RE: Huggins

[Danny Spoonamore, Jr.]

IMHO....

They have to create on the O-side of the ball because many times our initial
strategy doesn't work, and I think this leads to the poor shot selection.
Often times, they get buy with their athleticism and ability to "make
shots", which is what I would define talent to be.  What they lack is a
refined strategy and proper execution of what they do now. 

When they come up against a team with as much talent as them and the ability
to execute their game, this is where we start to have problems.  The defense
is, as usual, one of the best in college ball, if not the best.  But they
have sacrificed too much of their offense to be able to compensate
completely for their poor execution.  Max is a freak of nature, and blocks
WAY too many shots for his size.  Hicks is just as intimidating, and Armein
is an unbelievable ball handler for his size and a mismatch for almost
everyone he plays against.  And JH is quicker than Dee Brown I noticed
during the game.  White is another Mel Levett, one of the best leapers in
college ball. 

ONCE, JUST ONCE I would like to see JH come down the floor, cross the
timeline, and as the guard comes up to pressure the ball JH passes to a
cutting Armein, who draws the defender off of Max, who shoots the ball as
White is cutting toward the basket because he is on the proper side for the
rebound, Hicks pivots out of his blockout on the strong side to help, MAX's
shot is a little strong and James leaps from about 12 feet out seeing the
bounce off the rim and dunks over both Hicks and his defender for the most
spectacular dunk ever seen in a UC uniform (which he is fully capable of but
has never done in a game situation).

The problem is that if JH doesn't shoot if before he sees the pressure and
manages to get it to Kirk, Kirk would drive and try and shoot over the
helping defender.  Should he manage to get it to Max on the wing for the
short jumper, we have a good chance.  But if happens to miss it, Hicks
probably gets the foul trying to get the aggressive rebound over WHITE'S
defender, who has established position with his teammate on Hicks while
James twiddles his thumb in the corner waiting for the ball to come to him.

I am being very cynical here, but my point is they haven't come together yet
as a team, and I think they will.  I just wish it could be a little sooner
than later, cause they're going to need it in just a few games down the
road.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Denman [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 3:50 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] Huggins


Good points, but I still contend that the issues are related to overall
talent. Every team is good when they make shots. The teams that make a lot
of shots do so, in general, because they have basketball talent. We have
athletic talent, but what we don't have is a) an abundance of talent, nor b)
an abundance of basketball talent.

You said it yourself: when "they have to create on the offensive side and
they often take ill advised shots, or try to create off the dribble and end
up with lots of TO's."

What you are seeing is guys trying to do things they are not capable of
because the defense is forcing them to. This is good coaching on our
opponents part, and they are taking advantage of our weakness. We do not
have the talent, OVERALL, to create off the dribble, etc. We have one or two
who can do that for us, but we do not have the depth of talent to do it from
multiple positions. Hence, we have a lack of talent to compete at the
Illinois level.

We have a good team, do not get me wrong, but we do not have the team to
compete in the top-10 AT THIS TIME IMO...

-----Original Message-----
From: Danny Spoonamore, Jr. [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 3:32 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] Huggins


UC has plenty of talent, as much as any team in the country.  What they
lack-especially in this game-is execution on the offensive end of the ball.
Take a look at the Northern Iowa, Longwood (yes, Longwood) and the second
half of the Illinois game for examples of a well designed concept on how to
perform with the ball.  Some of the back cuts that Northern Iowa and
Illinois used were wicked and very effective against our aggressive defense.
They should have tried the same when the Illinois guards started pressuring
our guards out top.  This team is very good when they "make shots" i.e. the
Miami game, but put them in a situation where they have to create on the
offensive side and they often take ill advised shots, or try to create off
the dribble and end up with lots of TO's.  It has been the system Huggins
employs' one weakness since he has been here.  I AM NOT saying that he is a
bad offensive coach, but they practice and rely on defense so darn much that
when it comes to a game they need to score to win, they can fall flat on
their face when they come up against a complete team like Illinois.  We can
compete and win against a team like Illinois, but not until they find a way
to score when we really need it.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Denman [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 12:46 AM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] Huggins


"Illinois talent wise is not 22 points better than UC"

I will humbly disagree with this statement. This is exactly the problem with
the Cats IMO. They simply do not have the depth of talent that Illinois (or
any other top-10) team has. I've been saying to everyone around me this
year. We're not a bad team. We'll contend for a conference title, but we
probably will not it take it that far, because we lack a depth of talent. 

-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden [mailto:address@hidden
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 10:31 AM
To: address@hidden
Subject: Re: [UC Basketball] Huggins


 
In a message dated 1/1/2005 10:17:26 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
address@hidden writes:

I saw an  article that said Huggins had a closed door meeting with the
team for an  hour after the game. That is why he missed the show. They
talked about life  in general, he said, but wouldn't go into details
because it was something  that needed to stay in house. Personally, I
think he did the right thing  with sitting them down and talking it all
out last  night.



The only thing I can say to that is maybe he should have had that talk  
before the game! Illinois talent wise is not 22 points better than UC.
Huggins has 
got to make these guys realize that against good teams they aren't  going to

score many points in the paint. They have to become a better passing  team
to 
get some good looks from outside. Something like Illinois did last  night.
Don