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Post by 90yote on Mar 2, 2024 23:22:32 GMT -6
Disappointing season based on having two power 5 guys who have skill sets to excel in this league and one of the best scoring guards in the league who also transferred in from non power 5. Essentially 60% of starting five could be first or second team all league. Granted injuries affected Stewart at times. The most disturbing part to me is the lack of development on the defensive side. That’s coaching in my opinion and needs to improve quickly. By no means was the cupboard full for Peterson but to bring in the three transfers and finish dead last is a big miscalculation. Two are gone now I assume so would have rather developed young guys. As an alumni I really want to see this team be succesful. It hurts to see this performance continue. Hope we get some dudes and consistency soon. I will continue to cheer for my Yotes. I guess you can look at it that way, but again I'll ask...exactly how bad would they have been without them? What does that say about the group that was left for the new coach? Thioune is graduating. Holt and Stewart each have one year left. Hopefully they'll stay.
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lynn
Sophomore Member
Posts: 229
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Post by lynn on Mar 2, 2024 23:46:20 GMT -6
I agree without them it would have been even worse just from the perspective of competition I assume but last place is last place. I just struggle with the logic of bringing in one year or possibly two year guys rather than developing some younger guys when you finish in last. Maybe we didn’t have good recruiting options otherwise. I’m not privy to that information unfortunately but that falls on the staff. You should be able to recruit over a walk-on. I also won’t be convinced we shouldn’t have seen better defensive development. Again I’ll continue to cheer for this team but the clock is ticking on improvement. Hope we shock the world in the summit tournament.
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Post by gopheryote on Mar 3, 2024 8:12:21 GMT -6
I dunno. Last place stinks - no question. But this wasn't like one of those WIU teams that didn't have 3 true D1 players. This was last place because they didn't learn how to win/close out close games until the past week or so.
Didn't look it up, but I think every team took a 20+ point loss this conference season. Not all last-place finishes are the same or show distance from the top.
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dbyote
Senior Member
Posts: 529
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Post by dbyote on Mar 3, 2024 8:23:39 GMT -6
I would agree that we're a pretty talented last place team. Doesn't really make it feel any better. I have major questions about the coaching but I'll reserve final judgment for a few years. I don't want to believe someone held in high regard under Craig Smith would falter. Recruiting can fix things really quickly.
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Post by yotesbacker on Mar 3, 2024 18:25:14 GMT -6
Don't have the statistics to prove it, but is this the worst defensive team we have had in the D1 era? Teams under both Smith & Lee were ranked top or near the top of the Summit league defensively. Every single guy in D1 basketball played good or great offensively in high school. Many did not become good defensively until they got to college. It's the nature of the game. Our system simply needs to be better at developing individual defensive skills, and also teach smart 'team' defense. Getting better next year starts with at least a W (or maybe more) @ the Summit. GO YOTES
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