2livewu wrote:Alize Johnson is my POY right now. Dude is a monster. Great motor. How have they lost 3 times?
It's called the Lusk factor; I don't know that people outside Springfield who don't see Lusk game to game realize how bad he is. This team is right there talent wise to be contesting for a title; a guy like Alize is obvious, but some guys like Kendrix and Dixon who simply don't get utilized effectively are much better than what plays out. Kendrix was really coming on at the end of his sophomore year despite Lusk constantly messing with him. He entered this season as the 4th leading returning scorer and 6th returning rebounder in the conference; those are numbers usually indicative of a player entering a junior year who is closing on being all MVC caliber, and he is talent wise. Granted Chris can be his own worst enemy, but he isn't the first talented kid Lusk just seems unable to effectively manage and push the right buttons with. Even a guy like Alize has had at least two games this year where Lusk has inexplicably sat him long stretches in close games we lost. While in general, the players don't voice much discontent, there seems to be always some conflict with some of our most talented guys. Marshall, Kendrix recently, and right now it's not fully clear what all is leading to Rousseau's absence although in fairness, it may not have anything to do with Lusk. And that's just the player management and development aspect; he's probably even worse at overall strategy, in game decisions and other technical aspects of being a coach. Bear's fans are in that terrible purgatory of wanting our young guys to do well and wanting to win, but realizing modest success now leads to extended mediocrity in retaining Lusk. We are at least because of the talent, entertaining to watch, but any lead against any team heading into the last 10 minutes can be easily Lusked away, and at least 3-4 times a year[ see SIU/Air Force] a Lusk team will simply not even show up to compete.
The Bear is the largest carnivore on the North American continent; beware the Bear!