Dropped balls happen. Missed shots happen. You can't control the physical parts of a game. If you blow up about that, you're a fool.
When Underwood loses his mind is when they make stupid decisions that fly in the face of what they've worked on in practice. Or they show a lack of effort.
Those things can be controlled, and I'm sure it's infuriating to watch these guys make those same (controllable) mistakes over and over.
Having some time to process things since the Northwestern game, here are my thoughts...
1) Brad is a good coach. He has a style and he gets angry and yells. Others have already stated the players already knew this coming into the season. He's also been willing to make mid-season adjustments in the past, and I think he'll make those adjustments now. I think he tried something things he thought could work and they aren't so he'll adjust.
2) How quickly we forget we lost almost our entire team from a year ago. And we're super young. It takes time to get chemistry down not only for the players but the coaching staff. The UCLA and Texas wins as well as almost getting Virginia just magnify our recent struggles. We were all thinking National Title and now everyone is toeing the cliff. Relax and let the season play out. Some adjustments, some gut checks, and getting Goode back might lead us to a Sweet 16 or better.
3) I can go both ways with the yelling. Some players respond to that. I did as a player. Some don't. But we're talking about a D1 power conference and you're kidding yourself if you don't think other coaches (and a lot of them) don't yell like that - the nicest sounding ones on TV are screaming in practice I guarantee it. And back to point 1, all of these players knew Underwood can explode coming into the season.
4) We're clearing lacking first and foremost a leader - maybe the most important point here. I really am not upset with Shannon. I think he's playing hard. Someone commented on how he's more of a Robin than Batman and I think that's accurate. He's a little more quiet. But I'm not happy seeing Mayer dance on the sideline and not be engaged and agree with the assessment that the ball stops with him every time he touches it and he get lax on D. Those are the things that frustrate me as a fan. We have a lot of freshmen that play - tough to be a leader, three transfers, and a handful of guys with limited experience. See next point.
5) Maybe leadership is on the way. I think Luke Goode could turn this whole thing around.
6) We aren't tough enough yet. Other teams out hustle us, dive more, get more physical, box out, etc. This with leadership are the two glaring things that are leading to the losses. Yes, our offense is bad, but you can hide bad offense with leadership and hustle/toughness. Not that I'm OK with bad offense, but the offense can be fixed/change. You must have leadership and toughness/hustle.
7) I'm OK with us shooting 3s but only when they are wiiiiiiiiiiiiiide open right at the arc, later in the shot clock, or if someone penetrates the lane and kicks out. That's the only time we should be shooting them now. No more long launches, quick launches or around the perimeter launches.
8) We NEED to move off the ball. It's been a bit better the last two games. But I despise everyone standing around the arc. Simple back cuts, back screens with the ball moving, and ball screen and rolls can lead to lay-ins with the talent we have.
9) If I were the coach, I'm not ready to rag on Underwood b/c he's completely turned our program around and I'm so thankful for that. But on Saturday, I'd start the 5 guys playing the hardest and it would be Epps, Harris, Shannon, Rogers, and Dain. Send the message to the team that the guys who work hard will start and play. I really mean this. We'll find out who's in and who's out. And if they are out we don't want them anyway. The future is so bright with Epps, Harris, Rogers, Goode, possibly RJ, Dain, Hansberry coming in, Johnson coming in, maybe Perin. Don't waste time with Prima donna guys who only care about themselves.
10) I think it is very possible this season is salvageable. Luke Goode will help/must help. Our younger guys are getting a lot of tick (Rogers should be getting more right now the way certain players are playing). Dain has been an extremely pleasant surprise, not just statistically, but boy was he running the floor on both offense and defense against Northwestern. I was extremely impressed. We NEED a player leader, we NEED to get tougher, and we need to make a few adjustments to our offense and defense. Remember, this team hasn't been together long at all and it's very young. Focus on the positive things that won us games against UCLA and Texas and almost got us a win against Virginia. Start starting and playing the guys playing the hardest and tweak the offense and defense. And I guess cross our fingers that Luke is our leader b/c leadership tends to be more a natural thing, it can't be forced, and Luke is the only guy that I've seen demonstrate that of the current players we have on the roster (he did it last year as a freshman). Luke is the biggest part of this equation. This team is really good. A good leader will bring out the toughness/hustle. A good leader will communicate with the coach as far as what is working and what isn't schematically. Don't jump off the deep end just yet. But also, let's not throw this staff under the bus unless they have major screw ups for multiple years b/c I'm not sure any of us would've thought the program would be expecting Final Fours this quickly and beating the likes of 8. UCLA 2. Texas and almost getting 5. Virginia to start off a season. Go Illini!!! The talent is there. It's about putting the pieces together. Either way the future is very very bright!
