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MBB Game 3: Utah Utes - Thursday 9 pm - Charleston Classic Quarter-Final ESPNU

I think everyone is pulling for Forbes and everyone wants him to succeed. He is very likeable and has an entertaining personality which was much needed after the last two idiots. He also has an eye for talent, knows how to use the portal and his offense is fun to watch as it allows freedom for the players to make plays. However, Forbes has failed to prove himself as a good strategic coach. Our inability to attack a zone is infuriating but it requires a more structured, disciplined offense. In addition, Forbes teams do not play good defense, do not rebound well and don’t value the basketball (this appears to be a little better this year). The combination of all of these weaknesses prevent us from executing down the stretch of close games and we lose. Forbes has got to get this corrected soon…we should be winning by now. 4 years is plenty of time to turn around a basketball program.

The players seem to enjoy playing for Forbes and the effort is usually there but at this level coaching matters and often is the difference in a close game. Right now we are simply not getting it done.

We must win these last 2 games in Charleston and then go on a big run during our upcoming home stand. If Forbes fails over the next few weeks then I think we need to question if he can get us back to the tournament.
 
Branden Carlsen isn't just a 5th year in college guy. He is a fifth year in college guy who did a two year Mormon mission between high school graduation (2017) and starting college (fall 2019). He was a consensus top 100 player coming out of HS.
 
Rafi said:
His second year we were 25-10, 13-7 in the ACC (finished in 5th place) and 35 in kenpom. We should have been in the tourney.
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He’s lucky he got Alondes and Jake in the second year.
Even Manning got us into the tourney because John Collins came out from nowhere.
 
I've spent this fall watching Wake football, the Panthers, the Giants, and the Hornets. Last night's game was pretty much the most enjoyable sporting event I've seen in months. I knew the whole time that we were going to blow it and lose, but at least we made it somewhat entertaining. I'll take it.
 
If we had played like this against UGA, we would have won. So we got better.

After a rough start, I thought Keller gave good minutes. He still got beat quite a bit but he played hard.

Marsh would have helped some, mostly just to spell Carr. Carr is a smart player but he can't play this much 5 or play this much overall. He's just having to do too much defensively right now. But Marsh would have had a lot of trouble defending their bigs who were actually pretty mobile.

In terms of the process, I see improvement. Reality last night was we had to rely on two freshman and Keller too much. If we get Efton and Damari, this will be a pretty good team.
 
All in all, this has been a disaster start to the season. People forget we were down 20 to Elon as well in the only win so far. I think NCAA tourney hopes are dashed, we won't get these opportunities back. The ACC seems to be as bad as usual so we won't make up any ground unless we finish top 4 most likely. Don't see it happening. Absolute bummer. We have the players, even if some can't play now which hurts worse.

I am a massive Forbes fan, love him but at some point you do have to start winning. In no way am I calling for his head etc, I'd give him this year and next. If he can't get it done by next year, then I don't have much to stand on. We COULD (very tbd) be an absolute wagon next year. Everyone can come back. Say even Damari leaves, we could have a team with Boop, Cam, Sallis, Juke, Parker, Carr, Reid, MMM, then Marsh/Keller/Clark. That is an old, and potentially insanely good team. We have to try and see if we can make that happen. If there's an exodus then so be it I don't know where we stand, but if Forbes can keep his main core there we could be special. But it would be an absolute must year for him, at some point you just gotta fuckin win
 
I don't think Keller played as well as a lot of folks here seem to think... But I guess he did have kind of a low bar given he hadn't done much in the first 2 games.

The problem I see with Keller is strength (which can be improved) and just looking uncomfortable at times (solved by more minutes). I'm fine with him being in the rotation, but I'd prefer if the rotation was Keller behind Carr at the 4 and Marsh behind Reid at the 5.
 
DeacsATS said:
I'm fine with him being in the rotation, but I'd prefer if the rotation was Keller behind Carr at the 4 and Marsh behind Reid at the 5.
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Completely agree. Both Carr and Keller are playing out of position when at the 5.
 
RUDeac said:
He’s lucky he got Alondes and Jake in the second year.
Even Manning got us into the tourney because John Collins came out from nowhere.
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Lucky is one John Collins, who blossomed in two years at Wake. And nobody else who got much interest from the NBA in SIX years if trying.

Good scouting is ACC player of the year Alondes Williamson, ACC. player of the year (or runner up) Tyree Appleby. NBA draftee Jake LaRavia. And quite possibly more to happen in half that time.
 
awakegirl said:
Super unpopular take- Dino is chronically under appreciated. I don’t care what anyone says- he could recruit and he won games. We never would be as fucked as we have been if we didn’t fire him when we did. Yet most people still think that was a good choice.
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I think we should spend the rest of the day discussing this topic. We really haven't touched on Dino on these boards.
 
DeacsATS said:
I don't think Keller played as well as a lot of folks here seem to think... But I guess he did have kind of a low bar given he hadn't done much in the first 2 games.

The problem I see with Keller is strength (which can be improved) and just looking uncomfortable at times (solved by more minutes). I'm fine with him being in the rotation, but I'd prefer if the rotation was Keller behind Carr at the 4 and Marsh behind Reid at the 5.
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Totally agree about hit the weight room, Keller.

And he can't do much in the first 2 games if he is not in the game playing.

Kid CAN shoot, no question.
 
2&2 Slider To Leyritz said:
I've spent this fall watching Wake football, the Panthers, the Giants, and the Hornets. Last night's game was pretty much the most enjoyable sporting event I've seen in months. I knew the whole time that we were going to blow it and lose, but at least we made it somewhat entertaining. I'll take it.
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Yeah, there was no question at half-time we would blow it. I did not realize we would let one guy beat us by himself, which makes me question Utah as "top 20 team," but I knew we were toast once Cam was completely gassed with 1:30 to go in the FIRST half.
 
Complacent Deac said:
Totally agree about hit the weight room, Keller.

And he can't do much in the first 2 games if he is not in the game playing.

Kid CAN shoot, no question.
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His shooting from long range is icing. He still needs the cake of post defense, rebounding, and post offense.
How many dunks did Wake get from their bigs last night?
 
Keller in some ways appeared to be trying too hard on defense last night. His hedging was probably too aggressive, and caused him to frequently get out of position. Loved the effort, and he’s a serious candidate to run pick and pops with from the 4 spot.
 
Was only able to watch highlights so far but to me we look so bad on D. Just inept
 
inspectah_ said:
Was only able to watch highlights so far but to me we look so bad on D. Just inept
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Defense has been a big issue. Forbes says he recruits offense and teaches defense, not working. Who is the "defensive coordinator"? We may need a new one
 
It's hard to be good on defense when all your post players are some combination of small unathletic and slow. Our defense was much better 2 years ago. When we had a legitimate acc post presence
 
DeacLaw05 said:
Keller in some ways appeared to be trying too hard on defense last night. His hedging was probably too aggressive, and caused him to frequently get out of position. Loved the effort, and he’s a serious candidate to run pick and pops with from the 4 spot.
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I was very pleased with Keller. Showed great effort and some skills. I'm hopeful he's a difference maker as a junior and senior
 
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