Season ticket holders find it hard to defend what happened this season...just as hard as it was for our team to defend on the floor.
After last season, expectations were high.
We fell hard from a solid defensive 2016-17 season in FG% defense and points/game, to the worst FG% defensive performance in the past 20 seasons.
We all watch and think "we can't shoot the ball." Yes, it would be nice to shoot it much better. However, the real answer is we couldn't defend - stop our opponents.
Here are the realities.
Historically, on offense, we shoot about 43% from the field, 35% from 3pt and score 67 points per game. Last season, spot on with those numbers. So how can the results be so dramatically different falling to 11-20???
Our opponents shredded our defense where we allowed 50% FG% and 40% from 3pt for the season! The 71.7 ppg we gave up was our fourth highest in the past 20 seasons. The worst: the 2011-12 debacle of eight wins and an 0-16 WCC when we allowed nearly 75 ppg. Our 11 wins is also tied for the fewest in 20 years other than the 0-fer season above.
It just a head scratcher, particularly when you consider we had seven experienced players on the roster including Henry Caruso.
Bottom line, has it been a failure of overall performance OR a failure of the "process"? The difference is a BIG deal.
Let's review. Coach Sendek's process has four pillars. To Learn, Improve, Connect, and to Serve. It has produced outstanding results in the past. But this is Santa Clara...not NC State or ASU.
The process works a lot better when you have a Wally Szczerbiak shooting or James Harden running the show. Those type players are both hard to find; let alone get in an SCU uniform. That makes development of players critical to our success.
Pillar one: Learn
With a team G.P.A. of over 3.0, it's not a matter of mental horsepower to learn a system. It was apparent, we just didn't "get it." The games when we had it, like the recent three game win streak got us all thinking - OK, just in time for the WCC tourney. Then LMU happened. Could it be somehow, the coaching messages got lost in translation? Not sure.
Pillar two: Improve
We all know athletic performances can have big variability. Even the Stephs and Durants can go off the rails. The 2016-17 season set a bar to expand on with visible improvement everywhere. Unfortunately, hopes for performance growth this season in both the veterans and recruits, save one, didn't happen. Only one of the SCU returners had a better overall stats season than last year. Some drop offs were precipitous, despite a full year of "reps" in Coach's system. Hard to figure. Is it possible those players hit their "ceiling" after the 2016-17 season and just stalled? Tough to answer.
Pillar Three: Connect
No doubt the coaches care a great deal about our players. The specific individual attention they get as people first and then players is outstanding. However, the constant reminders and repetitions during practices and in game assignments can be daunting; maybe overwhelming. It felt like the "how many times do I have to tell you" rant, we all hate. Did this cause some "disconnect" as the long, hard season wore on? At times there didn't seem to be much will or much fight in us, especially against the WCC elites. Our average loss margin to them was was 28 points.
We seemed to be going through the motions the last two games of the season. Flat-lined.
Pillar Four: Serve
The team are great SCU ambassadors. Impressive individuals. An SCU education is a foundation few receive. There is also a principle to serve each other. Take ownership, challenge each other to be better. Lead by example, do the harder work, meet and exceed expectations of each other. Be resilient. Those qualities were there at times - but not on a consistent basis - much like our season. I'm not saying there was a rift of any sort, but I just didn't see an emotional leader, a motor, a Draymond Green type and I think it was a factor.
We closed the season with a bust in the WCC tourney.
So which was it, process or performance? We all have our opinions, but for me it was both. A failure of the process by not getting the most from what appeared to be a better roster and also performance in that we lacked the ability or desire to turn things around.
The success of the process going forward will be the linchpin of making it to national or falling short. The Coaches will have perhaps up to six new additions anchored by three seniors and Taj Eaddy available from his transfer year.
One thing I know for sure. It will be hard to "process" another season like this one. A chance to accelerate our growth - squandered. While the Trustees are looking for R.O.I on their basketball investment, we're looking for an R.P.I. that affirms we will be contenders, not pretenders.
Don't forget to Pass along to other interested Broncos.
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