Teske vs John's Crunch Time - Who Ya Got?
I'm sure I'm not the only one who was a little surprised to see Teske on the bench through the critical late stages of the second half. I love Johns' athleticism, and I know he has made some huge shots down the stretch lately. I also think he can defend athletic players better, especially if he has to switch onto a wing or guard.
However, the point guard (not sure why I so quickly forgot his name) that scored almost all of Oregon's late buckets got to the lane several times with no help. Often, Johns was the closest one and the one who should've helped. The and-one was a huge play...Johns was right there to help, but never even saw the ball. Teske would've been there, especially when you make someone else beat you at that point, especially one of Oregon's bigs.
Don't get me wrong, I love the future and athleticism of John's. Is it worth going offense with Johns and defense with Teske? If I had to choose one to stay on the floor in crunch time right now (I don't have to choose of course, and I trust Howard, but love the conversation), I think it would be Teske.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:41 PM ^
I agree. I was there live and I thought Teske was injured.
Prichard dominated when Teske left the game.
Dumb move on Juwan
December 14th, 2019 at 5:00 PM ^
I was there too and I completely disagree. Our comeback started when Johns came in. I haven’t seen the +/- but I’d be willing to be that Teske was a big - and Johns was a big + today.
December 14th, 2019 at 5:03 PM ^
Teske was -11 and Johns was +10. Not sure how you can argue for Teske getting more minutes. That being said there were a few times where Johns probably could’ve blocked Pritchard’s shot if he had slid over to help out on D.
December 14th, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
yeah but in those last few minutes having Teske's help defense might have slowed Pritchard down or at least altered a shot. He didn't think twice about taking it inside when Teske wasn't in there. And the fact that Johns didn't slide over to help on Pritchard is the problem.
If neither Johns or Teske were going to get the final shot then put in Teske for his size, rebounding and finishing ability. Part of me feels like Teske could've gotten that tip.
Johns wasn't bad but he's still a sophomore with streaky play and confidence issues. Teske is a 7'1" battle-scarred veteran senior. Go with Teske.
December 14th, 2019 at 7:31 PM ^
As I said in the last sentence of my second post, I don't totally disagree. Johns outplayed Teske throughout the game, but Teske's experience might've been of benefit...as he would've likely slid over to help out Simpson...where Johns still looks a bit lost or unsure of what to do at times.
Overall, I think we can continue to have high expectations for this team. Simpson and Teske are what they are...but all of the other five or six players in the regular rotation are showing that they have a lot of upside potential...which we'll hopefully see as the season progresses.
December 14th, 2019 at 6:58 PM ^
Moreover, Teske had the worst +/- of any player for either team, while Johns had the best for either team. I love Big Sleep but this wasn't a great game for him.
December 14th, 2019 at 9:25 PM ^
This is shortsighted nerd statistical arguments that don't actually capture the dynamics of the game. Their defense initially baffled us and they were making every three or garbage shot they put up. We mixed things up with the backups and turned things around, Johns being a major part of that. Teske was then good in the second half. We then put Johns back in, which sure why not, but then Pritchard just started kicking our ass and finished at the rim at will. And then we made no adjustment and multiples times Johns refused to help off his guy to stop Pritchard. Net loss in my opinion and I bet we win the game with Teske in OT.
December 14th, 2019 at 9:19 PM ^
The game is dynamic not static. Oregon did their damage early by 3. Mostly Mathis. Is that Teske's fault? Pritchard put up 16 straight against us without Teske. Johns had a good game and helped turned the game around but +/- does not mean he should have been in late. He also missed two critical FTs.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:42 PM ^
The Team, the Team, the Team.
That said, moar Teske.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:43 PM ^
Can't teach someone to be 7'+ tall. Everything else can be changed.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^
Starting 5: Teske Simpson livers Johns Wagner. Dejulius 6th man then brooks then Castleton
December 14th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
I like it vs a non pressing team. Although sharp passing is what breaks a press. People over 6’2” can dribble 2x and pass just as well. Over dribbling is what gets you in trouble vs a press ala Brooks.
December 14th, 2019 at 3:55 PM ^
then, with a minute left in the half, DeJulius?? Oh wait, there's two Johns, which is which?
December 14th, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^
I think you make a good point about the defensive end. But Johns was generating so many possessions with offensive rebounds that it would be hard to pull him. Not sure what the ideal lineup down the stretch would be, but I don't fault Howard for leaving Johns in.
December 14th, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
Not sure how you can defend JH for not making any adjustment on defense after like 3-4 straight scores by Pritchard. Gotta emphasize help defense or try someone else on him...
December 14th, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
This is where being a players coach goes wrong. Relied on Z way too much. Z is not nearly as good as he thinks he is.
December 14th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
Anybody with eyes should've noticed that Pritchards success driving only came when Teske was on the bench
Johns clearly doesn't know how to position himself or provide backside help. Pritchard would beat Simpson or take him to the paint and Johns was not helping at all. He was just watching it all go down
This is Howards first big mistake as a Head Coach
December 14th, 2019 at 4:51 PM ^
BIG TESKE is under valued by many.
December 14th, 2019 at 5:22 PM ^
No anyone with eyes can tell that Simpson couldn't keep Pritchard in front of him all game. That not a Teske issue thats a Simpson issue. Also anyone with eyes could see the reason the lane was so open is because Oregon pretty much went 5 out which lifts the defense.
December 14th, 2019 at 4:34 PM ^
Big Country.
December 14th, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^
Teske was not effective in the game. Johns was a major factor in the comback because he was able to defend out top and switch. He also was better attacking the boards than Teske this game. Teske didn't play well and thats the reason Johns was playing because he was just better today. The issue was that Simpson couldn't keep Pritchard in front of himm it starts and ends there. When Pritchard decided he was just gonna go get buckets, he just bodied Simpson multiple times and got to the rim. I forget the game and the player but this happened last season as well. Juwan made correct move and nobody would even be questioning the move if Michigan wins.
December 14th, 2019 at 10:49 PM ^
I agree. Teske just wasn't effective. Oregon was spreading the floor out and a few times Teske couldn't make the closeout because, well, he' s a 7-ft center with limited ability to change direction quickly.
The problem is really that our best defensive player couldn't stop his man. Give some credit to Pritchard--he took over the game for Oregon and we couldn't stop him. Sometimes that happens.
December 14th, 2019 at 4:56 PM ^
WHY did Howard basically bench Teske for most of the game? its INEXPLICABLE it allowed Oregao and particularly Pritchard to drive repeately to the basket and score it was one of THE WORST coaching decisions Ive seen in a LONG time..You have one of the best big men in the nation and you donbt play him? WTF?
December 14th, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
Teske one of the best big men in the nation? Please. Not even top 3 in the BIG.
December 14th, 2019 at 5:00 PM ^
i think it's funny that people want to bench teske and simpson.
December 14th, 2019 at 5:20 PM ^
Actually impressed me that Howard went with Johns because Teske just doesn’t have the athletic ability to hang with a team like Oregon. M was much better today without him and I loved the strategy of playing small ball to combat Oregon.
December 14th, 2019 at 6:01 PM ^
but did you like all the layups in the second half and OT? those were not there with teske on the floor. ya, johns got 4 offensive rebounds, but the layups killed us.
December 14th, 2019 at 6:37 PM ^
We were -11 with Teske on the floor and +10 with Johns.
December 15th, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
That's only because Teske was on the court in the first half when Anthony Mathis shot the lights out, which has nothing to do with Teske. Correlation does not imply causation (AKA +/- is a garbage stat).
Also, if the last play of the game is to isolate X and let him throw something up at the rim and try for the tip, why not put both Teske AND Johns in the game (put Wagner/DDJ at the two and Livers at the 3).
December 14th, 2019 at 5:24 PM ^
Simpson did not play a good defensive game at all. Point blank Teske in the game doesn't change the fact that Simpson had his ass handed to him by Pritchard. Pritchard said you can't guard me and just went at him. Simpson had no pride about his defense effort late in the game. Dude scored 13 straight on him.
December 14th, 2019 at 5:42 PM ^
Or...he was dead tired after 45 minutes of basketball.
December 14th, 2019 at 8:33 PM ^
Both he and Pritchard (the guy he was guarding) played 40+ minutes. Didn't seem to affect him when he scored 13 straight on him. Simpson has gotten worked by guards in games before. So minutes played isnt the issue.
December 14th, 2019 at 5:29 PM ^
I thought the last shot should have been Teske inside and drawing the foul. That Z skyhook gets no free throws if missed.
December 14th, 2019 at 6:08 PM ^
It's December relax. This team and Oregon will be better and a royal pain during March Madness. Juwan and staff have forgotten more basketball tactics than most posters here combined and who knows the kids health and mindset better than the staff. Love how the "secondary" players are developing including Johns giving us more flexibility. Yes there were lots of mental mistakes to learn from by several players by playing a great schedule and putting them in March Madness type situations. Bobby Knight mastered this.They will learn very little beating the heck out of Elon and this game was there to win despite an awful start. The Big10 including our arch rivals Rutgers will be a test every night and yes we will lose a few games, everyone will lucky not to lose on the road in the best conference.
December 14th, 2019 at 9:01 PM ^
Yeah, I would've done an offense/defense exchange with those two, but it's something I'm sure the coaching staff will note for next time.
December 14th, 2019 at 9:42 PM ^
While Johns balled the f out today and I have never been more hopeful for his future, Teske should have been on the court at the end of regulation, if possible. I thought he and Simpson were just getting the pick and roll game going when Teske came in around the 6-7 minute mark. And Pritchard would not have been able to score 9 in the final 4:11 had Teske been out there the entire time.
December 14th, 2019 at 10:11 PM ^
offensively we were better with johns but there were situations where we could have put Teske in on defense then called a timeout, especially when there was under two minutes left.
December 14th, 2019 at 10:51 PM ^
Possibly. But without Johns' work on the offensive glass plus his buckets at the end there, we wouldn't have been in position to even force OT.
December 14th, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
We were down 16 and instead of getting blown out, we had multiple shots to win. They didn't drop. It's a bummer, but it's a non-conference game, so the overall damage is limited unless you think we will be a bubble team.