Rice at UTEP mbb Dec 31

[miner1liner]

I was so disgusted i didn't care to hear the post game with Golding, but I'm curious now how he explains these three painful dilemmas that continue game after game. He has to see what everyone else sees. Free throws!!! If you reviewed each players history I'll bet their % would be much better than this year. It's like a FT shooting pandemic and the whole team is infected. I'll bet none of them ever had a respectable 3pt % so they shouldn't have open licenses throw bricks and airballs. Turnovers are definitely on the coaches who need to pound it into their heads to make concentrated efforts to think and anticipate before making passes.
As mentioned earlier FG 2pt % is excellent and rebounding has been great lately. Let's hope Golding can grab these horrid problems before it's too late.

 

[MINER.JAY]

What was the Rice head coach’s problem towards the end of the game and after the game during the handshakes?

Missed that. What happened?

 

[Miners1991]

He was apparently yelling at Golding towards the end of the game and during the handshakes he got into it with an asst coach and was escorted off the court.

 

[utep2step]

He was apparently yelling at Golding towards the end of the game and during the handshakes he got into it with an asst coach and was escorted off the court.

Maybe Kap can have a back story on this?

 

[Lord Chabelo]

Free throws at midnight tonight

Does UTEP even have a shooting coach? Is there a sports psychologist on staff? Repetition until they are exhausted is not going to fix the issue. None of them have a terrible form that merits changing their shooting mechanics, it seems more of a mental block to me.

 

[miner1liner]

Does UTEP even have a shooting coach? Is there a sports psychologist on staff? Repetition until they are exhausted is not going to fix the issue. None of them have a terrible form that merits changing their shooting mechanics, it seems more of a mental block to me.

That's why I suggested hypnosis. I've witnessed first hand that it can work. It's a mental thing if they all can do it in practice, but not during a game.

 

[JCorona]

I don't want to be negative and look so far ahead but how many wins do you see in the next 10 games? Aside from the home games vs UTSA and FIU where do we pick up 3 other wins to at least break even?

I asked this question after the first RICE game and it still stands.

 

[MineroFanatico]

I asked this question after the first RICE game and it still stands.

Tough question. Maybe 5. We got the one against utsa. I think we split with Charlotte. I think we split with WKU. I think we sweep FIU. And win at utsa.

 

[miner1liner]

Wish I shared your optimism.

 

[JCorona]

I asked this question after the first RICE game and it still stands.

I didn’t want to be negative back then but I didn’t think we would go 50/50 over the next 10 games. So far we’re 3-6 since then and need to beat Charlotte for a chance at almost 50/50.

 

[axingfools1]

I didn’t want to be negative back then but I didn’t think we would go 50/50 over the next 10 games. So far we’re 3-6 since then and need to beat Charlotte for a chance at almost 50/50.

You were right. This team is a mess. Hard to even tell what to do now as every player is so inconsistent.

 

[JCorona]

You were right. This team is a mess. Hard to even tell what to do now as every player is so inconsistent.

Good news is that next season we’ll have a new team and hopefully better results.

 

[Lil_Train]

Good news is that next season we’ll have a new team and hopefully better results.

We've touched on this a bit before, but I'd guess Golding will keep the following guys;

Onyema
Kalu
Hardy
Frazier
Solomon
McKinney

Elijah Jones
Terrell
Horton

That leaves four spots to fill with the 1, 2, and 3 spots being the clear priority, imo. So, it will be another chance for Golding to show his recruiting talents with a NIL now hopefully in place.

 

[JCorona]

We've touched on this a bit before, but I'd guess Golding will keep the following guys;

Onyema
Kalu
Hardy
Frazier
Solomon
McKinney

Elijah Jones
Terrell
Horton

That leaves four spots to fill with the 1, 2, and 3 spots being the clear priority, imo. So, it will be another chance for Golding to show his recruiting talents with a NIL now hopefully in place.

The question is; do those guy want to stay around?

 

[Lil_Train]

The question is; do those guy want to stay around?

I'm thinking with the new 2nd D1 transfer rules in place, the guys to really worry about are Onyema and Kalu. Not sure I see too much of a market for those guys to move up, but you never know these days especially with big men and the portal.

 

[miner1liner]

We've touched on this a bit before, but I'd guess Golding will keep the following guys;

Onyema
Kalu
Hardy
Frazier
Solomon
McKinney

Elijah Jones
Terrell
Horton

That leaves four spots to fill with the 1, 2, and 3 spots being the clear priority, imo. So, it will be another chance for Golding to show his recruiting talents with a NIL now hopefully in place.

 

[miner1liner]

Don't forget Sumlin!

 

[JCorona]

I'm thinking with the new 2nd D1 transfer rules in place, the guys to really worry about are Onyema and Kalu. Not sure I see too much of a market for those guys to move up, but you never know these days especially with big men and the portal.

We’ve seen guys drop to d2 and turn “pro” in China instead of returning to UTEP. I’m never sure what’s really gonna happen.

 

[Lil_Train]

We’ve seen guys drop to d2 and turn “pro” in China instead of returning to UTEP. I’m never sure what’s really gonna happen.

Yep, and oddly my "list to keep" guys is slowly shrinking as the season continues. 😉

 

[MineroFanatico]

We've touched on this a bit before, but I'd guess Golding will keep the following guys;

Onyema
Kalu
Hardy
Frazier
Solomon
McKinney

Elijah Jones
Terrell
Horton

That leaves four spots to fill with the 1, 2, and 3 spots being the clear priority, imo. So, it will be another chance for Golding to show his recruiting talents with a NIL now hopefully in place.

My list has dwindled too. This will probably be met with mixed opinions, but I'm officially off the Kalu train. I just don't ever see him becoming a much of a contributor, offensively speaking. His hands are among the worst I can remember for a big. If he's not within 2 feet of the rim, his shot isn't going down...a vast majority of the time. Can't hit free throws consistently. And he just doesn't seem to have that desire to impose his will. He's too passive. I don't think that'll ever change.

Everybody else on the list, maybe McKinney the exception, I hope sticks around. Earlier in the year I thought McKinney would contribute significantly. He can't make a shot unless it's a layup, either. Even layups he misses with regularity. I'm pretty bummed about this group. Hoping that Golding can do what NoWins always points to, that a program can make a complete turned around in a year now-a-days, otherwise JG's probably gotta go too.

 

[Lil_Train]

My list has dwindled too. This will probably be met with mixed opinions, but I'm officially off the Kalu train. I just don't ever see him becoming a much of a contributor, offensively speaking. His hands are among the worst I can remember for a big. If he's not within 2 feet of the rim, his shot isn't going down...a vast majority of the time. Can't hit free throws consistently. And he just doesn't seem to have that desire to impose his will. He's too passive. I don't think that'll ever change.

Everybody else on the list, maybe McKinney the exception, I hope sticks around. Earlier in the year I thought McKinney would contribute significantly. He can't make a shot unless it's a layup, either. Even layups he misses with regularity. I'm pretty bummed about this group. Hoping that Golding can do what NoWins always points to, that a program can make a complete turned around in a year now-a-days, otherwise JG's probably gotta go too.

Definitely on the fence with Kalu as well for exactly the same reasons. Defensively, he has pretty good feet (as opposed to Onyema), so I think he fits into Golding's defensive scheme. He really needed a redshirt year, but there is just not that option at UTEP. At this point, I question whether Golding can bring in someone better.

On McKinney, I thought he was perfectly utilized by Jans at NMSU as a change of pace guy behind two very solid guard options. Unfortunately, he has really tried to do too much this year, and forced some really bad shots. At the D1 level, it is a fatal flaw for a guard to be unable to make an outside shot.

 

[TxRdKiller]

Definitely on the fence with Kalu as well for exactly the same reasons. Defensively, he has pretty good feet (as opposed to Onyema), so I think he fits into Golding's defensive scheme. He really needed a redshirt year, but there is just not that option at UTEP. At this point, I question whether Golding can bring in someone better.

On McKinney, I thought he was perfectly utilized by Jans at NMSU as a change of pace guy behind two very solid guard options. Unfortunately, he has really tried to do too much this year, and forced some really bad shots. At the D1 level, it is a fatal flaw for a guard to be unable to make an outside shot.

Nice take on Kalu's defensive ability. But, yeah, I'm going to start calling him Kevin "Roberto Duran" Kalu. Big Ham has better hands and a really nice, soft touch around the basket but needs to develop quickness under the hoop. He's a bit slow and gets the ball slapped away too easily. Still, I love the potential if he continues to develop.

McKinney is ridiculously athletic but like you guys have already said, he can't shoot. The dude can straight up jump out of the building but what good is that if he can't make a bucket? And, at times, he reminds me of Nigel Hawkins who was usually out of control on the court.

We don't have anyone who can step up and take over a game or at least give us fans a feeling of "we got this" when a game is on the line. Souley could do that. Bryson could do that. There is just nobody on this roster who can do that. I cringe anymore at the thought of us having to make freebies late in a game whether we're trying to preserve a lead or climb back from a deficit. I've caught myself on occasion channeling Don Haskins and looking away when one of our guys is at the free throw line.

 

[axingfools1]

Kalu had a good 7 game run ending after the LT loss. Played about 20 minutes and average 7.5 rbounds. I think Dos Anjos stole his minutes.

 

[utep2step]

Nice take on Kalu's defensive ability. But, yeah, I'm going to start calling him Kevin "Roberto Duran" Kalu. Big Ham has better hands and a really nice, soft touch around the basket but needs to develop quickness under the hoop. He's a bit slow and gets the ball slapped away too easily. Still, I love the potential if he continues to develop.

McKinney is ridiculously athletic but like you guys have already said, he can't shoot. The dude can straight up jump out of the building but what good is that if he can't make a bucket? And, at times, he reminds me of Nigel Hawkins who was usually out of control on the court.

We don't have anyone who can step up and take over a game or at least give us fans a feeling of "we got this" when a game is on the line. Souley could do that. Bryson could do that. There is just nobody on this roster who can do that. I cringe anymore at the thought of us having to make freebies late in a game whether we're trying to preserve a lead or climb back from a deficit. I've caught myself on occasion channeling Don Haskins and looking away when one of our guys is at the free throw line.

Here's another angle, we don't have the guards that bring out the best of Miner big men, so the big men take the heat, so to speak. McKinney is the only...ONLY....guard who "feeds the big man" at that is time from time. Now Givance and Z.O. are starting to click but there is only four weeks of season left. I was watching the Temple v Houston game and their guard center match up are such a threat that it makes defenses honest and created ideal one on one. Houston had trouble with Temple's guard/center play. I don't see quality in n out, screen and dump, screen and cut (to the basket) often and efficiently from the Miners.

 

[Lil_Train]

Here's another angle, we don't have the guards that bring out the best of Miner big men, so the big men take the heat, so to speak. McKinney is the only...ONLY....guard who "feeds the big man" at that is time from time. Now Givance and Z.O. are starting to click but there is only four weeks of season left. I was watching the Temple v Houston game and their guard center match up are such a threat that it makes defenses honest and created ideal one on one. Houston had trouble with Temple's guard/center play. I don't see quality in n out, screen and dump, screen and cut (to the basket) often and efficiently from the Miners.

I do agree with this. However, I will add the caveat that Kalu has zero post moves. As a big man, he needs to become a dependable option for the guards in order to develop trust. Onyema has become a more reliable post presence due mostly to his jump hook, and he has been getting the ball a bit more. Hamilton also provides an offensive post presence, but is too slow to take advantage against most teams, and is a complete liability in Golding's hedging defense. Givance has been good with the lobs, but his post entry passes have been pretty lousy, including multiple turnovers.

 

[MineroFanatico]

My take on Kalu not getting fed from the guards would be that it provides more opportunity to fumble the ball. There is a reason he doesn't get the ball down low as often as Z. Maybe a couple reasons. No hands and zero post moves, as lil_train said.

Z is getting better and better. On both sides of the court in. my opinion.

When Ham is in, Goldings defensive plan should adapt to the personnel I think. Use him solely as a lane stuffer. Don't rely on his feet to move so much. I bet his rebounding would increase and he would alter some shots with that wide body. Offensively, he needs more court time to get into a rhythm or flow. His minutes are too sparing and spread out to really see what he's got. I know I'd rather him be on the court than Kalu. But I'd rather Z be on the court than either.

 

[Hollywoodminer]

plan and simple solution to our scoring.. If we are not going to emphasize our 3 point shooting, (all the teams crowd the center to stop our one big guy) then post two bigs under the basket and get the scoring that way.
We just cant doing the same thing over and over expecting a different results.

 

[kickballpro]

I don’t understand how we can’t get a 3 point shooter. There is a million guys out there that can shoot. Problem is, everyone is infatuated with recruiting 6’7 Guards. Trams are afraid to recruit the next Randy Culpepper because who are they gonna guard?

I think we should recruit a little unorthodox than what the rest of College basketball is doing and find Omar Thomas, Fili, and Randy, etc…

 

[Lil_Train]

I don’t understand how we can’t get a 3 point shooter. There is a million guys out there that can shoot. Problem is, everyone is infatuated with recruiting 6’7 Guards. Trams are afraid to recruit the next Randy Culpepper because who are they gonna guard?

I think we should recruit a little unorthodox than what the rest of College basketball is doing and find Omar Thomas, Fili, and Randy, etc…

Funny thing is that Golding had a good spot up shooter last year (Saterfield), but said he couldn't defend. This year he is saying he will definitely get some shooters for next year, even if he needs to teach them how to defend 🤔