this season may be it for me.. Topic

cp49
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I thought I was slowly improving at this game, got off to a decent start this season and now can't do anything right. Is this team hopeless? I am very frustrated. Thanks.
11/2/2011 1:59 PM
treyomo
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Defense ratings, both team and individual, seem low. Ath/speed is low for a DII pressing team. Change up your offensive distributions and try something new. Against SIMs where I'm more talented, I prefer to run uptempo.
11/2/2011 2:05 PM
mullycj
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You're welcome
11/2/2011 2:43 PM
bbunch
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#1 - it takes a while to learn how to be successful, so stick around - it will be worth it to you!

#2- ask people for help - there's a long list of available mentors on the forums. Sitemail me with any specific questions.

#3 - experiment until things work out for ya


11/3/2011 2:51 PM
bhansalid00
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I think your single biggest issue is mediocre stamina for a press team. A 72 avg, and only 1 player above 75, just won't cut it against good opponents. I think that's why you've had a number of gms where you blew a lead in the 2nd half - your guys starting fouling more and let the other team back in the game.

The good news is, it looks like you've got a bunch of players with growth potential in STA. I would push them really agressively on that - it'll make a big difference.
11/3/2011 5:12 PM
brianxavier
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IMO, your team is fairly young.  You have one senior with talent.  The SF senior isn't very good (obviously you aren't starting him and realize this). The strength of your team seems to be the soph and jr. classes.  I think you are a year away from doing well.  I have a hard time figuring out if I'll be an NT team, etc. so I don't know about that - but I think your team will be better next season.  I would try to get younger guys playing as much as possible.  I think the slowdown strategy on offense is a good idea (and you have done this some of the time I see) to help stamina issues.

I also wonder about your distribution.  I would load up on the centers that are scoring about 9 points a game.  they have good FG percentages and probably should get the ball more.  I would make sure your freshman are not getting ANY distribution... there was some guys getting 3-4 points a game (which may be unavoidable, but just in case I would put their distro to zero if you have them taking any shots). 

Just some thoughts.  site mail if you want other ideas.


11/3/2011 10:11 PM
brianxavier
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I wonder if you could play 10 deep.  I don't think your freshmen PF and SG should be playing double digit minutes.  That PF is very weak on Alth and Def, both very important for press defense.  I realize he is hardly getting any minutes, but long term I wonder how well he fits (and he should not be shooting). of course every team needs scorers so maybe he'll help in that regard as he develops and hopefully he has high potential at Alth and Def.  If you want to win more this year give those freshman less time - maybe that will help.

With press def you need alth and def in all players.  the goal is turnovers.  You are losing that battle currently.  And you are barely winning the rebound battle (which is hard to do in press def anyway).  Bad combo - not out rebounding others and more turnovers than opponents.

I wonder if you could try this: 
starting PG - blough, backup Cheesman
Sg - cutler, back up sanders (he may score better against second team defense too), then Hoggard
SF - Burchett (he's not great, but maybe better for team overall to have deep SG and he has good IQ), back up Burns,  then Sanders
PF - Graves, Back up Magee, then walker
C - Taylor, back up Burns and Patrick (best suited to play as freshmen - could grab some boards which is all you need him to do, good IQ for freshman)

11/3/2011 11:18 PM
cp49
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Thanks for the tips, guys! Brian, I responded to you in a site-mail as you had a lot of good thoughts!
We're young, lacking in Stamina for a pressing team and I've got a lot to learn about the game and you have been very helpful to me.
11/4/2011 7:57 AM
ethan66
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The other guys have great input here, so I'll just add this:  You've been playing HD for 5 seasons.  When I asked the other coaches on this board how long it took to understand the game, the lowest number I received was 6 seasons, and some of the guys with 10-15 seasons said they were still figuring it out.

I'm in my 8th season at Abilene now and I'm hoping this is the first season I'm able to get past the NT 1st round (so far 0-2 in the NT).  I'm ranked #7 with a 10 RPI and to be perfectly honest,  I had no idea that my best player was going to be this good.  I recruited him as an afterthought the same year I signed a ranked guy and redshirted Kegley.  Without Kegley I wouldn't be close to where this team is right now.

And I'm still figuring a lot of things out.  My advice to you is to ask questions here, listen to the feedback, maybe find a mentor.  I've had 3 different guys give me HD advice, all of it good, in addition to the general board discussions.

First I had to learn how to recruit (an ongoing process as I make mistakes and learn from them).
Then I had to learn how to gameplan - an art that can't be mastered in any video tutorial.
Then I had to learn how to schedule.

The only way to succeed is to keep at it, learn from your mistakes and ask for help. 



11/4/2011 10:54 AM
johnmacdan
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What I see is you are kinda young.  You also need to set a bottom for individual D when recruiting.  Even if they are high, high starting at 16 isn't good.  You have a very good player in Taylor that you can focus your offense through, but you don't have any great perimeter players.  Cutler can go in and out for another offensive player.  I've used 2 guys primarily before with 5-10 given to others.  Put the big 2 at 30% offensive a piece and give some scraps to the others.  You have a few than can help out, but your strength is down low which means that Press isn't your best D right now.  Hard to change in midstream, but I would look to do it next year or most the year after.  Think about your personality and who you like. That will give you an idea of how you recruit and what you want.  Hell, press if you want, but get some serious speed at at least 4 positions.  Otherwise, Ride those 2 and use the other guys to help out.  You have some winnable games and a shot at getting into the PIT.  Good luck.  Also, think about redshirting someone every year if you can.  You are playing 12 guys when you should be playing 9 at most.  Look at going to time rather than fatigue.  When you use fatigue, they wait until the 2nd and 3rd guys gets fatigued rather than when the 1st guy is ready.

As for your lineup:
PG Cheeseman, Blough
SG Blough, Cutler, Sanders
SF Cutler, Burchett, Graves
PF Graves,Burns, Burchett
C Taylor, Burns, Magee

Play Cheeseman 24-28, Blough 19-23, Cutler 24-28. Graves 24-28, Taylor 24-28
then Sanders 19-23, Burchett 19-23, Burns 19-23, Magee 9-13
Walker and Patrick should be mopup
Patrick could be helpful down the line, but Walker has such a low ATH and D that I can't see him being a positive influence.  Maybe with high, high he could be 39 ATH and 41 D which are both low.  Gonna be hard to offset that even if he is high, high in his other catagories. 

11/4/2011 7:48 PM
dahsdebater
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I'm pretty sure when you play on fatigue the starters come back in when they're rested.
11/4/2011 10:23 PM
car_crazy_v2
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It actually took me until I reached DI to figure it out.
11/5/2011 8:41 AM
cp49
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Thank you for the tips and support! I'm glad to get different viewpoints and suggestions as I need all of the help I can get.
11/5/2011 9:51 AM
caesari
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Honestly cp, you were never as bad as I started out. Stick with it. I had 10 wins my first two seasons.
11/5/2011 10:52 PM
sergei1991
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Yeah, stick with it.  It definitely takes a while to get a solid grasp of the game. 
11/8/2011 9:21 AM
this season may be it for me.. Topic
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