Game Thoughts After the Loss
Big Picture: The Loss and What It Means
Losing happens, especially in a tough league like the Big 12. While frustrating, this loss could be beneficial in the long run by exposing key weaknesses we need to address before tournament play. Many championship teams have taken losses along the way—what matters is how we grow from them. Being undefeated in conference play isn’t as important as building a team that can make deep tournament runs.
Milos Missed Free Throw: Not the Real Issue
Yes, Milo missing the free throw was the deciding play, but expecting anyone to be perfect from the line every time is unrealistic, the best ft shooters in the nation don’t shoot 100%. Jamal missed some crucial ones in his day. The bigger issue is that we put ourselves in a position where one free throw determined the outcome. The game should never have come down to that moment if we are talking about a team that can win it all.
Sharp’s Struggles and Rotation Adjustments
A month ago, Sharp was in the conversation as our best player. Now, he’s been the least impactful player in the rotation—no rebounding, poor defense last game, and if he’s not scoring, his presence on the court is questionable. Some argue he’s a floor spacer, but Terrence provides spacing too. If injury is the issue, we need to either rest him or adjust the rotation because others (Jwan, Tugler) have played through injuries and still contributed.
Sharp still remains the biggest untapped potential of this team!
Lack of Experience Playing From Behind
Our team hasn’t been tested enough in terms of playing from behind. We’ve dominated most games, even in losses, so we lack experience in climbing out of deficits. This game showed that when the pressure was on, only Jwan consistently stepped up. Others hesitated—passing off shots or forcing bad looks. The team needs to develop the mental toughness to stay aggressive and unpredictable when trailing. By March, we can’t afford to be this predictable. Opponents knew exactly where the last play was going, which makes us easier to defend.
Us being so good has created a weakness, we have a variety of scoring options, but those player are only used to taking those shots up 14 were miss or make didn’t define the game. They haven’t built the muscles of playing under pressure in less than ideal situations, the last few games jwan and clear out even if open.
Over-Reliance on an Injured Jwan
It’s concerning that an injured Jwan had to carry us. No one else stepped up in key moments. That’s a huge issue.
Spacing Issues and Potential Adjustments
Our spacing is horrendous. At this point in the season, we have to accept the shooting limitations of our bigs, but running the offense through Jwan in the post while allowing teams to double him isn’t smart. Maybe experimenting with a four-guard lineup could help?
Roster Concerns and Lack of Trust in Lath
Tugler (4 fouls), Francis (4 fouls), Jwan (injured),- Midseason - and still, we had no faith in Lath to play even 3-5 minutes. We only have three true bigs, and this could become a major issue in foul trouble games where we need size. This is also a big concern for next season.
Officiating and Trash Talk
The refs impacted the game way too much—officiating was terrible. That said, what annoyed me most wasn’t the loss itself but the trash talking afterward. I really hope we crush them in Lubbock.
The Blue Jersey Superstition
The blue jerseys didn’t cause the loss. We don’t wear them every game, and it’s a fun once-a-year tradition. Hopefully, we bring them out next year against a weaker opponent so the superstitious fans can relax.