The offical UMKC thread

[Dakota]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

SDSU  85      
UMKC 91
0:35

how big the missed dunk

[Dakota]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

SDSU 85
UMKC 95
finial
closer than the score shows
Well they made it a good game, great 2nd half run

[jackmd]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

Tough loss, but still a nice performance. The fellas showed some heart, don't care the "quality" of the opponent. Tough to miss that dunk, would have rather made a 3 ;D.

[JackJD]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

Coach is pretty upset in the post-game show...22 turnovers.

[SoDak]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

One thing that kind of bothers me with Nagy is that I think he's a little too honest in his post-game interviews. I just imagine if my boss got interviewed after a days work, if he had a lot of gripes about me, I'd rather he tell me alone, and help me overcome the issues, and not someone else, let alone the entire public. I don't think it serves the team well.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

I listen via radio and when we were trailing by 20 in the first half, I did turn it off and watched the Jack Johnson special on PBS, but still could not resist turning the radio back on. I was amazed that we had cut the lead by 6 at the point I rejoined the broadcast.

I think our kids are starting to show their talent. Especially MacKenzie Casey. He has problems with D at times, but offensively he is really beginning to show his talent and heart. He did have 4 steals which is amazing. What I noticed about his defense is that he sometimes misses his assignment in matching up with players and that is one source of the opponents 3 pt baskets.

If Casey was recruited it was late in the season as I dont recall any announcement about his signing.

I continue to hope for more consistency and better defense. I do think we could end the season on a high note and win most of the remaining games.

[filbert]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

I'd like to know more specifics of Nagy's comments. We were at the game, and listening post-game to UMKC coach Zvosec, he had the usual good things to say about Nagy and the Jacks, didn't quit, etc., etc.

The first half was just plain ugly. UMKC obviously had more talent, and they just rained in 3's in the first half. The second half, UMKC let up a bit, and the Jacks kept working it, and finally got some 3's to go themselves.

If Green had laid it in rather than trying to dunk it . . . well, ifs and buts. It was a great effort in the second half by the Jacks, but the game also shows where we are as a team.

1) Young, which equals inconsistent. Terrible first half, very good second half, but dug too deep a hole to climb out of.
2) Under-talented. A lot of this can be corrected, though. Casey (!) and Holdren can play at this level. The rest of the team can too, but see point #1. What we lack today is the out-and-out athleticism of an English or a Day of UMKC. Gilbert and perhaps Cadwell will help close that gap next year. Most importantly, solid, fundamental play can compensate for a talent gap on the court. But again, point #1 makes that hard to do because of the team's inexperience.

Bottom line: State will beat UMKC next year in Frost. Write it down.

[filbert]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

KC Star story
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/10669065.htm
(registration required?)

UMKC has to work for seventh straight win

By DAVID BOYCE

The Kansas City Star

UMKC built a 24-point lead in the first half against South Dakota State, and the crowd was enjoying what looked like an easy non-conference game.

But with just more than 5 minutes left, the Kangaroos were clinging to a two-point lead against a team just one year removed from Division II.

Instead of an early departure, the 2,242 fans who showed up Monday night at Hale Arena were glued to the game. They saw the Kangaroos hit clutch shots down the stretch on the way to a 95-85 victory. It was UMKC's record seventh straight victory, and the Kangaroos evened their overall record at 7-7.

At one point late in the first half, UMKC held a 45-21 lead. But with 5 minutes, 36 seconds left, South Dakota State was only down 76-74.

. . .

“This game kind of humbled us and let us know that teams are not going to quit no matter how many points you go up,” said Day, who finished with 19 points. “I feel that is good, because we play IUPUI here Thursday … I feel this game let us know we've got to keep playing hard no matter what.”

The crowd might have been the most significant factor for UMKC. South Dakota State is a non-conference opponent. And while Hale Arena is great for the American Royal, it holds no atmosphere for basketball. But despite the surroundings, it was one of UMKC's most enthusiastic crowds of the season.

“Team chemistry is a big deal, and fans really love seeing team basketball,” Temple said.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

I'd like to know more specifics of Nagy's comments.  We were at the game, and listening post-game to UMKC coach Zvosec, he had the usual good things to say about Nagy and the Jacks, didn't quit, etc., etc.

The first half was just plain ugly.  UMKC obviously had more talent, and they just rained in 3's in the first half.  The second half, UMKC let up a bit, and the Jacks kept working it, and finally got some 3's to go themselves.

If Green had laid it in rather than trying to dunk it . . . well, ifs and buts.  It was a great effort in the second half by the Jacks, but the game also shows where we are as a team.

1) Young, which equals inconsistent.  Terrible first half, very good second half, but dug too deep a hole to climb out of.
2) Under-talented.  A lot of this can be corrected, though.  Casey (!) and Holdren can play at this level.  The rest of the team can too, but see point #1.  What we lack today is the out-and-out athleticism of an English or a Day of UMKC.  Gilbert and perhaps Cadwell will help close that gap next year.  Most importantly, solid, fundamental play can compensate for a talent gap on the court.  But again, point #1 makes that hard to do because of the team's inexperience.

Bottom line:  State will beat UMKC next year in Frost.  Write it down.

Filbert:
I do my best here on Nagy's post game comments. I recall he said that the guys had not listen to a word he said before the game, and went on to make 22 turnovers for the game. He also said in several of the D1 games where they have had turnovers, they have lost the game whereas without the turnovers, they could have won. Nagy said UMKC was not a good team and they should have won by 20 if not for the turnovers. He trying to get these kids over the notion that they are new and inexperienced. He thinks they should be showing experience, so he is putting pressure on the younger guys to step up.

I dont know what else you can do with such a youthful team.

There was concern getting ready for Morningside on Wednesday since they took a bus to KC and would not get back to Brookings until 3AM so they most likely will not practice today, Tuesday. He said they need to refresh the players legs.

I dont think Nagy was too harsh, but was being realistic. He needs to push these younger guys as that is what they need. There at a point now where they cant say they are inexperienced. I thought that was a key point of his comments.

[filbert]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

Yeah, there's two ways of looking at it. State really embarrassed themselves in the first half. I've got no problem with Nagy calling the players out on that.

The second half can basically be used to say "you know, you guys can play with these teams, and beat them on their home courts." Nagy's always had high expectations of his player, that's a big part of what makes him a good coach.

It's just that from this fan's point of view, I look at the game with a sense of relief that it wasn't a 40-point blowout, and am very encouraged that we had a real chance to win this game after being totally uncompetitive in the first half.

But yeah, maybe it's time to stop using "inexperienced" as an excuse.

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

One thing that kind of bothers me with Nagy is that I think he's a little too honest in his post-game interviews. I just imagine if my boss got interviewed after a days work, if he had a lot of gripes about me, I'd rather he tell me alone, and help me overcome the issues, and not someone else, let alone the entire public. I don't think it serves the team well.

I find it kind if refreshing. I'm tired of coaches who blow smoke or posture all the time (i.e. Bob "Always Outcoached" Stoops and Kelvin "Nobody Graduates Here" Sampson). I can particularly understand it if they're not listening to a word he says and come out and perform as poorly as they did last night in the first half. I think it is an accountability thing, since he praises them publicly as well when they listen and perform well.

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

Why does everyone keep posting crap about "getting killed by 3's?" . . . There's no coaching problem or whatever you think, its just that the speed, size, and strength aren't on the court right now. You can't have guys both blocking the inside layups and blocking threes until you can play full man to man on them, which we can't possibly do right now.

Um, even when we were DII and had equivalent speed, size, and strength, we often got hammered by three point shooters. Recall the Metro game at Frost? The Northern State regional loss? Don't recall those? How about our DII (and lower) games this year. Wayne State (Neb.): 10 threes. Wayne State (Mich.): 9 threes. Michigan Tech: 9 threes. Buena Vista: 10 threes (Granted, BV shot took about a million 3 point shots).

Other teams manage to defend both the three point line and the paint. I'm not sure what the problem is, but we have historically had a problem defending the three point line. Just an observation, and history seems to support the contention that this has been a problem for years.

[89rabbit]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

From the Argus:

http://www.argusleader.com/sports/Tuesdayarticle1.shtml

Jackrabbit men fall to Mid-Continent foe
From staff reports


published: 1/18/2005

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - University of Missouri-Kansas City held off a second-half rally by South Dakota State as the Kangaroos posted their seventh straight victory by downing the Jacks 95-85 Monday night in Kansas City, Mo.

Missouri-Kansas City led by 20 at halftime, but the Jacks closed within two in the second half. Then Quinton Day and Mike English hit some key baskets to keep UMKC ahead.

UMKC belongs to the Mid-Continent Conference. With the Big Sky Conference having twice told SDSU no with regards to possible membership, the Mid-Continent is considered to be one of the most likely conference homes for the Jackrabbits. The Mid-Continent is a nine-team league spread out all across the Midwest and beyond with some schools in big cities like Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City.

Ben Beran and Joe Green each had a double-double for the Jacks on Monday night in the loss. Beran led the way with 25 points, getting 17 in the second half, while Green had 17, 13 in the second half. Each had 10 rebounds as the Jacks had a 39-35 rebounding advantage. however,

For the second straight game, the SDSU bench made a big contribution as Steve Holdren had 12, and Mackenzie Casey 11.

SDSU committed 22 turnovers, 13 in the first half, and trailed 48-28 at halftime.

With Beran and Green leading the way, and reserves making key contributions, the Jacks rallied. Mackenzie Casey hit three three-pointers in the second half and Andy Kleinjan's layup cut it to 76-66 with just under eight minutes to play. UMKC missed four straight free throws, and the Jacks added three-pointers by Luke Geiver and Green before Beran followed with a layup to make it 76-74 before UMKC pulled away. . . .

SDSU is now 4-12 for the season and will play at home Wednesday night, hosting Morningside at 7 p.m. in Frost Arena. UMKC is 7-7 overall, 5-0 atop the Mid-Continent Conference.



I was at the game and it was great to see so many Jackrabbit fans before and during the game (we packed the establishment that hosted the pre-game event). Some on the board asked which Jackrabbit team would show up. The answer . . . both. The second half was encouraging. I really like it when Casey and Kleinjan are at the guard spots (Casey is a true point guard who can hit the open shot). This team is getting better and I think the future has good things in store for us.

Go State! ;D


P.S. I could be wrong, but I thought Beran missed the dunk towards the end of the game.

[filbert]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

Yeah, my bad, the folks I was with last night said it was Beran, too. Sorry, Joe!

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: The offical UMKC thread

But yeah, maybe it's time to stop using "inexperienced" as an excuse.

One of Nagy's post game comments was exactly that point. These guys have played enough D1 teams and games at any level that they should know how they need to come out at the beginning of games without a coach telling them anything.

As for getting killed by the 3, how many of those open 3's were the result of turnovers? A wide open 3 after a turnover doesn't really reflect upon the coach's defensive strategy, but more likely on the offensive strategy or a lack of talent. If the wide open 3s are happening from the 1/2 court offense, that would reflect more on the defensive strategy.