Coming off of a loss and a national audience to get back on track, and that is what they did. Really not sure how that was possible. That was not a random game before Christmas break. It wasn't a game where they just couldn't make a shot. They just didn't show up for most of the game. In my opinion. They made that team look like a vintage Virginia team coached by Bennett. They never placed pressure on them defensively. The offensive sets were atrocious. Shot selection was atrocious. The passing was atrocious. To me, that was one of the worst two or three losses in the history of the Pete. It was that bad. 13 point favorites and they were never in the game after the first few minutes.
Slow starts have been a part of the season. Way too many times. For whatever reason there is something missing that is causing them to come out and fall down by double digits. Teams get confident and I don't think they realize how difficult it is to come back on these teams in that environment. The margin for error is just so small. There were never any adjustments really. They should have tried to speed Virginia up. Trap the point. Something. The zone was fine but they aren't really comfortable in it.
The offense to me was just mind-blowing. The only play they could make was a post entry from a big. The guards could not execute a simple entry to the post. And when I say execute, they basically drew fouls. I don't know what has happened to this team, but it is a mess. They shoot too many threes for the shooters they have. Jaland has really fallen apart. The decision making has been bad all year. Last night was especially bad, as he was off and still not making good decisions. Jaland has length but it is tough because he does not have the ability to work through contact and finish. On the one drive, he literally got into the paint and spun and passed it to one of the bigs about 6 inches from. Forget who it was. I had to rewind it to make sure that happened.
Nothing comes easy for this team right now. Rarely see easy baskets or transition any more. When they get stuck in the half court, it is just so tough right now. Their best offensive players are all 6'2 or shorter. They are also all most comfortable driving the ball. There is so much dribbling too. The epitome of this whole operation right now is what we saw before half. Timeout to set something up for the last possession of the half. There was a real chance to finish strong and get that game to like 9 or 11. They couldn't do that. So they call timeout finally and have a chat. Then proceed to come out and run nothing different. The same offense. Jaland pounding the ball into the ground for a bit, and then a frantic drive that ended with a pivoting contested shot that wasn't close.
For whatever reason, they were trying to enter the ball to Corhen like they had prime Shaq for a night. All of a sudden, we just have to get Cam posted up as much as possible.
This is a team that is more confused than ever in February. They don't know who to play where. The best spot for some of the guys. There are multiple analytics guys on the staff, without much correlation. They want to play Guillermo at the four, but that isn't working. So now you go small with Zack. But that is a style and system that you need to commit to and work with. It is so hard to go back and forth. Cam looks completely lost. He is maybe 40-60 just to make a catch. Then he is anticipating contact and flailing everywhere. Another 1 rebound game. Zack is out there walking around. The bench is basically gone. For whatever reason. I understand you aren't inserting elite defense off the bench, but make the most of them. You have to play reserves, so play to their strengths.
Still, I will argue with anyone about this talent. In my opinion, this roster is comparable to any of the second tier teams in the league. I truly believe that. Jaland was one of the best looking freshman guards in the league last year. He has regressed. Ishmael is one of the better guards in the conference and is experienced. Damian Dunn has played for two good programs and produced. Very experienced. Cam Corhen got two years in the ACC before this season. We have seen flashes from the twins. They have not gotten any better. In my mind, I think coaching is the biggest issue. Is it a perfect team? No. Is it the most functional and ideal group of players based on skill sets? No. But there are at least seven players that belong in the ACC and have played well at different times at a minimum. Lowe and Leggett have been dominant at times and that is who has the ball the majority of the time.
This is who they are. The team that you see show up in November is basically who they are. There is the one season where they got better and Blake introduced himself to the world. Bub developed and played with fresh legs throughout his freshman season. But for the most part, the teams have stayed flat, or actually regressed and have fallen apart. We have looked at the seasons so many times now, including the same collapses at Oklahoma. The data is alarming. Jeff Capel is going to identify talent and then just let them go. That is always how he has coached. In his defense, there aren't many coaches. Some excel at recruiting. Some excel with development. Some are great in game have great schemes. Very few have it all. If you want that, you are going to have to pay and act like a blueblood, or take your chance on a young guy that may have the whole package. That's just the reality. Pitt was in a tough spot and basically paid for a floor. It felt like a safe hire at that time with a floor. The floor was a lot lower than Heather thought, but it has essentially been proven true. It has just taken some time. So now we are in year whatever. I think this is the floor that we are operating with now. Teams that look good and flash early, but rarely develop or have enough to be a factor. You are probably a program that is on the "in the hunt graphic every year. We have to see if this year remains in that area, or if it collapses again. If it collapses, that will be more than alarming. You would like to think that you are at least out of that stage at this point. This is not one of the most expensive teams in the country, but it is legitimately funded for the ACC. This is a team over a million dollars.
I've had a lot of people ask what now. I know that is the popular topic. I don't think there is much to discuss. You just have to play this thing out and see where it goes. Can they still finish like 12-8? They have the talent to, but this team looks to be in a really bad spot. They basically just no showed on their home floor on Big Monday. That is extremely concerning. They are going to lose a few more. If this is headed down a path we have seen before, it could get ugly. The one trend I have seen from fans apathy. There just isn't the interest or care that we have seen. Again. Trust is lost in buckets and gained in drops. That is what we see. Fans are still hesitant to buy in and get excited with this staff. A big reason for that is what preceded them of course. But here we are again. You finally make the tournament and appear to have established something, and now are in the middle of a second straight season of underachieving and missing the tournament since that point.
Heather made a significant move on the way out. That extension is significant and ties this thing for years ahead. And this could be a year or two from now. There is plenty of time to discuss this. We just have to keep an eye on how they respond and finish this season.
Slow starts have been a part of the season. Way too many times. For whatever reason there is something missing that is causing them to come out and fall down by double digits. Teams get confident and I don't think they realize how difficult it is to come back on these teams in that environment. The margin for error is just so small. There were never any adjustments really. They should have tried to speed Virginia up. Trap the point. Something. The zone was fine but they aren't really comfortable in it.
The offense to me was just mind-blowing. The only play they could make was a post entry from a big. The guards could not execute a simple entry to the post. And when I say execute, they basically drew fouls. I don't know what has happened to this team, but it is a mess. They shoot too many threes for the shooters they have. Jaland has really fallen apart. The decision making has been bad all year. Last night was especially bad, as he was off and still not making good decisions. Jaland has length but it is tough because he does not have the ability to work through contact and finish. On the one drive, he literally got into the paint and spun and passed it to one of the bigs about 6 inches from. Forget who it was. I had to rewind it to make sure that happened.
Nothing comes easy for this team right now. Rarely see easy baskets or transition any more. When they get stuck in the half court, it is just so tough right now. Their best offensive players are all 6'2 or shorter. They are also all most comfortable driving the ball. There is so much dribbling too. The epitome of this whole operation right now is what we saw before half. Timeout to set something up for the last possession of the half. There was a real chance to finish strong and get that game to like 9 or 11. They couldn't do that. So they call timeout finally and have a chat. Then proceed to come out and run nothing different. The same offense. Jaland pounding the ball into the ground for a bit, and then a frantic drive that ended with a pivoting contested shot that wasn't close.
For whatever reason, they were trying to enter the ball to Corhen like they had prime Shaq for a night. All of a sudden, we just have to get Cam posted up as much as possible.
This is a team that is more confused than ever in February. They don't know who to play where. The best spot for some of the guys. There are multiple analytics guys on the staff, without much correlation. They want to play Guillermo at the four, but that isn't working. So now you go small with Zack. But that is a style and system that you need to commit to and work with. It is so hard to go back and forth. Cam looks completely lost. He is maybe 40-60 just to make a catch. Then he is anticipating contact and flailing everywhere. Another 1 rebound game. Zack is out there walking around. The bench is basically gone. For whatever reason. I understand you aren't inserting elite defense off the bench, but make the most of them. You have to play reserves, so play to their strengths.
Still, I will argue with anyone about this talent. In my opinion, this roster is comparable to any of the second tier teams in the league. I truly believe that. Jaland was one of the best looking freshman guards in the league last year. He has regressed. Ishmael is one of the better guards in the conference and is experienced. Damian Dunn has played for two good programs and produced. Very experienced. Cam Corhen got two years in the ACC before this season. We have seen flashes from the twins. They have not gotten any better. In my mind, I think coaching is the biggest issue. Is it a perfect team? No. Is it the most functional and ideal group of players based on skill sets? No. But there are at least seven players that belong in the ACC and have played well at different times at a minimum. Lowe and Leggett have been dominant at times and that is who has the ball the majority of the time.
This is who they are. The team that you see show up in November is basically who they are. There is the one season where they got better and Blake introduced himself to the world. Bub developed and played with fresh legs throughout his freshman season. But for the most part, the teams have stayed flat, or actually regressed and have fallen apart. We have looked at the seasons so many times now, including the same collapses at Oklahoma. The data is alarming. Jeff Capel is going to identify talent and then just let them go. That is always how he has coached. In his defense, there aren't many coaches. Some excel at recruiting. Some excel with development. Some are great in game have great schemes. Very few have it all. If you want that, you are going to have to pay and act like a blueblood, or take your chance on a young guy that may have the whole package. That's just the reality. Pitt was in a tough spot and basically paid for a floor. It felt like a safe hire at that time with a floor. The floor was a lot lower than Heather thought, but it has essentially been proven true. It has just taken some time. So now we are in year whatever. I think this is the floor that we are operating with now. Teams that look good and flash early, but rarely develop or have enough to be a factor. You are probably a program that is on the "in the hunt graphic every year. We have to see if this year remains in that area, or if it collapses again. If it collapses, that will be more than alarming. You would like to think that you are at least out of that stage at this point. This is not one of the most expensive teams in the country, but it is legitimately funded for the ACC. This is a team over a million dollars.
I've had a lot of people ask what now. I know that is the popular topic. I don't think there is much to discuss. You just have to play this thing out and see where it goes. Can they still finish like 12-8? They have the talent to, but this team looks to be in a really bad spot. They basically just no showed on their home floor on Big Monday. That is extremely concerning. They are going to lose a few more. If this is headed down a path we have seen before, it could get ugly. The one trend I have seen from fans apathy. There just isn't the interest or care that we have seen. Again. Trust is lost in buckets and gained in drops. That is what we see. Fans are still hesitant to buy in and get excited with this staff. A big reason for that is what preceded them of course. But here we are again. You finally make the tournament and appear to have established something, and now are in the middle of a second straight season of underachieving and missing the tournament since that point.
Heather made a significant move on the way out. That extension is significant and ties this thing for years ahead. And this could be a year or two from now. There is plenty of time to discuss this. We just have to keep an eye on how they respond and finish this season.
