cgeldmacher

I have to give credit to Isabelle, since I’ve been critical of his play in the past. That was his most disciplined game. I hope he sees that he can get his points and the offense will perform better in general if he sticks to the game plan like he did tonight. Also, Goodwin’s mid range jump shot looked good tonight. It would be a huge boost to the offense if he started hitting shots like Bess has been. Coach said in the post game interview with Rammer that Goodwin has been following Bess’s lead of showing up early to and staying late at practice to get extra shots in. Love that a veteran like Bess is influencing other guys’ habits like this. Hopefully, Goodwin can pass that on to younger guys starting next year.

Hey Luke, record wise, Illinois is the worst team in the Big 10 and they just lost to Florida Atlantic. Not what I would call a team in the rise.

Count me as a guy who is not all that excited about a kid who can't crack the lineup at Duquesne. I don't know much about their coach, but I do know he likes cashing checks from the university that's paying him and that means doing everything he can to win.

The weave's purpose is the create an isolation for one of our bigs. By the time its done, three of our guys are on one side of the court with the defenders having their back to the ball, because they just chased our guy to that side. The doesn't happen if you call the same play with everyone just standing around, meaning without the movement that the weave creates. At the end of the weave, which only takes like 3-4 seconds, we have a guard with the ball trying to get the ball to a big that is now one on one with a defender. Once the ball is dumped in, there is usually a play in place that give the big options to either make a move on his man or to dish the ball if help comes scrambling over from the other side of the court. I've never understood everyone's problem with the weave. It's just a way to set up plays that have been practiced. I've always treated it as a good thing.

Again, nobody is expecting that. We're just saying he should take one maybe two a game when he's open. It's not going to change the course of the season, but every little bit helps.

For those that seem to be so against the idea of Gordon taking 3 pointers, please understand that no one advocating for it is suggesting that his is made a part of our game plan. We're just suggesting, and I think 05 said this, that there are times when our regular movement of the ball puts the ball in his hands at the three point line. When this happens, his defender is usually backing off of him, clogging the lane and taking away passes inside. When that happens, why not take a shot at it. So far, that's given us 6 points in five shot attempts. That's much better than the average of what has happened when he doesn't take that shot. If he makes it or he doesn't (once, maybe twice a game), then at least the guy guarding him has to think about the possibility of him taking a three the next time he's in the same spot.

The point that was being made was to get him one or two a game to draw the defense out. If the guy guarding him has to follow him out to the three point line, it opens up more opportunities underneath and for him to drive on a guy, which I'm confident he would successful with.

I would have to go back and review that game. I think this may not have been against their starters, or most of them. Also, I think that if we did go on a 10-0 run, that run was followed by giving up several easy baskets and a run the opposite direction.

You might be right about this. However, the only evidence you have is from a game against one of the worst teams in NCAA BB. Should we try to be up tempo more? Maybe, but we've also seen how our guys, Goodwin specifically, look on the fast break. It's not pretty. Going faster paced against a terrible team may lead to turning a game around, and doing so against a middle of the road or better team might lose you a game that you should win. I don't think it's as simple as what you saw against that one bad team.

You can prevent these losses. Look at Houston. We were very similar to them and our game was close. They seemed to figure out a way to prevent these losses. I'm not putting the blame on anyone in particular. I think our team has a variety of personalities and styles that are making it hard for Ford and the staff to bring them together to play their best basketball, but it can be done.

Also, switching to a press we've never used and effectively turning an 11 point deficit to an 11 point lead in about a span of about seven minutes is something a good in game coach does. For all of you out there that still want to ride OSU fans old narrative that TF can't coach, here's another example of why that's not true.

But you cannot argue that overall this season, the half court defense has been very good. Don't go away from it due to one bad effort.

A press works much better against the #300+ team in the nation than it does against a better team. Against better teams, you're going to be giving up easy baskets that your regular half court defense wouldn't.

I disagree with your position in that every team would love a consistent scorer. However, as I was reading it, I felt like the judge in My Cousin Vinny when Vinny made his objection to the surprise evidence coming in. "Glory, that was a lucid, intelligent, well-thought out point you made.....OVERRULED."

Wonder if he's going to be on the bench. If he is, I further wonder if that's causing drama for the Athletic Department given Situation II.

I’m sorry, but every time Isabelle grabs it, he’s completely about getting his shot.

I’ve been more supportive of Isabelle recently, but every time he touched the ball on offense his only thought is for him, not anybody else, to score. National TV against a ranked opponent is bringing out his worst.

I know that there is for water polo. So, there must be for basketball. I think its something like 7 or 10 practices.

Great scheduling this year. We will play two top 25 teams this season, and neither of them are the two Big East teams we've already beat, the Pac12 team we've beaten, or the ACC team we lost to by 2 points.

Okay. Let’s just enjoy the win. I was reacting to your comment “This team is not well coached.” That’s a strong statement. Especially after a win to a power conference team. I thought that comment was very unfair.

Every team is worried right now about their unforced errors. Are there things we could be better at, yes, but you comments have been consistently anti Ford. You’re the one that needs to lighten up and enjoy our record and our defensive play right now.

Our very well coached defense is one of the best around.

It was Bess, the best player on the court today, that was tracking Tinkle at the end. No way he was going to foul him. He’s too smart. That had nothing to do with coaching. if you’re successful in your obvious quest to chase Ford, I hope you enjoy what the next coach gives us. I’m happy being where we are right now record wise and being picked to win the A-10. But yes, continue your efforts to try to convince everyone that Ford can’t coach.

Thatch was huge, but not even close to player of the game for theBills.

I think we’re playing better than it seems when you dissect every possession. Bess and Thatch huge today.