We just don't look Hungry

[GooseMutt]

South Carolina played like they were on a mission for respect. They beat Michigan and they were so motivated and hungry. We don't have a leader/ motivator to drive this team. You have to lead by example and be un afraid period. Nobody wants the reins. Nobody has the balls so far. This is Lydons team but we also need a guard to take over and go for it. Everyone is waiting for the next guy to step up. I know there's no coward in Howard but he needs to know that mistakes are ok and move on without dwelling on it. Whoever wants it most wins. It's like having the best car and pit crew but no driver. Wisconsin will be so tough at home and if we were to win there has to be a breakout player for us. Good luck guys

 

[Trueblue25]

It's called a wake up call.

Teams learn, adjust, grow a pair and come back guns blazing from disappointing losses like this.

This loss was disappointing, it was disappointing as hell. But by no means do I think it defines this team.

 

[Cuse House]

One game.

 

[Day2]

South Carolina played like they were on a mission for respect. They beat Michigan and they were so motivated and hungry. We don't have a leader/ motivator to drive this team. You have to lead by example and be un afraid period. Nobody wants the reins. Nobody has the balls so far. This is Lydons team but we also need a guard to take over and go for it. Everyone is waiting for the next guy to step up. I know there's no coward in Howard but he needs to know that mistakes are ok and move on without dwelling on it. Whoever wants it most wins. It's like having the best car and pit crew but no driver. Wisconsin will be so tough at home and if we were to win there has to be a breakout player for us. Good luck guys

I agree that South Carolina wanted it more and played like it. They knew they weren't going to have many more opportunities like this past week to build their resume.

And yes, we played with about as much hustle as we did the previous four games, which isn't enough. That's my only complaint.

Despite the loss, there were some positives. I liked seeing Lydon put the team on his back for a stretch. I liked the adjustment of putting Howard and Gillon in the backcourt together. This will pay dividends later.

 

[hungrychuck]

South Carolina played like they were on a mission for respect. They beat Michigan and they were so motivated and hungry. We don't have a leader/ motivator to drive this team. You have to lead by example and be un afraid period. Nobody wants the reins. Nobody has the balls so far. This is Lydons team but we also need a guard to take over and go for it. Everyone is waiting for the next guy to step up. I know there's no coward in Howard but he needs to know that mistakes are ok and move on without dwelling on it. Whoever wants it most wins. It's like having the best car and pit crew but no driver. Wisconsin will be so tough at home and if we were to win there has to be a breakout player for us. Good luck guys

Our team nutrition program has greatly improved under Wildhack.

 

[GooseMutt]

I agree that South Carolina wanted it more and played like it. They knew they weren't going to have many more opportunities like this past week to build their resume.

And yes, we played with about as much hustle as we did the previous four games, which isn't enough. That's my only complaint.

Despite the loss, there were some positives. I liked seeing Lydon put the team on his back for a stretch. I liked the adjustment of putting Howard and Gillon in the backcourt together. This will pay dividends later.

We are so deep we should be driving lanes like crazy at their stars/bigs picking up fouls on them. Yes I know FTs are weak but can improve. We should have went at Dozier Sat.

 

[GooseMutt]

We are so deep we should be driving lanes like crazy at their stars/bigs picking up fouls on them. Yes I know FTs are weak but can improve. We should have went at Dozier Sat. Guards can lay up or dish but they still gotta get in tight with us for fouls. Taking out key guy changes everything

 

[Jeremy L.]

Could you imagine if we scheduled like MSU? They lost to Arizona, Kentucky and Baylor and probably to Duke tonight. This board would implode. (Also, I'm not comparing South Carolina to any of the teams listed. One loss doesn't mean a thing).

 

[SoBeCuse]

One game. South Carolina has an experienced team with a very good coach. Good athletes. With Silva and that taller African(?) guy they have the pieces to make some noise in March, I think. Obviously their guards are good.

We just looked lost. I was just shocked how long it took for guys to start driving. We need harder cutting. This is BASIC stuff. I don't get why everything was stalling out. It is almost like they were not coached up alternate options but by now Howard and certainly Gillon should know how to play. The wings need to present better angles for the guards to pass to. No picking up dribbles so far away (look familiar?). It can only get better. I think our guards will have an easier time with Koenig and co. but Happ and Hayes are another story. This will take a sustained effort defensively and on boards from everybody inside. I suspect the guards will crash the boards too for extra help. If we score in the 50s again then we have some problems. I think South Carolina might be better than Wisconsin. LGO!

 

[jordoo]

One game. South Carolina has an experienced team with a very good coach. Good athletes. With Silva and that taller African(?) guy they have the pieces to make some noise in March, I think. Obviously their guards are good.

This is pretty much it. South Carolina is already the team they will be this year. Yes they will improve while also having their good and bad game but they all know their rolls and know who they are as a team. SU is trying to find its way.

 

[TinyManInside]

Relax. We're only 5 games into the season. A lot of the things that you're asking for take time to develop.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

We looked 'unprepared,' which is entirely disconcerting since we should have had game film on what they did to Michigan. If SC had beaten us first, hey, you chalk it up to 'they came outta nowhere.' But, we should have known better. Too often, our teams look like they feel entitled to wins, unless we are matched up against the Big Names. Took this one for granted until it was too late.

I guess Frank Martin is a nice coach. Those kids executed 'professionally.'

 

[SoBeCuse]

We looked 'unprepared,' which is entirely disconcerting since we should have had game film on what they did to Michigan. If SC had beaten us first, hey, you chalk it up to 'they came outta nowhere.' But, we should have known better. Too often, our teams look like they feel entitled to wins, unless we are matched up against the Big Names. Took this one for granted until it was too late.

I guess Frank Martin is a nice coach. Those kids executed 'professionally.'

That's the thing. They absolutely did not look prepared. Nobody can convince me otherwise. Disappointing but like we have been saying it is one game. It can only get better I would think.

 

[Day2]

Could you imagine if we scheduled like MSU? They lost to Arizona, Kentucky and Baylor and probably to Duke tonight. This board would implode. (Also, I'm not comparing South Carolina to any of the teams listed. One loss doesn't mean a thing).

Exactly, and MSU's non-conference schedule usually benefits them in March. I see the same happening with us this year.

 

[Jeremy L.]

Exactly, and MSU's non-conference schedule usually benefits them in March. I see the same happening with us this year.

At the end of the day, as long as we don't lose games we should win we will be fine.

 

[Day2]

That's the thing. They absolutely did not look prepared. Nobody can convince me otherwise. Disappointing but like we have been saying it is one game. It can only get better I would think.

A lot of teams look unprepared against our zone. It's not like those teams weren't working on zone offense in practice. You just don't have a real idea of what you're going up against until you face it. Could have been the case here with South Carolina's defense.

 

[TinyManInside]

That's the thing. They absolutely did not look prepared. Nobody can convince me otherwise. Disappointing but like we have been saying it is one game. It can only get better I would think.

sort of reminded me of how the team played during Hopkins' stint as HC last year.

 

[SoBeCuse]

A lot of teams look unprepared against our zone. It's not like those teams weren't working on zone offense in practice. You just don't have a real idea of what you're going up against until you face it. Could have been the case here with South Carolina's defense.

With all due respect it is nothing new what South Carolina is running on D. Virginia plays this way. Louisville in their M2M will play this way. Michigan St, Kentucky, Wisconsin, etc. This is nothing new. Probably most good high school programs try to play M2M that way. It is a totally different animal to prepare for a zone like Syracuse's. We need to start scheming better to defeat these types of defenses. One pass one shot or not making the defense move too much hasn't been working out too well.

 

[jr4750]

sort of reminded me of how the team played during Hopkins' stint as HC last year.

That's the thing. They absolutely did not look prepared. Nobody can convince me otherwise. Disappointing but like we have been saying it is one game. It can only get better I would think.

Absolutely agree. Think it was ok initially, as we do have a young PG, and another that is new to the system. I do agree with you, Mason, in your earlier post that JG looked like a freshmen. His jump passes made me crazy. Also, saw way too much dribbling without actually going anywhere from all of our guards, and way to little movement from the wings to get open or at least get out of the way.

As for Hopkins stint, totally feel like the SC game reminded me of that time. Getting punched in the mouth early can be ok, but there must be changes made that actually make sense. Not sure that happened. The PC playing time debate, when he was highly inefficient, is one example. Hope we look like a different team tonight.

 

[Day2]

With all due respect it is nothing new what South Carolina is running on D. Virginia plays this way. Louisville in their M2M will play this way. Michigan St, Kentucky, Wisconsin, etc. This is nothing new. Probably most good high school programs try to play M2M that way. It is a totally different animal to prepare for a zone like Syracuse's. We need to start scheming better to defeat these types of defenses. One pass one shot or not making the defense move too much hasn't been working out too well.

No disagreements with you there. It may not be new to JB and some of the players, but it is new to most of our roster, Howard and Gillon in particular. And I would much rather get some exposure to this type of defense now than during the conference schedule.

 

[Newhouser]

I think facial expressions skew thoughts on the "wanting" it piece. Off the small sample size it looks like we have more quiet kids (Roberson, White, Gillon) with only Lydon and Howard being expressive. I think the want is there - adjusting to better teams not letting you do what you want, when you want may take more time.

 

[Briancuse]

Well Thanksgiving was two days before, they were probably full.

 

[721Comstock]

Maybe they were just too Humble? It outweighed the Hungry?

 

[SUintheVille]

They don't look hungry? Well, let's hope they feast tonight!