Yeah. The past couple of seasons, despite what some metrics say, I haven't felt the team has had that special lock down defense of years past. It just isn't there- at least not all the way.
Going back to the thread subject, I have to say I wasn't overly surprised or angry after this loss. I knew it was a very real possibility. Michigan won the B1G Tourney beating some legit teams along the way. They had gelled and are on a hot winning streak.
Coaching wise, I'm most disappointed in Pitino mainly in two aspects today. He never adjusted for the switch on Wagner. I was watching the whole time thinking- are they just going to let him keep scoring at will? I guess so. The second thing was waiting too long to put Mangok back in in the second half. Stayed with Anas too long. Mangok probably should've started the second half because he was killing it in the first. They had no answer for him.
Same here. Disappointed.
Agree 100% about today and Coach Pitino. He had the perfect game plan working in the 1st half running Michigan off the 3 line. It was masterful and the guys were executing to near perfection. The Cards played some of the best D they have played all year in the 1st half. I thought they blew a few easy ones around the basket and probably should of had a 12 to 15 point lead going into halftime, but that's basketball.
Michigan adjusted and the Cards were countering well for the first 5 minutes or so of the 2nd half on the inside like they had been doing all game, but they went away from that and things started to unravel slowly from there. I know Mango had 2 fouls, but Pitino rode with Anas entirely too long. We will never hear it, but I'm sure he is second guessing himself for that.
All that said, this had to be one of the more frustrating Cards teams to watch all year. I've said it several times and I'll say it again here... All the players on this team seem like really nice guys, but appear to be way to quiet and lacking some level aggressiveness (less Mango and JJ).
Pitino struggled all year with who to start at the 4 and sometimes the 5 spot as JJ and Ray were inconsistent from game to game. Mango really came on well late in the year and was playing some great basketball.
I still feel left wondering if Hicks had gotten more PT he could have produced more for this team, but I trust that Pitino knows his team much better than a message board poster. Just really not sure what the deal was with Hicks.
In the end, I'm not sure this team really improved from the beginning of the year to the end as we have become accustomed to seeing with typical Pitino teams. Regardless of what we all think, Pitino is a defensive minded coach. That's his coaching philosophy and it's been a staple for Cardinals basketball since he's been here. It's not going to change anytime soon. This team never fully got it on the defensive end like most of Pitino's teams and that was one of the more frustrating things to watch all year.
All the things we talked about came back to bite them today. Inconsistency, inability to hold onto a lead, inability to finish at the rim, inability to execute and make good decisions in crunch time, inability to communicate and talk on defense... I could go on.
This team will be better next year and will hopefully build on this experience. These guys need to work on their games in the off-season and come back motivated and ready to get work. Cards should be a top 5 team to start the season next year.
Disappointed.
