The Tale of Two Halves

[Rainmaker]

Here is the breakdown of our performance by half’s against power conference teams and Gonzaga and everyone else.

1st Half

Power conference teams plus Gonzaga
32.55 scored
39.88 given up

Non power conference teams
42.88 scored
27.88 given up

Overall
37.41 scored
34.05 given up

2nd Half

Power conference teams plus Gonzaga
47.00 scored
40.89 given up

Non power conference teams
44.13 scored
29.75 given up

Overall
45.65 scored
35.65 given up

We have only lost 4 second half’s all season.
Louisville by 1
Gonzaga by 12
North Carolina by 3
Missouri by 4

This tells me we play better when we push the tempo and shot volume and our rotation is tighter. This is why we command second half’s even against top competition. These are the adjustments we make at halftime but fail to execute early in the game before we fall behind and are forced to. Let’s hope we play with that mentality from the opening bell today, can’t afford to fall behind.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Then press from tip. Why not?

 

[TortElvisII]

Pope collecting analytics...I don't know maybe start paying attention at freaking tip off.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Then press from tip. Why not?

Can’t come out that aggressive. When dealing with beautiful people you have to ease into it. On a serious note I thought pressing all game was gonna be a UK thing when we hired Pope. Always heard how Pitinos teams were like that. That was the one thing that got me on board with Pope was I thought he would have a bunch of killer traits RP had but I’m not seeing it.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Can’t come out that aggressive. When dealing with beautiful people you have to ease into it. On a serious note I thought pressing all game was gonna be a UK thing when we hired Pope. Always heard how Pitinos teams were like that. That was the one thing that got me on board with Pope was I thought he would have a bunch of killer traits RP had but I’m not seeing it.

I knew that wasn’t the case at the time. And I understand why. But we aren’t an elite defensive team and get off to slow starts, so I’d like to try it. Can’t be token pressure, gotta really be aggressive and convicted.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I knew that wasn’t the case at the time. And I understand why. But we aren’t an elite defensive team and get off to slow starts, so I’d like to try it. Can’t be token pressure, gotta really be aggressive and convicted.

Even the announcers stated last game we look so much better when playing fast. If that guy caught on then maybe there is something to it. What was his name lol I still hear his voice. Like he had a big dip in all game

 

[theBlues]

Can’t come out that aggressive. When dealing with beautiful people you have to ease into it. On a serious note I thought pressing all game was gonna be a UK thing when we hired Pope. Always heard how Pitinos teams were like that. That was the one thing that got me on board with Pope was I thought he would have a bunch of killer traits RP had but I’m not seeing it.

I think he could use some of RP's fire. But as for pressing, Rick doesn't do that a lot now; it kind of became less effective when bigs started learning how to dribble. But I'm not saying don't do it, anything to help them start out with more intensity and I'm all for it.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Even the announcers stated last game we look so much better when playing fast. If that guy caught on then maybe there is something to it. What was his name lol I still hear his voice. Like he had a big dip in all game

I tune the announcers completely out tbh. I have no idea. I turn it up for Dickie V just because I know there aren’t many of his games left.
Other than that, zero attention on the announcers. If you turn the volume down and watch the game it’s easier for me to understand the scheme of both teams without the distractions

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I think he could use some of RP's fire. But as for pressing, Rick doesn't do that a lot now; it kind of became less effective when bigs started learning how to dribble. But I'm not saying don't do it, anything to help them start out with more intensity and I'm all for it.

Yea might not get as many steals as back then but just to speed the other team up none the less

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I tune the announcers completely out tbh. I have no idea. I turn it up for Dickie V just because I know there aren’t many of his games left.
Other than that, zero attention on the announcers. If you turn the volume down and watch the game it’s easier for me to understand the scheme of both teams without the distractions

Well if you turn it up for dickie v I bet you heard about plenty of Duke and Carolina because they talked more about them then our game while covering our game. I’m a DV fan also btw.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Well if you turn it up for dickie v I bet you heard about plenty of Duke and Carolina because they talked more about them then our game while covering our game. I’m a DV fan also btw.

He doesn’t bother me as much as many others. I appreciate people with passion for CBB like him.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

He doesn’t bother me as much as many others. I appreciate people with passion for CBB like him.

Same. Him and Charles were a little annoying this last time around tho. And I absolutely love Barkley.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

Can somebody get the game chat started?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Even the announcers stated last game we look so much better when playing fast. If that guy caught on then maybe there is something to it. What was his name lol I still hear his voice. Like he had a big dip in all game

My wife was like, “who the hell is that announcer, is he Cajun?!” She said she couldn’t understand a damn word he said!

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Can somebody get the game chat started?

I was going to, but didn’t wanna risk bad luck. Where’s the cat that created one last game? I think it was last game.

 

[Kyfan27]

Then press from tip. Why not?

Honestly I'm not sure. The counter to pressing is that you can give up easy layups, but I feel like lately I've seen teams crumble under pressure FAR more than they used to (us included for sure). Also we give up easy baskets anyway so I don't know.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I was going to, but didn’t wanna risk bad luck. Where’s the cat that created one last game? I think it was last game.

Yea I’ll give it a few more years before I try it lol. Seems like a thing only for the OGs. I’ll stay in my place. But I surely will start some irrational threads if we come out scoreless in the first five minutes again.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

All I know is if I find that red Anon in the hallway, I’m gonna push him into a locker. How dare that piece of human excrement start a game winning thread and then go AWOL the game after!? I was convinced he jinxed us!

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

My wife was like, “who the hell is that announcer, is he Cajun?!” She said she couldn’t understand a damn word he said!

Would make a damn good auctioneer

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Yea I’ll give it a few more years before I try it lol. Seems like a thing only for the OGs. I’ll stay in my place. But I surely will start some irrational threads if we come out scoreless in the first five minutes again.

Maybe I’ll create one in regards to no other blueblood receiving the BS referee treatment. Then I’ll get hammered because I missed a small portion of the replay. Then I’ll try to explain myself and continue to get lambasted for it, even still. Then I’ll be called a crybaby for whining about BS officiating. Then I’ll tell them that they must be a dumbazz if they don’t believe we do consistently get BS officiating. Then I’ll point out how many rule changes have been implemented in direct correlation with a BS call that cost us a big game. Then the pattern continues.

 

[Rainmaker]

Today yet another example.
31-42 first half
49-36 second.

Pregame obviously needs to be more Enthusiastic and start the game with a sense of urgency. Pretend to be down 10 to start every game and play with that mindset, hell has to be a way to start games better. It’s so obvious we play better when we push tempo, shoot more and earlier in the shot clock and keep the rotation tight.

 

[Anon1764477851]

Even the announcers stated last game we look so much better when playing fast. If that guy caught on then maybe there is something to it. What was his name lol I still hear his voice. Like he had a big dip in all game

My wife was like, “who the hell is that announcer, is he Cajun?!” She said she couldn’t understand a damn word he said!

You all should listen to the guy ESPN sends to the Big Sky Conference Tournament, Joe Cravens. He says some of the craziest **** and has a distinct voice.

 

[Kyhoward1]

I knew that wasn’t the case at the time. And I understand why. But we aren’t an elite defensive team and get off to slow starts, so I’d like to try it. Can’t be token pressure, gotta really be aggressive and convicted.

We are not an elite defensive team, I agree. One of our biggest weaknesses is one of the staples of good defensive play - stay between your man and the basket. Understand there are more high screens set in most team’s offenses, but this is a poor part of our defensive play.

So how do you hide this halfcourt problem?
I like the 1-2-2 three quarter court zone press. It is not a hard pressure press but it:
1. Forces teams to pass the ball side to side in order to reach the front court. CMP used Kam and JJ on the point and they can cause havoc with their quickness and wingspan on generally shorter guards. Get a steal, you shoot a layup.
2. Creates trapping opportunities on either side of the court.
3. Is a safe press. You are not risking the opponent getting a layup on the other end.
4. Uses the shot clock
5. Minimizes the time that we have to play Halfcourt defense.
6. All full court presses cause fatigue - both mental and physical.

I would employ this press from the opening tip. Maybe will jump start our guys energy. You don’t have to run the entire game but employ after timeouts, made free throws turnovers etc.

i would also periodically have our guards pressure their ball handlers after one of our missed shots instead of running back and picking them up only after they have passed Halfcourt.

While you would like to create steals, this pressure gives the opponent something else to think about. You vary the times in the game you employ these presses and their guards are constantly having to think about what might be coming next, making them uncomfortable.

We have the depth, usually more than our opponents. Wear them out, get a few easy buckets, limit the time we have to spend playing halfcourt defense, and create some energy and aggressiveness.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

We are not an elite defensive team, I agree. One of our biggest weaknesses is one of the staples of good defensive play - stay between your man and the basket. Understand there are more high screens set in most team’s offenses, but this is a poor part of our defensive play.

So how do you hide this halfcourt problem?
I like the 1-2-2 three quarter court zone press. It is not a hard pressure press but it:
1. Forces teams to pass the ball side to side in order to reach the front court. CMP used Kam and JJ on the point and they can cause havoc with their quickness and wingspan on generally shorter guards. Get a steal, you shoot a layup.
2. Creates trapping opportunities on either side of the court.
3. Is a safe press. You are not risking the opponent getting a layup on the other end.
4. Uses the shot clock
5. Minimizes the time that we have to play Halfcourt defense.
6. All full court presses cause fatigue - both mental and physical.

I would employ this press from the opening tip. Maybe will jump start our guys energy. You don’t have to run the entire game but employ after timeouts, made free throws turnovers etc.

i would also periodically have our guards pressure their ball handlers after one of our missed shots instead of running back and picking them up only after they have passed Halfcourt.

While you would like to create steals, this pressure gives the opponent something else to think about. You vary the times in the game you employ these presses and their guards are constantly having to think about what might be coming next, making them uncomfortable.

We have the depth, usually more than our opponents. Wear them out, get a few easy buckets, limit the time we have to spend playing halfcourt defense, and create some energy and aggressiveness.

I love this ^