The Hangover effect: UTM

Last night was a bit disheartening for Cougar fans, as 1,200 of them saw UT Martin ecape the Vadalabene Center with a 78-69 victory. After the game, friend of the website Alex Helton blamed Lennox Forrester's coaching strategy in the loss, but I tend to disagree this time.

It was the officiating.

I am not one to blame the officials normally. The players play the game and the coach coaches the game, so most of the time they are the ones to blame. Last night, the Cougars were unable to do what they wanted to do, because the officials had them playing with their hands behind their backs. We saw the most fouls at the Vadalabene Center since 1997, and UT Martin went to the free-throw line 36 times, where they were 30-36.

UT Martin had their own foul trouble, and the majority of the calls seemed to go both ways. The Skyhawks were also called for two technicals, one on their coach and another on Andres Irarrazabal, resulting in three free points for the Cougars.

SIUE wanted to feed the ball inside to Nik Bundalo, and shot selection was an issue. After the game, Forrester said the Cougars were a bit hesitant to get the ball to Nik, which was indeed the game-plan. All of the fouls made the team adjust, not from a coaching standpoint, but the players on the floor were having difficulties feeding the beast. The Cougars were called for 32 fouls, and more charges instead of blocks, which is rare to see. On such an arbitrary call, I find it hard to believe the Cougars were so oblivious when driving to the hole and UT Martin was able to set their feet on each and every single effort. By the end of the game, Michael Messer and Cornelius Chatt had fouled out while Bundalo, Dob Mavrak, Kevin Stineman each had four. 

By the way, UTM was whistled for 23 violations, nine less than SIUE, and only three or four fouls were called on the Cougars in desperate times down the stetch.

The crew of Rick O'Neil, Tim Fitzgerald and Mike Litzelfelner were out of control, and didn't let either team play basketball, especially SIUE.

Statistically, this was a pretty even game. SIUE held their own, out-rebounding the Skyhawks 40-38. They had 15 assists, a category they are generally strong at and shot 38 percent, while Martin shot at a 41 percent clip. Those numbers are a little swayed, because for a change, the Cougars took seven more shots than their opponents.

SIUE led by four at the break, and Cornelius Chatt had 20 points, following a 25 point game at Northwestern Thursday. Dob had 12 rebounds in just 14 minutes, and has been a much better, more aware player as of late.

The teams each scored 32 points n the paint, SIUE scored more on second chances and SIUE outscored UTM on the fast-break 11-4, which is astonishing, considering all the charges they were called for.

Because SIUE was playing a little tentatively and couldn't get inside the paint in the second half, they had to settle for jump shots just to avoid further foul trouble. In the first half, the Cougars only shot seven 3-pointers, which was an adjustment the team made, because Forrester is fully aware his team takes too many shots from downtown. It was probably a good thing, being the Cougars were just 1-7 in those attempts. When the team did settle for jump shots, they suffered, making just 3-14 "threes for the E" in the second half.

If we talk about this game while ignoring all of the ignorant fouls, the Cougars failed to shut down UTM's biggest weapons defensively, which led to the loss.

Benzor Simmons, UTM's leading scorer came off the bench early, and scored 26 points, but he, and his Kimbo Slice beard was at the free throw line 18 times, where he was 16-18. UTM found a way to convienently get the ball into the hands of their best shooter when they needed to. Reuben Clayton and Terence Smith were also true to their form, scoring 16 and 15 points to lead UTM to their fourth straight win.

Forrester was not to blame this time. Yes, the Cougars offense is a little less intuitive than we would like, and they lack that aggression at times you need to win basketball games. This team is lacking some key parts right now, and that hurts. We can't forget Mark Yelovich. He had 26 points last year against UTM, and if he was in the lineup, SIUE would easily have 3-4 more wins this season already. This would have been a game Mark could have won for the Cougars, and he can't help it. I know it's been tough on him, it's been tough on all of us. This kind of game is a setback, but offers a glimmer of hope.

SIUE is almost there.

Sure, the Cougars are still without a win against OVC competition at the VC, and 1-10 now in Lennox' term as Head Coach. Games like this offer a reminder, perhaps one that will keep our sanity for the time being.

SIUE is still an Independant, and is ineligible for the NCAA tournament. It sucks and it still hurts, because a loss is a loss. You can't put a bow on it and call it a day. Look at where we are. You compete now, you recruit well, and in two years you win.

It's that simple.

This brings us to a comment we got on the site yesterday, Thanks to Andrew for a well-thought out post we will address now.

I wanted to start this post by saying Thank You for your continued support of the team. I cannot say the same for myself. I am pretty much looking toward the future and it gets bleaker and bleaker for the Cougs. I really believe that Lennox though a nice enough guy probably will not survive the full term of the transistion. I think we def should be looking toward the future and an intriguing name has popped up lately and that is Soderberg from Lindenwood. He came back to the area to coach Lindenwood which on the surface is a great job because he gets to coach his son now but what happens after his son leaves? I think that would be a great hire for SIUe and I def can see some seats filled with his hiring. Bringing up the seats filled, that is another point I worry about. They need to start generating some crowds at the VC.

Ok now that I got that off my chest, lets move onto the recruiting front. Charles Joy verballed in the Fall however I have been tracking him and I dont know if he will stay committed. He seems more like a JC player who has tons of skill but if went to say like SWIC could probably jump out the roof and go to higher Division I. I am just saying. What about this crazy idea? Lets say Lennox cant get anyone to come and we lose some guys (lets see we lost Jones, seems like Tillman is gone or out the door already, Chatt seems like the typicaly guy to transfers to NAIA school so he can light it up, same with Wickware) we could potentially lose almost our entire team. I am really concerened that could happen. Has anyone thought of the prospects of playing a full year with practially walk ons????? I need to start hearing some positivie vibes out of SIUe or they need to start getting some transfers or I can see this whole transition as a bust.

Hopefully we can win some games down the stretch to attract crowds and talent but if not I see doomsday ahead for the Cougs.

Andrew

Thanks for the comment, and I will try to address this chronologically. First, I think Lennox is the right man for the job. I may be in the minority on this front, but realize you have to have the players to win the games. I think the UCLA offense is boring, and the Cougars athletes would benefit more from a Prinecton, or a more advanced motion, although they don't have the point guard or personell to make it happen. Lennox is now 37-71 at SIUE, which isn't good. He had a winning season his first year, taking the final D-II squad to a 17-11 record. Transitioning is rough. In nearly every post-game press conference this season, opposing coaches have praised Lennox for the job he is doing at SIUE. This group includes IPFW coach Dane Fife, Morehead State coach Donnie Tyndall and UTM coach Jason James. Last year at Illinois Bruce Weber praised Lennox on the tough minded approach of the Cougs, and every coach acknowledges SIUE is going through a tough time.

Teams in the OVC are scared of SIUE down the road. This is the type of quote coaches routinely give the media after games, and usually it is something that doens't make the presses. Lennox has plenty of confidence votes from his peers and the Athletic Department. He proved at Bradley he is solid on the recruiting front, and recruiting will enhance for SIUE down the road. Right now, players are choosing not to go to SIUE because we are transitioning. It takes a tough, non-selfish kid to commit to SIUE right now while the team cannot go to the post-season, and SIUE has a couple of those in Yelovich and Messer who could have taken better opportunities elsewhere. Will Triggs, an Edwardsville High School alum who is balling it up at Austin Peay was close to committing to the Cougars, but wanted his chance to play in the post-season immidiately. That's why he isn't here. SIUE is a tough sell now, but two years down the road, it will be a better one, because of its proximety to St. Louis, the weaknesses of the rest of the Ohio Valley Conference, and shockingly the college environment at SIUE, which has the second largest enrollment  in the OVC. Kids will want to come here, and Joy will be here next season no matter what. He is more than a verbal, he has signed a NLI.

I am really not too excited about Joy, and he is not going to be a guy who will thrive as a starter at this level unless he works really really hard. He's not the star of his high school team, and SIUE missed out on O'Fallon's biggest prize, Roosevelt Jones, who will be a Butler Bulldog. That wasn't going to happen anyways.

The biggest concern next season is going to be in the post. SIUE loses Bundalo and to a lesser extent Mavrak, while Tillman, like you said is pretty much gone unless something happens to prove otherwhise. he has had his share of off-the-court problems, as well as Gerald Jones, who is in the same situation. In fact, neither of them are on the roster, but Lennox said their time at SIUE is still questionable. In my mind, they're gone. Zeke Schneider was signed with lots of upside, but hasn't proved anything yet as a college player. As a junior with all the time he has had to work, Zeke may not be as big of a drop-off from Bundalo as we may think, but SIUE has to hit the big men hard in recruiting, and place a little more emphasis on that than guard-type players.

Chatt and Wickware really give me no reason to panic, as far as them leaving before their senior seasons. The two have played together their whole college career going back to JUCO, and you really can't have one without the other. SIUE has had players leave to go to JUCO and then sign on at better programs (Brandon Dunson) and a few players leave for JUCO and not make it anywhere (Barry Wellington, Terrance Williams and Aaron Garriot.)

Chatt and Wickware are not going anywhere. The process at this point of switching schools is way too much to deal with. They would have to sit out a season to transfer to another Division I season, something they are not doing, especially since they are a package deal.

Next year, the Cougars lose Bundalo, David Boarden, Mavrak, Newlin and Rincker.They will have four starters locked.

Stineman at the point, Chatt and Wickware at the guard spots and Yelovich at the four, with Messer filling making the occasional start. You are really just missing a big, and it's a pretty solid starting five. Flop Wickware to the point and run Messer as a 2 guard. no matter what, it's going to be a small three-guard lineup. The bench depth is going to be a little bit of an issue too, and right now it's Zeke, Joy, Murphy, Mitchell and either Messer or Stineman as the first man on the floor. Assuming there is no Tillman or Jones, the Cougars have four scholarships to give out, and two walk-on positions vacated by Rincker and Newlin. If Lennox can recruit it will be okay.

Now, Brad Soderberg.

Soderberg is an intriguing person, and it's nice to finally here a name come out of all the "Lennox sucks" talk. He has an impressive resume, having coached at South Dakota State back when they were Division II, a year at Wisconsin where he took them to the NCAA tournament and his 5 years at SLU, which culminated with a 20-13 season and the eventual hiring of Rick Majerus. At Lindenwood, his team was 23-10 last year, and is 18-2 this year. Soderberg is making his case for another Division I job, and he really got screwed over at SLU. He has star power and name recognition, and if anyone is going to be the man for the job, it's him.

Forrester is under a seven-year deal, worth $110,000 a year, and it will not expire until 2014. I think SIUE will let Forrester play out his contract, because it is still a nice timeframe for him to prove what he can do. You don't want to jump the gun, because Forrester is a blossoming coach, and would find another Division I job. Guaranteed. It's not the doom and gloom we are all making it out to be.


Finally, Soderberg's name recognition probably wouldn't impact attendance as much as winning games will. Right now, SIUE ranks in the middle of the OVC in terms of attendance. It is not really that bad, compared to other mid-major teams, and SIUE's support is actually quite impressive. It will take time to build that intimidating atmosphere, and winning will do it more than anything. I just wish they were louder.

Comment line is open, so share your opinions, lots to digest today.

Let's make it white and pull an upset Wednesday against Murray State.

Posted in: Archives,Men's basketball