The Bobcat Nation

http://www.pepperdinesports.com/allaccess/?media=272404" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Video stream at the above link. Game starts at 6 PM.

we trail at the half 23-17. Shooting about 25%. Most of our shots aren't even close. Every big has at least 2 fouls.

23-17 at half. Bad shooting by both teams (8-32 MSU, 7-22 Pepperdine). Both teams have tried to establish inside game via passes into post or guards going in for layups (which may not really count as establishing inside game). Biggest discrepancy? The Waves are 8-of-12 from the line, the Bobcats are 1-2. Didn't take an FT until 1 minute, 32 seconds left in half. Blount )5 pts, 4 rbds) carrying load; MSU at small board disadvantage (24-19). I like trying to go inside for MSU, makes me think the whole "we'll jack up 3s from anywhere" thought process might be escaping the normal philosophy.

Looks like we lucked out that Pepperdine had a bad shooting night, too, or this would be one of the biggest blowouts in school history. MSU has 35 points with 2:43 to play in the game!!! Shooting 30 percent from the floor, 44% from the line, 13% from three.

Final 59-36. 28.3% FG, 10% 3s, FTs 41.7%.

Final numbers 15-53 shooting for MSu, 7-21 in last 20 mins. 21-47 shooting Waves, 10-25 2nd half. 9-15 at one point.

59-36 against a very mediocre Pepperdine team. I'd love to hear what the apologists have to say about this one. This team was god-awful terrible. They'll get seriously lit up at the Pit at New Mexico next. Then a little break before conference season starts. Gee...I can hardly wait

BelgradeBobcat wrote:59-36 against a very mediocre Pepperdine team. I'd love to hear what the apologists have to say about this one. This team was god-awful terrible. They'll get seriously lit up at the Pit at New Mexico next. Then a little break before conference season starts. Gee...I can hardly wait

amazing how bad of shooters we seem to be over the last ten years or so. i really miss the days of sprinks, justin brown before the knees gave, and conway. at least then when we had no inside game, we at least knew we had shooters. someone on this team is going to have to step up....

Yeah I don't know what it is. Guys like Moon, Stewart, and Blount were good shooters in JC, but they get here and most nights they can't hit anything. I realize D-1 defenses are tough, but I've seen these guys blow enough wide open shots to wonder what's going on. I don't know Huse personally, but to me he looks like he's wound a little tight-and I think it rubs off on his players.

Huse's teams have been susceptible to these very low offensive outputs. Anybody remember that 13 point half we had at NAU a couple of years ago? Yeah...things don't appear to be changing. That's a huge concern.

This just tweeted by Pepperdine basketball:

"Stat of the night: 36 points allowed is fewest given up by Pepperdine in nearly 60 years. (70-35 win at UCSB on 2/23/1952)."

Yea, when I saw the 59-36 score, I just assumed it was at the half in a shootout. 36 points????? Did they do away with the shot clock for this game???

I have not been on this site this preseason I was hoping to see something different when I attended the game in Moscow Idaho a few weeks ago but after seeing the live streaming of the Pepperdine game I think a major problem with this team is role definition and that is Huse's job to define those roles for the players. We have some greart JC players but they are not consistant, they are not sure of themseleves. Huse runs a lot of sets and I 'm sure that takes time to learn and I really think that is a portion of the problem. I also question what our point guard is thinking when he drives in against 6'10" guys and he is probably only 5'8" at best. We have a descent big guy this year we need to use him. A lot more will open up for him if we get the permiter guys hitting open shots and driving when it is there. I have a question what has happended to Shawn Reid this year? I thought he would have stepped up this year. Well I hope they get things figured out by conference and I will trek out to Cheney to watch them play EWU.

Is it just me, or does the team seem like they have a mentality of trying not to screw up? Huse seems to rotate a lot of guys: it seems like the guys on the floor seem wound-up, knowing that if the miss a few shots or make a few mistakes, they are going to get benched.

CelticCat wrote:Is it just me, or does the team seem like they have a mentality of trying not to screw up? Huse seems to rotate a lot of guys: it seems like the guys on the floor seem wound-up, knowing that if the miss a few shots or make a few mistakes, they are going to get benched.

not just you....

to be fair, a lot of coaches take this approach with success. however, when you're not having success....this coaching style doesn't look the best. i'm all for no-nonsense coaching, but the players under huse haven't been responding well....

ilovethecats wrote:

CelticCat wrote:Is it just me, or does the team seem like they have a mentality of trying not to screw up? Huse seems to rotate a lot of guys: it seems like the guys on the floor seem wound-up, knowing that if the miss a few shots or make a few mistakes, they are going to get benched.

not just you....

to be fair, a lot of coaches take this approach with success. however, when you're not having success....this coaching style doesn't look the best. i'm all for no-nonsense coaching, but the players under huse haven't been responding well....

I would agree with this too. In the Idaho game I cannot remember who it was but they shot an ill-advised 3 on a fast break situation and it went out of bounds and the player was already heading to the bench before the buzzer for his sub to come in buzzed. I understand playing alot of guys early to find combinations but some of this he needs to let guys play through. I have not watched enough this year to say if he has a short leash with any but I would believe he does having watched this team the last 6 years under Huse.

4everacatfan wrote:I have not been on this site this preseason I was hoping to see something different when I attended the game in Moscow Idaho a few weeks ago but after seeing the live streaming of the Pepperdine game I think a major problem with this team is role definition and that is Huse's job to define those roles for the players. We have some greart JC players but they are not consistant, they are not sure of themseleves. Huse runs a lot of sets and I 'm sure that takes time to learn and I really think that is a portion of the problem. I also question what our point guard is thinking when he drives in against 6'10" guys and he is probably only 5'8" at best. We have a descent big guy this year we need to use him. A lot more will open up for him if we get the permiter guys hitting open shots and driving when it is there. I have a question what has happended to Shawn Reid this year? I thought he would have stepped up this year. Well I hope they get things figured out by conference and I will trek out to Cheney to watch them play EWU.

I agree that Singleton tries to put the team on his back at times...seems to think he can score in the paint....he has to remember he's a point guard and needs to distribute the ball! He's not a go-to-guy even though he's a senior! He can penetrate into the key but gets stuffed 80% of the time...if he can do that and get the ball to Tre or Mo or Jordain...then maybe we can be a threat! If he keeps doing what he's doing....I say pull him and play Dison!~

Helcat72 wrote:

4everacatfan wrote:I have not been on this site this preseason I was hoping to see something different when I attended the game in Moscow Idaho a few weeks ago but after seeing the live streaming of the Pepperdine game I think a major problem with this team is role definition and that is Huse's job to define those roles for the players. We have some greart JC players but they are not consistant, they are not sure of themseleves. Huse runs a lot of sets and I 'm sure that takes time to learn and I really think that is a portion of the problem. I also question what our point guard is thinking when he drives in against 6'10" guys and he is probably only 5'8" at best. We have a descent big guy this year we need to use him. A lot more will open up for him if we get the permiter guys hitting open shots and driving when it is there. I have a question what has happended to Shawn Reid this year? I thought he would have stepped up this year. Well I hope they get things figured out by conference and I will trek out to Cheney to watch them play EWU.

I agree that Singleton tries to put the team on his back at times...seems to think he can score in the paint....he has to remember he's a point guard and needs to distribute the ball! He's not a go-to-guy even though he's a senior! He can penetrate into the key but gets stuffed 80% of the time...if he can do that and get the ball to Tre or Mo or Jordain...then maybe we can be a threat! If he keeps doing what he's doing....I say pull him and play Dison!~

I can't blame Singleton though. If I were in his shoes, I might feel the need to try and take the game over as well, cuz no one else seems to want any part of it.

Say whatever you want about Rod, but he plays his butt off every game.

I've seen a lot of intense players who really want to win...some try to do things they can't do. It may be that no one wants to do it....or Rod doesn't trust them to present themselves as an option....either way Huse needs to change something. You don't see too many teams whose 5 foot-nothing point guard is the go-to scorer. We had Jeff Riggs at one point who was....but he could jump out of the building!