Terry has the talent IMO; this is a nice athletic squad.
However, I agree that he is getting out coached big time by better disciplined teams.
MBB roster talk
- Thread starter unihorn
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However, I agree that he is getting out coached big time by better disciplined teams.
I consider myself to be an optimist, except when it comes to UTEP basketball and then it's optimist* with an asterisk because there's always so many ifs, and or buts.
* we have only two genuine players who I think
would start for any Div 1 school. After seeing
three games, I am now already the pessimistic
optimist.
Can't win with only two quality contributions.
Unless something of a dramatic change occurs
like the development of another contributor I
doubt that we can win 50% the rest of the way.
The status quo will not get it.
* we have only two genuine players who I think
would start for any Div 1 school. After seeing
three games, I am now already the pessimistic
optimist.
Can't win with only two quality contributions.
Unless something of a dramatic change occurs
like the development of another contributor I
doubt that we can win 50% the rest of the way.
The status quo will not get it.
Boum and BW look good (although I think BW needs help on interior D and rebounding). From what I have seen Sjolund is our 3rd scoring option. He could start at the 3 or be our 6th man at the 3 or 4. He's a good shooter, passer and finishes strong. He's got to rebound when he is in there though. I like JB, Kennedy, Hess and Tydus, but they need to fall into their role and contribute within that role. Odigie is strictly a match-up guy and his minutes should reflect that.
Its a shame that Agnew could not get a release from his old school. Vuk is a bust so far. What happened to White?
And for God's sake Terry get your young PF/C a few more minutes. I dont care if he is raw. We got destroyed in the paint by Saint Mary's. What the heck? If your gameplan is to run the opposing team off the 3pt line then you MUST have a rim defender for when they drive!! It was obvious 5 minutes into the game that Tydus was gonna have problems against the Gaels. Odigie was not the answer and BW was already in foul trouble. This team is missing an aggressive rim runner and paint defender. Our drivers needed back up at the rim too. If you are going to run an NBA offense then you need high level athleticism up front. How often does a guy like Onyema fall into your lap at this level?
Not sure what's up with Vila. Is he hurt? Is he planning on leaving? Is he gonna steal minutes from the young guys if he comes back? I've got to imagine that he is gone after this year.
I agree on Agnew, and I think he is a guy who could help this team with his defense and experience. I also think his ability to get in the lane would help to put pressure on the opposing defense; see the Kuyse kid from St. Mary's. I do think Kennedy and Bieniemy have some ability to attack the rim, but they aren't good finishers. Neither one gets to the free throw line much, and that is a problem. I think Sjolund did ok in his 20 minutes versus St. Mary's. He needs to improve defensively, and hopefully he can add the ability to put the ball on the floor on offense. There is some potential there to help, just like Kennedy. Getting true in game experience can't happen soon enough for those two.
Totally think Sjolund should be starting. And playing big minutes. Once he settles in, he will be good, and that 3rd scoring option.
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!
and throw in little Hess and Onyema and tell KK and JB to quit jacking up air ball threes and FINISH at the rim.
I would not be surprised at all if he is starting at the end of the year. It took Terry that long last year to find his players before a bunch decided to leave.
I would love to see BW and Sjolund in at the same time!
If it were up to me it would be:
JB. Run the team and stop shooting 3s. FACILITATE and make us the best we can be.
Boum. Do your thing and keep getting to the line! SCORE BABY SCORE.
SJ. SPREAD THE FLOOR AND SHOOT 3s, attack the rim hard and rebound.
BW. DO YOUR THING and try not to foul early in big games. Let's see some more of that back side D in the lane when needed.
Onyema. Rebound, break the basket on offense and don't let anybody score in the lane. INTIMIDATE IN THE PAINT!
Tydus. Finish stronger man come on. We can't afford you missing bunnies and going to the line. Let's see those BLOCKED SHOTS AND OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS continue.
Kennedy you need to go to the rim stronger like you can. Stop p--sy footing around half the time. Play strong D and scrap like you do. YOU ARE THE GLUE GUY THAT BRINGS EXCITEMENT on the fly
Hess. MAKE IT RAIN when we need you.
Odigie BE READY when you have good match ups and keep your cool. You can't be perfect. WE NEED YOU.
EVERYBODY PLAY D and take good shots. This will work!
When was was the last time we had 2 guys average 17.5 pts+ a game. Jackson and RC3?
BW is averaging 17.8 and 9 rebounds per game (he averaged 17.8 and 7 last year)
Boum 22.4, 4 assists and 2 steals while leading CUSA in free throw % and shooting >.500 3s
Tydus averaging 5,5,1,1,1 while shooting nearly 70%
Kennedy and Bieniemy filling up the non shooting stats
BW is averaging 17.8 and 9 rebounds per game (he averaged 17.8 and 7 last year)
Boum 22.4, 4 assists and 2 steals while leading CUSA in free throw % and shooting >.500 3s
Tydus averaging 5,5,1,1,1 while shooting nearly 70%
Kennedy and Bieniemy filling up the non shooting stats
MIA....
Haven't heard anything about our favorite Miner; Vila. Is he injured and is he even with us anymore? Haven't noticed him on the bench, but haven't been looking either.
Emmanuel White. Is he still on the team? Kinda thought he might be a contributor based on his stats from last year and being a former HS teammate of Bieniemy and Sjolund.
Ahhhh the mysterious drama of the unknown with UTEP basketball.
Haven't heard anything about our favorite Miner; Vila. Is he injured and is he even with us anymore? Haven't noticed him on the bench, but haven't been looking either.
Emmanuel White. Is he still on the team? Kinda thought he might be a contributor based on his stats from last year and being a former HS teammate of Bieniemy and Sjolund.
Ahhhh the mysterious drama of the unknown with UTEP basketball.
OK. Here we are; ready for conference play. Where are we? Who's playing? Who isn't? Who should? Who shouldn't?
Three point shooting stats are interesting.
Between Boum, Williams, Hess and Sjolund we are 37 of 87 or 42.5 %.
Between Agnew, Kennedy, Bieniemy and Vulikic we are 8 for 47 or 17%.
I realize this is just one segment, but as I've said before when you allow certain players to continue throwing up prayers at a 17% return; that's like 39 turnovers. No sound logic in letting that continue.
AMEN!
Three point shooting stats are interesting.
Between Boum, Williams, Hess and Sjolund we are 37 of 87 or 42.5 %.
Between Agnew, Kennedy, Bieniemy and Vulikic we are 8 for 47 or 17%.
I realize this is just one segment, but as I've said before when you allow certain players to continue throwing up prayers at a 17% return; that's like 39 turnovers. No sound logic in letting that continue.
AMEN!
Just my suspicion, but I think Terry feels obligated to play Vuk since he came halfway around the world in a pandemic (and therefore White has been put on the back burner). Unless White is happy being a practice player then he may be gone soon. Too many guys in front of him.
Who knows what the heck is up with Vila. He has been with the team on the sidelines. Not sure if that will last long. All I know is that if we lose Onyema because of Vila I will be super pissed. Somebody has to make way for Hill.
There's no use in trying to break down a Terry led team. One game we rebound like gangbusters, dunk on heads, get to the line and shoot efficiently from 3 while in the very next game we shoot 7 of 32 3-pointers against a smaller and less talented team. No real plan to exploit our strengths (FG% and free throw%, size and athleticism with 4-5 guys that can shoot).
Basically Terry gives the green light to everybody from 3 as long as the team gets back on transition defense. I haven't heard him say much else. Lets just hope that the players are mature enough to know their strengths and their role on the team.
As far as I am concerned we have 7 guys that should be playing 90% and only 4 of those that should be shooting 3s. There are 2 deep bench player specialist or match-up only guys. There is 1 guy on the bench otherwise that needs to be groomed as a big future contributer. These are the guys that can take us the furthest or to the next level (now and next year).
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Couldn't have said it better myself. That is exactly how I feel when ready to watch this UTEP squad. I'm an not going to call UTEP mid major or "we're CUSA". This is big boy college basketball and CRT needs to get them to play at a higher level but he is too inconsistent. There should be high free throw %'s every game. These free tosses determine outcome directly. Rebounding, percentages yes but consistent activity which include, but not limited too block out, communication, control pass out and break (or slow down). Guard and interior big man communication and efficiency. I.E., I love Boum's hustle and grit but as the saying goes "Ya gotta feed the big man!" and with a rarity like Bryson Williams, it's inefficient not to use him more. Force your man to the help side (basic high school D), always. Saint Mary's just killed UTEP because of this basic mistake. The Gaels had several uncontested layups, several times. CRT was playing the wrong D as St Mary's isolated our big men because our PG couldn't stop theirs; simple yet effective.
Terry mentioned that Vila has an injured heel, and hasn't practiced in 5 months. There is no timeframe for his return.
So as of today our 3pt and free throw % have fallen below our opponents. We are at 32% and 71% respectively. We are still ahead at steals and assists to turnover ratio.
Mr Kennedy is really hurting us from 3 and at the line. He rarely goes the rim with abandon. Unless we are going to press and run then I am starting Sjolund at the 3. He is a better shooter and can help defend the interior. I think with equal minutes he can outrebound Kennedy too.
When Kennedy is in he needs to defend, rebound and attack the basket. Im challenging him to be our best defender and best finisher.
3pt shooters are only Boum, Sjolund and Bieniemy. BW is welcome to shoot when open, but really we need him in the paint scoring and REBOUNDING and defending. Bryson stated at the beginning of the year that his focus this season was to rebound. Well he has failed to do so and seems to have regressed overall. Like somebody said he has lost that chip on his shoulder.
Bryson needs help in the paint. Tydus is good but seems so be holding back on defense. For God sake Terry, play Onyema a few minutes then. This team desperately needs another athletic big. Its not like our bigs are dominating and we are vying for an at-large bid. Maybe this can free us up to play better interior defense.
If I'm Terry I'm running with this team. I'm pressing on defense with one of my 4 athletic bigs in the back on defense. I'm mixing in a 2-3 zone with man to man in the halfcourt until my rebounding and interior D are up to my standards.
On offense Terry desperately needs help to find any consistency or precision. I assume we play a read and react offense with high ball screens. Problem is our guys are tentative and don't get to the rim or the line enough. On top of that our 3pt shooting is poor to streaky.
Mr Kennedy is really hurting us from 3 and at the line. He rarely goes the rim with abandon. Unless we are going to press and run then I am starting Sjolund at the 3. He is a better shooter and can help defend the interior. I think with equal minutes he can outrebound Kennedy too.
When Kennedy is in he needs to defend, rebound and attack the basket. Im challenging him to be our best defender and best finisher.
3pt shooters are only Boum, Sjolund and Bieniemy. BW is welcome to shoot when open, but really we need him in the paint scoring and REBOUNDING and defending. Bryson stated at the beginning of the year that his focus this season was to rebound. Well he has failed to do so and seems to have regressed overall. Like somebody said he has lost that chip on his shoulder.
Bryson needs help in the paint. Tydus is good but seems so be holding back on defense. For God sake Terry, play Onyema a few minutes then. This team desperately needs another athletic big. Its not like our bigs are dominating and we are vying for an at-large bid. Maybe this can free us up to play better interior defense.
If I'm Terry I'm running with this team. I'm pressing on defense with one of my 4 athletic bigs in the back on defense. I'm mixing in a 2-3 zone with man to man in the halfcourt until my rebounding and interior D are up to my standards.
On offense Terry desperately needs help to find any consistency or precision. I assume we play a read and react offense with high ball screens. Problem is our guys are tentative and don't get to the rim or the line enough. On top of that our 3pt shooting is poor to streaky.
I agree with what you are saying... this team wants to run and we can win if we can score 80 or more points. we have a mad bomber in Hess who can score at any angle. He needs to get about 8-10 minutes in a game. Run Miners Run to a victory today with a final score of 85 to 78... Get the big guys involved more ...
So no word yet on who might be staying or leaving. I'm surprised we haven't heard from BW yet. I think he stays, but we'll see.
Right now we have BW and Vila to decide if they move on or come back.
New players are Hill and Wilson. Both 6'9" players, but one is a PF and one more of a SF.
Remaining are Tydus, Efe, Onyema, Sjolund, Kennedy, Boum, Bieniemy, Agnew, Hess, Vuk and White.
Right now we have BW and Vila to decide if they move on or come back.
New players are Hill and Wilson. Both 6'9" players, but one is a PF and one more of a SF.
Remaining are Tydus, Efe, Onyema, Sjolund, Kennedy, Boum, Bieniemy, Agnew, Hess, Vuk and White.
Idk why but I have a feeling we would be worse off next year if BW returns. Imo it shows complacency. We haven't even been close to competing for a top 4 spot. So it's not like we're just missing a piece. He needs to go make his money and let Terry figure this out. BW has been faithful enough. Terry hasn't delivered on his part.
Well said. I actually agree. I was gonna ask everybody if we are better off with or without BW?
Hard to say better off, but it may actually be the case. It may free up some of our other players and help to stop forcing the ball into double teams. Im afraid it could also be like Kugler without AJ. We are gonna find out!
That's most likely to happen. We tank without him. With him I don't see us going .500 in conference or beating a P5 on the road. Terry has benefited from pod play and this year from uneven home games and the teams we played. If 2021 is back to normal I can easily see 6-12/7‐11 in conference and maybe 3-4 wins ooc vs D1 teams.
So take out Wilson, Efe, Tydus, Hess and Vuk. Add Fisher. BW still up in the air.
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Adam Hess is no big loss. Losing Verhoeven hurts though. He played well in multiple games.
Verhoeven had good defensive skills, but was so limited on offense and I never though he fulfilled the role of prime rebounder well. Wish him well, he hustled and played hard and hope he can land somewhere that can use his skills. Most schools are losing 3-4 players via transfer and this makes four for us, so we have hit the average. Hate this "new normal" for college ball never get to see players develop, less team chemistry and more about the talent you put on the court and less about teamwork and coaching.
