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[randy]

12/16/93: Sam Houston St (8-1) @ Wofford (1-7)

Keys to the game
[INDENT]1. Wofford is on a 6 game losing streak
2. They don't score much (67 ppg) and turn the ball over a lot (17 topg)
3. PTS/100: Sam Houston: 119, Wofford: 97
[/INDENT]
Initial instructions
[INDENT]1. Offense Sets (Free): Auto (75%)
2. Defense Sets (Int): Man to Man (8)
3. Press Sets (Freq): Auto (9)
4. O/D Reb Int: 8/8
[/INDENT]


Tip off (1st Half)

Majerus starts again in lieu of Griffin (injury)

15:53, Down 7-8
We started 27% FG (3-11)

11:51, Down 14-16
Their 3 and 4 killing us inside. Will switch to 2-3 zone and see how it goes

6:39, Down 24-25
Cook is in the bench since the 10 min mark with 2 PFs. They have hit a couple of Js, but we minimized their inside points; will continue with 2-3 until half time

4:42, Same Score 24-25
Will try a 3 guard lineup. The 3Cs are in the bench; only Granville is in the floor playing the 3. Hopefully we can keep the score close


Halftime, Tied at 32
We did a decent job, considering we finished the half with 2 walkons and 2 subs on the floor

Key stats
[INDENT]1. Wofford is struggling to make outside shots, which they are forced to take because of our 2-3 zone. The result is 37% FG (we're 43%). 24 out of their 32 pts come from the paint and FTs.
2. We didn't to the FT line the way we used to. Only 3-4 FT so far.
3. Awful job on our side taking care of the ball. +9 TO (12-3) negated our +14 advantage in REB, which explains why the score is tied
4. Cook has sat down the last 10 mins of the half
[/INDENT]


Start of 2nd Half

We'll continue using 2-3 zone. DREB intensity lowered down to 7. Use HC trap exclusively


15:46, Up 40-36
Their 2 baskets are both Js. We can live with that, instead of giving inside shots

12:30, Down 42-45. Called a TO
Their outside shots began falling. Going back to man. Increase DEF to 9. Double their 4 and 5, since they most likely go back inside. I screamed to the team for relinquishing our lead.

8:58, Down 44-48
Cook picked up his 4th. We hit a shooting slump. I'll keep Cook on the floor. Wofford rested their starting 4 and 5. We'll go heavy inside and hope to capitalize

7:32, Tied at 48

5:28, Deficit back to 4, 48-52. I called TO. Designed a pick and roll for Coulibaly and Cook. The result was a J by Coulibaly. 50-52

4:49, They turned it over and we run the break. Majerus on the jam. Tied at 52

4:19, Tied at 54

3:03, Trading baskets, tied at 58

1:12, Down 60-62.
Majerus came down with an off reb after a Carr miss, and was fouled on the act. 2 FTs coming up. My starters are all exhausted (<80 EN); just hang in there. I max out O/D REB intensity

Pressure FTs for Majerus (he's 1-2 FT so far)
1st shot .... miss
2nd shot ... good

Down 61-62

They break the HC trap; alley-oop for the jam!

0:49, Down 61-64
We go for 3. We have hit only 1 3PT so far, by Carr so he'll take it. On defense, we'll abolish the HC trap; our legs are worn down

Carr cant get the pass. Coulibaly takes the 3 instead ... miss .. they rebound. I yelled to foul intentionally

They miss the front end of a 1-1. We rebound. Called my final TO

0:26, Down 61-64
I will go with Carr again to take the 3. Last shot situation. I motivated (praise) Carr, that I trust him

They fouled with 0:08 left. They are not yet in the penalty. Smart play by the AI coach!

Granville missed a 3


Final score: Sam Houston St - 61, Wofford - 64

I took full responsibility for the loss, as I didn't do a good job on the substitution patterns. In the end, fatigue pulled us down


Box Score

[INDENT]Coulibaly 18, 6, 1
Carr 13, 4, 1
Cook 12, 13, 4
Majerus 6, 2, 1
Belton 4,6,1
Hatter 4, 0 ,0
Granville 2, 7, 5, 7 tos!
Smith 2, 1, 0
[/INDENT]
Team Stats Comparisons

[INDENT]FG%: 43 - 42
REB: +18
TO: +11 (18-7)
Paint: -6
2nd Chance : +6
Fast Break: +1[/INDENT]


Other Notes

[INDENT]1. No team lead by more than 6. Lead changes: 19. Times Tied: 14

2. Out lowest scoring output thus far. Primary reason: only 9 FTA

3. Several "what-ifs" on my mind. What if I went with Coulibaly instead, in taking the last shot? What if we elected to shoot quickly on our last play, instead of Wofford being able to use their foul with 8 secs left? What if I put in Cook back towards the latter part of the 1st half, instead of sitting him out for 10 mins (after he picked up his 2nd foul)?

[/INDENT]

[Wayne23]

I rarely gamble with a guy with 2 fouls in the 1st half, but some coaches do if he's a veteran who normally plays a really disciplined game who normally doesn't foul much. When I do gamble in the 2nd half (a guy with 3 or 4 fouls) I move the guy in and out and NEVER let him play tired.

[randy]

As to the AI, what were the defensive ratings of the starters and the subs? Ball handling ratings? Over all shooting stats? Sometimes I'll keep a guy with a hot hand in at the end of a close game and sometimes I'll go with the veteran starter who has better ratings, and perhaps more importantly, knows my system better.

I also do the same thing. A sub whos having a break out game would most likely be at the end to finish a tight match.

Q: Assuming no one is in foul trouble, will the AI coach *always* put their starters at the end of the game, even if one (or two) of their bench player(s) are playing significantly better?

[randy]

I rarely gamble with a guy with 2 fouls in the 1st half, but some coaches do if he's a veteran who normally plays a really disciplined game who normally doesn't foul much. When I do gamble in the 2nd half (a guy with 3 or 4 fouls) I move the guy in and out and NEVER let him play tired.

Good tip. I would certainly take note of this. Thanks!

I noticed in my last game, Cook had let his man get easy baskets in the last few minutes, including the alley-oop dunk at the end after they break the HC trap.

A couple of minutes rest for Cook sometime in the 2nd half, might have made a huge difference.

[Wayne23]

Probably but I'm betting CoachC and/or PointGuard have paid more attention to that than i have. I'm sure they'll check in. Good question.

[CoachC]

The AI will pretty much follow it's sub matrix barring foul trouble.

[randy]

12/20/93: Sam Houston St (8-2) @ Louisiana Monroe (6-3)

Keys to the game
[INDENT]1. They don't have a dominant scorer, but they use their bench a lot; 10 players with at least 10 mpg.
2. They are a good rebounding team; 5 players have at least 4 rpg
3. They don't take a lot of 3's (< 10 3pag). We have to watch out for their interior scoring, and off reb; be ready to use 2-3 zone if necessary
3. PTS/100: Sam Houston: 116, Wofford: 97
[/INDENT]
Initial instructions
[INDENT]1. Offense Sets (Free): Auto (75%)
2. Defense Sets (Int): Man to Man (7)
3. Press Sets (Freq): Auto (6)
4. O/D Reb Int: 8/9
[/INDENT]


Tip off (1st Half)

Griffin is now 100%. He's back in the starting lineup as our 5; Cook goes back to 4

15:55, Down 6-9
All their points have been scored by their 4 and 5. I'll switch to 2-3 zone

11:46, Up 12-11
We're beginning to force them to take outside shot. I'm substituting players at every opportunity I can get. Granville has 2 PF

6:29, Up 21-19
We're up 8 at one point, but our backup 1 has 3 PF. Inserted my 3rd string PG (a FR), and he committed 2 TOs in 4 mins. Will try Coulibaly at 1, Carr at 2; big lineup.


Halftime, Up 34-32
We had the lead at 10, but the bench towards the end of game, gave it up again.


Key stats
[INDENT]1. Cook is not getting touches; only has 3 FGA
2. They are matching us on 2 of our strengths: pts in the paint (down 10-12),and rebs (even at 18)
3. Our starting and backup PGs accounted for 5 of 7 PFs
[/INDENT]


Start of 2nd Half

We'll go back to man. Increase off reb. Increase def intensity


19:44, Up 34-32
They came out overly-aggressive. They were whistled for 3 PFs in 16 sec. Hopefully, we can take advantage later on.

15:47, Up 40-37
+4 in TOs is hurting us. They have been called for 6 team fouls already, but we're shooting on 8-14 FT. Carr leads us with 12 pts

11:58, Up 47-45
They are in the penalty but we can't pull away because of TOs and poor FT shooting

10:01, Down 48-51
I was furious during the time out. We're throwing away the ball. The discrepancy in FGA is now -19!

8:33, Up 52-51
The players somehow responded after I've shown anger the last time. We forced them to commit 3 TOs in their last 3 possessions. All my starters are back on the floor, with at least 92 endurance; hopefully they can last until the end.

3:54, Down 60-68
They hit us with a barrage of shots, mostly from the outside. I maxed out the defense and press (full court man).

2:04, Down 64-69
Still not out of it, if we can take care of the ball. During the time out, I designed an isolation play for Cook.

We cant get it to Cook. Coulibaly misses a J. They rebound, but turned it over. Our ball. 1:37. Still down 64-69

Cook connects on a short J. 1:19. Down 66-69

Cook fouls their 5. We're not yet in the penalty. 1:11

Majerus fouls their 4 while taking a 15 ft J. 2 FTs

Makes both. 0:50. Down 66-71. I called time out. Need to shoot 3s. I've put in a 3 guard lineup.

Coulibaly hits a 3. Down 69-71. No need to foul. About 9 secs differential between game and shot clock.

They miss. Cook rebounds. I call my last time out. 0:21. Down 2

We'll go for a 3, but if someone is open down low, we'll settle for 2 and go to OT. Coulibaly has the hot hand; 21 pts and 3-5 from 3PT.

He misses. We foul. 0:11. Down 2. They will shoot a 1-1

Hits the 1st, misses the 2nd. We rebound. No more time out. Time for one last 3 to send game to OT. Granville throws up a 3 from the top of the key. Miss


Final score: Sam Houston St - 69, Louisiana Monroe - 72
Two consecutive defeats, both with a margin of 3 points. Coaching in DI is a tough job, regardless on the level of competition.


Box Score

[INDENT]Coulibaly 21, 3, 3
Carr 14, 6, 2
Cook 13, 9, 0
Griffin 10, 6, 1, 4 tos
Granville 4, 2, 7, 5 tos
Majerus 3, 3, 1
Thomas 3, 0, 0
Johnson 1, 1, 1
Belton 0,1,0
Jackson 0, 0, 0, 3 tos in 5 mins
[/INDENT]
Team Stats Comparisons

[INDENT]FG%: 50 - 43 (-18 in FGA)
REB: -4
TO: +8
Paint: -4
2nd Chance : -7
Fast Break: -11[/INDENT]


Other Notes

[INDENT]1. We lost in every major team stats category. They out-hustled and out-smarted us. On the positive side, despite the lack of positives, we still had a chance to tie the game at the end.

2. We had a +10 advantage in FTA (23 to 14), but we only converted 56% from the line.

2. Cook has not had a good offensive outing in the 2 losses. We need him to score at least 18 pts. We have to design more plays that will get him the ball inside.

[/INDENT]

[randy]

0:21 left. You have possession, but down by 2. You're playing on the road

I took a gamble and instructed the team to take a 3. It didn't pay off

What would you have done?

[randy]

As evidenced in the past 2 games, we need to get the ball inside more often. Particularly to Cook, who struggled during our 2-game losing streak

Some stats (11 games)

FGAs (Team: 63.0)
- Cook: 14.1 (30 mpg; 18.9 ppg; SCR rating = 38)
- Coulibaly 13.4 (29 mpg; 15.4 ppg; SCR = 27)
- Carr: 12.5 (31 mpg; 15.0 ppg; SCR = 34)
- Majerus: 6.5 (22 mpg; 7.8 ppg; SCR = 31)


Adjustments that we need to make:
[INDENT]1. Slow down the game. We were using a very fast offensive pace (9 or 10). We'll lower to 4 or 5, to give time for the offense to pass the ball inside.
2. Change offensive focus to "heavy inside" (from "favor inside")
3. Train front court players (Cook, Majerus, Griffin) to post more; Carr needs to drive more as well
4. Will put Majerus as the starting 4, while move Cook to 5. Griffin will sub in for both of them.
5. Lessen full court presses, to avoid fatigue esp with our front court players. If we need to press, we'll use primarily HC trapping.
[/INDENT]


Cook and Majerus are both top 100 players when I recruited them last season. We need both of them to carry us inside for the remainder of the season. Particularly Majerus; he's has some flashes of brilliance, but he needs to be consistent. Moving him as a regular starter might help.

Despite Cook's below average performance recently, he is #5 on the Norton watch. His averages so far: 18.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.2 spg. Hopefully, this news will inspire to assert himself more.

[PointGuard]

[Quote=Randy]0:21 left. You have possession, but down by 2. You're playing on the road

I took a gamble and instructed the team to take a 3. It didn't pay off

What would you have done?[/Quote]


Your call was OK. A bit more of a gamble and risky that going for the 2, but if he'd made the 3, you'd be happy, since he didn't it's a disappointment. In your case, you actually got 2 shots at hitting a 3...your guys just didn't connect. C'est la vie.

Unless I had a lights-out 3 point shooter, I probably would have played for 2 since the likelihood of success is greater. In other words, try to get the tie and hope for the best (i.e, hit a 2, then getting a turnover and having a chance for the win, or applying a defensive stop to take it to OT and go for the win there). Since there were 21 sec left, I may even have taken the time down so as not to leave the opponent much time to get a last shot.

But I guess if my starters were dog-tired or I had a lot of players in foul trouble (thereby giving me a disadvantage in OT), I might have gone for the 3 to try to avoid OT.