67 Comments

Garbage shooting..

Expand full comment
Jan 22, 2023·edited Jan 22, 2023

Simple, succinct, and accurate. It's crazy how many shots were halfway down then rimmed out.

Expand full comment

January blues ?!?

Expand full comment

31.3% from the field will lose plenty of fans and alums support too. I DVR the game in order to visit a long time colleague now gravely ill. Then as I returned home, pulled up the driveway still saddened, shaken about the grim prognosis his family shared with me, my neighbor's kids came out with their thumbs down and throat slashing gestures.. So I knew. A loss is a loss, no excuse about it.

Let's make it up by trashing the Trojans. Pummel them, beat the daylight out of them, just anything to set things right again.

Expand full comment

You're right. The design of the offense isn't the issue; because we don't have an offense! And because of that, our players are forced to take awful shots, and thus, they all come away with lousy percentages.

Expand full comment

Do not agree. The design of the offense created many open shots, they just could not knock them down. Singleton in particular because he is a 3 point specialist but all the Bruins. With so many offensive rebounds, they missed easy second chance points. Appeared they were rushing and nervous but would like to hear what Cronin said after the game. The slump started the second half of the USC game and has continued. Hopefully they will shoot themselves out of the slump.

Expand full comment

I agree with you. Our offense has been ranked in the top 20 all season up until today and spent a few weeks in the top 10. A team with no offensive design would not be achieving those numbers. It’s an absurd statement.

Expand full comment

Thanks for your reply. However I never see off the ball picks, a traditional 3 on 2 fast break run correctly: I always see Tyger dribbling continuously "hoping"someone gets open. You don't get open unless 1) you're actually moving, 2) in concert with teammates setting picks.

Expand full comment

For the first time I’m actually going to disagree with someone on the offense being non-existent. I think the offense is to iso and go one on one as someone previously pointed out. This type of offense depends on your players hitting open looks including layups, dunks, and open threes. UCLA just didn’t. Lastly, this offense even though I don’t like it, needs a true slasher. Bailey is the best option for this and he’s been out for the last 6 games? Clearly a problem for this ucla offense to get in a rhythm when he’s on the bench

Expand full comment

I agree - for what it's worth, yesterday's offense reminded me of those times when our sets would get all gummed up when teams like arizona would clog the driving lanes by simply not guarding Myles Johnson when he was up top or following a high screen - having his man just roam free inside to stop Tyger from penatrating to hit floaters or kick it out, or JJJ from getting to his "old man game" midrange spot... When you combine that with missing consistently shoot over the top of that packed-in D, you get the dribbling looking for a seam for a majority of the clock. A scenario that cried out for Bailey to just be an athlete and create seams which wasn't available. The only good sign is we were strong enough on the offensive glass against one of the few teams that play 2 real bigs to keep it close enough to give us a chance in the final minute once the D (finally!) ratcheted up

Expand full comment

I think that Clark could cut hard to the basket as well. Plus, anyone who’s man has left him to double someone should cut to the basket.

Expand full comment

Another way the 2 early fouls on Bona hurt so much - he seemed reluctant to risk a third cutting or rolling after high ball screens until later in the game and for the minutes he had to play, everyone knows Nwuba just won't. I agree about Clark, I do wish that was more a part of his game especially when we stagnate...

Expand full comment

Which means it isn’t non-existent, but it’s a bad fit for our lineup. It relies on players hitting high percentages or having the more elite players. We all know that’s not always going to be the case, which means scoring slumps.

We’d be far more effective and more efficient running more motion. I imagine Cronin doesn’t want to tire his players out while playing defense. That’s why he should be using a deeper bench and getting the young players more experience, so they’re tourney ready when the games really count.

Expand full comment

We’ve been having to win with defense as our offense has been in a slump - currently Kenpom’s #23 most efficient offense now in the country, not as good as where we were at the beginning of the month. Our defensive ranking actually went up to #3. Still, a lot of defensive lapses that stood out by Bona where Jaquez had to leave his man to cover for him, and one by Singleton that led to a Ramey 3-pointer.

But we ended the game on an 11-2 run before they made the two free throws to hit the final margin. We played our usual tough self for the final 5 minutes but that wasn’t enough to overcome our deficit

And now a rant about the refs: Tony Padilla should not have a job at any level. There were two specific calls, both against AZ, where he blew the whistle, had no idea what he was going to call, and just winged it. One was the AZ charge that Nwuba took where Padilla deferred to the official that actually knew what happened, and the other was a block on Arizona where Clark was driving and the AZ player fell backwards kinda tripping on himself. That was called a foul on AZ but stopped a Clark layup and you can see in real time Padilla going from “oh shit I blew the whistle” to “what do I call now”? And then there was the flop technical - if the violation occurred (not a flop imo), why allow play to continue? that ended up gifting AZ 3 straight free throws.

Expand full comment

You also missed the traveling they called on jaquez that even the az biased announcers were confused about. And the several times that ucla got hacked and the announcers were baffled by… finally, the block by bona in the first minute that was whistled… unacceptable reffing that clearly impacted the flow of the game. UCLA had so many open looks and didn’t deserve to win, but the refs certainly didn’t help make this a fair and easy flowing game

Expand full comment

Yea those calls were bad. It’s like the refs never read a basketball rule book. The travel call wasn’t even a close call at game speed and that took two points off the board.

Expand full comment

Yes, BB!

Expand full comment

People need to calm down. 17-3. An epically bad offensive day. Shooting percentage actually skewed up by some late layups. Awful. But it was our first loss in months. Just 1 loss. We were not favored to win this game. We still almost beat a very good team in a very tough arena. Talk about “losing alumni support” is HILARIOUS. We were never going to win out. Throw the tape from this one away — we don’t shoot like that again for 2 years. If we take care of business, we will win the conference and have a top 2 seed in March.

Expand full comment

Cronin will “ take care of business “, rest assured. It is that other guy who needs to do so, lol !!!

Expand full comment

Huh

Expand full comment

True, isn't it ?!?

Expand full comment

Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades

Expand full comment

What almost

Expand full comment
Jan 22, 2023·edited Jan 22, 2023

The last 1:30 was great basketball. There was intensity. The shots weren’t falling but they were there. Bailey being out has shown how valuable he is. Singleton is good but is better as a sixth man when he can conserve some energy to knock down some open looks. Bailey is a true slasher that can open up lanes when used properly and his absence has been the primary reason for their offensive woes in my opinion.

I do question why the shots aren’t falling though. They’ve definitely picked up the defensive mindset but it seems to have come at the cost of their offensive efficiency. Still, too many missed layups, easy jump shots. And even a few dunks mind you. Just unacceptable. If they can play with the intensity they showed at the last 1:30, they will win a natty this year. If they decide to just run around for 38 minutes, then they’ll lose

Expand full comment

Cronin talked about this in his postgame comments today re: missing open shots:

“When you struggle offensively, something with the other team’s defense caused it. Even if it’s open shots, they’ve got you sped up just enough, rattled just enough. You have to give the other team credit.”

Expand full comment

Too many times the shot clock forces someone to force a shot and miss. Guys need to move and keep the other side off balance to get open. zona clogged up the lane and that is where our game is.

Expand full comment

In fairness to Bona, the refs took him out of the game less than a minute into the game on a clean block. Not a great way to start, but that's the SPTRs for you.

Expand full comment

Yep, the Bruins offense was quite offensive today, otherwise it would've been a very winnable game to achieve a weekend sweep in the desert. Have to give some credit to AZ's hounding defense, which seemed tougher than ASU's. On the good side, this loss wasn't an embarassing blowout, like #2 Kansas getting spanked at home against #14 TCU. The Bruins also outrebounded the Mildcats despite our 2 bigs getting into foul trouble (not sure why Etienne isn't getting more playing time?). And the elite Bruin defense really shined in the last minute or so to make things interesting at the end. Anyway, it was more of a must-win for AZ, and getting a split on the road against the 2nd- and 3rd-best teams in the Pac-12 isn't the end of the world. Payback is in order at Pauley on March 4, though. But first, it's time to work on shooting better and sweep U$C next Thursday. Go Bruins!

Expand full comment

What cures Offensive sensitivity...Ball movement, hard cuts and spacing

Expand full comment

And lots and lots of shooting drills for the next 4 days

Expand full comment

Unfortunately, Cronin likes to go back to his bread and butter in bigger games.

Expand full comment

Spot on Dmitri. Ours is an inside game. We don't shoot well from the three. our "bigs" are improving but Mac is nonexistent. Jaime is our best near the basket. He plays 'big'. The SPTRs didn't help the cause either. Sometimes our mainstays have an off game, we need to develop that talent we supposedly have. We controlled the inside D, rebs and blocks. I don't think Mick is a 'big' coach.

Expand full comment

I agree with the calm down folks comments. We missed way too many open looks and had way too few points on 16 offensive rebounds. I also read Cronin’s comments re: lack of heart tonight. This is a great group that will right the ship. The amount of open shots and our season long offensive ranking is evidence enough of a good offensive design.

Expand full comment

Is it just me who thinks we are not getting the full story regarding the extent of Bailey's foot injury? Could have really used him on this road trip and definitely for the rest of the season so Singleton comes off the bench as a great sixth man and three point shooter instead of wearing down playing so many minutes.

Expand full comment

Yep… it’s definitely curious. Especially considering that he has played good, but being out this many games doesn’t look so good for getting picked up in the first round of the draft

Expand full comment
author

I’ve been led to believe he was held out last week just as a precaution, and then this week was a combination of the team’s play and being a big road trip, so hard to try and reintegrate him. There’s footage of him doing shoots rounds and Cronin has made noises about him potentially being available. I would not be surprised to see him back in the lineup on Thursday.

Expand full comment
author

Or, to put it another way, this team seems to have a margin of error that is much greater than last year’s team possessed, so they can afford to sit Bailey and let him fully heal rather than what happened with Jaquez last year. The only position that UCLA seemingly cannot afford an injury to is Bona, as the drop-off is extremely steep after him, but everyone else you have a couple options if an injury occurs. Even Campbell, who has been the most important Bruin these past few years, has some depth behind him for the first time in forever with both Singleton and Andrews.

Expand full comment

I'll join the ranks of those who are not as concerned about this loss. I never expected to go undefeated in Pac12 play, and AZ always plays well at home. Those refs were something else, though-- having said that, I was scratching my head at calls on us and on AZ, as their inability went both ways. Can't blame the refs for this loss; we just needed to make shots, as has been pointed out. I trust in Cronin to "right the ship,' as has also been mentioned in the thread already. Our focus should always be to first win Pac12, get a 1 seed for the dance, and then take it from there. I see nothing about that goal changing after this weekend.

Expand full comment

At Arizona has always been the toughest game for every team in the conference, at least for the last 25 years or so

Expand full comment
Jan 22, 2023·edited Jan 22, 2023

Super frustrating game, but ultimately it's not necessarily harmful to the season, as long as the offense can get back on track. I would like to see some more in game adjustments when we are having a hard time finding baskets, because scoring has been a real problem lately, both against stupid $c and Colorado, so yesterday's futility is not as flukey as it might seem. But if the shots aren't falling, the team needs to make a better effort to get some easy shots and/or get to the FT line, or turn up the defensive intensity, and I didn't see any of the former, and little of the latter until the last few minutes, at all yesterday.

I feel like our team gave too much respect to AZ's inside defense yesterday and didn't attack the rim enough. I would have liked to see Bona get the ball in the low post more. He's developed some decent inside moves and the refs proved yesterday that they would blow whistles for virtually anything either way, so he had as good a chance at drawing a foul as he would at getting stuffed. But we needed to make the investment at going at the rim if only to put more pressure on the AZ down low and maybe get some more FTs. Remember that AZ made more FTs yesterday than we even attempted. Can't surrender like that. And if AZ wanted to double Bona (or JJJr) on the low box, he's shown the ability to find an open shooter, or we need the open man to slash to the rim. None of that happened so we were reliant on perimeter passing for more contested jumpers or JJJr trying to create a shot. Oh well. Lesson learned. Get better for next game.

And the refs...Man they were all new levels of horseshit yesterday, and both ways. Outside of the absurd foul on Bona 36 secs in that sent him immediately to the bench, (why, Mick??) I don't think they really tilted the game one way or the other, but they sure made it difficult to watch for everyone. And these kids playing D1 BBall in a P5 conference deserve better.

Expand full comment

Always appreciate your insight Greg. We will get into the tournament with a one or two seed. The biggest thing is we can’t afford a bad shooting night for those 6 games. Also, last year at this time both Tygr and Jaime were hitting a higher percentage of shot. For Tygr it was that tear drop from a drive. For Jaime it was the step up and under. They both need to hit those in the tournament.

Expand full comment

This is why I question Cronin as a coach. He’s very conservative. He doesn’t trust his players. He doesn’t trust them to play with fouls. He mostly only trusts his vets to play.

Our vets were beaten dead tired - hands on hips, breathing hard, sweating buckets, shots falling short. He needs to be able to use his deep bench, and get more of the young guys experience, so they’re tourney ready.

Nwuba getting more minutes than Etienne when he makes our offense 4 vs 5 makes no sense. Especially when we could’ve rested Adem when Ballo was out.

Expand full comment

I think you're on to something, W412. I'd love to see more minutes across spots 7-9 (Andrews, Canka, Mac) on the bench so those guys are ready and trustworthy when we need them. There will unfortunately be even fewer minutes available when Bailey gets back.

Expand full comment

Yes, especially Andrews. He probably has the nicest midrange shot, and he’s another option that could slash to the basket. Canka should have some nice Euro ball offense, to be able to spread the floor, if he could get minutes and be comfortable. Mac is clearly more athletic than Nwuba, with far better offensive skills.

Expand full comment

Agree, W412, those guys on the bench aren't going to get any better just sitting there.

Expand full comment

I agree with everything you stated, but Cronins reality is essentially sketched in a massive stone that will not budge when it comes to his rotation. Its obvious Andrews needs minutes over McClendon. Give some minutes to Canka who has shown some athletic ability to slash along with a capable shooting stroke. Cronin gets his props for his ability to maximize the effort of his players, especially on the defensive end, but he misses out on some very obvious adjustments.

Expand full comment
Jan 22, 2023·edited Jan 22, 2023

I'm also really curious to see how far our Bruins, after losing by 6 to a highly ranked team in their barn, drop in the polls, compared to precious Kansas who got destroyed in their own building by an unranked opponent. I already know the answer, but I'll leave it out there for now anyway.

Expand full comment

Or how Arizona is rewarded...

Expand full comment

We drop 3 losing to a top 10 Arizona and Houston drops 2 losing to an unranked team. The usual 💩 Kansas got closer to fair treatment.

Expand full comment

Kansas, North Carolina and Duke are always NCAA media favorites, rain or shine. Dick Vitale has also signed over his body and soul to ACC long time ago already.

Expand full comment

Kentucky, too, when they’re good. I’m glad Vitale recovered, but I didn’t miss hearing him talk about “diaper dandies”

Expand full comment

As I recall, Dick Vitale was an NCAA coach at University of Detroit before briefly becoming an NBA coach with Detroit Pistons. He flubbed and went into broadcasting. He became known for his trademark, deliriously happy " welcome to dunk city, baby ! " or other similar outbursts as the televised game he and his partner were commenting kicked into high gear, especially for Duke or North Carolina. If circumstances allowed - I am saying it in jest of course - he would have married coach K.

Expand full comment

Also, amazing Steven Manfro reference, Dimitri. That is a deep and all-time outstanding pull.

Expand full comment