No Lead Is Safe With This Team

[shadow force]

First I'm glad the Cards got the win and any Conference win is a good one.

However I've never felt less confident with one of our teams when they get a big lead than this one. I almost don't like them getting a huge first half lead because you know they'll lose it or nearly lose it in the second half. It doesn't matter if they get up by 20 or even 30 points the other team comes roaring back and nearly comes all the way back. Just way too many careless TOs, empty possessions, and poor decisions with the lead. Definitely something that CRP and team need to work on going forward.

 

[Cue Card]

Simple lack of focus. The kids were happy with the first half performance so they got complacent in the second half. Once complacency sets in, it's hard to turn the switch back on. They did just enough late to hang on to the W. Losing focus like that is concerning. Hats off to Artis who hit big shot after big shot in the second half, but the defensive intensity was all but gone for the Cards. That's a teaching moment for Pitino. I would love to see practice today. Probably not for the faint of heart.

 

[American Male]

First I'm glad the Cards got the win and any Conference win is a good one.

However I've never felt less confident with one of our teams when they get a big lead than this one. I almost don't like them getting a huge first half lead because you know they'll lose it or nearly lose it in the second half. It doesn't matter if they get up by 20 or even 30 points the other team comes roaring back and nearly comes all the way back. Just way too many careless TOs, empty possessions, and poor decisions with the lead. Definitely something that CRP and team need to work on going forward.

Don't forget the Inability to make Layups...And they Screwed up a dunk as well...This team NEEDS to practice Nothing except Layups...Well, those and Free throws!!!

 

[RMR65]

In recent years it was almost the opposite. We could count on an early second half run no matter the score. Now we go into the offensive coffin at the same point in the game.

 

[ULGrad09]

I think folks are just overreacting....we will be fine, it is hard to keep the foot on the gas pedal all game long when leading by double digits. Not to mention, this was a Wednesday night game prior to a key matchup this Saturday against Duke.

I wasn't at the game, but on television the gym looked much less packed and crazy than our normal home games once we had a big lead. This has an impact on players as well as knowing they are well ahead. Intensity drops, just human nature.

It is a win. A quality win against a good opponent. On to the next.

 

[TheRealVille]

I didn't see the Cards not playing hard in the 2nd half. They just couldn't stop runs because they struggle so much on inside shots. Several times they could have maintained a big lead if they only made those inside shots. Then add missed FT'S and you get the scoring droughts.

 

[Senore2006]

I didn't see the Cards not playing hard in the 2nd half. They just couldn't stop runs because they struggle so much on inside shots. Several times they could have maintained a big lead if they only made those inside shots. Then add missed FT'S and you get the scoring droughts.

The players have a difficult time believing they are as good as they show - as in the first half of the Pitt game. That was almost perfect. Our best half of the season, without a doubt. And it's team wide. LOL, I sometimes think they are such fundamentally nice people that empathy shows up - the enemy of enemies, lol.

They need to keep rewarding success. Failure is not an option.

 

[shadow force]

I think folks are just overreacting....we will be fine, it is hard to keep the foot on the gas pedal all game long when leading by double digits. Not to mention, this was a Wednesday night game prior to a key matchup this Saturday against Duke.

I wasn't at the game, but on television the gym looked much less packed and crazy than our normal home games once we had a big lead. This has an impact on players as well as knowing they are well ahead. Intensity drops, just human nature.

It is a win. A quality win against a good opponent. On to the next.

I agree with a lot of this. I'm happy they were able to hold on for the win but it is more than a simple matter of letting their foot off the gas. There was a reason Pitino was furious- shedding his coat and tie on the sidelines- at them. He said that this team was full of athletes but very little basketball IQ.

I don't quite agree with that completely but there is a distinct lack of bb IQ when this team gets a big lead. Some of these near second half collapses are due to missing shots but much of it is also simply not playing smart. Also the loss to Baylor is still fairly fresh on my mind too after they looked to blow that team out. Purdue almost clawed their way back as well IIRC. Still great to get two out of three wins instead of three losses but playing the way they do sometimes in the second half can lead to early exits later on.

 

[beasleythecard]

This team NEEDS to practice Nothing except Layups...Well, those and Free throws!!!

Dunks!!!!
We have 5 seven foot guys and shoot more layups that the womens team.

That 1 foot floater layup, finger roll has cost us points and momentum.

If we decide to dunk those balls, we will be a better team.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Team "checks out" mentally, that is really no different than any previous teams we've had. Would like to see Snider and Mitchell take on more of a co-leadership role. The guys up front are just too green, lack confidence, and the ability to focus for a full game.

 

[nccardfan]

Team "checks out" mentally, that is really no different than any previous teams we've had. Would like to see Snider and Mitchell take on more of a co-leadership role. The guys up front are just too green, lack confidence, and the ability to focus for a full game.

That's sort of the problem or issue. Snider and Mitchell think by taking more of a leadership means they have to take more shots not get their teammates more involved. This is the biggest difference in NBA and college. NBA scouts just want to know if you can create your own shot whereas college is more of a team concept.

 

[Morgantown Card]

They're young, it's January. Don't be surprised when we lose to BC or some other shit team in January like we do every year. They'll be ready in March.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

That's sort of the problem or issue. Snider and Mitchell think by taking more of a leadership means they have to take more shots not get their teammates more involved. This is the biggest difference in NBA and college. NBA scouts just want to know if you can create your own shot whereas college is more of a team concept.

Your response is limited to one end of the court.

Cards just gave up 52 pts in the 2nd half on home court to a very mediocre team.

Like Morg said it's mid-January.

 

[Morgantown Card]

I'm about to lay back and just chill and listen to mar-cus may-bin

 

[nccardfan]

Snider is a junior and Mitchell is a soph. That's not young.

And it's not our defense in question, it's when we can't score because guys are doing their own thing.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

And it's not our defense in question, it's when we can't score because guys are doing their own thing.

You may not question the defense but the person that counts does - Rick.

There are a combination of things explaining why the Cards struggle to score at a high rate. Guys "doing their own thing" probably accounts for about 10-20% of the problem, depending on the game.

 

[Cue Card]

Like it or not, this team MUST win games by playing tough physical defense, and getting some break out scores from turnovers. Being physical helps wear down the opponent. A team like Pitt should have been wore out in the second half, except the Cards didn't play physical with them during the 2nd 20 minutes. They did for most of the first half. Not the second.

They'll need to play for 40 minutes tomorrow,and if Allen tries to trip anyone, he needs to be busted in the mouth. That punk has it coming.