Another Step forward in the off season & the experience Factor

[perryhawk]

Just some thoughts....feeling a very positive vibe for next year:

Thinking about the HUGE step forward from last year to this year....8 games by the end of the BTT? That is way beyond the norm....but here are some key components.

1) The weight program...we seemed to make some good progress from last year to this in the weight room. What does another step forward provide in terms of performance?....this appears to be a developmental program and the steps we make are incremental.....I hope for better boxing out and rebounding....as well as playing defense without fouling.

2) Concentrating on defense....we made a significant improvement from last year BUT NOT ENOUGH. Can we move that defensive ranking into the top 75 in the country? I think that's possible and gets me to my next point.....

Fran's teams and experience. They seem to do their best with experience.....big jump in that category from last year to this....and next year the make up if this team will be really heavy on seniors and juniors...with Joe W having a lot of good experience for a soph.....Soph Nunge actually being in his 3rd year, etc.....

Here is what I think experience does for a team and for individual players...

1) Consistency of effort and execution...I think they are improved both because of the experience itself (knowing what to expect) and what it takes to accomplish what needs to be done...and having done it, even if only occasionally before.

2) Knowing what is expected in the system......I think Fran's defense in particular that switches up and changes often, requires more of players.....I think the nuances within his system take time to absorb and then execute without hesitation.

So, to try and pull this all together the end result of the experience and development in Fran's program is dependent upon time spent working on defense, working in the weight room, and thoroughly understanding what is required.

Think about a more consistent, and another step up in performance from, Isaiah Moss.

Think about Joe W. with another year in the weight room, a year of experience, and a better understanding of the system and the level of competition....making him more consistent.

Think about JBO with all of the above...and maturing into a real leader....(not just big balls shooter) but a guy who will go to battle and play with intensity in the way he did during the second half today.

A more consistent and stronger Luka Garza.......hopefully not starting the season after having had a 9 pound cyst removed.

Just think if Cook comes back and is an improved interior defender....and an okay shooter out to 15 feet?

I read where Fran said that (intentionally) next year is a really tough schedule...toughest they have had under Fran.

I'm ready!

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Good post OP.

Strength, defense, footwork and ball handling all need to improve, and I think they can. I think Nunge is going to be a player, and I hope Pemsl can put together a healthy season. Sometimes, a senior year can bring out the best in a guy, and I hope that's true for Moss. Joe W exceeded my expectations this year and I expect bigger things from him next year.

I haven't compared stats, but I'm going to guess that the Hawks improved in every meaningful category over last year. Can they do it again?

 

[perryhawk]

Good post OP.

Strength, defense, footwork and ball handling all need to improve, and I think they can. I think Nunge is going to be a player, and I hope Pemsl can put together a healthy season. Sometimes, a senior year can bring out the best in a guy, and I hope that's true for Moss. Joe W exceeded my expectations this year and I expect bigger things from him next year.

I haven't compared stats, but I'm going to guess that the Hawks improved in every meaningful category over last year. Can they do it again?

I was getting lengthy and forgot to mention senioritis......we saw it often under Dr. Tom and hopefully we see it in Fran's teams. You are correct, that can be a big deal.

I will also add that the addition of Joe W and Connor certainly helped and were key in this teams improvement...but, I believe that the core players returning were the biggest difference.....and that should be the case next year.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I feel Fran is deserving of some credit here. Could he, should he, have recruited better players? I'll leave that for another thread.

But THIS TEAM was rarely in a position where they were more talented than their opponent, in the B1G anyway. Coaching has to be considered when a team is able to win this many games.

I'm not a Fran fan - certainly not a dreaded "apologist", but Fran coached this team to a darned good season. You can't just blame him for things that didn't work out, without giving him some credit when they do.

 

[ccrawford117]

Fran is simply outstanding. I was looking at the talent level of the Tennessee players today and comparing them to our guys. It looked like pros vs. Joes. Fran’s ability to mix things up offensively is pretty darn elite. We’re not a team that anyone is dying to play, and next year should be even better.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Totally agree with you, especially the experience part. Nice.

 

[jdv77]

Just like last year, the off-season is going to be critical. If they put in the same kind of work that they did this past off-season, I think 2019-20 will be a very good season.

 

[mikesright]

It will be interesting to see how we do defensively. On the one hand we potentially won’t lose a starter from a bunch of players that are experienced and pretty much maxed out except for Joe. On the other hand if Toussaint or the redshirts catch some fire they might play enhanced roles and some players may change in the rotation to come off the bench vs start. Cook may leave which might change the calculation.

Personally I don’t believe the defense was poor this year due to lack of understanding or communication, but the fact that we don’t have quick feet and thus can’t defend the ball very well and we also don’t have rim protection. Zones are junk defenses at the end of the day, and we have to play it since we can’t man up or we get torched with easy dunks, layups, and 3’s. You’re simply hoping the other team can’t shoot a jump shot. This will nearly always result in poor defensive efficiency if you use it as a crutch like we do.

The end of the year has been a bit frustrating for some of us because I and others believe we won’t be able to take that leap into better seeds and top 4 B1G finishes without major changes to the roster and starting lineup to add athleticism and quickness. The best teams left in the tourney don’t generally play zone very much, and have guards that can penetrate and create shots for themselves and others.

The good news is that Fran at least has control of the team and was able to reinstill confidence in our best players. He also seems to be quite confident that Nunge can provide rim protection and Frederick can provide some speed and shot creation at guard, Pemsyl should give us toughness, and Toussaint has a real chance to be a good PG. Hopefully next year will be one where he can deliver a special season.

 

[perryhawk]

Just like last year, the off-season is going to be critical. If they put in the same kind of work that they did this past off-season, I think 2019-20 will be a very good season.

I think this is the key....has to be a very strong off season.

 

[ZumaHawk]

Well written Perry!!! I agree as well. As Hawk4Shur
commented that Fran does deserve some credit as well. Now, if he is correct with Joe T. I personally will be hoping we can be better for several reasons. I'm hoping our schedule is a tough one which it sounds like it will be. That will help day in and day out.

On the flip side our boys deserve credit as well. Mentally they fought hard after Fran's suspension. It affected them no doubt but recovered pretty good.

 

[NCHawk24]

Just some thoughts....feeling a very positive vibe for next year:

Thinking about the HUGE step forward from last year to this year....8 games by the end of the BTT? That is way beyond the norm....but here are some key components.

1) The weight program...we seemed to make some good progress from last year to this in the weight room. What does another step forward provide in terms of performance?....this appears to be a developmental program and the steps we make are incremental.....I hope for better boxing out and rebounding....as well as playing defense without fouling.

2) Concentrating on defense....we made a significant improvement from last year BUT NOT ENOUGH. Can we move that defensive ranking into the top 75 in the country? I think that's possible and gets me to my next point.....

Fran's teams and experience. They seem to do their best with experience.....big jump in that category from last year to this....and next year the make up if this team will be really heavy on seniors and juniors...with Joe W having a lot of good experience for a soph.....Soph Nunge actually being in his 3rd year, etc.....

Here is what I think experience does for a team and for individual players...

1) Consistency of effort and execution...I think they are improved both because of the experience itself (knowing what to expect) and what it takes to accomplish what needs to be done...and having done it, even if only occasionally before.

2) Knowing what is expected in the system......I think Fran's defense in particular that switches up and changes often, requires more of players.....I think the nuances within his system take time to absorb and then execute without hesitation.

So, to try and pull this all together the end result of the experience and development in Fran's program is dependent upon time spent working on defense, working in the weight room, and thoroughly understanding what is required.

Think about a more consistent, and another step up in performance from, Isaiah Moss.

Think about Joe W. with another year in the weight room, a year of experience, and a better understanding of the system and the level of competition....making him more consistent.

Think about JBO with all of the above...and maturing into a real leader....(not just big balls shooter) but a guy who will go to battle and play with intensity in the way he did during the second half today.

A more consistent and stronger Luka Garza.......hopefully not starting the season after having had a 9 pound cyst removed.

Just think if Cook comes back and is an improved interior defender....and an okay shooter out to 15 feet?

I read where Fran said that (intentionally) next year is a really tough schedule...toughest they have had under Fran.

I'm ready!

I honestly think next year's team could content for the BigT title if...Fran goes to Syracuse and learns how to play their zone. We will never have the players to play lock down man. And although we may give up a few more 3's in zone, if we can cut in 1/2 the number of easy layups/dunks we normally give up we can add 3-5 wins to this year's total.

We will be a long team next year. But we will still lack speed and quickness. Our coaches need to recognize and accept that fact. We will never be a great defensive team, but with our offense we don't need to be. We just need to be average.

 

[perryhawk]

I honestly think next year's team could content for the BigT title if...Fran goes to Syracuse and learns how to play their zone. We will never have the players to play lock down man. And although we may give up a few more 3's in zone, if we can cut in 1/2 the number of easy layups/dunks we normally give up we can add 3-5 wins to this year's total.

We will be a long team next year. But we will still lack speed and quickness. Our coaches need to recognize and accept that fact. We will never be a great defensive team, but with our offense we don't need to be. We just need to be average.

I think that's a good/interesting thought on the Cuse zone.....they worked with Cincinnati this last summer to improve so going some place like Syracuse to learn the zone could be a good step......this will be a long team and play in the zone could be really good. I don't claim anything close to expertise but I wonder if this couldn't be a "good" defensive team if they learned the zone at a level that really suppressed other teams inside game. Good discussion.

 

[NCHawk24]

I think that's a good/interesting thought on the Cuse zone.....they worked with Cincinnati this last summer to improve so going some place like Syracuse to learn the zone could be a good step......this will be a long team and play in the zone could be really good. I don't claim anything close to expertise but I wonder if this couldn't be a "good" defensive team if they learned the zone at a level that really suppressed other teams inside game. Good discussion.

I don't claim any expertise either. But I have to think a good zone can cut down on at least some of the easy baskets we give up. Our offense will be good, even if TC leaves. And no matter what they do, our players are not going to get substantially quicker, which is what we would need for them to be able to effectively play man.

It seem kind of obvious to me. And it seemed to help in the last 2 games. But what do I know.