Thoughts on BYU

[munnster]

I was at The Orleans and just a few quick impressions.
What a great area, I wish Lawlor was like that (with 4 sides instead of 3). It would be worth 5 more points a game due to the noise the smaller arena can generate.
BYU, I don't think I have ever seen a more arrogant bunch of supporters. They though everything was a foul by us and they could do no wrong.
AJ was completely out of gas at the end of the game. I don't know if that happens every game or just this as he was trying to take the game over. Afterwards a couple of BYU fans were asking me about him, as they were impressed.
I know this is a more exciting kind of basketball to watch, but might it be better to go back to the Mark Fox, boring defense until we can build some depth. As the team plays well unfortunately the game is 40 mins not 30mins.

[chriswebb86]

I was at The Orleans and just a few quick impressions.
What a great area, I wish Lawlor was like that (with 4 sides instead of 3). It would be worth 5 more points a game due to the noise the smaller arena can generate.
BYU, I don't think I have ever seen a more arrogant bunch of supporters. They though everything was a foul by us and they could do no wrong.
AJ was completely out of gas at the end of the game. I don't know if that happens every game or just this as he was trying to take the game over. Afterwards a couple of BYU fans were asking me about him, as they were impressed.
I know this is a more exciting kind of basketball to watch, but might it be better to go back to the Mark Fox, boring defense until we can build some depth. As the team plays well unfortunately the game is 40 mins not 30mins.

Honestly, I dont think our defense is going to improve that much with the type of tempo we play. While Fox's defense worked for the most part, our offense was terrible. With the current players we have on this team, I think if we were to go to a more slow pace, we would probably lose more games because of not using the talent correctly.

[Jeg315]

I was there too, and I've always said that the Orleans Arena is a great venue. I remember running into Andy Katz a few years back at the Las Vegas Classic when Florida and Kansas played each other and he said that it was a great venue. Can't wait for the WAC Tournament to be here.

[calnev277]

And I have no idea why. The crowd was on him the entire game. Why Kraemer?

[Stuck in Seattle]

Honestly, I dont think our defense is going to improve that much with the type of tempo we play. While Fox's defense worked for the most part, our offense was terrible. With the current players we have on this team, I think if we were to go to a more slow pace, we would probably lose more games because of not using the talent correctly.

Our offense under Fox was not terrible and I don't know why this seems to be becoming a common knowledge kind of thing. Even after Nick left the offensive efficiency was in the top one-third nationally in it's very worst season - last year. The problem was that the defense went from being in the top 50 to being just outside the top 100. This year, not counting BYU, it's 214th.

We've had a nice jump in offense (from 115th to 61st in offensive efficiency) and a total collapse on defense.

[geezer1]

I think we're seeing what happens when the inmates are allowed to run the asylum.

[RenoGuy]

I was really impressed with BYU. They are great at shooting the ball, and do play defense. Yes, we scored 104 on them, but that was probably our best offensive game of the year. I'm amazed USU beat them by 10, even though at Logan.

Looking at the stats, it was a pretty close game. I'm surprised the TO's are even at 14 each, I thought we had more. But they lead in steals 9-3. We had one more board, but led 11-6 in offensive boards. They killed us with their free throws where they shot 27-28. We weren't so bad at 18-25, but geeze.

The game could of easily been a rout for either team, but both teams were hot offensively.

[student4ever]

I was really impressed with BYU. They are great at shooting the ball, and do play defense. Yes, we scored 104 on them, but that was probably our best offensive game of the year. I'm amazed USU beat them by 10, even though at Logan.

Looking at the stats, it was a pretty close game. I'm surprised the TO's are even at 14 each, I thought we had more. But they lead in steals 9-3. We had one more board, but led 11-6 in offensive boards. They killed us with their free throws where they shot 27-28. We weren't so bad at 18-25, but geeze.

The game could of easily been a rout for either team, but both teams were hot offensively.

The guy who had all the steals for BYU was injured for the USU game and barely played. Also, the brazilian was still starting for them at the 4, instead of the guy who is obviously the better 4 man.

[battle.borne]

And I have no idea why. The crowd was on him the entire game. Why Kraemer?

He's really white? They probably think he should be playing for BYU. :rolleyes:

[NevadaFan]

I think we're seeing what happens when the inmates are allowed to run the asylum.

Is this code? Do you think Carter has lost control of the team?

[Packalum04]

He's really white? They probably think he should be playing for BYU. :rolleyes:

He is too young to play for BYU.

[battle.borne]

He is too young to play for BYU.

True!

There is something wrong when a 25 yr old man (with a wife and two kids) can play against a 18yr kid who's still learning to shave......

[backsthepack]

True!

There is something wrong when a 25 yr old man (with a wife and two kids) can play against a 18yr kid who's still learning to shave......
What about a 29 year old?:eek: (Robert Pac?)

[battle.borne]

What about a 29 year old?:eek: (Robert Pac?)

He was also a registered sex offender for a rape he committed as a young man....but that's neither here, nor there. ;)

[geezer1]

"Is this code? Do you think Carter has lost control of the team? "


No, not lost control. But Carter's approach is much more player oriented - let the kids play and do what they do - where TJ's and Fox's were: do what I tell you. Carter seems to have confidence that the sheer athletic ability of some of his guys will carry the day, rather than forcing them to play a structured form of the game that doesn't rely on individual results, but more on team results. That's why you saw guys like AJ ride pine last year when they went "rogue."

[Stuck in Seattle]

"Is this code? Do you think Carter has lost control of the team? "


No, not lost control. But Carter's approach is much more player oriented - let the kids play and do what they do - where TJ's and Fox's were: do what I tell you. Carter seems to have confidence that the sheer athletic ability of some of his guys will carry the day, rather than forcing them to play a structured form of the game that doesn't rely on individual results, but more on team results. That's why you saw guys like AJ ride pine last year when they went "rogue."

I think you're wrong. The offense isn't doing so much better (now 24th in the nation in offensive efficiency) because players are allowed to "do what they do". The are playing for a coach with a system that has greatly improved the offense from last year. The team wouldn't be 21st in the nation in 2pt FG Percent if they weren't playing under control and creating open shots and matchup problems for opponents. And AJ rode the pine this year when he tried that ridiculous dunk earlier this year.

Carter is more popular with the players but I don't see a lack of discipline, work ethic or teamwork.

The problems come down to defense and depth and the latter is part of the problem with the former.

Tired players don't defend as well (though I still have doubts that this is the major problem). But while I like the team's high ranking in Offensive Rebound Percent, that might be helping to cause the poor transition defense and helping to lead to fatigue.

The lack of a strong bench has really tied Carter's hands as in tough games he can't rest players while they have to expend more energy guarding tougher opponents.

But I see nothing from the team that tells me the players have too much freedom to just do whatever they want.

[munnster]

I agree about the lack of depth hurting defense. The team was not going after the ball as they didn't want to get a couple of touch fouls.
I did see Carter have passion on the sidelines. It was much differnt than Fox, but you can tell he wanted to win. The timeouts were more about teaching.
I also like how Carter works the refs. You could tell he was trying to build a report with them. The coaches worked the refs a lot more in the timeouts, like Fresno always does.
If this team had Cooke, we would have one more player in the rotation and I bet a couple more wins.
One thing this team doesn't have which the team has had going back to Jery Petty, ( I think that is him), is a shut down defender for the guards. We had GHT followed by Shiloh, and Burleson. For the most part this player could just foucs on defese. This team doesn't have the luxury of that yet.

[jwolfpack]

I agree about the lack of depth hurting defense. The team was not going after the ball as they didn't want to get a couple of touch fouls.
I did see Carter have passion on the sidelines. It was much differnt than Fox, but you can tell he wanted to win. The timeouts were more about teaching.
I also like how Carter works the refs. You could tell he was trying to build a report with them. The coaches worked the refs a lot more in the timeouts, like Fresno always does.
If this team had Cooke, we would have one more player in the rotation and I bet a couple more wins.
One thing this team doesn't have which the team has had going back to Jery Petty, ( I think that is him), is a shut down defender for the guards. We had GHT followed by Shiloh, and Burleson. For the most part this player could just foucs on defese. This team doesn't have the luxury of that yet.

I now realize how much we miss cooke....and you make a great point...we dont have the shut down defender that sacrificed offense to shut down the other teams best guard....great point about the fouls too...joey and brandon couldnt be as aggresive defensively beacuse of the lack of depth.......what upsets me is that next year without luke and armon we are looking at a very similar situation, this program just cant catch a break

[battle.borne]

No doubt in my mind that if Nevada has Cooke, our first man off the bench is Shaw and that changes everything! Nevada would have just one or two losses with Cooke in the fold. I hope his parents are happy. ;(

[oldballcoach]

What's the latest on Cooke anyway?

[backsthepack]

What's the latest on Cooke anyway?
Walking on at South Carolina.

[oldballcoach]

Trading a full ride for a walk on, I wonder what the real story to that whole deal was.

[geezer1]

He'll go on scholarship next year.

[AJ fan]

Trading a full ride for a walk on, I wonder what the real story to that whole deal was.

4 star recruit getting 26-28 minutes wasn't happy. I have said it before loved the player . Hated the bulls#$t excuses that came with his leaving. The whole thing stinks and as a fan i felt like i was being told a lie from my teenage kid. It pisses me off!