Not Pickin’ On Travis ... but ...

[ChitownSteve]

Never coached above the 8th Grade level, yet did so for 20+ years. Moreover, never received anything greater than the Ray Meyer book “Coach” and gift certificates to Palermo’s Pizza in Oak Lawn, Il for my efforts. No big time Coaching checks.

However, never allowed a situation where I was up three inside of 2 seconds where I had anyone except the guy on the ball, who was shaded to prevent a pass under the basket, inside the three point line. A two always meaningless at that point, and even if made, the play would still some run time off the clock.

Not picking on Coach Steele because Coach McDermott ran the play that few, if any coaches, properly defend in college to prevent a 3 pointer. Merely hoping a lesson was learned tonight.

Thankfully, X escaped. Coach Steele, the Team and the fans, especially those at the Cintas Center, needed tonight’s win.

Go Muskies!

[edgecliff hall]

This team reminds me of the cast of MASH. I really liked the cast of MASH.

[X-lucidity]

Chi-town - EXACTLY.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As both teams lined up, I saw we were in our normal Man-D versus an inbounds play and I started yelling over to my lovely wife "What the hell are we doing!" Of course she was fiddling on her I-phone and only pretending to care so I could not wait to bring this up here this morning only to see you already have. I'm sorry folks, but this was a glaring and inexcusable blunder for a coach at this level. Heck, this would be inexcusable actually at a JV game in high School. God love Travis, and we shall support him and hope he grows into the position, but he clearly becomes flustered as games wind down and the intensity of a close game escalates. Understandable as any of us who have coached will tell you that time seems to speed up in your mind if you do not have much experience. Your brain can almost feel as though it has been run through a blender. That said, I was most disturbed by the fact that during the unplanned time-out as the refs were looking at how much time to allow on the clock, instead of focusing on the all important last play about to unfold Coach Steele was arguing with the refs about whether Goodin was fouled or got tied up...... Irrelevant Trav! That call was not going to be reversed, go into the huddle, analyze the situation and prep your boys.. Besides, although a close call, really was not all that arguable. As I predicted to my uncaring wife, Creighton was able to make one extra pass and get a wide stinking open 3 from the baseline arc. Coach McDermott had to be ecstatic. He could not have asked for a better shot. Even Pete Gillen, (who has lost his edge sadly), was clearly outlining how all X had to do was guard the arc and who cares if Creighton dunks it at the buzzer. Come on Coach Steele, learn to be in the moment, we're counting on you.

[Musketeer1]

"Not ready for prime-time." "It is amateur hour at the Cintas Center." "How can you [insert teenager with inflated sense of self] be in a position to show your talent with a coach who does not know how to get the most out of his players or manage the games?" Given that TS's bona fides ostensibly concern his recruiting prowess, he and his assistants better be ready to respond to similar statements out of the mouths of the competition when next they hit the trail. Although, if his upcoming classes are sub-par, it seems he can look forward to a chorus of support from many nevertheless, citing a lack of talent as the cause. A vicious cycle leading to mediocrity.

[webxu]

hmmm up 3.. inside 4 secs.. where have we seen this before. I thought we should have fouled and gone with the 1-1 for them personally. but sometimes you make a call and it works out. we won. were on to providence.

[Anti-Homer]

I still have hope for Coach Steele but he continues to struggle mightily. You would have thought it was a one-point game, with the defense he employed. In football, it would be like playing press coverage with 8 in the box, and no deep safeties, with 1 second left, and the other team on the fifty, having to throw a hail mary.

He should have had 5 guys lined around the perimeter, and conceded a dunk, but foul any player who ran beyond the three-point line with a reach in foul. Rick Broering tweeted that he would have had 3 guys guard the inbounder, and double teamed Creighton's best 3 point shooter. How he isn't a HC in cbb or the NBA is beyond me.

[Anti-Homer]

I still have hope for Coach Steele but he continues to struggle mightily. You would have thought it was a one-point game, with the defense he employed. In football, it would be like playing press coverage with 8 in the box, and no deep safeties, with 1 second left, and the other team on the fifty, having to throw a hail mary.

He should have had 5 guys lined around the perimeter, and conceded a dunk, but foul any player who ran beyond the three-point line with a reach in foul. Rick Broering tweeted that he would have had 3 guys guard the inbounder, and double teamed Creighton's best 3 point shooter. How he isn't a HC in cbb or the NBA is beyond me.

[longliveskip]

was confused as well.

i would've put Jones or Hankins on the inbounder and lined up my other 4 guys spread evenly around the 3 pt line. i probably would've put Scruggs back in just because he's long. Creighton wouldn't have known what to do.

oh well. we got lucky. i'll take it.

[thecoach]

You'll get a lot better feel for whether he learned anything re: defense on Saturday as Providence has AJ Reeves back from the foot injury which sidelined him in the first game. Kid can fill it up for a freshman both outside and inside. Talented guard.