The Mercer Postgame Report: NIT Edition

[OrangeBalls]

Yeah, we struggled when Golden was out. And, sometimes when he was in. I only meant that there were more than a few games where 100% effort wasn't put on the floor the entire game. It's nothing new. It's happened the last 3-4 years.

Well the season is a grind. You are going to have a few stinkers here and there. I don't think they had as many this year as last year. They failed to capitalize on some opportunities early in the season. They have to start out of the gate faster next year if they don't want to be sweating it out next year.

 

[Slydell]

I agree.

 

[cncchris33]

As for Hall and McBee, I'll just say this. If Hall had McBee's effort, he would've been a much better player.

I have said this many times over the past few years. If you could put Skylar's heart in Kenny's body, you'd have sometging special.

Kenny Hall will look back on his career, and likely be disappointed, knowing he didn't leave it all out there. Sometimes, that wisdom isn't revealed to you until later in life.

 

[leftfield34]

Scouting Report for playing UT:
1. Press
2. Zone
3. Pick and Roll on Offense

Most teams can have success against Tennessee with this gameplan.

 

[cncchris33]

Scouting Report for playing UT:
1. Press
2. Zone
3. Pick and Roll on Offense

Most teams can have success against Tennessee with this gameplan.

I've said it all season, and have been surprised at how many teams strayed from that strategy.

1. Take the ball out of Golden's hands, because everyone else is scared to death to handle the ball, and rightfully so.

2. Make us play with four guys outside the 3-point line with a zone defense, because we won't try to work it inside or to the middle. We settle for 22-footers.

3. Use a lot of picks and motion offensively. We can't stay with our man, and given 35 seconds to do it, we will get lost more often than not.

#1 is a skill issue which can be fixed to a degree with drills and practice, and dedication to such. #'s 2 & 3 are discipline issues and should be corrected with coaching, and from game 1 to game 33, I didn't see much if any improvement here. CCM is still learning on the job, but he better get it together quickly and shore up these issues. One season of potential success next year isn't going to save his job down the road if he can't improve his own abilities where they are deficient.

 

[RichRollin]

1. It's obvious the effort wasn't there. That's inexcusable. They should all be embarrassed, starting with Coach Martin.

2. However, it's the NIT. If you overreact to this, you need to reevaluate some things.

3. Trae Golden, why didn't you attack the basket earlier and just in the last two minutes?

4. Jordan McRae mentally checked out. It's the first time he's done that all year. I'll give him a pass.

5. Bernard King Player of the Game: Jarnell Stokes. His rebounding is pure joy to watch. He played his ass off.

6. Josh Richardson did too. He's the glue of the team. Love watching him play.

7. Good luck to Kenny Hall, Skylar McBee, and Rob Murphy in your future endeavors. If you work hard and make good decisions, you can accomplish a lot of things in life.

8. You guys don't want to hear anything positive right now, but with Robert Hubbs, and (pray to the gods this happens) Jeronne Maymon, this team is going to make some serious noise. I promise.

9. The three things to improve on: Inside paint defense on pick-n-rolls, improvement of ball handling, and finding a consistent offensive rhythm.

10. It's very hard for me to classify this season as a success. It's also very hard for me to classify this season a failure with Maymon's injury. Every one of you guys knows that if Maymon was 100%, UT probably wins 23-24 games this year. However, it was highly disappointing not making the NCAA tournament, so overall, I think mediocre is the right word for this season. The recruiting class for 2013 is solid, a lot of experience returns, and I think UT has a good chance to make a lot of noise nationally next year. I enjoyed doing these and even though I come off as an ass most of the time, I love volnation, and spend most of my time in the basketball forum when I get online. Enjoy the NCAA tournament. See you guys in November. :hi:

Good write up Once again. I'll have to disagree with 2 and 4 though.

2) it's a game. NIT or not, they need to bring it. If its not important then we should have turned down the invite.

4) nobody should EVER get a pass for checking out mentally. Especially your best player. What about Hall and McBee. Their careers are over. I wonder how they liked Jordan checking out? I bet they would give their left foot to play again while your boy was....."checking out".

 

[1985Vols]

I know some people are thinking Hubbs will start but I have been really excited about Richardson's offensive improvement. He might just be slowly turning into a star.

Work on his jump shot from outside of 15 FT and he could develop into a darn good player

 

[vols 30]

??? ...when will they have the ceremony to hang the 2013 NIT appearance banner in the rafters? ..anybody heard?

Will they be behind the black curtains?

 

[cncchris33]

Good write up Once again. I'll have to disagree with 2 and 4 though.

2) it's a game. NIT or not, they need to bring it. If its not important then we should have turned down the invite.

4) nobody should EVER get a pass for checking out mentally. Especially your best player. What about Hall and McBee. Their careers are over. I wonder how they liked Jordan checking out? I bet they would give their left foot to play again while your boy was....."checking out".

Kenny Hall checked out three years ago. He wouldn't give his left foot to this team going back to the end of his freshman season. Doubt that has changed with this loss. I do feel sorry for Skylar. He deserved better.

 

[Spartacavolus]

Kenny Hall checked out three years ago. He wouldn't give his left foot to this team going back to the end of his freshman season. Doubt that has changed with this loss. I do feel sorry for Skylar. He deserved better.

I said for 3 years that this team wouldn't go anywhere with Kenny Hall seeing playing time. I try not to make it personal with players and coaches, but I can't help it here. I am so glad the albatross is gone and I expect us to win 24-25 games next year, as long as CM doesn't put his players in offensive sets that don't help showcase their skills. If I was him, I'd take the Mercer offense and install it today. Spacing was beautiful.

 

[cncchris33]

I said for 3 years that this team wouldn't go anywhere with Kenny Hall seeing playing time. I try not to make it personal with players and coaches, but I can't help it here. I am so glad the albatross is gone and I expect us to win 24-25 games next year, as long as CM doesn't put his players in offensive sets that don't help showcase their skills. If I was him, I'd take the Mercer offense and install it today. Spacing was beautiful.

I agree. Hall was never anything after his freshman season when he showed a bit of promise.

When teams zone us, it's lights out. I can't believe more teams didn't do it, because we literally do not know what to do. Each time we see it, we react as if we have never seen it before. We wind up with four guys outside the 3-point line passing it around. Whoever has the ball with 5 seconds left on the shot clock just chucks it up from 22 feet. We need to refine our offensive philosophy such they were are not dead in the water against any certain defense. We aren't going to shoot many teams out of a zone defense, but we have the personnel to be a good driving and slashing team. We just need crisper, faster ball movement and more assertiveness.

 

[Spartacavolus]

I agree. Hall was never anything after his freshman season when he showed a bit of promise.

When teams zone us, it's lights out. I can't believe more teams didn't do it, because we literally do not know what to do. Each time we see it, we react as if we have never seen it before. We wind up with four guys outside the 3-point line passing it around. Whoever has the ball with 5 seconds left on the shot clock just chucks it up from 22 feet. We need to refine our offensive philosophy such they were are not dead in the water against any certain defense. We aren't going to shoot many teams out of a zone defense, but we have the personnel to be a good driving and slashing team. We just need crisper, faster ball movement and more assertiveness.

nobody was put on the floor to play right on the ft line against a zone all year and we never worked the deep baseline either. That's inexcusable.

 

[cncchris33]

nobody was put on the floor to play right on the ft line against a zone all year and we never worked the deep baseline either. That's inexcusable.

So true. It's like it's still a trade secret to this team/staff that the middle of the zone is it's most vulnerable spot. Yet we have 4 guys 20 feet from the basket passing it around while Stokes fights for position to no avail.

 

[bamacheats]

Tourney basketball = guard play, free throws, turnovers.

Until Cuonzo values the pg position, he will never be a consistent tourney contender.

 

[OrangeBalls]

I agree. Hall was never anything after his freshman season when he showed a bit of promise.

When teams zone us, it's lights out. I can't believe more teams didn't do it, because we literally do not know what to do. Each time we see it, we react as if we have never seen it before. We wind up with four guys outside the 3-point line passing it around. Whoever has the ball with 5 seconds left on the shot clock just chucks it up from 22 feet. We need to refine our offensive philosophy such they were are not dead in the water against any certain defense. We aren't going to shoot many teams out of a zone defense, but we have the personnel to be a good driving and slashing team. We just need crisper, faster ball movement and more assertiveness.

nobody was put on the floor to play right on the ft line against a zone all year and we never worked the deep baseline either. That's inexcusable.

Maymon will be the guy who plays the old point-forward position like Tyler Smith used to play. I think we'll look better against the zone next year. How much? That remains to be seen. Maymon and Stokes both on the floor will make teams play us more honest. Stokes admitted that he didn't try as hard earlier in the season because last year Maymon did the dirty work and got the rebounds. Once he figured he had to work for them then he went after them. Hopefully, he doesn't settle because Maymon is back on the court.

Frankly, losing Hall will help the overall IQ of this team tremendously.

 

[cncchris33]

Maymon will be the guy who plays the old point-forward position like Tyler Smith used to play. I think we'll look better against the zone next year. How much? That remains to be seen. Maymon and Stokes both on the floor will make teams play us more honest. Stokes admitted that he didn't try as hard earlier in the season because last year Maymon did the dirty work and got the rebounds. Once he figured he had to work for them then he went after them. Hopefully, he doesn't settle because Maymon is back on the court.

Frankly, losing Hall will help the overall IQ of this team tremendously.

Agree. It's why I refuse to minimize Maymon's importance to this team and how big of a loss that really was this season.

Hall leaving is addition by subtraction.

 

[Mr. Lofton]

Good job, z! Enjoyed reading your write ups after the games.
The one thing I would add is they all need to get out and practice their shots. We've got to shoot better next year from 15' and out.

 

[albedo33]

Watching UT this year, you sense that most of the players have innate talent but not much in the way of motivation or ability to play as a team. What are the odds that CCM is another 3 years and done coach at UT? At this point, I'd say about 50/50.

 

[CINCYVOL]

Clearly there was no passion on the court from UT tonight. Be careful about making fun of other teams (UK) before your team takes the court.


Season's over. Move on to next year

Nah! I will still make fun of UK and their obnoxious fans. I was disappointed in the loss, but I will still realist the 30 point beatdown as long as I can . You see, I live in northern ky and these people are intolerable.