Let's face it: the Arkansas basketball team is no good right now. The team isn't making shots, isn't playing with consistent effort, doesn't have strong mental fortitude, and recently hasn't even defended well. The roster is set, and there's no adding players at this stage of the game... so is it even possible to fix this team?
I'd argue yes. And it's not even about fixing the team in hopes of making the NCAA Tournament at this point, but fixing it to save any sort of momentum moving to year two. Going into a second year with a great recruiting class and the worst season imaginable will do no good for anyone.
First, let's identify the issues:
1) Shot-making
2) Stagnant offense
3) Lack of effort
4) Rebounding
5) Physicality
Some of these go hand-in-hand, and others are isolated issues, but I'll group related things to make this as simple as possible.
Stagnant offense/Shot-making/Physicality
Physicality will go in another section, as well, but I think it's very apparent on the offensive side of the ball. Essentially what we've all witnessed since SEC play started, and most of this season, is a standard four-out or five-out offense initiated by a ball-screen action. The guard's goal is to get to the rim. When that doesn't happen, they either bring it back out and try the same thing on the opposite side, or pass it to another guard to try the same thing at the top of the key. Occasionally there are some side to side passes, but very rarely a backdoor cut and very little movement away from the ball that looks natural. Most movement away from the ball comes when the ball handler gets frustrated and starts pointing and yelling at teammates to do something.
With the personnel Arkansas has, I'd suggest changing the ball screen offense. That won't happen, because that's what Cal and his entire staff have done for years and years, but if we are looking at how to fix the issues based in reality - as in based within the dribble drive system - then how do we do that?
Utilize the bigs more. The offense has looked better at times when the offense has run around Jonas Aidoo and Zvonimir Ivisic. Not saying that they need to handle the ball on the perimeter (I don't hate letting Aidoo do that occasionally, but it shouldn't be done as often as it is), but utilize their strengths. Aidoo is a solid roll man who can occasionally score with his back to the basket. Feed him an isolation post-up occasionally. Let him roll AND LOOK FOR HIM on the roll after the ball screen rather than either just having him roll to roll or pop back out to the perimeter. For Ivisic, do the opposite. He's not a back to the basket, isolation post scorer. Run the pick and pop with him, but also allow him to roll, but the guards have to look for him on the roll.
Additionally, add Brazile in some of that action, as well. He's hit some shots this year and has proven over his career that he's a capable floor-spacer. Use his athleticism and his being a lob threat in a pick and roll and pick and pop guy. He can do both.
Putting the bigs in more offensive-centric roles does a few things, but primarily makes the defense play honest and opens driving lanes, particularly with Z and/or Brazile on the floor.
So, what about the guards? Hit the roll men, first of all. So many times those guys are open and the guards don't look or throw a bad pass. Look at the roll men and throw a good pass. Second, attack from different angles. Instead of kicking back out to a different guard only to attack from the top of the key again, attack off the catch from wherever they are on the floor. Allow Wagner to attack from the free throw line extended, Davis to attack from the corner, etc.
On top of that, though, is filling space. When a guard drives and gets in the paint or around the free throw line, someone should be floating up to fill that voided space, which leaves a space for another guard to fill, which leaves a space, and so on. It's minimal, but it's MOVEMENT. Too much standing and stagnation - any movement is good movement at this point.
Rotationally, I'm not sure there's much I'd change. You can't really change a lot with a limited roster, haha. Find TB more minutes, and with offense being the biggest issues, honestly find more minutes for Z, too. Those are two solid shooters, as well, which should help with spacing.
A lot of this won't matter without developing some level of physicality. Too many missed layups from everyone. A lot of it is a focus/mindset thing. Don't go looking for contact or expecting contact and let it affect the shot. Try to make the layup first, and if the refs call a foul, they call a foul. Just go up strong. Sometimes it looks like they're avoiding contact, even, which just does zero good, because you definitely won't get a call when trying to avoid contact, and you'll almost assuredly miss the shot.
Better shooters, more movement, focusing on finishing at the rim, looking to pass to cutters, etc. all should combine to aid in the shot-making issues.
Lack of effort/Physicality/Rebounding
Some guys play with effort the whole game, mainly Thiero, Brazile, and Richmond. Outside of that trio, a lot of effort is selective. Wagner and Fland play hard, but it's not quite the same as those first three, and then outside of those five it's extremely inconsistent in terms of effort.
They're losing games already, play the guys who play hard. A five-man lineup of Fland, Wagner, Richmond, Brazile, and Thiero will more than likely give up rebounds, but the team is doing that already when playing bigger lineups. Give that group some minutes, let them feed off the energy and effort and each other and hope it's infectious to the guys on the bench. Same thing goes with physicality. Thiero, Wagner, and Richmond are all pretty dang physical at their respective positions. Let them be. Still try to avoid too much foul trouble, but play them together and hope that it's contagious.
There's more to rebounding other than just being physical. It's geometry. Angles, trajectory, anticipation, etc. plus a good work ethic and physicality. A smaller lineup with high effort could be in a better position to rebound than a bigger lineup. Also, might be time to keep everyone in on the defensive side of the ball to secure boards rather than sending the guards out to initiate the offense early. That's just led to giving up more offensive rebounds and the offensive hasn't even been initiated early on a consistent basis when doing that anyway.
I'd argue yes. And it's not even about fixing the team in hopes of making the NCAA Tournament at this point, but fixing it to save any sort of momentum moving to year two. Going into a second year with a great recruiting class and the worst season imaginable will do no good for anyone.
First, let's identify the issues:
1) Shot-making
2) Stagnant offense
3) Lack of effort
4) Rebounding
5) Physicality
Some of these go hand-in-hand, and others are isolated issues, but I'll group related things to make this as simple as possible.
Stagnant offense/Shot-making/Physicality
Physicality will go in another section, as well, but I think it's very apparent on the offensive side of the ball. Essentially what we've all witnessed since SEC play started, and most of this season, is a standard four-out or five-out offense initiated by a ball-screen action. The guard's goal is to get to the rim. When that doesn't happen, they either bring it back out and try the same thing on the opposite side, or pass it to another guard to try the same thing at the top of the key. Occasionally there are some side to side passes, but very rarely a backdoor cut and very little movement away from the ball that looks natural. Most movement away from the ball comes when the ball handler gets frustrated and starts pointing and yelling at teammates to do something.
With the personnel Arkansas has, I'd suggest changing the ball screen offense. That won't happen, because that's what Cal and his entire staff have done for years and years, but if we are looking at how to fix the issues based in reality - as in based within the dribble drive system - then how do we do that?
Utilize the bigs more. The offense has looked better at times when the offense has run around Jonas Aidoo and Zvonimir Ivisic. Not saying that they need to handle the ball on the perimeter (I don't hate letting Aidoo do that occasionally, but it shouldn't be done as often as it is), but utilize their strengths. Aidoo is a solid roll man who can occasionally score with his back to the basket. Feed him an isolation post-up occasionally. Let him roll AND LOOK FOR HIM on the roll after the ball screen rather than either just having him roll to roll or pop back out to the perimeter. For Ivisic, do the opposite. He's not a back to the basket, isolation post scorer. Run the pick and pop with him, but also allow him to roll, but the guards have to look for him on the roll.
Additionally, add Brazile in some of that action, as well. He's hit some shots this year and has proven over his career that he's a capable floor-spacer. Use his athleticism and his being a lob threat in a pick and roll and pick and pop guy. He can do both.
Putting the bigs in more offensive-centric roles does a few things, but primarily makes the defense play honest and opens driving lanes, particularly with Z and/or Brazile on the floor.
So, what about the guards? Hit the roll men, first of all. So many times those guys are open and the guards don't look or throw a bad pass. Look at the roll men and throw a good pass. Second, attack from different angles. Instead of kicking back out to a different guard only to attack from the top of the key again, attack off the catch from wherever they are on the floor. Allow Wagner to attack from the free throw line extended, Davis to attack from the corner, etc.
On top of that, though, is filling space. When a guard drives and gets in the paint or around the free throw line, someone should be floating up to fill that voided space, which leaves a space for another guard to fill, which leaves a space, and so on. It's minimal, but it's MOVEMENT. Too much standing and stagnation - any movement is good movement at this point.
Rotationally, I'm not sure there's much I'd change. You can't really change a lot with a limited roster, haha. Find TB more minutes, and with offense being the biggest issues, honestly find more minutes for Z, too. Those are two solid shooters, as well, which should help with spacing.
A lot of this won't matter without developing some level of physicality. Too many missed layups from everyone. A lot of it is a focus/mindset thing. Don't go looking for contact or expecting contact and let it affect the shot. Try to make the layup first, and if the refs call a foul, they call a foul. Just go up strong. Sometimes it looks like they're avoiding contact, even, which just does zero good, because you definitely won't get a call when trying to avoid contact, and you'll almost assuredly miss the shot.
Better shooters, more movement, focusing on finishing at the rim, looking to pass to cutters, etc. all should combine to aid in the shot-making issues.
Lack of effort/Physicality/Rebounding
Some guys play with effort the whole game, mainly Thiero, Brazile, and Richmond. Outside of that trio, a lot of effort is selective. Wagner and Fland play hard, but it's not quite the same as those first three, and then outside of those five it's extremely inconsistent in terms of effort.
They're losing games already, play the guys who play hard. A five-man lineup of Fland, Wagner, Richmond, Brazile, and Thiero will more than likely give up rebounds, but the team is doing that already when playing bigger lineups. Give that group some minutes, let them feed off the energy and effort and each other and hope it's infectious to the guys on the bench. Same thing goes with physicality. Thiero, Wagner, and Richmond are all pretty dang physical at their respective positions. Let them be. Still try to avoid too much foul trouble, but play them together and hope that it's contagious.
There's more to rebounding other than just being physical. It's geometry. Angles, trajectory, anticipation, etc. plus a good work ethic and physicality. A smaller lineup with high effort could be in a better position to rebound than a bigger lineup. Also, might be time to keep everyone in on the defensive side of the ball to secure boards rather than sending the guards out to initiate the offense early. That's just led to giving up more offensive rebounds and the offensive hasn't even been initiated early on a consistent basis when doing that anyway.
