Outcoached

[garyshu71]

Willard coached a decent game. My only two gripes were he waited too long to pressure Butler on offense. When he did it resulted in our comeback.

But that could be explained by noting that a few of the SHU players were gassed toward the end of the game, especially Whitehead who when I asked him that question said his legs were dead late in the second half.

My other gripe was similar. After Ish was tied up down the stretch and we lost the ball to the alternating arrow I thought we should have pressured Butler. Playing straight up man was IMO a mistake as Butler was carving up that defense all night. Sure enough they scored and that just about closed the door on the game.

The fear I had in this game and noted it yesterday to the criticism of many was that the team was tired. The response was as I expected....they're young men and shouldn't be tired.

But so many don't understand the mental and physical grind of a very long season. Especially when you consider that these players have been on campus since last summer working out.

Combine that with your academics, the travel, the pressure building as the season progresses and you are going to come out now and then with less energy than you want.

Willard noted it in the post game and the players did as well. They need a blow and this bye week could not have come at a better time.

Whatever the reason, it sure didn't look like the team we've been watching. You could see the lack of energy right out of the box and know we would be in trouble. And whoever has been working with Whitehead's shooting needs to drop everything and get with Carrington and Gordon.

 

[Halldan1]

Carrington's shot will improve as he matures. Gordon is a 5th year senior. What you see is what you get.

That said, read my comments on the Trove regarding Gordon. He's an incredible leader. Took full blame in the locker room for the loss.

Cam Newton dislike for losing but with the class to face and own up to his mistakes.

 

[garyshu71]

One thing bothers me a lot. You have an all league center shooting 55% and only get him 7 shots. Feed the post, please!

 

[ArtieLange9]

I never like to use the mentally and physically tired excuse, but it def seemed like a different team out there.

Let's hope the rest reboots these guys for the final stretch.

I'd like to see us go 4-1 in the final 5 games of the season.

 

[cernjSHU]

One thing bothers me a lot. You have an all league center shooting 55% and only get him 7 shots. Feed the post, please!

This was my biggest complaint from the coaching aspect of the game. There was no one who could guard Delgado in the paint. He demonstrated that early in the game and then Delgado was forgotten about. We did not exploita mismatch that we had to our advantage and that was a bad job. In the end, I agree the defense was not there. But you have to hand it to Butler. They executed beautifully.

 

[Piratz]

I don't think we were out-coached. Yes, there were things we should have and could have done better, but we didn't lose this game because we were taken apart by a superior strategy.

We just had an off night in the areas that make us who we are, which is highly disappointing. I think we played a little contently too.

We were going to lose again, fellas. And we will again, unfortunately. Just get to 10-8, or 11-7 as I would prefer.

 

[hallgrad80]

I don't think we were out-coached. Yes, there were things we should have and could have done better, but we didn't lose this game because we were taken apart by a superior strategy.

We just had an off night in the areas that make us who we are, which is highly disappointing. I think we played a little contently too.

We were going to lose again, fellas. And we will again, unfortunately. Just get to 10-8, or 11-7 as I would prefer.

As I've said before this team and its players are a work in progress just as its head coach is a work in progress and this team is going to have its ups and downs . What you do now is look at what mistakes you made , try to eliminate them and focus on the next game. One glaring weakness on this team which has been a problem for years is our free throw shooting and nothing I've seen suggests it's going to get better and it will continue to hurt us .

 

[Seton75]

This was my biggest complaint from the coaching aspect of the game. There was no one who could guard Delgado in the paint. He demonstrated that early in the game and then Delgado was forgotten about. We did not exploita mismatch that we had to our advantage and that was a bad job. In the end, I agree the defense was not there. But you have to hand it to Butler. They executed beautifully.

I wish we got Angel more shots. The second bucket he hit, that beautiful jump hook on the right side of the basket, was a dominating more. But, I really didn't see him open much and they got on his ass when he touched the ball.

 

[Piratefan2009]

I wish we got Angel more shots. The second bucket he hit, that beautiful jump hook on the right side of the basket, was a dominating more. But, I really didn't see him open much and they got on his ass when he touched the ball.

Again a credit to the Butler coaching. They disrupted our weaves and dodged the picks well. They dared us to shoot over them by packing the paint which reduced options for Delgado. We didn't adjust with off-ball movement and good set plays to stretch out their D and open the inside.

 

[Piratz]

Butler was very active. We were not crisp, not sharp either. We made a lot of dumb plays. Some of our best ball handlers were repeatedly tied up and turned the ball over. Plays they routinely make.

It took a Herculean effort by Whitehead to keep us even tied in that first half.

Then we climbed into position in the end game and crapped the bed a few times. Not sharp.

 

[sami]

Butler was very active. We were not crisp, not sharp either. We made a lot of dumb plays. Some of our best ball handlers were repeatedly tied up and turned the ball over. Plays they routinely make.

It took a Herculean effort by Whitehead to keep us even tied in that first half.

Then we climbed into position in the end game and crapped the bed a few times. Not sharp.

Perfectly put. We're a good team, not a great team. Good teams have off nights, but good teams also rebound. Take the week off, get some rest, shoot 10,000 FTs and beat Georgetown.

 

[class of 68]

Thought the defense was weak---first half 6 seconds on shot clock on an inbounds from baseline and we give up a 3 pointer with a second or two on clock WHY not closely guarding? In second half guys playing screen on Dunham NOT coming out to prevent 3 point shot by him WHY NOT? If he drives to basket for a two less harm done.

 

[Piratz]

The defense was terrible.

.558 FG percentage for Butler
.500 3PT FG (5/10)
.571 2PT FG (24/42)

For some context, granted only one game, but a really bad game in that regard: The 350th and 351st team defenses in 2PT are at .568 and .603, respectively, LOL. That has been a strength of SHU's all season. Even after last night they are still 34th in the nation at .440 in 2PT defense.

Nuts. The lanes were wide open all night.