hoops
Sophomore
Posts: 208
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Post by hoops on Mar 3, 2013 14:00:09 GMT -6
"If I have to see a GB player running and jumping at a corner 3 again and then just having the shooter pump fake and make an open shot it will be too soon."
I said it a couple of weeks ago and was chastised, but this team is not long on defensive fundamentals. Could go on and on, but it would make up for excessive turnovers, cold shooting nights, and most of all keeps you in games on the road.
I still am wondering what their identity is? What does this regime hang their hat on?
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 3, 2013 16:46:28 GMT -6
GB had 4800 yesterday, with the snowstorm coming to area tommorrow and Tuesday and the general letdown after laying an egg against an opponent in a key HL game, GB will be lucky to see 2000 at the Resch.
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Post by thetulsawarrior on Mar 3, 2013 19:32:20 GMT -6
I'm betting UWM fans even want this season to be over for the Panthers.
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Post by Guest on Mar 4, 2013 0:21:11 GMT -6
Coach Wardle has made no mistake about it since he took over that the program would be built on defense and rebounding. In Horizon League play, the Phoenix had the best field goal percentage defense and best rebounding numbers in the league. Green Bay outrebounded 14 of 16 opponents in conference. Did we the defense part on Saturday, no? But the formula is there and it has worked.
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Post by guest2 on Mar 4, 2013 11:03:02 GMT -6
I agree Wardle has built his team around rebounding and defense with good athletes. What is missing is a disciplined offense with plays for other scorers other than Alec and Kiefer. We have seen what happens to this team all too often when Alec and Kiefer struggle. This team has as many weapons as Valpo, they have to be utuilized correctly.....Valpo put on a clinic offensively Saturday afternoon. We need to learn from it, we have the guys to be as good or better than them.
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Post by thetulsawarrior on Mar 4, 2013 11:48:06 GMT -6
For whatever reason there has been a lack of continuity this season -- injuries and suspension have done a number on this team. Losing Cerroni late hurt. Stefan is still trying to get back into a playing groove. Coug has been inconsistant since coming back from his suspension. This has been a strange season beating Marquette, blowing some teams out on the road and frankly struggling against UWM last week at home.
Tuesday's game againt UWM is dangerous. It's tough to beat a team three times in a season and Milwaukee has absolutely nothing to lose and a chance to redeem their season to a degree.
Will the Nix come out with fire and purpose? I hope so.
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Post by Guest2 on Mar 4, 2013 12:29:06 GMT -6
I have to agree, this is a dangerous game for the team/program. It is never easy to beat a team 3 times in a row and with the way they lost Saturday there could be a big let down....Let's hope they don't feel it is a lost cause wining this one and getting possibly blown out again by Valpo on their home floor. That is if they get a win Friday. This is probably going to be more of a test for the coaches than the kids. You know the kids don't want to lose but if they don't feel like they have been put in position to succeed then they won't perform. I know, they have a scholarship and the motivation shouldn't all be left up to the coaches but I really feel the team was not put in a position to succeed Saturday.....for a miriad of reasons.
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hoops
Sophomore
Posts: 208
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Post by hoops on Mar 4, 2013 12:57:55 GMT -6
"Coach Wardle has made no mistake about it since he took over that the program would be built on defense and rebounding. In Horizon League play, the Phoenix had the best field goal percentage defense and best rebounding numbers in the league. Green Bay outrebounded 14 of 16 opponents in conference. Did the defense part on Saturday, no? But the formula is there and it has worked. "
I have heard Coach Wardle say that several times. I also acknowlege their defensive team stats are above average. I cringe when I watch defenders leaping at 3 point shooters, getting beat off the dribble and consistently leaving their feet, instead of holding their position, like there are rewards for blocking shots. Lack of defensive discipline tells you a lot about the type of players you recruit, and, the brand of your program.
The biggest thing is, defensive stats do nothing for me when my opponent has the ball, down by 1 and we need to stop them. The level of fundamental discipline never lies. This isn't a knock on BW or his kids, just an opinion.
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Post by fightphoe93 on Mar 4, 2013 20:26:45 GMT -6
Hoops, I feel the same way.
My hope is that next year the team grows up a bit with the majority of the top 8 guys being experienced upperclassmen. And as you say, Wardle needs he and his staff to step it up a notch as well in terms of getting better team play on both offense and defense.
Next year, there really are no excuses. It is all set up for this team to compete for the title. If what happened against Valpo happens next year at this time of the year, it will probably show us that Wardle and co. might not be the answer.
I was really proud of how the team got hot in the 2nd half of the year. But these last 2 games really have to put some doubt in people's minds as to how far this program will go. Next year, no more BS, have a good year from start to finish and I'll start to believe.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 5, 2013 8:54:04 GMT -6
Looking at the HL tourney bracket, GB has 2 winnable games, UWM then the CSU/UIC winner at the ARC in Valpo.....Can GB somehow get a CBI or CI bid if they got to the HL semis and lose to Valpo?? Based on history, yes. 2 HL tourney wins and a loss @ Valpo would put the Phoenix at 18-15, and with an RPI in the mid-130s, according to LiveRPI.com. That resume would fit easily into those tournaments. The CBI or CIT isn't the goal, but could provide a nice stepping stone for a team with 2 freshman in the rotation and just 1 senior.
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Post by stillaphoenixphan on Mar 5, 2013 9:10:58 GMT -6
Looking at the HL tourney bracket, GB has 2 winnable games, UWM then the CSU/UIC winner at the ARC in Valpo.....Can GB somehow get a CBI or CI bid if they got to the HL semis and lose to Valpo?? Based on history, yes. 2 HL tourney wins and a loss @ Valpo would put the Phoenix at 18-15, and with an RPI in the mid-130s, according to LiveRPI.com. That resume would fit easily into those tournaments. The CBI or CIT isn't the goal, but could provide a nice stepping stone for a team with 2 freshman in the rotation and just 1 senior. It would give them some experience in post season. Each level gets tougher, preseason, league play, league post season and tournament play. Each one is tougher and it would show them the intensity that's needed to win at the next level. Hopefully make them a better team for next year.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 5, 2013 9:11:24 GMT -6
The biggest thing is, defensive stats do nothing for me when my opponent has the ball, down by 1 and we need to stop them. The level of fundamental discipline never lies. This isn't a knock on BW or his kids, just an opinion. I'll let you have your disciplined defense that doesn't contest shots and force misses, and try to get your stop down 1 late. I'll take the defense that maybe isn't fundamentally perfect, but it contests shots and forces misses, and I'll play with a 1 point lead late. You can be the team trying to stop us. Mike Heideman coached disciplined defenses, but they were completely ineffective. The goal is to win, its not to look well coached in losses. Also, the fundamentals are different for zone than man defense. Valpo, with 6 seniors, 1 of them a PF who's an outstanding 3 point shooter, was a tough match-up for our 1-2-2 zone. Still, the team is 13-7 since installing the 1-2-2. The weakness is defending the corner 3. Yes, to contest those shots the big have to run out and jump at the shooter. If we went out low and didn't jump, then we'd give up completely uncontested 3s. The key is just gaining greater defensive awareness, so the bigs can better anticipate when to leak out to the corners. This is a new defense to the team, but it fits the personnel well. Sure, I'd love to have Dick Bennett coaches a killer man defense, but he was 1 in a million. This team does it differently, but is clearly progressing. My biggest disappointment from the Valpo game was that our offense wasn't much, much better versus a mediocre Valpo defense.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Mar 5, 2013 17:27:48 GMT -6
My issue with the close outs in the corners pretty much comes from a lack of awareness or just being out of position. With the length of guys like Alec, Jordan and Greg they should be able to shot contest without being wildly out of control. When they do the defense looks good.
I wouldn't say this team doesn't have an id. They go to the line, they rebound and they play defense. It is just that sometimes that defense is a work in progress and inconsistent. I see stints where I don't I see other HL teams will even score and then in the same week or even same game I see stints where I don't see how GB will get a stop. Valpo and Drake seemed to overload a side and make an extra pass to the corner. I would think coach Wardle and the guys could figure out how to adjust.
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