2/22 - Senior Day - DU @ ISU [MVC-TV]

[stats]

Happy for the seniors. Dan said Hillsman and Copeland wanted to win so bad today that they were too amped up, especially at the end of the game. I liked how much those two guys were into the game down the stretch when they weren't in the game. I also think the underclassmen wanted to win it for the seniors, especially Madison Williams. To watch Copeland, Hillsman and Williams hugging and so excited at the end of the game says a lot about the respect that the players have for each other.

 

[91Bird]

It was nice to get a win on Senior Day. Bradley will be tough but anything is possible in that rivalry. Then we finish at Evansville. A 3 game win streak going into the tournament maybe?

 

[DoubleDeuce]

It was nice to get a win on Senior Day. Bradley will be tough but anything is possible in that rivalry. Then we finish at Evansville. A 3 game win streak going into the tournament maybe?

:text-+1:

 

[Redbird Alum 2004]

It was nice to get a win on Senior Day. Bradley will be tough but anything is possible in that rivalry. Then we finish at Evansville. A 3 game win streak going into the tournament maybe?

That would be sweet! Then draw any of Drake, valpo or ISU blue and I like our chances on Thursday. Then Friday we get to play UNI and we beat them once already and close at their place. I know this is improbable but.. That happens and all the previous games go out the window and anything could happen. It seems these guys just need confidence again. Honestly I just hope to see Fisher, Horne and Reeves play well in St Louis. I want them to have confidence they can shoot down there for next season.

 

[Redbird222]

The zone was effective today ... very active. I have to give props to the bigs. Fisher was active as usual but he finished today .... and the 3s!! Rey was physical with Robbins and pushed him away from the basket. He struggles in man to man but looks better in the zone. I like Taylor on the wing for the zone. He knows how to play it. If we can get this contribution from our post players it really would make a difference.

It was nice to see Reeves break out from a mini slump. Horne did not have a good shooting game but he was getting all the loose ball and long rebounds. Torres played well today. 5 assists and his only turnover was an unforced error bringing the ball up. Big time pass to setup winning shot by Keith.

They denied Zach the ball and he was frustrated. When he got it he wanted to do too much and had 6 turnovers. He has to trust his teammates more in games like that. I glad Muller took him out. The others were playing better. Hillsman has struggled the past few games. He seems out of sorts offensively.

We have seen flashes from many players on this team but they never al show up on the same day.

We continue to have a drought every game ... it's mind boggling and so frustrating.

 

[91Bird]

As miserable as this season has been, if Muller can have some roster stability of both players and assistant coaches going into next season, the teams at the top of the conference aren't that much better than we are. I've been critical of Dan's coaching the last couple of years but in my heart I would love to see him turn things around and stay here for a long time. In the things he says in interviews and on social media, he cares about ISU a lot just like we do.

 

[Redbird222]

As miserable as this season has been, if Muller can have some roster stability of both players and assistant coaches going into next season, the teams at the top of the conference aren't that much better than we are. I've been critical of Dan's coaching the last couple of years but in my heart I would love to see him turn things around and stay here for a long time. In the things he says in interviews and on social media, he cares about ISU a lot just like we do.

:text-+1:

 

[Trey_Guidry4three]

Happy for the seniors. Dan said Hillsman and Copeland wanted to win so bad today that they were too amped up, especially at the end of the game. I liked how much those two guys were into the game down the stretch when they weren't in the game. I also think the underclassmen wanted to win it for the seniors, especially Madison Williams. To watch Copeland, Hillsman and Williams hugging and so excited at the end of the game says a lot about the respect that the players have for each other.

I'm very happy to see the W but most importantly the seniors. These guys have went through a short hell in 2 years, sitting or playing. I always wonder if Mad could've stayed healthy how he would've contributed to this team. My guess is a LOT especially defensively

 

[Redbird Alum 2004]

Happy for the seniors. Dan said Hillsman and Copeland wanted to win so bad today that they were too amped up, especially at the end of the game. I liked how much those two guys were into the game down the stretch when they weren't in the game. I also think the underclassmen wanted to win it for the seniors, especially Madison Williams. To watch Copeland, Hillsman and Williams hugging and so excited at the end of the game says a lot about the respect that the players have for each other.

I'm very happy to see the W but most importantly the seniors. These guys have went through a short hell in 2 years, sitting or playing. I always wonder if Mad could've stayed healthy how he would've contributed to this team. My guess is a LOT especially defensively

I have always wondered that as well. The start of his soph year he was knocking down the 3. As the year went on and his knees went so did his shot.

 

[HT59]

:text-+1:
As miserable as this season has been, if Muller can have some roster stability of both players and assistant coaches going into next season, the teams at the top of the conference aren't that much better than we are. I've been critical of Dan's coaching the last couple of years but in my heart I would love to see him turn things around and stay here for a long time. In the things he says in interviews and on social media, he cares about ISU a lot just like we do.

i truly hope Dan can get it right.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Nice win. Now let's beat Bradley.

 

[CB2K]

The mental toughness that this team has shown throughout this miserable season is remarkable. They could have folded many times and the wheels could have totally fallen off after the Valpo give-away but this team keeps working to rise above. That's character building stuff that will help them later in life.

Sure, I would rather they didn't have to have this experience especially for the seniors who put their blood, sweat and tears in during the year to play basketball for one last year as a Redbird but give them credit as a team for keeping on keeping on and driving towards continuous improvement That's essentially what Jaycee has said in postgames.

This is our team and they need our support regardless of how poor or how great they have been playing. We can all voice our opinions about the state of things and some do offer some good analysis that I always enjoy reading but the bottom line is that this is our team and hopefully we can show them some alumni support as this season closes out.

Drake is a good team really and the Redbidrs got the W -- at this point, who cares how they win -- a W is a W. ISU has sure been a conundrum during the year. They beat Belmont, UALR and UNI and lost by one to Cincy who are all at the top tiers of their leagues but then go on insane losing streaks. They are competitive for the most part at home -- just wish they could do the same on the road. Hopefully they can finish strong and maybe steal one or two in the Lou.

 

[Loyl2u]

Here is +/- for DU game with a new analytical, +/- per minute for combinations on the floor.

Take-aways
1)Hillsman was only played in the #4 spot and the second half minutes were limited..

2) +/- makes it clear that #1, Birds need Fisher on the floor in #4 or #5 spot and
Fisher is most successful offensively when he is playing the #4 spot.
the most successful combination of the day.

3) Bruninga was most successful in #4 spot(other than Fisher).

4) Horne, Copeland, Reeves looks to be best #1,#2,#3, although we didn't
see Hillsman at all at the #3 spot(where +/- analytics have identified
the team being more successful when he plays the #3 spot than #4.)

5) Donnelly was only on the court in 4G/1F combinations, but was largely
unsuccessful, as was vast majority of 4G/1F combinations used.

Games Still to win. Credit to the staff for coming up with the zone
I suspect Bradley is working right now to make adjustments.
Birds will need yet another look for Wednesday night. Seemed like
Bruninga seems to have brought some energy to defense & rebounding.

<i>
</i>								
+/- combinations-totals			      Comp +/-	    COMP TM  	+/-per Min	
Horne	Torres	        Reeves	Fisher	        Idowu	+7	0:06:54	1.19	
Horne	Copeland	Reeves	Hillsman  	 Fisher	+3	0:05:44	0.80	
Horne	Torres	        Reeves	Bruninga      Fisher	+3	0:02:18	1.30	
Horne	Copeland	Reeves	Hillsman 	Ndiaye	+2	0:02:59	0.67	
Horne	Copeland	Reeves	Bruninga  	Fisher	+2	0:01:30	1.33	
Torres	Copeland	Reeves	Bruninga  	Fisher	+1	0:02:03	0.49	
Horne	Copeland	Reeves	Bruninga  	Idowu	+1	0:01:36	0.63	
DonnellyCopeland	Reeves	Hillsman        Ndiaye	+1	0:03:39	0.27	
Horne	Donnelly        Reeves	Bruninga  	Idowu	+1	0:02:34	0.39	
Torres	Copeland	Reeves	Fisher	        Ndiaye	0	0:01:15	0.00	
DonnellyCopeland	Torrres	Hillsman   	Ndiaye	0	0:00:33	0.00	
Horne	Copeland	Reeves	Bruninga        Fisher	-1	0:03:39	-0.27	
Horne	Copeland	Reeves	Hillsman  	Idowu	-2	 0:0:36	-3.33	
Horne	Torres	        Reeves	Bruninga        Idowu	-3	0:01:03	-2.86	
DonnellyCopeland	Torrres	Hillsman  	Idowu	-3	0:00:35	-5.14	
DonnellyCopeland	Torrres	Hillsman  	Fisher	-4	0:00:46	-5.22	
								
		       total  RB	total min				
		+/-		 				
Reeves			+15	  7	36				
Horne			+13	  7	31				
Fisher			+11	  7	26				
Bruninga	        +4	  3	15				
Ndiaye			+3	  2	8				
Torres			+1	  2	18				
Idowu			+1	  1	14				
Copeland		0	  2	27				
Hillsman	       -3	  1	17				
Donnelly	       -6	  0	8

 

[RBFANTOO]

But so happy for Ricky to get those final 2 free throws in what has to be an incredibly frustrating year for him. He deserved it.

I don't mind DJ shooting but not comfortable at all when he's handling the ball.

GOSH COULD WE PLEASE BEAT BRADLEY??

This.

 

[Morans14]

The mental toughness that this team has shown throughout this miserable season is remarkable. They could have folded many times and the wheels could have totally fallen off after the Valpo give-away but this team keeps working to rise above. That's character building stuff that will help them later in life.

Sure, I would rather they didn't have to have this experience especially for the seniors who put their blood, sweat and tears in during the year to play basketball for one last year as a Redbird but give them credit as a team for keeping on keeping on and driving towards continuous improvement That's essentially what Jaycee has said in postgames.

This is our team and they need our support regardless of how poor or how great they have been playing. We can all voice our opinions about the state of things and some do offer some good analysis that I always enjoy reading but the bottom line is that this is our team and hopefully we can show them some alumni support as this season closes out.

Drake is a good team really and the Redbidrs got the W -- at this point, who cares how they win -- a W is a W. ISU has sure been a conundrum during the year. They beat Belmont, UALR and UNI and lost by one to Cincy who are all at the top tiers of their leagues but then go on insane losing streaks. They are competitive for the most part at home -- just wish they could do the same on the road. Hopefully they can finish strong and maybe steal one or two in the Lou.

I like all of this but how about we steal all 4 at the Lou? Let's dance [emoji126]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IHateWSU]

My favorite part of Saturday was watching Madison Williams take part in pre game as if he were on the team. And as the clock ticked down for the game to start, the entire team backed off to the 3 pt line and let Madison have one last show time dunk as they jumped when he did and gave a "Whosh" as the ball went down. I am sure it meant a lot to him. Sure would have been nice to see him play the last two years!

 

[JHBird]

I know Maddison's knee is an issue, but he still has that jumping ability.