@siudawgs It's hard to rebound when there is no willingness to work for a rebound. Vast majority of the time when we shoot there 5 Dawgs running down court and not even attempting to get a rebound. Rebounding is 50% effort. What's with Coupet losing the ball twice after a rebound. He's got to have better hands than that. He passed up several semi open shots, and didn't seem "to be there" last night. Hate to say it, but play is not much different than with the previous coach who shall remain nameless.
Yeah, when you lose by one, it's hard not to think back to that play where DeVries stripped Coupet at the rim and scored after Coupet's rebound. Obviously that's just one of many plays in the game but ...
When people on the board talk about the need for more length and athleticism on the roster, Southern's lackluster offensive rebounding the past couple years is Exhibit A. When Muila is out of the game, it takes an ideal bounce or a minor miracle to get a second crack. Hoping Ebube is helpful on that front going forward.
SIU is 303rd in the country in offensive rebounding (23.8%) but 24th in the country in defensive rebounding (23.4%). They definitely have the ability to rebound better but they seem to have the team philosophy that getting back on defense is more important than fighting for a second chance rebound.
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
I agree with your observations.
Also, I hate to say it but the officiating was horrible again last night. Like you pointed out, the foul call on D'Avanzo on Drake's last possession was the icing on the cake and a game changer. Not sure where folks are getting the lack of effort observations from. This team plays hard the entire game. Tough loss in a game we should have won. We have lost 3 in a row to top mvc teams by a possession or two, with all the games very winnable at the end. Jones' mobility is really limited because of multiple injuries, Harvey is out and Brown is not quite back into the flow completely yet. We are right there with the top teams in the conference so you cannot say we are miles away, that's just not accurate. We need to learn how to finish games better and our offense needs work, but those are correctable issues. Should be 3-2 or 4-1 in conference, but unfortunately we are 2-3 with a tough stretch coming up. I think we have improved and have played better in the last 3 games than we did earlier in the season. I still have confidence in this team and think they will continue to improve. We can be a contender at the end of February/beginning of March. We still have an opportunity to finish in the top half of the conference race and compete for the title at arch madness . Go Dawgs!
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
Should be 3-2 or 4-1 in conference, but unfortunately we are 2-3 with a tough stretch coming up.
SIU could easily be 0-5 in conference too. It took a buzzer beater by Domask at Evansville and 3 missed Valpo shots to win those two games.
As I said last night, SIU is 9-23 in their last 32 Valley games. They're playing at an Evansville pace over almost 2 full Valley seasons. They're more competitive against the top tier of the Valley this year but they still haven't beaten a top tier Valley contender since year 1 when they beat UNI and Loyola at home.
UNI, Drake, and MoSt are gonna lose some talent this offseason and we'll lose Loyola all together but I don't think that automatically jumps SIU to the top of the Valley. I think Murray State and Belmont are going to be picked ahead of them for sure next year and likely Missouri State, Drake, and Northern Iowa still.
An observation, not a criticism. We pass up good shots looking for better ones. A definite case of better being the enemy of good.
“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.”
-- Al McGuire
9-23 in the last 32 MVC games. That stat just blows me away.
Looking forward to the Indiana State thread.
Are we capable of kicking their a** at home? I’m tired of losing these close games.
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
Should be 3-2 or 4-1 in conference, but unfortunately we are 2-3 with a tough stretch coming up.
SIU could easily be 0-5 in conference too. It took a buzzer beater by Domask at Evansville and 3 missed Valpo shots to win those two games.
As I said last night, SIU is 9-23 in their last 34 Valley games. They're playing at an Evansville pace over almost 2 full Valley seasons. They're more competitive against the top tier of the Valley this year but they still haven't beaten a top tier Valley contender since year 1 when they beat UNI and Loyola at home.
UNI, Drake, and MoSt are gonna lose some talent this offseason and we'll lose Loyola all together but I don't think that automatically jumps SIU to the top of the Valley. I think Murray State and Belmont are going to be picked ahead of them for sure next year and likely Missouri State, Drake, and Northern Iowa still.
Those teams lose a lot, especially Drake, AJ Green could definitely graduate and head to the NBA and who knows with transfers if a player like Mosley sticks around... The one thing I can say about SIU is that these players genuinely seem to want to be here, I think they will see it through. I think the aim next year in the newly constructed Valley should obviously be top 4 and pushing for a title. An unbalanced schedule will make regular season titles a bit less impressive though, much like the ACC where Duke and UNC play each other twice while Virginia gets the likes of Wake Forrest twice.
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
Should be 3-2 or 4-1 in conference, but unfortunately we are 2-3 with a tough stretch coming up.
SIU could easily be 0-5 in conference too. It took a buzzer beater by Domask at Evansville and 3 missed Valpo shots to win those two games.
As I said last night, SIU is 9-23 in their last 34 Valley games. They're playing at an Evansville pace over almost 2 full Valley seasons. They're more competitive against the top tier of the Valley this year but they still haven't beaten a top tier Valley contender since year 1 when they beat UNI and Loyola at home.
UNI, Drake, and MoSt are gonna lose some talent this offseason and we'll lose Loyola all together but I don't think that automatically jumps SIU to the top of the Valley. I think Murray State and Belmont are going to be picked ahead of them for sure next year and likely Missouri State, Drake, and Northern Iowa still.
9-23 equals 32, not 34.
Your numbers are not accurate. SIU is 13-21 in it's last 34 regular season mvc games and is 15-21 in it's last 36 regular season valley games.
We are 2-3 this year, were 5-13 last year (without our best player for the entire mvc season) and 6-5 in the last 11 games of the 2019/2020 regular season, 8-5 in the last 13 games. If you count the mvc tournament we are 16-23 in our last 39 mvc games. Not where we want to be, but not quite as bad as you painted. Also, I think consideration needs to be given to covid back to backs and Domask out all of last years mvc play. I am not happy with 2-3, but things aren't as bleak as you paint, IMO.
Belmont also loses a ton.
Belmont also loses a ton.
Murray will probably be amazing....
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
The only 5th year Senior Drake was playing was Ayo Akinwole who played 13 minutes and Drake played their true Freshman DeVries 31 minutes and he was maybe the best player on the court. Drake was also missing Hemphill, one of their best players.
And it's not like SIU is young. SIU's starting lineup has 4 Juniors and 1 5th year Senior in Coupet.
DeVries built up a Tournament team at Drake with this group in 3 seasons.
Drake is the oldest team in the NCAA. That’s just fact. It was on the broadcast last night
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
The only 5th year Senior Drake was playing was Ayo Akinwole who played 13 minutes and Drake played their true Freshman DeVries 31 minutes and he was maybe the best player on the court. Drake was also missing Hemphill, one of their best players.
And it's not like SIU is young. SIU's starting lineup has 4 Juniors and 1 5th year Senior in Coupet.
DeVries built up a Tournament team at Drake with this group in 3 seasons.
Drake is the oldest team in the NCAA. That’s just fact. It was on the broadcast last night
No, BK... We have to keep up this narrative that we are old.... Even though nobody lost their seniors last year so our "juniors" are still 3 years younger than them... I really think everyone needs to chill a bit. We are right there, against good teams, home and away. It isn't time to go back to the drawing board it's time to build on this.
I’m not upset with the team. Drake was an NCAA tournament team last year and won a game.
I am upset with the last possession that’s it. No acceptable excuse for not getting a shot off. I just don’t understand running the clock down to win or lose right there. Get a quick shot if it goes in play D. If not you foul and the most you can be down is 3 with another chance.
I am not sure how you watch SIU and think they are miles off. If there is a no call last night on Drakes last possession, which there should have been no call, would you feel different? They are right there in every single game, even tough ones. I think like Domask said, they are closer than people realize. I think the Lance Jones injury has been a killer for this team, do you remember how good he was last year? unstoppable at times.
The only 5th year Senior Drake was playing was Ayo Akinwole who played 13 minutes and Drake played their true Freshman DeVries 31 minutes and he was maybe the best player on the court. Drake was also missing Hemphill, one of their best players.
And it's not like SIU is young. SIU's starting lineup has 4 Juniors and 1 5th year Senior in Coupet.
DeVries built up a Tournament team at Drake with this group in 3 seasons.
Drake is the oldest team in the NCAA. That’s just fact. It was on the broadcast last night
They're up there but come in at 39th. They were also missing a Senior last night in Hemphill.
Last year Drake took the next step and made the NCAA Tournament with an average of 1.63 years of experience (155 in the country). This year, SIU has 1.91 years of experience (177 in the country)
SIU gets younger next year when they lose a 5th year Senior in Coupet and play 2 Freshman minutes. We're gonna keep kicking the can down the road.
Belmont also loses a ton.
Murray will probably be amazing....
We will see. Life is a lot different when you get to the the SEMO’s and Eastern Illinois of the world pretty much every conference game
