Simon

[bghkyfan74]

Starting a topic on some of the threads where discussions on coaches can be had. Some of the comments get lost in game posts.

[bghkyfan74]

What I'm hearing from inside the men's program is that the coaching staff is struggling on how to coach for roster retention while also holding players accountable. It is not that they are bad coaches but they are trying to figure out how to hold players accountable without pissing them off and then the players leave the next year. The coaching staff has told the players that they need to hold each other accountable, but the ones who would hold accountable don't feel like they are in a position to do (don't play as many minutes). This is the challenge that many coaches are facing in this new era and it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
Players are not unhappy, they are just frustrated with what others are getting away with. Johnson and Felt know they both HAVE to play and there is no one else to replace them, so they can just go out there and do whatever.

[hammb]

They play like this is the case, and it's not surprising at all. I know when SImon arrived here he mentioned that keeping players "in program" for multiple years was key to winning at this level. He was able to do that at SUU, but if we go back and look it took him awhile to get there. Obviously the NIL/transfer stuff has gotten even more crazy in the 2 yrs since his coming here, so is what it is.

Yes, this is absolutely the challenge. You have to coddle enough that kids will stay, but press enough that they actually put forth the effort. I think the lesson here for coach Simon is that this roster turnover can be fine, but you have to put an ultra emphasis on the Hills/Agees of the world. What I feared going into this season, and looked pretty apparent from our very first game, was that it wasn't their production we would miss the most but their attitude. Sitting near the benches with those 2 out there, they had serious DAWG. They weren't letting the team fail the way this years team has failed.

It's not that we don't have some talented players still on this roster. I don't like the overall game of either Trey Thomas or Marcus Johnson, but they're both talented enough to be quality MAC players. It's the attitude we miss. We don't have anybody willing to put forth the extra effort to make the hustle plays. WHether it's the last rotation on defense, or scrapping for a loose ball, or fighting for rebounds. We, as a team, are all too content to just roll with whatever happens.

That makes for some garbage defense and an offense that only looks competent when a few guys hit shots.

[bghkyfan74]

They play like this is the case, and it's not surprising at all. I know when SImon arrived here he mentioned that keeping players "in program" for multiple years was key to winning at this level. He was able to do that at SUU, but if we go back and look it took him awhile to get there. Obviously the NIL/transfer stuff has gotten even more crazy in the 2 yrs since his coming here, so is what it is.

Yes, this is absolutely the challenge. You have to coddle enough that kids will stay, but press enough that they actually put forth the effort. I think the lesson here for coach Simon is that this roster turnover can be fine, but you have to put an ultra emphasis on the Hills/Agees of the world. What I feared going into this season, and looked pretty apparent from our very first game, was that it wasn't their production we would miss the most but their attitude. Sitting near the benches with those 2 out there, they had serious DAWG. They weren't letting the team fail the way this years team has failed.

It's not that we don't have some talented players still on this roster. I don't like the overall game of either Trey Thomas or Marcus Johnson, but they're both talented enough to be quality MAC players. It's the attitude we miss. We don't have anybody willing to put forth the extra effort to make the hustle plays. WHether it's the last rotation on defense, or scrapping for a loose ball, or fighting for rebounds. We, as a team, are all too content to just roll with whatever happens.

That makes for some garbage defense and an offense that only looks competent when a few guys hit shots.

A great way to put it. We have a bunch of casual basketball players on this team and not enough scrappy guys. Sure Campbell is towards the top in the nation in steals but it isn't from extra hustle, he just has good hands. Similar with Felt and leading the conference in blocked shots. We have a lot of guys who are very good at one thing but can't seem to mesh all of those together.

[Flipper]

They are tough to watch...but I find a lot of modern basketball tough to watch. The let's run to the corners and wait to shoot a three sets have sucked a lot of the creativity right out of the game.

But...i have a strong bias towards run and gun push the ball all the time offense.