at it like they did today. They run offense, play together, and most of all make good decisions. Both teams were hot offensively and played to their strengths. The intenisty was there all game. They don't have the lapses in effort and intelligence we do and they make their FT's. ISU was at a disadvantage with a couple of players out but both of these teams are playing well and peaking at the right time. I watch them and it's so apparent to me that under Miller we are light years behind them from a program standpoint. I know we beat BYU at home this year and there last year but they changed coaches and are even better as a program than they were. I wish I felt better about our situation but I just don't trust Miller to make the right changes and lead the program forward.

[swilsonsp4]

The Cyclones are trying to beat BYU without Keshawn Gilbert & Tamin Lipsey, the latter who appeared to pull a groin muscle yesterday.

At the half, ISU lead BYU, 53-49, after trailing early by 10. From the Under 12:00 to the Under 4:00, Curtis Jones went wild for 22 points (6 treys).

Final: BYU 96-92. Saunders 23. The Cyclones really need Gilbert and Lipsey, if they're going to advance in The Dance. Jones ended with 31 for ISU.

[sedz]

We don't have a wing oriented team. We play a very traditional lineup with small guards and a true center. And we run the offense through those guys. We could play a wing oriented team if we wanted to though. The coach chooses not to.

[leeraymond]

We were competitive in the middle 30 minutes. But Iowa St went on a 10-0 run in the opening 5 minutes and then an 11-0 run in the final 4 minutes. That was more than the final margin.

Nobody was good in this game, but Jizzle was our best player believe it or not. He posted a measly 0.5 net points. He filled up the stat sheet with three triples, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, a block, and steal. But he took 20 shots and his usage was over 40%. Simas was the only other player with positive net points (barely) because he went 2 of 5 from three and made the two technical free throws.

Mitchell was our worst player with negative 3.8 net points. We barely used him at all in our offense and he went just 1 of 3 from the field. We also left him stranded in the post against bigger players because we still insist on playing two small guards and Simas. Everyone else had slightly negative net points.

It's easy to defend big post players with a lineup of all athletic wings if you double and switch. But you have to play an ALL WING LINEUP. Jizzle, Day Day, and Simas is not that. And it also lets you get to the rim more. Not with back to the basket post play but with slashing. We only scored 12 points at the rim today because we play small or unathletic guys who can't finish there.

We got outplayed at very position - guards, wings, and bigs. It's going to take a lot more than extra weight to fix that.

I agree with you on everything except wings being able to defend big post players. When Iowa State plays a front line of 274, 240, and 260, there is really not much that wings who weigh 210, 220, and 225 can do. It does not matter how athletic the wings are. If the wings double team and switch, the bigs will just find the open man for a wide open three. Now I believe that four wings and a big man, with some good size, can play against a team with big post players. I believe that if UC had a post player with good scoring capabilities and rebounding this year, that would have made a difference. No disrespect to Aziz, however when Aziz is on the floor, most of the time it is like playing 4 on 5 on offense.

Miller has tried to play the 4 out and 1 in system now for the better part of the last three years. It started with Davenport playing the 4, then late last year Miller moved Skillings into the 4 role. This year, Miller brought in Mitchell. Miller's best team, his second team, was made better when he put Oguama into the starting lineup and brought Davenport in off of the bench.

The wing-oriented lineup can work. We all have seen teams that play with 4 wings/guards. Those teams are usually very good scoring teams, some are good defensively, they get to the free-throw line, they take good care of the ball, and they typically have decent coaching.

Miller is a coach that struggles to get conference wins. His wing-oriented teams just have not performed well in conference play. His best team played with two bigs (Lakhin and Oguama). Whatever happens next year at UC is going to be a turning point in the trajectory of Miller's career. Who Miller brings in next season and what players he can convince to stay is going to tell us a lot about what types of players, he thinks, will give him his best chance to win in the BIG XII. Also, what he decides to do and how he wants to play will also tell us a lot. Good luck to him.

[leeraymond]

It has really bothered me watching Lahkin blossom at Clemson. I mean, I'm happy for Victor. Just disappointed that it didn't happen here.

Yeah. I know what you mean. That extra 11 or 12 points a game with the 6 or 7 rebounds could have come in handy for UC this season. Also, more importantly, Clemson has won the most conference games in the school's history with Lakhin in the starting lineup (18-2). Also, Clemson WILL BE in the NCAA Tournament. UC will not be. Lastly, the NBA is going to give Lakhin a good long look. You know that he is shooting .425 from the three-point line in conference play. He has converted himself into a stretch 5. Good for Lakhin. I am happy for that guy.

"The things you think are useless, I can't understand". These lyrics from an old Steely Dan tune sums up how Miller treated Lakhin last year. Look who is laughing now?

Who laughs last, laughs best. It looks like Lakhin is now laughing his a@#%$ off at UC's and Miller's situation. Laugh on brother.

[CliffClimber]

Bearcats points scored from 1on 1 scenarios explains everything you need to know relayed to player mentality.

[leo from jersey]

We need an inside game on offense and to guard inside on defense. That's all that is simple. There are many paths to get there. Strong, bulky guys is one of them. But I don't want to sacrifice skill and quickness to get it. No more Reynolds or Vogt. Herb Jones or Pete Mickeal or Kenyon Martin or Justin Jackson or Tari Eason would be great in this league despite their lack of bulk. Or you can do it with scheme, as every good team that plays 4 guards or 4 wings has done.

They must have the heart to play inside and the skill to do so. I don't see these paid employees (coaches) as able to teach or motivate such play. I believe the play we have witnessed over the last few seasons has confirmed this. Talk, speculation and dreaming won't get it done on the court.

[sedz]

when you look like the middle school team playing the high school varsity, you need to get bigger. you get bigger, you maybe have an inside game on offense, and maybe you can also guard inside on defense. maybe an inside game opens up the mid range offense, etc. its really pretty simple.

We need an inside game on offense and to guard inside on defense. That's all that is simple. There are many paths to get there. Strong, bulky guys is one of them. But I don't want to sacrifice skill and quickness to get it. No more Reynolds or Vogt. Herb Jones or Pete Mickeal or Kenyon Martin or Justin Jackson or Tari Eason would be great in this league despite their lack of bulk. Or you can do it with scheme, as every good team that plays 4 guards or 4 wings has done.

[Rufus]

Didnt watch the game, didn't want to watch because I knew the outcome was going be exactly what we've seen all year long. I know it is mandated for UC to participate in the Crown tourney because of their record in the B12 but I sincerely doubt they will have players available to play. I expect many to bail out and portal. And you know what it would not upset me. Something drastic has to occur in order for people to realize that this once great program is an embarrassment right now. Even the sports talking heads and game announcers can't believe the product Miller is putting on the floor .

[D.A.H.]

We were competitive in the middle 30 minutes. But Iowa St went on a 10-0 run in the opening 5 minutes and then an 11-0 run in the final 4 minutes. That was more than the final margin.

Nobody was good in this game, but Jizzle was our best player believe it or not. He posted a measly 0.5 net points. He filled up the stat sheet with three triples, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, a block, and steal. But he took 20 shots and his usage was over 40%. Simas was the only other player with positive net points (barely) because he went 2 of 5 from three and made the two technical free throws.

Mitchell was our worst player with negative 3.8 net points. We barely used him at all in our offense and he went just 1 of 3 from the field. We also left him stranded in the post against bigger players because we still insist on playing two small guards and Simas. Everyone else had slightly negative net points.

It's easy to defend big post players with a lineup of all athletic wings if you double and switch. But you have to play an ALL WING LINEUP. Jizzle, Day Day, and Simas is not that. And it also lets you get to the rim more. Not with back to the basket post play but with slashing. We only scored 12 points at the rim today because we play small or unathletic guys who can't finish there.

We got outplayed at very position - guards, wings, and bigs. It's going to take a lot more than extra weight to fix that.

when you look like the middle school team playing the high school varsity, you need to get bigger. you get bigger, you maybe have an inside game on offense, and maybe you can also guard inside on defemse. maybe an inside game opens up the mid range offense, etc. its really pretty simple.