mtgrizrule
Well-known member
After a disappointing loss to Weber State, I was thinking what the GRIZ need to do rest of the schedule to better our chances getting to the dance.
(1) Defensive intensity has to be more consistent, regardless of who is on the floor. Our defense is much better with Ellis, Mayes, and Dloughy taking care of the perimeter. Unleash Ellis more defensively, by going for more steals. Trap more with Dloughy at Halfcourt. Dloughy came up with many steals the last 2 seasons when trapping.
(2) FT shooting has to be at 75% as a team.
(3) Offensively we HAVE to penetrate more often, regardess of who is doing it. This offense is much better when we are consistently taking it to hole. Strait also is very good at getting open when defenses have to worry about penetrating.
(4) Run the offense through Hasquet more often, especially when Ellis is not on the court. Good things happen when Hasquet gets touches. Hasquet is the most difficult match up and most BSC defenders are a mismatch favoring Jordan most the time. Put a bigger, slower guy on him, he will bring them away from the basket, in turn helping our other players. Leave him alone, he can stroke 3's all night. Put a smaller, quick player on him, his post game has improved drastically this year to the point where he is threat there too. He can go for 25 consistently if we let him. He also sees the court well and distributes the ball well.
(5) When necessary post Dloughy and Mayes up when teams go small on them. Have not really seen Mayes inside, but he is strong, quick, and athletic. I think smaller guards would have some trouble with him. Last year Dloughy did well posting up on smaller defenders. We used him there now and then with decent success. I have not seen that yet this year.
Offensively, we need to do all we can to create mismatches anyway we can. Also clear out for Rundles too when he is on the court. He is very strong for a PG. Feed Martin when his shot is on! He seems to have gotten is stroke to be consistent enough to use him more often the last 1/2 of the season. It is hard for him to stay in rythym when we go away from him. It is good sign when he comes out hitting his 1st 2 shots. Yet, very seldom does he see the ball consistently. I 100% understand him not getting shots when he is struggling, but not when his shot is there.
Finally, I feel pretty comfortable in thinking we have the most depth by far in the BSC. Lets take advantage of it, by getting rid of the mental lapses on both end of the courts. BSC championship is very much in sight. Very possible if we can shore a few things up, and use some creativity offensively.
(1) Defensive intensity has to be more consistent, regardless of who is on the floor. Our defense is much better with Ellis, Mayes, and Dloughy taking care of the perimeter. Unleash Ellis more defensively, by going for more steals. Trap more with Dloughy at Halfcourt. Dloughy came up with many steals the last 2 seasons when trapping.
(2) FT shooting has to be at 75% as a team.
(3) Offensively we HAVE to penetrate more often, regardess of who is doing it. This offense is much better when we are consistently taking it to hole. Strait also is very good at getting open when defenses have to worry about penetrating.
(4) Run the offense through Hasquet more often, especially when Ellis is not on the court. Good things happen when Hasquet gets touches. Hasquet is the most difficult match up and most BSC defenders are a mismatch favoring Jordan most the time. Put a bigger, slower guy on him, he will bring them away from the basket, in turn helping our other players. Leave him alone, he can stroke 3's all night. Put a smaller, quick player on him, his post game has improved drastically this year to the point where he is threat there too. He can go for 25 consistently if we let him. He also sees the court well and distributes the ball well.
(5) When necessary post Dloughy and Mayes up when teams go small on them. Have not really seen Mayes inside, but he is strong, quick, and athletic. I think smaller guards would have some trouble with him. Last year Dloughy did well posting up on smaller defenders. We used him there now and then with decent success. I have not seen that yet this year.
Offensively, we need to do all we can to create mismatches anyway we can. Also clear out for Rundles too when he is on the court. He is very strong for a PG. Feed Martin when his shot is on! He seems to have gotten is stroke to be consistent enough to use him more often the last 1/2 of the season. It is hard for him to stay in rythym when we go away from him. It is good sign when he comes out hitting his 1st 2 shots. Yet, very seldom does he see the ball consistently. I 100% understand him not getting shots when he is struggling, but not when his shot is there.
Finally, I feel pretty comfortable in thinking we have the most depth by far in the BSC. Lets take advantage of it, by getting rid of the mental lapses on both end of the courts. BSC championship is very much in sight. Very possible if we can shore a few things up, and use some creativity offensively.
