The Broncos "Mid-Term" Report Card

SCU students are in winter quarter classes and mid-terms are ahead.  

Since it's a little past mid-season, I thought it is appropriate to give our Broncos a mid-term report card.  I'll focus on conference results and give a grade at the end.  

BTW, I do not grade on a "curve".

My pre-season forecast was a 13-16 season, with possible upside to 16-13 and a WCC record of  8-10.  As of this article, with 11 games to go, the team is right on those numbers.  

Current Season Record:  9-10

Current WCC Record:      3-4

Predicted Season "Final" Record:  13-16   Upside: 15-14

Predicted WCC "Final" Record:       8-10    Upside:  9-9

To reach those final numbers, they must pass an upcoming series of 11 "tests".  

The WCC syllabus is unfolding as most thought:

Gonzaga is dominating. 

St. Mary's (7-0) is hanging around; having played the easiest part of their WCC schedule first.  BYU (5-3), once considered the threat to the Zags, is now focused on trying to get an NCAA at-large bid; after a shocking loss to Pepperdine at home and St. Mary's on the road.  

Pepperdine (5-2) is the "surprise" so far; beating BYU and taking Gonzaga to the last 2 minutes.

The Broncos results - middling along at 3-4 - no upsets and expected losses to the "big" 3 and Portland on the road.

Our "homework" assignments for the last 11 games:

Plug the "D"  Our opponents are getting way too many good looks and out shooting us on 2pt field goals 46% to 39%.  The man-man match ups have not been in our favor and teams have our zone figured out.

Give the "O" Some Flow  We need to "move it, move it".  Teams are all over Jared and Brandon.  We are 9th in the WCC in FG%, PPG, and average # of Possessions/game and we've shown we can't dribble our way out. I like the move to have Denzel "handle" more up the floor and that he's shooting more aggressively.  If we can get our spacing right, we can pass to an open Jared or Brandon vs settling for the one-on-one dribble drive late in the clock.

Get a "go to" Play  Call it a "reset" button.  We tend to get lost in the flow of the game and have long scoring lapses known as "runs" by the other team.  

WCC teams have us wired.  Stop Jared and control Brandon.  It's working.  Jared is shooting 34% and Brandon 32%.  It may not be necessary to always try to go to JB or BC.  Maybe we can look at the spots on the floor where Denzel (46%), Matt (44%), or Nate (47%) shoot their highest percentage based upon their shot charts as an option?  The data is there.  Might help us find some rhythm and stop a drought. Making their "go to's" might create better shot opps for both our big scorers.  

Sounds easy, right?  NOT.  These are hard assignments.  You can't just memorize them.  You can't "cram".  You have to learn, react and answer in "real time" with the court as their classroom.

Based on the body of work thus far, my mid-term grade is a C.

We've won the games we should have and, so far, haven't won a "statement" game.  I hope the "MO" from beating USF carries on for the next 11 "tests".  

Tonight begins the road to their "final" grade.  Maybe we can amp it up by living up to our pre-game video that this is OUR house.

If we can beat Pepperdine on Saturday, I would me give them, in the words of the late, great Stewart Scott a "B" for Boo-yah....and some swagger as we go on the road to BYU.

Classes start at 8:00 pm tonight in Leavey.

I'll be taking attendance and have my gradebook.....