Redbirds @ Ball State, 12/12/2020, 6:00 PM (CT) ESPN+

[DBird]

I don’t see talent. I see a bull in a China shop

Unless of course Mahorcic learns to set a high ball screen.

 

[Bird Friend]

Will get his first career double-double as well.

15 and 13 . . .

 

[Bird Friend]

If one looked at only the box score, fouls and turnovers jump out. Each team took 65 shots. We made 28, they made 30. Both teams made 9 treys, with ISU shooting better from 3, which surprises me. They made 12 more free throws, and we only made 1 (ONE! UGGHH). Rebounds were even. Turnovers were 19-12. Fouls were 21-13.

Horne, Boyd, and Fleming accounted for 11 of our 21 fouls. That tells me they were overmatched, which we--at least some of us--knew coming in. Ball State's primary guards are better than ours. We fouled because we couldn't guard them. Same as each season since PLee. This probably isn't going to change this year.

Turnovers are going to be problem this year. Having an aggressive freshman PG handling the ball usually means lots of turnovers, unless the PG is an elite PG. Fleming plays too fast, which is what I think I've thought of every frosh PG we've had since Moore.

Chicago State on Tuesday. They can't shoot, can't defend, don't rebound well, and foul a lot. They don't turn the ball over as much as we do though. Should be a close game.

 

[V Boy]

If one looked at only the box score, fouls and turnovers jump out. Each team took 65 shots. We made 28, they made 30. Both teams made 9 treys, with ISU shooting better from 3, which surprises me. They made 12 more free throws, and we only made 1 (ONE! UGGHH). Rebounds were even. Turnovers were 19-12. Fouls were 21-13.

Horne, Boyd, and Fleming accounted for 11 of our 21 fouls. That tells me they were overmatched, which we--at least some of us--knew coming in. Ball State's primary guards are better than ours. We fouled because we couldn't guard them. Same as each season since PLee. This probably isn't going to change this year.

Turnovers are going to be problem this year. Having an aggressive freshman PG handling the ball usually means lots of turnovers, unless the PG is an elite PG. Fleming plays too fast, which is what I think I've thought of every frosh PG we've had since Moore.

Chicago State on Tuesday. They can't shoot, can't defend, don't rebound well, and foul a lot. They don't turn the ball over as much as we do though. Should be a close game.

good post.

Fleming isn’t fast so he shouldn’t try to play fast. He’s smart and tall. Use the ball screen and bigger length. He’ll learn.

 

[Racine Bird 3813]

Dan is not the man. I don't understand his recruiting methods. It seems like every year or two we are starting from scratch because he gets JUCO and transfers and tries to build a roster that way. He's trying to catch lightening in a bottle and win as fast a possible. I don't feel like he is building a program. What is the basketball identity under Dan Mueller?

There was a time when beating teams like UMass Lowell, Ball St, Murray St were automatic Ws. Now? Can we honestly say the program has improved from when Jank left to where we are now? I would make the argument that his best years were because of who he had as his ASSISTANT coaches.

I feel as a conference the MVC has really diminished. Jank could never get us over the hump to the dance because of teams like Wich St, Creighton, UNI, and Drake. Well WSU and CU left. But it's not like we consistently have one or two top 25 teams at the top of the conference you have to hurdle to get in the dance. That path for Dan is easier than it was for Jank.

The reality is there will be a new AD. Dan is on the clock. He's had enough time. Make the NCAA tournament or we have to move in a different direction. This is painful to type because I want Dan to be successful and we all know how much he care about ISU and his players. Let's hope for the best.

 

[stats]

Dan is not the man. I don't understand his recruiting methods. It seems like every year or two we are starting from scratch because he gets JUCO and transfers and tries to build a roster that way. He's trying to catch lightening in a bottle and win as fast a possible. I don't feel like he is building a program. What is the basketball identity under Dan Mueller?

To me, Dan's identity is having players compete against each other for playing time year after year. Winning the game or team goals are often secondary. There has been no consistent offense or consistent team defense. Not many players stick around for 4 years. I would prefer Dan sells them on a different identity and a system that works. You will see the effort pick up if they are all working for a common goal. The turnovers and sloppy well will decrease on a good offense they know and believe in. The fouls will drop if you have all 5 guys working together on defense.