Brain Freeze?

[KRAM1]

OK, is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the men seem to get a nice lead and then go into "stupid-ville" with their play before coming on at the end to win???? This is beginning to bug me a bit. Against HBU UNT should have blown them out oif the Pit by half-time, butas has been the case it seems, the team goes into Brain Freeze mode and fritters away a nice laed with really a bunch of mental errors and downright lazy play...not to mention some really bad decisions to drive to the basket at times instead of looking to pass to the open man.

Could jusdt be me, but anyone else notice this trend? If this keeps up, conference play could be challenging and a 20-win season could be in peril....comments?

However, I do enjoy watching the team play...it's exciting, they are young, they are good and Johnny will teach them how to win...I know that's true!

Must learns:

How to handle a press

How to actually throw the ball in from OB

How to at least look for the open man on breakaways and set plays

How to slow it down when there is no open lane to the basket

How to play smart and slow down the "street ball" plays

All this will be long gone before the end of the season and UNT will have another shot 9in the Conference Tournament...I see another 20 win season...GO MEAN GREEN!!!!

[MDH]

I've seen some of this too. Your must learns are spot on...especially the press!!!

[Censored by Laurie]

Must learns:

How to handle a press

How to actually throw the ball in from OB

How to at least look for the open man on breakaways and set plays

How to slow it down when there is no open lane to the basket

How to play smart and slow down the "street ball" plays

1. No true point guard

2. Haven't seen this occur too much this season...especially compared to previous years

3. No true point guard

4. No true point guard

5. No true point guard

That should about cover things

[untlynchka]

OK, is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the men seem to get a nice lead and then go into "stupid-ville" with their play before coming on at the end to win???? This is beginning to bug me a bit. Against HBU UNT should have blown them out oif the Pit by half-time, butas has been the case it seems, the team goes into Brain Freeze mode and fritters away a nice laed with really a bunch of mental errors and downright lazy play...not to mention some really bad decisions to drive to the basket at times instead of looking to pass to the open man.

Could jusdt be me, but anyone else notice this trend? If this keeps up, conference play could be challenging and a 20-win season could be in peril....comments?

However, I do enjoy watching the team play...it's exciting, they are young, they are good and Johnny will teach them how to win...I know that's true!

You are right about us not putting teams away, which shows our youth on the team. The one comforting thing about this team, however, is that they only seem to really lose focus when they are way up. They never seem to let it completely get away. Take the SHSU games the one away more so than the one at the pit. It was a close game the entire way, and they hung around with them until they put it away at the end.

I agree that this will end up costing us a couple of games because we will let a couple of them slip away, but I still think this team has the talent to get to 20 wins. I really wish we had a more consistent no. 1 scoring threat. I thought it was going to be TT when he had his back-to-back 20 games, but it is just going to be a different guy every night. I really like Josh, but think the team will be more succesful with him as the no. 2 or 3 scoring option. He really needs how to penetrate and dish.

[chrisfisher]

1. No true point guard

2. Haven't seen this occur too much this season...especially compared to previous years

3. No true point guard

4. No true point guard

5. No true point guard

That should about cover things

CBL, why do you not think that Johnson is not a true point? He is putting up nice assists with low turnover ratio playing half a game or less. He makes some fantastic no look assists, etc. He is super quick too. Just because he is a great shooter should not preclude him from being a great point - look at Tony Parker and Chris Paul - premier points that score quite a bit. I think Johnson should probably take over the point for 30-35 minutes per game. Also, we are still bothered by the press, but have improved markedly this season. There is of course much room for improvement here.

Edited December 18, 2008 by chrisfisher

[e-bone ver2.awesome]

CBL, why do you not think that Johnson is not a true point? He is putting up nice assists with low turnover ratio playing half a game or less. He makes some fantastic no look assists, etc. He is super quick too. Just because he is a great shooter should not preclude him from being a great point - look at Tony Parker and Chris Paul - premier points that score quite a bit. I think Johnson should probably take over the point for 30-35 minutes per game. Also, we are still bothered by the press, but have improved markedly this season. There is of course much room for improvement here.

2.9 assists/game to 1.7 TOs/game is a nice ratio for a point guard?

When you watch more than 2-3 years of basketball you will understand what a true point guard is.

[Censored by Laurie]

CBL, why do you not think that Johnson is not a true point? He is putting up nice assists with low turnover ratio playing half a game or less. He makes some fantastic no look assists, etc. He is super quick too. Just because he is a great shooter should not preclude him from being a great point - look at Tony Parker and Chris Paul - premier points that score quite a bit. I think Johnson should probably take over the point for 30-35 minutes per game. Also, we are still bothered by the press, but have improved markedly this season. There is of course much room for improvement here.

Dominique at PG would be like playing Ozzie Smith in right field...he'd be more than servicable, and at times exceptional...but you're not getting your full potential out of him.

Dom is the ideal back-up point guard, a Dez Willingham/Lionel Brown like player...he has a scorers mentality, and that is what he is best at...but he has the ability to run an offense. I felt in the NMST game he showed flashes of being that calming influence and leader that the PG position requires...he was on the floor with Collin and TT while we built a double figure lead in the second half...then he sat, Josh came in and we had to hang on for a W. Clearly some of my ire for the way the point guard position has been managed this year is also directed at JJ forcing Josh into the role for 30 minutes a night...given our roster configuration, I would much prefer Dominique on the ball for the bulk of the minutes.

I think the point that I'm trying to hammer home is that for this team to take another step forward finding a player who can get both Dom and Josh off the ball for extended periods is a must...you're not playing to their stengths asking them to run an offense and create their own scoring chances.

[eulesseagle]

Why are ya'll so down on the BB team??

1. SHSU is a legitimate power in the SLC and won over 20 games last year....

2. HBU was a very good team despite their winless record. Heck, they have a transfer from Purdue and one from Colorado State that looked really good. I would say HBU is the best winless team I have seen play. Their achilles heal........no depth.

3. Josh White....I think he handles the ball really well and has NO trouble bringing the ball up the court.

4. JJ's team has more depth than any BB team I have seen at NT in a long, long, long, long time & probably the best depth in the SBC. The team does not give up (look at NMSU last year), they play both halves (we can all remember the time they only played good one half and would fall apart the other half), we are now winning the close ones when we were loosing the close ones......heck, I see a lot of positives about this team and the way JJ has put together a winning program.

5. What are we? 7-2 and ya'll are complaining????.....

[chrisfisher]

2.9 assists/game to 1.7 TOs/game is a nice ratio for a point guard?

When you watch more than 2-3 years of basketball you will understand what a true point guard is.

I dont' know where you get your stats... it is 3.0/1.5 per game or a 2/1 turnover ratio, which still isn't off the chart, but it is still decent especially for a first year point guard playing half a game minutes. As you frequently do, you are mixing up your facts.... I have watched basketball for a long, long time. I have only recently (3 years) started to watch college basketball. Why do you have to make posts personal? I guess it is just your nature.

[chrisfisher]

Dominique at PG would be like playing Ozzie Smith in right field...he'd be more than servicable, and at times exceptional...but you're not getting your full potential out of him.

Dom is the ideal back-up point guard, a Dez Willingham/Lionel Brown like player...he has a scorers mentality, and that is what he is best at...but he has the ability to run an offense. I felt in the NMST game he showed flashes of being that calming influence and leader that the PG position requires...he was on the floor with Collin and TT while we built a double figure lead in the second half...then he sat, Josh came in and we had to hang on for a W. Clearly some of my ire for the way the point guard position has been managed this year is also directed at JJ forcing Josh into the role for 30 minutes a night...given our roster configuration, I would much prefer Dominique on the ball for the bulk of the minutes.

I think the point that I'm trying to hammer home is that for this team to take another step forward finding a player who can get both Dom and Josh off the ball for extended periods is a must...you're not playing to their stengths asking them to run an offense and create their own scoring chances.

I agree with much of what you say here. I think though that I may have a little more confidence in what I have seen from Dominique than you... time will tell if he is the man at point guard.

Edited December 18, 2008 by chrisfisher

[untgeorge]

Why are ya'll so down on the BB team??

1. SHSU is a legitimate power in the SLC and won over 20 games last year....

2. HBU was a very good team despite their winless record. Heck, they have a transfer from Purdue and one from Colorado State that looked really good. I would say HBU is the best winless team I have seen play. Their achilles heal........no depth.

3. Josh White....I think he handles the ball really well and has NO trouble bringing the ball up the court.

4. JJ's team has more depth than any BB team I have seen at NT in a long, long, long, long time & probably the best depth in the SBC. The team does not give up (look at NMSU last year), they play both halves (we can all remember the time they only played good one half and would fall apart the other half), we are now winning the close ones when we were loosing the close ones......heck, I see a lot of positives about this team and the way JJ has put together a winning program.

5. What are we? 7-2 and ya'll are complaining????.....

I am not down on this team but it is not above criticism.

1. Maybe SHSU won 20 last year, but this year they are 1-5 vs D1 teams. Indiana State, by the way, is 1-8.

2. HBU is 0-10 and have lost by 30 four times, including a 30 pt loss to South Alabama. They are not a good team, we made them look good. They do have some promise for the next few years.

3. Josh handles the ball ok but handling the ball is not the same as being a true point guard. Josh has 2-guard skills in a 1-guard body.

4. Has depth at the 2 and 3 positions but no size. Can't say we have or don't have the best dept in the SBC since I haven't seen them all.

5. One of the points of the original post was we are inconsistent. Good win vs NMSU, blown away by UH (which beat WKU and MTSU by less than 10), mediocre performance vs HBU. We are clearly inconsistent.

We are good enough to be in the running but need to improve. Some good points which haven't been mentioned: we draw a lot of fouls, and shoot more FTs than our opponents, night in and night out. This is probably because our offense is built on dribble penetration. It also helps we shoot FTs pretty well.

[e-bone ver2.awesome]

I dont' know where you get your stats... it is 3.0/1.5 per game or a 2/1 turnover ratio, which still isn't off the chart, but it is still decent especially for a first year point guard playing half a game minutes. As you frequently do, you are mixing up your facts.... I have watched basketball for a long, long time. I have only recently (3 years) started to watch college basketball. Why do you have to make posts personal? I guess it is just your nature.

ESPN.com

When else have I "mixed up my facts"? I would like to see several examples since I apparently do so frequently.

[UNT90]

1. No true point guard

2. Haven't seen this occur too much this season...especially compared to previous years

3. No true point guard

4. No true point guard

5. No true point guard

That should about cover things

I agree with points 1, and 3-5.

[chrisfisher]

ESPN.com

When else have I "mixed up my facts"? I would like to see several examples since I apparently do so frequently.

Ah, I see what is going on here. Meangreensports is a game behind on their season statistics.... Nonetheless, he was 2/1 PG heading into the last game... let's see where he is at toward the end of the season...You can disagree with me about out PG situation, but can't you JUST disagree? You don't have to try to imply someone is incompetent just because they do not agree with your opinion.

[e-bone ver2.awesome]

Ah, I see what is going on here. Meangreensports is a game behind on their season statistics.... Nonetheless, he was 2/1 PG heading into the last game... let's see where he is at toward the end of the season...You can disagree with me about out PG situation, but can't you JUST disagree? You don't have to try to imply someone is incompetent just because they do not agree with your opinion.

You are a good one to be talking considering you just attempted to put me down for "mixing up my facts" and saying I do so frequently. Again, I would like you to show me where I have done that. PM me with those examples.

I think that we are all praying that we can look back at the end of the season and see that Johnson transformed into a pure point, but it is very difficult for a player to completely change their style of play in the middle of a season. Yes, he has had some good passes, but he is still a shoot first guard and is not a pure point guard. If you cannot see that, then there is no way to explain it beyond how it has already been explained. When you have more experience in watching and understanding basketball, perhaps you will be able to see.

Edited December 18, 2008 by e-bone ver2.awesome

[chrisfisher]

When you have more experience in watching and understanding basketball, perhaps you will you will be able to see.

There you go again.

[e-bone ver2.awesome]

There you go again.

Go again with what? If you have a counter argument, then let's hear it. And no, 1.7 assists for every turnover and an occasional no look pass doesn't make a player a pure point guard.

I'm also still waiting for you to show me where I have "mixed up my facts" so frequently. But I'm beginning to think that you just said that in order to attempt to put me down.

[GreenBat]

e-bone,

I have not attended a home game this season, was just wondering when was the last home game you attended?

[e-bone ver2.awesome]

e-bone,

I have not attended a home game this season, was just wondering when was the last home game you attended?

Monday.

[KRAM1]

Just in case someone got my initial question wrong...or thinks i am down on the team for some reason...you are 100% WRONG! I am in no way down on the team...in fact, I like what i see and think UNT has a great shot at another 20-win season and SBC crown. I just have noticed a bit of a trend...I call it a "BRAIN FREEZE" that happens during the game at certain times...so, I just asked if others have noticed the same...they may go into "brain freeze" mode, but they still come out of it in time to win at the end...Just think this will be tougher to pull off in conference play. Being "ypoung" has a bunch to do with it I would think...

GO MEAN GREEN! And a Ho Ho Ho to all!

[oldguystudent]

In keeping with the new ban on grown up language...

HEY SOOSE! CHRIS STONE A POGO STICK!!!

8-2 and there's bickering and finger pointing on this message board as if we were 1-11 and getting blown out by 40 points at half time! I'm most certainly no expert on the game of basketball, but I feel like this when it comes to sports in general -- it's not whether you have the brain freezes or not, but how you adjust to them to come out on top at the end. So far, so good on that point.

Now if you'll pardon me,

FIDDLESTICKS ON A RACK 'EM FRACK 'EM GOOD FOR NOTHIN' HORN SWOGGLED VARMIT!