Game Thread: OU vs. Youngstown State

[arsenal926]

I've typed out about 5 different comments and just ended up deleting them. At this point I think everyone has done a good job touching on some serious controllable issues with this team.

Number 1 for me is why we've been so awful on every game with a short turn around . With the exception of the Alcorn St/Albeline St. we have been laughably bad in games with 1 day rest. i.e. pretty much what we have for the next 16 games.

Southern Illinois, Binghampton, Virginia, YSU for reference.

I've got 2 takes on this

1. Something is messed up with how we game-plan on short rest. Maybe this is a question for Kampe's radio show. I just don't think this is a straight up energy/effort problem.

2.Felder cannot be playing the kind of minutes he's playing.I'm all about 20 point streaks and stuff like that, but it was ridiculous that he played 40 minutes against CSU. It was 73-53 with 7 minutes lefts ! Felder playing the rest of the game was dumb.

As far as last night, it's just more of the same. I'd almost feel better if Kay just played like crap and we could just blame it on that... but nope he didn't. Offense was more than adequate. Same story as always. Complete failure of playing anything resembling team defense. Screwed up rotations, not contesting 3 pointers, getting blown up on screens after the exact same play has been run down your throat 10 times in a row. Can't even imagine how much Kampe ripped into them in film study.

Another issues I had was the subbing. Some of the more seasoned fans could probably correct me, but have we ever had a team with more players on a short leash? I Seriously think Felder is the only player who can make a mistake and not be instabenched. Last year Felder,Petros, Hill, and Dante all were allowed to work through their mistakes.

XHM absolutely outplayed Gibson in the first half. I still can not for the life of me understand why Gibson wasn't put back in.

Ehh I'm done ranting and think about that game. Last night sucked. Good news is a win against Valpo pretty much solves everything.

[Gary McCarrick]

Jan 6, 2016 0:10:02 GMT -5 arsenal926 said:

I've typed out about 5 different comments and just ended up deleting them. At this point I think everyone has done a good job touching on some serious controllable issues with this team.

Number 1 for me is why we've been so awful on every game with a short turn around . With the exception of the Alcorn St/Albeline St. we have been laughably bad in games with 1 day rest. i.e. pretty much what we have for the next 16 games.

Southern Illinois, Binghampton, Virginia, YSU for reference.

I've got 2 takes on this

1. Something is messed up with how we game-plan on short rest. Maybe this is a question for Kampe's radio show. I just don't think this is a straight up energy/effort problem.

2.Felder cannot be playing the kind of minutes he's playing.I'm all about 20 point streaks and stuff like that, but it was ridiculous that he played 40 minutes against CSU. It was 73-53 with 7 minutes lefts ! Felder playing the rest of the game was dumb.

As far as last night, it's just more of the same. I'd almost feel better if Kay just played like crap and we could just blame it on that... but nope he didn't. Offense was more than adequate. Same story as always. Complete failure of playing anything resembling team defense. Screwed up rotations, not contesting 3 pointers, getting blown up on screens after the exact same play has been run down your throat 10 times in a row. Can't even imagine how much Kampe ripped into them in film study.

Another issues I had was the subbing. Some of the more seasoned fans could probably correct me, but have we ever had a team with more players on a short leash? I Seriously think Felder is the only player who can make a mistake and not be instabenched. Last year Felder,Petros, Hill, and Dante all were allowed to work through their mistakes.

XHM absolutely outplayed Gibson in the first half. I still can not for the life of me understand why Gibson wasn't put back in.

Ehh I'm done ranting and think about that game. Last night sucked. Good news is a win against Valpo pretty much solves everything.

Send these questions to #askkampe on Twitter as his radio show airs Wednesday night at the Red Ox at 7pm.

[tmgeneral]

Jan 5, 2016 17:35:04 GMT -5 biglew said:

I just want to add a few points ...

1. Right now there is little advantage to playing in the O'Rena. It's not a hostile environment for visiting teams at all. I have been to 124 games in the O'Rena (thank you basketball passport) and our fans have stood for a run/defensive stand 0 times (I'm talking about standing outside of the last minute of the game). I have been to 6 MSU games (5 vs OU) and their fans got on their feet and cheered 3 - 5 times each of the 6 games. Anyone who thinks the O'Rena is a hostile environment for visiting teams has never seen a college basketball game. Is the O'Rena better than some mid-major environments? Yes. But it's not at the level it could be.

2. Kampe has said a number of times that this is the most talented team he has ever had. I have always had very high expectations for our program, but that comment took my expectations to the next level. Not getting the 1st or 2nd seed and not going to the ncaa tournament is a failed season. Is anyone else proud of the stat in the pregame video that says we have been to the ncaa tournament 3 out of the last 11 years?

3. The Terry Foster Insiders are very good. Hiring Foster was a great move.


4. I'm nervous about Friday. It's a very big game. I hope the team comes to play and the fans come to cheer. Have we ever had an ESPN2 game in the O'Rena?

5. I can't believe I am saying this, but I'll be rooting for Mercy College when they play Valpo on Sunday.


Just to add one more thing. I think the improvements made in the O'Rena are great (black top, lights, sound system, etc.). Looking forward to the future improvements that were announced.

What are these new O'Rena improvements you speak of?

[ouguy]

Jan 6, 2016 0:10:02 GMT -5 arsenal926 said:

I've typed out about 5 different comments and just ended up deleting them. At this point I think everyone has done a good job touching on some serious controllable issues with this team.

Number 1 for me is why we've been so awful on every game with a short turn around . With the exception of the Alcorn St/Albeline St. we have been laughably bad in games with 1 day rest. i.e. pretty much what we have for the next 16 games.

Southern Illinois, Binghampton, Virginia, YSU for reference.

I've got 2 takes on this

1. Something is messed up with how we game-plan on short rest. Maybe this is a question for Kampe's radio show. I just don't think this is a straight up energy/effort problem.

2.Felder cannot be playing the kind of minutes he's playing.I'm all about 20 point streaks and stuff like that, but it was ridiculous that he played 40 minutes against CSU. It was 73-53 with 7 minutes lefts ! Felder playing the rest of the game was dumb.

As far as last night, it's just more of the same. I'd almost feel better if Kay just played like crap and we could just blame it on that... but nope he didn't. Offense was more than adequate. Same story as always. Complete failure of playing anything resembling team defense. Screwed up rotations, not contesting 3 pointers, getting blown up on screens after the exact same play has been run down your throat 10 times in a row. Can't even imagine how much Kampe ripped into them in film study.

Another issues I had was the subbing. Some of the more seasoned fans could probably correct me, but have we ever had a team with more players on a short leash? I Seriously think Felder is the only player who can make a mistake and not be instabenched. Last year Felder,Petros, Hill, and Dante all were allowed to work through their mistakes.

XHM absolutely outplayed Gibson in the first half. I still can not for the life of me understand why Gibson wasn't put back in.

Ehh I'm done ranting and think about that game. Last night sucked. Good news is a win against Valpo pretty much solves everything.

Great points!! I also have noticed the "instabenched" approach that Kampe has been doing for some of his role players lately. It sure doesn't seem like a good strategy to boost the players confidence but who knows, maybe it works for them. I see guys like Femi who started out looking promising his freshman year who now looks like he's walking on eggshells afraid to make a mistake in fear of being buried back to the bench. The bench guys, especially the low minute guys, do not looks loose out there, they look nervous with one eye glued to their spot back on the bench.

I also agree about Kay. He is going to go down as one of our absolute best players in program history and every moment he's on the court I am excited to see what he can do for us. However, he seemed like he may have been a bit gassed (I could be wrong!) in the YSU game midway through the second half. Why not bench him for 30-60 seconds oh game time midway through the half? Let him get some water and if the other team goes on a run, maybe he gets pissed and re ignites a fire back on the court. I know he's a workhorse but I'd hate to see him burn out down the stretch.

[ouguy]

Not sure if it's really related to this game, but would anyone else love to see Kampe try a "big man" lineup at least once this season? It's funny that he started Brechting and Gibson on the court for the home opener and then we never ever saw that happen again.

Now I realize why playing both Brechting and Gibson at the same time is probably a bad idea, but what about s lineup where we see Hayes, XHM, and Brechting or Gibson out there all at the same time?!! Kay is dominant enough at the point to not need any help with the ball and he could still have Walker, Daniels, or SDW in the game in case of a full court press.

I can't speak for everyone else, but I'd love to see a "big man" lineup grace the court at least once this year

[biglew]

Jan 6, 2016 7:46:18 GMT -5 tmgeneral said:

Jan 5, 2016 17:35:04 GMT -5 biglew said:

I just want to add a few points ...

1. Right now there is little advantage to playing in the O'Rena. It's not a hostile environment for visiting teams at all. I have been to 124 games in the O'Rena (thank you basketball passport) and our fans have stood for a run/defensive stand 0 times (I'm talking about standing outside of the last minute of the game). I have been to 6 MSU games (5 vs OU) and their fans got on their feet and cheered 3 - 5 times each of the 6 games. Anyone who thinks the O'Rena is a hostile environment for visiting teams has never seen a college basketball game. Is the O'Rena better than some mid-major environments? Yes. But it's not at the level it could be.

2. Kampe has said a number of times that this is the most talented team he has ever had. I have always had very high expectations for our program, but that comment took my expectations to the next level. Not getting the 1st or 2nd seed and not going to the ncaa tournament is a failed season. Is anyone else proud of the stat in the pregame video that says we have been to the ncaa tournament 3 out of the last 11 years?

3. The Terry Foster Insiders are very good. Hiring Foster was a great move.


4. I'm nervous about Friday. It's a very big game. I hope the team comes to play and the fans come to cheer. Have we ever had an ESPN2 game in the O'Rena?

5. I can't believe I am saying this, but I'll be rooting for Mercy College when they play Valpo on Sunday.


Just to add one more thing. I think the improvements made in the O'Rena are great (black top, lights, sound system, etc.). Looking forward to the future improvements that were announced.

What are these new O'Rena improvements you speak of?

I have not heard any details, but I received an email a few weeks ago regarding improving concession stands and it was announced at the palace game that there is an O'Rena renovation coming this summer.