this team has far more serious problems.

The biggest problem with this team is that it has a low collective basketball IQ. As a group, they take bad (often highly contested ) shots, they make dumb passes, they commit stupid fouls, they're careless with the ball and turn it over in critical situations, they stink at the free throw line, they jack up three balls only a few seconds into the shot clock without even trying to feed the post or run an offensive play, and they wilt under pressure and down the stretch.

This team is also sorely lacking in on-court leadership. While a very good individual player, Collinsworth isn't a great leader. Fischer is a solid player at times, but he's a hothead (and a bit of a headcase). Austin is a great hustler, rebounder, and cheerleader, but he isn't the on-court leader that this team desperately needs, either.

Overall, this team doesn't play well together (I understand there's some bad blood between some of the players). It has no swagger, and no sense of itself. Many of the players have regressed since the beginning of the season, too.

When it comes down to it, this team isn't any more physically talented or skilled than any other team in the WCC. That's why we drop games to conference cellar dwellers like Portland and Pacific every year. That's why Pepperdine has pretty much owned us recently. Our point guard...the guy with the ball in his hands most of the time...can't hit a mid-range or three point jumper to save his life. Our 7 foot center has never learned how to put his back to the basket and post up smaller players. Our 6'10" power forward has butterfingers and has never learned to just go up strong with the ball.

I have hope that the new guys (Bryant, Mika, Dastrup, Haws, Child's, etc.) can be more complete players than our current guys are, and that somebody will step forward to be the true on-court leader of the team. If not...get used to losing these types of games. Our team just hasn't been very good since Jimmer graduated.