Our Bigs have weak hands, don't fight for rebounds and can't defend without fouling

[catben]

The main problem with our Big Men is the lack of hand strength. It is ridiculous how many times the ball goes through their hands. They get stripped too easily and too often they can't hold onto the ball when it comes right into their hands. Opposing players know this and are smacking at the ball at EVERY opportunity with great success. It's KILLING our chances of winning.

Rebounding is about anticipation and desire. Our Bigs exhibit very little of either. Several times tonight they stood flat footed while the ball came off the rim and a smaller Vol player would fight for the ball while our Bigs were late going after it.

Finally, our Bigs are HORRIBLE when it comes to going straight up to contest or attempt to block a shot. Numerous fouls were the result of our Bigs slapping down at the ball instead of reacting to the shot attempt and keeping their hand straight up in front of the rim.

Considering the main culprits are a Sr and a Jr., I'm wondering why haven't these problems been corrected by now?

 

[spotter34]

It's insulting to the word "big" to use that in reference to our front court. From now on I'm just going to refer to them as "those taller guys who go in and out of the game all the time because they're not doing what they're suppose to".

 

[catben]

I still can't understand why our 2 upperclassmen don't play with more of a sense of urgency?

 

[CatPhight]

I still can't understand why our 2 upperclassmen don't play with more of a sense of urgency?

You're obviously talking Poy and Lee. Poy is a complete enigma...a world beater one game and next to nothing the next. I've given up on Lee contributing
anything other than a token rebound or stray put back...he's totally disappeared off the radar and is a foul waiting to happen. Total regression.

 

[uk78]

Sagging defenses and zones may have something to do with it. Poythress was told to try and drive to the middle and that ended up being a problem. Personally, I feel he is just not that good. Sure he has a good game or two, many players can say that for other teams. But, who on this team do you see as scary for the other team other than Ulis? Last season if you were our opponent you had plenty to worry about with several players.

 

[CatPhight]

Sagging defenses and zones may have something to do with it. Poythress was told to try and drive to the middle and that ended up being a problem. Personally, I feel he is just not that good. Sure he has a good game or two, many players can say that for other teams. But, who on this team do you see as scary for the other team other than Ulis? Last season if you were our opponent you had plenty to worry about with several players.

Murray is scary for the opponent when he heats up and then equally scary for us when he's on defense.

You can tell Cal's about to lose it with sometimes. Hopefully the light bulb comes on.

 

[catben]

Alex doesn't like contact on the block and doesn't have a good enough handle(because of his weak hands) to drive the ball effectively. On defense he again hates contact and watches the ball come off the rim to rebound instead of going after it.

Marcus is too aggressive on defense and too timid on offense(unless it's a lob). Too many balls go through his hands when receiving a pass or rebounding.

Skal is just weak on everything.

Can it be fixed in the next month?

 

[docholiday51]

Alex doesn't like contact on the block and doesn't have a good enough handle(because of his weak hands) to drive the ball effectively. On defense he again hates contact and watches the ball come off the rim to rebound instead of going after it.

Marcus is too aggressive on defense and too timid on offense(unless it's a lob). Too many balls go through his hands when receiving a pass or rebounding.

Skal is just weak on everything.

Can it be fixed in the next month?

It hasn't been fixed so far so I'm guessing the answer is 'no'

 

[UK90]

Alex doesn't like contact on the block and doesn't have a good enough handle(because of his weak hands) to drive the ball effectively. On defense he again hates contact and watches the ball come off the rim to rebound instead of going after it.

Marcus is too aggressive on defense and too timid on offense(unless it's a lob). Too many balls go through his hands when receiving a pass or rebounding.

Skal is just weak on everything.

Can it be fixed in the next month?

No, probably not. Which is a shame, because we DO have the backcourt to make the run. Ulis is precisely the special type of tough-minded, poised and skilled point guard that leads teams on national title runs. But it ain't happening with this pitifully soft foursome of bigs.

 

[docholiday51]

Think about what is going thru Tyler's mind as he tries to balance this year vs last year and make some sense out of it.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Poor Tyler. It's like having a Ferrari in the driveway with no gas in it.

 

[CatPhight]

Think about what is going thru Tyler's mind as he tries to balance this year vs last year and make some sense out of it.

For starters, he's probably wondering like us all, when Murray will step up and decide to play some defense.

 

[ORCAT]

Think about what is going thru Tyler's mind as he tries to balance this year vs last year and make some sense out of it.

Feel very sorry for the kid. He had the best of teams last year and wasn't nearly contributing to it as much as he should/could have. This year, he is running the show and look at what he has to work with. Without him, well, I'd hate to think what our team would look like right now. Really wish he would stay another year to play with that group we have set to come in, wouldn't that be spectacular to watch. But, I think he will jump this year.

 

[docholiday51]

Feel very sorry for the kid. He had the best of teams last year and wasn't nearly contributing to it as much as he should/could have. This year, he is running the show and look at what he has to work with. Without him, well, I'd hate to think what our team would look like right now. Really wish he would stay another year to play with that group we have set to come in, wouldn't that be spectacular to watch. But, I think he will jump this year.

That is exactly where I am,his draft stock will probably never be higher,if he can make the first round I hope he goes even though it would be beyond great to see him return.

 

[sefus12]

While Poy remains an enigma, Skal has under-performed and Lee seems to have regressed, I've actually been very pleasantly surprised with how Willis has been rebounding. The guy comes up with a ton of rebounds in traffic. He, as opposed to the others, seems to have very strong hands, especially considering the fact he's nowhere near as muscular as Poy. Unfortunately we need the other bigs to put the effort into rebounding the way he has.

 

[CatPhight]

That is exactly where I am,his draft stock will probably never be higher,if he can make the first round I hope he goes even though it would be beyond great to see him return.

No way he'll come back, this years draft is significantly weaker than next years, plus he's showcased all he can do at this level.

He comes back and he'll split time with Fox/Monk who'll also be in the 2017 draft.

Love the kid, but he has to go, and he's ready!

 

[docholiday51]

While Poy remains an enigma, Skal has under-performed and Lee seems to have regressed, I've actually been very pleasantly surprised with how Willis has been rebounding. The guy comes up with a ton of rebounds in traffic. He, as opposed to the others, seems to have very strong hands, especially considering the fact he's nowhere near as muscular as Poy. Unfortunately we need the other bigs to put the effort into rebounding the way he has.

Sometimes it is just about being in the right place at the right time,some of the ones Willis gets are long caroms off missed 3's.He does get more than his share compared to Skal and AP

 

[brianpoe]

The main problem with our Big Men is the lack of hand strength. It is ridiculous how many times the ball goes through their hands. They get stripped too easily and too often they can't hold onto the ball when it comes right into their hands. Opposing players know this and are smacking at the ball at EVERY opportunity with great success. It's KILLING our chances of winning.

Rebounding is about anticipation and desire. Our Bigs exhibit very little of either. Several times tonight they stood flat footed while the ball came off the rim and a smaller Vol player would fight for the ball while our Bigs were late going after it.

Finally, our Bigs are HORRIBLE when it comes to going straight up to contest or attempt to block a shot. Numerous fouls were the result of our Bigs slapping down at the ball instead of reacting to the shot attempt and keeping their hand straight up in front of the rim.

Considering the main culprits are a Sr and a Jr., I'm wondering why haven't these problems been corrected by now?

Other than all of this they are good kids...


What I wouldnt give for a Kenyon Martin/Corliss Williamson type right now and I never liked these guys.

Its hard for 5'8 guy to light a fire, those two were Alpha dogs...

 

[CatPhight]

Sometimes it is just about being in the right place at the right time,some of the ones Willis gets are long caroms off missed 3's.He does get more than his share compared to Skal and AP

That's certainly true, but just seem to have a knack for the ball and still others refuse to give up on 50/50 balls. Willis has rebounded well over the last few weeks.

Wish Skal would open a can and get to business.

 

[brianpoe]

That's certainly true, but just seem to have a knack for the ball and still others refuse to give up on 50/50 balls. Willis has rebounded well over the last few weeks.

Wish Skal would open a can and get to business.

Skal simply has no nose for the ball. Chuck Hayes he is not.

 

[CatPhight]

Skal simply has no nose for the ball. Chuck Hayes he is not.

Which means he has to work smarter and harder - so far it's been neither...there's always hope.

 

[docholiday51]

Skal simply has no nose for the ball. Chuck Hayes he is not.

A bit of an understatement but very accurate

 

[144catfan]

He flexes well though.

 

[CatPhight]

He flexes well though.

Who Pimptino?