This team is 4-1 but they have literally played NOBODY. Only loss was a 12 pointer to Navy. Anything other than a comfortable win would be disappointing once again.

Dukes2012 wrote:

Duques102 wrote:

This team is 4-1 but they have literally played NOBODY. Only loss was a 12 pointer to Navy. Anything other than a comfortable win would be disappointing once again.

Yeah records can be deceiving this early in the year. For instance, we are about two total seconds from being 5-2 and feeling a lot better about ourselves, but that wouldn't make me feel like we are any better prepared to compete to be in the top 1/2 of the A10.

Your right and everyone seems to forget that. Those close losses should be put on the shoulders of the players equally as it has been ferry. We get these huge leads in the second half and Ferry isn't the one turning the ball over on multiple consecutive possessions or inbounding the ball when the point guard isn't paying attention.

That's not to say Ferry shouldn't be calling timeouts in these instances and calming the team down, but we still have no apparent leader out there on the floor.

Yes there's talent, but with a 16 point second half lead on a team like UT Martin, someone out there on the floor needs to be running the show and keeping the team composed, there hasn't been any of that either. If you play smart, run the clock, and play solid d a lead like that should never dwindle, your talking about with ten minutes left in the game. Guys should have more pride, and sadly more basketball iq than letting that type of lead slip away.

I'm not absolving ferry either for these losses, he has equal culpability but at some point you have to look at the players too. Tons of bad turnovers and missed free throws are equally responsible for these losses.

I watched the canisius and UT Martin games with a friend of mine who was playing division one basketball on scholarship three years ago. I was Complaining about how Ferry wasn't able to keep his team composed and finish the games out.

Unbiased response from him not knowing the past ten years of this program? Nah man, that's on the players. They don't show the basketball iq or leadership to finish the game out. They completely lost composure at the end of the game and lost it with turnovers and missed free throws. My point? Everyone is to blame for the start of the season. EVERYONE.

That being said it is ridiculous in my opinion to start the blow it all up and start over conversations nine games into the season. Let's assess things at the end of the year. If Ferry needs to go fire him then. This team is a bunch of new pieces and have shown a ton of flashes, but also a ton of the same bs we have seen the last couple years. We haven't even gotten to league play yet. 2012 your right though, imagine how different this board would look if this team was 5-2 which it probably should be. That's why we need to at least see out this year. The right course of action will be very apparent at that point.

The Dome wrote:

At 5-2 this board for many of us wouldn't be different at all. Record would not mask the facts that remain for all to see, to many turnovers, porous defense, poor rebounding against smaller and "inferior opponents" and poor offense. Coaches are ment to put players into a position to succeed that has never been apparent to me. Is it the players who decided to send both guards down court and have a forward helping to bring the ball up against the press, is it the players position to bring a big up to the front court to relieve pressure. Seriously how can you drink the Kool Aide.

Did you read what I said? I said even if they did pull out those games, 5-2 wouldn't make me feel like they were anymore prepared to compete in the A10.

The Dome wrote:

So why blame the players?  You've done it several times in post. I'm not absolving them because I'm constantly amazed at how fundamentally weak these kids are for D1 and believe me that's just not here. I just don't get the EVERYONE comment.

Oh I think you were referring to 102's post, not mine.

102, I am inclined to agree with you as to the foul shooting, especially against Canisius where we shot 18 of 31 and many of those were 1 and 1.  No way we lose that game if we hit some foul shots.  Foul shooting has been a problem here going back over a decade and it is unacceptable.  I am sure Ferry, like Ron, had these guys shooting a lot of them at practice, but let's face it they are choking in key situations for the most part.  Look at Mike Young sink the foul shots to turn back Maryland last night - you need players to step up.  So Ferry gets a pass there and a bit of one on the turnovers, but just a bit as I've seen players out of position and generally seem to not know what to do in response to the press - at least until the last part of Cleveland State game.  Coaches need to know how to get through to players to get them to absorb what is being instructed.   That is what good teachers/coaches do.

The Dome wrote:

Sorry gents I've done that before!!!  I'm not attacking anyone BTW and as I've said in another post I love the positive nature. I guess to just sum up I feel like we have been robbed. This coach walked into what he felt was the backwaters of college hoops and he would impose enlightenment. I guess we are still the blind. Finally I know you younger guys are tired of hearing it and you are somewhat justified this is far beyond getting OLD. 102 one last point who would you point to as a leader on this team? I would love for someone to step forward but once again the COACHING STAFF should have identified and help elevate that person. Ferry throws all under the bus equally.

 
Guys don't become leaders because a coach picks them to be a leader. Guys are naturally leaders, whether it's leading vocally or by example. To answer your question, I wouldn't point to anyone as a leader in this team to this point,which is exactly what I'm saying is the issue. Ferry didn't pick Ovie Soko and Ron didn't pick Saunders. Those guys separated themselves from the others and put the team on their back, with various levels of success. We have no alpha dogs on this team and I believe you always need a couple. I think guys like smith and Castro could help to fill that void. Bottom line is if you blow a 15+ lead with 12 minutes left in a game, there are more people to blame than just the coach.

Emile wants to. I can hear it in his voice and see his interactions how he tries to command a presence.

I know we keep saying that we will never find a coach who will come here, but I think UMBC looks really well coached.  Their coach came from DII last year for goodness sake!  Someone will take the risk to try to come here and be a hero.  

Great defensive effort by the Dukes.  They held the mighty UMBC to 52 points.

This is on Ferry.  He calmly stated his guards were to small.  He waits for Mason/Coulter to graduate and what does he get?  More small guards.  Has the worst big man in America - 4 years and not much improvement. It is not better - more of the same.  Need a young coach with NYC connections.  Ferry has had enough time.  He has had a cupcake non conference schedule to prop up his winning.  Better find a rich booster/alumni and overpay to get someone here.  Ferry's gotta go

This team is beyond pathetic.

Absolute garbage last night.