I prefer to get away from posting after a loss sometimes, especially as disappointing as last night's was. The season is not over, but a ton of pressure is now on Saturday's game.
1) Dean and Barry did our their best to carry us, but they have to have help. The fact that Mak had the 3rd best offensive rating at 0.73 means they had none. Sneed had one of his worst games (0.53) as did Diarra (0.36 and only that good because of a meaningless last 3) and Kam continues his regression (0.19). And then when it mattered most, Barry and Dean combined for 3 huge TOs in the last 5 minutes. This team has had plenty of games where plays were made in the last 4-5 minutes to win it, but this one will go up there with ASU and @KU as a big one that they didn't. I'm a huge believer in players making plays to win close games and we simply didn't get it done.
2) The number of misses around the rim plus unforced TOs simply can't happen on the road. Give TCU credit, they played one of their best defensive games and they did things to take away Dean at times. There was a reason we had so many open looks around the basket, but our guys have to finish plays. In Manhattan Mak got a lot of the same looks that he, Stockard, and Love got tonight, we just didn't finish. Diarra will be fine (and probably Kam too), but they struggled mightly as well. There was the FTA difference too, but I won't be a ref blamer.
3) There are good opportunities left for this team. Beat Baylor on Saturday and we likely get TCU again in KC for another opportunity to get a good win. Those 2 wins bump us back up to the mid to lower 50s in the RPI at least with a chance to beat KU and put us back safely in the tournament. Of course, there is the alternative, but I'm an optimist so I'll stay away from there.
1) Dean and Barry did our their best to carry us, but they have to have help. The fact that Mak had the 3rd best offensive rating at 0.73 means they had none. Sneed had one of his worst games (0.53) as did Diarra (0.36 and only that good because of a meaningless last 3) and Kam continues his regression (0.19). And then when it mattered most, Barry and Dean combined for 3 huge TOs in the last 5 minutes. This team has had plenty of games where plays were made in the last 4-5 minutes to win it, but this one will go up there with ASU and @KU as a big one that they didn't. I'm a huge believer in players making plays to win close games and we simply didn't get it done.
2) The number of misses around the rim plus unforced TOs simply can't happen on the road. Give TCU credit, they played one of their best defensive games and they did things to take away Dean at times. There was a reason we had so many open looks around the basket, but our guys have to finish plays. In Manhattan Mak got a lot of the same looks that he, Stockard, and Love got tonight, we just didn't finish. Diarra will be fine (and probably Kam too), but they struggled mightly as well. There was the FTA difference too, but I won't be a ref blamer.
3) There are good opportunities left for this team. Beat Baylor on Saturday and we likely get TCU again in KC for another opportunity to get a good win. Those 2 wins bump us back up to the mid to lower 50s in the RPI at least with a chance to beat KU and put us back safely in the tournament. Of course, there is the alternative, but I'm an optimist so I'll stay away from there.
