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South Dakota at ORU


theeagleman5

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TheEagleman also likes what he sees and hears from Coach Mills so far but next year will tell us a lot more...I am not going to judge the coach on this year mostly with Suttons' players.....hoping those couple of new recruits next year will improve things but realize this is a 2-3 year project for us to have a shot to contend for a top 3 spot in the Summit...this league has improved a lot in quality over the last 5 years from top to bottom....meanwhile ORU has regressed significantly in talent since DoMo graduated....I agree with the guy above...we don't have much above average talent.....we need better players....:geek:

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I tend to agree with what OT stated above.  At the start of conference play it seemed like we were really starting to click and play with a passion.  However, when Ruder came back after game 3 of conference play we played well at SDSU then started to regress and have appeared to lose any chemistry we may have had.  Last night in the first half we played with that passion/chemistry.  Then in the second half we immediately went back into the tank.  I am not blaming all of this on Ruder, he is a great player.  But, for those first 3 conference victories we seemed to pull things together, hustle and play with passion/chemistry.  I know RJ could not play last night and I am not sure he will be available at Denver on Sunday.  I do like the motor RJ plays with and I think he will be a major asset to this team for the next few years.   Sorry for rambling but like others, I am very frustrated.  I do not blame Coach Mills.  I like him and I think it will take a couple of years to change the culture and state our program has developed over the last several years or more.  It will probably also require new players to establish a new attitude in the team.  Go Golden Eagles! 

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SEASON TEAM MIN FGM-FGA FG% 3PM-3PA 3P% FTM-FTA FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS
2017-18 ORU 580 68-183 .372 53-142 .373 13-16 .813 58 39 0 11 30 18 202
2016-17 MOST 390 47-130 .362 40-110 .364 7-9 .778 27 9 3 8 30 6 141
2015-16 MOST 79 6-22 .273 5-16 .313 1-1 1.000 7 1 0 1 7 2 18
2014-15 MOST 967 85-257 .331 56-171 .327 37-43 .860 66 40 1 22 44 32 263
2013-14 MOST 981 91-231 .394 72-180 .400 31-39 .795 54 40 0 9 44 21 285
 

Agree with the Ruder thoughts. Ruder's stats are above.  He's never been a Great 3 point shooter.(Shot 40% or better from 3 only once in career)  From what I've seen he's not a great ball handler and a below average defender.  So maybe he was brought in for Senior leadership?  Hopefully they can get beat Omaha on the road and move into the 6th seed and get Ft Wayne or Denver in the Conference Tournament.  

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18 minutes ago, ORUHOCKEY said:
SEASON TEAM MIN FGM-FGA FG% 3PM-3PA 3P% FTM-FTA FT% REB AST BLK STL PF TO PTS
2017-18 ORU 580 68-183 .372 53-142 .373 13-16 .813 58 39 0 11 30 18 202
2016-17 MOST 390 47-130 .362 40-110 .364 7-9 .778 27 9 3 8 30 6 141
2015-16 MOST 79 6-22 .273 5-16 .313 1-1 1.000 7 1 0 1 7 2 18
2014-15 MOST 967 85-257 .331 56-171 .327 37-43 .860 66 40 1 22 44 32 263
2013-14 MOST 981 91-231 .394 72-180 .400 31-39 .795 54 40 0 9 44 21 285
 

Agree with the Ruder thoughts. Ruder's stats are above.  He's never been a Great 3 point shooter.(Shot 40% or better from 3 only once in career)  From what I've seen he's not a great ball handler and a below average defender.  So maybe he was brought in for Senior leadership?  Hopefully they can get beat Omaha on the road and move into the 6th seed and get Ft Wayne or Denver in the Conference Tournament.  

I remember looking at these stats when we were discussing whether Ruder is a 3-point "specialist" or not.

Looks like he will finish his collegiate career with the unusual distinction of having a higher 3-pt percentage than FG percentage.

That's a weird stat for a non-post player in any given season, let alone four.

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36 minutes ago, ManiacAlum said:

I remember looking at these stats when we were discussing whether Ruder is a 3-point "specialist" or not.

Looks like he will finish his collegiate career with the unusual distinction of having a higher 3-pt percentage than FG percentage.

That's a weird stat for a non-post player in any given season, let alone four.

What that means is a guy who can't drive the ball to the rim and FINISH.

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Personally, I disagree with you guys. I actually like Ruder a lot. I think he’s our best guard on the floor most nights, and he puts it all out there every time out. BUT.. there’s no denying that we won three conference games (in dominant fashion) before his return and then tanked when he joined again.

Maybe it’s a coincidence.. maybe our opponents just figured out that zone and we didn’t have anything else to throw out there? Maybe not. Maybe it has everything to do with his return and our chemistry. 

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I don't want to get too down on Austin; I just think (for whatever reason) the team plays more aggressively with RJ at the point as many minutes as possible.

Whether that's something special that RJ brings to the table, or it's the other guys simply playing harder because they like the tempo (or are just trying to keep up) is subject to debate.

The team just seems slower and more passive when RJ is not on the floor as much, and the results seem to bear that out.

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1 hour ago, Old Titan said:

I don't want to get too down on Austin; I just think (for whatever reason) the team plays more aggressively with RJ at the point as many minutes as possible.

Whether that's something special that RJ brings to the table, or it's the other guys simply playing harder because they like the tempo (or are just trying to keep up) is subject to debate.

The team just seems slower and more passive when RJ is not on the floor as much, and the results seem to bear that out.

I think you’re spot on. To be honest, I’ve always seen RJ as a decent back-up point guard option. Haven’t ever been too impressed with what he does. But looking back on the season, our team just seems to play better/be more efficient with him on the court. 

I was very impressed with him on Saturday night when he was in his boot and street clothes. He was very active on the bench, and several times I saw him in the middle of a time-out huddle giving directions and handing out assignments. 

I guess he’s just got those intangible basketball genes from the old man. 

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RJ can be a really good change of pace back up PG for ORU.

To take his game to the next level, the coaches have to work with him on a "floater / Mark Jackson Teardrop" so he can finish in the lane.  His success rate taking it to the rack has been pretty poor.  The tricks he used in HS don't work against most D1 athletes.

His FG% is actually lower than Ruder's --- 36%   (33% from 3)

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Sounds like RJ has intangibles that Ruder doesn't.....hopefully not an issue next year as Milton becomes the starting PG and RJ is his back up....:eagles:

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On 2/15/2018 at 10:46 AM, GoldenEagleFan17 said:

The talent difference seems to be one of the most glaring issues as I watch us play other teams.  Quite frankly, we just have less talent than other teams.  Recruiting will be the key to change the course of this program over the next couple of years.   

We also have a first year coach that is learning to be a head coach.  It's much different than being an assistant.  He's a wonderful man and I believe he'll right this ship.

I was at all the Dakota home games the last couple weeks.  One thing I keep saying is why does every team we play have shooters and we don't?  North Dakota St had a bunch of scrawny white guys who could stroke it and definitely did not meet the eyeball test.  They looked like a Junior high team compared to ORU.  Also why does Mills continue to zone far superior shooting teams when we have far superior athletes?  Not a smart decision in my books.  He acts like he has Baylor athletes and refuses to adapt his game plan to his talent.  

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On 2/15/2018 at 8:44 AM, Old Titan said:

Gotta call it like I see it:  this team was never the same after Ruder returned and cut into RJ Fuqua's minutes.

Not that I think RJ is the answer; but I have to wonder if it affected the vibe off the court as much (more?) than it did on it.

Messing with chemistry can be a volatile undertaking, in a laboratory or in a locker room.  One mistake while mixing the components, and it can blow up in your face.

The team that beat Missouri State and won at UALR and FGCU was tough and resilient.

This team is not.

Horrible, horrible finish to the season.  Barring some sort of miracle in Sioux Falls (and I would consider winning one game a miracle at this point), there needs to be some SERIOUS soul-searching all up and down the bench in the off-season (including the guys in the sport coats).

I like Austin Ruder a lot - and am certainly glad to have him here for this year.  Sometimes stats are unfair - and don't truly represent the facts.  However, In light of this conversation, I think this is relevant.

So far, Austin has played in 19 games for ORU this season.  In those games, ORU was 3-0 against non-D1 opponents and 1-15 against D-1 competition.  And the one D-1 win was on his last-second buzzer beater ESPN SCTop10 play.

In the ten games that Austin was injured, ORU was 0-1 against non-D1 opponents and 6-3 against D-1.

 

 

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On 2/16/2018 at 7:59 AM, ORUHOCKEY said:
Hopefully they can get beat Omaha on the road and move into the 6th seed and get Ft Wayne or Denver in the Conference Tournament.  

Call me crazy (as many have), but I actually think ORU's best option avaiable in the Summit tourney is as the 7 seed.  If we are the 6 or 5, we have a better chance at an opening round win, but then would (likely) have to play the #1 or #2 the next night while they are fresh from a day of rest.  Very poor odds for ORU in that game.

I think our better route is to take on the #2 (either USD or SDSU), and hope that they have first round jitters and that the crowd doesn't show up as they are expecting an easy win.  It's a long shot. but we have a better chance in this opening round game than in the second round scenario above.  And, if we DO win the opening round, then WE get the day of rest, and have a better chance for a second round upset.

Of course, this is all moot unless the team from late December/early January surfaces again... 

 

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You ARE crazy.....:blink:

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2 hours ago, TrueBlue82 said:

Call me crazy (as many have), but I actually think ORU's best option avaiable in the Summit tourney is as the 7 seed.  If we are the 6 or 5, we have a better chance at an opening round win, but then would (likely) have to play the #1 or #2 the next night while they are fresh from a day of rest.  Very poor odds for ORU in that game.

I think our better route is to take on the #2 (either USD or SDSU), and hope that they have first round jitters and that the crowd doesn't show up as they are expecting an easy win.  It's a long shot. but we have a better chance in this opening round game than in the second round scenario above.  And, if we DO win the opening round, then WE get the day of rest, and have a better chance for a second round upset.

Of course, this is all moot unless the team from late December/early January surfaces again... 

 

You're not crazy, but the whole thing is just sad.

I hate that we've had to resort to this sort of "for-a-fat-girl-she-doesn't-sweat-much" rationalization at the end of recent seasons, instead of discussing possible first-round byes or what regional ORU might be assigned to. :doh:

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Right now, Austin Ruder is a better player than RJ plain and simple.  RJ is a freshman and still has a lot to learn to improve his game, and I believe he will continue to improve.  RJ has an awesome attitude and he committed to ORU when we did NOT even have a head coach.  He will always be a favorite in my book for committing to ORU during the week following Scott Sutton's release when the local sports media had temporarily lost their minds.

But, I have watched RJ multiple plays in a row drive into a crowd of taller players and either turn the ball over or take an ill-advised shot.  At times when he is not driving into a crowd, he sometimes dribbles the ball around the perimeter for 15 seconds without making a pass or really doing much of anything.  He needs good coaching to help him understand how to be a great PG.  I hope this coaching staff is capable of providing the coaching necessary to help him reach his potential, because it seems that he still has a lot to learn about playing the PG position at the D-1 level.

I really like RJs quickness and his ability to get steals, and he is a decent 3-point shooter, but right now Austin Ruder is a more well rounded player and is definitely the best 3-point shooter on the team.  Austin consistently makes good decisions and doesn't recklessly drive into a crowd.  

The one mistake Austin made this year at the end of the Oakland game cost us a win when he did not take a timeout when he was double teamed with about 15 seconds left.  Coach Mills even said after the game that he had told the players at the previous timeout that we have one timeout left and they should use it if they get in trouble.  That is why I was so glad when Austin was able to hit the game winning shot a couple weeks ago because it helped him to make up for that earlier mistake.

I am not interested in pitting RJ vs. Austin because I really like both of these players along with Kearns.  I wish we had Ruder for another year.  It makes such a difference to have a player who can consistently knock down 3-pointers.  It would certainly help RJs game if he was a few inches taller, but I feel he has a lot of potential and will continue to develop into a nice guard over the next few years.

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9 hours ago, Old Titan said:

You're not crazy, but the whole thing is just sad.

I hate that we've had to resort to this sort of "for-a-fat-girl-she-doesn't-sweat-much" rationalization at the end of recent seasons, instead of discussing possible first-round byes or what regional ORU might be assigned to. :doh:

Completely agree.  However, it's a rebuilding process - and at least we're talking about a seed in the Summit tourney this year after last year's debacle.  I'm hoping that next year will bring conversations of a Upper Division finish, and then from that point on we become a consistent contender/bubble watch participant as we and the Summit both improve.  You gotta start somewhere!

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1 hour ago, ORUJason said:

Right now, Austin Ruder is a better player than RJ plain and simple.  RJ is a freshman and still has a lot to learn to improve his game, and I believe he will continue to improve.  RJ has an awesome attitude and he committed to ORU when we did NOT even have a head coach.  He will always be a favorite in my book for committing to ORU during the week following Scott Sutton's release when the local sports media had temporarily lost their minds.

But, I have watched RJ multiple plays in a row drive into a crowd of taller players and either turn the ball over or take an ill-advised shot.  At times when he is not driving into a crowd, he sometimes dribbles the ball around the perimeter for 15 seconds without making a pass or really doing much of anything.  He needs good coaching to help him understand how to be a great PG.  I hope this coaching staff is capable of providing the coaching necessary to help him reach his potential, because it seems that he still has a lot to learn about playing the PG position at the D-1 level.

I really like RJs quickness and his ability to get steals, and he is a decent 3-point shooter, but right now Austin Ruder is a more well rounded player and is definitely the best 3-point shooter on the team.  Austin consistently makes good decisions and doesn't recklessly drive into a crowd.  

The one mistake Austin made this year at the end of the Oakland game cost us a win when he did not take a timeout when he was double teamed with about 15 seconds left.  Coach Mills even said after the game that he had told the players at the previous timeout that we have one timeout left and they should use it if they get in trouble.  That is why I was so glad when Austin was able to hit the game winning shot a couple weeks ago because it helped him to make up for that earlier mistake.

I am not interested in pitting RJ vs. Austin because I really like both of these players along with Kearns.  I wish we had Ruder for another year.  It makes such a difference to have a player who can consistently knock down 3-pointers.  It would certainly help RJs game if he was a few inches taller, but I feel he has a lot of potential and will continue to develop into a nice guard over the next few years.

Everything you said may very well be true. 

But none of it seems to explain the point I was trying to make:  why the TEAM appears to play better (and with better results) when RJ is on the floor at the point.

Again, I go back to chemistry, and the old “the whole equaling more than the sum of the parts” cliche. 

Its like Andre Roberson for the OKC Thunder. In terms of individual stats, he’s a hot mess, but the team just performs better with him in the lineup. 

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