vs North Dakota St - 12/17/23 - 3 pm - ESPN+

[Phantom]

Tarp it off and push everyone into the lower bowl.

Embarrassing to admit, but I've been saying this for a couple years now. At least tarp off the very top 4-5 rows and cut capacity by 2K seats. That way if a miracle happens and we draw 6-7K, it will still look pretty full. Pull the tarp if/when we start drawing consistently big again. The COVID year plus a few consecutive years of just bad teams (not to mention 26 years without a tourney appearance), has destroyed attendance. It's so sad. 3K a game, can't even make Horton SRO at limited capacity. Even during a couple bad years in the early-mid 2000s we'd still routinely put 5-6-7K in the building. Never thought it would fall this far. It is what it is.

Good win yesterday. Huge second half, especially from Burf. Lieb could be a solid contributor if he knew how to finish at the rim but he looked like a fish out of water yesterday. Still need to move and transition a lot more. Our halfcourt offense is garbage. Would be okay if we were a good shooting team, but we aren't. Gotta attack the rim and get to the line.

 

[stats]

He is good at it! It’s hard to teach a guard to post up. It’s hard work!

Not to mention, I would assume the guards he is scoring on don't practice post-defense down low very much.

 

[DaveBird10]

The offense might struggle as guys are finding shots, was nice to see Mal and Davis both hit big 3s in the 2nd half but more importantly the lineup that got the run started with defense on the perimeter. Foster, Kasubke, Davis, Burford and Banks shut down NDSU. At the 13:00 minute mark of the 2nd half the score was 52-44. the score at 1:51 left in the game was 69-58. We went on a 25-6 run in 11 minutes of game action.
Furthermore when we play defense without fouling we are pretty good. In our 4 losses we have fouled opponents over 17 times a game.

@SLU; 27 fouls, 30-37 from the line
vs. High Point; 17 fouls, 13-15 from the line
vs. Wright State; 19 fouls, 15-21 from the line
vs NSU; 24 fouls, 21-26 from the line

When we play defense without fouling (15 fouls or less a game) and kept teams under 15 free throws then we have won our games. Defense without fouling will keep this team in games.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

The offense might struggle as guys are finding shots, was nice to see Mal and Davis both hit big 3s in the 2nd half but more importantly the lineup that got the run started with defense on the perimeter. Foster, Kasubke, Davis, Burford and Banks shut down NDSU. At the 13:00 minute mark of the 2nd half the score was 52-44. the score at 1:51 left in the game was 69-58. We went on a 25-6 run in 11 minutes of game action.
Furthermore when we play defense without fouling we are pretty good. In our 4 losses we have fouled opponents over 17 times a game.

@SLU; 27 fouls, 30-37 from the line
vs. High Point; 17 fouls, 13-15 from the line
vs. Wright State; 19 fouls, 15-21 from the line
vs NSU; 24 fouls, 21-26 from the line

When we play defense without fouling (15 fouls or less a game) and kept teams under 15 free throws then we have won our games. Defense without fouling will keep this team in games.

It’s worth noting that vs NSU we actually shot more FTs than they did. Those officials had very happy whistles.

 

[Redbird Alum 2004]

It is going to be awesome during conference play and beyond when our shooters like Mal shoot lights out to get back their averages.

 

[Scipio]

Embarrassing to admit, but I've been saying this for a couple years now. At least tarp off the very top 4-5 rows and cut capacity by 2K seats. That way if a miracle happens and we draw 6-7K, it will still look pretty full. Pull the tarp if/when we start drawing consistently big again. The COVID year plus a few consecutive years of just bad teams (not to mention 26 years without a tourney appearance), has destroyed attendance. It's so sad. 3K a game, can't even make Horton SRO at limited capacity. Even during a couple bad years in the early-mid 2000s we'd still routinely put 5-6-7K in the building. Never thought it would fall this far. It is what it is.

Good win yesterday. Huge second half, especially from Burf. Lieb could be a solid contributor if he knew how to finish at the rim but he looked like a fish out of water yesterday. Still need to move and transition a lot more. Our halfcourt offense is garbage. Would be okay if we were a good shooting team, but we aren't. Gotta attack the rim and get to the line.

You’re speaking truth about attendance. Yes we’ve fallen far. Yes performance of the team has contributed to poor attendance. I just think that closing off the upper deck seats is an admission of defeat I’m not ready to make yet. I’m giving Coach Pedon 4 years. If we aren’t stomping the guts out of Bradley and competing for an MVC title by then; close off the upper deck. Cause we’re not going to be relevant and it may be time to give up. I’m not there yet.

 

[Scipio]

I'm definitely more comfortable with Schmitt's ability to catch passes on offense. Lieb is a better rebounder and more effective on defense.

Lieb is a better option than Schmitt. Lieb needs to learn his role; which is to take the ball in the post and a) Distribute to a shooter, b) power move to the hoop and score, c) draw a foul and score. I like his defense and rebounding. He needs to learn to play in Pedons system.

 

[Birgs]

Lieb is a better option than Schmitt. Lieb needs to learn his role; which is to take the ball in the post and a) Distribute to a shooter, b) power move to the hoop and score, c) draw a foul and score. I like his defense and rebounding. He needs to learn to play in Pedons system.

Agreed. and then some. There were some nice instances where he showed some handy-ness in receiving lobs. Also considering (I am not suggesting he start tossing them up more/again 3's, but maybe use it as a perceived threat) high screen-rolls from the top of the key. He does seem to have nice touch on kick-outs. I'm not crowning him the next Joker or even a poor-man's Vucevic, but that kinda big-man pivot-poster/passer thing on occasion....

 

[isuquinndog]

Has Lieb ever been a "power" kind of center? If he hasn't, do we really expect him to start now?

 

[Birgs]

Has Lieb ever been a "power" kind of center? If he hasn't, do we really expect him to start now?

Exactly. Use him "high-post" (not in a get big and back down on a guy); use hands/reach more than body/lack of girth as a ditributor with ability to crash offensive boards/put-backs.

 

[Bdub777]

A nice profile of Jordan Davis’ progress back into the lineup. It’s all about confidence. Hopefully he keeps improving.

Davis earning way back into rotation for ISU men's basketball

Coming from Wisconsin, Illinois State men's basketball had high hopes for senior guard Jordan Davis when he transferred to the Redbirds in the offseason. Despite it taking time, Davis is

www.videtteonline.com

 

[Scipio]

Exactly. Use him "high-post" (not in a get big and back down on a guy); use hands/reach more than body/lack of girth as a ditributor with ability to crash offensive boards/put-backs.

Our issue is with 3-point shooting. Defenses are going to learn to collapse on Foster, Klew and Lieb, IF there is no credible 3- point threat. I understand and appreciate wanting to play the game in the paint. That works IF you have credible 3-point threats; which we do not have at present. My view is that Foster, Lieb and Kendall are trying to do too much, as they have no confidence in our perimeter offense. Yes, there’s Burford; but that’s not enough. We have improved dramatically from last few seasons. But we still need that player (6’7+) who can consistently hit the 3-ball.

 

[Rollbirds5]

Our issue is with 3-point shooting. Defenses are going to learn to collapse on Foster, Klew and Lieb, IF there is no credible 3- point threat. I understand and appreciate wanting to play the game in the paint. That works IF you have credible 3-point threats; which we do not have at present. My view is that Foster, Lieb and Kendall are trying to do too much, as they have no confidence in our perimeter offense. Yes, there’s Burford; but that’s not enough. We have improved dramatically from last few seasons. But we still need that player (6’7+) who can consistently hit the 3-ball.

Any Covid eligibility for Teddy Hawkins or Mikyle McIntosh?

 

[Bird Friend]

5 Points (15/40 minutes)
4 Rebounds (12/40 minutes)
3 Blocks (9/40 minutes)
1 Assist (3/40)

Not bad for 13 minutes. Some of those shots he is missing down low are going to start dropping. I’ll take that from a backup center.

I thought that one that hit the top of the backboard had a chance . . .

 

[Bird Friend]

Not to mention, I would assume the guards he is scoring on don't practice post-defense down low very much.

And Darius can jump! Wonder what his vertical is . . .

 

[Hamdonger]

Secondary fast breaks works

Yessir, Dean Smith right there, good interjective. Although I rarely have yet to see it with us!

 

[Hamdonger]

5 Points (15/40 minutes)
4 Rebounds (12/40 minutes)
3 Blocks (9/40 minutes)
1 Assist (3/40)

Not bad for 13 minutes. Some of those shots he is missing down low are going to start dropping. I’ll take that from a backup center.

Yo JohnnyRedbird! (Mr. Kinziger might take your nickname) Merry Christmas! The statline vs what I am seeing with my own eyes in person is somewhat different...definitely different. Believe me, I'm rooting for Brandon to come alive.

 

[Hamdonger]

Wasn’t that the same game (Chicago State) Bender got his nose busted?

Well yes and no. Burk's elbow job and Bender standing up&fainting happened during the same game - which was not Chicago State. Bender did get his nose broken in the Chicago State melee. Good times!

 

[Hamdonger]

So you're saying Ryan's got a little Tom Boerwinkle in him?

BAM!

 

[Hamdonger]

Agreed. and then some. There were some nice instances where he showed some handy-ness in receiving lobs. Also considering (I am not suggesting he start tossing them up more/again 3's, but maybe use it as a perceived threat) high screen-rolls from the top of the key. He does seem to have nice touch on kick-outs. I'm not crowning him the next Joker or even a poor-man's Vucevic, but that kinda big-man pivot-poster/passer thing on occasion....

He has digressed over the season. That's my alarm. I see BIG upside and if we want to be good we need his overall floor production. He's not giving us effective production right now. That's the truth. Pulling HARD for him.