Coaching - Just An Observation.

[Snaggletiger]

Last night, I'm flipping back and forth between the AU/Arky abortion and several games, including UNC/Duke.  I have a rooting interest in both contests but the thing that stood out to me was that it was like switching from a college...to a high school game.  If you like and appreciate basketball, the difference in watching these two games was literally night and day.  Why?  Because of coaching. 

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not going to sit here and even pretend that AU and Arky have even close to the same overall caliber of talent as the two ACC teams. And yes, I know AU>FSU>Duke>UNC ( )  But it's the level of play that's so blatantly different.  You watch 5 minutes of UNC/Duke and you see players who know exactly where they're supposed to be on the court.  You see solid picks run out of a set offense and switches on defense when that happens.  You see full court pressure and that press broken with two quick passes to the wing and back to the middle. You see guys coming off screens and squaring up with the basket to get a quality shot. 

Switch back to Auburn-Arkansas.  Denson dribbles one-on-one at the time line for 4-5 seconds.  Chubb decides he'd better run all the way out there to try and set an illegal screen.  If...he gets around his man, Denson goes one on three to the basket for a failed shot attempt. I saw the ugliest 3-point attempts taken, one that didn't come within 2 feet of the rim, free throw after free throw clanked off the rim, offenses that were "offenses" only in the sense that everyone wasn't standing still....it's coaching.

You don't have to have the greatest athletes in the world to set a pick properly. It doesn't take Michael Jordan square up and shoot a jump shot.  Hitting 3 out of 4 free throws was something that was a given in YMCA ball at 15 years old.  Why? Because you practiced the hell out of free throws. Beating a press requires spacing and movement with an absolute minimum of one-on-one dribbling.  That was horrible basketball last night.  That was putrid basketball the other night against Bama when we scored 13 points in one half. We won.  WooHoo.  But who could watch that shit?  I'm not as pissed about wins and losses as I am the quality/or lack thereof in the product on the court.  I've said before I was happy with Barbee and the fact that he seems to have a plan, so I won't be a hippo-crit. But having a chance to compare side by side last night....this is bad, bad basketball.   

[Buzz Killington]

From all of my vast experience coaching in the 5th/6th grade league, I can see two things missing.
1. Not one pure shooter...Sullivan once was good, but not so much anymore.  Otherwise, nada; zero; zilch; nein.
b. Transition defense.  They look like me and my grandmother getting back down the court after one of the 785 misses a game.  IF they make a basket and get to stroll back down the court, the half court D is not bad, but you can almost bet that after a miss, the opponent will get an easy layup.

[AUTiger1]

From all of my vast experience coaching in the 5th/6th grade league, I can see two things missing.
1. Not one pure shooter...Sullivan once was good, but not so much anymore.  Otherwise, nada; zero; zilch; nein.
b. Transition defense.  They look like me and my grandmother getting back down the court after one of the 785 misses a game.  IF they make a basket and get to stroll back down the court, the half court D is not bad, but you can almost bet that after a miss, the opponent will get an easy layup.

Why do you hate your grandmother?  I am sure she plays better D than any of our guys.

[Snaggletiger]

Why do you hate your grandmother?  I am sure she plays better D than any of our guys.

With her bad hip?  Pfffft.  I'm sure we could use her occasionally when we need some spot up, long range sharp shooting, but defensively, she's a liability.

[WiregrassTiger]

I've liked Coach Barbee ever since the hire was made. I just like the guy. Represents AU well and seems to be a motivator. Recruits well, at least the ones we can get into school. We just can't make it over the hump. The games I've seen, the effort was there but we can't shoot at a div II level. I still have faith. I thought this was the year. More points would go a long way in helping my feelings but I don't see it happening.

[Snaggletiger]

I've liked Coach Barbee ever since the hire was made. I just like the guy. Represents AU well and seems to be a motivator. Recruits well, at least the ones we can get into school. We just can't make it over the hump. The games I've seen, the effort was there but we can't shoot at a div II level. I still have faith. I thought this was the year. More points would go a long way in helping my feelings but I don't see it happening.

Same way.  Loved the hire, the fire, the attitude etc.  And compared to the way Lebo ran his offense/defense, Barbee is Phil Frickin' Jackson.  I really had hopes for this year. Thought we might really compete and push 20 wins.  Experienced seniors on the floor and a good mix of underclassmen and nice recruiting class that I thought would make a huge difference.  But....this bunch is just sloppy, out of sync.  And you're right. They can't shoot at all. None.  And here's the thing.  I didn't look at the FT percentage from last night.  The little I watched, I did see several clanks.  But I guarantee if they could even be respectable at the line, this team would be .500 at worst.

[Snaggletiger]

Just checked.  AU as a team is 69% at the FT line.  Honestly, not as bad as I thought.  I looked at individuals though, and 2 of the 3 guys that are by far, shooting the most free throws, are 60% and 62%.  Still, anything under 70% from the line at this level of play, is unacceptable.

Edit...okay, I take all that shit back about free throws and comparisons.  Checked on Duke and UNC.  70% and 65% respectively.   

[Tarheel]

...
And yes, I know AU>FSU>Duke>UNC ( )
...   

lulzy