Purple Aces

[PurpleAcesFootball]

The Aces continued their winning ways last night, feasting on another cupcake. That makes 4 wins that count for almost nothing in the eyes of the committee, and another that doesn't count at all.

Unfortunately this year's non-conference schedule was created with job preservation as the main goal and not a realistic chance at an at-large berth. Although in their defense, I don't think anybody could have predicted that 4-10 in the Valley would be so dreadful this year. Only 4 real chances to get a quality win remain.

It's been a long time since 1999. Here's hoping this is finally the year they return to meaningful postseason play.

[uniftw]

This type of motion offense does not lead to 3 point shots. It gets you mid-range jumpers, the worst shot in basketball.

Yup. Marty plays an old school basketball that is dying along with the generation that watched it. Good or bad, it is happening. Analytics and basketball "sabermetrics" will continue to drive NBA and college basketball towards more 3 point shooting.

As well it should.

It's interesting to see how some fan bases think teams shoot too many threes and not enough mid range shots.

The reality is if, as a team, you shoot 38% from deep you would have to shoot 57% from the mid-range to equal the same number of points.

If I had to guess 38% from 3 is more attainable than 57% from 13-17 feet for almost all teams.

[Purple Aces]

You mention missing the 4 spot. What is the deal with Wiley, how come he isn't getting any playing time? Seems like he should be your answer at that position.

Marty's nickname is the mule. There is a reasons for that. He doesn't seem to get that a player should get playing time to get better. Wiley does look lost when he comes in. He could be a decent player with a little playing time. The Russian is a project at best and nowhere near ready to give us anything. Really dissapointed Wiley hasn't turned out better. This was the position we were really lacking at.

I feel that Coach Simmons loses credibility of a head coach by starting and playing his son so much, Brzoja should be playing in his place with Wiley being the first forward sub off of bench. That's the only way Wiley is going to get better, is by playing. Also I think it would help Ballentine if Marty would give him a few minutes on the bench each half and let Benzon and Harris Brown play more than he does. Marty has a tenacity to play his guys too many minutes and by the end of the season their legs are gone. But we all know that's why he got his nickname "The Mule", he doesn't seem to learn even after seeing it happen over and over.
#AcesAces

[Wufan]

You mention missing the 4 spot. What is the deal with Wiley, how come he isn't getting any playing time? Seems like he should be your answer at that position.

Marty's nickname is the mule. There is a reasons for that. He doesn't seem to get that a player should get playing time to get better. Wiley does look lost when he comes in. He could be a decent player with a little playing time. The Russian is a project at best and nowhere near ready to give us anything. Really dissapointed Wiley hasn't turned out better. This was the position we were really lacking at.

I feel that Coach Simmons loses credibility of a head coach by starting and playing his son so much, Brzoja should be playing in his place with Wiley being the first forward sub off of bench. That's the only way Wiley is going to get better, is by playing. Also I think it would help Ballentine if Marty would give him a few minutes on the bench each half and let Benzon and Harris Brown play more than he does. Marty has a tenacity to play his guys too many minutes and by the end of the season their legs are gone. But we all know that's why he got his nickname "The Mule", he doesn't seem to learn even after seeing it happen over and over.
#AcesAces

Absolutely correct. Balentine and Mock should be minus 5 minutes. Blake should be in single digit minutes.

[PurpleAcesFootball]

The more I watch this team the more it bothers me that the Aces didn't schedule for an at-large berth. An NCAA tournament appearance would have gained more publicity than any marketing or branding effort the university could do.

3 SWAC and 1 MEAC games are just resume killers.

Arch madness or bust!

[PurpleAndWhite]

It is amazing what can happen when you go from a team with two threats (DJ, Egidijus) to a team with four threats (DJ, Egidijus, Wing/Mislav, JB).

All I have to say about Wing and JB: where the hell has THAT been the last few years?!

Haha glad they found whatever they were missing now rather than never!

[Bball Junkie]

Jaylon Brown has always had the talent and skills, he just never received the amount of minutes to showcase them during games. He is quicker than Gibson, a better shooter and scorer than Gibson, and is a better off the ball defender as well. The one thing he lacks is size, but his hustle and energy level more than make up for it.

[shockalot]

Really liked watching the Aces play at Normal last night, though the turnovers were bad and the Simmons offense tends to stall without "the shooter" being on the floor. But all of the things the last several posts (and more) have said is true: Marty is holding this team back from being great for all the reasons already stated. Nevertheless, the Shockers have a worthy opponent again for the Valley race, and that is a good thing. Can't change the Aces noncon schedule now, but it isn't too late for the Mule to get some of the worthy bench players into the action and give the team a chance to go further. I know it is unlikely unless injuries force him to do it. Though the Aces are capable of beating WSU in Evansville, they make it less likely playing without real depth. I think you've got a comer in Harris Brown, but this is the season Evansville could do so much more in.
I agreed with Mark Adams statement that if Evansville could get to the NCAA tournament, they would be a tough team to prepare for, and so could potentially win two or more there.
That all being said, I still see the Shockers winning the regular season, and other than UE, don't see anyone else having a chance against us in St. Louis, even with our typical St. Lou flu.

[COUTEAU]

Really liked watching the Aces play at Normal last night, though the turnovers were bad and the Simmons offense tends to stall without "the shooter" being on the floor

Glad you enjoyed watching The ACES, get a nice VALLEY road win, last night.
However, then you had to have noticed that when, "the shooter", was on the bench with foul trouble, in the second half for almost 7 mins, The ACES actually increased their lead over ISU, from (37-33) up to (46-37).
Outscoring ISU 9-4.

[mvcfan]

I found his comment about the non-con schedule the most honest and telling. Marty should be slapped around a few times, maybe more.