Is Gilbert playing today?
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According the the DRag, yes.
That update was posted 18 mins ago. So it looks like he will be giving it a go.
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ISU is a fun to watch when healthy. That’s good to hear.
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Part of me doesn’t want him to play. When the 5 + TO a game Keshon shows up, when he’s playing spotty defense, he’s not exactly a net-gain player for us.
But sadly, if we have any aspirations of going deep at NCAAs, we need non-conference Keshon to re-emerge. That player was driving to the hoop, while being somewhat smart about it, and finishing. Since the start of conference play that guy has went into hibernation and has been a net-negative player in at least half of our games.
I haven’t quite figured it out, but he doesn’t seem to have a lot of resolve. Like once there is some sort of adversity he just folds like a tent. I hope he rediscovers himself…he was able to do it last year…but I have my doubts. This is probably his longest stretch of substandard play since he’s been here.
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Yeah, BYU has a hurt Catchings, Baker, and Saunders. I’d rather they sit out and get healthy for the big dance than rush themselves back, so a little bit different than why you hope Gilbert doesn’t play. But I kinda hope those three guys don’t play for BYU this week unless they are a full 100%.
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The injury part has been overplayed. Our biggest issues have nothing to do with injuries.
Being healthy helps, but it’s not the reason we’re committing a ton of unforced errors by slamming into the lane, poor entry passes, or straight up lackadaisical play. Injuries aren’t the reason for the overall poor perimeter defense. Injuries aren’t the reason why Milan absolutely stinks on the road, or why Otz has Watson planted on our bench. Injuries aren’t the reason why our bigs labor with the ball and consistently allow ourselves to get trapped. Its also not the primary reason why Chatfield gets overplayed, or why our offensive movement without the ball stinks.
For some reason, Otz and his staff seem to have a REALLY hard time identifying and minimizing self-inflicted problems. When the team is driving to the hoop, kicking out, being relentless, and playing engaged? They can be a very fun group to watch. But I sometimes think they buy into the excuse of 'injuries and illness" when those aren’t the issues, at least not the primary ones.
I only think the tournament results matter if the seeding is “in doubt”, as in a team is on the cusp of a higher or lower seed, and their performance, along with those above or below, have polar opposite performances. In those case it might gain or cost a seed, but in the history of the Big 12 (particulary with us) the results have NEVER mattered. The committee has indicated as much, repeatedly throughout the years.
I’d like to get to the semis, cement whatever seed we are likely getting anyway, then bow out while playing smart/well. More than anything, I want us to play smart and (try to) do the things that will allow us to be successful int tourney. If the opposition shoots out of their mind or we shoot poorly, while taking good shots, so be it.
More than anything, any legitimate contender should prioritize health first. Part of me has wanted a 1.5 week gap between conference tourneys and NCAAs, for this very reason, but then if they do that it doesn’t really mimic the season, where teams have 1.5 weeks to prepare for a set of opponents.
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Just got back from a work thing i had to do right before tip!
I took next Thursday and Friday off already so im good for next week lol
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My boss killed himself last week, so as I pick up some of that slack my next two weeks are going to be busier. Worst possible time
So I’m just watching the game cast while I work
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Omg. Im sorry to hear that!
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The 3 shot by Cinci? Jones was sagging in about a foot from the lane, for no reason whatsoever, and left his man wide open. He’s been doing that all year long.
Kesbk Gilbert doesnt shoot a great pct or volume on paper.
But he’s always been sneaky clutch and timely with his threes. I love seeing his 1sr one go in!!
Quite frankly we have several guys who are capable of hitting…when they take good shots. Problem is, they aren’t always the most selective.
Oddly enough, the player that misses the highest number of open 3s? It’s probably Milan (at least away from Hilton). Heise was in the running but has found his stride the last 5 or 6 games.
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Good game so far. Still too many unforced turnovers. But guys are playing hard and being decisive IMO.
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Jones’s defense also led to the 2nd Cinci 3. 5 points and 6 given up.
We gotta get away from being our own worst enemy. MOST of our TOs the last few months have been of the unforced variety.
Its frustrating to watch our bigs put it on the floor like that. Any time they are dribbling and not going quickly, and directly to the basket, something bad always happens. He allowed himself to get trapped which led to the bad pass. Then you have Milan not being smart, with not putting that one shot up (before the lane), got himself in trouble, then was putting the ball on the floor in a bad situation.
That’s what I want to see more than anything today. Is this team show it can get away from consistently being its own worst enemy.
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Yikes. That’s horrible.
So sorry to hear that.
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Jefferson tries throwing an awful pass, that had no chance to get through, then Heise commits another unforced TO.
And Jefferson with a travel (not sure about that call). All but maybe 1 TO out of 8 has been unforced, and even that one Milan TO was from doing something he shouldn’t have been doing.
Not the brand of basketball I was wanting to see.