McCaffery's Quote on Melsahn

[IAJay]

I agree that basabe has lacked effort. The problem I have is I see him come in and get in great position for an easy bucket. OUR GUARDS CANT FIND HIM. I think it's a combo. He then gives up, which is unacceptable. I think Gessel will help

It would be nice if he had any post moves when he got the ball. I can't really blame the guards for not looking into him right now. When it goes in it will certainly not come back out.

 

[mehawk]

It would be nice if he had any post moves when he got the ball. I can't really blame the guards for not looking into him right now. When it goes in it will certainly not come back out.

It makes a difference if he's not giving effort in practice, moping around before games, and how he's acting toward his teammates. I, personally, don't know this is going on. Just going off of what others have been saying. If that is the case, though, it could change the team's entire perception of the guy. It's hard to share the ball and have total confidence in someone when they're not giving maximum effort on the court. It might not always be intentional but maybe his teammates are thinking he doesn't "deserve" the ball right now.

I hope Melsahn gets it going as we all know he can. He can have an enormous positive impact on this basketball team. Time will tell.

 

[hawkfan33]

Matt Gatens all frosh, Eric May all frosh, Mel Basabe all frosh.
Matt Gatens not on all conference team as a soph...

It is called the softmore slump. There is a reason there is a name for it. Some guys, like Sullinger, won't be affected, but more marginal players often struggle in year two when teams figure them out and things don't come as easy. And yes, each of these guys are marginal players. Matt is marginal athletically, Eric and Mel are both kind of tweeners. Both have skill sets better suited to bigger bodies.

This sophomore slump also happens with the non-athlete college student socially and academically. Look it up, it's not that surprising.

I don't think this is a sophomore slump at all. They just made all freshman teams because they were able to put up decent numbers on a terrible team. There were tons of better freshman, guys like Evan Turner, who saw lots less playing time because they were on better teams.

Basabe has next to no offensive skills, it's easier to put up garbage points when you're down 10+ the whole game. Basabe is never going to be anywhere close to an All Big Ten player. He's an energy guy, role player on a solid team. If we lose him, it's not a big loss.

 

[busabus114]

Melsahn needs to talk with Mark Grace about slumpbusters.

On a serious note....I wonder if Melsahn's tryout for the USA team last summer ended up hurting his confidence.

I think it ended up hurting his work ethic