Topic: D'Antoni HERD - ULM post game presser

[biggreenarms]

https://youtu.be/nEFcBv_A0JE

[herd2win]

I really miss journalism.  Zero questions and nothing but o geez, losing is just part of playing sports.  No answers for the lack of effort last night.  He should have done what some other coaches do...sub out the entire starting 5 and see the effort the bench guys and the energy they might bring by just getting playing time.

[DC01HERD]

Is McKey going to play? He was dressed out. It's been a long time since we have had good reporters. They should ask why Fricks doesn't see the floor in the 2nd half. We need production from the benchl.

[wasbarryb]

I really miss journalism.  Zero questions and nothing but o geez, losing is just part of playing sports.  No answers for the lack of effort last night.  He should have done what some other coaches do...sub out the entire starting 5 and see the effort the bench guys and the energy they might bring by just getting playing time.

But that would have involved active participation by the coach.  Didn't you listen to the conference?  DD said coaches don't win games, players do.  DD didn't tell us what coaches do, just that players win or lose games. 
 
DD is doing what he seems to think coaches are supposed to do: nothing but cash your paycheck faithfully.

[herdorbust2]

I really miss journalism.  Zero questions and nothing but o geez, losing is just part of playing sports.  No answers for the lack of effort last night.  He should have done what some other coaches do...sub out the entire starting 5 and see the effort the bench guys and the energy they might bring by just getting playing time.

I agree with you 100%. Even if you lose with the entire bench playing at least you send a message to your starters that this won't be tolerated. Danny tolerates it and doesn't want to upset his top 7. At some point you have to take action and not accept what we witnessed last night and actually the last few games. We were outrebounding every team we played and all of a sudden we are getting destroyed on the boards? It's called effort and heart!!!

[Herdmeister]

Is McKey going to play? He was dressed out. It's been a long time since we have had good reporters. They should ask why Fricks doesn't see the floor in the 2nd half. We need production from the benchl.

McKey is redshirting

[Herdmeister]

But that would have involved active participation by the coach.  Didn't you listen to the conference?  DD said coaches don't win games, players do.  DD didn't tell us what coaches do, just that players win or lose games. 
 
DD is doing what he seems to think coaches are supposed to do: nothing but cash your paycheck faithfully.

Stop by practice today at 1:30 or Monday at 2:15 and you will see what coaches do.

[Big City]

Finger pointing does no good. Last night was a piss poor team effort. The only thing I noticed were the fans. Showed up, loud and into the game.

[svherd]

Stop by practice today at 1:30 or Monday at 2:15 and you will see what coaches do.

They do more than run practice.

[jdonaccbus]

A question needs to be asked as to why we have so many scholarship players that never contribute a thing. That is a serious problem right now, and I have news, that will continue to be a problem as some of our starters are starting to look worn down. I didn't see as much energy or bounce last night. Saturday we will be playing a game where our starters played excessive minutes. Kinsey played all 50 minutes. Taylor 48 and Curfman 47 minutes. This will be a game where other players will need to play. Unfortunately, they aren't prepared as they have sat on the bench all season.

It is becoming apparent that if guys aren't playing any minutes at all and they are upperclassmen that the coaching staff has done a poor job in some areas of recruiting. I am a little fearful we will see a lot more losses upcoming than people realize. We didn't look good as a "team" last night. Dan really needed to move a guy or two off the roster to the D2/NAIA ranks and bring in some type of transfer that we could bring off the bench as a defender and lock down on a guard that can break a defender down off the dribble. We have had problem defending good guards off the bounce since the Queen's game. We needed a guy to come off the bench who could shut down an opposing guard. Instead we have two or three guys over there on the bench that clap and wave towels.

[miltonherdfan]

Dan's coaching like a coach that isn't real concerned with what happens after March...

[ru4mu2]

Players do win games, he's right.
Coaches lose games.  Not ONE time did I hear "I need to coach them better". 
Threw the team under the bus!!
I knew I shouldn't have hit the play button....

[wlf]

But that would have involved active participation by the coach.  Didn't you listen to the conference?  DD said coaches don't win games, players do.  DD didn't tell us what coaches do, just that players win or lose games. 
 
DD is doing what he seems to think coaches are supposed to do: nothing but cash your paycheck faithfully.

If you didn't see that the ULM players wanted it more, then what I say won't mean anything. "Players win games " is a polite way of saying my players didn't want it as bad and got outplayed, without calling names.
And it was just that simple. You don't get massacred on the boards like we did last night otherwise. rebounding is desire.

[mu79grad]

jdonaccubs, your posting reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a friend.  He was telling me that his daughter works with Pat Brady, in the public school system near Myrtle Beach.    You old-timers may remember that Pat Brady was a sophomore at Marshall when Coach D'antoni was a senior.  Coach Ellis Johnson hardly ever used his bench.  Who could forget the "Iron Five" when Dan was a sophomore and a junior.  This is just a guess that Coach D'Antoni remembers those "Iron Five" days, and it was successful (two straight NIT appearances), so there is really no need for a bench that can contribute a number of minutes.     

[andy31]

jdonaccubs, your posting reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a friend.  He was telling me that his daughter works with Pat Brady, in the public school system near Myrtle Beach.    You old-timers may remember that Pat Brady was a sophomore at Marshall when Coach D'antoni was a senior.  Coach Ellis Johnson hardly ever used his bench.  Who could forget the "Iron Five" when Dan was a sophomore and a junior.  This is just a guess that Coach D'Antoni remembers those "Iron Five" days, and it was successful (two straight NIT appearances), so there is really no need for a bench that can contribute a number of minutes.     

This would be a really bad idea when you run a system that is fast paced.  I think the problem is more that we don't have enough good players on the bench to put in, but I have seen comments before from Danny that lead me to believe he is sometimes guilty of a little "well, back in my day" kind of thinking.

[jdonaccbus]

jdonaccubs, your posting reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a friend.  He was telling me that his daughter works with Pat Brady, in the public school system near Myrtle Beach.    You old-timers may remember that Pat Brady was a sophomore at Marshall when Coach D'antoni was a senior.  Coach Ellis Johnson hardly ever used his bench.  Who could forget the "Iron Five" when Dan was a sophomore and a junior.  This is just a guess that Coach D'Antoni remembers those "Iron Five" days, and it was successful (two straight NIT appearances), so there is really no need for a bench that can contribute a number of minutes.     

I like the D'Antoni's a lot. There is a lot about Danny that I like as a basketball coach.

With that said, this is a different era. The athleticism is better in 2023. Kids come out bigger, stronger and faster. It requires more energy to guard and defend and box out. There is a reason Division I schools are allowed 13 full scholarship players in this era. While I like Danny, the "back in the day" stuff doesn't work now-a-days. He doesn't like the portal; neither do I. But reality is that it is here to stay and a head coach has to be open to use it to fill the needs of a roster. We have a serious need of an on-the-ball defender that just hasn't been addressed the past two years. I actually don't think Early would have been that bad at times last night.

[herdorbust2]

I like the D'Antoni's a lot. There is a lot about Danny that I like as a basketball coach.

With that said, this is a different era. The athleticism is better in 2023. Kids come out bigger, stronger and faster. It requires more energy to guard and defend and box out. There is a reason Division I schools are allowed 13 full scholarship players in this era. While I like Danny, the "back in the day" stuff doesn't work now-a-days. He doesn't like the portal; neither do I. But reality is that it is here to stay and a head coach has to be open to use it to fill the needs of a roster. We have a serious need of an on-the-ball defender that just hasn't been addressed the past two years. I actually don't think Early would have been that bad at times last night.

Honestly Danny can get it done and his system is the best in the game. What holds a Danny back is Danny. Every year you have to recruit the best players possible and not worry about what your players coming back think. You can't have half your team sitting on the bench because they can't play. Move them out and find 6 portal players that can play. If they start over what is coming back then so be it. If they don't then you have at least a bench. Honestly we need a PG like that bearded guy from last night that can break you down and score. Then him Andy and Curfman could rotate the 2 spots and stay fresh. We also need another athletic swing player that can score from the portal that can take Kinseys place. Please Danny do these things and demand toughness and rebounding and you will be very successful. That is my hope but it doesn't seem like that is what he believes.

[GreenWhite]

All I've read and heard is that we only need to be 8 deep. Now, people are saying we need to be 10 deep. I agree the game has changed and a short bench just does not get it done. Also, skinny players in the post is not going to get it done.

The reason I have not bought in on practice reports is that our bench is weak. Who is guarding our main five players? Who is bodying up against Micah? Goran? Who is defending Obinna? Fricks or Connor? We do not have a strong enough bench to challenge these guys in practice. That falls squarely on the coaches who recruited the players we have.

[herdorbust2]

All I've read and heard is that we only need to be 8 deep. Now, people are saying we need to be 10 deep. I agree the game has changed and a short bench just does not get it done. Also, skinny players in the post is not going to get it done.

The reason I have not bought in on practice reports is that our bench is weak. Who is guarding our main five players? Who is bodying up against Micah? Goran? Who is defending Obinna? Fricks or Connor? We do not have a strong enough bench to challenge these guys in practice. That falls squarely on the coaches who recruited the players we have.

We have seen how good this team can play when they are focused. They were lights out against SMiss, Toledo, App St, Ohio, Akron etc. problem is they are about one more good player and discipline to bring it every game that is holding them back. We have had games we looked outstanding this year. And we have had games like the 5 we lost that we didn't come to play. Last night was the most bizarre game I have ever been to. First they literally never showed up to play. And second they had the win locked about 3 different times and just gave it away all 3 times. They mentally just never even showed up. And that is a very bad sign. If a player can't get excited at 17-4 and crowds growing then we have a major problem somewhere.

[Flat Tire 2]

Some good observations so far in this thread. I just watched the presser and I noticed at about the beginning at the 30 second mark DD said "we sat down in front of a three which we told them not to do that". I heard similar comments from DD in pressers about the players not listening to his coaching. If a player or players are not doing what he tells them to do, he needs to sit them on the bench until they follow his coaching. You can't be a nice guy to the players if they are not followlng your instructions. JMO.

[thunderingon]

I don't like calling out players because we as fans have very little idea of what is going on with them.  Yesterday just looked like one of those games where 3 or 4 of our key players didn't show up and play hard.  They looked like they were just coasting.  Kinsey played well, but had very little help and the only other person making shots was Kurfman, who started fast, but we didn't get the ball to him in the 2nd half.   We just can't have 3 starters and the 6th man not playing hard or well all at the same time.  Its easy to say, "bench them" to send a message, but as a coach, you want to play the guys who got you to 17-4 and expect them to get it done.  I hope and expect more energy and urgency on Saturday.  Just an overall bad loss, but give credit to #0...that dude hit some shots.  Maybe this will be the loss that lights a fire and we can get some road wins that we now desparately need the next 2 weeks. 

[herdorbust2]

I don't like calling out players because we as fans have very little idea of what is going on with them.  Yesterday just looked like one of those games where 3 or 4 of our key players didn't show up and play hard.  They looked like they were just coasting.  Kinsey played well, but had very little help and the only other person making shots was Kurfman, who started fast, but we didn't get the ball to him in the 2nd half.   We just can't have 3 starters and the 6th man not playing hard or well all at the same time.  Its easy to say, "bench them" to send a message, but as a coach, you want to play the guys who got you to 17-4 and expect them to get it done.  I hope and expect more energy and urgency on Saturday.  Just an overall bad loss, but give credit to #0...that dude hit some shots.  Maybe this will be the loss that lights a fire and we can get some road wins that we now desparately need the next 2 weeks.

It's very easy to bench them. If they are giving effort then you set an example. So what did they learn last night?we can play how we want and still play the same minutes?

[thunderingon]

It's very easy to bench them. If they are giving effort then you set an example. So what did they learn last night?we can play how we want and still play the same minutes?

I get it, but this isn't a middle or high school team that we are talking about.  My hope is that they were reminded that we have to bring it every night or we can lose to anyone.  And my assumption is that no one on the team likes to lose.  Personally, I would like to see Tousaint and Goran get some minutes against these teams that want to slow down and play half court. Those guys may slow us down during some games, but they are going to provide some post defense and rebounding that is needed.  Some nights we just need to find some toughness and maybe OAK doesn't foul out if that happens.  Also, we had someone play 48 minutes and had 1 rebound.  How is that possible? Something was just off from the tip last night. 

[coalherd]

But that would have involved active participation by the coach.  Didn't you listen to the conference?  DD said coaches don't win games, players do.  DD didn't tell us what coaches do, just that players win or lose games. 
 
DD is doing what he seems to think coaches are supposed to do: nothing but cash your paycheck faithfully.

No doubt, wasbarryb.  Name me ONE other job or occupation where a 75-year-old man making a substantial six figure salary can stand essentially motionless with his arms crossed in a large public venue before thousands of people and take CATNAPS!!  WHAT A GIG!!!

[coalherd]

Some good observations so far in this thread. I just watched the presser and I noticed at about the beginning at the 30 second mark DD said "we sat down in front of a three which we told them not to do that". I heard similar comments from DD in pressers about the players not listening to his coaching. If a player or players are not doing what he tells them to do, he needs to sit them on the bench until they follow his coaching. You can't be a nice guy to the players if they are not followlng your instructions. JMO.

Yes, like it or not, Danny needs to adopt a tactic or two from Bob Huggins' playbook, whether or not he, or Herd fans, may like it.  Huggins has often said something to the effect of, "they're going to do as they are told (or coached to do) or they are NOT GOING TO BE HERE"!!  After last year's losing season, Huggs jettisoned 7 or 8 players, experienced regulars or little used reserves alike!  Danny has kept too many non-productive "observers" around on his rosters too long, IMO!