...which builds into the scapegoat narrative for DM. 2020 was the perfect excuse year to have a terrible season. Then you have the ever-present transfer portal. This season is the rebound from both those things - also perfectly fitting. For the AD & President, they're too busy getting acclimated to everything else that they probably pay little attention to that, while giving a cursory glance at DM's contract and assume that the here & now is just a bump in the road. In other words, neither of them have been here long enough to see the big picture for hoops, nor is it a priority to them, as everyone and everything is still rebounding from 2020. But neither one of them has nostalgic ties to DM or the school. So as the L's pile up and Milner continues to have better attendance than your marquee sport and facility, that scapegoat narrative should change at some point.
Murray State
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It is their job to pay attention, not to give a cursory glance or assume. Hopefully they are doing their homework !!
Yes, absolutely. I'm just saying they may not have done so YET with everything else they've had to deal with.
But sooner or later the covid & transfer portal excuses (profound and realistic though they are) will wear thin, and they'll wonder why there are pictures and posters in their offices of a rockin' arena but which is nothing like the games they attend, then ask why DM's contract is so rewarding when we haven't made the tourney in 24 years, and why there's zero buzz about the school's' chief sport...
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Birdfriend72
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Here is the scary part. Sy could have been playing last year, but for some reason that didn't happen. I can't Imagine how much better he would be had he had a year in Muller's system under his belt. He is pretty solid now. Sy graduates after this year- Muller is either looking for a big, or hoping someone on the ben
Agree! Have we hit rock bottom on attendance or could that slide even more? If Muller is here until 2024 and the results do not change...can attendance get any worse?
Agree and I believe we can be fairly confident that both, the AD and Prez, are fully aware of the current state of our mens bball team.
SgtHulka
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especially considering the women's programs and Olympic sports are doing just fine on autopilot at the moment. FB isn't a big concern so that leave men's bball. AD is going to look to put his stamp on the program with someone in his past or a close affiliation
It's been this way for years. At first I thought it was the players afraid of contact so they leave early, but now 4 or so years of it happening consistently, this is clearly something that was taught. Even the only "true 5" in Schmidt does it. It is apparently a coaching decision that maybe Muller feels there is more valuable and opportunity when you slip the screen before it gets set? I supposed bad defensive teams wouldn't switch properly or roll with the screener. I just haven't seen many times where that has happened.
As others have said, need more from the bench. I knew the game was lost at EMU when we got into OT without Reeves and Chatman getting a break and I knew the game was lost yesterday around the under 12 when I noticed Reeves (and I believe Sy) hadn't come out. Talking with some friends during the game, it was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Leave those guys in the entire half, they're going to run out of gas. Put them on the bench and the likelihood of a comeback diminishes.
Reeves did seem like he was pressing last night. Obviously happy he was POW, but sometimes success can get into the head of a kid. The thought of "I'm the best player in the league, and I'm going to show it" could come in which makes you force up shots. I commented towards the beginning of the game that the offense wasn't playing bad, they were just missing shots. They were doing what they were supposed to and actually getting post touches. They went away from that and threw up 30 footers on consecutive possessions. Reeves, Freeman and Strong all seemed to think they could erase a 12 point deficit with one shot. You gotta play the game.
Positives: Played without fouling, only Lewis had more than 3. Made free throws-really need to get more opportunities because clearly this is a good FT shooting team. Got Freeman somewhat back on track after a bad game at EMU.
Negatives: Lots, but specific ones to call out- Depth. Only the typical starters scored. That can't happen if you want to win games. 5 guys played 30 or more minutes, next was Fleming with 15. Rest of team combined for 15. A couple guys need to step up because when foul trouble hits....it's going to get really ugly if there isn't guys ready to go. Defense.....Showed flashes of being good but nothing sustained. Muller has mentioned that the man is going to be better this year because of Lewis and Freeman...well....their guards took it to the bucket with ease. I know they were making their 3's but going to the zone with Abdou in the back couldn't helped cut that down. EDIT: Muller said in postgame their practice schedule didn't allow them to put zone in against sets that Murray State runs.
Can't get caught looking past Saturday's game vs Bucknell but the game against SLU could be real ugly if they don't figure out some things fast. (Though SLU did get boat raced by Memphis last night).
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BirdGrad2011
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I’ll defend Reeves and don’t think it’s success going to his head. I think it’s more of a for this team to have a shot he needs to be the spark. He needs Strong, Freeman, and or Washington to provide something so he can let the game come to him more.
Bird Friend
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I think we're going to have to live with Reeves taking ill-advised treys from the logo. I don't think Reeves is trying to prove he's 'the man'. Seems Dan wants him to be hyper aggressive, so . . . He's gonna take some bad shots and have moments of pressing. The one thing I would love to see, though, is telling him that 'heat checks' are not okay when you're trying to get back into a game. Nothing kills runs quite so well as a missed bomb becoming a long rebound turning into fast break points on the other end.
I can pretty much tell you when Freeman and Strong are going to shoot 'no matter what' when they get their hands on the ball. I missed one time last night with Freeman, and I think that was solely because help side D cut off his shot. There's still too much 'ME' in both Strong and Freeman's offensive games.
McChesney was still pressing on his shot. If he doesn't get it going soon, he'll be another Justin Clark (all practice talent not transferring to in game talent) . . . or worse, Sead Odzic, who came to us as a can't miss long-range assassin, but eventually refused to take wide, wide open treys because he knew he would miss.
Lewis and Chatman need to quit taking threes. Sure they'll make one now and then, but it's more then than now.
I can pretty much tell you when Freeman and Strong are going to shoot 'no matter what' when they get their hands on the ball. I missed one time last night with Freeman, and I think that was solely because help side D cut off his shot. There's still too much 'ME' in both Strong and Freeman's offensive games.
McChesney was still pressing on his shot. If he doesn't get it going soon, he'll be another Justin Clark (all practice talent not transferring to in game talent) . . . or worse, Sead Odzic, who came to us as a can't miss long-range assassin, but eventually refused to take wide, wide open treys because he knew he would miss.
Lewis and Chatman need to quit taking threes. Sure they'll make one now and then, but it's more then than now.
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BirdGrad2011
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Writing off McChesney after he redshirted one year then was injured 99% of last season is a bold choice.
My point exactly. I hope they are doing their homework this past year!!
But I got into a discussion just last year that our guys should be able to play 38 minutes a game! They are 20 years old! Come on! Rub some dirt on it!
What??? You mean we can’t have it both ways?
Yes it can get worse. Not saying that it will but definitely in the realm of possibilities.
Bird Friend
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No. We’re from ISU. We can’t have it either way.
RedbirdSoxFan
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Freeman took 11 shots last night (made 6 of them). Chapman took 11 shots, Reeves took 18 shots. Hill, Brown, & Hannibal each took 12 shots, Williams took 19 shots. I’ll take 6 for 11 from Freeman every game.
Bird Friend
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Yes, he made 6 of 11. He had a solid game. I'd take that every game, too. Still doesn't mean I didn't know he was going to shoot. And if I can see it on the TV screen, others will pick up on it and plan for it.
And why do I need to know how many shots anybody on Murray State took?
RedbirdSoxFan
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You stated that Freeman was a “Me” player because he shoots too much. Just pointing out that four players on Murray State, and three player’s on Illinois State must also be “Me” player’s.
Hopefully, this was Freeman’s breakout game. However, he was being guarded by someone his size. He did have a couple inside shots over and under bigger second defenders. He was a great interview on the post game show. Mentioned that he was more of a scorer last year, but this team has more talent and scorers.