Zero chemistry and it shows.

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
I am sure my memory is faulty, but I can’t remember a single time our point guard Noah played pick & roll with Cliff. It is one of the most basic plays in basketball that just about everyone uses and plays to Cliff’s strengths, and I can recall us running it once.
There was a play I recall where Noahprobably made the right play not lobbing it, but I know he wasn't aware of where Cliff was.

There appears only one guy on the roster (right now) who can drive to the basket and have a dual purpose of scoring or passing.
 
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Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Regarding chemistry.....big picture....

Do you think the players know what each player is making? How much they are getting paid from a collective? If so, that has to be tough for chemistry purposes throughout all of college basketball.
 

Mr. Magoo1

Heisman
Nov 15, 2001
15,497
16,353
113
It’s not a chemistry problem. It’s a rebounding issue. A massive one. Check how many second point chances Wake got yesterday. Everyone keeps talking about Paul and Cam and the offense. Cliff is lost without a physical body who isn’t clueless (aka Wolf) out there boxing out. The loss of Caleb and no Mag out there is more than just their own rebounding stats. It’s a loss of physical presence. Cliff clearly is unable to dominate as a stand alone feature player. He needs a surrounding cast of body bangers crashing the glass because he can’t fight through 2 on 1s.
Cliff is also lost without a capable guard like Mulcahy who is able to pass him the ball at point-blank range.
 

AshCatchEm

Heisman
Jan 8, 2016
13,892
19,965
113
Maybe I'm in the minority but while I don't want the team to get embarrassed, I don't have a lot of angst about it, when I know next year the RAC is going to be Disney Land.
Yes we all hope it'll be Disney land. If that team next year doesn't make the sweet sixteen for any reason, there is going to be hell to pay and answers that need answering.
 

LeapinLou

All-American
Jul 24, 2001
13,269
7,011
113
Yes we all hope it'll be Disney land. If that team next year doesn't make the sweet sixteen for any reason, there is going to be hell to pay and answers that need answering.
Well, if they make the sweet 16 and are in the east region, the next two games are at the Pru Center.
 
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Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
To me the game ended when it was about 56-48? We defended great for the entire possession. Our guards harrassed them and they were trying to initiate offense 30 feet from basket. They take a last second shot that missed. The ball slipped out of Cliff's hand. They missed again. Cliff didn't get rebound again and they made the 3 from the corner.

I knew it was officially over.
Thought the same. That play was an absolute back breaker and sums up the season so far
There appears only one guy on the roster (right now) who can drive to the basket and have a dual purpose of scoring or passing.
That one player is the player you don't want playing bc of his defense
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Thought the same. That play was an absolute back breaker and sums up the season so far

That one player is the player you don't want playing bc of his defense
He can cook, but he doesn't do the dishes when he is done. Unfortunately he did burn his last dish. I hope he doesn't get Chopped.
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Mag is the dishwasher set to deep clean. Detergent pod inserted. Just need to press start
2022 i won fantasy baseball league (roto)
2022 i lost in finals of hockey (HTH)
2023 baseball name changed to Mawot Mags and finished 8th
2023 hockey name changed to Mawot Mags and am in 5th

I am thinking of changing my team name.
Suggestions?

Mawot mags
 

willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
10,990
6,947
113
Just seems like this team has a lack of cohesion and it shows. Call it chemistry, or whatever, it just seems like they aren’t blending. It’s “feels” off.

Thought the Africa trip might have brought them closer, get to know each other, but it’s like they are not on the same page.
My concern is that it's talent (and in one or two cases experience) more than chemistry.
 

bitnez

All-American
Jan 18, 2006
6,523
7,229
113
My concern is that it's talent more than chemistry.

You are probably right but there are fixes. Our guards need to think pass first rather than shoot. Don’t drive to shoot, drive to kick. Also, as we all know, we need to rebound a lot better. It’s actually shocking how bad we are at it.
 

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,642
12,937
78
My concern is that it's talent (and in one or two cases experience) more than chemistry.
I find it hard to be believe there are over 300 college basketball programs with more talented rebounders than what we’ve got. Pike has to figure this out. Right?
 

willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
10,990
6,947
113
I find it hard to be believe there are over 300 college basketball programs with more talented rebounders than what we’ve got. Pike has to figure this out. Right?
Maybe. But Pike has a long history of putting strong rebounding teams on the floor, so I can respond with my own "I find it hard to believe" that he suddenly forgot how to coach rebounding. That said, I suspect that the rebounding will improve at least some this year. But that isn't nearly the only problem with the team.
 

willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
10,990
6,947
113
You are probably right but there are fixes. Our guards need to think pass first rather than shoot. Don’t drive to shoot, drive to kick. Also, as we all know, we need to rebound a lot better. It’s actually shocking how bad we are at it.
I don't know that there are fixes. Certainly, there can be improvements by some coaching and definitely by experience. But you may have noticed in general that some players pass much better, or much worse, than others regardless of coaching. And when you drive to kick, the kickee needs to shoot well. Another area where we need improvement and that coaching doesn't necessarily fix. Unless you think all players are the same and coaching is all that's needed.
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
I find it hard to be believe there are over 300 college basketball programs with more talented rebounders than what we’ve got. Pike has to figure this out. Right?
Have our 3 DREB like Caleb and we are almost there compared to last year.
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
I don't know that there are fixes. Certainly, there can be improvements by some coaching and definitely by experience. But you may have noticed in general that some players pass much better, or much worse, than others regardless of coaching. And when you drive to kick, the kickee needs to shoot well. Another area where we need improvement and that coaching doesn't necessarily fix. Unless you think all players are the same and coaching is all that's needed.
we aren't kicking...that needs to be fixed and should be fixable. Our guards have ridiculously low shooting percentage at the rim. We have a 4/5 star recruit that has those stars because of his shooting. Sick of watching 6'2'' guards trying to be heroes and beat 6'8'' shot blockers
 
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BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
17,153
15,616
72
It could be that the players got it in their heads that we’re a running team, so guys are thinking about getting out on the break versus securing a defensive rebound first. They may have been coached that way in practice.

I noticed that we push it hard until we cross midcourt, then slow it down in the half court when an open look isn’t immediately available.
 
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PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,642
12,937
78
Have our 3 DREB like Caleb and we are almost there compared to last year.

Some of our fans were excited to be done with Caleb and finally get us some offense.

Caleb wouldn’t just be leading the team in steals and second in rebounding after Cliff on the current roster. He’d also be leading us in assists by a comfortable margin based on last years numbers. His overall shooting percentage on the season has most of the guards on this roster (Simpson, Noah and Davis) beat by 4%.

Fools
 
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willisneverrana43

All-American
Jul 26, 2001
10,990
6,947
113
we aren't kicking...that needs to be fixed and should be fixable. Our guards have ridiculously low shooting percentage at the rim. We have a 4/5 star recruit that has those stars because of his shooting. Sick of watching 6'2'' guards trying to be heroes and beat 6'8'' shot blockers
Sure, some of that stuff might get fixed. And Buddy Holly will develop. But the roster may simply have significant limitations. There are reasons, like losing a good number of our key players, including some that we didn't expect to lose. But that doesn't change the limitations of the current team.

All that said, I hope Pike turns them into a viable tournament team. It's just hard to see right now.
 

Scangg

Heisman
Mar 19, 2016
25,448
49,369
113
It could be that the players got it in their heads that we’re a running team, so guys are thinking about getting out on the break versus securing a defensive rebound first. They may have been coached that way in practice.

I noticed that we push it hard until we cross midcourt, then slow it down in the half court when an open look isn’t immediately available.
We always push the ball up the court quickly but it never amounts to anything

Guards are leaking out like we are going to get a fast break. We need to be team rebounding where everyone is crashing. That's how you can try to limit getting destroyed on the boards. It's not like the leaking out is getting us buckets
 
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Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Some of our fans were excited to be done with Caleb and finally get us some offense.

Caleb wouldn’t just be leading the team in steals and second in rebounding after Cliff on the current roster. He’d also be leading us in assists by a comfortable margin based on last years numbers. His overall shooting percentage on the season has most of the guards on this roster (Simpson, Noah and Davis) beat by 4%.

Fools
Right now the guy playing with grit and determination is Oskar. That's great but Oskar playing hard isn't going to lead and make others follow. Caleb is a different story.
 
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Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Sure, some of that stuff might get fixed. And Buddy Holly will develop. But the roster may simply have significant limitations. There are reasons, like losing a good number of our key players, including some that we didn't expect to lose. But that doesn't change the limitations of the current team.

All that said, I hope Pike turns them into a viable tournament team. It's just hard to see right now.
rebounds like Mary Tyler Moore
 

AshCatchEm

Heisman
Jan 8, 2016
13,892
19,965
113
Supposedly mag is considering sitting out the year as a business decision despite the fact we already ******* paid him
 

Scarlet Beach

Senior
Dec 9, 2019
517
849
93
They do not have to like each other but they need to learn how to play together if they want any chance of a winning season. Lots of teams have had players that do not like each other, but they put aside those differences when playing as winning is what they want most. And the issue is not really talent. Just look at the NCAA Tournament each year. Lots of teams with mostly or all guys that are not pro basketball players win games in part because they come together to play team basketball and that collective sum is able to get it done.