What should be the biggest focus for players and coaches this offseason?

[bnkepner 1,509]

I would say the biggest focus should be on consistency. Consistency in every part of the game. Last years team had some fantastic moments where we looked like one of the top teams in the big ten while at other times we looked terrible. If we consistently play to the best of our ability, our squad is a top team. Consistency also goes hand in hand with how you carry yourself off the court.

[VO5 8,337]

Draymond is a great player and defender but i don't know if I would use his matchup against Dwight as an example. Dwight averaged 14 and 14 while playing on a bum ankle that entire series. Draymond may have "held his own" but Dwight still pretty much played his game the whole time

my point is that Draymond shouldn't have any business at all guarding him, yet he did. Dwight was going to get his points no matter who was guarding him, but Draymond did pretty well for a guy who was severely outmatched and that comes from effort and desire

[Bowhunter 2,853]

DEFENSE!!!!!!

[GloryDays 6,020]

  I'd like to see this team learn how to maintain a lead when they get one.

Last season we squandered too many 8 to 10 point leads by showboating and carelessness.

I know CTC wants to run at a fast pace but there's a place in between we need to play at in those situations.

Play defense make good passes and forget about Sports Center.

[FindEndNow 198]

Hartman and Zeisloft aren't really good examples when talking about defense. Hartman was the worst offender when it came to over helping on D last year. If he was guarding a wing he always over helped inside, leaving his man wide open for a bucket. And Zeisloft got beat man his man 9 times out of 10. Although I do think Zeisloft got screwed on calls more than anyone on the team last year. Both tried hard on defense but trying hard will only get you a participation trophy, and those don't count for anything

It may only get you a participation trophy when only a couple people are actually trying.

[incrediboy 928]

The biggest focus should be checking out this board and updating us on what's happening!

[Class of '66 Old Fart 87,230]

Majority of the posters seem to agree that improving our defense is one of the prime directives for next season and I certainly don't disagree.  While the whole team exhibited a high degree of defensive weakness I think I was most disappointed in JBJ.  I saw him play in high school several times but clearly he wasn't expected to nor required to play high quality defense in the vast majority of those games.  But as the son of a coach who played Div. 1 basketball I expected him to be better prepared to play defense in college than what we saw.  Having said that, I'm still optimistic that we'll see a huge improvement next season.

[BubbleKnuts 569]

Hopefully they're working on utilizing the athleticism that we will have. I want finesse, yet I'm hoping for improved strength and resiliency defense. Size won't be an issue.

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

when I said flashes I meant the three guys who actually tried on defense emmitt and zeisloft and Hartman

Cmon man, you can't tell me Yogi didn't try on Defense, or even Rob J.  

[HoosierAloha 30,090]

Attitude
The team needs a winners mentality. The attitude that no matter what they are going to win. Whether it's winning a loose ball battle, a rebounding battle, or beating your man one on one they need to show they'll do whatever it takes to get it done. They need to be pissed when they're scored on and hold their teammates accountable when they get beat. Discipline on defense and not turning it over will win a lot more games this season.

[drewheck 749]

Cmon man, you can't tell me Yogi didn't try on Defense, or even Rob J.

to an extent, they did on occasion like picking off lazy passes but they didn't try hard

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

Ok Coach, whatever you say.

[eljefe6 360]

Ah, the off-season. Come on November

[FindEndNow 198]

Ok Coach, whatever you say.

He is right. If they would have tried a little we would have had a better defense.

[incrediboy 928]

Given the number of times the 35-second shot clock ran down to 5 when we were in half-court offense, and we were scrambling to get a shot up, I believe working for a shot at the outset of the shot clock should be one of the priorities.

[GloryDays 6,020]

Given the number of times the 35-second shot clock ran down to 5 when we were in half-court offense, and we were scrambling to get a shot up, I believe working for a shot at the outset of the shot clock should be one of the priorities.

 Yep. Too much dribbling and not much movement off the ball.

Imagine what our shooters could do if they had people screening for them.