First, let me state that with two losses, we are about at the limit for the pre-SEC schedule because we cannot rely on all teams having great RPIs to bolster us if we lose anymore games. So, we must move forward now and play at mid-season level, which will be tough because of many factors, one of which is that as we have all stated, we have not settled on any roles except for Maten and Gaines. That is pretty typical for a CMF team at this point in the season, but this is a tougher SEC slate than last year, so we cannot lose many more in the pre-SEC as the wins will be tougher to get down the stretch.
With that said, here is what I want to see:
1. DO on the floor in some capacity. His shoulder may not be totally ready, but if he can go 7-8 minutes, that is 7-8 minutes better than nothing. We need him healthy, and I can see the wisdom of one more game out, but our backs are already up against the proverbial wall and we need to get him minutes of any kind. Maten last year started having some impact by late December and was really playing well in February, but we weren't relying on him. We MUST have DO ready for SEC play. Period.
2. Shooting! One, more shots. We have trailed in total shots in every game so far. The 30 second clock and our inability to get into a flow quickly has forced both bad shot selection and turnovers. We have got to get some quicker shots, and if we cannot for a 5th game, then CMF has some issues with his offensive philosophy with the 30 second clock. Or personnel running the offensive sets. Second, better shot selection and just making more shots. We have shot terribly on open looks. Tons of missed shots around the basket, tons of missed shots from mid-range, and tons of missed shots from long distance. Good news: it can't get much worse, so let's hope our shooting malaise is behind us.
3. Personnel - touchy section here as we all love the players we have on the team. But the coaches have to start making choices. At this point, I would rather see:
1. more Edwards than Kessler minutes, even if Edwards is still "lost" in CMF's schemes. Edwards is going to be a very good player. Bring Kessler off the bench and get Edwards more minutes.
2. Less CM if he continues to struggle. I know he is a senior and CMF loves him. He has been a DGD, but he is not a shooter, so he cannot "shoot his way out of this slump". He is a slasher and he has really, really struggled. Most slashers who struggle have to sit and let others play. Turtle and JJ have run the offense more smoothly. I know CMF won't sit CM now, but if he struggles in the first 5 minutes, let him sit for the rest of the half. (I know this is wishful thinking, but it is obvious to all...maybe ADGM is still telling CMF what to do).
3. I am actually happy with KPG's play. He has really hustled and been ok. But I still want to see more of Wilridge. Again...he looks like a player but someone who is lost. He needs minutes to find his game. So while I am fine with KPG in there, let's get some more minutes to Wilridge.
4. I want to see more even production from KG. Our offense can get him shots, but after he gets hot, and the opposing D steps up the pressure a bit, we can't seem to get him open. This goes back to my first segment talking about how our offense is plodding so far, but we dribble and pass a lot and many times can't get him open. He has improved his off-the-dribble shooting, but I want to see some double screens to get him some more open looks.
5. MORE ZONE!!! (no elaboration necessary)
6. I just want to watch Maten play against some kids he probably grew up playing against. This should be fun for him, and he has been awesome this year. If DO gets healthy and gives Maten another true player in the post, watch out! BTW, I do want to see some more dunks from him rather than just layups, but that is a function of the coaching. For some reason, we seem to go for the lay up rather than the dunk when the big guys are getting offensive boards or close shots. But this has been the norm under CMF.
Anyway, I am not upset at our two losses...all 4 games have been strange in some way or another, but we have to start putting it all together now. No more time to lose.
With that said, here is what I want to see:
1. DO on the floor in some capacity. His shoulder may not be totally ready, but if he can go 7-8 minutes, that is 7-8 minutes better than nothing. We need him healthy, and I can see the wisdom of one more game out, but our backs are already up against the proverbial wall and we need to get him minutes of any kind. Maten last year started having some impact by late December and was really playing well in February, but we weren't relying on him. We MUST have DO ready for SEC play. Period.
2. Shooting! One, more shots. We have trailed in total shots in every game so far. The 30 second clock and our inability to get into a flow quickly has forced both bad shot selection and turnovers. We have got to get some quicker shots, and if we cannot for a 5th game, then CMF has some issues with his offensive philosophy with the 30 second clock. Or personnel running the offensive sets. Second, better shot selection and just making more shots. We have shot terribly on open looks. Tons of missed shots around the basket, tons of missed shots from mid-range, and tons of missed shots from long distance. Good news: it can't get much worse, so let's hope our shooting malaise is behind us.
3. Personnel - touchy section here as we all love the players we have on the team. But the coaches have to start making choices. At this point, I would rather see:
1. more Edwards than Kessler minutes, even if Edwards is still "lost" in CMF's schemes. Edwards is going to be a very good player. Bring Kessler off the bench and get Edwards more minutes.
2. Less CM if he continues to struggle. I know he is a senior and CMF loves him. He has been a DGD, but he is not a shooter, so he cannot "shoot his way out of this slump". He is a slasher and he has really, really struggled. Most slashers who struggle have to sit and let others play. Turtle and JJ have run the offense more smoothly. I know CMF won't sit CM now, but if he struggles in the first 5 minutes, let him sit for the rest of the half. (I know this is wishful thinking, but it is obvious to all...maybe ADGM is still telling CMF what to do).
3. I am actually happy with KPG's play. He has really hustled and been ok. But I still want to see more of Wilridge. Again...he looks like a player but someone who is lost. He needs minutes to find his game. So while I am fine with KPG in there, let's get some more minutes to Wilridge.
4. I want to see more even production from KG. Our offense can get him shots, but after he gets hot, and the opposing D steps up the pressure a bit, we can't seem to get him open. This goes back to my first segment talking about how our offense is plodding so far, but we dribble and pass a lot and many times can't get him open. He has improved his off-the-dribble shooting, but I want to see some double screens to get him some more open looks.
5. MORE ZONE!!! (no elaboration necessary)
6. I just want to watch Maten play against some kids he probably grew up playing against. This should be fun for him, and he has been awesome this year. If DO gets healthy and gives Maten another true player in the post, watch out! BTW, I do want to see some more dunks from him rather than just layups, but that is a function of the coaching. For some reason, we seem to go for the lay up rather than the dunk when the big guys are getting offensive boards or close shots. But this has been the norm under CMF.
Anyway, I am not upset at our two losses...all 4 games have been strange in some way or another, but we have to start putting it all together now. No more time to lose.
