I was at the game tonight...

[drt7891]

And it is almost to the point of utter embarrassment to watch this team play. Now, I haven't played basketball as part of a group, and I really am not a pessimist or on the "Fire Stans" bandwagon, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out there needs to be some big time change that needs to happen.<div>
</div><div>Not only did we not do ANY fundamentals well (i.e. rebounding, boxing out, help defense, etc.), we played with absolutely no heart. This team defined "I don't give a crap" basketball tonight. No motion to offense, granted they played mostly zone, and we haven't yet figured out that the way to score against a zone defense is to get the ball in the paint and not this "jog around the perimeter" stuff we were doing. Our defense was sucked out of position on every play because no one would help and play the ball. The times we did play zone, their top shooter was left wide open. </div><div>
</div><div>I really believe that it is much more than a lack of coaching this team has. This team has an attitude problem. This team is not buying into the teams goals and playing with heart and grit every time they hit the floor. There is no leadership at all. Heads hung low in timeouts. Lazy walking up and down the floor. Half assed high fives before the game and after scores. No leadership from anyone on our team (you know, that Tim Tebow kind). Thats what this team needs more than anything is a leader. Someone to step up and not just yell and scream, but help pick the team up. I'm not some kind of self proclaimed psychiatrist nor basketball coach, but it doesn't take someone thats certified to figure out what is going on. I just hope someone steps in and makes the changes that need to be made...</div>

 

[anon1751035439]

I haven't seen your team play so this is pure conjecture. Neither do I know how Stansbury has been conducting his practices.

With those admissions, could the lackluster performance by your team partly be the result of the psychological impact of not having Sidney and Bost on the court? I'm not saying that excuses their performance, but it could play a part. Teams in this type of situation often under-perform. It's almost like it gives them an excuse to do so. They don't necessarily do it willingly, but it happens. Once the stars are back it elevates the game of everyone else on the team. Having said that, I still think State is the team to beat in the West and you will go to the tourney. In other words, the season is not lost just yet.

Also, in regards to how the team practices, if Stansbury is incorporating Sidney and Bost more than he should, that could impact the results as well. If that's the case, the blame lies with Stansbury. It has to be a delicate balancing act in terms of how much to include them. Too little and they won't be prepared once they are eligible; too much and the current performance of the team suffers.

Just food for thought. Feel free to pick it apart.

 

[drt7891]

I have been to every home game for the past five years. I have also been to the post season tournaments (including the NCAA in Little Rock and Portland). This is a cancer of every team I have seen over the past 5 years. It is nothing new for our team to be complacent during the OOC season (Rider, Charlotte, South Alabama are some examples...) and there has been at least one game we lost that we should have won in each of those years. But even after seeing those teams play in the past, they always have rebounded right after losses like this. But the way this team has played this year, or has not played, has been very concerning. Our largest lead of the year in the 6 games we have played has been 12 points, and that came last week against Fla. Atlantic (which we lost). I won't go through the points I've already talked about, but between our lack of effort in every aspect of the game, and the demeanor of the team, I am very concerned about this years squad. I would love to be wrong, though...

 

[rugbdawg]

nm.

 

[mstatefan88]

We never really just blow teams away. For as much as he preaches playing with passion and determination, our teams never seem to have that. They never get any big wins, and they lose games to the East Tennessee State's and the FIU's of the world. I can't stand him, and I don't care if Stricklin himself comes down to finish the season. Stansbury should be gone. We shouldn't be losing these games at home, regardless of who we are missing. We scored 62 points at home against ETSU, and 59 at home against FIU. That is unacceptable with the talent we have on this team.

 

[mstateglfr]

Jarvis is making a living based on what he did in college, which was play help defense.

And we have never boxed out? Seriously? We have dominated for many years at outrebounding opponents. I remember multiple years where we led the conference or were right up at the top in terms of rebounding margin. How did we do that if we didnt box out?

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

[No message]

 

[KurtRambis4]

the last few years haven't led you to the conclusion that he has no idea what he's talking about, you may never realize it.

 

[drt7891]

As much as I did not like Jamont (because he NEVER passed the ball), he was a leader for this team. I would even say too much of a leader, but the team rallied around him. When he had a good night, our team was next to impossible to beat, but when he was having a bad night, we lost. But that team would NEVER be outrebounded 35-22 in a single game, along with giving up 15 offensive rebounds. I have not seen stats sheets for all the games this season, but that is a trend I have not noticed until this year. Not only the rebounds, but the cleanup shots we are allowing. That is why you box out. That is why you turn around and stick your butt in the guy behind you. Every team this season has gotten 8-10 points a game simply because their big guy is getting to the rim on rebounds. I mean... slaughter me if you want... i know this is a touchy topic on this board, and I'm not trying to say "17 Stans" or "Fire Stans," but we are paying this guy 1.1 mil a year and we are giving up this many rebounds and loosing to teams that lost to Charleston Southern by 20.

 

[rugbdawg]

best rebounders that Stans has ever coached are in my opinion Vincent and Roberts. They came to him already knowing how to use their bodies in rebounding. Best defenders that Stans has produced in my opinion are Zimmerman and Frazier. They could play defense on and off the ball and Stans developed them. Swat was a natural defensively but you have to give credit to Stans for improving his offense.

Another thing that Stans has always has is guards that could rebound because of their natural ability. Zimmerman, Bowers, Gordon, Gholar even Frazier to an extent.

Exhibits:
Marcus Campbell-No explanation needed.

Charles Rhodes-Great athlete and horrible at blocking out. Wasn't a dominant rebounder, should have been with his athletic skills. At least once a game, Rhodes would allow a rebound on a missed free throw. You could count on it being during a close game with 5 minutes left. Consistently gave up offensive boards in his entire career.

SWAT-Great athlete, great shot blocker. He got his rebounds because of his length and hops. Almost always out of position defensively but made up for it with pure athletic ability. This is why he would ALWAYS get into foul trouble against good teams. Not rocket science.

Swat's success has led to the demise of our interior defense as other players try to emulate him. Augustus, Bailey and Lewis all try to get their block shots. Sliding over and taking a charge doesn't exist in Stans' defenses anymore. Blocking out is the same way. I would be willing to guess that Iggy, yes Michael Ignerski, who wasn't a special defender took more charges his senior season than our team did all year last year.

The method to Stansbury's "success" hasn't changed in any way shape or form. The only difference is that the athletes aren't there anymore. He has to coach to win.

 

[rugbdawg]

He is a great defender because he is a freak.

 

[mstateglfr]

You said we dont understand help defense and i showed that the previous 3 teams excelled at it.
You ca n see Kodi's block total from last season as more proof. Most were from him sliding over from the weakside.

 

[Hanmudog]

best rebounders that Stans has ever coached are in my opinion Vincent and Roberts. They came to him already knowing how to use their bodies in rebounding. Best defenders that Stans has produced in my opinion are Zimmerman and Frazier. They could play defense on and off the ball and Stans developed them. Swat was a natural defensively but you have to give credit to Stans for improving his offense.

Another thing that Stans has always has is guards that could rebound because of their natural ability. Zimmerman, Bowers, Gordon, Gholar even Frazier to an extent.

Exhibits:
Marcus Campbell-No explanation needed.

Charles Rhodes-Great athlete and horrible at blocking out. Wasn't a dominant rebounder, should have been with his athletic skills. At least once a game, Rhodes would allow a rebound on a missed free throw. You could count on it being during a close game with 5 minutes left. Consistently gave up offensive boards in his entire career.

SWAT-Great athlete, great shot blocker. He got his rebounds because of his length and hops. Almost always out of position defensively but made up for it with pure athletic ability. This is why he would ALWAYS get into foul trouble against good teams. Not rocket science.

Swat's success has led to the demise of our interior defense as other players try to emulate him. Augustus, Bailey and Lewis all try to get their block shots. Sliding over and taking a charge doesn't exist in Stans' defenses anymore. Blocking out is the same way. I would be willing to guess that Iggy, yes Michael Ignerski, who wasn't a special defender took more charges his senior season than our team did all year last year.

The method to Stansbury's "success" hasn't changed in any way shape or form. The only difference is that the athletes aren't there anymore. He has to coach to win.

Teaching rebounding and defense have never been one of his faults. The reason we are not rebounding well now is because we are trotting out a lineup of 6'2 players with either Lewis, who sucks, and Bailey, who is not recovered from an injury.
It is somewhere the other side of stupid to credit State leading the SEC in rebounding and defense for years to us just having superior athletes.

Now if you want to fault Stansbury for not having a clue against a zone defense, not knowing how to draw up a play at the end of a game, or making stupid substitutions then that would be legit. There is no need to create reasons.

 

[KurtRambis4]

is amazing, or idiotic, that he actually believes this...and he has for years.

 

[dawgstudent]

is that for everything he does that frustrates you as a fan - they never give him credit for the things we do well which used to be defense and rebounding (not the past couple of years). If you are going to haze for the things the team does wrong - praise him for the things we do right.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

is that for everything he does that frustrates you as a fan - they never give him credit for the things we do well which used to be defense and rebounding (not the past couple of years). If you are going to haze for the things the team does wrong - praise him for the things we do right.

That is the problem I have with them as well DS. Yes, West titles may not mean much in the grand scheme of college basketball as a whole, but there are some other teams that would gladly take them from us. I don't like his lack of success in the pre-SEC season and post season myself, but until he really shows a complete loss of control with the program I can't see replacing him. That being said, this may be the season that this starts to happen. I see no defense or rebounding and zero leadership on the court. It may be the beginning of the end.

Quite honestly I thought I saw something in Stans last seasonthat lead me to believe he was just tired of dealing with the egos and crap and ready to just quit. I haven't seen anything to make me think that may not happen yet.

 

[HippyDawg]

counting this year of course. Not a good trend is it?

 

[drt7891]

but the observations I have made this year concerning rebounding, I think are fairly legit. Our guys are not fighting for position nor fighting for the rebounds themselves. You are right that we have a bunch of 6'2" players, but how many rebounds have Dee Bost, Randy Stewart, and Phil Turner gathered over the past few years? I am not saying it is even a talent issue we have, it is an attitude issue. We are playing "don't give a crap" ball, and it shows, from everything from trying to shoot stupid 3 point baskets over the defense instead of working to get quality shots, to the lack of effort rebounding. It's attitude and swagger, and this team doesn't have either. That is my argument and that boils down to leadership, whether it is coaching or team leadership.

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

[No message]

 

[patdog]

2006 - 7th in the SEC in assists
2007 - 5th
2008 - 3rd

He was a great scorer and rebounder, but he absolutely did pass the ball.