Central Florida 1/11 5:00 ESPN2

[zykarious]

last 530

dumb 3 by baba
day day misses wide open 3

so I started this thinking there'd be a long list of stupid stuff we did, wasn't a lot to add

I know the season is probably lost, but im stayin with them

We played the last 5 minutes well, though would have liked to get up a shot quicker at the end (and hope for a rebound on the miss). Celestine's shot was about as close to going in as you can get.

Day Day missing that wide open 3 (and 2 FT's early on), UCF banking in a contested 3 and couldn't miss on mid-range shots that are normally a bad shot. This game felt like luck was just not with us, rather than on poor coaching or poor play. Unfortunately, we aren't in a place where we can afford losses, bad luck or not.

Actually though, Wes playing Abaev those minutes in the first half was basically coaching negligence and if you want to point to how coaching lost us the game, it was playing Abaev. Abaev had to have been at least -10 +/- (looked it up, he was -10) in the short time he was on the floor. Abaev -10, no other player on the team was worse than -2, most of the guys were positive in +/-.

The season (and Wes's time here) is over barring a miracle, but I can still enjoy watching UC basketball. Would be nice to watch a win now and then though.

[Bearcat1996]

No defensive cohesion in crunch time. I was listening to Dan and Terry part of the game, and Terry doesn't believe they talk on defense. This is hard to watch, night in and night out.

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

You got to give UC credit for playing a good game tonight. One of the few times all season where the guards consistently got the ball to Baba and Thiam. Where has this been all season? Tonight, UC probably played as well as it possibly can play. UCF was a tad more tough in the paint tonight on offense. Man! I hate that UC lost this game.

It will probably be a tough plane ride home.

[leo from jersey]

You got to give UC credit for playing a good game tonight. One of the few times all season where the guards consistently got the ball to Baba and Thiam. Where has this been all season? Tonight, UC probably played as well as it possibly can play. UCF was a tad more tough in the paint tonight on offense. Man! I hate that UC lost this game.

It will probably be a tough plane ride home.

The problem I saw was that even with UCF big guy out they didn't go enough inside. Three of 19 from three. I don't know Chuck. I don't know -- only a one point game. AT least Abaev rode the pines at the end.The Cats had a shot.

[Bearcat9796]

idk if it's frowned upon to talk about gambling here, if so, I wont again, but some games ill put a dollar on the exact score of our game...today...UC 75 UCF 73....would've paid me $250...dbl ouch

[bearcatjd]

Well the team played hard. But the final play was disaster. I was there
and they didn’t have a good play to get the ball to the right players. To me that’s coaching.

[Gmann]

I don't have a problem with the way they played tonight overall. At this point the monkey on their back has become a gorilla.The game could have went either way. It's probably was one of the better games Miller has coached here. However since he and this team has floundered up to this point and the season is lost.

Dawkins has an entire new team this year and he's got them in the top 25. Good coaches can do it even in this crazy environment. Miller can't.

[sedz]

We did it! We scored a point per possession! 72 points in 67 possessions! In all seriousness, this is the output we need all the time. But both teams were running trash offense. The midrange shots were just falling today as both teams made over 50%. We were 14 of 27 from midrange, UCF was 11 of 21. 48 midrange shots in one 40 minute game. Like opening a time capsule.

Thiam was our best player, showing out against his former team with 6 net points. 21 points from the field on 15 shots plus 3 for 3 at the line and no fouls or turnovers. Baba Miller was second best with 4.5 net points, leading in DBPM and contributing 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks with just one turnover. Harris had the third best game, leading with 6 assists and 3 steals with no turnovers.

Jizzle was our worst player with negative 4.6 net points. An ok 14 points on 14 shots but no free throws, just 2 assists, 3 turnovers, and a negative DBPM. Celestine was second worst, scoring 5 points on 7 shots with only 2 rebounds in 27 minutes. Abaev was our worst player in his time on the court, putting up a negative 16 BPM in 6 minutes. 2 points on 3 shots with no other stats other than a foul and a team worst negative 4.7 DBPM.

[BearKatz]

So I missed the entire game today. Two questions?

#1) Did Miller get out coached in the 2nd Half?
#2) Did the team collapse with 3-4mins remaining?

[bearcatbret]

UCF had players that were just making unbelievable shots, call them lucky but it seemed like every off balanced, desperation shot fell for them today. UC went through some scoring droughts when they strayed from the offense. But their last few minutes of scoring was not a problem. It was their last few minutes of a lack of a needed stop. They had the chance to win with a last second shot that just did not fall.

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

I was thinking that if Harris was not so wild with the ball, he should be given more of the lead guard duties because he can get the ball into the paint continuously. Getting the ball inside tonight by UC really gave UCF some problems. Where has this inside play been all season? UC normally shoots about 24 threes a game. Tonight, it only shot 19 threes. Could UC have played this way all season? In the WV game, 56% of all of UC's shots were from three. Tonight, only 28% of its shots came from three.

What changed UC's approach to offense tonight?

[London 'Cat]

So I missed the entire game today. Two questions?

#1) Did Miller get out coached in the 2nd Half?
#2) Did the team collapse with 3-4mins remaining?

In my opinion, neither happened. Seemed like UC had some shortcomings on defense that was the difference. UCF scored more efficiently in the second half but the game was very close throughout.

[sedz]

I was thinking that if Harris was not so wild with the ball, he should be given more of the lead guard duties because he can get the ball into the paint continuously. Getting the ball inside tonight by UC really gave UCF some problems. Where has this inside play been all season? UC normally shoots about 24 threes a game. Tonight, it only shot 19 threes. Could UC have played this way all season? In the WV game, 56% of all of UC's shots were from three. Tonight, only 28% of its shots came from three.

What changed UC's approach to offense tonight?

The main change is we played a bad defense. UCF is outside the top 100 in defensive efficiency. Their zone is porous. The other significant change is they let us score in transition a lot. They had 9 live ball turnovers and were beat down the floor off defensive boards several times. Other than that, Thiam was hitting from midrange so we kept feeding him.

[leo from jersey]

I was thinking that if Harris was not so wild with the ball, he should be given more of the lead guard duties because he can get the ball into the paint continuously. Getting the ball inside tonight by UC really gave UCF some problems. Where has this inside play been all season? UC normally shoots about 24 threes a game. Tonight, it only shot 19 threes. Could UC have played this way all season? In the WV game, 56% of all of UC's shots were from three. Tonight, only 28% of its shots came from three.

What changed UC's approach to offense tonight?

Thaim called for and then demanded the ball. He has not done that. Perhaps it was because of being at UCF. If he will continue, this team can put up wins.

[John P]

Actually though, Wes playing Abaev those minutes in the first half was basically coaching negligence and if you want to point to how coaching lost us the game, it was playing Abaev. Abaev had to have been at least -10 +/- (looked it up, he was -10) in the short time he was on the floor. Abaev -10, no other player on the team was worse than -2, most of the guys were positive in +/-.

The season (and Wes's time here) is over barring a miracle, but I can still enjoy watching UC basketball. Would be nice to watch a win now and then though.

Every time I see Abaev get on the floor, I question if this is Miller's decision or is he being directed to play him. I'm not against Abaev, I just don't see where he has earned much playing time especially in a close game such as this game. NIL and its supporters make me question a lot of things these days.