We shot a higher 3-point %...

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

than Louisville shot from the free throw line. 10/21 vs 7/15. Take away that aberration that you won't see happen again all year and this one wasn't really close. We also shot 91% from the stripe, which is about as good as it gets.

This team is fundamentally flawed.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

than Louisville shot from the free throw line. 10/21 vs 7/15. Take away that aberration that you won't see happen again all year and this one wasn't really close. We also shot 91% from the stripe, which is about as good as it gets.

This team is fundamentally flawed.

Cant rebound. I dont want to say we cant defend but we are average defensively, maybe a little below average.

Rebounding is a massive, massive problem. Louisville rebounded 17 of their 37 misses. We rebounded 5 of our 31 misses. That's the ballgame.

I understand that that's Louisville's game. They are the worst 3 point shooting team in the ACC but 1st in attempts. Their offense is chuck up 3s and go get the rebound. And it works. And we were kind enough to give Reyne Smith open look after open look. Still, 37% 3 point shooter hits 63%. That's tough to do in warmups

 

[Pittnerski]

We refuse to rebound the basketball and too many fly by late closeouts on defense.

This is Jeff Capel basketball. Out score the opponent. We can’t win a game that’s 58-54.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

We refuse to rebound the basketball and too many fly by late closeouts on defense.

This is Jeff Capel basketball. Out score the opponent. We can’t win a game that’s 58-54.

I was posted on this board that I was very concerned with Corhen's rebounding numbers when we got him. He gives you offense but he cant rebound at all.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Cant rebound. I dont want to say we cant defend but we are average defensively, maybe a little below average.

Rebounding is a massive, massive problem. Louisville rebounded 17 of their 37 misses. We rebounded 5 of our 31 misses. That's the ballgame.

I understand that that's Louisville's game. They are the worst 3 point shooting team in the ACC but 1st in attempts. Their offense is chuck up 3s and go get the rebound. And it works. And we were kind enough to give Reyne Smith open look after open look. Still, 37% 3 point shooter hits 63%. That's tough to do in warmups

My point is not only can we not rebound, but we got so handled on the glass that even in spite of going 10/21 from three, 20/22 from the line, and Louisville going 7/15 from the line... we still lost.

As a team, Louisville's % from three was much more modest. But we should have lost that game by 12+ points if you take away all those non-repeatable stats that were advantage Pitt.

 

[Protes]

We refuse to rebound the basketball and too many fly by late closeouts on defense.

This is Jeff Capel basketball. Out score the opponent. We can’t win a game that’s 58-54.

After the last two years, I've tried to refrain from doubting Capel. But it's hard - really hard - to still not view him as anything but an average coach when it comes to x's and o's. Two years ago, we had a senior-laden team which was a big factor. Last year Hinson and an NBA first-rounder. This year's team needs more coaching than the last two and I'm just not seeing it.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

After the last two years, I've tried to refrain from doubting Capel. But it's hard - really hard - to still not view him as anything but an average coach when it comes to x's and o's. Two years ago, we had a senior-laden team which was a big factor. Last year Hinson and an NBA first-rounder. This year's team needs more coaching than the last two and I'm just not seeing it.

Hinson popping contested threes - which had nothing to do with coaching - is the main reason Capel still has a job.

I think he brings in some good talent, but the importance of certain aspects of basketball seem to elude him.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Hinson popping contested threes - which had nothing to do with coaching - is the main reason Capel still has a job.

I think he brings in some good talent, but the importance of certain aspects of basketball seem to elude him.

You cant really coach rebounding. I like to say rebounding is a character trait. Its weird. You either are good at it or you aren't.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

You cant really coach rebounding. I like to say rebounding is a character trait. Its weird. You either are good at it or you aren't.

I think you can absolutely drill boxing out into a team's heads. And if you can't coach it, then you better recruit it. We certainly don't.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

My point is not only can we not rebound, but we got so handled on the glass that even in spite of going 10/21 from three, 20/22 from the line, and Louisville going 7/15 from the line... we still lost.

As a team, Louisville's % from three was much more modest. But we should have lost that game by 12+ points if you take away all those non-repeatable stats that were advantage Pitt.

Well yea, it takes utter domination on the offensive glass to lose a game where you shoot 50% from 3 and 90% from the line. The thing is, though, is that's Louisville's offense. They arent a bad 3 point shooting team but Kelsey loves the 3. He wants them to take a ton and get long rebounds. Their many misses are essentially an offensive play. They miss so much that their players are used to that style and are good at it. Its very unique as you dont see teams who suck at shooting like they do take so many. Its almost like playing a niche offense in football like playing a service academy. You have to be ready for long rebounds.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think you can absolutely drill boxing out into a team's heads. And if you can't coach it, then you better recruit it. We certainly don't.

To a very small extent. The greatest coach of all time can maybe get their team to rebound 10% better. Its a character trait. Our bigs cant rebound. Luckily, our guards are pretty good rebounders.

 

[NCanton Panther]

You cant really coach rebounding. I like to say rebounding is a character trait. Its weird. You either are good at it or you aren't.

You’ve said this before, wrong previously and wrong now. Please tell me why you can’t teach fundamental positioning and blocking out as soon as the ball goes in the air.

 

[CCHS82]

You cant really coach rebounding. I like to say rebounding is a character trait. Its weird. You either are good at it or you aren't.

No. It is something that is drilled and emphasized. Make it a competition.

 

[Chairman Moe]

You’ve said this before, wrong previously and wrong now. Please tell me why you can’t teach fundamental positioning and blocking out as soon as the ball goes in the air.

I often wonder, when I read @SMF's posts, if he has ever played any games, football or basketball? It seldom seems so by his comments

I don't know if you watched Capel's post game press conference (or Kelsey's) but both coaches emphasized the importance of and practicing of being able to rebound. It IS teachable. And I think Pitt's coaches CAN teach that. Whether the players respond is up to them, honestly

 

[Cap pitt]

Pitt lost this game at the boards, gave up to many 2nd chance points, lack of rebounds

 

[HailToPitt1985]

than Louisville shot from the free throw line. 10/21 vs 7/15. Take away that aberration that you won't see happen again all year and this one wasn't really close. We also shot 91% from the stripe, which is about as good as it gets.

This team is fundamentally flawed.

This demonstrates that a great, efficient offense with great FT shooting won't win many games if rebounding and defense and basic fundamentals in those areas doesn't exist.

When I said Pitt being a 4.5 favorite was a bit high and that this would come down to the wire, I was being optimistic with this Pitt team. We are fundamentally flawed indeed. I hope not too much so that we can squeeze out at least 10 more wins before the ACCT and maybe get a couple there, too. We'll need that if we want another NCAAT bid.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

After the last two years, I've tried to refrain from doubting Capel. But it's hard - really hard - to still not view him as anything but an average coach when it comes to x's and o's. Two years ago, we had a senior-laden team which was a big factor. Last year Hinson and an NBA first-rounder. This year's team needs more coaching than the last two and I'm just not seeing it.

I'm really trying to give Capel the benefit of the doubt. But it seems he is no better than an OK coach, nothing more. I saw a lot of guys today running around aimlessly on defense and, more often than not, standing around and not getting positioning on rebounding. Just basic fundamentals.

It was interesting listening to the remarks while leaving The Pete today. Quite a few saying that this team lacks the fundamentals to win games against the better teams. Is that on the coach? I think it is because fundamentals can be taught, even to poor players.

Capel was lucky he had an NBA first rounder and a guy who could shoot lights out on 3's last year. This year, he has a fringe future NBA player in Lowe and inconsistent players everywhere else. And none of them are particularly decent on defense or rebounding. That's a killer.

 

[GomerTV]

You cant really coach rebounding. I like to say rebounding is a character trait. Its weird. You either are good at it or you aren't.

And rebounding the 3 misses can be even more difficult

I'm really trying to give Capel the benefit of the doubt. But it seems he is no better than an OK coach, nothing more. I saw a lot of guys today running around aimlessly on defense and, more often than not, standing around and not getting positioning on rebounding. Just basic fundamentals.

It was interesting listening to the remarks while leaving The Pete today. Quite a few saying that this team lacks the fundamentals to win games against the better teams. Is that on the coach? I think it is because fundamentals can be taught, even to poor players.

Capel was lucky he had an NBA first rounder and a guy who could shoot lights out on 3's last year. This year, he has a fringe future NBA player in Lowe and inconsistent players everywhere else. And none of them are particularly decent on defense or rebounding. That's a killer.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

You’ve said this before, wrong previously and wrong now. Please tell me why you can’t teach fundamental positioning and blocking out as soon as the ball goes in the air.

You guys never played basketball. Finding your man when the shot goes up and boxing out is something that is taught in early elementary school when they start playing. Its a requirement to play the game. Everyone knows how to box out their man by college age or age 12. What you cannot teach is the ability to grab that ball out of the air instead of an opponent who is has certain traits which makes him better than you at rebounding. These are traits you cannot coach.

Size, athleticism, physicality all help but what separates rebounders are 2 things:

- how quickly you get off the floor
- tenacity

The best rebounders have a natural instinct to get off the floor a split second before their opponent. This is instictual and cannot be taught.

The other thing, which I call tenacity is someone's inherent will to retrieve a ball. Everyone is trying to get a rebound but to some guys, its life or death. They have a magnet for the basketball and will find a way to get there. To some extent you can become a better rebounder team by really harping on and running "toughness" drills but you sacridice other things to do that. Dixon is a good example of a guy who coached rebounding but he also made a point to recruit natural rebounders. And this emphasis on rebouding (and defense) was at the expense of teaching offense. You can only do so much.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

than Louisville shot from the free throw line. 10/21 vs 7/15. Take away that aberration that you won't see happen again all year and this one wasn't really close. We also shot 91% from the stripe, which is about as good as it gets.

This team is fundamentally flawed.

Also, 42% from 2 is really bad. 48% from 3 and 42% from 2. Almost as bad as last season's game at Syracuse where we were 40% from 3, 40% from 2, and 40% from 1.

Louisville was 55% from 2, which offset their 37% shooting from 3. And 37% is good, actually but that's Smith 7-11 and the rest of the team 6-24.