vs SIU (2-1) - 1/6/24 - 6 pm - Marquee

[ScoreboardDotRace]

Some want other offensive sets put in some don’t. This offense is really weird. I’m going to say this AGAIN. Last year Mal played out of position and this year it’s more of the same. Last year he played the 1, this year he’s playing the 3. With some things weighing him down which he’s now gotten over and him playing the 3 this is a difficult season for him. I don’t like what I’m hearing. We have 2 maybe three injuries coming from this game. I’m beginning to think a lil different about this season now. This was a pretty big game for the Birds and it didn’t get done.

I’m not sure why you specified Malachi only. I think it’s a whole team whole team challenge. Although appreciate him stepping in where he can, and playing through being banged up.

If it is as simple as putting him in at the 2 and only the 2 (or whatever his position is) and things would get humming then I’d hope the staff could see that, and implement that immediately.

I do agree this would’ve been a big win to get in regards to protecting home court in conference.

 

[Redbirdfan06]

Maybe I’m just naive to what Illinois State basketball is now and what it could be - how are we not able to recruit players who are capable of doing multiple things well? Darius Burford, our leading scorer, has 18 total assists in 13 games. That seems impossible. Myles Foster can’t shoot outside the paint. At all. Luke Kasubke can’t guard anyone. Over half of Poindexter’s shot attempts are from three this year and he’s shooting 26%. The Lieb conversation is ongoing here, but he’s bad. We are starting a PG who SIU didn’t want and they’re a middle of the road MVC team. I don’t want to be overly critical, it’s early for Pedon and we’ve been very bad before him. Having put that caveat out there… where’s the talent? If you asked the MVC coaches who they’d take from our roster you might get Foster, Burford, and Lewis and that’s it. It’s hard to see and worse to be a fan of. Feels bad, but we have bad players and seemingly a worse gameplan for their skill sets or lack thereof.

I agree with you. I know Banks has been big for us earlier in the year, but thought there was more ball movement when he was on the bench tonight. I feel like he just dribbles in circles at times and gets caught under the basket with no where to go or anyone to pass to. Could be mainly because of our constipated offense.

 

[Redbird222]

Some would take Foster. Burford and Lewis would be role players for the top teams at best. Maybe. Burford is on or off there is no consistency. Lewis is a F/C and leading us in TOs/minutes played. Banks found a place where he could play!

We are pretty short across the front court with Banks, Poindexter, and Burford. We get even shorter when Johnny comes in for Mal. We need a wing or 3 to step up and it hasn't happened the entire year. Going into the season, I thought it would be Luke, Ty, and Jordan fighting for the 3 but none of them have shown any consistency.

I am not a fan of our half-court offense. No matter how the sets starts, it seems like we ultimately end up running an iso at the end.

I am also not a fan of our inbound plays. SiU scored twice on inbounds plays and we turned it over once which resulted in a basket for SIU. That's 6-0 on inbounds. Hats huge in a game lime this. It's little things like this that the staff needs to improve.

Also, when there is a minute and half to go and Rupert touched the ball we should have fouled him. It would have been a 1:1 with a poor free throw shooter. Instead the ball goes back to Johnson who takes another 15 seconds off the clock, gets fouled and makes two FTs. The coaching staff has to have our players prepped and ready for that situation in my opinion.

 

[Loyl2u]

Looks like the Birds apparently need to spend a lot more time practicing free throws. I’m perplexed at how a team that shot as well as they did last year from the line is now terrible.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

The offense is abysmal. You have to look at changing it up. “Foster iso” seems to be the only thing that works. There is so much Muller in this offensive “scheme.” Foster sets screens but there is a lot of “oh, I’m gonna screen you” and then slip. Teams don’t fall for it. The tape is the tape and ISU is very easy to gameplay for.

I’ve been a big advocate for Pedon but that play with 17.9 seconds left and down 5 and you have Lewis inbound to Foster??? Foster is not a strong dribbler and doesn’t have the best hands. Lewis isn’t the best passer. Awful call. Those guys shouldn’t have been put in that situation. Least surprising outcome from that with a turnover and a dunk to seal the game.

Defense is gonna keep ‘em in some games but at the end of the day, 3 is more than 2. We can’t make the threes. Other teams can.

Also, I know Birds fans have nothing to cheer about but goddamn. The 100 or so SIU fans were louder than the 4000 ISU fans. It’s embarrassing.

I got up to go to the restroom at one point and thought, “why would any recruit come here?” With the zero atmosphere in the building. Who’d want to play in that? We’re at a point where we are recruiting guys that weren’t born the last time we were relevant.

I’m tired of watching the exact same thing the last 5 years. Figure it out, man. And yeah, I know it’s been longer than 5 years but the last 5 have really been the exact same.

We’re actually recruiting kids who’s dads’ weren’t born the last time we were relevant.

 

[cubird]

Yes the ref swallowed his pea with a play in front of him when Mal got clocked. A foul is a foul as long as time is on the clock. Point guards have to hit fts at a high clip.

 

[Phantom]

Another joke. Yes, SIU is good. But FFS. It JUST. KEEPS. HAPPENING. Every time we have a chance for a big win, we can't do it. We continually shit the bed when it counts. Oh sure, chalk it up to FTs or whatever. But this game was over at halftime.

We'll never compete in this league again. It has passed us by. We are so far down the totem pole it would be laughable if not so crushing and sad.

I am so tired of putting forth effort and energy to get excited about our teams when we can't win when it counts. Can't turn any kind of corner.

 

[Redbirdmike]

In our last three games, our opponents have shot 44%, 48% and 52% from three.
This cannot be just a coincidence.
Granted some of those shots in all three games were still defended well, but they still go in!
We need a continued focus on three point defense and we need to have two people step up and make 3’s offensively.
Our inside game is good. Keep working hard Kendall and Myles!!

Couldn’t agree more!

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

It’s not really difficult. Illinois State did not lose because of their offensive coaching. They lost because the player’s that are supposed to make shots didn’t make them. Make 33% of their 3’s & 75% of their FT’s and they win the game (and those are even sub-par numbers). The only thing that is the coaches fault, is that they recruited these guys that can’t make their shots.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I agree with you. I know Banks has been big for us earlier in the year, but thought there was more ball movement when he was on the bench tonight. I feel like he just dribbles in circles at times and gets caught under the basket with no where to go or anyone to pass to. Could be mainly because of our constipated offense.

SIU fans literally thanked him for dribbling in a giant circle late in the second half when he drove to the basket and looped back out.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I got up to go to the restroom at one point and thought, “why would any recruit come here?”

Carter Hawkins and Marcus Domask autographs and photo-ops on the concourse?

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Carter Hawkins and Marcus Domask autographs and photo-ops on the concourse?

Luke Goode was sitting with Domask.

 

[Hamdonger]

Mr Johnson #10 is quite excellent at creating space between he and his defender when he has the ball. Heckuva game for him and honestly very hard to guard...but I just don't understand.

At least tonight...that whole damn offense is 100% keyed through him in one way or another. Last 5 minutes of the game...WHY are we even allowing him to accept an inbounds pass...why are we allowing him to control the ball after the game he's had??? Easy for me to say as I'm an idiot know-it-all, but I would be in full court denial with him. Yeah they're going to pick you to death but talk and communicate. In a game like this, especially going down the stretch, he'd have a hell of a time getting the ball at all. Obviously other guys can beat you but he's the ignition AND the clutch. Keep the basketball out of his hands.

We didn't deny him an inbounds one single solitary time. We didn't even try to deny him. That's bizarre coaching to me. I've seen this over and over with us the last 2 yrs. We're in a tight situation, game on line or down a point or 2...and we just let the ball get inbounded with no attempt at denial. I don't understand that.

 

[MadBird]

Can we hold open tryouts for a 3 point shooter?? Our staff better be scouring every NAIA team, every D-2 , hell every D-3 team to find JUST 2 decent 3 point shooters. JUST FIND SOMEONE!!!!

I know it's a different world, but just for fun --- former walk-on Bird Jayden Johnson is at U of I -Springfield. Currently 37-71 from 3, 52.1%. Also 12-14 at the FT line, 85.7%. He got away!

 

[Hamdonger]

But...#10 WAS bailed out of several jams by questionable calls from the officials. Officials didn't cost us this game though. Our game cost us the game.

 

[TBS_20]

goto plan B on offense.

No need. My wife isn't in the mood after that performance

 

[Hamdonger]

Welllll...somehow we managed to hang in the game when it felt like we were outplayed substantially in the 2nd half. Last year we probably lose this game by 15 or 20. I do believe that's encouraging - yet I'm as frustrated as everyone else with the offensive efficiency and effectiveness. I've stopped openly bitching about it after a year and a half but the issue isn't going away. I like all of our guys but we have VERY few kids who see the game...and...play a cohesive game. We're just not an intelligent offensive basketball team (JMO), hence at times we're terribly predictable, and that'll keep us from being good.

We had 5000 tonight, we stayed in the game when they probably should have run away with it, and the guys are fighting hard. I have to remind myself that we're farther along than a year ago.

Damn if everyone had stayed at SIU that's a tournament team who could do some damage. Yes who cares, it's SIU...but overall the contending midmajor (and The Valley) takes the hit. The clock is ticking when it will be all over for the midmajor. MM won't even be allowed into The Dance.

 

[Redbirdmike]

It’s time!!! Coach Pedom has got to stop pretending we have a Five. We have no Five on this team. Lieb is a colossal disappointment. Take your pick. Go to a three guard, four guard lineup. It does not matter. We have been totally Bamboozled by Lieb and Davis. Why?? Because they played for Illinois and Wisconsin?? Lieb is 18-52 on the season. AS A 7’1 CENTER!! His career high is six points? He cannot make a bucket standing right under the rim. He has seven blocks on the season? As a 7’1 center??!! Come on. This is downright laughable. We cannot compete in the MVC with this.

 

[Hamdonger]

No need. My wife isn't in the mood after that performance

That's pretty good, man.

 

[DWRedbird]

The offense is abysmal. You have to look at changing it up. “Foster iso” seems to be the only thing that works. There is so much Muller in this offensive “scheme.” Foster sets screens but there is a lot of “oh, I’m gonna screen you” and then slip. Teams don’t fall for it. The tape is the tape and ISU is very easy to gameplay for.

I’ve been a big advocate for Pedon but that play with 17.9 seconds left and down 5 and you have Lewis inbound to Foster??? Foster is not a strong dribbler and doesn’t have the best hands. Lewis isn’t the best passer. Awful call. Those guys shouldn’t have been put in that situation. Least surprising outcome from that with a turnover and a dunk to seal the game.

Defense is gonna keep ‘em in some games but at the end of the day, 3 is more than 2. We can’t make the threes. Other teams can.

Also, I know Birds fans have nothing to cheer about but goddamn. The 100 or so SIU fans were louder than the 4000 ISU fans. It’s embarrassing.

I got up to go to the restroom at one point and thought, “why would any recruit come here?” With the zero atmosphere in the building. Who’d want to play in that? We’re at a point where we are recruiting guys that weren’t born the last time we were relevant.

I’m tired of watching the exact same thing the last 5 years. Figure it out, man. And yeah, I know it’s been longer than 5 years but the last 5 have really been the exact same.

This point is largely why I've stopped going to games in person. The offense is real, real bad, and the defense is meh. But, overall there has been no team growth since we changed coaches and quite frankly its not fun to watch. Other teams are evolving and getting better. We definitely are not. I'm hoping that in this offseason we implement a brand new offensive scheme, because if we don't, its going to be brutal.