What a frustrating two game stretch

[DrumNFeather]

You know, it's one thing to say..."ah yeah, we'll probably lose those two." It's a whole other deal to actually sit through it, think you might have a chance, and then watch your team at times look like they've forgotten how to play.

In tonight's game moreso than the BYU game, Utah could have (not should have I hate that phrase in sports) gone into halftime with a 6-10+ point lead and they completely blew it. You've got to be able to have solid posessions on the road when you have a lead. Up 7 in the first half, the Utes pissed away at least three posessions and allowed UNM to get back in the game. (UNM would've made a run anyway, but still, to have that cusion on the road would be nice).

I'm not really one to complain about officiating (but here I go) but that was probably the most inconsistently officiated game I've seen in quite some time...and I've seen a lot of MWC basketball. I give Farris credit for being a high energy guy and getting the crowd into it, but he fouled Nevill nearly every posession during the game and the refs were ridiculously inconsistent with Farris and Nevill. 3 of Nevills fouls game on the offensive end. Come on.

Note to Luke Nevill: IF you are going to foul Daniel Farris and since he thinks he's such a badass then KNOCK THE SHIT OUT OF HIM. Seriously, if he is going to be physical with you and you're going to get called anyway, then make him pay.

(deep breath).

Overall, Utah played better than I thought they would given the venue and the circumstances. However, they had their chances tonight and didn't get it done. You cannot CANNOT turn the ball over for stretches especially on the road.

Now we have to hope for "help" from Wyoming, and that sucks.

[DrumNFeather]

Let me also add how impressed I was with Tony Dandridge. He took our best defender and dropped 29 on him. LB might not have been on him all game, but there was some serious "turnstyle" defense.

[BoylenOver]

The possession where we started down 5, UNM missed a shot, Drca tipped it outside to a UNM player, Gary (I think) got to the line, missed both free throws, Green turns it over underneath the hoop, and Dandrige eventually gets a 3-point play was when it ended for Utah.

The Martinez 3-pointer where Faris set the initial screen, then took two steps to continue screening Green, pissed the hell out of me.

I miss Carlon Brown. He's been invisible the 2nd half of conference play.

[DrumNFeather]

The possession where we started down 5, UNM missed a shot, Drca tipped it outside to a UNM player, Gary (I think) got to the line, missed both free throws, Green turns it over underneath the hoop, and Dandrige eventually gets a 3-point play was when it ended for Utah.

The Martinez 3-pointer where Faris set the initial screen, then took two steps to continue screening Green, pissed the hell out of me.

I miss Carlon Brown. He's been invisible the 2nd half of conference play.

Yep.

In each of the last two games with about 10 minutes to play I've said to myself..."It's over." If this team would just stop getting in its own way, it would've won a few more games (not that I'm upset with the season on the whole, but there was potential for some really good wins).

[BoylenOver]

Yep.

In each of the last two games with about 10 minutes to play I've said to myself..."It's over." If this team would just stop getting in its own way, it would've won a few more games (not that I'm upset with the season on the whole, but there was potential for some really good wins).

It's like you said, back on December 31st, if you see us at 11-4 in conference play, you're thrilled, but when you're 11-2 with two chances to clinch a share of the conference (with a home win left to win it outright) and get skunked in the 2nd half, it's frustrating.

[cougjunkie]

The game plan to beating Utah seems to be pretty simple:

1. Run, Run, and Run some more. Try to tire out Luke Nevill.

2. Take away the middle of the floor and force Nevill to go baseline.

3. With your big man go right at Luke Nevill and force him to work hard and defend the whole game.

4. Force them to play at your pace they are careless with the ball when they are hurried.

BYU and UNM both had success doing those things the last two games.

Nevill really got frustrated easy and was taken out of his game. MRD do you still think Drca is the second best player on this team? By far its Borha, followed by Green.

[DrumNFeather]

The game plan to beating Utah seems to be pretty simple:

1. Run, Run, and Run some more. Try to tire out Luke Nevill.

2. Take away the middle of the floor and force Nevill to go baseline.

3. With your big man go right at Luke Nevill and force him to work hard and defend the whole game.

4. Force them to play at your pace they are careless with the ball when they are hurried.

BYU and UNM both had success doing those things the last two games.

Nevill really got frustrated easy and was taken out of his game. MRD do you still think Drca is the second best player on this team? By far its Borha, followed by Green.

I think that is a good gameplan at home. It'll be interesting to see how these teams all play and are officiated on a neutral floor.

[cougjunkie]

I think that is a good gameplan at home. It'll be interesting to see how these teams all play and are officiated on a neutral floor.

Do you think those fouls on Nevill were questionable? I think the last one was a flop but they let him get away with one about 2 minutes earlier.

[BoylenOver]

Do you think those fouls on Nevill were questionable? I think the last one was a flop but they let him get away with one about 2 minutes earlier.

I didn't like the first and last foul calls on Luke, and I've already moaned about the Faris moving screen, but officiating had no effect on the result of the game.

[DrumNFeather]

Do you think those fouls on Nevill were questionable? I think the last one was a flop but they let him get away with one about 2 minutes earlier.

I think when you look at that particular matchup on the whole, it was officiate inconsistantly. Farris was very physical with Luke, which is understandable, he's a big dude, but he locked Luke's arm up quite a bit defensively and only had one foul called on him that wasn't on a shot.

Luke should've kept his cool better, but when the officials are letting that much go by Farris and then calling Luke when he pushes back, it's just frustrating. But that is officiating in the MWC.

I agree with BoylenOver that it didn't necessarily have an impact on the outcome, our guards refusal to make a post pass had an impact on the outcome. I think you have to get the ball to Nevill and let the ref make a decision, but we stopped going to him in the post. You can credit Farris for some of that, but our entry passes were bad all night and eventually, we just stopped throwing them.

[cougjunkie]

I think when you look at that particular matchup on the whole, it was officiate inconsistantly. Farris was very physical with Luke, which is understandable, he's a big dude, but he locked Luke's arm up quite a bit defensively and only had one foul called on him that wasn't on a shot.

Luke should've kept his cool better, but when the officials are letting that much go by Farris and then calling Luke when he pushes back, it's just frustrating. But that is officiating in the MWC.

I agree with BoylenOver that it didn't necessarily have an impact on the outcome, our guards refusal to make a post pass had an impact on the outcome. I think you have to get the ball to Nevill and let the ref make a decision, but we stopped going to him in the post. You can credit Farris for some of that, but our entry passes were bad all night and eventually, we just stopped throwing them.

Also Nevill is not doing a great job of drawing contact the last few games. He seems to be falling in to the Trent Plaisted mold which is the same post move every time.

[DrumNFeather]

Also Nevill is not doing a great job of drawing contact the last few games. He seems to be falling in to the Trent Plaisted mold which is the same post move every time.

Agreed.

Some of the double teams the last few games looked more like Night at the Roxburry than basketball (which is a compliment to coaching, when you can double team and be effective without fouling or getting fouls called, you're doing something right).

[RockyBalboa]

I'll say this much. Farris is a bitch. I can't stand that guy.

He's this years version of Jacob Burtschi. A flopping irritating Euro-Trash style SOB of a player.

I don't feel bad for Nevill, but I just can't stand Farris either.

[BoylenOver]

I'll say this much. Farris is a bitch. I can't stand that guy.

He's this years version of Jacob Burtschi. A flopping irritating Euro-Trash style SOB of a player.

I don't feel bad for Nevill, but I just can't stand Farris either.

And he was doing some showboating shit every time he went back on defense. I'm glad that bastard is a senior.

[cougjunkie]

And he was doing some showboating shit every time he went back on defense. I'm glad that bastard is a senior.

I hate him as well, when BYU played him he was a complete dickhead too. I really hope Wyoming beats them Saturday and they have a good time in the NIT. How shitty is Albercracky when they give the three seniors that have never been to the NCAA tournament their own day?