|
Post by sdyotefan on Jan 27, 2018 8:54:52 GMT -6
Coyotes go for 5 in a row today in Denver! Play tough D Yotes and continue the great passing on O!! GO YOTES!!!
|
|
|
Post by Coyote Fan on Jan 27, 2018 16:57:08 GMT -6
I think this will be a tough one this afternoon. I think the Coyotes will edge them out but I expect a close game. Denver is a pretty good team.
|
|
|
Post by Coyote Fan on Jan 27, 2018 17:55:08 GMT -6
42-28 Denver at half. I have not seen the Coyotes play a game this flat for quite some time and that includes the NDSU game. For the first two-thirds of the half the Yotes were simply bad but it wasn't because of lack of execution as it was from lack of effort which doesn't happen often with this team. The good news is that the team cut a 22 point deficit to 14 at half. I think the Rosga three just before half was big but Trey Burch-Manning had a big lay in just before the buzzer as well. The Coyotes full court pressure helped them get back into it and they might need it in the second half as well. The game is far from over and it is a good thing they didn't wait until there was 5 minutes left like against UCLA. This game is much more winnable than that just because the come back is starting much sooner. I will put the odds at 45% for the chances of winning the game. I think by the end this will be a very close game.
|
|
|
Post by Coyote Fan on Jan 27, 2018 19:12:22 GMT -6
The Coyotes just didn't have it today and these days just happen so I am not going to rip on the team because of it. I am going to let everyone else talk more about the game but I want to make a bit of a critical statement of Craig Smith. He is a very good coach and has done very good things but I have to make a bit of a point. So please people don't try to make this about me hating on Smith because I love him as a coach and he does the vast majority of things right.
The Coyotes are not developing their bench enough. When you don't develop the bench games like today's become problematic and when you lose a player like Hurst it can emphasize the lack of a bench even more. When you don't develop a bench in a one bid league that puts so much emphasis on the conference tourney it can come back to bite you especially when you have a team that is built upon energy. In a game like tonight where the energy level is already going to be in question it makes it tough to only really play about 7 guys. In a game where you have to make up a 22 point deficit playing 7 guys other than a minute or two for others that is not going to be a formula to be able to win. The Coyotes never gave up but even if they would have cut the lead tonight to 2 possessions or fewer it would have been very difficult to finish the job even as the better team. If the Coyotes had more guys used to playing they could have thrown more energy at Denver when they needed it in comeback mode and would have had a better chance to complete the rally.
The Coyotes are getting pretty much nothing from the freshman class. I think Umude is a perfect example of my point. Not only does he never play but he burned a year of eligibility. He would have been the perfect type player to be able to put into the game in comeback mode because he is athletic and could be a good player in the full court press type game. Because he never plays he cannot be relied upon. This was all setup in the non conference by him not being able to be put into the game. This is a Smith recruit so I don't understand his situation. Isn't he supposed to be a talented recruit that should be able to step in a a true freshman and at least be able to be somewhat relied upon like a Peterson or Armstrong from last year. Not playing Jech also hurts as well. It may be too late now to develop the bench but I hope Smith at least tries to do that more between now and tourney time. I am not quite sure why Powers and Sparks play minutes that Umude could take. I know he probably wants the size of Sparks in there but why not just simply go small. Is Umude already leaning towards being a bust at first glance. I don't think that is necessarily the case but his lack of playing time is the only thing we have to go on with him. Look what Jenkins does for the Jacks as a freshman.
|
|