It's effort

[kyjeff1]

I know there's been a lot of talk about the lack of NBA talent on this roster, but Michigan State doesn't have NBA talent either. They just played tougher and with a lot more effort.

We have dudes, they might not be lottery picks, but when you look at it, athleticism and size are not an issue with this team, we have what we need in those departments.

Kam Williams is long and athletic
Oweh has an NBA body and athleticism
Chandler's head was at the rim when he dunked on that guy a couple weeks ago.
Mo D is a beast with
BG is not some string bean
Aberdeen is athletic as hell
Jasper Johnson is highly skilled

This comes down to effort and playing as a team. That stuff is fixable, but these are things that shouldn't be a problem and Pope needs to figure it out. These guys would still be top 10 if they played hard every play.

The other thing, forget about trying to shoot 35 threes, that's the wrong mentality to put on this team. We only have a couple guys that are dependable from the outside. Drive the ball and find the cutter. Put pressure on the defense.

Lastly, we're pretty far away from getting this thing fixed and we have some tough games coming up. With 2 losses already in the bucket, Pope needs to find a way to win these games we have coming up against unc (yuck), St Johns and Gonzaga. Find a way.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I’d say if you went with Kam rather than Mo, that changes the three point situation immediately. Agree with your post —- there isn’t anything unfixable on this team. That’s why giving up on them is premature.

 

[kyjeff1]

I’d say if you went with Kam rather than Mo, that changes the three point situation immediately. Agree with your post —- there isn’t anything unfixable on this team. That’s why giving up on them is premature.

We definitely shouldn’t give up on the team, but being dissapointed doesn’t make you a bad fan.

Those 2 losses were inexcusable. Losing to Louisville is not shameful, it's the way we lost both games. We looked awful.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

We definitely shouldn’t give up on the team, but being dissapointed doesn’t make you a bad fan.

Those 2 losses were inexcusable. Losing to Louisville is not shameful, it's the way we lost both games. We looked awful.

I agree. I’ve been critical too.

 

[Eastkybball]

I’d like to see Kam starting. Aberdeen, Chandler, Oweh, Kam, Moreno or Mo at 5.

 

[chattanogawildcat]

You simply can't have Mo and BG on the floor at the same rime.

 

[Cats192]

I know there's been a lot of talk about the lack of NBA talent on this roster, but Michigan State doesn't have NBA talent either. They just played tougher and with a lot more effort.

We have dudes, they might not be lottery picks, but when you look at it, athleticism and size are not an issue with this team, we have what we need in those departments.

Kam Williams is long and athletic
Oweh has an NBA body and athleticism
Chandler's head was at the rim when he dunked on that guy a couple weeks ago.
Mo D is a beast with
BG is not some string bean
Aberdeen is athletic as hell
Jasper Johnson is highly skilled

This comes down to effort and playing as a team. That stuff is fixable, but these are things that shouldn't be a problem and Pope needs to figure it out. These guys would still be top 10 if they played hard every play.

The other thing, forget about trying to shoot 35 threes, that's the wrong mentality to put on this team. We only have a couple guys that are dependable from the outside. Drive the ball and find the cutter. Put pressure on the defense.

Lastly, we're pretty far away from getting this thing fixed and we have some tough games coming up. With 2 losses already in the bucket, Pope needs to find a way to win these games we have coming up against unc (yuck), St Johns and Gonzaga. Find a way.

I agree with all of this.

People have been slamming down all of these massive conclusions based on the MSU game: Pope can't coach, Pope can't recruit, Pope can't teach defense, Pope needs to do the right thing and step down after this year.

You can't really draw ANY conclusions from a game where guys just didn't try. You can certainly fault Pope that it happened. It's a coaches job to have them dialed in and make sure they're bringing it. That part is a fail on him.

But with the total no-show in the effort category--we don't really know anything other than guys didn't try. I think the talent is fine, especially when we got Lowe and JQ back.

For all the talk about the horrible defense, we're still #11 on Kenpom's defensive efficiency.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

I agree. I’ve been critical too.

I am disappointed but it's so early, every team is different. Last years yelled quick, this one hasn't yet, I still believe it will

 

[LineSkiCat14]

From Pope's wording, I kind of get the sense he might have been behind a bit in getting this team ready. Idk if thats because last years team was SO experience that this year sort of surprised him, or what. But doesnt it sort of feel like this team started practicing a month later than every one else, just from how they looked?

 

[wildcatdon]

I’d like to see Kam starting. Aberdeen, Chandler, Oweh, Kam, Moreno

I’d like to see Kam starting. Aberdeen, Chandler, Oweh, Kam, Moreno or Mo at 5.

Mo can’t play the 5. Period. Some of you need to let that go. Moreno is the future at center. Gonna be a good one. Garrison needs to step up his game or sit. Not having a quality point guard on the floor has set this team back. Lowe can’t get back soon enough.

 

[kyjeff1]

I agree with all of this.

People have been slamming down all of these massive conclusions based on the MSU game: Pope can't coach, Pope can't recruit, Pope can't teach defense, Pope needs to do the right thing and step down after this year.

You can't really draw ANY conclusions from a game where guys just didn't try. You can certainly fault Pope that it happened. It's a coaches job to have them dialed in and make sure they're bringing it. That part is a fail on him.

But with the total no-show in the effort category--we don't really know anything other than guys didn't try. I think the talent is fine, especially when we got Lowe and JQ back.

For all the talk about the horrible defense, we're still #11 on Kenpom's defensive efficiency.

I think Pope knew he had an issue and you could see it on his face walking into MSG and it ate him up after the game, because he knew there was a big problem and he didn't fix it.
In situations like this, the leaders need to squash whatever issues are happening in the locker room and our leaders didn't do that. In fact, they appeared to be at the center of the issue.
Pope certainly needs to be held accountable here, but so do the players that are getting paid millions.

 

[buc puppet]

I think it’s gonna take scheme and effort for this team to succeed because it’s the least talented team that we have had in a while. The roster kinda reminds me of a Clyde roster if I’m honest. Except we don’t have a Meeks or Patterson and that scares me. These kids will have to find another gear and pope will have to seriously earn his money because nothing will come easy

 

[bbnkat02]

I think it’s gonna take scheme and effort for this team to succeed because it’s the least talented team that we have had in a while. The roster kinda reminds me of a Clyde roster if I’m honest. Except we don’t have a Meeks or Patterson and that scares me. These kids will have to find another gear and pope will have to seriously earn his money because nothing will come easy

BCG rosters lost to teams like tonight. That's not a good comparison at all imo.

 

[Eastkybball]

Lowe can create and change us offensively but his defense will hurt us and Mo is strong enough defensively to play the 5. I think it would help our whole offense to put Kam at the 4 and it would make us stronger defensively. I like Moreno starting at 5 too but we’d be a lot faster with the first 5 I mentioned.

 

[MonsterMash79]

I know there's been a lot of talk about the lack of NBA talent on this roster, but Michigan State doesn't have NBA talent either. They just played tougher and with a lot more effort.

We have dudes, they might not be lottery picks, but when you look at it, athleticism and size are not an issue with this team, we have what we need in those departments.

Kam Williams is long and athletic
Oweh has an NBA body and athleticism
Chandler's head was at the rim when he dunked on that guy a couple weeks ago.
Mo D is a beast with
BG is not some string bean
Aberdeen is athletic as hell
Jasper Johnson is highly skilled

This comes down to effort and playing as a team. That stuff is fixable, but these are things that shouldn't be a problem and Pope needs to figure it out. These guys would still be top 10 if they played hard every play.

The other thing, forget about trying to shoot 35 threes, that's the wrong mentality to put on this team. We only have a couple guys that are dependable from the outside. Drive the ball and find the cutter. Put pressure on the defense.

Lastly, we're pretty far away from getting this thing fixed and we have some tough games coming up. With 2 losses already in the bucket, Pope needs to find a way to win these games we have coming up against unc (yuck), St Johns and Gonzaga. Find a way.

Like your post BUT…. When teams get beat by lesser talent, that means they got out coached. And the fact MSU had the best shooting night of their lives lol.

 

[MonsterMash79]

You simply can't have Mo and BG on the floor at the same rime.

Mo needs to stick to being Mo, not a perimeter threat ..

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I know there's been a lot of talk about the lack of NBA talent on this roster, but Michigan State doesn't have NBA talent either. They just played tougher and with a lot more effort.

We have dudes, they might not be lottery picks, but when you look at it, athleticism and size are not an issue with this team, we have what we need in those departments.

Kam Williams is long and athletic
Oweh has an NBA body and athleticism
Chandler's head was at the rim when he dunked on that guy a couple weeks ago.
Mo D is a beast with
BG is not some string bean
Aberdeen is athletic as hell
Jasper Johnson is highly skilled

This comes down to effort and playing as a team. That stuff is fixable, but these are things that shouldn't be a problem and Pope needs to figure it out. These guys would still be top 10 if they played hard every play.

The other thing, forget about trying to shoot 35 threes, that's the wrong mentality to put on this team. We only have a couple guys that are dependable from the outside. Drive the ball and find the cutter. Put pressure on the defense.

Lastly, we're pretty far away from getting this thing fixed and we have some tough games coming up. With 2 losses already in the bucket, Pope needs to find a way to win these games we have coming up against unc (yuck), St Johns and Gonzaga. Find a way.

Team captain is being a p ussy this year and it’s rubbing off on eveybody.

When Oweh decided to come back in my head I was like it’s over for college basketball….. never imagined he would come back and act like a straight B itch.

 

[megablue]

Mo needs to stick to being Mo, not a perimeter threat ..

100% this ^^^^ We need go inside-out with him on the floor.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I’d like to see Kam starting. Aberdeen, Chandler, Oweh, Kam, Moreno or Mo at 5.

I like this a lot. I wouldn't mind seeing this all the time.
Mo and Kam together is O is struggling.

 

[kyjeff1]

Like your post BUT…. When teams get beat by lesser talent, that means they got out coached. And the fact MSU had the best shooting night of their lives lol.

There are tons of ways to lose games, they aren't all just the coaches fault.
Pope catches plenty of blame for these 2 losses, as he should, but that MSU loss was a total lack of effort, heart and toughness. something caused a riff in the locker room that shattered the teams glue and it was obvious. I put that on the leaders of the team, the same guys getting paid millions to not let that happen.
I'm not sure how much Pope could have done to fix the issues between teammates, especially if the girlfriend rumors are true.
Pope's substitution patterns, extended Garrison playing time and lack of energy, are some of the things he did wrong, but the players did not play to expectations and known intensity level. We know these guys can play at a much higher level and they didn't.

 

[kyjeff1]

Mo needs to stick to being Mo, not a perimeter threat ..

And that is on the coach. He gave everybody the green light, thinking he had a team full of guys that need to, as a team, shoot 35 threes per game. That's a really bad idea. There are certain shooters that should have the green light, but Mo D is not one of them.
Pope didn't recruit the guys needed to run the system he wants to run.

 

[kyjeff1]

Team captain is being a p ussy this year and it’s rubbing off on eveybody.

When Oweh decided to come back in my head I was like it’s over for college basketball….. never imagined he would come back and act like a straight B itch.

I thought he was going to be a beast too and he still might be, we're only 6 games in and he just got punked.

However, when I saw he was pre season POY, that's when I got worried. Everyone talked about these expectations and Oweh being this future NBA player, which was already enough of a stick to the spokes, but when they made him pre season POY, that was the final nail.

Up until last night, he played like he was a celebrity who already did everything he needed to do to be great and now, he just has to show his face. You just knew this was going to happen.

He can fix it, but he’s going to have to forget about the accolades and play like he has everything to prove.

 

[Catsfan2025]

Lowe can create and change us offensively but his defense will hurt us and Mo is strong enough defensively to play the 5. I think it would help our whole offense to put Kam at the 4 and it would make us stronger defensively. I like Moreno starting at 5 too but we’d be a lot faster with the first 5 I mentioned.

His defense is NOT any worse than Chandler, Jasper, Noah. His positives far outweighs the negatives. No flow in the offense and not being score, it will not matter how good the defense is. Guard play is huge. have a guy who can create and find open guys is very important.

Have to win one of or both the UNC / Gonzaga games. Lose both and it is going to be a long year.

 

[TheDude73]

I got no good feelings about improvement last night against a horrible basketball team. All I kept thinking was "that won't ever happen against top 25 teams".

LoyMD's defense was awful. They were slow. We still let them get off multiple wide open threes. Nothing was really different from our side. GU, UL and MSU swarmed us defensively and were faster at nearly every position. We looked overmatched, and we know the future opponents with athletic, quick players are chomping at the bit to smack us into next week.

Until we get a full team with at least Lowe and also figure out how to play defense, we are going struggle beating top 25 opponents. To be frank, I don't see Pope making these guys what they need to be to have good defense - speed and quickness. You either have it, or you don't. Sounds like zone is going to be the way to go against the likes of teams driving the lanes.

One thing I've seen glaringly missing this year - running the offense through the top of the key and good offensive sets. It feels/looks a lot like Cal dribble drive with the three guards trying to drive and get theirs one-on-one.

My bright spots are: Moreno, Mo, Aberdeen, Lowe, Oweh (barely) and Chandler. The rest are simply breather backups on any Power Conference top 25 team. Jasper is still stuck in G-League showoff mode. Oweh barely made my list of bright spots as he is trying too hard to score for the NBA (last night was not a good gauge - LMD sucks badly). Garrison is one of the laziest defensive and rebounding players I've ever seen at UK. Williams, who was specifically recruited for his perimeter shooting, can't hit the ocean. Noah is simply not athletic enough to do anything defensively against Top 25 competition - he should be only in as a breather and a spot-up three shooter.

I think we'll turn it around, but I'm thinking S16 again, if we're lucky.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

And that is on the coach. He gave everybody the green light, thinking he had a team full of guys that need to, as a team, shoot 35 threes per game. That's a really bad idea. There are certain shooters that should have the green light, but Mo D is not one of them.
Pope didn't recruit the guys needed to run the system he wants to run.

Right now Chandler should be shooting 10 3's a game. 4-5 will go down at his current percentage. I think Kam is about to hit his stride as well and hopefully earn the greenlight as well.

 

[chroix]

Mo needs to stick to being Mo, not a perimeter threat ..

Oweh too.