Effort

[sosoblue]

Glad we won but I felt the team was lacking effort. Moving forward we have to play with more effort, energy and ethusiasm.

I'm hoping to see maximum effort on Sunday. Proud of this team and coaching staff go Big Blue!

 

[catsfan3383]

I didn’t see it as lack of effort so much as just jitters. We were playing 95 mph most of the night and just needed to slow down a bit - which is odd for this team. Williams was a basket case all night. His body was 1 step behind his mind all night. He rushed everything he touched. Brea was off as well until finally hit a couple threes late. Butler still isn’t over 60% I don’t think. He held his arm down almost all night. His shot isn’t fluid at all but if he can even give us what he did tonight just by eating minutes it’s huge for this team.
Carr, Oweh and surprisingly, Chandler were the three most settled.

 

[wldktz8]

The way Xavier and Illinois are playing right now either team will be gassed by Sunday.

 

[wldktz8]

I didn’t see it as lack of effort so much as just jitters. We were playing 95 mph most of the night and just needed to slow down a bit - which is odd for this team. Williams was a basket case all night. His body was 1 step behind his mind all night. He rushed everything he touched. Brea was off as well until finally hit a couple threes late. Butler still isn’t over 60% I don’t think. He held his arm down almost all night. His shot isn’t fluid at all but if he can even give us what he did tonight just by eating minutes it’s huge for this team.
Carr, Oweh and surprisingly, Chandler were the three most settled.

Jitters without the panic.

 

[Fitch44]

Glad we won but I felt the team was lacking effort. Moving forwaed we have to play with more effort, energy and ethusiasm.

I'm hoping to see maximum effort on Sunday. Proud of this team and coaching staff go Big Blue!

I jumped on Oweh mid game in my thread but should have channeled your more positive vibe. I was so frustrated watching the effort.
Have to bring it with more energy and passion Sunday.

 

[catben]

I didn’t see it as lack of effort so much as just jitters. We were playing 95 mph most of the night and just needed to slow down a bit - which is odd for this team. Williams was a basket case all night. His body was 1 step behind his mind all night. He rushed everything he touched. Brea was off as well until finally hit a couple threes late. Butler still isn’t over 60% I don’t think. He held his arm down almost all night. His shot isn’t fluid at all but if he can even give us what he did tonight just by eating minutes it’s huge for this team.
Carr, Oweh and surprisingly, Chandler were the three most settled.

I would add Garrison to that last list too. His play was huge tonight!! He was more aggressive than normal and it was great to see!!!

 

[jwphelps]

Glad we won but I felt the team was lacking effort. Moving forwaed we have to play with more effort, energy and ethusiasm.

I'm hoping to see maximum effort on Sunday. Proud of this team and coaching staff go Big Blue!

I thought the effort was fine, we just got careless with the ball, 2/3rds of our turnovers were basically unforced, but this team has had other games like this. Outside of that I was very happy with the outcome.

 

[thebluestripes]

Either way the guys are going to have to play better from here on out.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

I mean i hate to say it but Butlers too hurt to play. He hurts us. He had more TOs than pts. 25 mins way too much.

Use him when must or as decoy, but he can't shoot anymore, it's the same as a TO from 1 foot, from anywhere. Pass, try to play D, get away with fouls, if he fouls out so be it. He needs some steals or a lot if assist to justify being out there.

Love the guy, but he's maybe 55%.

 

[Tampa_cat54]

I mean i hate to say it but Butlers too hurt to play. He hurts us. He had more TOs than pts. 25 mins way too much.

Use him when must or as decoy, but he can't shoot anymore, it's the same as a TO from 1 foot, from anywhere. Pass, try to play D, get away with fouls, if he fouls out so be it. He needs some steals or a lot if assist to justify being out there.

Love the guy, but he's maybe 55%.

We were +22 tonight when he was on the floor. We were -3 tonight when he wasn't.

Butler does so many things for us that doesn't show up on a stat sheet. Just keeps us under control. The straw that stirs the drink.

 

[EliteBlue]

I mean i hate to say it but Butlers too hurt to play. He hurts us. He had more TOs than pts. 25 mins way too much.

Use him when must or as decoy, but he can't shoot anymore, it's the same as a TO from 1 foot, from anywhere. Pass, try to play D, get away with fouls, if he fouls out so be it. He needs some steals or a lot if assist to justify being out there.

Love the guy, but he's maybe 55%.

We need him for the general defense. Non statsheet stuff. Just being able to
Stay in front of his guy

Ppl are being real negative for a 20pt win against a solid team. We started out evens nd pulled away in the second half. This happened
Every year across the 2-15 seed range where teams are playing conference champs
In small Conferences…in games that they likely mentally think they should win etc… slow
First half…pull away in the second. It’s common. Meanwhile, bama survived a 15 seed by 10 and had a game under 5 min. Our game was over for the last 15

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

Didn't see a lack of effort. There are a few plays in each game where some guys just aren't quick enough to get those loose balls/long rebounds that you have to get. They are playing because others are out, so it's what it is. At least Noah responded with a big, timely 3pt make when needed. I'd have Chandler in ahead of Perry but that's just me. Chandler was solid as can be/played a strong game.

 

[NociHTTP]

Didn't see a lack of effort. There are a few plays in each game where some guys just aren't quick enough to get those loose balls/long rebounds that you have to get. They are playing because others are out, so it's what it is. At least Noah responded with a big, timely 3pt make when needed. I'd have Chandler in ahead of Perry but that's just me. Chandler was solid as can be/played a strong game.

Ralph. Not true. Amari on numerous occasions tonight STOOD THERE and watched his shot not go in, and made no attempt to grab the rebound. That's lack of effort. Also, he could have had a handful of dunks, but often went for the layup that didn't go in. Not sure if that would fall under lack of effort since it would take more effort to jump and dunk the ball. If you're trying to go for a rebound and get beat to it, then that would fall under "not quick enough"

 

[NociHTTP]

We were +22 tonight when he was on the floor. We were -3 tonight when he wasn't.

Butler does so many things for us that doesn't show up on a stat sheet. Just keeps us under control. The straw that stirs the drink.

Well, if Illinois is paying attention they'll sag off Lamont, making it a 5-vs-4 game when he's in. He's almost not a threat to make a wide-open layup, because of that brace and protecting that side of his body.

 

[uk78]

Butler was off really in essence more than a week and I hope this game was just gets him back into some eventual rhythm. His shot was off, he didn't hold his dribble well even when simply bringing the ball up the court, and took bad angles at the basket. Sure hope that he got that out of his system now moving forward.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

We’d him for the general defense. Non statsheet stuff. Just being able to
Stay in front of his guy

Ppl are being real negative for a 20pt win against a solid team. We started out evens nd pulled away in the second half. This happened
Every year across the 2-15 seed range where teams are playing conference champs
In small Conferences…in games that they likely mentally think they should win etc… slow
First half…pull away in the second. It’s common. Meanwhile, bama survived a 15 seed by 10 and had a game under 5 min. Our game was over for the last 15

I get it, but he hasn't hardly made a shot in a month. Don't need his 3pts attempts and he really can't finish at the rim.

I'm all about him playing the part but his shoulder is gone and he can't shoot. Then that mini run he goes for a behind the back pass in traffic. He's our main March experience guy so that worried me too.

 

[southvillecat]

Butler just needs to take care of the ball, play good D, and make some hustles plays. He has no business shooting or trying to finish around the rim. He just can’t do it right now.

 

[EliteBlue]

We were +22 tonight when he was on the floor. We were -3 tonight when he wasn't.

Butler does so many things for us that doesn't show up on a stat sheet. Just keeps us under control. The straw that stirs the drink.

End of conversation—-+22 tonight, when we win by less than 20, and he only played slightly more than half the game {25 min}, says all that’s needs said for ppl being unhappy w his overall offense.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

I mean i hate to say it but Butlers too hurt to play. He hurts us. He had more TOs than pts. 25 mins way too much.

Use him when must or as decoy, but he can't shoot anymore, it's the same as a TO from 1 foot, from anywhere. Pass, try to play D, get away with fouls, if he fouls out so be it. He needs some steals or a lot if assist to justify being out there.

Love the guy, but he's maybe 55%.

And who do we play in his place,Perry who can't score OR play any defense
.At least Butler gives us that

 

[jeffky]

I know oweh scored and did some good things offensively, but he just seemed to defensively stand around and loathe alot yesterday . There was one time he turned the ball over and was walking down the court no attempt to run down the opponent . We got to get better effort out of him and Williams offensively to beat Illinois.

 

[know1]

I'm not sure it was a lack of effort, but my general impression was that we didn't play well at all and still won by a lot.

 

[phyrekat]

I'm not sure it was a lack of effort, but my general impression was that we didn't play well at all and still won by a lot.

I saw a lot of ball watching on rebounds and several balls on the floor that we tried to bend over to pick up. Maybe not lack of effort, but definitely a lack of focus.

 

[MonsterMash79]

I jumped on Oweh mid game in my thread but should have channeled your more positive vibe. I was so frustrated watching the effort.
Have to bring it with more energy and passion Sunday.

Right there with ya. It was like they didn’t even wanna be there.. super! Frustrated 👌

 

[catsfan3383]

I would add Garrison to that last list too. His play was huge tonight!! He was more aggressive than normal and it was great to see!!!

Yes, I forgot to add BG. He was terrific and not afraid of the moment. After the initial airball he played great!

 

[kats23]

I guess next year when we likely have a little more talent in here folks will begin to realize this team this year is giving effort. the product just looks a little slower because we’ve had 15 years of NBA talent on the roster. This season possesses probably no one that’s going to play in the NBA.

That’s what makes such a difference because why these guys are talented they aren’t raw athletically talented outside of Oweh and I don’t even expect him to really make the NBA. These guys win games with savy play and being in the right position. That’s why the job Pope has done this year is impressive.

They got loose with the ball yesterday because in part of who we were playing. They thought they could do the tight window passing and cute play. Even Butler tried a stupid behind the back pass that instantly got turned over into an easy two the other way. Hopefully they got that out of their system but it’s not a lack of effort on the floor.

 

[Ripcord65]

I mean i hate to say it but Butlers too hurt to play. He hurts us. He had more TOs than pts. 25 mins way too much.

Use him when must or as decoy, but he can't shoot anymore, it's the same as a TO from 1 foot, from anywhere. Pass, try to play D, get away with fouls, if he fouls out so be it. He needs some steals or a lot if assist to justify being out there.

Love the guy, but he's maybe 55%.

I love Butler's game - when he's playing his game ! Against Troy, I thought Butler got out of his rhythm - particularly by driving down into the paint and then, for whatever reason, not putting up a floater or dishing off to somebody. More than once he just drove down into the paint and got tied up or lost the ball to an opponent's steal. I really didn't see that Butler's injury was a significant factor ... but - I reluctantly admit - all of y'all who did think so could be right ...
But whether or not ... Go 'Cats ! ! !

 

[ck-2]

Butler just needs to take care of the ball, play good D, and make some hustles plays. He has no business shooting or trying to finish around the rim. He just can’t do it right now.

I give Butler credit for playing hurt. But he has to stop the stupid risky passes that lead to turnovers. This has nothing to do with his injury.
Guys have to value each possession like the game depends on it, because at this point of the season it likely does.

 

[tf4fun]

I mean i hate to say it but Butlers too hurt to play. He hurts us. He had more TOs than pts. 25 mins way too much.

Use him when must or as decoy, but he can't shoot anymore, it's the same as a TO from 1 foot, from anywhere. Pass, try to play D, get away with fouls, if he fouls out so be it. He needs some steals or a lot if assist to justify being out there.

Love the guy, but he's maybe 55%.

He is a much better ball handler which is what we need at the moment more then shooting/scoring!
Also he still is solid on defense. For us to go a run he will be the key, and what I saw last night his shoulder just isn't allowing him to play any close to his ability!

 

[rolaid]

Look not going to sugar coat it Butler is struggling being injured - his handle is suspect he can’t make a lay up floater or jumper his decision making is suspect yet we need him to give us 20 minutes because he provides some on ball pressure and toughness on the court / I appreciate him getting out there and trying because I’m sure the pain is there
He’s a great kid and leader and I’m sure doing his very best

 

[L.O.D.]

Troy was one of worst teams in tourney 14 was way to high a seed. We played awful yesterday and won simply because Troy was much worse.

Amari played awful apartvfrom.a fee plays. Tough to mention the boards as he had such a size advantage.

Pope when he saw the shots weren't going in needed to pound ball inside where we had a huge advantage but Amari unable to hit point blank lay ups maybe hurt that. Still way too many quick 3s vs a small team when we were cold.

Illinois will win by 10 or more if we dont play alot better.

butler needs to play just to be put there an stay in front of man. Amari needs to either WAKE UP. 3 basically unguarded point blank lay ups missed was insanity.

Unless we tighten it up were not beating a good Illinois team. And we NEEEEEEED this win badly it's been forever since 2nd week.

 

[Aike]

The one place I’ll agree with this is that there are times when the opponent is in transition and we don’t all sprint back on D. That drives me nuts. Think we could get a couple of extra disruption plays per game this way, and sometimes that’s all the difference.