AirJordan wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:39 pm
Whether or not you like Steele, tonight's game came down to mental toughness. Villanova had it; X didn't. We faded at crunch time and while ultimately as coach, Steele is accountable, to me, tonight's loss was on the players. When the game isn't going their way, they resort to undisciplined passing, ill timed three balls and lack of focus. Nova's veteran players stepped up; ours did not. The good thing is that Nova didn't (as in the past) have better talent. We matched them well. But, that's also the bad thing. We lost a game we could have won because Nova made us back down.
Still, a loss like tonight's can be beneficial. It can force constructive self assessment, change and make the team tougher for the rest of the season. The great thing about the Big East is there's no time for crying. Muskies need to pick themselves off the mat, look in the mirror and resolve to do better. Then, go do it.
When one, or even two players play undisciplined, that's on the players, unless Steele pulls them, which isn't his m.o. Hunter is exhibit A, like Carter was last year.
When the greatest advantage, a 7'0" center gets no lobs, and few plays called for him, while his 6'9" counterpart gets six lobs resulting in four steals, that's a problem.
When they miss 17 treys in the 2nd half without exploring the post for twenty seconds first, and very few of them were catch and shoot step in threes, that's a problem.
When Nova scores on 6 of 8 possessions, largely by having their guards post ours and score, or kicking it out to their teammates, with ZERO defensive adjustments, that's a problem.
When two out of three possessions that I saw when Free and Nunge were in the game together, hugging the three point line while Nova compressed their D b/c x was O FOR 17 from threes, and Steele made no adjustment (eg. high low against a team whose tallest player is 6'9") that's a problem.
Three years was a sufficient sample in my mind coming into this season, but then I was encouraged by a good start, as X even beat a very good team in OSU, a scarcity in Steele's three plus years. However, he is a great recruiter, which is paramount, because I think the only was X will ever be successful under his leadership is having talent trump his coaching. Steele is a really nice guy. He has coached several really good games, including the first half tonight. He is too slow on adjustments, and as I've said since his first year, he will let them chuck 40 treys a game, regardless of whether it is a good or bad shooter, and good or bad shot. This is philosophy despite the fact that X has been a poor three point shooting team into year four now. AAU mentality.
I was spoiled, particularly with Miller, and also Mack. Sorry, I just think the terribly nice guy as a person, is below average as a coach. I hope I'm wrong, but as the Board knows, that happens as often as cicadas come around.
