Offensive Philosophy is the Culprit

[Go Go Golston]

It's not that players can't execute the offense by not hitting shots. It's that the dribble drive/feed the post/isolation scheme is a joke of an offense. It's a coach's bail out and is usually followed by "we want to be a great defensive unit".
It takes a lot of work, time, effort and basketball IQ to run say the Villanova 1 in 4 out and work on finding that second cutter. Or to implement a flex offense where spacing and fluidity are important components. I fear this regime will give us more of the same every year.
It will get you wins against teams with lesser athleticism but not against familiar foes or better competition. I for one loathe watching it.

[X Factor]

It's not that players can't execute the offense by not hitting shots. It's that the dribble drive/feed the post/isolation scheme is a joke of an offense. It's a coach's bail out and is usually followed by "we want to be a great defensive unit".
It takes a lot of work, time, effort and basketball IQ to run say the Villanova 1 in 4 out and work on finding that second cutter. Or to implement a flex offense where spacing and fluidity are important components. I fear this regime will give us more of the same every year.
It will get you wins against teams with lesser athleticism but not against familiar foes or better competition. I for one loathe watching it.

I kind of agree with you. I was watching Arizona-Oregon St. last night, and both of those of teams were running a lot more action and set plays in the half court than I've ever seen us do.

On a side note, Sean Miller was sweating like a pig. Disgustingly sweaty, like Bruce Pearl.

[Masterofreality]

It's not that players can't execute the offense by not hitting shots. It's that the dribble drive/feed the post/isolation scheme is a joke of an offense. It's a coach's bail out and is usually followed by "we want to be a great defensive unit".
It takes a lot of work, time, effort and basketball IQ to run say the Villanova 1 in 4 out and work on finding that second cutter. Or to implement a flex offense where spacing and fluidity are important components. I fear this regime will give us more of the same every year.
It will get you wins against teams with lesser athleticism but not against familiar foes or better competition. I for one loathe watching it.

I agree 100% in all respects.

[bleedXblue]

Does our coach know how to run or install anything else? Not being a smart ass........really curious b/c our offense is disturbingly horrific at getting the right guys shots in the right spots.

Dump it to Tyrique or pass the ball around the top of the key and then someone goes one on one trying to create a shot. Thats it.

[IM4X]

If you ^ are all crazy, then count me in as being crazy too - cuz I’m seeing and saying many of these same things.

[XUBison]

But guys, we become so much easier to game-plan against if we run offensive sets. Coach said so himself.

[xucub]

So what you are saying is that passing the ball aimlessly behind the 3-point line is useless when you have no 3-point shooters. Brilliant!!

[Xville]

But guys, we become so much easier to game-plan against if we run offensive sets. Coach said so himself.

Please for the love please tell me he didnt actually say that.

[drudy23]

My guess is part of his pitch to get the job was his selling of his ability to get his teams to play a Villanova style of offense. He's pushing and pushing it because he has to validate that claim.

It's blatantly obvious we can't run that style of offense with this team.

[XU 87]

It's not that players can't execute the offense by not hitting shots. It's that the dribble drive/feed the post/isolation scheme is a joke of an offense.

So you're saying that Goodin and Moore would have made a bunch of those wide open threes on Saturday if X had just run a different offense?

[SemajParlor]

It's not that players can't execute the offense by not hitting shots.

No, that's actually kind of it.

[xuwin]

No, that's actually kind of it.

Exactly. There is not an offense in the world that will work if you can't make shots. Dribble drive with nobody to kick the ball out to that can make shots doesn't work either.

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

Questions:
1. When a slump is no longer a slump and becomes a trend/reality.

2. A. Why the worst 3pt. shooting player keeps shooting the 3 like he is the best shooter. B. Is the coach giving the green light for that or is it the player's overriding the coach's decision? C. If the coach is allowing it, Why? Someone please make some sense of all this.

[drudy23]

Questions:
1. When a slump is no longer a slump and becomes a trend/reality.

2. A. Why the worst 3pt. shooting player keeps shooting the 3 like he is the best shooter. B. Is the coach giving the green light for that or is it the player's overriding the coach's decision? C. If the coach is allowing it, Why? Someone please make some sense of all this.

It's the defense, just ask Steele.

[scoscox]

Exactly. There is not an offense in the world that will work if you can't make shots. Dribble drive with nobody to kick the ball out to that can make shots doesn't work either.

this is true, but it's not totally true that we have no one that can hit shots. we do not maximize paul like we should. now that may just be part of his makeup to not want to be "the guy", but it needs to be pushed in that direction

[XUBob]

To his credit , Steele did sit Goodin for the final 16 or so minutes of the game. Does improvement need to come both coaches and players, absolutely, but it is hard to win when you can shoot. Lane gets clogged, only openings seem to be jumpers which plays into our opponents hands. I know it sounds easy but until the shooting improves we will probably see more of the same.

[BandDad]

Please for the love please tell me he didnt actually say that.

He did say that on the coaches show last night. It was one weird show. He started off by stating that our bench wasn't cheering enough or not engaged in the game, so I guess it is Schrand's fault!

[IM4X]

Exactly. There is not an offense in the world that will work if you can't make shots. Dribble drive with nobody to kick the ball out to that can make shots doesn't work either.

Oh, we've got two. They just aren't the ones getting most of the shots.

3pt shooting %

Scruggs 37.7%
Kyky almost 36.4 %


Scruggs is 6-8 in the last 4 games- Doesn't that sound like someone who ought to working on getting more open looks for. How many looks did he get last game... 1... and he made it. He was open several but teammates were not paying attention. He has to be option # 1 and Tandy number 2... but that is not what Steele is saying.

Nope. His philosophy is, "If a player has a good look, take the shot." The problem with that philosophy (and we saw it play out horribly during the Creighton game) is that bad 3 point shooters will typically have more wide open shots because the opponent knows they can’t shoot them that well... and they would love to see those poor shooters shoot it more often and miss.

If you look at the better BE teams ( Nova, Creighton, Butler, Seton Hall, Marquette) the 2 or 3 players who shoot most of their threes are very good 3 point shooters. Those coach’s would never green light Naji and Q to be shooting close to or more 3s than Scruggs.

[Xville]

He did say that on the coaches show last night. It was one weird show. He started off by stating that our bench wasn't cheering enough or not engaged in the game, so I guess it is Schrand's fault!

Hes actually starting to become unlikable. Who the hell did we hire?

[bleedXblue]

Hes actually starting to become unlikable. Who the hell did we hire?

That's something you simply don't air out in a coaches show. And I agree, he's almost to forthcoming to the point where nothing is sacred among team.

And lets remember this is HIS team. If they aren't pulling for each other and excited, why the hell not? Something seems off.

[AviatorX]

Would be interested to see the OP’s (or anyone’s) breakdown of the philosophical differences between this offense and the offense in Mack’s last year.

[whopper]

it is clearly becoming a mental block as much as a lack of shooting ability. Both on a bad day should be hitting 20% of shots..not zero percent. In the case of Moore his opportunities are feast or famine but he is pressing(some shots seem to be decent in and out misses). Q is not anywhere near as good as Moore but was serviceable but now it reminds me of when Nick Anderson missed 4 foul shoots against Houston Rockets in 1995 that would have iced game one and was NEVER near the same player again. I am praying that they break the streak tomorrow.
So you're saying that Goodin and Moore would have made a bunch of those wide open threes on Saturday if X had just run a different offense?

[SemajParlor]

Steele is not exempt from everything he's ever done but this is division 1 basketball, you have to take and make open shots if you have them. You know what happens to teams that can't make open shots ? They, like the other 280 schools in the country, don't make the tournament.

[Masterofreality]

He did say that on the coaches show last night. It was one weird show. He started off by stating that our bench wasn't cheering enough or not engaged in the game, so I guess it is Schrand's fault!

It was a VERRRRRRY weird show, and one that had me rolling my eyes numerous times- the same eye roll that I had as I listened to his post game Press Conference last Saturday. I,m VERRRRRRRY concerned.

[Masterofreality]

Steele is not exempt from everything he's ever done but this is division 1 basketball, you have to take and make open shots if you have them. You know what happens to teams that can't make open shots ? They, like the other 280 schools in the country, don't make the tournament.

Xavier is Two Hundred Ninety First ranked in 3 point shooting percentage in Division 1 basketball. Why?
Because lousy shooters keep taking the majority of our shots. And Steele just lets it happen with no change to adjust.
Hell, man, at this point, just sit Q. Put KyKy and Paul in there with Moore the first off the bench. Screw this "lose the locker room" iish. You lose the locker room by continually losing games, and that's gonna happen unless something changes. Period.

[SM#24]

Steele is not exempt from everything he's ever done but this is division 1 basketball, you have to take and make open shots if you have them. You know what happens to teams that can't make open shots ? They, like the other 280 schools in the country, don't make the tournament.
I don't get this. Not everyone on even the better teams is a good shooter from everywhere. Yes, if you're open you take the shots that you are capable of making in a proficient manner. Our coach is letting players shoot shots that they are not capable of making at an acceptable rate. The other teams know this and that's their game plan. Tyrique is a D1 player, that label doesn't mean he should be shooting 3s when wide open; as best as I can tell, he hasn't taken a 3pt shot in his career (for a very good reason), even though he would be open from there on every possession we have.
Many things go into coaching and one of them is getting the most out of your player's talents, we seem to be getting the least. There is talent on this team and I believe enough talent to be at a minimum a top 20 team. It is just not being deployed in the best manner, actually, it's quite the opposite.

MOR, you give us too much credit, we rank 313 in 3pt %; and in games where we shoot 20 or more 3s (which is 10 of our 17 games) our % ranks 345.

[Final4]

Xavier is Two Hundred Ninety First ranked in 3 point shooting percentage in Division 1 basketball. Why?
Because lousy shooters keep taking the majority of our shots. And Steele just lets it happen with no change to adjust.
Hell, man, at this point, just sit Q. Put KyKy and Paul in there with Moore the first off the bench. Screw this "lose the locker room" iish. You lose the locker room by continually losing games, and that's gonna happen unless something changes. Period.

This. So what happens if you bench Q.........Naji and Tyrique revolt? Let 'em and sit their asses on the bench as well. I would expect that revolt to be short lived.

[AviatorX]

Just as a data point, Xavier is ranked 235th in the country in 3 point attempt % (relative to X's total field goal attempts).

[bleedXblue]

This. So what happens if you bench Q.........Naji and Tyrique revolt? Let 'em and sit their asses on the bench as well. I would expect that revolt to be short lived.

thats ridiculous if its thats the case

This is about whats important for the WHOLE TEAM

Again, whos running the team? The coach or players?

[SemajParlor]

Xavier is Two Hundred Ninety First ranked in 3 point shooting percentage in Division 1 basketball. Why?
Because lousy shooters keep taking the majority of our shots. And Steele just lets it happen with no change to adjust.
Hell, man, at this point, just sit Q. Put KyKy and Paul in there with Moore the first off the bench. Screw this "lose the locker room" iish. You lose the locker room by continually losing games, and that's gonna happen unless something changes. Period.

Maybe we just have lousy shooters.

[SemajParlor]

There is talent on this team and I believe enough talent to be at a minimum a top 20 team. It is just not being deployed in the best manner, actually, it's quite the opposite.



I guess that's where we disagree. This would be a top 20 team... if they can make shots. But they can't. And that's why they are not. I know my logic is simplifying the game/ redundant. Just sometimes feel people look for answers when they are right in front of us. If this team was that good, they would be that good.

[BandDad]

thats ridiculous if its thats the case

This is about whats important for the WHOLE TEAM

Again, whos running the team? The coach or players?

Tyrique would revolt, but I would not add Marshall to that mix. My son sees Q and Tyrique together all the time but Scruggs and Marshall are hanging with different groups on campus. Just saying.

And the coaches show was the weirdest that I have heard in a long time. He started out about how the bench isn't cheering, he didn't address the Dontarius question and just kept saying that he has told Q to go to the hoop. He sounded like a coach that was overwhelmed and lost.

[Xville]

I guess that's where we disagree. This would be a top 20 team... if they can make shots. But they can't. And that's why they are not. I know my logic is simplifying the game/ redundant. Just sometimes feel people look for answers when they are right in front of us. If this team was that good, they would be that good.

Paul is shooting 38% from 3. That's better than anything jp did in his career and better than two years of tre. Tandy is shooting 36% in I admit limited opportunity but anyone can tell by his stroke, that the kid is a shooter.

There are shooters on this team, not a lot but there are, and if those were the ones shooting the majority of the outside shots, that would open up the lane for naji and q to do what they do best. However, the wrong people are taking the wrong shots so that's coaching and also on the players. Unless something changes on that front, probably looking at a 4 or 5 win be season.

I'd like to think things will change, but right now my confidence in travis is low as is the supposed "leaders" of the team.

[SM#24]

Just as a data point, Xavier is ranked 235th in the country in 3 point attempt % (relative to X's total field goal attempts).

So about 100 spots from where it should be. If we're 313 in %, I would expect our frequency to start around that, and actually be even lower which would show we've acknowledged the problem. This shows the opposite. And I'm sure there are teams around the 250+ range in 3pt % but it's still a better way to generate points since they may suck even worse at 2s.

[SemajParlor]

Did some quick math on left column 3pt % and right column % of team attempts (took out James, Schrand, and Freementle shots / attempts). Please forgive formatting , difficult on here.

Small sample size but interesting (Q and Moore are 0 / 20 in conference play btw).

Season Total:

Naji 28% 24%
Paul 38% 20%
Q 26% 18%
Moore 30% 14%
Tandy 36% 10%
Carter 31% 9%
Bishop 12% 5%

In Conference:

Naji 30% 26%
Tandy 44% 21%
Q 0% 19%
Carter 33% 16%
Paul 67% 12%
Moore 0% 6%

[SM#24]

Without researching what's "normal", I would think that Scruggs & Tandy should be taking at least 50% of our 3 attempts.

[Masterofreality]

MOR, you give us too much credit, we rank 313 in 3pt %; and in games where we shoot 20 or more 3s (which is 10 of our 17 games) our % ranks 345.

Uhhhhh, YEEEEEEESH!!

[XUBison]

This. So what happens if you bench Q.........Naji and Tyrique revolt? Let 'em and sit their asses on the bench as well. I would expect that revolt to be short lived.

To this point, we all participated in some sort of competitive activities growing up; varsity sports, 5th grade b-ball, debate team, whatever. It seems to me that no one wanted the kids who struggled to get too much playing time, even if they were popular. I played football from 4th through 12 grade with the same group of kids. Our QB from 4th through 9th grade was a really popular kid, but he didn’t develop physically as much as some others, and he lost his starting job in 9th grade to the kid who ended up being a3-year varsity starter and all conference QB. The other kid quit after 9th grade to focus on playing the bass guitar, and while he remained very popular throughout high school, none of the rest of us were saddened by his benching nor his decision to quit the team.

I would think the X players have to feel so defeated every time they see Q clanking a wide open 3, especially when the HC keeps encouraging it. Q’s confidence may be shaken by a benching, but I can’t believe the other players would revolt, so long as the result was a net positive. If they did revolt, then this team is doomed anyway, and at least Travis will have established himself as the man in charge.

[SemajParlor]

With researching what's "normal", I would think that Scruggs & Tandy should be taking at least 50% of our 3 attempts.

I agree. Tandy as we know missed games so that throws off his total attempts % here. But he's starting to launch more. Naji needs to shoot less and Paul more. Oh and Goodin and Moore need to be better than 0/20 in conference play. Quentin is 0/15.

[AviatorX]

I agree. Tandy as we know missed games so that throws off his total attempts % here. But he's starting to launch more. Naji needs to shoot less and Paul more. Oh and Goodin and Moore need to be better than 0/20 in conference play. Quentin is 0/15.

I know you just looked at the numbers and it's a small sample size, but seems like it wouldn't be that many attempts going Paul and KyKy's way (as opposed to anyone else) to get their combined number pretty close to 50% in BE play (from 33%). So potentially not as drastic of a failure as it's being painted.

I think if that's the split going forward, let the chips fall where they may and no one can really whine.

[XUBison]

Did some quick math on left column 3pt % and right column % of team attempts (took out James, Schrand, and Freementle shots / attempts). Please forgive formatting , difficult on here.

Small sample size but interesting (Q and Moore are 0 / 20 in conference play btw).

Season Total:

Naji 28% 24%
Paul 38% 20%
Q 26% 18%
Moore 30% 14%
Tandy 36% 10%
Carter 31% 9%
Bishop 12% 5%

In Conference:

Naji 30% 26%
Tandy 44% 21%
Q 0% 19%
Carter 33% 16%
Paul 67% 12%
Moore 0% 6%


Great info. Doesn’t this validate what many here have been saying; that Naji and Q are the problem? Look, anything 30% or higher from 3 is solid from a sabermetrics perspective (30% from 3 is as good as 45% from 2.) Q should never shoot a 3, unless in a shot clock situation or some other desperate scenario. I think Naji would be over 30% if it weren’t for the ridiculous volume and terrible 3-pt shot selection. Bishop took care of himself, but everyone else on your list should keep shooting 3s, at least until shot selection and/or volume are driving their 3-pt percentage below 30%. If Q can’t find other ways to be effective, then... sayonara.

[SemajParlor]

I know you just looked at the numbers and it's a small sample size, but seems like it wouldn't be that many attempts going Paul and KyKy's way (as opposed to anyone else) to get their combined number pretty close to 50% in BE play (from 33%). So potentially not as drastic of a failure as it's being painted.

I think if that's the split going forward, let the chips fall where they may and no one can really whine.

Yep, exactly. Tandy is also shooting 10 3's per 40 minutes, which leads the team by nearly double. Marshall and Scruggs shoot roughly the same (5.9 and 5.1) 3's per 40 minutes. Goodin is at 4.8.

You can make a case the shot distribution needs to improve, but it's not exactly crippling, at least in my opinion. Tandy is launching. And maybe to other's points should be getting more PT

[SemajParlor]

Great info. Doesn’t this validate what many here have been saying; that Naji and Q are the problem?

It does appear to be that way. In hindsight I wish I had included 3 attempts per 40 minutes, which is maybe a better way to demonstrate given the varying levels of PT.

Tandy 10.3
Moore 6.2
Marshall 5.9
Scurggs 5.1
Goodin 4.8
Carter 2.6

It doesn't take some free time and basketballreference.com for everyone to be aware that Goodin and Naji should probably not be shooting at the same rate as Scruggs and Tandy. And there's probably a good case to be made that Tandy should be playing more given his efficiency in the time played shooting wise. I'm not just entirely sure the answer to all of our problems and to turn this thing around is for Scruggs and Tandy to shoot drastically more.

[Caf]

It needs to be acknowledged that Goodin is the only proven passer on this team outside of Naji. Unless we plan on having Naji play PG, we are trapped by Goodin's 3 point shooting. You cannot have a PG who is not a respected scoring threat. You can't find the open man if you are the open man. If they are giving him that shot then they are taking away the shot/ball access from our good 3pt shooters/scorers. The hard truth is that he needs to hit ANY of these shots. Literally one would make a huge difference. What we saw at Creighton should be as bad as it can get -knock on wood-.

[xukeith]

So opponents should double Tandy and Scruggs then let all others free range at the 3.....:blink:

[IM4X]

It does appear to be that way. In hindsight I wish I had included 3 attempts per 40 minutes, which is maybe a better way to demonstrate given the varying levels of PT.


Tandy. 10.3
Moore 6.2.
Marshall. 5.9.
Scurggs 5.1.
Goodin 4.8.
Carter 2.6.
James. ?

Goodin and Naji should probably not be shooting at the same rate as Scruggs and Tandy. And there's probably a good case to be made that Tandy should be playing more given his efficiency in the time played shooting wise. I'm not just entirely sure the answer to all of our problems and to turn this thing around is for Scruggs and Tandy to shoot drastically more.


3 attempts per 40 minutes, which is maybe a better way to demonstrate given the varying levels of PT.

Player——- current——what it ought to be*

Tandy——— 10.3 ————— 11
Moore ——— 6.2—————— 4
Marshall——. 5.9————— 3.5
Scurggs —— 5.1—————- 11
Goodin——— 4.8 —————- 2
Carter ——- 2.6 —————— 3
James. ——— ? —————— 4

* number can increase if player is hitting at least 50 of shots

[SemajParlor]

Maybe we just have lousy shooters.

Tandy 0-5
Marshall 1-4
Scruggs 1-3
Carter 0-3
Goodin 0-3
Moore 0-3

[drudy23]

Tandy 0-5
Marshall 1-4
Scruggs 1-3
Carter 0-3
Goodin 0-3
Moore 0-3

Is that good?

[X Factor]

Tandy 0-5
Marshall 1-4
Scruggs 1-3
Carter 0-3
Goodin 0-3
Moore 0-3

Tandy was 1-5. He's still shooting 38% from three in BE play.

Zach was 2-2 and Don was 1-2.

[Masterofreality]

Dante thrown into the fire on the postgame cause Steele didn’t have the stones to come on.
Just like after the Creighton game, the Coach says “We had a really good two days of practice”. Great!! Fantastic that we’re winning the practices.
Uh, maybe you are practicing the wrong things?? Maybe your scheme is lousy? Maybe your “Practice Players” aren’t good “Game Players”?

I feel sorry for Dante being a part of this iishshow.

[X Factor]

So what did Dante say?

[SemajParlor]

Tandy was 1-5. He's still shooting 38% from three in BE play.

Zach was 2-2 and Don was 1-2.

KyKy made a 3 after I posted and finish 1 - 5, and 1-8 from the floor. He forced shots all night. He's now 3 for his last 11.

[Masterofreality]

So what did Dante say?

Dante thrown into the fire on the postgame cause Steele didn’t have the stones to come on.
Just like after the Creighton game, the Coach says “We had a really good two days of practice”. Great!! Fantastic that we’re winning the practices.
Uh, maybe you are practicing the wrong things?? Maybe your scheme is lousy? Maybe your “Practice Players” aren’t good “Game Players”?

I feel sorry for Dante being a part of this iishshow.

[scoscox]

KyKy made a 3 after I posted and finish 1 - 5, and 1-8 from the floor. He forced shots all night. He's now 3 for his last 11.

and q is 2 for his last 30. 0 for his last 20 from 3. kyky going 3-11 is one of q's better games and about as bad as kyky can play. i'd rather have kyky out there and let him work through the occasional rough patch.

[bjf123]

I think Dante did the post game radio show because Steele took too long in the locker room, hopefully chewing everyone (including himself) a new one. He then had to get to the press conference. I think there are time restrictions and he ran out of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nuts4xu]

Shannon Russell said the decision to send Dante to speak with Byron & Joe was made before the game started. FWIW

[Xville]

Shannon Russell said the decision to send Dante to speak with Byron & Joe was made before the game started. FWIW

Lol ok

[Xavier]

Again, this has happened a few times in the past. I bet it has happened at least once a year- it is hardly a story.

As for feeling bad for Dante- I absolutely do. I saw a path where Travis was successful and moved on- and Dante taking over and becoming our "Mark Few".

[AviatorX]

There's plenty to worry about on the actual court. I honestly don't care at all what Steele says (or doesn't say) to the media. The way he interacts with the media is pretty much typical for a coach, Mack just happened to be a bit more candid. I understand it's an easy point to vent about, but I think it's a reach to lump this stuff in as concerning or Steele not taking responsibility.

[X-band '01]

There's plenty to worry about on the actual court. I honestly don't care at all what Steele says (or doesn't say) to the media. The way he interacts with the media is pretty much typical for a coach, Mack just happened to be a bit more candid. I understand it's an easy point to vent about, but I think it's a reach to lump this stuff in as concerning or Steele not taking responsibility.

Sean Miller would also be blunt in his postgame comments. He would be late when he was upset after games, but I could not recall him outright skipping postgame with Joe and Byron.

[xcellentx]

There's plenty to worry about on the actual court. I honestly don't care at all what Steele says (or doesn't say) to the media. The way he interacts with the media is pretty much typical for a coach, Mack just happened to be a bit more candid. I understand it's an easy point to vent about, but I think it's a reach to lump this stuff in as concerning or Steele not taking responsibility.

Agreed, we all know Coaches have an agenda with what they say to the media that may be different with what they say to the players. Sometimes they are trying to motivate their players, sometimes they are trying to reassure fans, and sometimes they are just trying not to publicly throw players under the bus even though that player is going to have a hell week in practice.

[IM4X]

Agreed, we all know Coaches have an agenda with what they say to the media that may be different with what they say to the players. Sometimes they are trying to motivate their players, sometimes they are trying to reassure fans, and sometimes they are just trying not to publicly throw players under the bus even though that player is going to have a hell week in practice.

The media and fans would more easily buy into many of these thoughts, if they were actually seeing improvements. There in lies the problem. When a coach plays down real issues again and again ( problems with how the team is addressing the 3 point shooting) and we see the same obvious bad habits game after game, then fans and the media have right to question what the heck is really going on.

Results matter. showing improvement matters. Saying “It’s like I tell my guys” to defense issues, is not flying anymore, because “his guys” ain’t listening.

I do think there is a difference between throwing a player under the bus (which a coach ought never do) and mentioning players are not doing the specific things they are expected to do based on what was done in practice. Though, were are not even sure Steele has been so specific about what his the expectations are - and I don’t mean him repeating the obvious “stop turning the ball over” message we keep hearing at post press conferences.

What specific ways has he addresses the turnover issues and three point shooting that should really lead to improvements in both areas. What has he recognized on film that is leading specifically the teams rebounding issues? Are enough players not crashing the boards after shots? Are the bigs out of position when the ball goes up (maybe because two of them shoot threes)? Are our bigs just too small to go again bigger BE opponents (and therefor Miles should be given the green light to play this year)?

Steele comes across very approachable and forthcoming at times, but he also seems to side step, dismiss/ won’t admit to certain real issues until it is so obvious that he can’t dismiss them anymore. In other words he

I can appreciate that Tracis is trying to hold a dysfunctional team together, but he must also realize he has been contributing to the team’s dysfunctionality.

[drudy23]

He had to know the optics of not showing up after that loss would be horrible - he didn't seem to care.

He doesn't have near the clout yet to start sending in his assistants to do the post-game with Byron and Joe. After an easy bye win against Wisconsin Green Bay - fine.

Against a Big East rival while your team is unraveling before everyone's eyes - no way in hell. It was weak. How do you hold your upperclassmen accountable to leadership after that?

[OTRMUSKIE]

Is this guy still available?
https://youtu.be/Chdg7wEGfYw

[OTRMUSKIE]

Or this guy, different sport but maybe bring him in for a pep talk.
https://youtu.be/uiVVbYK9HXw

[xukeith]

Does our coach know how to run or install anything else? Not being a smart ass........really curious b/c our offense is disturbingly horrific at getting the right guys shots in the right spots.

Dump it to Tyrique or pass the ball around the top of the key and then someone goes one on one trying to create a shot. Thats it.

Out of bounds plays.

[MADXSTER]

Out of bounds plays.

Mack had quite a few dumb ass plays. Now they're being used on Xavier and we're the dumb asses.

[UCGRAD4X]

Mack had quite a few dumb ass plays. Now they're being used on Xavier and we're the dumb asses.

That is one of the things that bother me the most. "You go to Xavier, not to Cincinnati!" Stop being dumb asses!

[SemajParlor]

KyKy made a 3 after I posted and finish 1 - 5, and 1-8 from the floor. He forced shots all night. He's now 3 for his last 11.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRzsv4vHNDs