Baylor shot 59% from the floor overall on the night last night, but shot almost 75% in the 1st half while building their lead. They also went 13-25 from 3 (52%) and had 18 assists on 35 makes. OSU did a good job keeping them off their offensive glass, but when the other team is putting the ball in the hole like that, there aren’t very many offensive rebounds to be had.
So, this is where this team is at right now!
They can beat up on less caliber teams and outscore them to death, but the defensive side of the ball has put a much lower ceiling on them than what they should have.
This group has a choice, just like last year’s did, and the last 2 football teams. They can either play to win, or they can click off days on the calendar and play to get paid.
Both for the remainder of this year, and whatever they think they may have in store for the future. It will be obvious which way this goes, and OSU fans are just about as good as it gets at sniffing that kind of stuff out. So, either way, I think we’re at that crossroads.
Last year, BT and Abou, along with the entire group, short of maybe one player, chose to play for the brand, even when they knew the goal was all but out of reach. OSU fans appreciated that Coach Lutz hustled, he got enough NIL money, and put together a very talented roster. But, again, here we are, again, at a Crossroads.
If this group actually wants to address the issues that are holding it back from taking its game to the next level, it needs to listen to Coach Lutz. Not just nod, and be respectful from that perspective, but actually listen in such a detailed manner where they can also APPLY what he’s telling them to do.
There are different levels of learning. It’s one thing to look at a scouting report and know what it says, but it’s a whole different level to interact with it enough to know what it means. And the “whys” and “what fors” are what’s going to allow you to make the adjustments every game forces teams to make. And to have a deeper-seated understanding that will allow you to make them without thinking so much, you start playing too slowly..
It’s called “Paralysis by Analysis”.
On that front, there are a couple of reasons why application doesn’t happen. One, the coach is asking players to do something they’re not physically capable of doing. Or, maybe the opponent is so good that, even when the scouting report is being applied, even to great detail, it doesn’t matter, because you get “out athleted”.
Or…The “Buy In” is such that it’s not getting applied in the first place, or, at the 1st sign of adversity, it gets thrown out the window.
It reminds me of my 5-Wood. I can take it on the driving range, hit it, and THINK I have confidence in it. But what happens the 1st time I use it on the course, and I mishit it, and lose a ball in the water? How will I approach my 5-Iron then?
Will I go back to what I know, what I feel the most comfortable with, thus capping my potential, or will I stick to the game plan, which is to continue to incorporate a club that I will have to have to be the best golfer I can be, however long that takes?
That’s where this club is at!
They can either “buy in” to playing defense, stick with the offensive plan under adversity, and make the NCAA tournament, and have a good chance at making a run. Or, they can continue to let other teams embarrass them on their home floor by putting up a ridiculous amount of points, meanwhile, abandoning the offensive game plan under adversity. In that scenario, they’ll win the games they have better talent, maybe a home game or two when they’re hot, play in front of terrible crowds, and have a choice whether they want to play in the NIT or not.
That, IMO, is the Crossroads this team is at. The good thing is, it’s up to them. There is plenty of talent to “buy in” and do what this group is capable of. But, for now, it is what it is, and they are what they are. And, that is, a group of individuals that don’t know how to win, don’t know how to win a game because of the “plan”, and refuse to play defense. They are a team that can “bully” Cal State Fullerton, then get embarrassed by Baylor.
