Csub-gdt

[Nidaros]

Re: Csub-gdt

If we had last years team, we wouldn't be 8-3 this year.

Playing intense defense is apparently what is lacking. Had that been there all season, you might be looking at a 10-1 season, maybe 11-0. Who knows? It's no secret that the defense is not what it should be at this point in the season. That is the big problem. Bakerfield sucks as a team, yet they hung around for most of the game. If our defense continues and does not improve, we lose big time when we play at Bakersfield.

[OldHare]

Re: Csub-gdt

If we do not get more bench production, we will have troubles in Bakersfield. I would think it is hard for 5 guys to play knockdown defense for 40 minutes. Fatigue will show up later in the season without some bench playing important minutes. Take a look at the oakland team and you see 5 good competitive starters with no bench. They have lost a bunch of games to less talent or given away the lead at the end of game. It forces a different tempo without some support from the reserves. We need the spark from the bench for this role players who can come into a game and perform.

Playing intense defense is apparently what is lacking. Had that been there all season, you might be looking at a 10-1 season, maybe 11-0. Who knows? It's no secret that the defense is not what it should be at this point in the season. That is the big problem. Bakerfield sucks as a team, yet they hung around for most of the game. If our defense continues and does not improve, we lose big time when we play at Bakersfield.

[Kemo]

Re: Csub-gdt

A player has more control over their defensive effort than their jump shot. If you have to shoot 50% from the floor as a team to win... well, you won't be doing it very often. If you want to consistently win games, you focus on what you can be most consistent at: defense.Last year we didn't play good D at the beginning of the season, but we figured it out later on and won the Summit League Tourament because of it. I think we can still figure it out this year and have even better results.

[goon]

Re: Csub-gdt

Defense or offense is a bit difficult to determine, but the one number that has me concerned most is the 20 minutes from 3 reserves. There are number of things that make this a scary stat We could have a foul problem with one or more players. We could have more injuries pop up. We could run into a team that wants to run and place defense on the ball which makes 35 plus minutes difficult for all the players. We could need a " rebuild" year because of the lack of experience. We need to get some confidence in the bench sooner rather than later. OOC may have been a good place even though the fan board would be more vocal with losses than wondering about defense first or offense first. Does anyone have an idea why the reserves are not coming up to grade for playing time? It is a long season yet for the day in day out pressure on the starting 5.

I can only remeber one year when we were one of the best teams in D2 that nagy played a deep bench. Even when guys are deserving and good enough too he didn't play as much as I thought they should. At the same time heemstra and prince and horstman haven't really fit into the flow when in. I thought we would have a deeper team this year but esentially we are playing the same team as last year with out griff. As the confrence race heats up I expect to see less and less of bittle when the games get more important for winning confrence\confrence seeding.

[jackdaniel]

Re: Csub-gdt

I think you can count on that. We're not just losing Wolters, but Fiegen too. Those two have been head and shoulders above the rest this year. Several RS/true freshman are going to have to step up in a big way next year.

I agree,most teams get very little production from the youngest class,it's mostly getting acclimated to the pace of the college game compared to the high school game.Hopefully,we have the athletes who can contribute right away,and really make a difference.

[witness]

Re: Csub-gdt

Prince is still injured so that is part of the lack of bench production, but the one person that I am dissapointed with and thought would be better by the time they were a junior was Heemstra. I thought he would be a better rebounded and be more skilled down low and get major minutes off the bench than he is.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Csub-gdt

My $.02.

I think Heemstra, Horstman, Prince, and Bittle are all good enough to play. In fact, from my perspective, when Heemstra is in he appears to provide some toughness that is lacking most of the time. Nagy has pretty high standards, and if you don't meet those standards, you don't play. It will cost us at some point this season (NDSU will KILL us if Wolters/Dykstra/Fiegen happens to be hurt or in foul trouble).

If we are playing defense at the highest possible level we can, we will still be an average defensive team. We don't have the personnel to become a dominant defensive team.

Tony Fiegen is one of my favorite Jackrabbits of all time. But it is not a good thing for him to be averaging double digits. Jordan Dykstra should never play with his back to the basket unless he has a considerable size mismatch. We have switched (intentionally or unintentionally) to a style of basketball that would work great if we had Minnesota's post players, IMO.

Bakersfield dictated the pace of the game last night. Whenever they slowed it down, we struggled.

[Nidaros]

Re: Csub-gdt

My $.02.

I think Heemstra, Horstman, Prince, and Bittle are all good enough to play. In fact, from my perspective, when Heemstra is in he appears to provide some toughness that is lacking most of the time. Nagy has pretty high standards, and if you don't meet those standards, you don't play. It will cost us at some point this season (NDSU will KILL us if Wolters/Dykstra/Fiegen happens to be hurt or in foul trouble).

If we are playing defense at the highest possible level we can, we will still be an average defensive team. We don't have the personnel to become a dominant defensive team.

Tony Fiegen is one of my favorite Jackrabbits of all time. But it is not a good thing for him to be averaging double digits. Jordan Dykstra should never play with his back to the basket unless he has a considerable size mismatch. We have switched (intentionally or unintentionally) to a style of basketball that would work great if we had Minnesota's post players, IMO.

Bakersfield dictated the pace of the game last night. Whenever they slowed it down, we struggled.

I would agree with this post, but eventually most of these guys will be healthy and will give productive time off the bench, and we will be a better team because of it.

I agree also about Fiegen. In the Omaha game, he looked to be the most improved offensively of all those on the team. This kid has a lot of character and was chosen to speak before the endowment banquet in September. He spoke of not having to ask his dad for college money or a loan at the bank and was appreciative of the scholarship donors for making this possible. He spoke from the heart that evening. At least I thought so.

[SDSUAlum08]

Re: Csub-gdt

A player has more control over their defensive effort than their jump shot. If you have to shoot 50% from the floor as a team to win... well, you won't be doing it very often. If you want to consistently win games, you focus on what you can be most consistent at: defense.Last year we didn't play good D at the beginning of the season, but we figured it out later on and won the Summit League Tourament because of it. I think we can still figure it out this year and have even better results.

Cc: DiscoJackrabbit

[SDSUAlum08]

Re: Csub-gdt

Prince is still injured so that is part of the lack of bench production, but the one person that I am dissapointed with and thought would be better by the time they were a junior was Heemstra. I thought he would be a better rebounded and be more skilled down low and get major minutes off the bench than he is.

Heemstra needed his redshirt year but it wasn't possible. That would have gone a long ways for him.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Csub-gdt

Kind of a comical thread. Wolters was far from 100% last night. That really showed on defense. I was actually really pleased with the way the team played down the stretch. The Road Runners played a really good game and Nagy gave them credit for it.

The stuff about Nagy not playing a bench is odd to me. I've always thought over the years there were times when I'd prefer to see the starters on the court more than the bench. At times it would seem like line changes coming. Right now, we've got several guys nicked up so we're short. Our bench will be a strength as the season goes on.

SUPERBUNNY

[jackmd]

Re: Csub-gdt

Coach Nagy shares almost exactly the same concerns expressed here. If you listen to his post-game interview he states the same things over and over again. This team hasn't clicked yet, they say they buy into defense and rebounding but that isn't translating to on the court effort and they don't play with intensity and toughness for 40 minutes every night. I am, of course, paraphrasing.

This upcoming stretch of road games will be very telling. Best outcome will be an increased commitment to team defense and toughness on the boards, value in possession and limited turnovers, and a belief in one another that this team can be as good as it has the potential to be. Winning certainly makes that easier to do but it isn't prerequisite.

I'm looking forward to their return to Frost arena on January 10th vs Oakland when I hope to see a team that is prepared to win a Summit league regular season and tournament championship. I think SDSU is a little ways away from that right now for a variety of reasons.

[OldHare]

Re: Csub-gdt

From jackmd-I'm looking forward to their return to Frost arena on January 10th vs Oakland when I hope to see a team that is prepared to win a Summit league regular season and tournament championship. I think SDSU is a little ways away from that right now for a variety of reasons.

There are several teams looking at the Summit title right now. WIU is playing well and they are confident about the conference schedule(currently 2-0). They have survived their season so far at 7-3. They have begun a long home stand with the attendance climbing at home. Also closer than they appear in the rear view mirror is the bison. Yesterday they handled UND by 20 in front of more than 5000. They are 8-2. I am opitmistic about the Jacks in the conference, but we will need to have many things including the health and "intensity" improve. We do not want to think that being an overwhelming favorite to win the Summit as the finished product. Most recently the ORU women had that distinction last year.

[Southeast]

Re: Csub-gdt

We do not want to think that being an overwhelming favorite to win the Summit as the finished product.

I'm not sure anyone (other than some of our die-hard fans) see SDSU as an "overwhelming" favorite anymore. Example: According to his Twitter, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has already bumped SDSU out of his NCAA Tourney predictions in favor of NDSU.

Hopefully a tough month on the road will put some edge on this team and allow them to play up to their true potential. There's plenty of season to go.

[Just in the crowd]

Re: Csub-gdt

Overheard their coach as he was exiting Frost. "once the word gets around about the home cookin' here, they won't be able to schedule any teams other than Summit & Division II or III".

Sour grapes if you ask me. Their kids were hounding us. I thought it was a well officiated game.