Comments on: Thoughts on MSU Loss

By: Trips Right

Trips Right — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:59:47 +0000

Texas didn’t lose this game because Summers hit a 3. Texas lost the game because we had one field goal in the last 5 minutes and have no counter off of Abram’s over plays other than an Atchley float and pop. At least not counters we feel confident using the last 5 minutes of a game, apparently.

By: Bob in Houston

Bob in Houston — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:44:27 +0000

“I showed her how to guard the best player on the other team you don’t follow them thru all the screens and picks if you know where they are going- you just beat them to the spot and deny the pass.”

Except that Michigan State did follow Abrams all over the floor.

“Then to compound the error while on defense they left a shooter open on the wing while his man stood flat footed in the lane with the game on the line.”

Summers was on the other side of the midcourt line when the play started because he broke back to be an emergency outlet. When the ball was inbounded to Morgan, James cheated into the lane when Morgan started to drive on Johnson, which happened before Summers had arrived at his 3-point spot. Maybe James shouldn’t have cheated, but Morgan almost certainly would have tried to get to the hoop if James had stayed outside the lane.

By: Aggie Lurking

Aggie Lurking — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:52:33 +0000

I have a daughter playing 3rd grade hoops and I broke down the end of the game for her showing all of the simple mistakes that y’all made. I showed her how to guard the best player on the other team you don’t follow them thru all the screens and picks if you know where they are going- you just beat them to the spot and deny the pass.

Abrams was blanketed at the end and your team fell apart offensively. Then to compound the error while on defense they left a shooter open on the wing while his man stood flat footed in the lane with the game on the line.

I can’t believe these errors were Rick’s fault.I kinda think the message got lost in delivery to the team.

Jai was there.Which team he was looking at is anyone’s guess but you guys need him worse than us. Without better clutch time PG play the Big XII road games are gonna be tough.

By: dick

dick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:29:26 +0000

Jai was sitting front row with his parents. Unless that was JL3, I was across the court so not positive. How would we have room for Lucas?

This game was booorring as hell, even the aggy/lsu game was more exciting. Neither team could set something up and execute it regularly. The return of Suton makes a big difference for MSU.

By: Art Vandelay

Art Vandelay — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:10:39 +0000

Kafka,

I appreciate the optimism…. but everyone is good coach with top 10 depth and a killer floor general. Barnes got out coached by Izzo. MSU was working their offense to generate points in the point, dunking on in-bounds plays and executing down the stretch. Our guys…. not so much.

By: Trips Right

Trips Right — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:43:11 +0000

A little bird told me we were recruiting Jai Lucas, the transfer from Florida. He’s a true point guard.

But yes, Avery Bradley is a high basketball IQ guy that can create offense for himself and teammates. People with an eye for this sort of thing think he’s a better player than Hamilton.

By: The General

The General — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:32:20 +0000

“Is Bradley a true point type? ”

No he is not, but he should be able to create his own offense at the end of games and end of possessions, something we don’t have now.

Those of y’all that are down on Damian must have a supply of 6′7″ guys that can jump out of the gym with a reliable jump shot and ability to rebound with the big guys stored up some where that I don’t know about. They don’t seem all that common to me.

By: Bob in Houston

Bob in Houston — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:06:00 +0000

“I thought the horns did a lot better than I would have expected with Abrams only getting 8 points.”

I agree there, Kafka. They lose to both Texas State and Texas Southern if Abrams and Pittman combine for 14 (instead of 47 and 46).

But now I really wonder what’s going to happen against Wisconsin: who’s going to score, who they will look to in a tough spot.

I’m glad they’re getting back on the floor right away.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:14:48 +0000

Trips,

Is Bradley a true point type? I hope so, because no matter how much talent they have next year, there seems to be a hole at point unless AB can do it.

And Barnes teams without a true point tend to be ugly to watch on the offensive end.

By: Kafka

Kafka — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:41:21 +0000

I’m less down on the horns and Barnes than most. I expected this team to have offensive problems this season because:
* at PG we have a converted small forward who had very little experience at PG (Mason)
* at SF we had a guy who had been playing power forward the last two years who is not yet good at handling the ball (Damion)
* we have no go to guy (Abrams and Connor are catch and shoot guys)
* because of the lack of 1 on 1 players and creative point guard, the horns needed a coach who is excellent at constructing a structured offense. Barnes is not that guy.

The horns had a real out of kilter offense coming into this game and Izzo simply took away our number 1 weapon, Abrams. I thought the horns did a lot better than I would have expected with Abrams only getting 8 points. Gary, Damion, and Connor did well. Mason is protecting the ball. Dex only scored 6 points but he was a monster on the boards (8 in 18 minutes). Dex got 4 fouls but a couple of them were going for rebounds. He played the 1 on 1 D fine.

The horns are going to improve a lot as the season progresses. Damion will get better at handling the ball. Dex will get more fit and confident. Mason will improve his shooting to mediocre.

Most importantly (and most in doubt), Barnes has to construct a more balanced and passing oriented offense that gets shots for these guys where they can hit them and is cognizant of the abilities and limitations of the players.

The dribble drive approach does not work with this group of players. Gary can do the dribbling and driving but is unlikely to pass the ball when double teamed. Barnes needs to be using more give and go because this significantly reduces the ball handling skills required to run the offense.

Abrams could be a very effective screener because the opposition D will not leave him alone. This means whoever Abrams screens for is going to get a clean look at the shot off the screen. Might want to equip Abrams with a helmet before he assumes the screening duties.

Damion needs to stop dribbling in the open floor. Stop, pick it up and pass. In half court, he needs to back his man down more when dribbling.