Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Our offense is stagnant. Too much dribble, not enough cut.
True, but Prairie shooting a LOT of 3 pointers, at about a 57% make percentage doesn't help.
Because of that WSU lucky that down 13, as could be down 27 with Prairie's TORRID HOT SHOOTING.
I’m beginning to think WSU might have a “Lorenzo Romar “ situation on its hands. Smith is undoubtedly a solid recruiter but I’m not sure he can coach. Year four and we still have zero Offense, stand around and watch somebody dribble is not an offense.
Gueye has a high shooting percentage but I swear if it’s not a dunk he can’t put the ball in the basket.
Not a bad early observation. However, Romar had several lottery picks on his teams and still couldn't deliver much of the time. Smith is bringing in really good recruits by WSU standards, but they don't match Lorenzo's recruits. He's not very lucky in the injury department but I agree that the offense really struggles. After watching Kent Ball, I expected a much better offensive plan & execution. That expectation has not really been met.I’m beginning to think WSU might have a “Lorenzo Romar “ situation on its hands. Smith is undoubtedly a solid recruiter but I’m not sure he can coach. Year four and we still have zero Offense, stand around and watch somebody dribble is not an offense.
Gueye has a high shooting percentage but I swear if it’s not a dunk he can’t put the ball in the basket.
Not a bad early observation. However, Romar had several lottery picks on his teams and still couldn't deliver much of the time. Smith is bringing in really good recruits by WSU standards, but they don't match Lorenzo's recruits. He's not very lucky in the injury department but I agree that the offense really struggles. After watching Kent Ball, I expected a much better offensive plan & execution. That expectation has not really been met.
Glad Cougar
Not a bad early observation. However, Romar had several lottery picks on his teams and still couldn't deliver much of the time. Smith is bringing in really good recruits by WSU standards, but they don't match Lorenzo's recruits. He's not very lucky in the injury department but I agree that the offense really struggles. After watching Kent Ball, I expected a much better offensive plan & execution. That expectation has not really been met.
Glad Cougar
Not a bad early observation. However, Romar had several lottery picks on his teams and still couldn't deliver much of the time. Smith is bringing in really good recruits by WSU standards, but they don't match Lorenzo's recruits. He's not very lucky in the injury department but I agree that the offense really struggles. After watching Kent Ball, I expected a much better offensive plan & execution. That expectation has not really been met.
Glad Cougar
I agree that the offense is BENEATH the talent level and that Smith has been semi bad, below average on coaching a better offense.
BUT.
You rightly mention injuries.
Smith's offenses do better, when, if have experienced, healthy, etc, rosters, etc.
Not only has Smith been UNLUCKY in the injury department, but he is also unlucky in the "Almost the WHOLE team left and had to be replaced with almost a whole, new different team department"
The only holdovers Smith had was Gueye, Jackson, Jaki, Bamba, Rodman, as far as starters, co starters, 6th men, key rotational players, etc, and out of that Jackson is out some to much to most to almost all the season.
That's only 4 main players returning.
Then Jaki got injured. That's only 3 main players returning.
The rest of team, altho great talented players are either new, inexperienced, have been bench players, have not played with, have no chemistry, etc.
Also without Jackson and Jaki, and a POST player like Jackson, then defenses can key on, focus on, STACK ON, etc, to SHUT DOWN, STOP Gueye.
Gueye altho he can face up ball handle, drive, can sometimes shoot, make midrange 7,8,9, etc, foot shots, can sometimes shoot, make runners, floaters, tear droppers, hook shots, up and under, VERY BASIC post moves, is still SEMI RAW, primarily receives dishes, dunks, cleans up garbage, score easy inside points.
That's why Gueye needs next season as a Junior to be NBA ready, 1st or 2nd round draft.
If Gueye wasnt semi raw, better, NBA ready, etc, he could survive defenses focusing on stopping him, and not letting him beat them, and not having Jackson to draw away some of the defensive heat, focus away from him.
Even Jaki, could help draw away defense from Gueye, at 4 spot. Rodman can't do that.
So because of that, no inside post, scoring presence.
Smith needs to adjust by having Gueye at center, and either Diongue or Crespin at 4, PF spot, until Jaki gets back.
And that's the Frontcourt.
In the BACKCOURT, Bamba has so far been the only one who has CONSISTENTLY drived, penetrated, slashed to run, basket, scored inside and outside, has a consistent in and out game.
That has led to no or few points in paint, and either passing an or dribbling on perimeter and then jacking up a outside shot, rinse, wash, repeat, and no movement, etc, on offense.
It's going to take some time for the players, team, to get healthy, JELL, DEVELOP CHEMISTRY, PLAY TOGETHER, etc.
It's going to take some time for Gueye to learn how to flourish, survive, play, etc, without a Jackson, Efe, Jaki, etc.
It's going to take some time for Powell, Jabe, Rodman, the BACKCOURT to move, drive, score points in paint, pass, etc
They all have it in them, they just have to CLICK, and it will take some time to CLICK.
BUT When they do CLICK, it is, will be a thing of beauty.
The team's offense CLICKED wonderfully against TEXAS ST.
Also Smith has been more focused on defense(Except vs Prairie where defense was also bad)
Smith needs to focus more on it offense, instead of seeming to only focus on defense.
Later on this season, and next season(if Smith doesn't have to replace whole team again), is when the offense will get better and when it will be good to Judge Smith's ability to coach a offense.
Also Smith won 18 games in regular season last season, went to NIT final 4, won a Pac 12 tourny game, had a 11-9 Pac 12 record.
Smith will go 17-13, NIT/CBI AT MINIMUM this season.
You don't do that well last season, and this season with a SUCKY offense.
The offense will get better. We just have to have patience, give the offense, team, players, coaching, etc, time to adjust, get healthy, get better.
Have to wonder if Crespin was available or not? Nothing was said and I haven’t heard anything but seems he would have got time if he was. Prior to this game it appeared he was ahead of the very raw Dion. Prairie View was very small and quick which might have caused problems for Crespin but down 20 why not.
I’m really starting to wonder how the recruiting services do their star rankings. Dion is obviously tall and has great wingspan but We’ve definitely had equal freshmen centers who were 2 and 3 stars coming in. Same with Rosario solid player but 4 star recruit? Seems high to me.
I think the Cougars only suited up 8 players. Rodman, Jakimovski, Mael-Crispin were sidelined for the game. Non-starters Darling (27 minutes of playing time in the game), Diongue (13 minutes), and Rosario (18 minutes) were on the floor for most of the second half when they were down 20. Who else should've been in the game at that point? At least 2 starters were going to have to be out there.
Glad Cougar
That's even worse then I thought. That means that Jackson, Jaki, Rodman, Mael Crespin, were, was out, and Diongue only got a measly 13 minutes, probably because Diongue was probably still slightly dinged up from being INJURED, LAST GAME, 1 GAME AGO.
That means that WSU's ENTIRE FRONTCOURT, was BEAT UP, INJURED, ETC, AND THAT GUEYE WAS THE ONLY FRONTCOURT PLAYER LEFT.
Houinsou the French player IS NOT, CANT, SHOULDNT BE USED AS A FRONTCOURT PLAYER.
But despite that, some PG, SG, etc, has to play at 4 spot, because can't go with only 4 players, instead of 5 players, and can't play Diongue more then 13 minutes, so only thing left is to stick a backup guard in the 4 spot.
NO EFFIN WONDER WSU LOST TO, GOT BLOWN OUT BY PRAIRIE, BECAUSE OF A DECIMATED FRONTCOURT ROSTER.
What's next? Gueye and Diongue getting injured or sick and having Gueye, Jackson, Jaki, Diongue, Mael Crespin, Rodman, ALL BE OUT TOGETHER.
SHEESH, BS, TALK ABOUT UNLUCKY SMITH.
WHATS NEXT?
SHEESH.