We won the first 12 and the last 12 minutes 60-55!
- Thread starter CappyNU
- Start date
It does? I think it’s more about the ability to understand the ebb and flow of a game, and how good teams avoid long cold stretches.
I think playing 7 games in a row against top 25 teams (several top 10) has something to do with it, too.
Our defense is a disaster right now, though that is somewhat compounded by the quality of the teams we have played in the last 6 games.
On the offensive side, there's a few things:
On the offensive side, there's a few things:
- Teams are able to shut Kopp down too easily and others aren't stepping up.
- Collins is unable to run certain lineups he wants to run due to foul trouble, i.e. in yesterday's game, the lineup of Buie-Berry-Gaines-Kopp-Nance had outscored Iowa 13-10 over a 4:45 period, and he went back to it during the beginning of the cold stretch. Then Buie picked up a dumb 2nd foul and had to sit after 20 seconds. The starting lineup has had limited minutes together in multiple games due to a starter picking up a quick dumb 2 fouls, i.e. Buie against Illinois, Beran (1H) and Nance (2H, 3 fouls in less than 2 minutes!) yesterday, Nance against OSU the previous game.
- Our inability to make wide-***-open 3-pointers. 2-10 in yesterday's game is inexcusable
- Certain players just do not click together but get a lot of minutes. Lineups with Audige and Gaines together are -55 in 24.7% of available minutes when we as a team are -70 overall. Buie and Berry play well together if paired with Kopp, Beran and Nance/Young, but are not good together if Gaines or Audige are in the game at the same time.
Yesterday reason was the Buie going crazy for a few minutes, followed by Greer being left as open as he is while warming up was keeping us in the game. That disappeared and our offensive prowess was gone.
Competitive in the last 12? who cares, IA surely didn't.
Substitution of "hot" players-recent games
1. Nance scores 10-12 of first 14 points-to the bench
2. Audige lighting it up in first half-to the bench
3. Buie 4/5 from 3-to the bench ( Greer did make 2 3's however but Buie was done for the rest of the game)
NU collapses after a few players hoist up a series of terrible shots in recent games-Illinois to begin 2nd half-Iowa with NU up 29-28 NU is so fragile that these ill advised shots create too much pressure on this team
1. Nance scores 10-12 of first 14 points-to the bench
2. Audige lighting it up in first half-to the bench
3. Buie 4/5 from 3-to the bench ( Greer did make 2 3's however but Buie was done for the rest of the game)
NU collapses after a few players hoist up a series of terrible shots in recent games-Illinois to begin 2nd half-Iowa with NU up 29-28 NU is so fragile that these ill advised shots create too much pressure on this team
Inability to create easy baskets. When you lack confidence and your outside shot isn't falling, you have to find ways to get to the paint to get higher percentage shots and/or get fouled. You get to the paint either thru dribble penetration or entry passes to low post players. In order to that you need an offensive scheme that facilitates those type of shots and you need players capable of breaking a defense down off the dribble. Buie and Audige are really the only guys capable of doing that consistently and their decision making is very questionable. Lastly, the best way for a struggling team to create better offensive shots is to turn up the defensive pressure and intensity. Defense creates offense. Defense is a lot about effort and desire. Based on what I have seen, NU's defensive effort is inconsistent at best. If I were Collins, this is where I would focus my energy because it is the easiest thing to change.
There is only so much Collins can do, when your players get open looks for mid-range jumpers and can't make the damn basket. Against Wiskey alone, I can recall off the top of my head when wide open mid-range jumpers were missed by Kopp 2x, Audige 2x, Young, and Nance. Never mind wide open three point shots that we miss regularly, including 2 by Kopp, 3 by Beran, and several by Buie and Audige. Meanwhile the opposing team chucks up three pointers from 35 feet that are all net. Buie blew an easy layup, and 2 easy layups the game before. Make your damn shots, guys!