MeanMag

I agree with Smart's mentality, but the ability to convert a drive into points/free-throws just isn't there. Just decent defensive teams can force us into a 3pt shooting contest that this team can't keep up with. This year's team is a horrendous 3pt% team. Which seems a bit odd given the 3pt production that returned from last season. The more we get to the line, the more we win. The less 3pt shots we take, the more we win. I feel like we are good enough defensive team to make that offensive formula work if we had a slasher. RIght now, Woolridge appears banged up, so is Miller our next best slasher?

There is no question, they do. I remember Duke being somewhat close. Our josh white and Tristan thompson teams made their living at the line and spoiled me with their FT percentage.

Man, I’ve been feeling the same way so I looked up the percentage the other day and some of the best teams in the NCAA have similar stats at the line. I couldn’t believe it. I need to look at the OOC and conference splits, but it feels like it has been real bad lately. It’s not like conference teams defend the free throw line any better than out of conference teams. It seems from where ever we stand on the floor, the ball is not going down.

With this team? We would have a unremarkable record and not have gotten any attention. At least this way, there's attention to raise the perception of the program. The team is what it is. You can either have this team and a worse record or have this team and the record they have now. A tougher OOC would not have made this team better, but the OOC we had, may make the program better.

we took our first free throws with 4 minutes left in the game.

I would take that 10 times out of 10.

when you don't drive to the basket, you have no chance to get rewarded.

Alternate stream service

Draper getting talked to during every stoppage. His defense doesn’t seem to be where it was last year. Guards everyone from the side, getting blown past.

We are in good position of the defensive end. Sometimes looks like we are still playing defense on offense.

52-46 24.6 seconds left timeout

It wouldn’t matter if we could put the ball in the hoop. These stretches of no shots are killing us. We had plenty of opportunities.

guy falls down under the basket and into one of our guys. Foul call on us. Not in the cards today...

These turnovers are really hard to watch.

This is correct. A Smart 3 pointer put NT up by 4

Really questionable non-calls under the basket.

wtf was that officiating?

They've missed a few so far. Can't complain unless they start being unfair about it.

LOL @ this analyst on the broadcast. Clueless.

He needs to move stronger to the basket when he is under it. Looks so soft.

Has this been discussed before?

UTEP broadcast linked Grant McCasland to the UCLA job which became open late last year after Steve Alford was fired. Others rumored for that job are Musselman (at Nevada), Marshall (at Wichita State), Hoiberg (former Bulls HC), Donovan (Thunder), Bennett at (UVA). If so, that is some good company to keep.

Read some talk on The Athletic that they think the WCC is much better than the PAC12 this year.

Hearing fans talk about conference affiliation like this is like Jerry Jones telling Cowboys fans what the franchise is worth when asked why they missed the playoffs.

So why didn’t Leavitt accept last year when Snyder offered him the coach in waiting job?