Poll:: what is the reason we are losing these close games

Tom98 · Unread post by **Tom98** » 8 years ago

I would like to see what we really think the problem is as a fan base.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 8 years ago

I think its some of C and some of E. I do believe there is a mental aspect to it at this point as the close losses continue to pile up. But I also believe that a lot of it this year comes from not having that go to guy at the end of games.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 8 years ago

It's definitely not A, GW stinks. As do at least 4 other teams we lost to.

My theory, its a combo of two things - a team that is wound too tight (due to DH) and clams up at the end, and no true leader on the court to steady the ship in crunch time.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 8 years ago

Going with C. Not sure if it's mental or what. Even without EC this team, on paper coming in, is more talented than we have had in a long time. But bricking wide open shots doesn't help. The plays are being executed and guys are missing wide open shots.

BPR2010 · Unread post by **BPR2010** » 8 years ago

Strongly agree with not having the "go-to" closer at the end of games. Empty possessions become the norm under 5 minutes, whether that is not having a closer or coaching is up for interpretation. It's become a very bad trend with this team and honestly don't see anything in sight to change it. Some teams just have it and some don't. Having a Melo Trimble/Kris Dunn/Buddy Hield type of player also helps too (not in terms of talent, just being a great finisher/leader), which is non-existent on this team right now. Excellent X's and O's coaches will find ways to get open shots for players on called sets as well.

Tom98 · Unread post by **Tom98** » 8 years ago

So if it is C...how is this problem fixed? Do we bring in a shrink? Seriously what needs to be done. I'm now starting to think option E might be the real answer. Maybe we have a lot of really good players and you need a great one to win close games against very good teams.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 8 years ago

Tom98 wrote:So if it is C...how is this problem fixed? Do we bring in a shrink? Seriously what needs to be done. I'm now starting to think option E might be the real answer. Maybe we have a lot of really good players and you need a great one to win close games against very good teams.

Not sure Tom, interesting point. But if Rhody needs a fringe NBA draft player to make the tournament, then recruitment needs to step way up. Because if you only have one of them, and they go down, season over.

Tom98 · Unread post by **Tom98** » 8 years ago

Marquis Jones was a very good player for URI his junior/senior year. He was not a star or anything but he could definitely close games out when the pressure was on. So how do you explain that? Terell and Jarvis I feel have a little more talent than Jones. How do we get them to flip the switch.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 8 years ago

Decent proposed poll, let the mods edit/modify and see what it gets...

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

It's some combination of all those choices.

Although with choice A, we have talent but how much do we really have, if we can't make open shots?

Choice E, sorry EC is not Kemba Walker or Bryce Cotton. Or even close, really.

We have no clutch shooters or playmakers on this team. JG is as close as we have, and he can't make game ending shots or FT's.

Choice B, the offensive game plan stinks. Next year, Dan had better make good on his promise to uptempo the ball. That's what these players are best at, not standing around especially late in games.

We finally should have the depth to do that.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 8 years ago

I am going with A.....as offered in the poll...

Tom98 · Unread post by **Tom98** » 8 years ago

But Rambone we can make open shots at a good percentage in the first half. Anybody who watched the St Bonnie's/GW can see we have better players and yet we are still losing.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 8 years ago

Tom98, the switch is not in the players head, it resides on the bench....

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 8 years ago

Tom98 wrote:Marquis Jones was a very good player for URI his junior/senior year. He was not a star or anything but he could definitely close games out when the pressure was on. So how do you explain that? Terell and Jarvis I feel have a little more talent than Jones. How do we get them to flip the switch.

The thing is WE can't. It's the players own will and the coach coaching them. It's like having an employee with no college degree who arrives at work an hour before everyone else and is driven to be better and does, and a guy with a degree who half-asses it through the day and doesn't get it done. Who get's the raise and bonus?

Tom98 · Unread post by **Tom98** » 8 years ago

EC struggled to finish games last year. Everybody for the most part is back next year. So how does our problem change??? Will we be able to just get such a huge lead that we can ride it out to a 19 point lead. I don't think so. What needs to be done? At the end of the day it is on Hurley to figure it out but I have a strong feeling he is clueless as we all are at this point.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

If we actually have better players than the teams we've been losing to, then whose fault is it?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

You guessed it. It's the coach!

I am VERY close to making a prediction which will no doubt infuriate some posters.

Dan Hurley is NOT the savior he was made out to be.

He will not get us to that next level.

I said I was close to this. The evidence is mounting. EC would not save this team, nor magically fix all the other issues we are seeing.

With EC, we would still be excessively fouling. Missing key shots and FT's. Playing hero ball with no success. On and on we go.......

We might have won a couple of these close games with him. That might make us an NIT team. Not an NCAA team.

We are simply not good enough. The players, or the guy on the bench.

Sooner or later, Thorr and Dooley will come to the same conclusion.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 8 years ago

rambone 78 wrote: Choice E, sorry EC is not Kemba Walker or Bryce Cotton. Or even close, really.

EC's numbers are actually right on par or even better then both Kemba and Bryce in their first two years in college. What remains to be seen is how EC performs in his final two years. It's not fair to compare freshman/sophomore year EC to senior year Kemba Walker or Bryce Cotton or anybody else at that point in their careers.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 8 years ago

It's Obama's fault.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 8 years ago

It's chemistry (my worst subject). It's the fight for something bigger than yourself. And embracing that. These guys are still playing for themselves. Maybe the NBA has something to do with it. Like fans should just support us because we exist. The team needs to start playing for the University of Rhode Island, take pride in the school, and make every student want to embrace them. Not the other way around.

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

ramfan85 wrote:It's Obama's fault.

+1

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

If Hurley was a good coach, we would be winning some of these close games.

Since we are not, he is not.

Maybe he's still learning. Maybe he'll figure it out.

When?????? He IS learning something.

What NOT to do. He needs to start learning what TO do, and soon.

GY=URI · Unread post by **GY=URI** » 8 years ago

My choice is F.
No Fn coach
Dan is not his father,
Dan is not his brother,
Dan is ???????
He should have been fired when he changed Running Rams to Ram Tough.
How did the administration allow that.
Move game back to Keaney, rent out RC to PC, Pay out Dan with the profits.
Bring Preston home.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

blueram, the way we are going, the attendance at the Ryan will fall to Baronesque proportions at the end of his time here.

Crickets. The guy is doing a lousy job at the one thing that counts the most.

Winning.

Somebody said our team looks like a bunch of football players.

Maybe that's the problem. We've got a bunch of football players playing basketball. And not very well either.

Tom98 · Unread post by **Tom98** » 8 years ago

I agree Hurley isn't getting the job done. He has done many great things in recruiting and with the image of the program. I know nobody wants to win more than him. I know he probably works harder than 99% of the coaches out there. It's a real shame at this point. I think the only way to get over the hump is for him to land a couple of real difference makers/special players and then the coaching aspect becomes a lot less relevant. I admit that I was completely sold on Hurley and now I'm in serious doubt. I don't however fault him because I know he is doing the job to the best of his ability.

Someone really heeds to get through to him to stop whining to the refs on every play. I think this falls on Thorr at this point. Option D on this poll might be very accurate. It's tough to look at officiating objectively whe your watching your favorite team play. I do strongly feel Hurley is VERY well hated by the officials and it is probably costing us 6-8 points a game. I don't think he will ever change with the refs however and the harsh officiating will just continue.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

98, Dan is wound tighter than a drum.

That has been well documented.

That certainly hurts him on the sidelines, and it affects his team. They are a reflection of the coach.

I doubt he'll be able to change that much.

He is what he is. A bottle of Valium probably wouldn't help.

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 8 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:blueram, the way we are going, the attendance at the Ryan will fall to Baronesque proportions at the end of his time here.

Crickets. The guy is doing a lousy job at the one thing that counts the most.

Winning.

I see positives though. Our recruiting is through the roof compared to " he who shall remain nameless". We have talent. We have the means to win. Who are they trying to win for? Themselves? or Us? If it's for themselves, then there you go. If they are trying to win for us.....................

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 8 years ago

A combination of three reasons in this order:

C
E
D

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

blueram, we can have all the talent in the world, and that doesn't guarantee a thing.

Coaching in college is far more important than the pros.

That's why there are upsets. Less talented teams win games all the time. Some coaches get more out of their talent than others.

Supposedly we have at least the same level of talent than a lot of the teams we play.

But we can't even win those games.

Another disturbing trend is happening. This team isn't getting any better. Another bad sign.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 8 years ago

Boys and Girls ...A ....still getting my votes tonite.....

ElmCityRhody · Unread post by **ElmCityRhody** » 8 years ago

F for FREE THROWS

look at most of our losses..

Hit FTs down the stretch and they are wins

Look at last year.. We be in the NCAAs if we hit FTs vs VCU/Davidson

F.. Free throws

860_rhody · Unread post by **860_rhody** » 8 years ago

C. I get a "try not to lose" vibe out of these guys. It's like they just don't go for it at the end of games.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 8 years ago

Not sure if EC was an option, but I'll chalk this up as yet another game that would have been in the other column if our best player was on the floor. Could we have won it without him? Should we have? Sure. But we didn't, and we would have if we had him.

eli#10 · Unread post by **eli#10** » 8 years ago

TP is Correct!!! Don't you think if EC played 36 minutes instead of Four we would have been 5 points better? Having said that I would be happy if I saw a lot less of the weave and if both Martin and Iverson both play 30

eli#10 · Unread post by **eli#10** » 8 years ago

both play 30 minutes on the road.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 8 years ago

I blame the ncaa. Every rational person knows a college game should only be 36 minutes long.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

hah 85. We would blow the last 4 minutes no matter how long the games were!

860. it's called playing not to lose. We do that, and we lose.

The team has zero confidence at the end of games.

Roz · Unread post by **Roz** » 8 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:If Hurley was a good coach, we would be winning some of these close games.

Since we are not, he is not.

Maybe he's still learning. Maybe he'll figure it out.

When?????? He IS learning something.

What NOT to do. He needs to start learning what TO do, and soon.

I think Hurley had the team in a position to win but the players did not come through. We had at least two wide open 3's towards the end that would have put a nail in the coffin. Then the missed ft's by Jarvis and Terrell who is actually decent at shooting them.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 8 years ago

860_rhody wrote:C. I get a "try not to lose" vibe out of these guys. It's like they just don't go for it at the end of games.

That comment scares the hell out of me as it was that way during the Baron years.

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

Roz wrote:
rambone 78 wrote:If Hurley was a good coach, we would be winning some of these close games.

Since we are not, he is not.

Maybe he's still learning. Maybe he'll figure it out.

When?????? He IS learning something.

What NOT to do. He needs to start learning what TO do, and soon.
I think Hurley had the team in a position to win but the players did not come through. We had at least two wide open 3's towards the end that would have put a nail in the coffin. Then the missed ft's by Jarvis and Terrell who is actually decent at shooting them.

^agree...most of the team just seems to not want to shoot it at the end...

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 8 years ago

I also think the players are afraid to miss a shot at the end of games.

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

I'd rather see a missed shot than a crash and burn (no foul, no rim) in the lane...but like I said, can't really fault JG because no one else seems to want to shoot it...

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 8 years ago

JG's turnover with about a minute left also didn't help.

luke · Unread post by **luke** » 8 years ago

Here is my take. I do believe it is a combination of being mental and having a sophomore guard running the show
and the number two leader also appears to be a sophomore. I think when the game is on the line
the team looks to JG and JT and they are not quite ready for the role of game savers. It is clear to
me that they want to be the guys because they are handling the ball and taking the big shots, but
they aren't really sure they are up to it themselves yet. It looks like Iverson also wants to be a leader,
but he is still new to the team and the team doesn't go to him at the end of games. In addition, Hassan
and Earl have to be more judicious with their fouls. Hassan spends too much time on the bench and in
foul trouble to lead. Having additional bigs next year may help Hassan cut down on fouls. McGlynn
disappears too much and forces too many shots. Obviously EC will be an upgrade there. Jarvis is
starting to come into his own and is asserting himself. He is going to be the closer we need before the
season ends. As far as officiating, there were some key bad calls in this game. The one that sticks in
my mind was a foul on Iverson when he grabbed a rebound late in the second half. It was clear to me that
he did nothing more than reach over his shoulder to snag it. He didn't push off, bump the GW player or
anything. And he had the inside position. What he did wrong was grab a key rebound late in the game on
the road and was in great position for a put back that would have hurt the GW comeback.

The Dude · Unread post by **The Dude** » 8 years ago

I'd say it's C, D, & E. I think these guys just need to step up their mental sharpness, focus, and confidence towards the end of games.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 8 years ago

GY=URI wrote:he changed Running Rams to Ram Tough.
How did the administration allow that

is this an official change? are we no longer the Rhode Island Running Rams? are we now the Rhode Island Ram Tough? if so that's a game changer for me, haha Running Ram.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

I know I've been bashing Dan, but after more thought and discussion, maybe this game just came down to our players missing key shots and FT's, and the refs of course.

And those are problems that show no signs of ending either.

Maybe it's true that we just don't have anybody that can step up in crunch time.

I mean, JG and JT can make shots and FT's. They don't make them when it counts, though.

Not clutch. EC didn't do it his first 2 years here either. Make shots I mean. FT's he did.

What about the next 2 years with these guys? Are they going to all of a sudden start making instead of missing?

I wish I could say they will. But not sure at all.

Good or great teams have to have finishers. We don't.

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

^ I think it's the missing key shots and FT's...and just as much, the look as though they don't want to take 'em. I thought KI should have kept shooting yesterday, but he didn't...last 10 mins of the game, seemed like he passed up several good looks that he was pulling the trigger on earlier.

Not sure anything ever happens all of a sudden, but I do think they will continue to get better at (taking and) making those shots. I mean...they have to see, don't they, on the game tape...that they passed up a bunch of good looks for 'everyone standaround and watch a JG net-nothing drive', right? Not necessarily faulting JG because...someone has to do something...

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 8 years ago

You would think they would learn, 208.

But they aren't. The same things keep happening.

It's up to the coach to point out what they are doing wrong. I'm sure they watch plenty of tape, or the coaches do, anyway.

Maybe Dan's just not getting through to them. I don't know.

It's gotten to the point where everybody is expecting these things to happen.

And they don't disappoint. Like I've said, this team has plenty of physical talent. Not sure if they have what it takes between the ears, though.

And that is really disappointing.

This team is missing more than just EC.

NYGFan_Section208 · Unread post by **NYGFan_Section208** » 8 years ago

I'm not sure "all" the same things keep happening...I think there are some bright spots coming through every now and then, that AREN'T the same things, too...like: AI getting into some offensive flow (when he can stay on the floor), Martin hitting some mid-range jumpers (when he can stay on the floor) and ripping out to that big lead. They didn't hold it (derrr) but compiling it was some impressive play/showed potential...

I really thought they'd win yesterday, and then Fordham would be dicey...my guess now is that they will blow out Fordham....

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 8 years ago

I hate "protecting the lead". When you get a good lead, go for the throat. If you lead by 18, try to get it to 25. We don't seem to play well with a lead. We are a "get a lead and try to hang on" type of team.

What is the reason we are losing these close games?