Las Vegas Expectations?

[georgethedog]

Did you even watch last night's game? We fed the post almost constantly for at least 2/3 of the game. Our guards started passing up big-time open looks at 3 in the first half. Gameplan was night and day versus our first two games. 16 out of 20 first half points came from our bigs. 28 out of 54 total points came from our bigs. 24 points in the paint. We took 16 3 pt shots as opposed to the 24 3 pointers we averaged in the first two games...

Yes, I was there alone and studied it. My point was we did not feed the post enough. Keep shoving it down their throats until they can show they can stop it. Wofford didn't have to stop it because we stopped it ourselves many times by jacking up wild 3's and taking quick shots (Coach Les said it himself on the postgame). We took way to many 3's for as easy as it was to score under and around the basket. Our centers had a combined 12 points. WE should have had at least that by himself. His defender could not guard him, period. So, yes to your smarty comment, I watched. Apparently more closely than you because I saw exactly what the coach did. He had them pound it under during the first part of the second half (when we got a big lead) and then the players got away from that later in the half and almost lost (which was also mentioned by Coach Les). So, apparently he didn't watch either?

 

[AZ BU Fan]

If the question is what I think will most likely happen in Vegas, BU goes 1-1, beating either OSU or Utah; Happiness cause BU is moving in right direction, particularly if they can beat OSU. .

If they go 0-2, big disappointment.

If they go 2-0, incredible joy

 

[Bradleyguy10]

I think the most likely scenario is losing to OSU and beating Utah. Then the most likely after that is losing to both teams. Then obviously the two after that would be beating OSU & losing to UIUC, and finally beating both OSU & UIUC. That's my opinion on order of likelihood.

 

[BU RICK]

My expectation is we come home 5-1, and go on to extend the winning streak 10 more games to 15-1 and be ranked high in the top 25 and see what happens after that. JMHO.

For those going and gambling, try this: if you're willing to play $1,000, stay away from the tables, go to the sports book and put $50 down on 20 games or $100 down on 10 games - both days, you're all experts on basketball teams across the country so you will come home with some money rather than none, not to say you can't get lucky and win at the tables. Maybe you can win the cost of your trip, I hope so.

 

[thefish7]

Yes, I was there alone and studied it. My point was we did not feed the post enough. Keep shoving it down their throats until they can show they can stop it. Wofford didn't have to stop it because we stopped it ourselves many times by jacking up wild 3's and taking quick shots (Coach Les said it himself on the postgame). We took way to many 3's for as easy as it was to score under and around the basket. Our centers had a combined 12 points. WE should have had at least that by himself. His defender could not guard him, period. So, yes to your smarty comment, I watched. Apparently more closely than you because I saw exactly what the coach did. He had them pound it under during the first part of the second half (when we got a big lead) and then the players got away from that later in the half and almost lost (which was also mentioned by Coach Les). So, apparently he didn't watch either?

Coach Les also praised several shooters (AW by name) for keeping their shots going in the first and second halves even though they weren't going down. Talking about a shot early in the possession being a negative does not equal the team didn't get the ball inside often enough. There was a stretch about halfway through the second half where the players started to get away from it, I agree, but your post compared this last game two the previous two and I believe there's no comparison.

One side comment relates to WE-- he seemed fairly well guarded to me as his points came off of turn-around jumpers (that were nice,) but he was not able to drive on the basket against his man, nor did he try to back him down. The negative to this is I thought they were all tough shots and that you won't draw a lot of fouls taking that shot... The positive is that he made a ton of them and if he keeps doing it players scouting him will have to respect the shotfake and that will allow him a better chance to put the ball on the floor. WE did have a great game defensively, and I hope that jumper keeps working for him, but I would like to see some post moves out of him.

 

[amckillip]

One side comment relates to WE-- he seemed fairly well guarded to me as his points came off of turn-around jumpers (that were nice,) but he was not able to drive on the basket against his man, nor did he try to back him down. The negative to this is I thought they were all tough shots and that you won't draw a lot of fouls taking that shot... The positive is that he made a ton of them and if he keeps doing it players scouting him will have to respect the shotfake and that will allow him a better chance to put the ball on the floor. WE did have a great game defensively, and I hope that jumper keeps working for him, but I would like to see some post moves out of him.

This is a great point, so far AT had been a better '5' in my eyes. I feel like this season AT and WE have been comparable in ability, WE probably still has the edge, but Egolf isn't as good as some people were predicting, and AT is much better than I was expecting. Which, given the opposite, I'm ok with.

I feel like AT and WE are very reminiscent of Tisdale and Davis a couple years ago. None are big presences, but could be very good by relying on positioning and footwork. We're not ready for it this year, but next year and the year after, I could see starting SM, AW, TB, WE, AT. With DD, DSE, JE coming off the bench for guards and MK, JP coming in for the bigs. Like I said, I DO NOT feel a 3 big man lineup gives us the best opportunity to win this year, but soon it very well may be what we play.

 

[AZ BU Fan]

I feel like AT and WE are very reminiscent of Tisdale and Davis a couple years ago. None are big presences, but could be very good by relying on positioning and footwork. We're not ready for it this year, but next year and the year after, I could see starting SM, AW, TB, WE, AT. With DD, DSE, JE coming off the bench for guards and MK, JP coming in for the bigs. Like I said, I DO NOT feel a 3 big man lineup gives us the best opportunity to win this year, but soon it very well may be what we play.

Why not mix it up and play a big line up at times THIS year? Doesn't have to be a lot of minutes, but gives opposition more to prepare for, and without trying it, who knows? Illinois or Utah would be an interesting game to try it in

BU players are playing for 30+ minutes per game, and think the CU approach -more players playing 23-28 minutes per game will keep BU fresher and able to aggressively guard/rebound during the entire game.

 

[amckillip]

Why not mix it up and play a big line up at times THIS year? Doesn't have to be a lot of minutes, but gives opposition more to prepare for, and without trying it, who knows? Illinois or Utah would be an interesting game to try it in

BU players are playing for 30+ minutes per game, and think the CU approach -more players playing 23-28 minutes per game will keep BU fresher and able to aggressively guard/rebound during the entire game.

I worry about the experience on the floor, if TB, WE, and AT are all on the floor at the same time, there is about 1 year experience of a regular contributor among them. I know it's easy to look past experience for potential, but I just don't think you can ignore experience. The ONLY way I would be ok with that lineup is if they were on the court with SM and AW. Anyone else and you'll see me screaming at Les and probably nearly getting in trouble with the refs - I bet JL has never gotten yelled at for going too big...

Really though, I think we're headed in the right direction to play bigger. But testing things out in our chance for a marquee win is not a wise decision IMO. Lets try those things against WCU, Loyola, or whoever the bottom dweller MVC teams turn out to be (Drake?).

 

[romar]

Why not mix it up and play a big line up at times THIS year? Doesn't have to be a lot of minutes, but gives opposition more to prepare for, and without trying it, who knows? Illinois or Utah would be an interesting game to try it in

BU players are playing for 30+ minutes per game, and think the CU approach -more players playing 23-28 minutes per game will keep BU fresher and able to aggressively guard/rebound during the entire game.

Great in theory but a classic trap for JL - the minute he starts subbing like you are proposing everyone on the board will be screaming that he is killing the team continuity.

 

[amckillip]

Great in theory but a classic trap for JL - the minute he starts subbing like you are proposing everyone on the board will be screaming that he is killing the team continuity.

Haha, agreed completely. Funny how JL can not sub enough, and sub so much he hurts continuity, all at the same time isn't it?

 

[AZ BU Fan]

Has anyone criticized Altman for lack of "continuity" with his line ups at CU? Seems to work there pretty well there somehow.

Many posters have commented on BU depth this season, lets use it and not grind our best players down over a long season with constant significant minutes.

BU's struggles with two preseason games vs teams they should have put away easily, may have some posters criticizing JL for more minutes for SM, CR, AW, EM etc, but not from me.

Hopefully BU can spread the minutes tonight vs another lesser opponent and get more players more time/experience. Its just too bad they didn't have the opportunity in their last two games.

BU opponent tonight starts a freshman center averaging 13 ppg (including 15 vs Illini) so experience may not be as critical as thought if players have the skills...

 

[amckillip]

Has anyone criticized Altman for lack of "continuity" with his line ups at CU? Seems to work there pretty well there somehow.

Many posters have commented on BU depth this season, lets use it and not grind our best players down over a long season with constant significant minutes.

BU's struggles with two preseason games vs teams they should have put away easily, may have some posters criticizing JL for more minutes for SM, CR, AW, EM etc, but not from me.

Hopefully BU can spread the minutes tonight vs another lesser opponent and get more players more time/experience. Its just too bad they didn't have the opportunity in their last two games.

BU opponent tonight starts a freshman center averaging 13 ppg (including 15 vs Illini) so experience may not be as critical as thought if players have the skills...

MANY posters got on JL the last two days for not keeping in a lineup that was doing well, while your saying he should play people 23-28 minutes. Romar isn't saying YOU want it both ways - Only that no matter what JL does he can't win.

In regards to the freshman center averaging 15 ppg... Examples using a player on a team that will be ecstatic to get double digit wins this season probably isn't the strongest argument. Good mid-major teams are built on the backs of experience players. Look at Butler, they regularly have 1, maybe 2 younger guys in the lineup, surrounded by older players. Howard is great now, because he developed while playing with guys like Mike Green and AJ Graves.

You show me a consistently good mid-major, and I'll show you a team that revolves around upperclassmen leadership. (Memphis excluded, using money and bribes to get players is a different bag)

 

[Braves4Life]

Great in theory but a classic trap for JL - the minute he starts subbing like you are proposing everyone on the board will be screaming that he is killing the team continuity.

I wish Chuck Buescher would come back so we could talk about how he's a better coach than Les

 

[romar]

Has anyone criticized Altman for lack of "continuity" with his line ups at CU? Seems to work there pretty well there somehow.

Many posters have commented on BU depth this season, lets use it and not grind our best players down over a long season with constant significant minutes.

BU's struggles with two preseason games vs teams they should have put away easily, may have some posters criticizing JL for more minutes for SM, CR, AW, EM etc, but not from me.

Hopefully BU can spread the minutes tonight vs another lesser opponent and get more players more time/experience. Its just too bad they didn't have the opportunity in their last two games.

BU opponent tonight starts a freshman center averaging 13 ppg (including 15 vs Illini) so experience may not be as critical as thought if players have the skills...

I hope you didn't take that as an attack on you AZ - it was just me pointing out the obvious catch-22. Honestly, I'd bet that there are MANY who question DA's substitution patterns in the Creighton world, especially after a loss.

 

[real fan]

Yes, I was there alone and studied it. My point was we did not feed the post enough. Keep shoving it down their throats until they can show they can stop it. Wofford didn't have to stop it because we stopped it ourselves many times by jacking up wild 3's and taking quick shots (Coach Les said it himself on the postgame). We took way to many 3's for as easy as it was to score under and around the basket. Our centers had a combined 12 points. WE should have had at least that by himself. His defender could not guard him, period. So, yes to your smarty comment, I watched. Apparently more closely than you because I saw exactly what the coach did. He had them pound it under during the first part of the second half (when we got a big lead) and then the players got away from that later in the half and almost lost (which was also mentioned by Coach Les). So, apparently he didn't watch either?

You have to have the right point guard in if you want us to feed the post, that is one of the things that I have been watching from the start of the season, our post players get open but hardly ever get the ball when they should, it is probably very frustrating for them to work so hard to get open only to have our guards not pass them the ball. this is the reason why I am so high on DSE as he gets them the ball.

 

[dogsrus]

What was the topic.....oh yeah, LV expectations.

Same as OB...Golf...Food and some great BU hoops.

 

[georgethedog]

You have to have the right point guard in if you want us to feed the post, that is one of the things that I have been watching from the start of the season, our post players get open but hardly ever get the ball when they should, it is probably very frustrating for them to work so hard to get open only to have our guards not pass them the ball. this is the reason why I am so high on DSE as he gets them the ball.

Good post Real Fan; and Fish, I will take a 4-8 foot turnaround jumper from WE any day over a quick 3. Also, your post made it sound like we beat a real good team. We beat WOFFORD by 2 points at home. Hardly something to be sounding so happy about. Is that as far as BU has come in J Les' 7 plus years... beating a lower D1 team at home by 2 points. Yuke. We'll see just how good Wofford is tonight at UIUC. If they keep it in single digits, then I will admit we beat a pretty good team. But, I am not convinced at this point. Wofford finishes 8th in the MVC. IMO

Since we are off the topic, I will go back to it. I still think BU goes 0-2 in Vegas and loses by an average of 9 points. OK, the thread is back on it's original course. Next prediction please...

 

[ph]

If we get and win ONE game please, oh please, let it be against Illinois.

Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winner!

 

[georgethedog]

I happily admit I was wrong about BU going 0-2 in Vegas and losing by an average of 9 points. I was looking right on after the first game. That game was exactly what I thought would happen and I expected the same in game two. But, BU made plays and hit some shots vs. Illinois (which looks quite overrated) and came away with a great win. I've had the flu since Friday night and finally feel good enough to post, and I am happy to eat crow (actually I am happy I can eat anything right now)! Now, BU needs to win the rest of their non-conference games and get into conference play at 7-2. We have to (I hate to say this) cheer for Illinois to win win win...

 

[Out of Balance]

I expect to win the whole thing. 1-1 is only acceptable if the win is against Ok St. Beating Utah isn't noteworthy, they're not very good this year.

Agreed:!: One and One is acceptable:!: But EVERYONE should agree Friday's game was not:!: There's NO EXCUSE for being that flat and not totally up for that game the same way we were last night:!: Beating Illinois is great and fun but it well only mean something if this team builds off of it:!: That must start today:!: