@Eastern Illinois

Matt Hein Fan

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Mar 3, 2018
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Not great, but got the job done. How does EIU have a full student section that is engaged in game? Or do they just get up when they play a big school like us? Either way it’s a tough place to play.
 
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Popsto4

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Man I hope there is more to come on our offense. Too much dribbling, no screening away from ball, no backcuts. Looks way too familiar. Hope there is new stuff to come. Live and die by 3 gets old.
I tell ya what, I think Pedon have way more offensively than he’s shown in these two early games. I agree with what you’re saying for sure
 

WoodlandWarrior

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Nov 9, 2017
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Lewis can’t be our only rebounder. Will Andrews and Schmidt provide any rebounding help? I have my doubts. And McChesney and Petrakis appear to prefer the 3 point shot.
 

Redbird222

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Jul 18, 2017
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Random rambling thoughts

We scored 4 points in the second half until we scored at the 9:06 mark and we didn't call a timeout again. It wasn't like we were missing good shots. We were consistently turning the ball over and a few players began to lose their composure.

Kudos for the team to gut it out but I still think the staff needs to use a TO to stop the bleeding. This is game 2 of 2 where we let a double digit lead in the second half dissapate. Assistant coaches need to get in his ear.

There are some guys on this team that play really good fundamental defense. You can tell Bruce Weber and Bennett hammered that home and Kasubke and Poindexter really have it on full display. Sprinkle Lewis who was in my opinion a good defender and that's a great basis to build on. This is probably Burford's strength so far.
That is so refreshing.

Lewis has 14 rebounds in each of the first two games ... he is athletic but has great motor and has been relentless. Could you imagine him and Phil Fayne playing together?

Like many have suggested we need a better presence inside. We banged defensively in the first half but we were soft in the second half. We have not shown an inside offensive presence in the first two games which can really help the dry spells.

I am concerned about PG. I am not sure we have a true PG on this team. 2 games and nobody has had more than 2 assists and we look sloppy. We also have a difficult time shaking defenders even off screens.

One last thought ... we won on the road which was nice to see given the last three years' results on the road. Defense travels and it did tonight.

1-1 Let's sweep the doubleheader against NW State
 

Redbird222

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SIU beat Oklahoma St by 1 at OSU. Drake looked good last night against an inferior opponent. I know it's early but both teams look primed to do well in the conference.

Update this post Domask made a 3 pointer with 22 seconds left for one point SIU win
 

redbirdron1

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Nov 12, 2017
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I'm not sure how much upside we have offensively in Seneca - he likes to drive and has trouble finishing. He's not one to pull up for short J's and doesn't seem to be a natural 3 pt shooter. Fortunately Kasubke looks to fill a void at the wing spot and he's got some savvy.

We knew going in this year we got minimal in the paint. Schmitt is the only back to the basket guy on roster and he's planted at the end of the bench.

Pops keeps telling us we got a great shooting team but facts haven't been in support as of yet.

My biggest concern in Charleston last night was how weak we were at handling the ball. I mean I didn't see many who can dribble against pressure and that message will surely be on every scouting report.

Sure happy with a W. We got a long way to go - Go Birds!
 

DWRedbird

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Well, a win is a win and I'll take it how I can get it. That said, it definitely was not pretty. My thoughts:

- Our offense looks almost identical to what it was last year. Lots of dribbling, little of it towards the basket. Little to no off ball motion, lots of isos and stranding guys, and a generally just chaotic mess on our end. We need more movement towards the basket, more setting up guys on the blocks or posting them up. Draw defenses in so they don't know that we are going to shoot a 3 every time.
- When our athletic forwards drive towards the basket, they need to stop turning their back and posting up halfway through. With our lack of off ball movement it is leading to more dribbling and guys getting stranded by themselves.
-I like when Mal drives to the bucket, he looks confident on his whole way there, and I'd love to see more of that.
-Free Throws look like a strength of ours, considering we are shooting 84% as a team right now, I think we need to drive more and start capitalizing on that.
-Our rebounding has been a pleasant surprise
-We do a pretty good job with help D, and I feel like unless the opposing team is a stellar 3pt shooting team we should run more zone, to capitialize on our ability to help, and let Liam freelance a bit down low to try and block shots.
 

SgtHulka

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Man to man looked pretty good in the first half.

Marty won the locker room adjustment contest. When they started doubling on the ball we lost all offensive composure

I worry about the PG spot. Burford looked good in the ex game but has really struggled since
 
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Popsto4

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Well, a win is a win and I'll take it how I can get it. That said, it definitely was not pretty. My thoughts:

- Our offense looks almost identical to what it was last year. Lots of dribbling, little of it towards the basket. Little to no off ball motion, lots of isos and stranding guys, and a generally just chaotic mess on our end. We need more movement towards the basket, more setting up guys on the blocks or posting them up. Draw defenses in so they don't know that we are going to shoot a 3 every time.
- When our athletic forwards drive towards the basket, they need to stop turning their back and posting up halfway through. With our lack of off ball movement it is leading to more dribbling and guys getting stranded by themselves.
-I like when Mal drives to the bucket, he looks confident on his whole way there, and I'd love to see more of that.
-Free Throws look like a strength of ours, considering we are shooting 84% as a team right now, I think we need to drive more and start capitalizing on that.
-Our rebounding has been a pleasant surprise
-We do a pretty good job with help D, and I feel like unless the opposing team is a stellar 3pt shooting team we should run more zone, to capitialize on our ability to help, and let Liam freelance a bit down low to try and block shots.
Well said. I still believe this will turn out to be a really good shooting team. The key to it is hoping Pedon have more offensive sets for our shooters and allowing someone anyone to flash to the paint for more scoring opportunities. As far as shooting goes, creating shots off the bounce is lacking and Mal is at his best when sets will allow that. He’s attacking the goal well at times. I don’t see many sets allowing our shooters to run curls or even off of double screens. I have to believe Pedon is still tinkering with more offense. So far I think we’re to predictive on that end of the floor.
 

gobirds85

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Jul 17, 2017
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My company league team was full of shooters...unfortunately no makers.

I have played on teams like this. Once some guys get the ball, you need to head to the rim to fight for the rebound as the ball is most definitely going to be hoisted. ADunk was one of those those types. Didn't Coach Cal at uk say, "you don't have to make them all, you just have to make some of them", or something like that.
 

DaveBird10

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Jul 17, 2017
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Pedon said after the game that every game is going to be tough until we figure some stuff out and I believe that's true. I still have faith in Burford but he needs to stop dribbling so much and just let the game come to him. It looks like he's pressing, I believe it will come.

Poindexter and Kasubke look like good finds. Both really good on ball defenders who have been a nice surprise on the offensive end when some others who I thought would score have struggled.

It was nice to see Kasubke and Petrakis both knock down a couple much needed shots. When it gets tough or tight they don't know what to do because we don't know who will be the guy to knock down big shots and both guys did that last night. Kasubke and Petrakis on a pick and pop was one really nice play I thought.

Lewis just balls and gives 110% effort. Had a rough night scoring but 14 rebounds again last night. That's a dude who I am glad is a Redbird that we are building the new culture around.

It appears Pedon has his top 8 in the rotation figured out and he's looking for a few guys to step up as the 4th and 5th off the bench. Kotov, Andrews and Johnson your time to be those guys is now.

Regardless of the W/L score and record its nice to see defense, rebounding and free throws% look good. We shot 9/22 from 3 for 40% which ill take on the road any game. Time to shore up the turnovers from the 2nd half and continue to improve upon the things that they have done good so for thru 2 games. It was nice to get a road win, when is the last time we got a true road win? Go on the road again vs Northwestern State on Saturday night (who struggled at home vs a D2 school) and get another win.
 

DWRedbird

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Pedon said after the game that every game is going to be tough until we figure some stuff out and I believe that's true. I still have faith in Burford but he needs to stop dribbling so much and just let the game come to him. It looks like he's pressing, I believe it will come.

Poindexter and Kasubke look like good finds. Both really good on ball defenders who have been a nice surprise on the offensive end when some others who I thought would score have struggled.

It was nice to see Kasubke and Petrakis both knock down a couple much needed shots. When it gets tough or tight they don't know what to do because we don't know who will be the guy to knock down big shots and both guys did that last night. Kasubke and Petrakis on a pick and pop was one really nice play I thought.

I'm glad to see Kasubke getting back the shooting touch he was known for in HS and couldn't find at K-State. My fear was that he was going to end up being Justin Clark all over again, but he his shot has looked really good so far this year.

Where would EIU finish in the Valley?

Somewhere in the bottom 3 more than likely.
 

Birgs

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Oct 7, 2017
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Why were we playing a basketball road game AT Chucktown?

The shooting and turnovers and waiting over and over to call a TO is despicable. ...The great savior Pedon even quoted in the presser it was Coch Jud that made the zone adjustment.

I gotta think glass-half-full that rebuilding takes patience.
 

redbirdron1

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Nov 12, 2017
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Why were we playing a basketball road game AT Chucktown?

The shooting and turnovers and waiting over and over to call a TO is despicable. ...The great savior Pedon even quoted in the presser it was Coch Jud that made the zone adjustment.

I gotta think glass-half-full that rebuilding takes patience.
 

stats

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Aug 25, 2018
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Old school coaching philosophy is to spend the first part of the year working on your defense, rebounding and fundamentals. After you got that where you want it, you start putting in more time with your offense and sets. My guess is we will be spending more games trying to cut down on the mistakes and figuring roles before you see us trying to be strategic.
 

Reggie1857

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Jan 26, 2022
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102
It’s embarrassing enough we are going to play at EIU, it would be a whole other subject if we were to lose to them.
Why would it be embarassing? We play them home & home for football every year. Hell, we even have a trophy to pretend that the game means something. If we're going to go half-ass on athletics, why should men's basketball be any different?
 
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