UWM vs. Loyola -- 1/6/07

[dylanrocks]

Neither the five missed layups nor the missed wide-open eight-footer are in the box score.

[mcdadenets50]

dylanrocks said:

Talked with Ryan the other day and his problem isn't so much confidence as it is frustration. Doesn't know when or if he's going to be used from one game to the next. After hitting the pinnacle shot against Detroit, he gets 22.4 seconds on Saturday. How's he supposed to get comfortable in a system?

Not only that, walk ons Holt and Averkamp are sent to the scorer's table before Thornton and Gentry.

I keep hearing that Thornton and Gentry's defense keep them on the bench. Loyola shot 65% from the field...65%! Certainly Thornton and Gentry could have helped against their bigger guards who were backing down ours all day long.

Sure looks like a waste of a year so far for these two.

[milwsport]

I'm not going to make any excuses, this is a game we could have won. However, the team is playing much better than it did at the beginning of the season.

If two or three weeks ago anyone had posted that this team would hold its own against Loyola for 34 minutes, quite a few of us would have jumped on him.

We all pretty much felt that RJ needed to stablize his rotation. He's done that. That rotation has made us competitive in all the games we've been in since. Now some are arguing that he did it wrong or that others should be included.

I don't know how he decided on that rotation. I do know that its more effective than what we were doing. I also know that there are possibilities that we may not know about. For example, it's possible he envisions some people redshirting next year and is giving more time to those who may be in next year's rotation.

It seems like since RJ got here there's been some kind of negative buzz. First it was that he didn't care if we won. Then it was that he was going to leave. Then it was that he couldn't recruit. Now it's that he has the wrong guys in there.

At every step, RJ has proven the naysayers wrong. I'm betting he will do so again.

[brewtownbrian]

First off, I think and always have, that Rob wants to win. I never doubted that.

His recruiting abilities can't really be talked about yet. His recruits need a few years before anyone can make an accurate assessment.

And while I don't think he's got the "wrong" guys in there...his substitution and rotation patterns are puzzling. You have to admit that.

I'd really like to know why Mauldin starts, plays 3-4 minutes and then rides pine for the rest of the game...? Not that I think Mauldin is the answer, but I don't get why he even starts, if he's not going to play. Is it simply so the starting line-up is more "traditional"? Again, I can't even imagine an answer...so if anyone else has any ideas...let's hear them.

One thing I did notice from the box score is that Schilb wasn't listed as a starter. Anyone know what's up with that?

[Hack]

Mauldin starts for the jump ball. That seems to be the only reason.

Schilb came off the bench because he originally wasn't supposed to play due to his dislocated finger. Whitesell probably told Tracy Robinson he would get the start in his place ... so he might not have wanted to take that away from him or might have wanted to lull UWM into thinking Schilb wasn't going to play. Schilb's finger felt fine in shootaround, however.

[brewtownbrian]

Are you serious? I mean, do you know that for sure or are you tossing out a guess?

That would make sense b/c he is not involved after the opening 3-4 minutes.

I have a hard time believing that Skinner or Massiah couldn't do just as good of a job winning the jump.

[milwsport]

We all know that Sam's knee is not in the greatest shape. It is possible, RJ gives him as many minutes as the knee can stand.

[Hack]

He uses him for the jump ball ... that's my guess. That's why I used the word "seems."

If Sam's knee can only hold up for three minutes, it's not even worth having him out there to jump off said bad knee. I can't even remember the last game where Mauldin won the tip.

[brewtownbrian]

I agree, I can't remember a time that Mauldin won the jump ball. And if his knee can only hold up for a few minutes of PT...he shouldn't be out there.

[nighthawk]

Per those closest to Sam, his knee is fine. There are no physical reasons for his far too limited playing time.

This is a coaches decision, and one I find difficult to understand from the outside.

I'm not necessarilly questioning it, but the logic of some of Rob's substitutions completely escape me. It's not a "hot hand" methodology, and it can't be a "screw up and you sit" methodology (given Al was on the floor after multiple bone headed plays culminating with an intentional foul leading to a 5 point Detroit lead).

I hope to find out soon why, though.

[pantherpanther]

Sam is just not "grasping" it offensively...hence the reason he is on the bench. Playing lethargically. He needs to hustle more...

Marcus...that one makes me scratch my head...any input?

[brewtownbrian]

If Sam is not "grasping" the offense or playing aggresively enough, then I wonder why he plays at all....?

No clue about Skinner's lack of time...

[pantherdon]

It might have something to do with the match up.
If size is not an issue, RJ may sit him because of his lack of mobility.
Although, I thought he did a pretty good job defending and rebounding when he used to play.

[bball30]

I am also confused with Gentry especially. I can't figure out for the life of me on how he gets NO playing time? Anyone have any light to shed on this?

[brewtownbrian]

The only thing I can think of is that there are things going on behind the scenes that are limiting certain individuals playing time.

There's only enough minutes to go around...sometimes it comes down to doing the little things in order to get noticed.

In no way am I implying that this is what's happening, but it's one possibility.