Transcript
@NoConfForOldMen: Welcome folks to episode number 65 of the No Conference for Old Men podcast, a podcast where three old guys are talking Houston Cougars basketball with a bit of Big 12 coverage added in as well, and proud members of the Gokus.com network, the undisputed number one Houston Cougars content provider. And we're back with all three old men, Bill Walker, former player, Tom Lidiak, former coach, and myself, Steve Chang, analytics guy for this episode. And welcome Just like last year, guys, the kids clearly got the message after what must have been a tough 10 days of practice after the Vegas games.
@NoConfForOldMen: And what we got was, I'd say, a more gritty and connected group, especially on defense these past two games. First win was an 82-67 beatdown of ACC Florida that State team at the Toyota Center.
@NoConfForOldMen: And then we followed up with an 80-38 thrashing of Jackson State last night. Both games were noticeably... improvements, I'd say, especially defensively, but we continue to see, I guess the you can call it a bit of sloppy play with turnovers on offense.
@NoConfForOldMen: So we'll get into that shortly, as well as highlighting some minor adjustments we saw that Coach Sampson deployed.
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: We'll also include a topic of discussion that's, I'd say, special topic as our third segment today. As folks have probably seen a bunch of posts on social media this week, where every national champion since 2004 has been in the top 12 of the sixth AP poll each season.
@NoConfForOldMen: And with the Cougars at number seven in this week's AP poll, the old men will discuss what that means or doesn't mean for our Cougars team based on what we've seen so far this season.
@NoConfForOldMen: as well as some of the other early contenders across the country for the national championship. So let's get started. In looking at our two games this week, let's look at both the FSU game and the Jackson State game together.
@NoConfForOldMen: And why don't you both provide your thoughts on both games holistically in this segment, starting with you first, Tom. What were some of the recurring themes you saw from a coach's perspective in both the FSU as well as the Jackson State games?
Tom Lidiak: Well, first off, the game was played in Toyota Center, a place that's not known for defense. So Florida State probably felt Florida State probably felt right at home in the NBA arena because they had just given up what, 95 to A&M and then 107 to Georgia.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: We scored 82. But, you know, the way we play offense, that's probably worth 100 points, you know, for for for other teams.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Uh, Jojo got in foul trouble again, limited, uh, to 18 minutes. I think he picked up his first file with like 1837 left in the first half. And then, then he picked up his second with like 11, 19 or so in the half. So, uh, that was one recurring theme was, you know, Jojo's foul trouble, uh, sharp and, Kingston provided lot points, uh, 48 points, uh,
Tom Lidiak: We didn't get much from the bench. I saw box score. Seiko played 15 minutes. Harwell played 15. Not a whole lot from that. Ramona, think, played four minutes. Mercy might have played six. And there was another player who played who played four. i think it was Isaiah Harwell played four. So not much from the bench. I think we got six six of our 82 points came came from the bench.
Tom Lidiak: Steve, like you mentioned, a little bit of sloppy play. Uh, you know, we've been double digits and in turnovers.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah. Yep.
Tom Lidiak: so a lot to work on, uh, you know, for the Cougs and, you know, we're a young team, uh, going on to Jackson state, held them to 38 points.
Tom Lidiak: I think their first, I think their first 18 points might've came on, on, on threes, you know, it wasn't going to last very long.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Tom Lidiak: But got very good bench production. Isaiah had 20 points, I think. Mercy gave us good minutes. It seemed like McCarty came in and did some things too. Sed came in.
Tom Lidiak: However, Seiko, I'm not sure what his injury is. I haven't heard. i don't know if you guys have heard anything about his injury.
@NoConfForOldMen: I have it, but looked pretty serious though.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, another big story was the return. Well, actually the debut of, uh, Jacob McFarland came in and he played, he played a few minutes, uh, up and down the court kind of looks like he's still favoring the leg, but, uh, he looks the part of a, of a NCAA division one center.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, he was smooth, right?
Tom Lidiak: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: It's just very smooth in his movements. I'm sure he was nervous on that free throw cause he kind of bricked, uh, brick the free throw. But yeah, overall, it was it was a the Jackson State game was a game to get the bench. And and you know if we have any designs on winning the Big 12, we have to have some consistent performance, you know not only from the starters, but we we need some consistent bench production. you know In the past, we could rely on guys like Malik Wilson to come in, and you pretty much knew what you were going to get. But right now,
Tom Lidiak: You know, it's kind of like what Forrest Gump said, do you never know you know what you're going to get from our from our bench.
@NoConfForOldMen: ha
Tom Lidiak: But Hartwell getting 20, he looked very relaxed.
@NoConfForOldMen: Finally, yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Didn't look like he had bench eye, you know, where where you miss a shot or you make a mistake and you kind of look over look over the coach. so And I saw where Kellen had mentioned to Ryan Monso on on go Cougs that he, uh, between the Florida state game and Jackson state game, he says, uh, he goes, I think it's gonna, it's finally clicking with Isaiah and, and, uh, yeah, it, it, it did.
@NoConfForOldMen: hey Hey, Tom, did you notice any, you know, after the break, did you notice any changes in terms of schemes? i've made I mean, to my untrained eye, we started seeing this even a couple of games ago where we had Uzan not settling as much for the three and driving a bit more than these last two games. What I noticed was that Senac,
.0Bill Walker: I definitely did.
@NoConfForOldMen: Uh, they placed them. Yeah. In the high post stripe by the free throw line for turnarounds.
Tom Lidiak: yeah Yeah, we didn't post with anybody.
@NoConfForOldMen: Right.
.0Bill Walker: That's exactly what I was talking, what I was saying I was hoping to see during the last podcast.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: And I was thrilled to see it right off the bat in the Florida State game.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: And it happened consistently.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah, I didn't see us purposely, you know, dump the ball down down into the post.
@NoConfForOldMen: Oh, it's high post.
Tom Lidiak: I'm talking about high points.
@NoConfForOldMen: I think, or at least what I, yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Free throw line, free throw line, free throw line
@NoConfForOldMen: Free throw line, free throw line.
Tom Lidiak: I'm talking about low block.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah. Yeah. I'm talking about, low you know, low block. I didn't see us really purposely go, go there whole lot.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Uh, in the Jackson state game, Milo struggled with his outside shooting a little bit, but he's too good of a shooter for that to continue.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: You know, you you know, eventually he's going to get his shooting stroke back and, uh,
@NoConfForOldMen: I hope.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah, I don't think he'll last you know a season-long struggle, but he's probably still adapting to playing with you know with Kingston.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Tom Lidiak: and you know That's a big change in his role.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: you know yeah That's what I got for for those two games.
@NoConfForOldMen: All right, Bill, how about your perspective from a player's view?
.0Bill Walker: Okay, I'm going to reiterate a lot of what was just said. was a much closer game. Florida State was a much closer game than I thought it would be. we And a little bit surprising because we shot 49% from the field, assisted on an amazing 23 of 32 made field goals, stole the ball 15 times, forced 19 Florida State turnovers,
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: As you mentioned, Tom Sharp was exceptional. He shot 10 of 17 from the field, 6 of 12 from 3, scored 27. Kingston shot 8 of 13, 3 of 4 from 3 for 21. Sinaak was 7 of 11 for 15 points with 10 boards. And Yuzan didn't do much scoring-wise, but he did dish out 8 assists.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: We also held them to 39% shooting, 31% from three. The the issues, as Kelvin has stressed, were turnovers. We committed 13, four each by the freshmen, Flemings and Senac. Tugler, again, as you mentioned, foul trouble.
.0Bill Walker: And we got, again, as you mentioned, Tom, almost nothing from the bench. Maybe, Socko aside, this was really a five-man game previously.
.0Bill Walker: yeah i'd I'd highlighted McCray for FSU, and he did shoot well, led them in assists, and as predicted, led them with five turnovers. yeah We had several opportunities while up 15, 16 points to to really extend this into the blowout that I thought it would be.
.0Bill Walker: But yeah the turnovers and and the defensive lapses kept the game closer than than I really thought it would be. In terms of Jackson State, you guys saw I predicted 83-44, so i'm I'm almost there.
.0Bill Walker: The exact scorers' predictions will likely come during conference play, as I'm sure you've expect. Quite honestly, had Jackson State not started out four of four from three, we might have held them to about five points in the first half and maybe 25 for the game.
@NoConfForOldMen: I know. It's crazy.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, I think Jackson State probably needed of former players Walter Payton and and And the late, great Aaron Sellers, who was drafted with Elvin Hayes to the San Diego Rockets back in 67-68 to help this keep this outcome within 40.
@NoConfForOldMen: Mm-hmm.
.0Bill Walker: Sharp was was unreal. 23 points in minutes, the first half. yeah i wasn't paying attention to statistics because I was at the game, so I couldn't really look stuff up.
.0Bill Walker: But I'm not sure that he missed a shot in the first half. Maybe he did, but he was unreal.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. yeah
.0Bill Walker: And then, and and Tom, you mentioned Harwell making his really his first entire game appearance, 20 points, eight of 14 shooting, four boards. That was absolutely great to see because we do need the bench help. Flemings and Yuzan were pretty much absent offensively, but but did dish out six and four assists respectively.
.0Bill Walker: you know While our big men, Sinek and Tugler, were really, i mean, they were not really, they were completely shut out until five minutes into the second half.
.0Bill Walker: Obviously, Tugler had that that monster dunk.
@NoConfForOldMen: That's your dunk. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: But offensively, those two were were extremely limited. yeah Team-wise, what I was really paying attention to was whether Jackson State would commit twice as many turnovers than made baskets.
.0Bill Walker: And in the end, they committed 25 turnovers and hit 13 baskets for the game. So they were they were close.
@NoConfForOldMen: Wow. Close. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, their shooting, aside from that that hot start with the threes, was horrendous. And they just had no absolutely no chance. yeah Where I was...
.0Bill Walker: A little unhappy was that we committed getting back to this point again, nine turnovers in the first half.
@NoConfForOldMen: First half. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: And fortunately that, that got turned around and was only 11 for the game. Although that 10th one came immediately in the, into the second half, three apiece for Flemings and use on, you know, both of whom made really sloppy passes early.
.0Bill Walker: So that obviously needs to, to,
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
.0Bill Walker: be corrected, particularly with the freshmen, as we're a team that that always protects the ball. and Lastly, i will say that as opposed to to Florida state, the entire bench played well, but I was being there.
.0Bill Walker: I was absolutely thrilled to see Jacob McFarlane play and yeah equally thrilled to see and participate in the standing ovation he received when he got into the game.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: That, that was awesome. Uh, yeah I was kind of shocked when I saw him warming up pregame. I had no idea what was going on. But but yeah, just just as happy as can be to when I saw him enter the game. and And yeah, that is about it. I couldn't have been happier to see that. And that's it for Jackson State.
Tom Lidiak: Hey, guys, can I add one more thing about Florida State game?
@NoConfForOldMen: Hey, yeah. Yep.
Tom Lidiak: We almost went through the two-game review here and didn't mention about JoJo think he's left-handed.
@NoConfForOldMen: it's Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Anybody know what was up with that, that FSU game? I think he missed three three shots. He shot left-handed and he didn't need to. He could have shot him with his right hand. I don't know what was up with that.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, I mean, he's done it in the other games too, right? He'll do the little jump hook, both right-handed and left-handed. And yeah, I don't know. I don't know if they're teaching him.
.0Bill Walker: that that's something that that the big men have been doing for a while.
@NoConfForOldMen: right Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Obviously, Roberts is left-handed, but Francis went to the left hand a lot last year.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yep.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. it's it Exactly.
.0Bill Walker: So, you know, I don't know if that's something something they work on.
Tom Lidiak: But in those those cases in those cases, they had to because they they took this right they took their right hand away.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: JoJo was like on the little short roll, and he and he could have just put it up with his right hand, but he decided he was going to go, I don't know, left-handed.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, I don't know.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, but my point is Francis was ready to go to the left hand and and it was comfortable doing it. So I've got to imagine that's something that that they work on.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: you know if If you have no left hand, you're you're going to force up maybe a more miserable and and easily defended and or blocked right-handed shot.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: But if you're you're a little more comfortable, if you've been working on your left hand, then it becomes more natural.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Hey, Bill, i was going to ask you, and we're 10 games in now as you've watched the players play and we're getting closer to conference play at this point and the bench, right? The bench is going to be key.
@NoConfForOldMen: And at least this last game, right? We saw Harwell and Miller play more and play effectively.
.0Bill Walker: ready
@NoConfForOldMen: I'd say both of them. Are you expecting that to be a trend moving forward? Are those the two guys or do you still... Do you still believe McCarty plays a role? And Sacco, if he's healthy, obviously will play a role, but that's a big if.
.0Bill Walker: what Sacco for sure, based on health.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Harwell is is absolutely going to be part of the the rotation.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: we'll We'll see with Mercy. I'm
.0Bill Walker: not 100% sure that... he He certainly won't get the minutes that that Hartwell and Saka would get if they're healthy, but but I think he'll i think he'll he'll be playing.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, definitely not. Sure.
.0Bill Walker: McCarty... and i you know mccarty
.0Bill Walker: if he got off the bench in the first half, it was, it was late. It was well after all the other bench players got in.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yes.
.0Bill Walker: he played much more in the second half.
@NoConfForOldMen: Second and half, yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Uh, but, uh, but he, he did, he did grab some nice boards when he was in and, and he, you know, he he still works hard on defense. The thing is his shooting is what he is kind of known for. And and that that's,
.0Bill Walker: that's not quite presented itself yet. So we'll you know we'll see.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: it And the thing is, we've got Kingston who shoots threes very effectively. We've got Sharp who obviously shoots threes extremely effectively and and use on, you know, so if if they're shooting, it's good.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: I think it's going to be tougher for McCarty to get minutes, but, know, If Sacco's hurt long-term or even short-term, you know you you've got to have someone to come in on the front line when Tuggler starts getting into foul trouble and when Kelvin gets mad at Senac for his defense and for the turnover.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: So, yeah, I think McCarty's still going to be part of the rotation.
@NoConfForOldMen: Really? Yeah. I, and we will get into it in the next segment.
.0Bill Walker: I think he's gotta be.
@NoConfForOldMen: I don't, I don't think we can afford to, i mean, he's a liability, uh, both offensively and defensively. I don't even think he's contributing on the defensive side.
Tom Lidiak: you
@NoConfForOldMen: Cause. multiple times you know where we see Tuckler get a foul, it's because he's making up for a mistake or a missed assignment at the forward position. And that's whether it's Sanak or McCarty.
@NoConfForOldMen: But yeah, we'll see.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, but who who who else is gonna play?
@NoConfForOldMen: At this point, I think I'd i'd even i'd even play a lot but before McCarty.
.0Bill Walker: Go.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: So I don't know. yeah Or I'm hoping that you know, McFarland is healthy enough to contribute, you know, five to 10 minutes. We'll see, but it's way too early to tell. Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: But anyways, I mean, from an analytics perspective, these last two games were, you know, huge improved game efficiencies from an analytics perspective for Cougs.
@NoConfForOldMen: On offense, these were by far our most efficient games of the season from an effective field goal percentage perspective where we shot a blistering. It was actually over 56% effective field goal percentage on offense for both games, well above the 51.7% standard set from last season.
@NoConfForOldMen: We're still struggling from three point range, but did improve for the season shooting 37% from three point versus FSU and then 33% versus Jackson state.
@NoConfForOldMen: And that's actually with Uzan and McCarty going 0 for eight from three point range. So yeah.
.0Bill Walker: and Sorry to interrupt you, Steve, but we were shooting 50% from three until it got you know into the well into the second half when the game was out of reach.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: So that that's a little misleading, although it was against Jackson State.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, I mean, it's it's misleading, but you know after 10 games, right we've had one good shooting. i mean These were like our two best three-point shooting at nights so far were these last two games.
@NoConfForOldMen: And again, I'm highlighting it somewhat slanted because Uzan's been miserable from three all season long. McCarty's been miserable. Yeah, it will cover that off as well.
.0Bill Walker: Mm-hmm.
@NoConfForOldMen: And and I'm hopeful that Uzan can get out of the funk. I'm not confident that McCarty will get out of out of his phone. So, but we'll see. We've actually been stellar from two from two point range all season. Our guards have been driving at will to the hoop. Love the little tweaks and wrinkles deployed after the break by the coaching staff. Our biggest issues on offense is exactly as you highlighted, Bill, turnovers. We're over 70% turnover rate in both games. And then three point percentage as as we've kind of highlighted before.
@NoConfForOldMen: My belief is that it's going to iron itself out by conference play. Azuzan hopefully gets into a better groove. And I think we're going to limit McCarty's opportunities to shoot moving forward. Uh, on defense, we seem to be better connected and started to get up close and bodying up the ball handler more in these two games, at least, uh, with my eyes, it it appeared to be the case.
@NoConfForOldMen: Still saw instances where Sanak and McCarty got beat by their man. And if you look at the three fouls that Tugler had, I guess the FSU game, first three fouls, every single time it was covering for someone that got beat.
@NoConfForOldMen: First time it was Senac, next one was McCarty, third one it was actually Sharp that got beat on his man. Ed, you end up wasting fouls because people aren't aren' staying true to their assignments. But overall, our raw numbers on D have actually been on par with last season, even though the the rankings may have slipped a little bit. So great to see the continuous improvement as we've experienced in seasons past. And it's great that we finally saw a bit more effort and grittiness this season on D. That's been missing a bit, right, up until this point.
@NoConfForOldMen: I'm expecting the tweaks on offense will continue to up the efficiency on that side of the ball for this team as we head into conference play. And really the Arkansas game in another week or so is going to be a key measuring point. Now let's get to the one game scheduled for this coming week, a home game versus University of New Orleans with Mercy's dad actually coming to town.
@NoConfForOldMen: Bill, why don't you kick things off with kind of your players take on the matchup with New Orleans.
.0Bill Walker: Saturday at 2 o'clock, for those of you that obviously everyone in town is going to this game, but for those of you out of town, yeah ESPN Plus.
.0Bill Walker: New Orleans currently three and seven with a win to open the season over TCU at TCU.
@NoConfForOldMen: I know nuts.
.0Bill Walker: But they've had recent losses to Tech by thirty two Houston Christian by nine and lost to conference rival incarnate word.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Ouch.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: I've seen new Orleans picked as high as seventh, as low as ninth in the 13 team. I believe it's 13 teams. One bid Southland conference.
.0Bill Walker: This season, This team, if you remember him from the eighty s this team needs Liddell Eccles back.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Their coach in his second year, Stacy Hollowell, was a robust 4-27 in his first year last year and only has one starter back and only two players back from that team, which may be a blessing in the end.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: This team, i believe, 200 in Ken pom like or so.
@NoConfForOldMen: 213, yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: tooth okay and i think they're two sixty in d i'll I'll simply mention three players who could who could do any sort of damage, maybe get to double figures against us. The lone starter is MJ Thomas, six eight sophomore forward. He's actually a pretty good player.
.0Bill Walker: 10.2 points so far this season, seven and a half boards, and he's shooting 62% from the Two transfers.
.0Bill Walker: two transfers Colton Benson, he's a 6'2 senior guard. He's coming in from Texas State. He actually started his career at Army. He is leading them at 15 points per game, 38% from the field, but 40% from three. He is their perimeter shooter.
.0Bill Walker: And then maybe their best player, his name is Jakavian Buckley. He's another 6'2 guard. So their starting guards are both six two Transfer from... UNO's big rival, the University of Louisiana, and he's at 14.5 points per game, about 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2 steals, and a whopping 5 turnovers per game.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: you know Those are really their only threats. And quite honestly, I don't see them threatening us much. UNO is a reasonably balanced team, but kind of a little bit guard heavy, but a balanced team.
.0Bill Walker: And Really, their only chance, as you mentioned, Steve, I think is for Master P, the rapper, UNO president of basketball operations to somehow funnel millions to mercy to give to the rest of the team to bribe and play dead.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
.0Bill Walker: Sadly, I'm not even sure that would help.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: UNO does have an upgraded roster after the four and twenty seven season last year.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: But it's not going to help against us. UNL is going to get a paycheck for coming here, and that's the best thing that's going to happen to them this weekend.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: I say we get a pretty solid win, 86-47.
@NoConfForOldMen: Wow. Predicting an even bigger win than I'm going to predict. Tom, how about your coach's perspective on the game?
Tom Lidiak: You know, to be honest, not like I'm always honest, but I think their only chance of winning is if the whole team and the whole staff got food poisoning.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Otherwise, you know, it's it's going to be, know, where can we improve? You know, let's get a consistent, you know, effort from the bench. All those things we talked about earlier.
Tom Lidiak: Bill, you mentioned they're coached by a guy named Stacy Hollowell. That sounds like one of my prom dates.
Tom Lidiak: That's the first thing that came up to Stacy Hollowell. Don't I know her? Anyway.
@NoConfForOldMen: Ha
.0Bill Walker: he
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
.0Bill Walker: he's he's He's been in coaching for a while, albeit the like NAIA or something.
Tom Lidiak: nothing Yeah. I saw he coached overseas, like in Qatar.
@NoConfForOldMen: ha ha ha
.0Bill Walker: But so since he's since he's been around for quite a while, maybe he was your prom date.
Tom Lidiak: coached. And
Tom Lidiak: wow then, Bill, you mentioned
Tom Lidiak: Bill, you mentioned that... They lost to that powerhouse. Houston Christian University used to be, you know, a HBU. Interesting thing about Houston Christian University, they're coached by a guy named Craig Doty.
Tom Lidiak: He started his basketball coaching career at one of the schools, one of the small class A schools in our conference that I coach in.
@NoConfForOldMen: Wow.
Tom Lidiak: So he started in the boondocks at Akron Westfield. So good for Craig Doty making
@NoConfForOldMen: Wow.
Tom Lidiak: making it to the division one ranks, but anyway, make a long story short, you know, let's roll these guys. Let's, let's be crisp on off, you know, an offense and defense with the starters. So let's get to the bench and let's get some production from the bench.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice. I mean, if you look at from an analytics view, UNO's 213th, as we talked about, Ken Palm. So it's actually quite a bit better than their 341st ranking from last season. They were 179th in adjusted offensive efficiency and a lowly 261st in adjusted defensive efficiency.
@NoConfForOldMen: Now, after 10 games, their stats are terrible, yet they've somehow been able to beat TCU and Tulane, actually, this season. UNO is an okay three-point shooting team, ranked 119th, but pretty much everything else on both offense and defense is an issue being ranked beyond our one hundred and seventy fifth threshold for being minimally acceptable. So it should be an ugly game.
@NoConfForOldMen: Based on the metrics, this is projected to be a 24-point win for the Cougs at home by Ken Palm. The way we're playing at this point, I think it's going to be an even bigger win as well, just like you were saying, Bill. I look for us to clean things up on our turnover front, hopefully, as we get closer to conference play. so I've projected an 86-54 32.1.
@NoConfForOldMen: So now let's get to our special topic of discussion for today. It was actually all over Twitter, X, whatever you want to call it now, this week about how every national champion in men's college basketball since 2004 has has been ranked in the top 12 in the sixth AP poll of each season. And that was this past week.
@NoConfForOldMen: And as we publish it, the teams in the top 12 in order were Arizona 1, Michigan 2, Duke 3, Iowa State 4, UConn 5, Purdue 6. We were coming in number 7.
@NoConfForOldMen: The Zags are coming in at 8. Michigan State. After that, then we close out with BYU, Louisville, and Alabama. Just as a reference point,
@NoConfForOldMen: UH, at the same point last season, came in at number 15th in the AP poll. And we actually made it to the finals and arguably should have won it. Now, what do you guys think about this season as well as the teams listed here? Also, what do each of you think in terms of what your stance is on UH's chance to make either, I'd say, both the Final Four as well as a national championship run at this point? And Tom, why don't you kick things off here?
Tom Lidiak: Well, if the brackets came out today, you know we wouldn't be in the final four. good The good news is the brackets come out in a little over three months.
Tom Lidiak: You know, I think some teams, some teams peak, uh, let's see, let's see if some teams can keep up the consistency.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: You know, we talked about off, off air here, how Michigan's playing really good. You know, let's see how, you know, they go through the rest of the season. But if there's one person who can get the Cougs into the final four with the squad we have, and that's Kelvin Sampson,
Tom Lidiak: A lot of growth left for this team. we do need to We do need to have some you know some guys step up coming off the bench. It's one thing to put up 20 points against Jackson State.
Tom Lidiak: It'll be another thing to go into Ames, you know go go downen field house go into go into Lubach, Texas, and
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
Tom Lidiak: you know, do the do the same thing. So we, some of our bench players need to really, really step up and then just get, you know, we all mentioned this, the turnovers, the defensive lapses.
Tom Lidiak: Those are things that got to be cleaned up. But like I said, you know, we, there's a man on the sideline, you know, if you can trust one guy to do it. and that's, that's, that's Kelvin Sampson.
Tom Lidiak: Harwell's got to really, you know really come into his own. well We don't know about Seiko now with this injury. It'll be interesting to see what what what comes with that because then you'll have a situation where we either go small or we bring in Jacob McFarlane or Sedlott.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: So it'll be interesting to see how this this situation progresses. I do think Milos is going to get a shot back. I think he's just too good of a shooter to keep – and these are wide-open shots.
Tom Lidiak: I mean, they're like wide open.
@NoConfForOldMen: They are
Tom Lidiak: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: but But let me ask you this, Tom, because I keep saying the same thing and then he keeps shooting terribly. And if you look at historically speaking, he's been in college three years. His freshman year, he was a freshman All-American, shot over 40 percent from three-point range at OU.
@NoConfForOldMen: The very next season as a sophomore, he shot under 30 percent for the whole season. He came here for us for the first season. he's He's back up to his freshman levels of over 40% from three-point range.
@NoConfForOldMen: This season, he's down at 25% right now. Yeah. Score more. Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: And, you know, who who knows, he could be he could be pressing because that's why he came back, you know, that's why he came back was they said, you know, you need to be more of a scorer, so maybe maybe he's just pressing a little bit, you know, in that and that area.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: score more yeah her
Tom Lidiak: But, you know, Kingston's
.0Bill Walker: Hey, let me ask you guys like a question.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: A couple years ago, one shortly after we'd started the podcast, I had mentioned as a negative in one of U of H's early games, the shooting.
.0Bill Walker: And i if I'm not mistaken, it was both of you that jumped on me and said, look, we're a defensive and rebounding team.
Tom Lidiak: Thank
.0Bill Walker: you know Talking about the the shooting, is is yeah mean you got on me for that. and I believe the metaphor was a restaurant that has too many things on the menu. If that's the case, then they're all going to suffer and and and be mediocre. but I do like to hear that you guys are now on board with me. so Thank you for coming around, finally.
@NoConfForOldMen: i Well, this year is a little bit a little bit different, right? And we'll get into it. I'll get into it a little bit as well. I mean, there's a few areas on offense that are and we got to get right. Otherwise, our overall efficiency isn't like it's been.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, if you even look back the last five years, right? So if if you're starting to talk about right national championship contender levels, where where I'd say our last five years, we have been, right? We've been right there. Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah, and getting getting back to, and I'll let you guys so carry on after this, but, you know, Kingston's going to just keep getting better and better, and I think Chris Sanak is the same thing.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: And JoJo, I have faith, he's going to figure it out. If not, we're not goingnna we're not going to go to the Final Four, you know?
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: that's It's just, you got to have faith, you know?
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Tom Lidiak: You got to have faith. You know, no problem with worrying about Emmanuel, you know, Emmanuel's going to be Emmanuel.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. He's been great.
Tom Lidiak: But like i said, got to get something from the bench. You know, I just don't see going into, going into Ames or going into Allen Fieldhouse and, and having like Mercy or McCarty knocking down tough shots.
Tom Lidiak: I just, I just don't see it. I mean, i hope it does happen, but like right now, what, you know, where's, where's the proof? Mercy, Mercy hasn't made a shot in the big 12 yet.
@NoConfForOldMen: He hasn't.
Tom Lidiak: No, he was 0-4.
@NoConfForOldMen: He's
Tom Lidiak: he didn't He didn't make a shot in Big 12 play last year.
@NoConfForOldMen: a true freshman, though. He was true freshman last year.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, he wasn't playing much at all last year. So, yeah.
Tom Lidiak: But guys, that that was 20 games plus three the tournament.
@NoConfForOldMen: I'm probably a higher...
.0Bill Walker: yeah the
Tom Lidiak: That's 23 freaking games.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. I'm probably higher just by the sound of it. I'm probably the highest on Mercy Miller of the three of us. I actually like what I see so far. He actually reminds me, if you look at his stat, stat wise, I mean, it's not a great comp, but very similar to, to Sasser in his, in his, in Sasser's freshman year. Right. So in, in, uh,
@NoConfForOldMen: In Miller's second year with the program, his stats are very similar to Sassers in his first year with us, which is decent, decent for freshmen.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah. and And Mercy, I think somebody mentioned on Goku's his, his man scored eight points on three possessions, three straight possessions.
@NoConfForOldMen: Uh, yeah.
Tom Lidiak: You know, so and it's a team defense.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: i I understand that. You know, it's when somebody scores, you score on the team. You don't necessarily score on the individual. I get that. But somebody pointed that out.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: But that's that's what that's where I see us. Yeah, we can make the final four, but we've got we've got a lot of work to do.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. How about you, Bill, from a player's perspective, where this team stands?
.0Bill Walker: Are we a Final Four team? Right now, I have written down no with two exclamation points.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Absolutely not. As you mentioned, we're seven in the AP, but I think we're probably around the 11th or 12th best team in the country. Like last week, I still say Arizona, ISU,
.0Bill Walker: And even though they're not in the top dozen, with a healthy Peterson, i think Kansas are probably better than us right now. And I think we're neck and neck with BYU.
.0Bill Walker: yeah Again, that's right now.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
.0Bill Walker: Nationally, I'll take Michigan to to win it all right now. They just look absolutely dominant. I'd take Arizona. I'd take ISU. I'd take Duke.
.0Bill Walker: I know Purdue's been up and down, but I would still take them right now. UConn's been a little up and down. I'd take them. I like Gonzaga. I like Louisville. And the others that I think we'd be competing with at the moment are Michigan State, BYU, Alabama, Michigan.
.0Bill Walker: Illinois and a healthy Kansas. And I think that's where we are. The issue right now, or the issues right now, quite honestly, are the freshmen and Tugler.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
.0Bill Walker: know, Flemings, Flemings has been at times just sensational, but his defense and his propensity to turn the ball over at the moment are problematic. But again, he's a freshman. So I,
.0Bill Walker: no No doubt that those are going to improve. Senac, lack of D and the disappearing act on offense where he stands on the baseline.
@NoConfForOldMen: agree.
.0Bill Walker: Although, as mentioned, I really liked what I saw in the first half of the Florida State game when he was flashing to the free throw line and and getting off shots.
@NoConfForOldMen: great
.0Bill Walker: And I think that'll help Tugler down low going forward. But at the moment, his... his sometimes disappearing act on offense, i think is also problematic.
.0Bill Walker: And then of course we have Tuggler who, who simply cannot avoid committing quite honestly, some dumb fouls, uh, albeit due to his aggressive play and and due to his, playing strong team defense.
.0Bill Walker: And as you mentioned, Steve helping out, but he's, he's the, the, the,
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: The dumb fouls, the reaching, the those those have to stop.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, I agree. Those have to go.
.0Bill Walker: you know Combine that with our, as I've mentioned, over and over and over and over, our lack of balance on offense, the the the lack of an inside game. And I think that, in large part, is also contributing to Yuuzhan's inability to hit threes right now because we're so perimeter focused.
.0Bill Walker: yeah i think I think we're just not even close to being a Final Four team at the moment.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
.0Bill Walker: The good news, and, you know, well, the fact is all of this is through the present, as I mentioned.
.0Bill Walker: It's all... I think the offense will ultimately become bit more balanced.
Tom Lidiak: Thank
.0Bill Walker: the freshmen especially including harwell are going to improve significantly i think the offense well ultimately become a bit more balanced Again, as demonstrated by Senac, flashing to the free throw line versus FSU and and creating some better offensive opportunities for the big men. I do think the bench will improve and help support the starters.
.0Bill Walker: I just see Sharp really embracing the role as a leader, and I think he's going to continue his exceptional start to the season.
.0Bill Walker: you know we're We're currently... 10 in Ken Palm.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
.0Bill Walker: I think we're 29 in offense, five in defense.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
.0Bill Walker: And as I mentioned to you, Steve, offline, I think we're in the 300s in turnover margin, which is...
@NoConfForOldMen: Oh, turnover margin. I mean, turnover percentage were 61st, which is bad, right? Cause we've always been 20, right? Uh, Hmm.
.0Bill Walker: Okay. Yeah, Ken Palm had us at like 350-something in turnover margin. I mean, that's that's insane. and And that's obviously going to improve.
.0Bill Walker: that that's That's a focus.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yep. Yep.
.0Bill Walker: Calvin's mentioned it before. It's a focus. That's that's going to get better. So, yeah, some of the numbers are not nearly where they've been in the past, but...
.0Bill Walker: They're going to get better. And the fact of the matter is we're we're relying on freshmen this year, which we you know we really haven't done in the past yet. you know Jaris, but Jaris had a veteran team around him, and and he was the only freshman. you Calvin's going to get us where we need to be by March, and and I'm absolutely convinced of that.
.0Bill Walker: But right now, we're not there.
@NoConfForOldMen: Okay, but, but you are still feeling confident that by tourney time that we can bridge the gap to be a a contender.
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, well, the other thing is Michigan looks incredible right now, virtually unbeatable. Arizona looks extremely good.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: But after that, I think every team is is somewhat flawed. they they every Every team's got errors.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah,
.0Bill Walker: Some of the teams I think are are playing quite well right now, but I don't know that I see them improving a whole lot over the season. I think this team has, meaning the Cougs, have more room for growth than then anybody out there.
Tom Lidiak: Okay.
.0Bill Walker: and And so I see that happening.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah I would agree.
.0Bill Walker: And yeah, ultimately, do we beat Michigan? Do we beat Arizona in the tournament the way they're playing right now?
.0Bill Walker: You know, questionable, but that's two teams. Everyone else right now I just i see being flawed. they've Sometimes they've looked phenomenal, sometimes not at all.
.0Bill Walker: and well And I might even put Iowa State there as well it it in the top three.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, I would. Yeah, I would.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, by the end of the season, if – If we improve, like I feel very confident we will. i could see three Big 12 teams in the Final Four, yeah Arizona, Iowa State, us, and Michigan.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Tough to argue with. with kind of your perspective. So, you know, me being the analytics guy, just like last year, I think my perspective is that whole AP top 12 now, uh, is kind of an interesting factoid for the last 20 national championships. But to me, it's still somewhat meaningless.
@NoConfForOldMen: cause it's, I, I'm not sure it's really hard data based. There's another another database stat based on Ken Palm that come January 1, if you're in the top 10 overall, you're likely a major player for the national championship.
@NoConfForOldMen: And then come tourney time, if you're in the top 20 in both adjusted offensive efficiency and adjusted defensive efficiency, it kind of confirms that you've got a great chance to to win a national championship.
@NoConfForOldMen: So that's probably one that...
.0Bill Walker: Right.
@NoConfForOldMen: that I zero in on a lot more, kind of hang my hat on. And, you know, right now we're 10th in Ken Palm, so we're still strong. and we've got three more games left in December. So I think we're on the right track. So even though we've slipped a bit, but we're still kind of in that range of, uh, where you're close enough to, to getting to that point of being a national championship contender.
@NoConfForOldMen: Now, you know back to the AP poll, if you look at this week's poll, for me, actually, there's actually three teams that I'm not sure are going to end up being contenders.
@NoConfForOldMen: and And I'm actually putting Purdue in that list. I'm putting Louisville in that list and then Alabama as well. So, i mean, if you look at Purdue, yeah, they've improved their defense quite a bit this season.
@NoConfForOldMen: They're up to 26th in Ken Palm for adjusted defensive efficiency. But they've also struggled with some marginal teams in Oakland and Memphis and were crushed by our own conference made in ISU at home.
Tom Lidiak: Thank
@NoConfForOldMen: Plus, quite honestly, I hate the Purdue fans. They're kind of, you know, the the most pompous fans from a team that has not really achieved anything historically in hoops.
.0Bill Walker: Kaufman-Wren has also been hurt to start the season.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, a great a agreed.
.0Bill Walker: So, you know, that that's another reason not to, just like with us and and with the freshmen who who are clearly going to get better, know, I'm not going to overreact to much of anything that's that's gone on to start the season.
@NoConfForOldMen: Agreed. Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
.0Bill Walker: Like I said, I do see flaws in in a bunch of teams, and I do think some of them will materialize.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: even more as the season progresses. but But at the same time, you know, you see some of the Purdue games early and, and you know, they're not playing with with a full lineup and a first team Big Ten player.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah, agreed.
.0Bill Walker: So they take it for what it's worth.
Tom Lidiak: Thank
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah agreed yeah Yeah. I mean, if you just zero in on us, right, we're seventh in the AP, as we know, and 10th in Ken Palm currently. So it hits both benchmarks for now for historical national championship winners.
@NoConfForOldMen: I also still believe that this team has got the highest ceiling compared with any of the past five Cougar teams, kind of given our three five-star freshmen. But I'll also be very honest with you guys, right?
@NoConfForOldMen: We've been doing this for a few years. And I will fully admit that I have far less confidence in convincing myself at this point that we're going to bridge the cap the the gap to get to national championship contenders.
@NoConfForOldMen: I would say... I would fully admit the last two seasons, I was far more confident when we were doing kind of this, this episode in December, but, how but we'll see.
.0Bill Walker: i agree
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: We were veteran team. That's, you know.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. We are better team. Exactly. I always feel uneasy depending so much on the youngsters, right. Especially as, as tough of a defensive scheme as we have. Right.
.0Bill Walker: Well, we were a veteran team, but we also, and again, to harp on this, we we had better offensive balance. We protected the ball.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: And yeah, we just had areas where we were extremely proficient, where at the moment we're not.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah, I agree. i mean, it's, it's interesting though, right? So if you, if you dig into the numbers, right, defensively in general, we're comparable with even last year's phenomenal team. We're seeing some missed assignments, primarily from the four position that have caused some breakdowns and some unnecessary fouls on Tugler trying to recover. recover You know, one of the key stats on D that were noticeably weaker this season is, interestingly enough, if you can believe it, defensive rebounding.
@NoConfForOldMen: And that's a bit of a surprise given how well Senac has been rebounding the ball on D. And it's interesting. I dug in deeper. Our starters are all performing similar to last year. The issue is with our bench.
@NoConfForOldMen: We have not been able to make up for Malik and Javier from last year on the defensive rebounding front. So that that needs to be figured out somehow.
@NoConfForOldMen: But even that part's somewhat nitpicking. Our biggest area needing improvement is not D, it's actually on offense. I mean, three key stats to focus on where we're deficient so far. Turnovers, we've all kind of highlighted that.
@NoConfForOldMen: We've been top 30, top 20 in the country the last three seasons. We're currently 61st. It's terrible, right? Three-point shooting, we were number three in the country last season at almost 40% from three-point range.
@NoConfForOldMen: We're currently at 33% and ranked a lowly 187th. And this is with Fleming's, mind you, shooting blistering 54% from three-point range. Main culprits are Uzan, who's at 25% three points, and McCarty, 19% three-point range.
@NoConfForOldMen: And it's really Uzan's numbers that are particularly perplexing at this point. I mean, he's gone, as I highlighted a little bit earlier, right? He was 40%, over 40% as a freshman, dropped under 30% as a sophomore.
@NoConfForOldMen: Last year with us, he jumped again back up to over 40%. And right now, I'm just hoping he can get it back to around 35% and I'll be a happy camper at this point.
.0Bill Walker: that The teams playing against us are also pressuring the perimeter a lot more, at least from what I've seen, than than they have in the past.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Even Jackson State last night was was out and and all over our perimeter players yeah just because we're we're not producing inside.
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Guards driving. Yeah, I agree.
.0Bill Walker: you know, why not focus your defense on them? and that's, I think what teams are doing right now.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: So it's, it's, it's going to add a little, little, uh, pressure, I guess, to, to use and the, the shots you, you mentioned that, that he is missing some open shots, but I, you know, it's, if it's in your head and, and it may be due to the pressure that the other teams are putting on us, uh,
@NoConfForOldMen: but
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: you know sharp Sharp just seems to be oblivious to everything and shoots...
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. I mean, he's shooting better than last year from three at this point.
.0Bill Walker: yeah
@NoConfForOldMen: So, but yeah, I agree. i mean, especially with the time off during the break or the fewer games we have leading up to conference play, if I'm hopeful that it'll get straightened out. We've got some great coaches. Now, obviously, i still believe UH is going to be well positioned for a national championship run. I just need to see the offensive tweaks result in numbers, kind of similar to the last two games heading into conference play. Turnovers got to come down. But I expect that to rectify itself with Kingston playing more under control, handling the ball. And at this point, actually don't.
@NoConfForOldMen: do not think we're going to win the big 12 with how well Arizona and ISU are playing. But I'm okay with that as well. Cause I think the conference has got three legitimate title contenders.
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: And I think we're actually going to possibly get two teams in the final four and, you know We're playing the long game this year. the The focus has got to be on the national championship and peaking come tourney time.
@NoConfForOldMen: So key is going to be continuous improvement and no further injuries to key players for us. Fingers crossed. and I'm really hoping Sacco is not done for the season.
.0Bill Walker: Me too.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Anything else, guys, before we call it?
Tom Lidiak: Not for me. I love it. it's is set you know this is
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: you know We look forward to this like in June, July, and August.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, we do.
Tom Lidiak: It's like it's never going to here, and now now we're here. so My advice to everybody is anytime our kooks take the floor, you know you know just take it all in, man.
Tom Lidiak: Take it all in.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. No, you're right. It's all about the journey, right? This is, this is what we love to do is just watch the team grow, right? As the season progresses.
Tom Lidiak: you know I don't care if they're i don't care if they're playing St. Mary's of the woods or whatever it is, you know, uh, uh, you know, go out and enjoy our Houston Cougars play.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Show up to the games.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: that it I mean, everyone will once, I think, Big 12 season starts. But last last night was a little bit sparse.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Oh, was it?
.0Bill Walker: Although there was one person who made sure to attend the game, and he was very well received, and that was Jamal Shedd.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, absolutely. The goat. The goat.
Tom Lidiak: Yep. Mr. uno
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Yep.
@NoConfForOldMen: All right, so that's it for our 65th episode of the No Conference for World Men podcast. Hope you all enjoyed it. And again, we'd really appreciate it if folks would follow, subscribe, or collect our podcast, depending on your podcast platform of choice.
@NoConfForOldMen: We're also available via Dave Campbell's college podcast feed as their only basketball-centric podcast. We're at the Gokus.com website for those that prefer to digest the content that way. We appreciate the continued support from all. Also, please give us a follow our Twitter account, NoConferenceForAllBen.
@NoConfForOldMen: Thank you all again for listening and be on the lookout next week with our Arkansas preview to download and listen as our next episode drops. Take care, you everyone.
