If we can clean up some of the slop and our guys get more comfortable playing together and gain confidence, we can be pretty darn good. You can tell some are pressing too much, which isn't surprising this early with essentially an all new team, but I think we've got the right coaching staff to get it squared sooner rather than later.
The next two games will offer a lot of insight into what we can be - North Dakota St has a lot of size and recently beat Santa Clara, which beat Avila and St Louis in their season opener. We should win, but can't just show up and expect a W.
I'll also be very interested to see how we compete against a true top 25 opponent in Florida. No matter the result, it'll provide a good measuring stick that Coach Nagy can use the rest of the season.
--Insert something witty here--
There were many encouraging things in the Oklahoma State game. The heart and fight in the players was especially enjoyable to watch. They also shot better than has been anticipated and discussed. Watching the way Oklahoma State played provided a view into the way Coach Nagy would like to see the Dawgs play.
It is obvious that some of the players are still not comfortable playing in this type of system. When the players and ball were moving in sync, like motion offense is meant to be played, the offense looked really good. When players held the ball or went one-on-one with lateral dribbling instead of driving to the hoop, the offense bogged down and turnovers were often the result. Even on downhill drives, some bad decisions were made with players getting too deep without getting to the rim and then trapped in a bad place.
Defensively, there were times players got lost resulting in wide open shots under the basket or wide open three’s. It seemed every time we gave up an offensive rebound, we got burned by a kick-out three. The athleticism is there to guard 3/4 to full court like the Cowboys did, especially if we will continue playing ten players.
Looking forward to Monday night’s game with North Dakota State. Go Dawgs.
I wonder if they’re considering Sykes bumping Hensley from the starting 5. I know they’d like Hensley to space the floor and be a threat from 3, but until he starts doing that, Sykes is bringing more to the table. Maybe give it a few more games to shake out?
Nagy’s honesty and openness is so refreshing. Bryan thought he was guarding family recipes in interviews and Barry wanted to sell you the recipe. Nagy just tells you if he likes the food or not, and why.
In my SIU lifetime, which began in 1977 when Paul Lambert was coach, Nagy probably ranks as the best coach in terms of the media, at least so far. He's quick to praise but not hesitant to criticize and is the proverbial open book. The difference between him and maybe a few previous coaches is that he's shown, to this point, the ability to be critical without throwing individuals under the bus. Weber always seemed good with the media, too, and I recall Herrin being very candid on more than one occasion.
Looking a bit deeper, the biggest positive I can take away from the game are Nagy's comments. As has been discussed, he does not mince words, so for him to say he loves these guys and that THEY WILL start putting it together speaks volumes to me. As McFly says in Nagy we trust........ if he says that he is encouraged, then who am I to disagree?
Happy Friday
I wonder if they’re considering Sykes bumping Hensley from the starting 5. I know they’d like Hensley to space the floor and be a threat from 3, but until he starts doing that, Sykes is bringing more to the table. Maybe give it a few more games to shake out?
Hensley had a poor game but did get 8 rbs. Sykes may not be an outside shooter, but he's very good around the rim and a good rebounder like Hensley.
@siudawgs Lets hope. Would then only need 178 more makes to surpass him and become 7th in SIU history.
@siudawgs Lets hope. Would then only need 178 more makes to surpass him and become 7th in SIU history.
Trent played five seasons and was given a ton of rope by the previous staff. He was not an efficient shooter for most of his career. Those are the facts … outstanding kid and leader, though. Glad he was/is a Saluki.
I wonder if they’re considering Sykes bumping Hensley from the starting 5. I know they’d like Hensley to space the floor and be a threat from 3, but until he starts doing that, Sykes is bringing more to the table. Maybe give it a few more games to shake out?
Hensley had a poor game but did get 8 rbs. Sykes may not be an outside shooter, but he's very good around the rim and a good rebounder like Hensley.
He’s still looking for his first good game of the season, at least from a scoring standpoint.
I really like Nagy so far. He seems to have a better idea of rotations at this early point in the season than either of the two previous regimes have had. He just seems more game-savvy, if that makes sense.
I hope he continues to be open to trying multiple guys--I'm uncomfortable with the eight-man--and ONLY eight-man--rotation.
I don't feel that I'm being bullshitted (so far) by him. I like that.
We made a P5 team, at their place, tremble a bit. And he didn't try to oversell that, and he didn't throw anyone under the bus.
OK, I'm rambling now, but so far, so good with Nagy. I am confident in his ability to get the best out of the group he's got.
(Inflammatory political snark)
Thanks for this: it expresses exactly what I've been thinking about him.
(Inflammatory political snark)
@siudawgs Earned not given. Using the word facts without them…up and down but make a list of 35/81 and toss out high school line 2 ft closer. Your agenda is clear despite the backpedaling.
Say what?!
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
I really like Nagy so far. He seems to have a better idea of rotations at this early point in the season than either of the two previous regimes have had. He just seems more game-savvy, if that makes sense.
I hope he continues to be open to trying multiple guys--I'm uncomfortable with the eight-man--and ONLY eight-man--rotation.
I don't feel that I'm being bullshitted (so far) by him. I like that.
We made a P5 team, at their place, tremble a bit. And he didn't try to oversell that, and he didn't throw anyone under the bus.
OK, I'm rambling now, but so far, so good with Nagy. I am confident in his ability to get the best out of the group he's got.
Agree particularly with this point. To expand on this further, I'm really liking his willingness to allow the freshman to play through mistakes versus burying them on the bench. You can see the talent in both Steffe and Aligbe. That should pay off big time later in the season.
--Insert something witty here--
