Redbirds @ #25 Drake 2/1 6:00 PM ESPN3

[jamminjamarsmiley]

I hear a lot of comments about our offense standing around the perimeter like prior years ... I don't see it that way.

Coming into tonight's Drake game tonight's, ISU was 19th in the nation in shooting 3s at 39.0% and our 3pt shooting defense was 53rd at 30.1% ... its actually one of our strengths.

We are 187th in 3 point shots per game. We don't just stand around and chucks 3s this year. We may not like the execution at times but the team doesn't just settle for threes.

So why is our offense inconsistent

1. Too many turnovers .... yep. Way too many.
2. Bigs convert at very low% compared to other teams front line.

In my opinion our turnovers and lack of assists has a direct correlation with the inability of our front line. Its not like the Malik years where one person tries going 1:1 and 3 others just stand at 3 point line. Dusan rolls hard but cannot finish consistently. Teams are willing to bang him because he shoots less than 50% from FT line. Abdou doesn't roll and he doesn't have soft hands. All of this contributes and creates more pressure on the guards.

Defensively our Achilles has been interior defense and rebounding. Dusan cannot protect the rim and players like Brodie and Krutwig have punished him in the paint despite his size. I think he will struggle against Prem too. They body up and he has shown and inability to push them away from the rim prior to receiving the ball. There are still man to man principles in that zone defense which he has not mastered. Dusan brings great energy and enthusiasm but he would be better served as a role player in my opinion used in the appropriate matchups. However due to our lack of depth and options he is forced to play a larger role than he is capable of doing. Abdou show glimpses defensively but his lack of strength and hands hurts him. Now.many times does he have his hands on on rebound but cannot secure it.. His timing on blocks was much better today as he didn't go for every fake. He is a quick leaper and needs to learn to be patient and time those leaps. This is his greatest assets. That being said he seems to be a role player too. I would think both would better coming off the bench and excel in certain matchups vs having to play prominent roles daily.

So that being said does Dan have to be accountable... yes. He needs to desperately recruit some interior players. Fisher would not have been a savior but he definitely would have helped. He would have made the difference in a few games. We need to add two post players that contribute consistently both on offense and defense otherwise we will be wasting the talent we have at the underclassmen guards. Better post play will alleviate some of the pressure on the guards which in turn which will cut down on turnovers.

I understand the frustration ... I really do. 22 years from a NCAA bid and nines years under Muller; however,

1. Muller isn't going anywhere this year or next year
2. I do think the team is playing better than at the beginning of the year
3. You have 4 players ... Horne, Reeves, Fleming, and Washington that can be the nucleus for a good team
4. You have a few others that can suffice as role players
5. Add the appropriate front line help and we could be competitive next year in the MVC ... my opinion

They choose to dribble two feet inside the 3 point line and shoot those god awful mid range jumpers instead. I’d prefer them to just shoot the 3. Those long 2 point shots are in my view the worst shot in basketball yet we continue to Chuck them up there. There is absolutely no strategy to get the ball down low. Don’t tell me it’s just because the bigs are weak. Muller has had some good bigs but he doesnt even try to utilize them (Lynch, big Rey come to mind)

 

[Birdfriend72]

Actually, you don’t have to watch them! I hate the cubs, so I choose not to watch them.

This is the great mentality, but I do agree with you. You should want to attract fans. Believe it or not...a lot of fans expect to win.

 

[Birdfriend72]

Do you think ISU is the only program down because of covid and donations? I would think the number is actually higher than 30-40% but not just for ISU. We have a new AD let him get his feet wet and then see what he can do. He is not going to change wins/loses this year and probably not next. Do you have reports or data to show the ISU athletic department is not financially stable? I know for a fact WIU, SIU, and EIU are not. Multiple reports have come out saying so. If the entire stability of the ISU athletic department is based off of Bball donations we would have been in trouble many years ago. People continue to forget ISU is an Education and nursing school. Yes we have other programs but those two are the foundation of the school. Big donors are not coming from alumni. I 100% agree that waiting until 2023/24 to move on from Dan is ugly at best. I hope they find a corporate donation or a generous local or else that will be the c

No, I don’t think ISU is the only program experiencing possible financial hardship due to covid. How many of these schools have a below average coach they can’t afford to buyout because their former AD was super pumped to make an NIT and getting blown out in the MVC tourney championship that year...along with choking to UCF? You throw out Mullers best and worst year... he is barely .500. That’s not someone you want to lock up to a long term-all time deal. Of course this is where we are. You can’t buy that deal out unless you have donors. That requires winning unless you want your small group donors at the moment to do that.

 

[Birdfriend72]

They choose to dribble two feet inside the 3 point line and shoot those god awful mid range jumpers instead. I’d prefer them to just shoot the 3. Those long 2 point shots are in my view the worst shot in basketball yet we continue to Chuck them up there. There is absolutely no strategy to get the ball down low. Don’t tell me it’s just because the bigs are weak. Muller has had some good bigs but he doesnt even try to utilize them (Lynch, big Rey come to mind)

You might as well choose to shoot the wide open three if you aren’t going to pass, and move without the ball. We love to just dribble for 15 seconds and create our own shot. Low percentage shots = Low winning percentage! Specially when you rely on zone defense and very little rebounding!

 

[ISU86]

No, I don’t think ISU is the only program experiencing possible financial hardship due to covid. How many of these schools have a below average coach they can’t afford to buyout because their former AD was super pumped to make an NIT and getting blown out in the MVC tourney championship that year...along with choking to UCF? You throw out Mullers best and worst year... he is barely .500. That’s not someone you want to lock up to a long term-all time deal. Of course this is where we are. You can’t buy that deal out unless you have donors. That requires winning unless you want your small group donors at the moment to do that.

How appropriate today is Groundhog Day ... second verse, same as the first

 

[SgtHulka]

How appropriate today is Groundhog Day ... second verse, same as the first

a little bit louder and a little bit worse

 

[Birdfriend72]

Don't let facts get in the way of a good rant. This is Merica

The facts are everyone is beating Bradley these days. You do know they lost their last 6 games? You may want to come out of your hole more often.

 

[Redbird222]

Actually, you don’t have to watch them! I hate the cubs, so I choose not to watch them.

Me too ... I had to find out what channel was Marquis Network on Direct TV when the birds played on it.

 

[Redbird222]

The facts are everyone is beating Bradley these days. You do know they lost their last 6 games? You may want to come out of your hole more often.

So your saying we have a chance for 9th?

 

[Birdfriend72]

So your saying we have a chance for 9th?

There is always a chance. That would require us to get another W. I do like Bradley’s lineup a little better than ours. Again, our inside is really weak.

Mo State- L
Mo State- L
SIU- L
SIU- L
Bradley- L
UNI- L
UNI- L

Doesn’t look good. That would require us to out coach a few good coaches. That’s the problem.

 

[AllFacts]

There is always a chance. That would require us to get another W. I do like Bradley’s lineup a little better than ours. Again, our inside is really weak.

Mo State- L
Mo State- L
SIU- L
SIU- L
Bradley- L
UNI- L
UNI- L

Doesn’t look good. That would require us to out coach a few good coaches. That’s the problem.

IMO....the remaining games, I see us having a chance to get 2-3 more wins. Let's go Birds!!

 

[Redbird82]

We need 3 to match last year’s pathetic 5-13. Next week will be interesting, sadly yesterday was predictable although maybe more like a 20 point loss. MSU is pretty flawed also, if we have truly improved, can play more like we did the first game should get a split.

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

IMO....the remaining games, I see us having a chance to get 2-3 more wins. Let's go Birds!!

Are we really excited about the potential of winning 2-3 games out of 7 against the mvc bottom feeders?

 

[Birdfriend72]

We need 3 to match last year’s pathetic 5-13.

We need 3 to match last year’s pathetic 5-13. Next week will be interesting, sadly yesterday was predictable although maybe more like a 20 point loss. MSU is pretty flawed also, if we have truly improved, can play more like we did the first game should get a split.

Next week will be interesting, sadly yesterday was predictable although maybe more like a 20 point loss. MSU is pretty flawed also, if we have truly improved, can play more like we did the first game should get a split.

You do know we lost 3/4 to Valpo and Evansville? We beat Bradley...who has lost six straight. Our chances of winning 3 are very low. I would love to bet on the odds of that one. Because I’m sure 1 win will be an anomaly!

 

[JHBird]

What's more depressing is that this team will probably be just as bad next year. Sure, some of the young guys will be better, but every team can say that. Nobody's losing any eligibility so it will just be a replay of this year.

 

[Bird Friend]

You do know we lost 3/4 to Valpo and Evansville? We beat Bradley...who has lost six straight. Our chances of winning 3 are very low. I would love to bet on the odds of that one. Because I’m sure 1 win will be an anomaly!

So . . . place the bet . . .

 

[DWRedbird]

Strong, well throughout post. However, the notion that HCDM isn’t going anywhere sounds like pure speculation. Since we hired the new AD, Muller is winless, and in embarrassing fashion. If getting rid of HCDM this season isn’t our AD’s top priority (finances be damned), then we hired the wrong guy.

Unless the university has been saving up money, I don't think we'll have the 1.2 (I think) stored up to fire him at the end of the year. I would be pleasantly surprised if they let Dan go at the end of the year, but if they don't I'm not blaming the new AD for getting handcuffed with a bad contract by the old AD.

 

[AllFacts]

Are we really excited about the potential of winning 2-3 games out of 7 against the mvc bottom feeders?

Well, not "excited" by no means! Just being reasonably optimistic if I may. 5 or more would be exciting going into the Tourney.

 

[Birdfriend72]

So . . . place the bet .

What's more depressing is that this team will probably be just as bad next year. Sure, some of the young guys will be better, but every team can say that. Nobody's losing any eligibility so it will just be a replay of this year.

You are assuming “the young guys” stay around. We need at least one quality big that can move his feet and handle the rock. If we could grab a Jackie Carmichael then we are in business.

 

[BIGfan]

My college coach didn't tell me he was proud of me or that I was improving. He said. "You are the center. The lane belongs to you. Don't let anyone shoot in there... and you better get every defensive rebound." If I missed a rebound he would hit me on the head with his clipboard at the next time out. I don't know what he would have done if I missed half my layups. I'd probably still be running sprints.