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Any suggestions on what is wrong with Burg's chemistry this year? Obviously a tough SOC II isn't helping, but any insight from anybody who has watched their games? Is there hope for a turn around before the post season?

I have only seen the Burg once, but what's alarming is the lack of offense from the Pirates......I know the SOC II is competitive, but Wheelersburg struggling to score is almost hard to believe......but there's time to right the ship........

I have seen them twice. What I notice is the guards seem to not even look to score and seem very tentative. The defense has been good (a Barrick trademark), but the Pirates have got to at least take some perimeter shots in order to keep teams honest.

I am amazed that Bendolph has not made a greater contribution. He can get into the lane anytime he wants?????????

I am going to add my bit, I think Stegman needs serious help from outside the arc. Lang is carrying the outside shooting on his shoulders and can't do that EVERY game. Shane Ward and Cole Miller need to contribute more from beyond the arc. Also, I personally think there are a few guys on the bench that are seeing little time who can shoot outside! Warner can shoot it and make free throws and Tom Graf can add some outside shots too. No, they are not long minute players but some quick hitters to them could pull the pressure out off Stegman who has been double guarded EVERY game which other teams can afford to do because the wings are no threat.

Defense has for sure stepped up their game...they held Oak Hill to minimal points, Burg Just couldn't hit a beach ball if they tried.

The addition of Mcbee to the starting line-up was a def. need and he has played his role well over the last few games....

Simply, shooting needs to improve 150% and I think personally think Ward and Miller need to hit their shots because Burg people have seen them do it before, and I think Warner and Graf need to be incorparated into the "quick hitters" to take some pressure off Stegman.

Just something Burg people aren't used to and that is not winning the close games. Games they have won by 6-8 points in the past, they are no losing. Like was said, they need some other players to step up and hit some outsdie shots. Teams will just pack a zone in on them and if they aren't hitting from outside, Stegman will never get any touches in the paint as they will just pack him in.

Didn't get a chance to make it to the Oak Hill game last night, but did listen on the radio and it almost sounded like a Wednesday night church service. There either wasn't anyone there or they were all just being really quiet. The 2-3 games I've seen this year, the fan base has been really bad. Is it because of the gym? I've noticed alot of empty seats in the reserve section and maybe it is time to address that. Sure, they are getting the money out of them, but if they are not being used then they are losing out on sales at the concession stand, programs and split the pot. Need to seel them to people who will actually show up and use them. IMO, the first ones that should be offered are parents of the players and then offered to the outsiders after that. After your child graduates and is no longer playing, then you give up your reserved seats and they are sold to another group of parents. It is sad if the parents of a player don't have a seat because they can't make it to the game early because of work.

Im sure everyone has there own opinion on this.. I take nothing away from Barrick and his coaching staff and Im sure they are working hard everyday in practice to fix the offense of issues.. To me Defense is where it needs to be to win ball games I agree with you therepublican McBee has filled in nicely here for his role in the starting line up but I also would like to see the kid shoot the rock more often.. He was a cosistant scorer from beyond the arc and threat in JV games earlier this year and I think the more he gets comfortable at the Varsity level that will come to him.. I agree also Miller,Ward.Ballard.etc. can come in and knock down some shots. That would help... But dont see many kids willing to shoot or drive when they can.. Stegman I think is the best big man in the SOC and he is working his butt off to do his part and has....Bendolph looks like he is struggling in the offense ..I think an up tempo and run n gun offense is more his game and Burgs is a more controlled offense.. Great athlete just needs time to adjust.. I do feel they need a vocal leader out on the court to fire them up .. You watch other teams and the chemistry of knowing what the other player is thinking is there and I just have not saw that out of Burg yet this year.. They need to come together keep working hard as a TEAM and they can turn this season around.. The talent is there..JMO

I agree with yabba, the home side seating situation stinks!!!!!!

Is Bendolph's ankle hurt again?

Bendolph did re-injur his ankle last night dribbling through two guys and tripping.....he continued to play the rest of the game, but was only about 40% and limped everywhere. He did knock down a three late in the 4th quarter to give the burg a little boost but that was the most action he really gave scoring wise all night. It seems his ankle is very tender and can easily be re-aggrevated....could pose yet another big problem for Burg considering he is their sole ball handler.

I don't think the burg offense or defense is the problem. They have every starter back from last year and added Bendolph too. Some players from last year didn't come back for some reason but that's not the problem either. I think the rest of the SOC II schools talent level has finally caught up to the Burg and the other schools talent development has improved. No longer is it the Burg and the little 8. Look at the programs around them, Valley, NW, OH, Waverly, SW. They are all beating and competing with the burg now. PHS is getting back to their glory days. They only ones still building is West and Minford in basketball. You can see it in Football and now basketball too. Every school in the SOC has stepped it up and no longer is it a cake walk for the SOC II Championship every year for the burg. This is also a good thing. Now every game is iffy for all schools.

I agree with most of what Marshallman says but I think the absence of Whitely, Kemper, Craigmiles and (by injury) Shankwiler has really hurt Burg. WB has two exceptional players in Bendolph and Stegman and one exceptional freshmen in McBee. The rest are pretty ordinary. Given that Shankwiler, Kemper and Whitely would all have probably started, it is pretty clear why Burg is having problems.

yabbadabbadoo,
Sounds like it's time to change the Wednesday night church service!

falconater wrote:I agree with most of what Marshallman says but I think the absence of Whitely, Kemper, Craigmiles and (by injury) Shankwiler has really hurt Burg. WB has two exceptional players in Bendolph and Stegman and one exceptional freshmen in McBee. The rest are pretty ordinary. Given that Shankwiler, Kemper and Whitely would all have probably started, it is pretty clear why Burg is having problems.

Other than injury, why would a starter not come out to play this year?

Burg really needs to step it up on the outside shooting. It seems like they struggle and need to step up the outside game. McBee has been a good addition to the team, ball handling seems to run smooth. Guards need to be ready to shoot. As for the bench I agree with what everyone has said. There are many players that could contribute. Wasn't Massie moved up too? He can shoot the lights out of the ball from behind the arc from what I hear.

There are some players on the bench that could contribute...no doubt, I totally agree with "Fortheloveofthegame".Warner and Massie could hit some quick hitters and that could be a good role for them to help take some of the pressure off Stegman and Lang and produce an outside threat...the others simply are not delivering. Coach might want to consider this when Roback is in town....

i have only seen burg play three times this yr and in one of the games they were lucky to have lost by as few as they did. IMHO they played like crap against oak hill last night and could has easily lost by 20 or 30 points

marshallman wrote:I don't think the burg offense or defense is the problem. They have every starter back from last year and added Bendolph too. Some players from last year didn't come back for some reason but that's not the problem either. I think the rest of the SOC II schools talent level has finally caught up to the Burg and the other schools talent development has improved. No longer is it the Burg and the little 8. Look at the programs around them, Valley, NW, OH, Waverly, SW. They are all beating and competing with the burg now. PHS is getting back to their glory days. They only ones still building is West and Minford in basketball. You can see it in Football and now basketball too. Every school in the SOC has stepped it up and no longer is it a cake walk for the SOC II Championship every year for the burg. This is also a good thing. Now every game is iffy for all schools.

kemper and shank would have been returning starters and Zade probably would have started this yr. No team in this area can take losing 3 starters.

I think the Kids need to block out the pressure of having a great season and focus on each game as they come. day by day game by game .

No team can take losing 3 starters ? So every team that starts 3 seniors is done for next year just a ?

therepublican wrote:Any suggestions on what is wrong with Burg's chemistry this year? Obviously a tough SOC II isn't helping, but any insight from anybody who has watched their games? Is there hope for a turn around before the post season?

Ill be honest with you I don't think the Soc 2 is as good as it has been the last few years, especially last...I think burg is just riding theres horses a little too much, and everyone isn't gettin involved...I mean only 3 players scored against webster