Top Performers: Brandon Sebirumbi 15 points, 9 rebounds
Bryant Irwin 14 points (4-5 on 3's)
Earlier this week I wrote up a draft for a post all about how the injuries to Anthony Stitt and Adjehi Baru might necessitate a change in playing style. With Stitt gone the team had lost its only other player who could effectively run the offense. In Baru, the team lost one of only two capable low post scorers and defenders. My reasoning was this: given who we had on the floor, the best strategy was for the Cougs to get out in transition. We have big men who can run the floor and solid athletes at all positions. Why not try and cause some turnovers, stay active on defense and get out and run? Do our best UNCG impression. That way we wouldn't have to depend on setting up and executing a half-court offense and we could still have Sundberg run to the arc on the break for open threes.
The reason I eventually deleted this post was simple. The obvious flaw in a "running team" is that you can very easily give up a lot of points. Once I discovered this drawback I decided it could not be a long term solution. Saying you "want to run" in basketball is like saying you want to lose weight in real life. Every team would love to do it, but you have to have the defensive discipline to make up for the looks your opponent will get every time you go for a steal, block or defensive rebound.
That was one of the problems for the Cougars tonight. It felt like some of the guys were so anxious to rush down the other way that it caused them to break down at the task at hand. I don't blame them. Getting a fast break dunk or three pointer gets the crowd into the game and breaks up the monotony of what was a very boring game for most of the night. But every time Nori or Jordan gambled for a steal on the perimeter and left Trent out to dry it resulted in easy points for the Paladins. Every time Sundberg would try to block a shot or tip a rebound out to his teammate, it resulted in easy points for the Paladins. Every time Adjehi was going up for a defensive rebound and the rest of the team "leaked out" for the man advantage going the other way, it resulted in easy points for the Paladins.
The team is still largely inexperienced and I would expect this kind of behavior to be corrected after a few games. When good teams struggle, a few things happen. Sometimes it helps to try and get to the basket, draw the foul and earn points from the line. Sometimes teams defer to their best player and let him make plays. The first is not really an option for this team because we aren't a threat from the charity stripe. The second option remains a work in progress because a certain LA Laker filled that void nicely for the better part of four years. Although it is certainly disheartening when none of the leaders on this team are demanding the ball when the team needs points. Antwaine did his best but Furman caught on to his dribble drive technique pretty fast.
The problem with this team right now is their inability to establish their identity. I know that's generic post game coach-speak so let me explain further. With a major part of our team gone for the foreseeable future and our shooters in a scoring drought, the team needs a new strategy. Cremins' beloved threes aren't falling now and they won't any time soon as long as they continue to be contested and out of the offensive flow. What happens when what is allowed isn't working? Does it really take a double digit deficit to a mediocre team like Furman to rattle the guys enough to play defense?
"But we played hard-nosed D for the first 25 seconds on the shot clock" I can hear them saying.
Someone needs to hold the guys accountable. Whether it's Cremins or the team leaders. I'm not going to sell my Cougars yet because there is still plenty of talent on the roster. But the time to rally already passed, now they're playing for pride.
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