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Post by Commissioner on Dec 27, 2020 18:01:28 GMT -5
If that last shot in regulation from Fraser had fallen, I'd be feeling better about the game, but the issues would still be there. Too many turnovers, beaten on the boards, another poor shooting game from AD, etc, etc. On the plus side, Kuol played well, and has exceeded my expectations so far. It was good to see Waterman make his debut, and he had his moments. Koka didn't score much, and didn't shoot well with his limited shot attempts, but in his 26 minutes he had 8 boards, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and as assist. I'll take that for a guy who is still getting acclimated to the system and his teammates. I'm torn on Waterman. He showed some positive things, and Coach loves him, but he's 6-11 and had three rebounds and no blocks in 23 minutes in a game we got killed on the glass and gave up a ton of interior points. I know they do this gimmicky thing of listing Waterman as a guard, but if his game is going to give us an average guard impact, I'd rather just have Brandon get the bulk of those minutes and leave the guard play to Fraser, Johnson, Rose, etc. Of course, it's early. I'm not passing judgement on him either way. Did you watch the replay on ESPN? We have some guys on this board who are better at watching games than me, so maybe they want to chime in, but I think you'd be higher on Waterman if you'd been able to watch the game rather than listened on the radio. I thought he did a lot both yesterday and today that doesn't show up in the box. In the zone he plays up top or on the wings, and is really a problem for shooters with that long reach. He's not going to get rebounds from there, though. He forced a couple jump balls both days, seems to make pretty good decisions to pass or shoot, and is a real problem for other teams on the perimeter. They did try him today at the high post and he struggled a bit there, but he is a freshman. I was impressed by Waterman, and he's only going to get better. Today: 19 points; 7-12 overall, 3-6 from three; 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals. I don't think this is the only time we'll see that type of stat line from Waterman.
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Post by upbasketballfan on Dec 27, 2020 18:18:32 GMT -5
From what I saw Waterman needs to get all the playing time he can eat. Today I felt Waterman was one of our better players and does not seem to rush and turn the ball over. Still wondering what 33 is doing on the floor especially during crunch. THAT KAMPE SURE CAN COACH!
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Post by ptctitan on Dec 27, 2020 18:21:09 GMT -5
We picked the wrong game to start missing free throws.
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Post by therealcoach on Dec 27, 2020 18:23:13 GMT -5
Waterman did play solid today, and could be a matchup problem for opposing teams, but he’s really no different than Willy. Willy hits threes, rebounds etc. but for some reason he gets limited minutes the last two games after leading us in a couple categories on the season. Who knows what he will do with waterman next week. He may play limited minutes as well, because he out scored AD.
We have the pieces to win games, but we are being out coached.
Frazier and Johnson now only sub in for each other, I see a pattern starting. This is just Sad!
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Post by upbasketballfan on Dec 27, 2020 18:40:02 GMT -5
Waterman did play solid today, and could be a matchup problem for opposing teams, but he’s really no different than Willy. Willy hits threes, rebounds etc. but for some reason he gets limited minutes the last two games after leading us in a couple categories on the season. Who knows what he will do with waterman next week. He may play limited minutes as well, because he out scored AD. We have the pieces to win games, but we are being out coached. Frazier and Johnson now only sub in for each other, I see a pattern starting. This is just Sad! Willie took a charge then blocked a shot and then got benched. I'm wondering if AD got the turn over when he lobed to Kuka who forgot to catch the ball. I see Kuka didn't have a t.o. Frazier needed to play more unless he was injured. He was penetrating well before he got pulled.
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Post by udballer on Dec 27, 2020 18:52:23 GMT -5
We picked the wrong game to start missing free throws. That might be the only problem... if our ceiling is beating Oakland by 3.
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Post by ptctitan on Dec 27, 2020 19:45:44 GMT -5
Willie took a charge then blocked a shot and then got benched. I'm wondering if AD got the turn over when he lobed to Kuka who forgot to catch the ball. I see Kuka didn't have a t.o. Frazier needed to play more unless he was injured. He was penetrating well before he got pulled. Willy was subbed out with 2:20 left after having played 6 straight minutes. He returned to the game and figured importantly on the final two plays: 1) he scored the tying basket; and, 2) he was late to close out on Williams' winning shot. AD continues to make many questionable decisions when we have chances to blow these games open. The two attempted lobs to Koka and Brandon were examples. But he finally shot well from 3 point range. Fraser did incur a minor injury in the first half in case you're wondering why Rose played in the second half. COVID, NCAA's transfer procrastination, and the injury to Brandon have added more challenges to our season. So far, we have not overcome them. Good teams will find ways to overcome them and win despite obstacles like these. Hopefully, we will be playing better as a team in our next weekend series.
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Post by titanslappy1987 on Dec 27, 2020 19:48:02 GMT -5
This is the third year of Coach Davis' regime. He brought both his sons to the party and frankly, I'm unimpressed.
He is consistently out-coached and the biggest problem is that he's so negative, the kids are not confident that they can win. He complains to the officials non-stop, doesn't inspire and lacks leadership. Besides that, he's a great coach--NOT Let's not mention that his KID needs to SIT. He's a below average D1 player. He's a ball-hog and if his dad wasn't coaching...well...he wouldn't be in the starting line-up. Let's be honest: Ray McCullum was way better; Rashad would completely "school" him. Can you imagine what Cassius would make him look like?
As for Kampe: He thinks this is the most important game of the season. I'm not sure why? Maybe he hates Detroit, being that he lives in northern Oakland county. Or, maybe his bar is very low? Anyone who thinks he's a "great" coach is stupid. He's in the f-ing Horizon League and he's been at the samd crappy school for the last 35 years. If he was so good, he'd be long gone to a mid-major or major conference (the HL is a D-2 conference).
Our next coaching search should be a father-son combination and we should have the assistants from the last coach that got fired provide input as well. That's a joke, but knowing the ineptitude of the university, it's not...
This entire athletic programs is a complete and utter joke. It's led by a guy who can't speak in public and never engages the media. They don't market. They don't advertise. They just exist. Knowing this: just shut the whole damn thing (athletic department) down. Please.
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Post by calihanmole on Dec 27, 2020 19:48:37 GMT -5
Titans are 36-97 since Vowels fired Ray. I miss him.
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Post by fan on Dec 27, 2020 19:55:32 GMT -5
This team is not a well coached team.
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Post by titanslappy1987 on Dec 27, 2020 19:58:44 GMT -5
Vowels will NEVER get fired. Ever.
He's so "committed". Anyone knows where he lives? East side suburbs near Dakota High. He must really be 'connected' to the school! He's collecting a pay check and taking care of this shit-ass coach.
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Post by bigchuck on Dec 27, 2020 20:39:50 GMT -5
This is a frustrating day for all Titan fans, even our new contributors to the board. Calling AD a below average D-1 player who should sit is extreme. He played OK today. He played OK yesterday. He (and the coaching staff) has to figure out what his role on this team should be. I do not think his role is to play every minute of every game and being the primary ball handler almost every minute he plays.
That might have been a necessity the last two years, but certainly does not seem to be the case this year. It would be interesting to study video of the weekend and see his defensive grades. That is what seemed to be the problem with playing so many minutes (83 out of 85 possible?) this weekend. On this years team he has not done enough in real games to warrant unlimited playing time. There is other talent available for short stretches at least.
Years ago after Ray had coached his son for a couple of years I asked him if he ever thought coaching his own son would be so tough. He looked at me, exhaled sharply, and said no, never. I think Coach Davis is in a similar spot. I remember several times (although not as many as many of you would have liked) Ray being benched for some bad decisions. Never stayed on the bench for long, but he was definitely benched, not rested. I would like to see more of that from Coach Davis.
Despite all this, we have a lot of games left and the new players are getting to know one another. The coaching staff is learning who is a gamer and who is not. A lot of new players, a crazy year and one where you throw many of the usual rules out the window.
I also have to give credit to Kampe who certainly has our number. You can say he can't be a good coach because he has been at one place forever. You could also call him a good coach because he has been at one job for 35 years and not gotten fired. A rarity in college coaching these days. What is true is that as of today he has bettered three different Titan coaches.
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Post by therealcoach on Dec 27, 2020 21:34:52 GMT -5
I don’t think C Davis can see past coaching his son. I think he wants him to succeed so much, he is sacrificing team success for him.
Players who was contributing this year like the past three years somehow find the bench after solid performance games. For the life of me I don’t understand that. So I’ve come up with one conclusion, this is all about his son! Im being picky, but from the mix match shoes in games and not warming up with the team. That isn’t team stuff! . No other coach would allow that crap. I’m old school, so I watch those things.
Post game interviews the last three years have been laughable. He has Made excuse after excuse about Twon needing help. Ok coach he has help and you still can’t win.
Three years and we have had 10 plus guys transfer out and the majority of the guys played solid minutes, so why leave. He’s not a good coach, good motivator and it’s it’s sad to say a good role model for young men. He argues every call, uses language like an old sailor. Excuse after excuse, no ownership what so ever. I can take losing a game or so, I can’t take the way we loose. Just plain ole bad coaching.
Until next weekend! Go Titans.
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Post by Rogobob77 on Dec 27, 2020 22:15:04 GMT -5
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Post by ptctitan on Dec 28, 2020 6:57:54 GMT -5
While I understand and share the deep disappointment and frustration over the results of the first four HL games, I'm not going to make up facts about what has occurred in order to promote a narrative.
1. Davis has lost 5 players to transfer from his first two rosters. They are Hamrick, Curry, Moore, Nguidjol, and LeGrand. Last season, Hamrick played his final year of eligibility at Portland State where he averaged 8 PPG. Curry transferred to Siena as a grad student where the team has yet to play any games this season. Moore transferred to Southern Utah where he has played in all 8 of their games, mainly as a reserve, averaging 2.8 PPG and 2.1 RPG. Nguidjol transferred to Prairie View where he has yet to play in any games. LeGrand transferred to North Florida where he has played in 9 of their 10 games and is averaging 1.3 PPG and 1.7 RPG.
2. Davis has said repeatedly this season and again after yesterday's game that Antoine needs to push the ball more, share the ball more, and learn to make better lobs to Koka and Brandon. He only needs to score 17-18 points per game and if he scores more, he needs to be much more efficient in his shooting. He wants Antoine to shoot less and specifically mentioned the better pieces around him like Kuol and Waterman.
3. Brandon fractured his wrist in October. He was cleared to practice and play a few days before the Western Michigan game on December 12th. He missed the entire pre-season practices and the first week of in-season practice. He is just beginning to recover his in-game awareness and skills.
4. Waterman was not eligible to play until December 16th because the NCAA never granted his waiver request. Also, he lost significant practice time due to being caught up in two different contract tracing protocols. The second protocol kept him from playing against Wright State. He never tested positive for COVID.
5. Koka joined the team on December 16th. So far, the gamble on Thompson has not paid any dividends. Koka has potential to be an important contributor.
Through the Western Michigan game, there were expressed concerns and complaints about only playing 6 guys in the non-conference schedule. Now, we are playing 9 guys, but the team is undergoing an adjustment process on the fly to these new guys. Comments like Fraser not playing more ignore the fact that he was playing through an injury over this weekend. Willy played at crunch time and he helped us and figured in both important plays at the end of the game. One for a good result and the other for a bad result.
Now that we have all 9 core players available to play, it's up to the coaches to blend them together into an effective team. Different teams are on different timetables due to COVID. Oakland has had the benefit of being able to play all of their core guys together for 11 consecutive games. Cleveland State lost to Ohio U 100-46 and now is 4-0 in the HL because they now have Eichelberger back and their players have played together for about 6 or more games. Youngstown, on the other hand, has lost Quisenberry to injury and could not overcome CSU.
Losing wears everyone down. Especially two last second losses in a row. I expect us to improve greatly as a team through the rest of the HL season and I expect our record to improve. If we don't see that improvement, then these other discussions would be warranted.
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