MBB: S.Bama @ Must Have This Win Apps

[asu66]

Well, the dream for this team to fight tooth and nail to the finish has pretty much been blown away by two-late season losses to a modesty talented South Alabama team. While I believe that the season is over, for all practical purposes, I will acknowledge that a miracle 5-0 finish just might salvage the eighth seed in the tourney for the Apps. The problem, however, is that the miracle involves beating GaState in Atlanta; Ga South in the 'Boro and UALR on the home hardwood at HCC. No one living in the real world believes that's in the cards. The season has simply turned to dust.

I feel for Coach Fox. He puts guys on the floor and trusts them to play as they've been taught and coached to play. Then, it goes south; leaving him exhausted, disgusted and embarrassed. He's been dejected throughout the current six-game skid. His team is 0 for February--the time during which most collegiate teams are playing their best basketball.

I'll admit to wondering if he's getting the best from all of his assistant coaches. I think Lentz and Allison are solid. I wonder about Robinson. He's the equivalent of what was once called the "limited earnings coach" and has the least experience of all of our staff members.

Clearly, we aren't getting the best from all of our players. I took a quick glance at the box score from last night and just shook my head and walked away. It's a drop dead, must-win game and Eaves shoots 35%; Burgess and Lawson were a combined 0 for 9; and O'Boyle ( a junior) was 0 for 4. While our seniors were missing shot after shot; the Williams kid from S'Bama was driving the lane and scoring essentially uncontested layups. Everybody in the building knew Williams was going to get the ball and the Apps just stood around watching him steal the game from them in the last four minutes. That's about the whole ball of wax right there--but there were plenty of other suspects in the team's poor play--no need to beat any more dead horses.

It's simply a season that needs to be over. I'm not certain what next season holds in store, but it can't be much worse than this one.

[AppDawg]

Three people commenting on this thread about the MBB game answers the other thread asking about why attendance is down.

A handful of us were actually at the game.

I'm not downing or questioning anyone's commitment to attend games, just simply pointing out that the majority have no interest.

I have interest, but what is there to say when you're 6-20? At some point it's hard to find much new to add after yet another loss.

We won't get the great recruits needed to win if the current teams play in front of an empty house. Something should be done earlier in the season to get more people attending. Show people that it's a fun event and atmosphere. Attendance has been an issue well before this dismal season.

That starts by having more than 2 home games in November and December while students are on campus.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

A handful of us were actually at the game.

I'm not downing or questioning anyone's commitment to attend games, just simply pointing out that the majority have no interest.

I have interest, but what is there to say when you're 6-20? At some point it's hard to find much new to add after yet another loss.

We won't get the great recruits needed to win if the current teams play in front of an empty house. Something should be done earlier in the season to get more people attending. Show people that it's a fun event and atmosphere. Attendance has been an issue well before this dismal season.

That starts by having more than 2 home games in November and December while students are on campus.

I agree. Do they still do the bring your football ticket to a basketball game and get in free promotion?

[tjpappy]

I feel for Coach Fox. He puts guys on the floor and trusts them to play as they've been taught and coached to play. Then, it goes south; leaving him exhausted, disgusted and embarrassed. He's been dejected throughout the current six-game skid. His team is 0 for February--the time during which most collegiate teams are playing their best basketball..

I must say that I feel for the players. I am not sure where the idea comes in that they are not trying or playing hard enough for Coach Fox. My guess is that coach and players alike hate to loose and are unhappy about the way the season has turned out.

Look at Eaves, he got heat from some on here during his recent shooting slump. In this game he scores 27 points, more than twice any other player on the team. I just don't see how he could be a reason we lost. Yes, 11 were from the free throw line (where he was 11/13), but he also had more than twice the free throw attempts. The most active players on offense are often fouled the most, including in the act of shooting. Fouled - miss the shot- make the free throws.

I, too, wonder what is going wrong and how it can get better. Our win-loss record this year is on track to turn out like 2014. As a previous poster stated, we are sorely missing the contributions of Spagnolo. I am NOT blaming Fox. I just wonder if there are some positions that need to be strengthened in order for us to have brighter days ahead.