Not Much Offensive Help Off the Bench Against Maryland

[lainey2020]

Our bench players certainly contributed in other ways, but our starters scored almost all of the points. JQ being a starter mattered of course. Just another example of how this team wins in different ways.

Glad to see Pringle get to score at the end of the game. He deserved it.

 

[mtmax]

We need a couple of bench players to step up if we want to win four more.

 

[lainey2020]

l just read Benny's Breakdown and he mentioned this. l would not have started another thread if l had seen it.

Feel free to delete my post @James Benedetto. My bad sorry.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

We need a couple of bench players to step up if we want to win four more.

This ^^^

 

[bryantdenney]

Looked like Oats planned to not go to the bench as much in this game, not sure why but there's a reason I'm not coaching. Everything worked out fine though.

 

[HOUNDZTOOTH1]

Thinking out loud? Why did Pringle not warrant much playing time against Maryland? I know Maryland played pretty dang good defense but it appears regardless of the final score we struggled offensively or Oates was struggling finding the right combination of players to have on the court.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

There is a reason. Oat's took advantage of the long TV Timeouts to give the starters more playing time. That's exactly what he said after the game. More time = more points from starters.

 

[lainey2020]

Thinking out loud? Why did Pringle not warrant much playing time against Maryland? I know Maryland played pretty dang good defense but it appears regardless of the final score we struggled offensively or Oates was struggling finding the right combination of players to have on the court.

l really like Pringle, but as well as Bediako was playing and in no foul trouble l guess it was hard to pull the trigger and play Pringle in his place.

l kinda wondered the same thing though.

 

[jmillerbama]

A huge spark down the stretch would be Bradley getting confident again by scoring off the drive, he has been bad of late. And we need another shooter to get hot, either Sears, Burnett, or Griffen need to hit a few three's. But i love the energy Gurley is playing with! As long as Miller and JQ keep ballin with some solid play from Clowney and Bediako, we might just have enough! Roll Tide Roll!

 

[Codie B]

A huge spark down the stretch would be Bradley getting confident again by scoring off the drive, he has been bad of late. And we need another shooter to get hot, either Sears, Burnett, or Griffen need to hit a few three's. But i love the energy Gurley is playing with! As long as Miller and JQ keep ballin with some solid play from Clowney and Bediako, we might just have enough! Roll Tide Roll!

I think Bradley is having a hard time getting into the lane, because teams realize he can’t shoot.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I think Bradley is having a hard time getting into the lane, because teams realize he can’t shoot.

I don't think he's quick enough. He looks a step or two behind JQ and he doesn't know what to do with the ball when he drives to the basket.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

I think Bradley is having a hard time getting into the lane, because teams realize he can’t shoot.

This ^^^
They know he's no threat offensively. When he does penetrate, he rarely finishes at the rim and if he gets fouled, making FTs is another can of worms.

 

[Codie B]

I don't think he's quick enough. He looks a step or two behind JQ and he doesn't know what to do with the ball when he drives to the basket.

He is not as quick as JQ, but in fairness few are. JQ is a threat to shoot from outside, though, which has opened up the lane. Similar for Sears when he was shooting well.

 

[Codie B]

This ^^^
They know he's no threat offensively. When he does penetrate, he rarely finishes at the rim and if he gets fouled, making FTs is another can of worms.

All this ^^^, unfortunately.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

He is not as quick as JQ, but in fairness few are. JQ is a threat to shoot from outside, though, which has opened up the lane. Similar for Sears when he was shooting well.

Well, either you have to be able to run the point and penetrate or you need to move to a 2. If you can't shoot and can't drive, then how do you make it at this level?

 

[Codie B]

Well, either you have to be able to run the point and penetrate or you need to move to a 2. If you can't shoot and can't drive, then how do you make it at this level?

That is the problem presently. Some said he hit the “freshman wall”, but I don’t really believe that. I think once teams had enough tape on him, they figured out his weaknesses. He is going to have to develop a better outside shoot, and/or at least improve from the foul line. Even Oats said he had to work on his outside shooting. He is a tough player, who can play good defense, and does not seem to make ridiculous bad passes, but, right now, he has become a bench player that gives the starters a little rest. Hopefully, he develops.

 

[TideFever]

I don't think he's quick enough. He looks a step or two behind JQ and he doesn't know what to do with the ball when he drives to the basket.

He's quicker than Sears and has been subbed in for Sears a few times when Sears couldn't play D well enough against a quicker guard.

IMO if Bradley has a problem it's that he doesn't trust his shot unless its on the free throw line. You don't tell the coach to play the other guy when you know you can hit shots but they just aren't falling. You can say "oh but that's a team guy that would say that" but reality is players want to play unless they've scrambled their head so bad they don't trust themselves.

It might be coincidental but his game nose dived from the SCe game forward. Which was after the news got out that Bradley was also there the night of the shooting. It's possible this has affected him more than anyone else on the team. Maybe he was already in his own head and didn't need even more distraction and the freshman wall became an impossible obstacle.

I read elsewhere around the same time that Bradley seemed to stop seeing his shot before shooting it. Meaning he wasn't focused on the rim before he's about to release the ball. Something is off there and it might take a whole summer in the gym to fix it.

Whatever is going on he isn't the same player he was in Dec against teams like Houston and Gonzaga.

 

[Codie B]

He's quicker than Sears and has been subbed in for Sears a few times when Sears couldn't play D well enough against a quicker guard.

IMO if Bradley has a problem it's that he doesn't trust his shot unless its on the free throw line. You don't tell the coach to play the other guy when you know you can hit shots but they just aren't falling. You can say "oh but that's a team guy that would say that" but reality is players want to play unless they've scrambled their head so bad they don't trust themselves.

It might be coincidental but his game nose dived from the SCe game forward. Which was after the news got out that Bradley was also there the night of the shooting. It's possible this has affected him more than anyone else on the team. Maybe he was already in his own head and didn't need even more distraction and the freshman wall became an impossible obstacle.

I read elsewhere around the same time that Bradley seemed to stop seeing his shot before shooting it. Meaning he wasn't focused on the rim before he's about to release the ball. Something is off there and it might take a whole summer in the gym to fix it.

Whatever is going on he isn't the same player he was in Dec against teams like Houston and Gonzaga.

There is little question he has not been the same player, lately, that he was earlier in the season. On a positive note, and this might not be popular on this board, JQ has become as important as maybe even B Miller to this team. When he is hitting his shots, with his quickness to exploit defenses coming up to play him because of that, he is a dangerous weapon. Just keep it up, and keep the dumb turnovers to a minimum, and there isn’t a PG left in this tournament that I have seen that I would rather have. Plus, he is a really good FT shooter.

 

[TideFever]

There is little question he has not been the same player, lately, that he was earlier in the season. On a positive note, and this might not be popular on this board, JQ has become as important as maybe even B Miller to this team. When he is hitting his shots, with his quickness to exploit defenses coming up to play him because of that, he is a dangerous weapon. Just keep it up, and keep the dumb turnovers to a minimum, and there isn’t a PG left in this tournament that I have seen that I would rather have. Plus, he is a really good FT shooter.

No doubt on JQ. He's our only truly explosive guard that can get around most defenders with his feet. Miller carried us at times in Jan and Feb but if we win it all it will be because JQ and Bediako stepped up their game to a championship level.

 

[Codie B]

No doubt on JQ. He's our only truly explosive guard that can get around most defenders with his feet. Miller carried us at times in Jan and Feb but if we win it all it will be because JQ and Bediako stepped up their game to a championship level.

Nothing against Clowney, and I read all the 1st rd draft choice stuff on here, but some players have regressed some, like Bradley, and some have stepped up their game, like JQ and Bediako. But, imop, in order of importance for our success:

1a &b ) Miller and JQ
3) Bediako

 

[lainey2020]

l know Bradley needs to improve his 3 point shooting. He is very good at making passes though and l think will be a valuable piece to the puzzle next year. Still need him and Burnette to back up JQ and Sears for the rest of the tournament.