Need some breakdown from MOR of the last 4 games

[94GRAD]

MOR, you had some concerns about how Travis has been coaching this year. Can you please let us know how you feel after these last 4 games. Thanks.

[bleedXblue]

LOL this ought to be good

[X Factor]

Of course he's now doing everything MOR wanted him to do previously.

Seriously though, why bring this up?

[joe titan]

IMO MOR's points in large measure remain valid. Even today the finish was horrible with multiple missed FTs & careless TOs. Tough to say whether Harden's contribution was just a nice run by overlooked sub or Steele's coaching patience finally bearing fruit. Game end vs. SH was good fortune offsetting some bad breaks in earlier games. Providence is obviously on the skids and but for initial 8-12 minutes of H2 when XU canned everything was an even game with some trials and tribulations to close out.

[vee4xu]

I believe that the great MOR is in Florida with the Canton Barrister and the Hanging Judge. He may be off the XU grid for the time being.

[XU 87]

IMO MOR's points in large measure remain valid. Even today the finish was horrible with multiple missed FTs & careless TOs. Tough to say whether Harden's contribution was just a nice run by overlooked sub or Steele's coaching patience finally bearing fruit. Game end vs. SH was good fortune offsetting some bad breaks in earlier games. Providence is obviously on the skids and but for initial 8-12 minutes of H2 when XU canned everything was an even game with some trials and tribulations to close out.

I've had my complaints about end of game coaching and playing this year, but I find it tough to criticize anything from yesterday.

[xeus]

I've had my complaints about end of game coaching and playing this year, but I find it tough to criticize anything from yesterday.

I agree. Can't put free throws on the Coach. And tuenivers limited to three in the second half? Pretty solid display yesterday from where I sat.

[EastCoastXman]

MOR should be back in The Land after padding his handicap in FL. He and I have had discussions about this team.

Steele in game coaching is getting better. In the past he has burned Time Outs at questionable times and not taken them when needed. Yesterday X went into the last 4 minutes with all 3 TO's. Expecting the Nova press, it was nice to know we had them in our pocket. Fortunately, we only needed to use 1 TO.

In the last 4 games, our shooting has improved dramatically. By percentage, we have out shot opponents (Creighton 40% to 35%, Providence 59% to 35%, Seton Hall 47% to 41% and Nova 51% to 34%). Dramatic improvement in our D is bring opponent % down. Getting the ball in the paint, not only Ty and Zach but also slashing by guards, is opening up the outside shots and not so contested. Our guards are much more physical then most Big East guards and we are taking advantage of that.

Emergence of E Harden has also been a big factor. He is working his butt off on D and starting to contribute on the offensive end. He will be the guy that other teams will help off of so he needs to make them pay.

[GoMuskies]

The only coaching concern I would mention from yesterday were those two possessions of zone when Nova put up 5 points (that's 10% of their points for the game in like 30 seconds of game action). Wisely, there was not a third possessions of zone.

[joe titan]

I agree. Can't put free throws on the Coach. And tuenivers limited to three in the second half? Pretty solid display yesterday from where I sat.

FTs can be practiced especially pressure packed end gamers; watching guys just barely receive the ball and chuck it says need some coaching. 3 TOs for 20 minutes is fine but 3 straight possessions at end vs 'Nova press resulted in TO and wasted time-out b/c ball went to corner. Preparation missing.

I will also 2nd guess keeping Jones in w/4 fouls late in game; could easily do O/D with Hankins. Maybe Travis wasn't around for Duke game.

[paulxu]

I'm guessing they're practicing the press break this week.

[XU 87]

FTs can be practiced especially pressure packed end gamers; watching guys just barely receive the ball and chuck it says need some coaching. 3 TOs for 20 minutes is fine but 3 straight possessions at end vs 'Nova press resulted in TO and wasted time-out b/c ball went to corner. Preparation missing.

I will also 2nd guess keeping Jones in w/4 fouls late in game; could easily do O/D with Hankins. Maybe Travis wasn't around for Duke game.

My goodness. X just beat 17th ranked Villanova by double digits, held 'Nova to 24 points in the second half, including outscoring them by 15 in the second half, and this is what you have to say?

And are you really claiming X "doesn't practice free throws enough" or "isn't doing the proper free throw drills"?

Enjoy the win. It was a good one.

[XU 87]

The only coaching concern I would mention from yesterday were those two possessions of zone when Nova put up 5 points (that's 10% of their points for the game in like 30 seconds of game action). Wisely, there was not a third possessions of zone.

I was a little surprised X even went to zone in the first half. The man was working very well. Like yourself, I was glad to see X get out of zone after two possessions.

[D-West & PO-Z]

FTs can be practiced especially pressure packed end gamers; watching guys just barely receive the ball and chuck it says need some coaching. 3 TOs for 20 minutes is fine but 3 straight possessions at end vs 'Nova press resulted in TO and wasted time-out b/c ball went to corner. Preparation missing.

I will also 2nd guess keeping Jones in w/4 fouls late in game; could easily do O/D with Hankins. Maybe Travis wasn't around for Duke game.

You honestly dont think they practice FT's? :rolleyes:

[bleedXblue]

I think the point here is that we all (or almost every damn one of us) have questioned Steele and his abilities considering the rough start and stretch this year. Some of us questioned fairly and put most if this on Steele's inexperience and gave him the benefit of the doubt.........some of us cast stones pretty quickly. Right or wrong, thats where 94 is going.........I think.

[IM4X]

MOR should be back in The Land after padding his handicap in FL. He and I have had discussions about this team.

Steele in game coaching is getting better. In the past he has burned Time Outs at questionable times and not taken them when needed. Yesterday X went into the last 4 minutes with all 3 TO's. Expecting the Nova press, it was nice to know we had them in our pocket. Fortunately, we only needed to use 1 TO.

Steele’s in game coaching is getting better.

It was also extremely encouraging to hear his responses in the post game press conference. Thought he gave really smart and detailed answers to reporters questions which show he is starting to grasp this head coaching thing.

I don’t know for sure what MOR would say, but he did agree with the issues I had and I was in complete agreement with what he was posting as well. Many of those issues have either been resolved (or at least have gotten better). For that reason, I could see MOR thinking the following:

It would have been great if these improvements happened a little earlier in the season, but it is still good to see them. NOW WE CAN DEFINITIVELY SAY THERE IS INDEED ENOUGH TALENT ON THIS ROSTER TO BEAT ANY BIG EAST TEAM. THAT THESE CURRENT PLAYERS ARE CAPABLE OF PLAYING HARDER AND SMARTER THAN THEY HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR MOST OF THIS SEASON. THAT THE CORE FOUR ARE NOT OVERRATED. THAT SOMEONE HAS FINALLY GOTTEN THROUGH TO NAJI AND Q BECUSE THEY NOW ARE SHOWING MORE PATIENCE AND NOT JUST JACKING UP QUICK THREES. THAT STEELE IS NOW MAKING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH ARE GIVING OPPONENTS FITS. THAT PLAYERS ARE TRUSTING TEAMMATES MORE NOW AND NOT TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH ON THEIR OWN (WHICH OFTEN LEAD TO TURNOVERS AND RUNS FOR OPPONENTS). AND YES, THAT STEELE IS GETTING A BETTER FEEL FOR WHEN TO SPEND A TIMEOUT AND WHEN TO SAVE ONE.”

No matter what any of us were thinking before, we’ve all got to be pretty encouraged right now.

Pieces are falling into place nicely. Steele is now getting through to his players and those players are responding and having fun doing it. This is Xavier Basketball as it should be.

[IM4X]

I think the point here is that we all (or almost every damn one of us) has questioned Steele and his abilities considering the rough start and stretch this year. Some of us questioned fairly and put most if this on Steele's inexperience and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

This.

It was never an issue of whether he could be a great captain. It was simply a matter of wishing he would learn to properly steer his first ship a little faster.

The waves ended up being a little choppier than expected and the boat stalled a few more times than he hoped, but he now seems to have the hang of it.
All aboard- Full speed ahead!

[xuwin]

FTs can be practiced especially pressure packed end gamers; watching guys just barely receive the ball and chuck it says need some coaching. 3 TOs for 20 minutes is fine but 3 straight possessions at end vs 'Nova press resulted in TO and wasted time-out b/c ball went to corner. Preparation missing.

I will also 2nd guess keeping Jones in w/4 fouls late in game; could easily do O/D with Hankins. Maybe Travis wasn't around for Duke game.


Late in the game is when you play players with 4 fouls. What are you saving him for?

[Muskie]

Late in the game is when you play players with 4 fouls. What are you saving him for?

Also Jones was clearly the fire in the huddle at the end of the game. You don't let him rally the troops and let the man watch from the bench. We weren't playing with OT in mind.

[GIMMFD]

Also Jones was clearly the fire in the huddle at the end of the game. You don't let him rally the troops and let the man watch from the bench. We weren't playing with OT in mind.

Agreed, he was having a pretty good game too, and when you have a guy like that who's pumped up and ready to give it your all, you take that risk, he pulled him with 4:33 left to give him a little breather, but I was completely fine with when he put him back in to finish out the game.

[Masterofreality]

Thanks for the floor Proprietor.:rolleyes:

Hey guys. Not avoiding, but as EastCoast and Vee accurately pointed out, we were in Florida with some 50 year X friends ripping up golf courses and pounding down multiple drinks willing X to two huge wins last week. I posted another thread about Running The F-Ing Table, but I'll elaborate here.

Look, folks. It was impossible not to have questions after bad bad BAD games vs SucKS and Missouri, plus losing 6 in a row with very bad decision making and mysterious sub patterns. How could you not wonder where Eli Harden was or why a team was so horriffic on defense? But those are water under the bridge now.

What I see is a young coach hitting his stride...and possibly the Assistants hitting theirs. The scouting and pre-Game Planning have obviously improved, maybe because we have now played these 4 teams we've beaten before and had some knowledge about them, but maybe because the staff assignments are more effective. We used to know who was out scouting the opposition before our game under Miller and Mack, now we don't hear anything about that. Maybe Steele was only using video and tape to scout and has now changed to in-person? (Edit. Found out that In-person scouting is now an NCAA violation, so nope)I don't know, but they are definitely more effective. We'll have a game vs a first timer in St. Johns on Thursday so we can judge.

I also don't know why all the minutes at the small forward position were going to Castlin or Welage and not Harden- maybe because TSteele had made a commitment in his mind that he had brought those guys in and he was going to live up to an internal mental minutes pledge? I don't know, but it is refreshing to see Harden get his deserved minutes. Look, Eli was a legit 4 Star recruit and won 14 awards in Georgia. Why he was forgotten, who knows, but he had a very short leash early and wasn't allowed to play through his mistakes like others. Now he's finally getting the chance and producing.
Credit Steele or some other coach to finally seeing what they had. In that same vein, there were numerous times this year when players were going off and killing the opposition early then they wouldn't be seen for hours afterward. The sub patterns overall have improved. I can only assume that there have been some real "Come to Jesus" meetings between the staff to discuss changes. That being said, Naji is playing way too many minutes, I'd rather see Eli give HIM a blow rather than others, but maybe Eli isn't fully equipped for that.

Next, let's face it. The defense was horrific. There were definite issues in personnel usage in the scheme that Steele was trying to run. One major positive adjustment that I've seen is more adjustments when they run the man-packline. Much more switching of ball screens than before and more of a willingness to change off one scheme to the other. Quicker switches to zone from man and back again, etc. This has definitely been effective. Steele coached Ed Cooley into a Body Bag in Providence after Steele had one of his worst coaching days vs Providence at Cintas.

Next, it appears that this team has finally been coached on how to be offensively attack vs a zone- something which Mack never seemed to grasp. I kept screaming all year about why when X was zoned, why NO ONE would break to the foul line for an entry pass to make the defense collapse. There was way too much perimeter passing with that infernal "weave" which did nothing to make the defense adjust. The last few games, I've seen less weave and more Post Entries vs the zone. I've also seen better entry passes vs man also with better angles. Obviously something has been taught in practice.

Next, there is now some individual development occurring. Maybe it's just more maturity from Naji, maybe Tyrique has just worked harder in the gym, hard to say, but there is improvement occurring.

Finally, it seems that Steele has finally figured out the difference between being players friend assistant and Head Man on the Totem Pole. When Paul Scruggs was killing the team with turnovers a few games ago, Steele yanked him out and he didn't see much floor after. Xavier won anyway. He seems to have figured out the delicate balance to "counsel" a guy, but not ruin his psyche. That's a huge advancement and a credit to Steele.

I don't know what the future for this team is, but I am now 100% bought in on TSteele. The deer in the headlights is gone and advancements continue to be made. I just know I was a helluva lot better coach in Year 3 than 1, then in Year 6 than 3, and on and on and I wasn't coaching at anywhere near this level. I'm still unsure about whether every assistant on this staff deserves to be back but good assistants really boost a Head Coach, and I really hope Dante Jackson can emerge as the lead assistant. That guy has all kinds of positives.

Long answer, I guess, but at the end of the day...

LETS RUN THE F-ING TABLE!!

[94GRAD]

I knew you weren't avoiding anything Harry. I honestly want to know your thoughts on the 4 game winning streak. Thanks!!!

[Masterofreality]

I knew you weren't avoiding anything Harry. I honestly want to know your thoughts on the 4 game winning streak. Thanks!!!

Thanks Brother!!

You are Da Man!! See you on 3/9!!

[chico]

Nobody puts MOR in a corner!

Regarding your point about Scruggs being pulled. Steele was very diplomatic in his post game interview. Lauded Scruggs for his play this year and didn't criticize at all and very deftly handled the question.

They say that freshmen start to improve when the game slows down for them. I think this has been the case for Steele this year. Early on, being the head coach was a whirlwind and game situations move fast. He wasn't ready for it, but has improved as the season has progressed and the game has in effect slowed down for him.

[Masterofreality]

From the previous post: "We'll have a game vs a first timer in St. Johns on Thursday so we can judge."

Welp, I guess that answered that question. The pre-game scouting and game plans improvement had only a little to do with the fact that we were "re-playing" teams. Whatever changed, the staff has it together and have solid advice to impart to the team.

RUN THE F-ING TABLE!!