Playing Time and Rotation

[RooYahoo]

Keith Dambrot does not believe in Senior leadership. As you can tell from the meltdown by Noah, these freshmen have a lot of learning to do. Did anyone notice that Nyles Evans wasn't even on the sidelines for the second half? What happened there? Then the way Noah acted toward the trainer with his injury, I understand it's an injury... Then the coach playing Isaiah in major crunch time, which he is suspect to even be a D 1 player, hurt us on switches and rebounds. Pat taking just two attempts in the second half. Deji, one of our best players, not even on the court.

I know I'm rattling, but it's a very frustrating loss. And now we go to Buffalo? This team has too much talent to be losing to the likes of Miami of Ohio at home.

Terrible rotation by Dambrot. Sources tell me that Peters is sorely missed.

We miss you, Dan!

[1981 grad]

I did not see the meltdown by Noah. What happened? Does anyone know what went on with Evans? That explains some of the combinations last night if he was not on the bench. In the beginning of the year Evans was a big surprise about how well he was playing. He has certainly trailed off toward the end of the season and has been getting less time. We need him big time.

Kd decided to shake things up and started Reggie instead of Gladden and Reggie does not score a point all night. He also started both Big Dog and Pat. We still only scored 4 points in the first 5 minutes of the game. That was the last of the twin towers. I was hoping that he would shake things up by giving Deji the start. Putting the second leading scorer into the starting lineup would add some punch in the beginning of the game. However, even Deji did not have a good scoring night and missed several open three pointers.

I thought Noah looked tired the entire game. He did not drive to the basket and seemed to miss a lot of opportunities to get the ball to Pat. I would have like to see Malcom play more. He looked good last game and should have been rewarded with more playing time. KD used Noah and Antino together and the ball did not move well and we did not score well. Gladden and Aron Jackson did not get much time in the second half and I think that was a mistake. If Kretzer and McAdams are not scoring he should have gone to Gladden and Jackson.

I thought KD did one thing well and that was pressure the ball in the last 42 seconds instead of letting Miami run out the clock like we did against Toledo. It resulted in a turnover and a 3 point play by Jackson. However, at the end of overtime when we needed to keep the ball out of the hands of Number 33 he puts Jake on him for defense. Jake was way too slow to cover 33 and he easily got the inbounds pass. Should have put Deji or Antiono on him.

We only scored 4 baskets in the last 16 minutes of the game including overtime. That is pathetic. KD needs to get this team easier shots or get them to shoot better. Hopefully, can turn it around for Buffalo.

[skip-zip]

KD needs to get this team easier shots or get them to shoot better.

I wish I could take every basketball team I've ever been associated with in my lifetime, and somehow just persuade them to "shoot better". We would have won a lot more games

As far as last night is concerned, we had plenty of open shots.

Is this a "coaching debacle"? I'm sure Keith is doing things to try to get a team that's in a rut to perform better. I'm sure he'd admit that his moves are not always the right ones, in hindsight. And he's not beyond criticism. But, he gets paid a lot of money because he does the right things pretty often.

[The Hip Zip]

You have an agenda, I get this. However, when you say this team has so much talent, you lose all credibility with me. Talent wise, I believe this is perhaps the weakest bunch we've had in the past ten years. How many games do you think a team is going to win when shooting 32% anyways ? We lost a MAC POY type player, we have two fresh 1 guards, we have two wings with zero consistency. And despite your opinion, I don't see the NBA in Forsythe's future either.

Aren't you the guy that called for the two bigs to be out there together? How did that work out for you? Now you say Big Dog is a suspect D1 player. OK then.....

Hey I'm pissed off too but lets make an attempt to keep it just a little bit real.

[UAZip0510]

You have an agenda, I get this. However, when you say this team has so much talent, you lose all credibility with me. Talent wise, I believe this is perhaps the weakest bunch we've had in the past ten years. How many games do you think a team is going to win when shooting 32% anyways ? We lost a MAC POY type player, we have two fresh 1 guards, we have two wings with zero consistency. And despite your opinion, I don't see the NBA in Forsythe's future either.

Aren't you the guy that called for the two bigs to be out there together? How did that work out for you? Now you say Big Dog is a suspect D1 player. OK then.....

Hey I'm pissed off too but lets make an attempt to keep it just a little bit real.

I agree with you on most of what you said, but I will say this team has a TON of talented - it's just very raw right now.

[1981 grad]

Worst combination of the night: Pat, Big Dog, Kretzer, Robotham and Kwan towards the end of the first half. Three straight Zips turnovers and Miami scored 3 layups and a three pointer. Close game the rest of the night. I hope we never see this combination again.

[tpsjugglerdude]

I don't understand why with 8 seconds left we did the long pass that didn't work with Toledo and resulted in an instant turnover.

[RooYahoo]

You have an agenda, I get this. However, when you say this team has so much talent, you lose all credibility with me. Talent wise, I believe this is perhaps the weakest bunch we've had in the past ten years. How many games do you think a team is going to win when shooting 32% anyways ? We lost a MAC POY type player, we have two fresh 1 guards, we have two wings with zero consistency. And despite your opinion, I don't see the NBA in Forsythe's future either.

Aren't you the guy that called for the two bigs to be out there together? How did that work out for you? Now you say Big Dog is a suspect D1 player. OK then.....

Hey I'm pissed off too but lets make an attempt to keep it just a little bit real.

Obviously, you haven't been paying attention. I said having Pat and Big Dog on the floor together would clog the lane. Big Dog could not switch, could not defend, but Dambrot keeps saying how athletic and what a great player. I don't see it. He was slow tonight. There was no chance for moves with them both in there.

Mark my words, you will see four transfers, minimum, next year.

[Dave in Green]

... Mark my words, you will see four transfers, minimum, next year.

Marked.

[clarkwgriswold]

Is Dambrot perfect? No. Is he the most successful basketball coach in the last 30 years of Akron basketball? Absolutely. If he did not have that elephant skeleton in his closet, he would have moved on to a larger program long ago.

Sometimes, players just suck and there's nothing you can do as a coach to fix it. They are human beings and sometimes they have off nights and no matter what you do with rotations and substitutions, nothing works.

This is a young team that lost its best player. The teased us with some big wins, but as a young team with average talent, they are going to be inconsistent.

[The Hip Zip]

Obviously, you haven't been paying attention. I said having Pat and Big Dog on the floor together would clog the lane. Big Dog could not switch, could not defend, but Dambrot keeps saying how athletic and what a great player. I don't see it. He was slow tonight. There was no chance for moves with them both in there.

Mark my words, you will see four transfers, minimum, next year.

Name the 3 other than Pat. Lets hear it..... I'll take under 4 for any $30 bottle on the shelf. You win the tie. Deal ??

[Balsy]

It all boils down to three things for me at this point in the season: Beat the Bobkittens. Beat Can't @ Can't, and get to the MACC game. All these are possible. When Tournament time rolls around I think this team can beat anyone in the MAC.

[UAZip0510]

Obviously, you haven't been paying attention. I said having Pat and Big Dog on the floor together would clog the lane. Big Dog could not switch, could not defend, but Dambrot keeps saying how athletic and what a great player. I don't see it. He was slow tonight. There was no chance for moves with them both in there.

Mark my words, you will see four transfers, minimum, next year.

4 tranfers coming in or leaving?

Either way, not happening.

[LZIp]

I agree with you on most of what you said, but I will say this team has a TON of talented - it's just very raw right now.

I agree with this. This is KDs most talented roster in the 5-6 years I've been following the program. Maybe just not on the high end (Tree), but not much you can do about that. Someone should develop though. I am probably more critical than others, but cant knock KDs recruiting the past 2 seasons.

[clarkwgriswold]

I don't know that it is as talented on the top end, but it is the deepest.

[skip-zip]

When Tournament time rolls around I think this team can beat anyone in the MAC.

Balsy, I think we've had a team that CAN beat anyone in the MAC for the last 10 years. I'd rather consider the chances that it WILL happen.

So many people tend to forget the format change a few years ago. So, the HUGE OBSTACLE would be winning 5 games in 6 days, with 4 of those games outside of the JAR, with a bunch of freshman.

So....Mission #1....Win a minimum of 3 of the final 4 games and secure a seed at #4 or higher and avoid what would become an almost impossible road to the title.

Yes, Winning at home against OU and on the road against Ken+ would be nice. But, I don't think 10-8 gets us there. We'll also need an upset at Buffalo, or a revenge win at Miami.

[morris buttermaker]

you will see four transfers, minimum, next year.

Ummm, I don't think so.... And who would be interested? Fairmont State?

[LZIp]

Ummm, I don't think so.... And who would be interested? Fairmont State?

I dont think its going to happen either, but who wouldn't be interested is a better question. I dont have a reason to think there won't be plenty of options.

[Balsy]

Balsy, I think we've had a team that CAN beat anyone in the MAC for the last 10 years. I'd rather consider the chances that it WILL happen.

So many people tend to forget the format change a few years ago. So, the HUGE OBSTACLE would be winning 5 games in 6 days, with 4 of those games outside of the JAR, with a bunch of freshman.

So....Mission #1....Win a minimum of 3 of the final 4 games and secure a seed at #4 or higher and avoid what would become an almost impossible road to the title.

Yes, Winning at home against OU and on the road against Ken+ would be nice. But, I don't think 10-8 gets us there. We'll also need an upset at Buffalo, or a revenge win at Miami.

Oh I agree Skip. I didn't mean that's all we needed to do...I'm saying we MUST beat the bobkittens and Can't from a fan perspective. OU has been one of our biggest rivals for the past couple of years, we can't go 0-2 against them on a down year. That's beyond pathetic. Can't is our rival, so we just need to beat them...all the time...everytime...

Break the losing streak and win the next 4 and we're in good position to make a run.

[Sportsjunkie330]

Why do we feed in to Roos agenda?

[UAZip0510]

Why do people think players are transferring out? Just because?

[skip-zip]

Why do people think players are transferring out? Just because?

I'm not condemning the coach here, but kids get disappointed in the way things are going and/or disappointed in playing time. The way we split time among a number of talented players can make us especially vulnerable.

The only thing I have scolded people about on this board in the past is not to assume that everyone is happy just because the team is winning. But, I am not going to be the one who starts speculating about who, or the number of people that may be leaving.

I'll worry about it if it happens. This is a possibility every year.

[UAZip0510]

I'm not condemning the coach here, but kids get disappointed in the way things are going and/or disappointed in playing time. The way we split time among a number of talented players can make us especially vulnerable.

The only thing I have scolded people about on this board in the past is not to assume that everyone is happy just because the team is winning. But, I am not going to be the one who starts speculating about who, or the number of people that may be leaving.

I'll worry about it if it happens. This is a possibility every year.

I agree it's always a possibility, I just wasn't sure if I missed something or if it was just someone throwing something out there.

[Dave in Green]

So is a player more likely to transfer if he isn't playing as many minutes as he thinks he should be playing or if he isn't playing at all? Because when you play a really short rotation you have a bunch of players who aren't playing at all. They work their butts off in practice and never get a chance to play in games. Is being anchored to the bench more acceptable to a player than sharing moderate minutes with 9 or 10 other other players?

[akronzips71]

The only comment I have to make on this thread and the OP is that KD was not on the floor missing easy shots.