ARE WE SATISFIED WITH BEING AVERAGE?

Last night’s game was unfortunately, a prime example of the ongoing inconsistent play that has plagued us throughout the first half of our season. As I mentioned in the locker room last night, I see flashes of brilliant play… followed by flashes of very mediocre play.

This team appears to be sleep-walking into games and in-turn, struggling to find it’s “sense of purpose” this season. If our goal is to to be a very average team, then we have achieved that goal.

However, if our goal is to win another conference title and qualify to compete at Nationals, then discipline on & off the court, sustained focus and consistent play are an absolute necessity that must start now!

Stats show that in just two weeks we've managed to turn around some major areas of our game. We are producing more PPG than the 08 and 09 teams, fewer PtsAllwd than the 09 team, more APG and SPG than the 09 team, fewer TO's than the 08 and 09 teams, the same FG% as the 08 and 09 teams... yet we don't come into the game with the mindset to dominate our opponents. We seem to be content with making silly mistakes and just trading basket for basket with them and trying to pull it out in the second half.

Key Stats in the First-Half of last night’s game:

TO’s: 16

FG: 9 of 33 (27.2%) four of which were air balls.

Off Rebs: 12

Def Rebs: 6

Fouls: 11

 We were completely out-hustled in the first quarter.

 10 games into a 24 game season and we continue to struggle with recognizing how the refs are calling the game and make the necessary adjustments on the court to play within that style of play.

 10 games into a 24 game season and we have trouble executing the simplest of plays against a set zone defense.

 We continue to want to “free ball” out on the court rather than recognize the defensive alignments being shown to us and execute a specific offense or play designed to attack that defense and make it vulnerable.

 We continue to make silly mental mistakes on the court due to a lack of focus (traveling, double-dribble, bad passes, rushed & off-balance shots, etc).

 We continue to have issues with players that want to do things their own way rather than placing the good of the team before their own desires.

Where are the players on this team that understand the “killer-instinct” mindset it takes to dominate on a nightly basis, regardless of the competition? Where are the players that used to jump (with confidence) at the opportunity to slay a giant?

Time is quickly running out on our opportunity to be a special team this season. Six of our next seven games will be tough (Arnold, Grace, Providence, Northside, @Rutherford and @Freeport) and we cannot keep making excuses about our poor and inconsistent play.

Are we going to be an average team… or a great team? It is not a question of whether or not we are capable, we are. But instead, it is a question of whether or not we want it enough and are willing to do what is necessary to make it happen.

4:13