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[QUOTE="RF2044, post: 2004736, member: 40"]
I've already griped in numerous threads about the poor half court offensive execution, our players' propensity to stand around, too much dribbling, etc. so I won't cover any of that here.

There is a lot of good information in this thread that I'll also avoid repeating.  What I will add is that college basketball is not easy, and is a lot harder than it looks to play.  It is a game that requires relentless effort and poise, and not every team is cut from that cloth. Effort only goes so far in terms of overcoming talent, but it can certainly offset a talent differential if the more talented team goes through the motions or doesn't expend the requisite amount of effort.

I look at our losses to USC, UConn, and Georgetown, and I saw not just poor execution, but a consistent lack of effort from our players.  Which is unacceptable, IMO.  I don't even need to single anybody out, because it was a team wide, systemic issue.  Often times, our kids don't play hard enough--and thus far, this seems to be one of those years.

We could really use somebody with an edge.  White, Battle, Gillon, Lydon, etc. seem to play too "polite."

I also think that this team lacks leadership.  That doesn't mean that one of the players needs to be a feisty, raving lunatic who is feverishly demonstrative on the court -- IMO, being a loud mouth, demonstrative player is often the opposite of showing leadership.  Leadership can also be someone that the team can rely upon to make a play when we have zero momentum and the game is tight.  Wish it was one of the guards.
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