We are clearly lacking in our rebounding ability and this is due to the constant pressuring and double teaming. We don't have a quality big man. DeMarre Caroll is a SF playing C. I know we haven't had time to let Coach Anderson recruit but I believe the 40 Minutes of Hell makes us vulnerable around the basket resulting in our opponents' easy points
The whole concept of the 40 Minutes of Hell style of offense is based around having athletes who can run the floor for the entire game. Half the problem with our rebounding is that we don't have the personnel to run the system like it's supposed to be run. We've got a lot of guys built for traditional basketball who are not used to playing anything but traditional basketball. Our recruits next year are 3 very athletic forwards (6'7", 6'8", and 6'9") and 3 guards, including two 6'5" guys. These guys will be fed straight into the system, with Anderson's toughness and attitude (and none of the Quin Snyder baggage). I think a lot of our rebounding problems will be relieved, and frankly, I don't think it will matter nearly as much when we have 8-9 athletic guards and forwards who can run the floor the whole game and cause 20 turnovers.
Also, if you'll notice the offense we run, we don't technically have a center. It's a motion offense which basically gives everyone a chance to post up.
I guess we'll see next year though, eh?
(Don't give up on Anderson and his system yet! I think it'll work out for the best!)
I think it's working fine. He's taken a program that Quinn Snyder flushed down the toilet and now we have to climb back out the best way we can. The style of play isn't the problem. We just don't match up physically with the top programs. This team has more problems than just rebounding. They have poor ball control and no outside shooting. Several of the games that were lost was because shooting percentages were dramatically lower in one of the halfs, take the KU game in Columbia for an example. Less than 25% from the field in the second half. I think if you look at the stats your going to see that we are fairly even in most areas, but are way behind in shooting %.
I'm personally a little tired of the system also. I think the team has played the best defense when it goes into a zone with some man mix like it did against Texas and the 1st half against A & M. Other teams with decent points are consistently breaking the press and getting their teams easy looks. This also creates a disadvantage when rebounding because everyone is out of position. You don't need a big man to rebound, just someone whose in the right position with the right attitude. Keon Lawrence is one of our better rebounders and he's a guard. The other problem with the system is the team is committing too many fouls, especially away from the basket. These are giving the other teams huge advantages (see Texas Tech). Shooting has been a problem also, especially outside. I think sometime the Tigers jack up too many crazy shots (see Darryl Butterfield).
In order to be able to run coach anderson's scheme, we need guys that match up better athletically at each spot. The most athletic guys tend to be undersized for their position, so from a size standpoint I think we are in the right place. I just don't think the talent is there yet. Last year was Mike Anderson's first real recruiting year and he only had one scholarship available. He has a pretty good class coming in next year, but unfortunately alot of our top players are gone after this year. But I think this team will be just as good if not a little better next year and maybe make some noise the year after that. The best thing might be to withold judgement until the end of this year. I really think the Tigers could make a run, and if they can get 8-8 in the conference and win two games in the big 12 tourney, we might have a shot at the field of 65. Call me crazy, but I think it can happen.
Well, I won't call you crazy, studgm04. I like your optimism!
However, I'm just hoping we can end up in the NIT, win a game or two in that tournament, and look for bigger and better things to occur next year. I have to admit that this season has been disappointing to me. I wasn't expecting MU to be NCAA-tournament bound when the season began, but I was expecting the team to be better than it has shown. Hopefully, with a solid recruiting class arriving next year, a real upswing is on the horizon.
I do agree that the system that Coach Anderson favors isn't so much the problem as the people we have playing the system. I'll take eight Keon Lawrences in Coach Anderson's system any day. That would make for some very entertaining and winning basketball.
