MGoBender

February 17th, 2013 at 12:55 PM ^

On the last possession, PSU pulled out a soft trap with two guards on Burke. They hadn't showed it yet and we weren't prepared for it.  Credit them for good timing.

That's the reason I wouldn't have called timeout - you're giving them a chance to set something up defensively. However, I'm sure Coach B is thinking "Let's set something up so we don't have Trey Heroball."

Sometimes you have to tip your cap. Credit PSU for the timing of showing the trap. Now we can expect it and be prepared for it.

LSAClassOf2000

February 17th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^

Here's what it looks like by the numbers...

 

HALFTIME
  Penn St. Michigan
Points 32 32
FG% 45.8% 36.0%
3FG% 33.3% 20.0%
FT% 80.0% 75.0%
Off. Rebounds 3 3
Def. Rbounds 15 9
Assists 6 4
Blocks 0 0
Turnovers 6 2

Plenty of game left, of course, but I do wonder what the halftime discussion will entail...

backtoblu

February 17th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^

Not giving up on anything yet.  THIS IS BASKETBALL.  Not everything is a blowout. Being up or down by a couple doesn't mean anything until the very end.

Needs

February 17th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^

Classic hangover game. They started to get their confidence back there in the last 5 minutes. Want to see them come out with 3 defensive stops. We'll be fine this game. Long term, need Stauskas and McGary to start being more diligent about moving their feet on defense.

erald01

February 17th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^

Where is the FUCKing attitude, i thought after the ass whoping last week we would come here and destroy penn st...can we fucking start playing tough, shove ppl around punch them in the face i dont care just fucking PLAY TOUGH.. this is frustrating i dont even want to watch anymore

bdsisme

February 17th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

These are 18-22 year olds playing a game that is highly stochastic.  PSU came out with a gameplan specifically designed to attack our weaknesses, and then went on a 12-1 run that we countered by eventually tying the game up.  You can't expect to win every possession -- that's why games are 40 minutes long and coaches exist to make adjustments.

Mannix

February 17th, 2013 at 12:58 PM ^

Has been pretty poor. It is never just one man (see Stauskas, Nik) but it also falls on help line guys and the two pass away guys who should be in the lane ready to give help. Really don't know the principles taught in relation to where they're taught to steer the ball, but clearly the help line guys aren't doing their job, either.

JD_UofM_90

February 17th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^

Doesn't coach b start playing more zone? Make a team like this beat u from the outside. Too many easy layups for a crappy psu team. The definition of insanity apply's to his defensive philosophy for our team. Just play a 2-3 zone for awhile and pack it in. Throw in a 1-3-1 every now a then. I am also amazed of what a terrible rebounding team we are on both ends of the court.

Mannix

February 17th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^

But if the helpline guys can't do their job, same things happen in zone. Guys get split, ball gets to middle of floor and trouble. If Nik needs to be "hid", then don't put him on the top. Well, not you, coaching staff

JD_UofM_90

February 17th, 2013 at 2:07 PM ^

Would add is that in man on the pick and roll our big guys hedge so hard we end up alot of times with bigs up high and smaller guys underneath trying to rebound against another teams bigs. With a 2-3 zone you have less rebounding miss matches down low. Against teams with good big men (Minn, Ind, Ohio) we have been getting killed on offensive rebounds this year

JHendo

February 17th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^

Trey is trying to do too much, Stauskas seems to have misplaced his offensive abilities (and can't make up for it with any defense), GRIII has to be handed everything on a silver platter as it's now pretty obvious that he can't create any offense for himself, Timmy is in one of his annual funks and is trying to overcompensate for it by being over aggressive,and  the only semi-competent big man we seem to have is MItch and while his energy is amazing, he struggles to finish shots and is a liability in the defensive post.  This, combined with defensive play which can best be described as apathetic, is why we're staring at tied ball game against a team that is yet to win a game in Big Ten play.  It makes me sick to my stomach and I fear for what is in store for us the rest of the season if this isn't fixed.

Good news is, all of their best players are in foul trouble, so I can't see the Nittany Lions hanging around much past the 12 minute mark of the 2nd half.

Perkis-Size Me

February 17th, 2013 at 1:02 PM ^

Okay I'm pretty concerned about this team gong forward. Defensively they're not getting any better. In fact they look like they're getting worse. Burke has to play hero seemingly every game now because he's not getting much help. There seems to be a very apparent lack of toughness and grit with this team, and there are no Novak/Douglass type players for everyone to rally around and look to for leadership. Not sure what's happened in the last week or so, but they just look like their confidence is absolutely shot. They're letting a god-awful Penn State team, which before today has had zero inside presence, dominate inside the paint and walk all over them.



If this stuff isn't fixed, and in a hurry, we're looking at another first round exit.



Soulfire21

February 17th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^

I was more encouraged towards the end of the half

  • PSU lead evaporated, tied.  Not ideal, but better than going into the half down
  • Seem to be attacking the rim more.  Yes, we've missed some easy layups, but overall I think we're near the rim more and that's encouraging.

Our shooting troubles are a bit disconcerting.  A few games ago, we were a top 5 shooting team at over 50%, we're down to 49% because of the tough stretch, but State held us to 30-something % and we are only shooting 36%.  If we can get some of our shooting back, we'll have no trouble (sort of, well, duh, I guess)

jonvalk

February 17th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^

Ok, so for the 2nd half, I think we need to get Timmy an open shot to get his confidence back up. I think GRIII has started to wake up and we'll see more action from him. Lets go Blue!

FreddieMercuryHayes

February 17th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^

I feel like the Wisconsin buzzer-beater broke the team. Hard fought game against a top-20 team on the road and Hardaway hits a clutch 3 to seemingly win the game. Then BAM, a lucky prayer. Since that first great steal by McGary to give us the lead in OT and subsequent missed lay-up, we can't hit shit and our D has gotten worse. The only expression is don't let the same team beat you next week. Well I feel like that buzzer beater is beating is for the third time. Really missing Novak and Douglass right now. Lack of senior leadership is showing.

MGoBender

February 17th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^

Maybe we can put the "We can't shoot FTs" meme to rest today. 75% as a team in the first half.

It probably helps to actually get to the line more than once a game, too.

MH20

February 17th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^

Apparently no one read Erik_in_Dayton's excellent piece on being a KU fan.  Some of you folks have developed a ridiculous sense of entitlement.  Get a grip.

mGrowOld

February 17th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^

What ad agency does the BWIII commercials?   They are beyond brutal.  It's like they were written by guys who not only don't actually....you know...follow sports but maybe by guys who've never even SEEN sports.  

cbs650

February 17th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^

John B does not recruit typical big ten players. And his style is not typical half court big ten bball. He likes to have bigs who play on the outside and shoot as well and this team is better suited to run. the last few games the team has fallen into letting the opponent dictate the pace of game and thats not good. If michigan can get back to playing michigan ball they are as good as any team in the conference. and remember 5 of top 7 players are freshman or sophmores. This team is young. So lets come down a little as a fan base.