Louisiana Tech (3/11/22)

[TheColonyEagle]

I didn’t read the whole thread. This may have been said. 
 

but it seems the only thing we’re worse at than free throws is scoring underneath. We miss an astounding number of shots under the basket. 
 

that’s all. Gonna go continue kicking my dog now. 

[CMJ]

Just now, Andrew said:

Didn’t work against UTEP and previously didn’t work when we were up against  Buffalo ages ago. It kept the score close but the lack of offense is what cost us. Not the lack of defense. We needed to put more pressure on the other end of the floor. 

If you don't focus on defense, you're not closing down the lead.  Runs are instigated by defense 99% of the time.

[Mean Green Matt]

17 minutes ago, Harry said:

Tough way to go out but doesn't take away from what they did accomplish. 

I mean, it kind of does doesn’t it? Isn’t that exactly what it does? I still love the team, but I think that’s the reality of the loss. 

[Andrew]

4 minutes ago, CMJ said:

If you don't focus on defense, you're not closing down the lead.  Runs are instigated by defense 99% of the time.

Nobody said don’t make defensive stops. We continued to come to a grind on the offensive end instead of increasing the pace of play. When we are up it’s huge and helps extend leads. When we are down and playing a La Tech that was still managing to score at times and not backing down it is not all we needed. We needed to hit our free throws and try to change the pace of play on both ends. We never fully adjusted and it showed when we continued to struggle offensively. That and I was suprised how gased our guys looked compared to a team who was in their 3rd game in 3 days. 

[Big Z]

6 minutes ago, CMJ said:

He was player of the game last night.

 

I'm actually more disappointed in Perry's performance today.

Really?

Murray - 0 points

Jones - 2 points 

Scott - 0 points 

Three guys who play in the rotation only give you 2 points? 

[p_phelps]

7 minutes ago, CMJ said:

He was player of the game last night.

 

I'm actually more disappointed in Perry's performance today.

Perry has been cold since last LA Tech game.  He happened to hit game winning shot so all was forgiven. 

[Cr1028]

7 minutes ago, Andrew said:

Funny…. Everybody was all over that CBI bandwagon and how it propelled us to success. 

Completely different situation. Winning the CBI coming off an 8-22 season with a brand new coach is something that excites you for the future. It probably exceeded the expectations of most.

This season we are coming of an NCAA tournament victory and we don’t even make the CUSA final or the NCAA tournament. I don’t see how this is an opportunity to overachieve.

[Gibbz]

2 minutes ago, texx2818 said:

Expect greatness. This is a massive, significant choke job by the best squad to ever take the court at the Pit. Make excuses about the NIT or whatever but that’s just a fact. Choke job for the ages.

Yep, highest-rated team in school history and no tournament bid--lost final two of three. The team melted down under pressure no question about it.

[UNT Texas Hooligan]

4 minutes ago, Mean Green Matt said:

I mean, it kind of does doesn’t it? Isn’t that exactly what it does? I still love the team, but I think that’s the reality of the loss. 

 

2 minutes ago, texx2818 said:

Expect greatness. This is a massive, significant choke job by the best squad to ever take the court at the Pit. Make excuses about the NIT or whatever but that’s just a fact. Choke job for the ages.

Yup, this is the literal, dictionary definition of a choke job

[UNT Texas Hooligan]

1 minute ago, Big Z said:

Really?

Murray - 0 points

Jones - 2 points 

Scott - 0 points 

Three guys who play in the rotation only give you 2 points? 

 

Just now, p_phelps said:

Perry has been cold since last LA Tech game.  He happened to hit game winning shot so all was forgiven. 

Murray has been god-awful shooting recently. 0-6 field goal, 0-4 from 3 today. 

[tmjerm]

6 minutes ago, Mean Green Matt said:

I mean, it kind of does doesn’t it? Isn’t that exactly what it does? I still love the team, but I think that’s the reality of the loss. 

No...he said it doesn't take away from what they did accomplish.  They accomplished what they accomplished.  That's what can't be taken away.  Not what they didn't accomplish.

[Greendylan]

Folks, since we joined CUSA the number one seed has only won the tournament twice (in seven tries) prior to this year.  One of those teams was a 31-win MTSU team that was an overwhelming favorite.  Our offense, which was already not particularly good, didn't show up today against another good defensive team.  These things happen, and we are now officially a bubble team.  Realistically, we are probably headed for the NIT as one of the highest seeds.  That's actually a really awesome opportunity!

[CMJ]

2 minutes ago, Big Z said:

Really?

Murray - 0 points

Jones - 2 points 

Scott - 0 points 

Three guys who play in the rotation only give you 2 points? 

Well, that wasn't the conversation.  It was about benching Ousmane because of his game today.  I was saying he played well LAST night, so I wouldn't bench him over that.  Perry has struggled for like four games in a row.

[meangreenlax]

2 minutes ago, Gibbz said:

Yep, highest-rated team in school history and no tournament bid--lost final two of three. The team melted down under pressure no question about it.

 

2 minutes ago, UNT Texas Hooligan said:

Yup, this is the literal, dictionary definition of a choke job

Absolutely. There’s no shame in getting beat. But this wasn’t that. This was a collective choke job. 

[Mean Green Matt]

Just now, tmjerm said:

No...he said it doesn't take away from what they did accomplish.  They accomplished what they accomplished.  That's what can't be taken away.  Not what they didn't accomplish.

That’s fair. I think my point is the season will be viewed through the lens of where it ended. 

[Big Z]

2 minutes ago, CMJ said:

Well, that wasn't the conversation.  It was about benching Ousmane because of his game today.  I was saying he played well LAST night, so I wouldn't bench him over that.  Perry has struggled for like four games in a row.

Then who do you go with to rebound ?

[CMJ]

I'm not sure what would have been getting beat fair and square for some of you versus a choke job.  Our defense showed up.

 

A choke job would have been if we got our doors blown off.

[CMJ]

Just now, Big Z said:

Then who do you go with to rebound ?

I never said to bench Ousmane?  I was defending him.

[Cr1028]

19 minutes ago, Greendylan said:

Folks, since we joined CUSA the number one seed has only won the tournament twice (in seven tries) prior to this year.  One of those teams was a 31-win MTSU team that was an overwhelming favorite.  Our offense, which was already not particularly good, didn't show up today against another good defensive team.  These things happen, and we are now officially a bubble team.  Realistically, we are probably headed for the NIT as one of the highest seeds.  That's actually a really awesome opportunity!

That high seed won’t matter if we shoot below 25%.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Cr1028

[meangreenlax]

3 minutes ago, CMJ said:

I'm not sure what would have been getting beat fair and square for some of you versus a choke job.  Our defense showed up.

 

A choke job would have been if we got our doors blown off.

24% FG, 16% 3PT

They had the looks but couldn’t sink shots. Least efficient offensive performance in college basketball. Is that not a choke job?

[dawgxas]

Good Game UNT. I think McCasland is the best coach in CUSA hands down. He gets more out of his players than any other coach in CUSA. UNT is not the most talented but coaching, gritty play and heart makes up for it.

UNT had to win the CUSA tournament after the loss to UTEP anyway so Go Win the NIT!!!  

 

 

[TheColonyEagle]

Hold your opponent to 42

get beat…..okay  

score 13 points in the first half….we’ll there you go

But here’s the kicker……I believe we started the game up 10-2

Having a hard time figuring that one out 

[CMJ]

1 minute ago, meangreenlax said:

24% FG, 16% 3PT

They had the looks but couldn’t sink shots. Least efficient offensive performance in college basketball. Is that not a choke job?

Both teams had crappy offensive stats today.  LA Tech probably had in the bottom tier of offensive efficiency too.

[Gibbz]

5 minutes ago, CMJ said:

I'm not sure what would have been getting beat fair and square for some of you versus a choke job.  Our defense showed up.

 

A choke job would have been if we got our doors blown off.

I'd say losing two of three including a final point total that resembled an 8th grade girls' game qualifies as a choke job.

[tmjerm]

A few thoughts...

1. The anger and frustration of the board, whether the takes are good or off, is a really nice thing.  It's so great our program is back at the level now where this many people care and there's so much emotion to losing.

2. I think a lot of the anger and frustration should be about the fact that we're a one bid league which is total BS.  Us, La Tech, UAB and WKU are all legit tourney teams (in terms of quality of play).  It's frustrating, but we've made a great move in resolving that with the AAC in our future (regardless of the Big 12 group leaving, its still a super solid basketball league). 

3. 36 points is super embarrassing but our style of play has a ton to do with that.  We didn't do enough to create good shots.  I thought we needed to penetrate more and move with out the ball more to get some separation, but Cobe Williams is an unreal defender and got the better of Perry today and Lofton was even better than normal too. 

4. La Tech has a hell of a team that we would have had to beat for the 3rd time in a season.  We should have, but that's a reality.  I'll be a fan of their's the rest of the way.  This rivalry will be the only thing I'll miss about CUSA.

Not excusing the mistakes or saying we shouldn't have played better.  Just saying this isn't the same as some of the shameful football losses in big games.  Those were legit choke jobs and lacked grit.  This is an entirely different type of team.  

Edited March 11, 2022 by tmjerm