2024-25 PSU MBB Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
Good to finally get the three freshman an extended run. Wish it was under different circumstances, but we’ll really need Carter to step up and contribute so Ace isn’t going 40 every night again.
Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug.
Sunday really sets up as a huge game for us, especially when you look at the schedule and see the brutal stretch that we're in (we do get a nice stretch in February where it gets a bit easier).
My biggest concern is Ace's health at this point. He hasn't been himself, and we don't get one of those week long breaks to get a little healthier until March. We are what we are (need to generate offense via our defense, have only 1 guy we really want shooting 3s, need Ace to play more minutes than he should, etc), and we'll likely be hanging right in those last 8 in/last 8 out as we roll into March.
My concern going into this season, particularly B10 play, was that the other coaches had a season to figure out what Rhoades is trying to do on defense and adjust. Weaker opponents don't have that luxury. Might have caught the B10 a bit by surprise last season.
I'm a lot more concerned about the offense than the defense at this point (if we're assuming that Ace is going to be healthy). Last night wasn't a great (or even good) defensive performance, but it wasn't awful. The offense was awful.
Worrying about our NET rating is like being an ugly unemployed middle-aged guy worried that a broken nose will ruin his chances of an Ana de Armas, Margot Robbie and Sydney Sweeney 4-way.
NET ratings matter to bubble teams. We're a bubble team. Hence, the NET rating could end up being important to us.
WERE a bubble team. Not are. Ace is cooked and this team is a lower quartile squad without him operating at full capacity.
I'd think that Carter/Dilione would share the role. Carter is more of a natural 1 but isn't quite ready...but likely throw him into the fire. Dilione definitely isn't a natural PG. But hopefully it's all moot, and Ace is ready to go on Sunday (though hopefully looking at more like 32-34 minutes/game instead of 36-38.
It's not just the PG is missing ... everything just breaks down, as we saw last night. I've seen better schemed and executed offenses in a middle school hoops tryout.
Some really poor movement on defense. Oregon swinging the ball and getting wide open looks. Need to clean this up.
Great spurt at both ends to get back in it. Interesting move going with Kern as the primary ball handler there for a stretch.
Heartbreaking loss. 6pt lead with 3:43 to go only to give up back to back unguard 3s and lose by 1. Tough call at the end where Oregon player moved on inbound play.
It's been a tough few days to be a PSU fan.
It's been a tough few days to be a PSU fan.
Unfortunately, the announcers didn’t know the rules. He’s allowed to run the baseline in that spot.
Tough one. Lots of heart to come back without Ace, but even when we had the lead, I never felt great since we struggled when Oregon turned up the pressure. Couldn’t tell what was up with Kern late…thought it also might be back related.