The box score from the UD/UC game this Saturday at US Bank Arena is absolutely awful, yet incomplete.
What the box score fails to illustrate is how over-matched, out-coached and shell-shocked the Flyers were, which makes this loss even more painful.
While it would be nice to find a silver lining, there really is none. Only two Flyers connected on more than one shot: Juwan Staten (4-14) and Josh Benson (2-4). The defense was exposed on the perimeter and in the paint leaving Coach Gregory and his staff bewildered. If this team can’t defend, they’re in dire straits because the surely will not be able to outscore a formidable opponent.
The similarities (poor execution, minimal intensity) between the UC game and Savannah St. game are startling. The difference obviously is the quality of the opponent, and the revenge factor that UC used as fuel over the summer circling this game on the calendar months ago. Instead of meeting the challenge, UD wilted.
Many have discussed how this game was the fifth in just 11 days. This is true. Though my contention to this fact is twofold: 1) This was no surprise as the schedule has been set for months. 2) This was not a loss due to a lack of talent or stamina, rather a lack of dedication on the defensive end and execution.
The real issue here is the Flyer inability to change their game plan on the fly. UC did a magnificent job on the defensive end disrupting sets and making Flyer guards uncomfortable through ball pressure and active hands. There were no adjustments made during the game to combat UC’s defense. Instead, the same broken record played for 40 minutes sending the Flyer Faithful to the exits just minutes into the second half.
After the game, I asked Coach Gregory about possibly modifying his approach to try and jumpstart an offense that is predictable and easily rattled. He gave no indication anything will be different going forward.
He must know something I don’t. Sticking to the same game plan isolating Chris Wright at the top of the key and consistently relying on jump shots is unsustainable and very easy to scout.
We’ll see in a short period of time if the problem is in our execution of the current offensive system or if the offensive system itself is at fault.
Though this will all useless speculation if we can’t guard anyone. Don’t believe me? Take another look at the UC box score.
