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Post by elcoyote on Jan 25, 2024 23:21:45 GMT -6
That hold on Bruns on the last inbounds was so obvious. I mean, the front of his jersey was facing backwards. I realize officiating to a tough gig, but these guys make well over a thousand dollars a game and can't even see something as blatantly obvious as that? At the most crucial time of the game? It just seems to me that the officiating has been awful as a whole this season. The SDSU game for instance: neither team got screwed, but neither team ever being in the bonus in either half? That's insane, especially given how physical the game was. I get the players adapted, but at some point we're not supposed to be watching pickup ball at the "Y".
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 23, 2024 16:04:24 GMT -6
There's a disconnect between what this team is and what some fans want it to be. The team continues to play hard. It has executed frequently in high-pressure, late-game situations, which are not generally hallmarks of poorly coached teams. Maybe, just maybe, they're a 13-7, 12-8, 11-9 type of team. I'm not really sure where the wins on this schedule are that HAVEN'T happened. I know I've seen one or two wins that probably should have been losses. Agree. No close loses on the schedule that should have been wins. Luckily we were coached up enough to win tight ones vs 8-10 Loyola, 6-11 UT Martin, 4-15 Omaha, and the Minneapolis Miracle vs 11-8 St. Thomas. ...and all on the road
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 22, 2024 15:29:45 GMT -6
My god. Why don't you just give it a rest.
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 20, 2024 19:41:25 GMT -6
I thought it just came down to not making shots. I thought they pretty much got what they wanted in the first half. They took care of the ball and got open looks. But they are not good enough to withstand that shooting performance. And a couple guys (frankly) killed them. Jacks are better, but compared to previous years aren't great. That was a very winnable game. Stewart looked like he was coming off an illness, and he didn't even start the second half. That told you how he was feeling. I will again say this is a byproduct of the Lee era, never trying to build something over years. Look at the Jacks...Mayo is in his 3rd year (and is a star), Mims is in his 5th year there, Appel is in his 4th year in Brookings (and 6th year in college). Kyle (who I heard Lee wasn't terribly interested in) is a difference-maker in his sophomore season. Yotes have any of those guys? It makes a difference. We haven't had the success in recent years to win recruiting battles against state. USD hasn't done anything notable in MBB since most of these kids were in grade school. Lee didn't recruit well, but let's not pretend that we have a real shot at the best local kids. Until we have some sustained success, we'll need to hit a home run every year in the transfer portal and maybe get lucky on a recruit or two that decides to stick around when they start to stand out. Except that we outrecruited State for the #1 ranked player in South Dakota this year, Ihnen from Lennox.
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 20, 2024 19:36:46 GMT -6
I had a blast taking my toddler son to his first ever sporting event, thankfully a Coyote game. He sees the USD branding at home all the time and he was incredibly excited to point out all the Coyote logos at the SCSC. I have been so many times that I have lost sight of just how beautiful our arena is and how well the brand is plastered throughout the facility. The 5-foot standup SD paw inside the main entrance was a big hit. I was trying to wipe off my glasses from the long cold walk and he would not stop trying to bolt away from me and cut through the crowd to that 5-foot USD paw. Had to just hold him and wait for my glasses to de-fog. Running the concourse (with those tiny legs) was exhilarating for him as he pointed out all the branding while still having a great view of the court. The starting lineup and hype video with light show had him going crazy. He loved the band and the crowd making big noise when the Coyotes had a good play. We unfortunately did have to leave in the 2nd half when I wouldn't let him go onto the court and he threw a fit because he couldn't touch the biggest USD logo of them all. He was way past nap time anyways. He will be 2 in May. He will never remember this day but I will never forget it. I share this because some of you should lighten up. No one is happy about the result. The team has shown great potential and we are working with a rookie head coach. It's his second season as a head coach, but I'm calling him a rookie still. Anyone remember last year when he could have died and missed a bunch of games? Losing sucks. I think we are headed for better things. Try to be positive along the way. Awesome post!
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 20, 2024 16:26:05 GMT -6
I'm calling bullshit. Everything is negative, no positives ever, at all? Toyed with? Both teams played poorly in the first half; the last ten minutes were especially ugly for both squads. I thought we played well/hard for the first 15 minutes of the second half and it was a 2/3 possession game with five minutes left, but then three straight bad, almost unforced turnovers in three possessions resulting in three easy baskets for State and it was game, set, match. In my estimation that minute and change was the game right there. I will concede that Mayo was probably the best player on the floor. It was a hard fought, exceptionally physical game seeing that neither team was ever in the bonus and only eight free throws were attempted all game. State is better equipped for a game like that.
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Bagnell
Jan 12, 2024 11:14:25 GMT -6
Post by elcoyote on Jan 12, 2024 11:14:25 GMT -6
Any insight into why? Kind of strange to give up a HC job to come to USD as a position coach and them bolt after a terrific year. Odd It's easy to find good WR coaches out there, so not worried especially with a veteran room. Said he was leaving the coaching profession and going into business back home in Montana.
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 12, 2024 11:10:56 GMT -6
I think everyone is questioning why Demers isn’t playing, including opposing coaches. It has to be extremely frustrating for these post players, recruited by a very successful coach with a history of developing and effectively using the post. A good post is only as good as a guard capable of delivering a post bound pass. So you're saying that the talent level is the same as Hannah Sjerven's and just needs to be developed?
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 8, 2024 12:34:11 GMT -6
After the Summit tourney game last March, think maybe they'll come out in a full court press right away?
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 7, 2024 12:42:59 GMT -6
What did he injure? How bad did it look? It wasn't obvious. I went back and looked. His foot slipped and he traveled with 8 mins left in the first half. He had a slight limp and didn't return. I did hear that it sounds minor. Thanks for the info! Can't afford to lose that guy for any extended period if at all.
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 6, 2024 23:45:29 GMT -6
Well, I think part of the problem offensively is there always seems to be two guys on the court that aren't confident offensively, so when the ball gets rotated to them and they don't want to shoot or make a move, the flow gets interrupted. Just started following the game. Why does Stewart not appear to have played in the 2nd half? Stewart is out with an injury again. What did he injure? How bad did it look?
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Post by elcoyote on Jan 2, 2024 13:27:30 GMT -6
One, congrats to Ms. Larkins on one more notch on her belt in an excellent career thus far. Two, this is why I'm extremely hesitant to jump on any kind of coach-bashing train around here. I'm not real certain that a poorly-coached team is ever going to win three OT games on the road in one season. Can't remember where I heard/read this many years ago when I was just starting out, but the adage went that if a game was 10 points or less coaching was involved, more than 10 coaching had nothing to do with the outcome. Seems USD is faring well in this department. If anyone thinks any coach doesn't spend hours game planning, watching film and preparing for an opponent, they're completely delusional.
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Post by elcoyote on Dec 29, 2023 23:02:59 GMT -6
Anytime you can sneak a win in Fargo is a great win. Now on to Omaha. Finally, a home game for the men.
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Post by elcoyote on Dec 29, 2023 22:53:16 GMT -6
I will say USD played poorly tonight so bash away all you want, but I'm going to echo waterboy in that NDSU is taller, quicker and just more athletic than USD at the present time and you simply can't teach that.
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Post by elcoyote on Dec 26, 2023 13:54:29 GMT -6
I'm just always so impressed with the info you manage to come up with. Really interesting, informative and appreciated!
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