In Reply to: In terms of defense, I think Cronin has few or no good posted by ej on January 07, 2026 at 11:04:59
Perhaps you’re right that this is what he believes, but I’d argue it’s a flawed strategy, and the results reflect that. This team is not going to consistently outscore opponents, perhaps, unless the reins are completely loosened. We’ve actually seen some good offensive stretches, particularly from Dent, when the deficit is so large that players start competing freely and without fear. The roster is full of skilled players, and nearly all of them are better in an open-court game. We’ve seen glimpses of that in summer pickup runs, but that’s not how college basketball works, nor does Cronin want to play a version of that, and it’s unlikely to change.
To me, all of this is interconnected, especially when it comes to confidence. Confidence plays a massive role in scoring. How does a struggling three-point shooting team suddenly catch fire and shoot 70 percent? Confidence. They get an open look, see one go down, then another, they're scoring in other ways, and suddenly they’re scoring effortlessly and playing without pressure. On the flip side, how does a team that ranks near the top of the conference in three-point shooting suddenly go 0-for-17? They didn’t forget how to shoot. They miss an open look, can’t get a stop on the other end, start tightening up, think about the previous game, and before they know it, they’re down 20.
You need the confidence that you can get a stop and the belief that missing a shot isn’t the end of the world.
Cronin needs to be Cronin and put the best defensive lineup on the floor. The scoring will come naturally with players like Sky and Tyler. When Tyler is off the floor, the offense should run through Dailey. He also needs to take the chains off Dent. He’s going to make mistakes, and that’s something you have to live with.