Game thread - @URI 2PM SAT Feb. 7th. ESPN+

[ur2K]

We’ve discussed for years, the way our team plays is delicate. Moon’s desire to be tremendously fluid takes all of the aggressiveness out of our players. The toughness left when the Smitty era graduated and that was a lifetime ago.

 

[KE Spider]

Yes, we have digressed to lite milk and sugarless cookies

 

[MrTbone]

We’ve discussed for years, the way our team plays is delicate. Moon’s desire to be tremendously fluid takes all of the aggressiveness out of our players. The toughness left when the Smitty era graduated and that was a lifetime ago.

Ftr I don’t buy that we don’t have tough players. I’m sure there’s a lot of grit there but no one is weaponizing it.

 

[Spiderp31]

lost another game that was winnable. Mooney system 101

 

[ur2K]

We sure as ship don’t play like it.

 

[72Spider]

The school's best basketball team won tonight.

 

[carolinaspider]

The school's best basketball team won tonight.

Amen!

 

[Spider17]

Missed this game. I was watching our flagship sport (men’s lacrosse) take care of business against Robert Morris instead. Will also plan to watch our other flagship sport (women’s basketball) in about an hour. Anyone want to summarize this game?

On the bright side, both our flagship sports won today!

 

[PhillySpider]

We have far better talent than last year but run a terrible defensive system. It’s hard to win when you can’t stop whoever you’re playing against and you’re pretty much relying on them beating themselves.

Honestly not sure this is true. This group is probably more talented offensively, but definately less talented defensively!!

 

[PhillySpider]

I think we take basketball players and turn them into robots.

AI isn’t great at improvisation.

I have said this for years. Mooney values kids who run his system well (i.e being in the right place at the right time, making the right pass (which means no turnovers) and dissuades players from simply making plays. Our players get more "in system" with experience but make fewer and fewer plays!

 

[vt4700]

Honestly not sure this is true. This group is probably more talented offensively, but definately less talented defensively!!

Last year, we finished 241st in offensive efficiency and 229 in defensive efficiency. So far this year, we are 121 and 194.

Ugly numbers.

 

[MrTbone]

Honestly not sure this is true. This group is probably more talented offensively, but definately less talented defensively!!

Meh, not really buying that. DeLo was respectable. Other than that, which of the following defensive stalwarts was better? Neskovic, Roche, B. Artis? That was a bad defensive team by pretty much all measures.

I’m not saying these guys are good, but I’d take Thomas, Argabright, Harper or Lopez over any of those guys. But that’s not even the point, I don’t think anyone is going to succeed given the style of D we run.

 

[Spideralways]

I just can’t believe how many of you guys are still on this board discussing Richmond basketball. We suck, we will always suck with this administration running things. Yes, you too Paul Quelly or however you spell your pathetic last name. Thank you for ruining Richmond Basketball

 

[MrTbone]

I just can’t believe how many of you guys are still on this board discussing Richmond basketball. We suck, we will always suck with this administration running things. Yes, you too Paul Quelly or however you spell your pathetic last name. Thank you for ruining Richmond Basketball

Well, I doubt it’s getting any better by not discussing it.

Plus, it’s cathartic.

 

[Spideralways]

Well, I doubt it’s getting any better by not discussing it.

Plus, it’s cathartic.

I like this, cathartic, eh, I say sad

 

[Spideralways]

We need a message board meet up, at the Tavern, when Gkiller can get to town. Bring the pencil!

 

[Eight Legger]

and the pitchforks!

 

[URFan1]

Honestly not sure this is true. This group is probably more talented offensively, but definately less talented defensively!!

I recall a Coach, known for his defensive teams, took his teams into NCAA's with success in tourney multiple times. Said defense was more about want to and attitude, and was up to Coach to instill that into players

 

[*23*]

Fan1 I think that is a very good point. I do agree to a certain extent. I definitely think this and last years teams should at least been competent on D, but we see moon say nothing when guys are running beside the dribble.

Two years ago we see a good defensive team, but feel that was driven by having good defenders like Dlo, Harris, Dji, and Bigs. Those guys set the tone, and you want to have player led teams. Congrats on recruiting those guys. But when u have less talented and motivated players you are absolutely right it is up to the coach to motivate and scheme. We don't see that. Instead we see guys beat off the dribble time and time again. And we see other coaches manipulate the switches time and time again.

 

[Bettiker]

Sometimes good offense can make up for or at least equalize bad defense. I agree that the team lost because of horrific defense, but I also think watching an offense that has five guys outside the three point line for 90 percent of the time means no offensive rebounds, no three point plays on drives, no chance to get the other team in foul trouble like they did to us, etc. We lost by five points. I can't believe just moving Walz iunder the basket ten more times wouldn't have created some of what I mentioned above. We wont beat good teams with a terrible defense but we could beat bad teams more than we have so far. I admit that Walz has almost no inside game anymore because the Moon man seems to think that having NO ONE under the basket isn't really a problem. This offense seemed to stress threes, now it seems to require threes. Unfortunately almost no one wins constantly like that.