MBK Final: Stanford 79, Cougs 70 (Story + Boxscore + Highlights + Postgame Presser)

[ScottHood]

Cougs had a 7-pt halftime lead, but couldn't hold it in 2H.

Story: https://washingtonstate.rivals.com/news/hoops-cougs-can-t-sustain-hot-start-drop-4th-straight-pac-12-game

Boxscore: http://www.wsucougars.com/boxscore.aspx?id=8753&path=mbball

Postgame Presser:
https://youtu.be/5Z0utZPWDg8
Highlights:

 

[ElComanche]

How in the hell can three front court players have 17 turnovers? I did not see the game as i somehow knew they were going to throw the game away.Sometimes the malaise they cougs get into is just unwatchable.Kent calls it experience , i do not know what to call it. The guys need to realize that every possession is important.As a player i realized that and a few mind wanderings can lead to a swing of 10-12 points.The ass beatings continue and no one has stepped up to lead the charge.They have enough talent to win but somehow they do not focus for the full 40 minutes. The season is well on its way and they are not an inexperience team . Skaggs is now a liability as teams are prepared for him and take advantage of him because he cannot play defense. He needs to sit down and play only in spot situations.

 

[jourdand]

Skaggs had good looks but just didn’t make the shots. It wasn’t Anything Stanford did, he just didn’t make the shots. All players have good and bad games especially shooters. He also was on the floor twice getting tie ups, drew 2 charges and had multiple tips that kept the ball alive and led to Coug rebounds. If you want to bench a player because of his defense bench Aqcuaah he is the worst defender on the team except maybe Franks. Franks poor defense comes from a lack of basketball IQ he doesn’t seem to understand weekside help or weekside rotations but Acquaah gambles way to much and get burns constantly off the dribble. That being said he played his best overall game last night, so he is still progressing in the right direction. He just needs to realize at this level he is not the best player on the court and play with good fundementals.

 

[avabob11]

Nothing drives me more nuts than turnovers. 40+ in the last two games, and many of the unforced variety. Bad spacing, poor off the ball movement seem to be the biggest culprits.

Also, on an unrelated front, has anyone else noticed that we do not have anyone remotely capable of finishing through any contact in the paint. That is an athletic problem that I dont blame on anyone, but it is frustrating to watch.

Acquaah did have his best game yet, but that was about the only bright spot.

 

[jourdand]

I have noticed we get very few 3pt plays the old fashion way. Not sure why, usually it’s either a strength or concentration issue but that is for the individual not sure why a whole team would struggle with it. As far as spacing and movement I would like to see more off ball screens and cutters flashing into the lane. It seems we run on ball screens and occasionally week baseline screens for Skaggs. Drick said in the post game interview that he thought they needed to slow down just a bit. He was talking about the turnovers but it could help in other areas as well. Players might be standing around because they know there is going to be a pick and roll then a shot, no secondary offense. Hell half the time we don’t get to the pick and roll before we launch a shot.

 

[avabob1]

I don't care if we put up 35 three point attempts per game. It just seems to me we could generate better looks . As for the old fashioned 3 point play, pretty hard to get when you can't score through contact. What bothers me even more is that we can't even draw a foul many times on those plays. We got stripped in the paint at least 5 times last night. Pollard does a great job of getting open down low, but can't finish if he even gets breathed on. Franks tries to over finesse every move in the paint.

 

[ElComanche]

The worse defensive player by far is Skaggs. People breeze past him like he is glued to the floor.As far as finishing shots in the paint that can be coached. I have seen where coaches have other players with large foam pads bludgeon the players in practice who can get used to finishing through on their shots. They learn to deal with contact in the paint.

 

[bogusto]

The worse defensive player by far is Skaggs. People breeze past him like he is glued to the floor.As far as finishing shots in the paint that can be coached. I have seen where coaches have other players with large foam pads bludgeon the players in practice who can get used to finishing through on their shots. They learn to deal with contact in the paint.

No one on this team challenges drives to the basket, hence my characterization of "matador defense", and, given his skimpy minutes, Skaggs is far from the biggest problem in this regard.

 

[ElComanche]

Skaggs tries but just could not keep you from driving to the basket. There is a reason he played scarce minutes even as a juco player.Hell ,he got zero in all categories in the last game. If a defensive player is slow and glued to the floor,it disrupts the whole defense. He cannot move quick enough to stop drives to the basket.The other players try to overcompensate for his defensive liabilities On Offense he cannot drive to the basket and i do not know how many TO s are caused by players trying to get him the ball. Kent was using him correctly early in the season but is asking him to do too much given his obvious physical liabilities. His presence on the floor is hurting rather than helping the team That one is on Kent ,not the player who plays his heart out.

 

[7ICoug]

When you have graduate transfer with 7 TO's it is time.

 

[jourdand]

So I guess Skaggs is the player you have chose to hate on this year! Well I guess it’s good to get it out of the way early that way we all know where you stand. The funniest part of you assertions is the fact that by your own admision you did not watch the game. Skaggs missed shots he has normally been making, they were not forced, did not take the team out of the offensive flow (unlike a few of Flynn’s shots) and if anything they should have been trying to get him more shots. Watch a replay of the game if possible and watch the guys getting drove by on the perimeter and see who they are. Skaggs and coach Kent know his limitations and give defensive assignments accordingly.

 

[ElComanche]

It is not hate,it is a look at a player who seems to be favored by posters. He was not recruited by colleges for solid reasons.I have seen him play enough and saw videos of the game. If one looks at the score card ,he was 0-4 on three pointers and had zero everything else. Yet you praise his play? It is astounding to me and i would bet his minutes go down. He can help the team if he is used correctly. Yes watch how Skaggs is by far the slowest man on the court. He tries very hard ,on that i will agree. if he has success ,more power to him. But i think that in order for the cougs to be better defensively,he needs to cheer from the bench

 

[SaveFerris]

I do like Acquaah coming in with Skaggs. With Acquaah a little more under control and turning it over less he has the ability to penetrate and get Skaggs (and others) a little more space on their looks.

 

[ElComanche]

Milan has to be successful as he is really the only guard who can consistently penetrate under heavy pressure.When he started playing badly the cougs started losing games.He is the quickest guard they have on offense and defense.

 

[SaveFerris]

When he does that (2 quick turnovers and a foul) he sits back down. He has definitely improved though and agree we need someone with the ability to penetrate defenses.

 

[jourdand]

Watched the whole Stanford first half and Skaggs got burned exactly zero times and drew two charges. He without a doubt has limitations as do all players and I’m really not a big fan of his but I’m also not a fan of knocking a player without watching the game. I can’t comment on the cal game because I have not watched it yet.

 

[SaveFerris]

Skaggs didn't play much today but believe he was 1-2 from 3. He has his flaws but for the most part makes good decision and is in position on both ends.