I think it's numbers that suggest Fran isn't clueless in close games.
Fran in games decided by 5 points or less
- Thread starter khock
- Start date
I think it's numbers that suggest Fran isn't clueless in close games.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
Sorry. This is Fran's record in games decided by 5 points or less.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
I bet we have a decent record in close games next year. We have a lot of talented young players that can get to the hole and/or get open for a high percentage shot. Some of the shots the current group ends up taking are horrible and it's much more difficult to block a 2 handed dunk than a layup. Keep in mind our young guys are playing well if we are in a 5 point game. When they aren't playing well it won't be that close IMO.
Fran kept most games close with teams worse than next year's will be.
I agree with the above. I dont think this a Fran and coaching staff problem except I wish Fran would use some timeouts more often to stop opponent runs etc.
I do think overall Fran's hawk teams have been below avg shooting teams, above avg rebounding usually, turnovers have usually been going down each year, above avg defenses with a tendency not to guard the 3 pt line well at times.
My take is the hawks swoons in the 2nd half of a Big 10 season is somewhat like a rookie phenom pitcher pitching his second and third times again opponents who now have a read on him. Opponents have figured out the hawks moves, etc, and they know who to stop and who to sag off of. This is where the coaches need to come up with new plays, new styles, etc. like the 2nd half against the hoosiers where they played a lot of trapping and double team, which didnt work at first but then it started working.
And it doesnt help that most aspects of the game have dimished since we were 10-1, the hawks are missing more FTs, shooting worse, not blocking out and rebounding as well as we have to play more zone, having 6 or so more turnovers than earlier this year.
Both the coaches and players need to make adjustments. Maybe get the ball a couple feet farther away from the basket to open things up, maybe play a box and one against that one really hot shooter, stay home on the defensive glass to limit opponent 2nd chance points which have been killers that last few games.
SteveGarvey
Well-Known Member
I was half-joking when I said it was a testament to Fran's coaching though there probably is a kernel of truth in there somewhere.
HawkeyeWalker
Well-Known Member
If we could only lose more games by double digits, this wouldn't be such a "problem".
Sure, the team has choked a few away, like all teams that aren't elite do. But many of these "close losses" over the last few years were games in which we trailed much/most of the game, or came back from a larger deficit.
The only ones we should really question are games in which we had leads late, or significant leads in the second half.
Even then, I still feel it's much more on the players than the coach.
Sure, the team has choked a few away, like all teams that aren't elite do. But many of these "close losses" over the last few years were games in which we trailed much/most of the game, or came back from a larger deficit.
The only ones we should really question are games in which we had leads late, or significant leads in the second half.
Even then, I still feel it's much more on the players than the coach.
