The thing that won that game last night was increased effort and alot of heart from 3 players. That's it.....that's all I liked.

What I don't like is a stagnant offense. They don't run plays.....they don't get open.......they don't cut to the basket........they jack up 3's at the wrong time.........they just don't seem to have any idea what they're doing on offense.

Even their defense needs work. UNI got way too many easy baskets caused by someone losing their man on defense.

It appeared last night that many players were not into the game. That concerns me. Players I'm concerned with: White, Kirkland, Nick Williams, and even Chadd Moore looked out of it at times.

I don't know how you can be in your junior or senior year and still be making stupid mistakes. I just don't get how some of these guys haven't improved mentally in their understanding of the game.

Jihad Muhammed is a ??? in my mind. He both dazzles and frustrates. True........we probably wouldn't have won without his play last night..........but it also seemed like we could have ended the game in regulation had he not gotten selfish.......same goes for each overtime........Maxiell clearly was da man and should have been given the last shot in each of those endings.

What was up with Kirkland firing up a 3 at the end of the first overtime?????? When you're 0-fer.......you don't do that.

I'm glad they won.........but I don't feel any better about this team than I did when they were 18 down. I still feel sick about that game last night.

I dont know what White did that you didnt like...he played 40 minutes and even though he only had 7 points he was agressive and had 9 big rebounds and 3 steals...thats a solid night

Kirkland, yea i mean what was that shot...i think he has only made one shot all year

Moore seemed like his back was bothering him a little...

Im not sure what is up with Nick Williams...maybe his hand, I dont know

I know Ive been on them for no size but its been a long time since we had a frontcourt as productive as Hicks and Max

Last night they combine for 37pts 28rbs 8blks...that is amazing

Hicks and Max were awesome last night despite some shooting woes.......and more importantly they stayed out of foul trouble.

I'm glass Jihad had the ball in his hands at the end of the game. The first long three was shot so we could get a two for one when there was a little over 40 secs left in the game. His last was on a pick and roll and he attached the basket, which is what you want. I'll take my chances with Jihad evey time.

Kirkland took the last shot because Iowa foiled Jihad's attempts at taking the ball to the basket. They double teamed him. Kirkland's man was probably used as the double team since Kirk shot sooo poorly. Kirk was smart enough to make himself available for the pass. They played it right, the ball just didn't drop.

I like the pressure they were able to apply in the last ten minutes getting numerous turnovers or difficult shot attempts with little time on the clock. The press also took them out of offense which was critical.

Finally I like the fact they didn't give up. They were animals on the board at the end (I wish they were the whole game). I know I gave up along with most of the fans. They beat a very good team while shooting less than 30%. Let's hope their shooting improves.

There were definitely alot of downsides, but there are plenty of posters to point those out.

G-Cat Wrote:I dont know what White did that you didnt like...he played 40 minutes and even though he only had 7 points he was agressive and had 9 big rebounds and 3 steals...thats a solid night

I don't understand the knock on White in last nights game either. He wasn't great in the first half, but man he really played his butt off in the second half and the OT's. He might not have put up a lot of points, but he did all the little things and he wasn't afraid to take the ball to the hole when he had the chance.

The things I like: Jihad, Max, and Hicks are winners. They're all out whenever they're on the court. They make mad decisions at times but their mistakes never seem to be from a lack of effort. I liked the defensive effort the last 10 minutes of the game. The defense was terrific during the last ten minutes. I like our rebounding. When Max and Hicks are able to play big minutes we'll get a lot of rebounds assuming one more person helps out on the glass. Last night White helped out with 9 boards.

Things I dislike: 50 minute game and no players with more than 2 assists. I think this is a sign of an offense that has good pieces but is not yet working together. Our offense right now is throw the ball low to Max or let Jihad try to break his man down. When that doesn't work hope that Hicks is there for a stickback. I don't like that our starting point guard didn't start because he was late for the shootaround. This one game after our two SFs didn't play the first half because of missing class. (ATTENTION MAX: You are the senior leader. This is your team. You need to make sure that everyone is on board. If they're not on board you need ride them until they get on board.) I don't like that sometimes White and Kirk want to play and sometimes they don't. Kirk decided not to play at all while White had a good second half after stinking the first half. I really dislike our depth or lack thereof. We need to be able to put in Souley for 5 min a game or get 5 more minutes out of Bright. I think Banks will really help our depth at guard when he becomes eligible.

Even though it may not seem like it with all the dislikes I mentioned I am excited about this team. As I said I think we have three players on board. White's about halfway there and if Kirk ever gets on board we'll be really good. Hopefully Nick's struggles have to do with the time he's missed because we need him to be productive. On Huggs show Tuesday Chuck said that he had been to practice and said that Banks stuck out as a big time player. Huggs gave his typical "I'd rather talk about the players who are playing." Then Chuck pressed him and asked if he was a player and Huggs agreed. I'm really excited to see Vince play. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

I believe our team was stagnant because N.Iowa had 5 guys inside the arc.There were so many bodies that it was tough to make the cuts.We weren't hitting outside shots to draw them away from the basket.

I've never seen Madmax play with the intensity he played with last night inside (he actually matched Hicks intensity). If he brings that same passion every game we'll be fine inside as long as they stay out of foul trouble.

They remiind me of Memphis last year. Great talent but can't play as a team. Too much individual one-on-one effort. Kirkland rubs me the wrong way as a team player. He's one for thirteen for the year, so he doesn't make it individually either. Every player on this team is playing about 10% below where their shot average should be. Hicks, Max, and White are in the forties and not fifties. Jihad comes in at 33% not 40% plus. Armein is a dismal 7%. Something is wrong. Bright is a bright spot for an incoming frosh. I think he's much further ahead of most we've had to date.

I dont know if it has been posted yet, or if im even correct, but I thought i heard that Northern Iowa returned all 5 starters. And they were the ones who almost knocked of Georgia Tech in the NCAAs last year. If thats the case I am even more impressed with the win. Let me know if my facts are right or not bc i really dont know.


Nope i was wrong, just checked myself, and its only 3 of them. Sorry i didnt check the facts beforehand. But still impressed with the last 20 minutes of basketball.

I want James White to be more aggressive at attacking the basket.......he's a good FT shooter. If he gets fouled, he could make a living at the line. Same goes for Kirkland.

I see flashes from Roy Bright of a really good player. He has heart......he has the drive to get it done. He also has good basketball sense, it appears.

The only reason I have been pushing to see Banks when eligible is all the incredible comments about him coming from Huggs show, now and previously. I hope he becomes eligible soon.

oleskl Wrote:he wasn't afraid to take the ball to the hole when he had the chance.

Thats the key right there

Two very memorable plays White taking it strong...one was a very nice slash move and the other was a strong drive a little strong but Eric cleans it up

The guy is playing with heart, the numbers just arent there yet...I would throw him in with Jihad, Max and Eric as being guys to go to

Saying UNI returned all their players, and they were a tourney team last year is not a good excuse for almost losing at all. Does that mean when we play real tourney teams we should lose because they were in the big dance. That game should have been a blow out. We should have gone inside to Max every single possession b/c they had noone to stop him, and Jihad was just being selfish.
I think Jihad HAS to have the ball at the end of the game. He is the only guy who can create off the dribble, but i would like for him to actually pass every now and then.
As for our offense being ineffective because UNI played a tight zone, if that is all it takes to shut down our offense every team will do that and we will shoot 28% every game. Not a good excuse for a bad offense. The offense was bad because Jihad jacked up ill advised shot after ill advised shot. There are serious problems when your point guard is 6-22 shooting. But i can't rip Jihad too bad because we would have lost without him.
Our defense was abysmal for the first 30 minutes. But maybe we can press and trap early on in games and get a big lead on teams. WE have the right kind of athletes to press, hopefully they're mentally smart enough to do so.

bearcattitude

the reason white so rarely drives is because he is not strong enough to. thats the same reason he doesnt dunk over people and have highlight reel dunks in the lane like isma'il muhammad (ga tech) and some of the best dunkers in the nation do. he doesnt have the strength that allows him to do that, because he hasnt put on weight in 2 years here now.

I see nothing from White that shows me he can play in the NBA.

I will admit I didn't give him enough credit for his 9 rebounds, though.

But during a game, there are always guys you remember by name that standout for big plays.............and White's statline was not as bad as I thought, but he didn't stand out to me in that game.

When Muhammed learns to pass......he will be a complete player. I think he's still in JUCO mode where he probably had to carry his team. He needs to realize he's not a star on a talent-deficient JUCO team anymore and that he needs to spread it around. I like Jihad and think what he's shown already is a great foundation to build on. He needs to get his teammates involved though. The serious lack of assists in that game easily show a lack of passing. And I know the argument that you have to make shots for someone to get assists............but when you move the ball well and pass well.......someone usually ends up getting an easy shot........and the game I watched saw everyone taking hard shots because they were doing the one on one thing all game.....instead of finding the open man.

We need the Thad Matta offense of penetrate, either shoot and make it, shoot and get fouled, or pass to the open man and he make it. It was really that simple. I don't think Xavier did anything special last year........it was as I just said. UC tends to just pass it around the perimeter or go one on one.

Maybe this horrible beginning will be similar to Xavier's season last year and we come on strong late! LOL.