Coaching Suggestions

[HoosierDYT 1,766]

Hey guys,

 

Great win today! I think it might have taken a few years off of each of our lives, but nonetheless it is a great day to be a Hoosier fan.

 

I truly believe Archie is a great coach and will lead us back to consistent success. I also believe that most things he does - both in recruiting and game situations - are done with a strong basketball intelligence (unlike our former coach, for instance).

 

With that being said, he certainly has a few things I’d like him to improve. I’ve noticed that in game threads we often critique minuscule coaching tactics, flow, substitutions, etc., and I’d love to debate what we think Archie and co. should be doing differently. I love analyzing basketball strategies and plays, and since we all come from different basketball backgrounds, I think this will be an interesting forum.

 

Below are my pros and cons:

 

PROS:

Defense - Without looking at any statistics, I am positive our defense is very strong, we typically work to shut down the opposing team’s best offensive player (not always possible), and we’ve seen improvements throughout each season.

 

Recruiting - His actions speak louder than words, but his words are also backed up by his actions. Refreshing. He has committed to recruiting the state, it has been extremely beneficial so far, and hopefully he is able to expand his reach to Michigan, Chicago, and the East Coast in the future to supplement state players with the occasional one and done 5 star player.

 

Media/Alumni - Another poster noted that it feels like we are seeing much more interest from past players than through the previous regime. I thought this was also true, but it could be due to our strong social media team and their tactics. Even if Archie isn’t directly responsible for each post, I believe one of his goals was to improve our online status to make us relevant again, be more attractive to recruits, and showcase our strong fan base and facilities.

 

In-Game Coaching/Adjustments - I could not be more pleased with how our team responds after halftime or timeouts (for the most part, obviously). Today, Butler was on fire from 3 in the first half. In the second half - albeit it sounds simple - we literally forced them to beat us on the drive by overplaying the 3, wore them down, and eventually won the game. I understand the last play of today is fresh in people’s minds and therefore many don’t feel Archie is as great of an out of timeout coach as I do, but if you watch the play where Rob drove baseline and Justin Smith dunked a few minutes before, that was out of a timeout. Romeo’s floater against Northwestern was also a brilliant play drawn up after a timeout in which Romeo initially received the ball, passed away as a decoy, came off a double screen (I think*), and drove to the lane and scored. Lastly, when the other team goes on runs, Archie typically calls a timeout, and what do we see after? We utilize our best player! We start feeding JM more, or let Romeo go to work. For the most part I am very pleased.

 

Bluntness/Honesty - I loved just yesterday how Archie acknowledged the team’s free throw shooting woes, and was willing to bring in an external specialist. It take’s a strong coach to understand someone is better at something basketball-related than him, but the team should benefit from his humility in the future.

 

CONS:

Offense - I am more optimistic about our offense than others. I think we have decent flow and get our best players looks pretty often, but our role players routinely miss open shots (especially the 3!). In all fairness, Archie typically has 1 guy in the lineup at all times who can barely create their own shot (McRoberts/Smith/Rob - at times). This makes it difficult to space the floor because one defender can merely play exaggerated help defensive because they know our player will probably miss the shot or even neglect to shoot. However, it is a coach’s duty to sort these issues out, so I’m hoping for more. I do believe - as we get more healthy and have more and more of Archie’s own players in his system - this issue will regress.

 

Feeding - I also believe we use Romeo much more than many posters on this board. Just today, I counted 20 times where Romeo got the ball and dribbled through a pick and roll or came off a screen/double screen. I think he is being used a great amount, just not enough. As other users have posted, I would love to see some more downward action to him, post ups in the paint, even more pick and roll with JM, and maybe a 5 out isolation play.

 

Last Second Shots - This one I cannot explain / defend - even after Rob hit that shot today. As WayneFleek said today, it seems Rob is our proclaimed last-second shot taker (which is fine next year). But this year, WE HAVE ROMEO LANGFORD who routinely sits in the corner while Rob drives to the hoop in the last second of games (Arkansas, halftime of Northwestern, halftime of today, etc.). The play is fine, but just give Langford the ball at the top of the key because he’s shooting a staggering 60% from inside the arc or something.

 

 

Overall, I would love to debate things in this thread. Most importantly, I’d love to hear what some concrete ideas you guys have for our offense is. Thanks!

 

 

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[Alford Bailey 13,233]

Thought Archie made all the right moves today.

[Brass Cannon 26,499]

I think both Romeo and Phinisee should look to be shooting the ball a bit more tbh

[rcbowla 8,471]

All I have to say is he needs to get a "shooting specialist" to help get the FT and 3pt %'s up. The TO's are frustrating but not sure what can be done at this point as I'm sure he addresses them. I think his substitution patterns are actually very good for the most part.

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[southsidehoosier 5,371]

Just finished watching the game and Romeo was supposed to curl around 2 screens on the far side but either got tripped or slipped which allowed the defender to maintain contact with him. Definitely looked like it was drawn up for Romeo and might've had a good look.

[WayneFleekHoosier 52,193]

All I have to say is he needs to get a "shooting specialist" to help get the FT and 3pt %'s up. The TO's are frustrating but not sure what can be done at this point as I'm sure he addresses them. I think his substitution patterns are actually very good for the most part.

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Finally I’m content with Substitutions 98% of the time. Imagine that, someone who has a real for the game and what players need and want.

The preplanned sub patterns Crean would use were beyond indefensible.




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[The Ola Depot 1,213]

Just finished watching the game and Romeo was supposed to curl around 2 screens on the far side but either got tripped or slipped which allowed the defender to maintain contact with him. Definitely looked like it was drawn up for Romeo and might've had a good look.

Rob said postgame that the play was supposed to be for Romeo.


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[HoosierTrav 8,339]

Hard to argue with what’s the staff has done but I don’t believe our strongest lineup plays together enough. When this lineup plays together, we look much more cohesive on the offensive end and on the boards. Davis is a great pressure relief valve. Makes really good decisions down low and almost always creates a mismatch for Juwan, in Juwans favor. 

Phinissee

Romeo

McBob

Morgan

Davis

 

[HoosierDYT 1,766]

Hard to argue with what’s the staff has done but I don’t believe our strongest lineup plays together enough. When this lineup plays together, we look much more cohesive on the offensive end and on the boards. Davis is a great pressure relief valve. Makes really good decisions down low and almost always creates a mismatch for Juwan, in Juwans favor. 
Phinissee
Romeo
McBob
Morgan
Davis
 

I agree it’s our most effective lineup, but maybe not the most sustainable. For starters it puts our only two bigs in a position to both get in foul trouble. I love McBob’s D and hustle, but Al can provide a lot offensively and hold his own on D


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