Just my observations, I apologize beforehand. I watch the games as a guy who coached for 25 years, not as a fan. Just can't do that, it's in the blood. Here goes: 1. PSU's lack of a post player is absolutely killing us on both ends of the floor, this lack of post presence will make up the rest of my thoughts.
2. Teams now have PSU on film 20 times, and the opponents are now adjusting and PSU is not. I watch as opponents, defensively lock in on guys on the perimeter and don't really give them any space at all when they don't have the ball. There is very little help defense from either the strong or weaksides of the floor. Especially with Funk, when he does not have the ball the opponents make sure he is guarded.
3. The opponents dare us to drive the ball to the rim, the opponents big just clog the lane and dare us to throw the ball to Njie. Last nite ws a perfect example, more than once Njie set a ball screen for Picket and #11 for Rutgers just stepped out and forced Pickett into a near double team. The PSU big rolled to the hoop, wide open and Pickett did not pass him the ball. Why? Pickett knew Njie could not score, Rutgers dared Pickett to pass it to him. Even Bardo the announcer made a point of this.
4. The only way we score on the block is if Pickett can some how dribble-drive to the block for a turn around. Each game this gets more difficult as teams are putting bigger players on him. And he has trouble kicking it out for open 3's because teams are not leaving our shooters to help inside. You can see that coaches figure it's a 40 minute game, Pickett gets his 15-20, make sure PSU doesn't beat us from the 3 point line. Again, my #1 comes into play, opponents know we are not getting 20 points from a post player.
5. Why we dont front the opponents post guy just makes me go nuts. Who in their right mind thinks the Njie is going to neutralize any post player. The Wisky guy killed us, Omayuri had more than his season average by half-time. Dread tried to front him, but he just isn't big enough.
6.Why we don't get other guys the ball on the box befuddles me...Shrew would be better off running the Flex offense 10-12 times a game. We run that 5 around none crap all game, opponents just switch our perimeter guys and the word is out...challenge all our 3 point shots. Which is why you see a 4-26 deal like last nite. Bottom line...we gave up 65 on the road. A good enough defensive performance to win any game in the conference. But we have zero options when we don't shoot the 3 ball.
..sorry for the length, frustrating.
2. Teams now have PSU on film 20 times, and the opponents are now adjusting and PSU is not. I watch as opponents, defensively lock in on guys on the perimeter and don't really give them any space at all when they don't have the ball. There is very little help defense from either the strong or weaksides of the floor. Especially with Funk, when he does not have the ball the opponents make sure he is guarded.
3. The opponents dare us to drive the ball to the rim, the opponents big just clog the lane and dare us to throw the ball to Njie. Last nite ws a perfect example, more than once Njie set a ball screen for Picket and #11 for Rutgers just stepped out and forced Pickett into a near double team. The PSU big rolled to the hoop, wide open and Pickett did not pass him the ball. Why? Pickett knew Njie could not score, Rutgers dared Pickett to pass it to him. Even Bardo the announcer made a point of this.
4. The only way we score on the block is if Pickett can some how dribble-drive to the block for a turn around. Each game this gets more difficult as teams are putting bigger players on him. And he has trouble kicking it out for open 3's because teams are not leaving our shooters to help inside. You can see that coaches figure it's a 40 minute game, Pickett gets his 15-20, make sure PSU doesn't beat us from the 3 point line. Again, my #1 comes into play, opponents know we are not getting 20 points from a post player.
5. Why we dont front the opponents post guy just makes me go nuts. Who in their right mind thinks the Njie is going to neutralize any post player. The Wisky guy killed us, Omayuri had more than his season average by half-time. Dread tried to front him, but he just isn't big enough.
6.Why we don't get other guys the ball on the box befuddles me...Shrew would be better off running the Flex offense 10-12 times a game. We run that 5 around none crap all game, opponents just switch our perimeter guys and the word is out...challenge all our 3 point shots. Which is why you see a 4-26 deal like last nite. Bottom line...we gave up 65 on the road. A good enough defensive performance to win any game in the conference. But we have zero options when we don't shoot the 3 ball.
..sorry for the length, frustrating.
Last edited:
