Make a (home) stand week: vs KC, ORU

[kiyoat]

If we want to try and avoid the play-in game, we need to start a win streak this week.

Predictions:

Yotes beat Roos 73-72 (-1) Massey
Roos beat Yotes 69-70 (+1) WN

Eagles beat Yotes 76-79 (+3) Massey
Eagles beat Yotes 73-76 (+3) WN

Toss-ups predicted.  Just like the whole Summit season.  The wins are there for the taking, if we can figure it out.

[kiyoat]

in case you missed Jay's post in the other thread, here's the interview with Coach Pete  yesterday:

[Yotes]

It is going to take something remarkable for USD to avoid playing on Friday in Sioux Falls. 2.5 games back of 7th with 4 games to go and a lot of unfavorable tiebreaker scenarios. I'm not sure winning all 4 remaining games would be enough.

I just hope to see encouraging results sustained over the home stretch. I know this team can beat anyone anywhere in this league. Most of the year a win would be followed by an abysmal stretch. They finally have strung together 4 straight competitive games, with 3 of those on the road, so hopefully coming home will translate to a few wins and momentum heading into the SLT.

[elcoyote]

From what little info I've gleaned on KC is that they're the most physical team in the Summit and play a pretty wide-open, almost streetball style. How the game is called will be important. Let'em play we might be in trouble. Calling it tightly would be to our benefit.

[lynn]

Well that first half is what GATA looks like unfortunately it’s umkc that is playing it. Hopefully something flips in the second half.

[Yotes]

Could be telling that Peterson decided that GATA would be this team's identity, and we have seen anything but that.

[dbyote]

Feb 22, 2024 20:40:16 GMT -6 Yotes said:

Could be telling that Peterson decided that GATA would be this team's identity, and we have seen anything but that.

If I'm being honest, I don't think we see GATA more than 5 minutes a game. And it's sporadic. It's really disappointing after we saw a great effort to start conference play in Fargo. We maybe duplicated that effort 4 to 5 other times. We're not talented enough to beat anyone without maximum effort.

[lakesbison]

After watching the yotes destroy ndsu that 1st game. I never would’ve suspected this slide. I just pull the bandaid get it over with. See how new recruits or a portal guy helps usd next year

[elcoyote]

First half and second half were two completely different games. As I said earlier if the refs let them play we're in trouble because KC is very physical and in the first half they definitely let them play. Eleven total free throws and I don't think either team was in the bonus. Half goes to the 'Roos. Tightly called game would benefit USD. Second half refs started calling everything. 54 total free throws shot and both teams are in the double bonus right around the ten-minute mark. Half goes to the "Yotes. I thought we played hard, never gave up and almost got it done. I'm thinking/hoping that these tight games are going to start turning our way. Better to think positively than to just sit back and bitch and moan.

[yote18]

I’m not normally one to complain about officials but that was an interesting crew. A lot of blatant fouls missed against the Roos with us just getting called for much less. I think we responded well in the 2nd half and made some good adjustments. I do personally think that had the officiating been more even the entire game that the outcome would’ve probably been more favorable to us.

We’ve got ALOT of potential. There’s is no where to go but up from here and I think we will shock a lot of people next year. Call me crazy but I’m more optimistic about the mens teams future than the Women’s.

[fightsd]

GATA lol. This team doesn't get after anything at this point.

[captaincoyote]

I’ve been reflecting on this team quite a bit lately. When I look back at prior Yote squads with a similar record, I don’t see as much depth of talent. We just haven’t been able to piece it all together this season for some reason.

For next season, I’m with Yote18 if not any reason but that we can’t get worse. If the players don’t lose heart and everyone (including the coaches) can be dedicated to improvement this off-season, I think next season could be a very different story.

[90yote]

Yeah, I can see where this team might be a lot better next year. Eric has said repeatedly that he wants to build something where guys stay multiple years. And I think that's the way they need to do it. Now let's see if they can retain guys and make progress in year 3.

With what he was left with, it's going to take time.

[Yotes]

It takes time to build a program, but this program is so disconnected from the mantra of GATA that Peterson had been pushing (is he still? I haven't watched an interview in a long time). If that's the coaching philosophy then we should never give up 82 PPG in conference play no matter the roster. That's what has me concerned. Can these guys coach? Peterson only had two seasons as a head coach previously and it was way down in the JUCO ranks.

Season isn't over yet, I guess, and Peterson obviously will be back next year. I think he will be on the hot seat though.

[90yote]

I'll guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on most of this. I remember after Smith's first two years there was a lot of making fun at the GATA stuff. Didn't hear a lot of that after the next couple years. And let me be clear, I'm NOT saying that Peterson is Smith. And I'm ambivalent about the GATA stuff.

Would Todd Lee have found a way to win a couple extra games these last two years? Yeah, probably. Lee is a good game coach and has more experience. But where would that get us? There was never a long-range plan, there was a complete disinterest in recruiting high school kids (and in some cases, a flat-out refusal to do so). The biggest indictment of Lee's process is that this year Peterson had to go to the portal to get their three best players. How bad would they be if he didn't bring those three in? Where was the leftover talent?

I'd just rather let Peterson see if he can build a program. The first year was an attempt to see if he could wring out one more year of experienced, yet small and unathletic team. This year is a complete re-start. Now if Peterson can't keep guys in Vermillion or the young guys don't develop, then it will probably be time to move on. But I don't see how they are anywhere near that decision.