Hoops Team Quit

[TheGreenhouseEffect]

Last night when UT started making the late game run, our team flat out quit. I saw some good things but it appears they don't believe in themselves and really don't know how to win, because that game was THEIRS. They quit hustling and quit taking the offense TO UT. They seemed hesitant.

All that said I love the UNIs. Love the warm ups too with the state on the front, and the state on the back top of the jerseys.

I actually like DAntoni as a coach, he's probably the best fit we've had in the last 4 circus carousel of coaches hired. Still he's got to get the best out of this team.

 

[pintcan]

6 points behind wth a minute and a haf left without Kelly on the road v SEC with their refs aint horrible at all. We'll get better.

 

[SHAMMOND16]

Don't like the result, but with so many guys playing their first game in 2 years and/or getting their first look at D1 basketball, I like that we competed the way we did.

Still don't like that game being our first. Should have scheduled an easy home game for some of these guys to knock off the rust before going to Tennessee. But I think it's going to be fun to watch this team grow. I think we'll look a lot different when Elmore becomes available.

 

[flairforherd]

Still don't like that game being our first. Should have scheduled an easy home game for some of these guys to knock off the rust before going to Tennessee.

Isn't that what the two pre-season games were supposed to be for?

 

[lexkyherdfan]

Isn't that what the two pre-season games were supposed to be for?

There is a reason UK played two creampuffs last Friday and Saturday before the Duke game on Tuesday.

I am unsure why we started so late. Going into last night, we were one of two teams that had not played a game until last night. I am sure there was a valid reason why we didn't schedule one last week when the rest of the nation started but I don't know what it is.

I enjoyed watching this team except for the long stretch when we couldn't score. I think we will do fine this year and be even better when Elmore gets here. We need more production from the bench. I am looking forward to heading over to Morehead on Tuesday to watch The Herd in person.

 

[SHAMMOND16]

Isn't that what the two pre-season games were supposed to be for?

Yes, but Kelly was out for the last preseason game & our starting PG (Browning) was suspended for both preseason games.

 

[pintcan]

If Paneva and Thompson come around we will be good but Kelly and Taylor cant do it all. That iron five stuff doesn't work today. We were tired late in the game. Elmore will allow a good rotation to keep t guards fresh. We don't have that down low right now.

 

[herdpm]

They didn't quit, you could see fatigue written all over them by the middle of the second half.

 

[CockyHerd]

They didn't quit, they were exhausted.......When he had to rest Edmonds, Kelly, Taylor, Browning (The guys who got them the 16 point lead).....The subs Nikolic, Paneva, etc just aren't ready to compete at that level. He probably left the starters out too long during the Tennessee run or left them in too long......Those guys were running on fumes. Elmore will provide some much needed depth but the bench is going to have to step up.

 

[jeremycriss]

Both teams seemed to be going through the motions like it was a scrimmage or something. Having said that, it's hard to beat anyone when your outshot 28-4 from the free throw line in the second half.

 

[CockyHerd]

Both teams seemed to be going through the motions like it was a scrimmage or something. Having said that, it's hard to beat anyone when your outshot 28-4 from the free throw line in the second half.

True......But they attacked the basket and many of our guys settled for 3's.

Right now, our second group isn't ready to play......Not counting Edmonds (Who's one of our top 5) no one on the bench played more than 8 minutes or even scored (Frampton had 2 pts). They contributed 2 pts and 3 rebs. During the run, our second group got killed on the boards.

I'm actually shocked after reading the article about how they wish they could have redshirted Nikolic last year, that we are not redshirting Paneva......With a year to adjust and get in the weight room, I think he could be a player.

 

[jeremycriss]

As much as Nikolic was talked up in the preseason and as much as he played last year, I thought he'd get a lot more minutes last night. He averaged 26 min/game last year as a true freshman, last night he played 8.

 

[CockyHerd]

As much as Nikolic was talked up in the preseason and as much as he played last year, I thought he'd get a lot more minutes last night. He averaged 26 min/game last year as a true freshman, last night he played 8.

I've said all along, he has two major down-sides......Can't shoot and no quickness.

Once a player reaches college with the shooting technique he has, you just aren't going to turn him into a good to great shooter. And you can't teach quickness.

 

[Tim Hensley]

Interesting observations. Were any of you actually at the game?

 

[herdfan429]

I've said all along, he has two major down-sides......Can't shoot and no quickness.

Once a player reaches college with the shooting technique he has, you just aren't going to turn him into a good to great shooter. And you can't teach quickness.

You absolutely can work on quickness and get quicker

 

[pintcan]

Alex just not the player yet tat is Loop, Browning, Edmonds or Elmore

 

[bbneutralfan]

Why are we recruiting these kids from Serbia? Those videos that are posted on the internet show these kids playing great - in Serbia! The college game in the U.S. is a totally different game from what they have learned to play. We dont have a "name" player on the team EXCEPT for Kelly (Miami) who was recruited by anyone major. Correct me if I am wrong. VMI does not count!

 

[CockyHerd]

You absolutely can work on quickness and get quicker

Quicker......But he'll never be quick. Everybody with proper training can get faster/quicker but unfortunately everyone has a ceiling and it looks like he's reached his. The biggest issue with Nikolic is his inability to shoot the ball, from almost any range.

I really believe Dan was rolling the dice with some of these foreign guys, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

 

[Trebel06]

Why are we recruiting these kids from Serbia? Those videos that are posted on the internet show these kids playing great - in Serbia! The college game in the U.S. is a totally different game from what they have learned to play. We dont have a "name" player on the team EXCEPT for Kelly (Miami) who was recruited by anyone major. Correct me if I am wrong. VMI does not count!

Ryan Taylor was committed to Louisville before coming here.. Although, Dantoni did not recruit him.

 

[CockyHerd]

Why are we recruiting these kids from Serbia? Those videos that are posted on the internet show these kids playing great - in Serbia! The college game in the U.S. is a totally different game from what they have learned to play. We dont have a "name" player on the team EXCEPT for Kelly (Miami) who was recruited by anyone major. Correct me if I am wrong. VMI does not count!

Taylor would probably start for every other CUSA Team.....He's a player. Other than that.......Edmonds before the first knee injury but of course that's why he's at Marshall.

 

[TheGreenhouseEffect]

If its fatigue , that's depth, but still on Dantoni. They should be in shape to play D1 hoops. If they aren't in shape someone needs to consult Doc. Notice his teams aren't sucking air.

I know it's early season.

They will improve. I saw lots of good things.

Still that game was theirs.

 

[oldeherd]

Quicker......But he'll never be quick. Everybody with proper training can get faster/quicker but unfortunately everyone has a ceiling and it looks like he's reached his. The biggest issue with Nikolic is his inability to shoot the ball, from almost any range.

I really believe Dan was rolling the dice with some of these foreign guys, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

Remember last year, everyone said when Nikolic gets in the weight room, gets stronger and in better condition, that along with fact that he is really 6'7" will make him impossible for other guards to handle. Well, as stated on here, the quickness of the American game is the biggest problem for these Serbian players. That plus fact that Nikolic's shooting mechanics are "terribull" (Sorry, Sir Charles). He SHOT PUTS the ball. I would have thought Danny would have had Duhon work with Nikolic in the off season on his shooting. In another year, I look for Danny to quietly terminate this grand Eastern European recruiting scheme unless one or so of these players suddenly has the light switch turn on and has a breakout season.

 

[SHAMMOND16]

Why are we recruiting these kids from Serbia? Those videos that are posted on the internet show these kids playing great - in Serbia! The college game in the U.S. is a totally different game from what they have learned to play. We dont have a "name" player on the team EXCEPT for Kelly (Miami) who was recruited by anyone major. Correct me if I am wrong. VMI does not count!

They have a lot of potential. Potential doesn't always pan out, but the potential is there. Kids in the US who are 6'9 usually don't have PG skills (if they do, they're not coming to Marshall)...a lot of 6'9 kids in Europe do. If you look at US basketball, we're going to more of a European style of play. Not too many 6'9+ big men out there anymore who ONLY play inside of 8ft and with their back to the basket. Our system is more extreme than most and requires our big men to be able to handle, pass, & shoot the basketball. Positionless basketball is what it is.

We went into Tennessee and played with them...and probably should have won. I don't think the issue was talent. Our lack of quality depth wore on us when we made out 13-0 run, IMO. I don't think our guys looked like they didn't belong on the court with Tennessee. I'm not sure what a kid's offer list has to do with anything. Stevie Browning started at PG on the road against Tennessee (without any preseason games) scored 18 points with 5 assists, 6 rebounds, & only 1 turnover. If some bigger schools offered him, would he have had a triple-double?

 

[SHAMMOND16]

In Dan's preseason press conference, he talked about Nikolic's future being a 4. I think he's currently in that PG-PF transition because he doesn't possess the set shooting ability to spread defenses at the 2/3 positions.

He's going to be a point-forward. He's made some improvements from last season. I think he's struggling to find his niche in the midst of the transition.

 

[A Cousin From Richmond]

If its fatigue , that's depth, but still on Dantoni.

I think Dantoni should call Phil Jackson or Mike Krzyzewski and add them to his staff. I bet the team wouldn't quit then.

 

[ohio herd]

OMG we went on the road and almost beat Tenn. We led much of the game. Elmore is still waiting to play. He would have added quite a bit. Browning played really good. Taylor and Kelly together going to do some damage this year. This team not ready to win the title but will be much better than the past couple of years. Mark it down

 

[CockyHerd]

They have a lot of potential. Potential doesn't always pan out, but the potential is there. Kids in the US who are 6'9 usually don't have PG skills (if they do, they're not coming to Marshall)...a lot of 6'9 kids in Europe do. If you look at US basketball, we're going to more of a European style of play. Not too many 6'9+ big men out there anymore who ONLY play inside of 8ft and with their back to the basket. Our system is more extreme than most and requires our big men to be able to handle, pass, & shoot the basketball. Positionless basketball is what it is.

We went into Tennessee and played with them...and probably should have won. I don't think the issue was talent. Our lack of quality depth wore on us when we made out 13-0 run, IMO. I don't think our guys looked like they didn't belong on the court with Tennessee. I'm not sure what a kid's offer list has to do with anything. Stevie Browning started at PG on the road against Tennessee (without any preseason games) scored 18 points with 5 assists, 6 rebounds, & only 1 turnover. If some bigger schools offered him, would he have had a triple-double?

I thought our top 5 played great.......Our bench was terrible. Elmore will certainly help but 2 more are going to have to step up.......Preferably a big.

Morehead will be a great test.....They handled us in Huntington last year.

 

[herdit44]

I thought our top 5 played great.......Our bench was terrible. Elmore will certainly help but 2 more are going to have to step up.......Preferably a big.

Morehead will be a great test.....They handled us in Huntington last year.

the 7 that played outside the starting 5 last night, 5 of them were appearing in their first college game.

and i wouldn't say morehead "handled" us last year. sure they beat us, but we had it down to 7 with 3:56 go, kept them from scoring for over 2 minutes, problem was we couldn't score either.

 

[SHAMMOND16]

I thought our top 5 played great.......Our bench was terrible. Elmore will certainly help but 2 more are going to have to step up.......Preferably a big.

Morehead will be a great test.....They handled us in Huntington last year.

I agree 100%.

I think Penava, Dozic, & Thompson have potential to help us this year down the road. They'll get better. Kambola didn't start to really provide anything last year until we got into conference play. When we get Elmore , he'll be starting and that will add Nikolic to our bench. I don't think our bench is ever going to be good this year, but I think by time conference play rolls around some of those guys will be able to contribute a little.

 

[CockyHerd]

Elmore will really help Edmonds.......He had a great 1st half but played too many minutes. He was 0-5 with 3 turnovers in the 2nd half......The kid is playing on one leg. He has a huge heart but 31 minutes this early in the season is too much.

 

[joeyb184]

Both teams seemed to be going through the motions like it was a scrimmage or something. Having said that, it's hard to beat anyone when your outshot 28-4 from the free throw line in the second half.

I kept saying this last night.

 

[TheGreenhouseEffect]

I went and watched the Morehead debacle last year, they get up for Marshall. Still it's a local rivalry I think we should always play.

I agree it's a great test to see if there's been any improvement over last season.....which clearly there is, still that game was ours.


When our freshman QB, and a ton of subs playing go on the road at Kent and wins it becuase they want it that bad....

 

[Herdmeister]

Interesting observations. Were any of you actually at the game?

I was at the game and I certainly didn't see any quit in them. With 4 seconds remaining we were still contesting their inbounds pass.
They left it all on the floor. The biggest thing I saw was the flow of the game was changed considerably in the 2nd half when the refs got whistle happy. We are NOT a half court team. We need to get out and run. FT shooting will stop that.