Eyes and Ears

Hodges was benched after a 2 point performance against Ryle in the Lloyd invitational tournament. He responded with a 11 , 13, and 20 point games. When does he get his spot back. Was the rationale that it worked once so lets keep him coming off the bench? If there were internal problems, couldn't they had been worked out in practice? You would think that you could use a guy like Hodges on the floor.

I guess it is unfortunate that Conner has been cursed with such poor talent for the last eight years. I just know that I have seen coaches do more with less. That is my opinion of a good coach.

Bottom line. Coaches have to know their players. They have to be able to adapt to the strengths for that year. They have to stress the fundamentals early in the season. Conner defense was "lacking" all year. They played hands down. As a coach, you fix that early in the year. As a coach, you make sure your players know how to rebound. As a coach, you review game film to work on mistakes so that they only happen once. As a coach, you take the time to scout the opposing teams and develop a strategy for taking away your opponents strengths. As a coach, you develop your strengths and force teams to counter them. As a coach you motivate your players. Every player has a different personality and requires different motivation. If there are problems, you eliminate them early. You do not allow your 6'8" guy to become a non factor. If it is work ethic and lack of interst then you fix that early. As a coach, you need to be able to make adjustments on the fly to counter the opposing teams hot hand. As a coach, you need to stay focused on the game at hand and not get distracted by one call. Every possesion is critical. As as coach you need to be able manage the bench and asign a leader on the floor. You need to devop that leader throughout the year. If he doesn't accept that role, then you make a change early. You do not wait until districts to figure all of this out.

I see him coach 4-5 times per year and he is very animated and works hard the whole game. When I have spoken to him away from the gym he comes across as being very passionate about the game and his teams. There are Sports of All Sorts coaches that posses these qualities.

They may not have been the preseason number one, but they should not have been the end of season 11-18 that they were.

Don't take the posts out of context. Players should be benched when they don't perform. But a benching should be an opportunity to coach the player as to what needs to be done. Especially when he should be one of your best assets. You don't bury your 6'8" guy.

The talent on this team was not properly utilized and became overshadowed by inability in the coaching staff. Gloves are off. The season is over for these boys. A better coach and Conner goes to regional. Most likely still as a favorite.

This season should be considered a failure by the coaching staff. It is the coaches job to demand effort and to motivate and to put his team in positions to win. Too many times this year the Cougars were not there. The coach is in charge and therefor is responsible when the team fails. Especially to this extent. What would Trump do?

IMO Player were not properly utilized. Hodges saw very limited minutes in the second half. He could have been a serious mismatch, but I don't believe he was properly instructed on what was needed from him. I beleive it is the coaches job to motivate the players. If a player isn't performing, by all means take him out. But make sure you coach him as to what he needs to do and get him back in. Hodges was too good to be sitting.

The third quarter has been their worst enemy all year. Conner somehow manages to make every wrong adjustment at half time.

Since we are talking horse metaphors. Lets try this. If you have the best and strongest horses pulling your cart but the driver is lost. Will that cart make it to its destination?

Mr. Scrapper I beleive even the "average fan" would know that this team is more capable than what their record states. And as you say it may be their "little jonny" is just not good enough to achieve expectations. Then why is little jonny still taking the court? Bottom line is this team could be better than 11-15 at this point. Nobody in NKY who knows anything about basketball should be able to argue that. Maybe expectations were set too high, but who sets the bar that low just to say "hey we beat our expectaions" Next year lets shoot for .500.

What is the criteria for being considered a very good coach as has been stated on here over and over again. I am not arguing it, I just want to know what people are baseing this on. My opinion of a very good coach is one that can produce succesful seasons with average to below average talent. Now lets say that the posters on here are correct in saying that Conner was overrated and has at best average talent. Now wouldn't that mean that a very good coach should have a successful season?

My only agenda would be to see this team be successful. All I know for sure is that they have one heck of a JV team and alot of experience at the varsity level and this team has a losing record. It appears at different times that they have different voids that you would think could be filled by someone on that large and talented bench.

Assuming no one has given up on the season and HM is correct in saying work harder. What does this team need to do to get out of districts. I am all for hard work and pushing, but if you are not heading in the correct direction, no matter how hard you work you will never reach your destination.

I take Holmes over Conner by 25 points.

You won't get an arguement one out of me about the top ranking, but a losing record for the season. It is my opinion which actually doesn't mean much, but I think this team should have done better this year. How many schools out there utilize their JV? Conner has a great JV team and we see these guys for brief glimpses. Every game I have been to this year, Flesch has played the entire game. Is that counterproductive? Is he really the only player on that team that can bring the ball down the floor? How does a player like Hodges who is listed at 6'8" only get 1 point against Holy Cross who's tallest player is 6'4"? Why can't this team break a press? Player strengths, team fundamentals, and strategy should have been worked out at the latest by the holiday break. This team appears at times like they have never played together and they have 2 more regular season games left.

I just read in another thread that the Conner JV team will play tonight in the finals of the JV championship tournament. The Conner varsity team began the season as the NKY top team. They have 7 seniors with 4 of them starting or seeing considerable minutes the last three years. My question is, "Why is this team 11 - 15?" They have a good JV team and alot of talent on the varsity level. I have been out to a few games and cannot for the life of me understand what is going on in Hebron. I know several of these boys and am shaking my head at their record and output.

It appeard that Conner's plan for attacking the press was to inbound the ball to Flesch on the baseline and have him attempt to get the ball the length of the entire floor by himself. Either the other two guards were instructed to not bring the ball up or were not comfortable because the ball always went to Flesch. Holy Cross doubled and trippled up on him and he turned the ball over. The first half was ugly. The half time adjustments seemed to work and get Conner back in the game, but it was too little too late. You will not have much success digging a 20 point hole and coming back on the road against many teams. Holy Cross is very good at clock management. Although I give credit to the Cougars for battling back. It is another close one for them. The way this game was being officiated, it took the Cougars too long to figure out that they needed to attack the basket and draw fouls. This adjustment in the first half may have won this game.

Bradley had a nice block, but Cooper lost by 15 points. I saw the block, but I also saw Cooper struggle against a zone and make way too many turnovers. If Conner had stayed in their man 2 man, Cooper would have won this game though. Good call by Coach Hicks. The Cougars could not stop the penetration of Bradley and the zone shut them down. The Jags were very aggressive early and were moving the ball well to get good shots. Conner came alive in the second half. Flesch did an excellent job of making plays and got some help from a couple of treys from Robinson and some nice put backs from Hodges. I saw signs of a transition game from the Cougars. There was so much more basketball there to discuss, but we are more focused with one block.

To say the least.

Life appears to be gone after another loss to Ryle this afternoon.

Sounds expensive.

Ryle will need to keep their bigs out of foul trouble. If they loose Vollet or Stauffer to fouls then Holmes will run away. I think it stays close and Holmes pulls away late taking advantage of their speed. If Chris Hayes is not hitting shots though, Holmes may struggle. This should be a very fun game.

The way Cov Cath is playing right now. I look for them to win all three of those games.