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Dempsey postgame quotes
Tommy Dempsey after Rider's 77-66 loss, the Broncs' third straight at Alumni Gym:
Another tough night. Another tough night for our team. We're just trying to find a way to battle through. It just seems like we're not playing well, but we're also not getting a lot of breaks out there. It seems like everything seems to be going against us during the course of the game, during the flow of the game. I think when you're not playing well as a team, the breaks don't seem to go your way.
We just have to try to keep fighting because it's too early to give in and because of the way everybody's so bunched up, the difference between finishing second or third and finishing seventh or eighth is still very small. But we just have to find a way to win some games.
Are you starting to think about finishing in the 7 to 10 spots now that we're getting a little bit closer?
I haven't given that any thought at all. There's just too much time left to start worrying about seeding. You start worrying about those things in the middle of February. Right now, again, we're just trying to focus on playing better, and it's just clicking with us.
Has it surprised you that you've played so poorly at home?
I'm surprised we haven't made more shots at home. But I think our play, you know, just hasn't been good in general. You can't think that just because you're home you're automatically going to play great. Normally, the ball goes in a little bit at home. I'm surprised we haven't made more shots at home, but you know, that's just where we are right now.
Are you concerned about the lack of production from low-post players?
You're going to get out-rebounded when you shoot 37 percent and they shoot 51 percent. You look at the rebounding and you think that's a sign, but they shot a good percentage so there weren't as many rebounds out there for us as there were for them. They missed 23 shots and we missed more so, the reason our rebounding stats or down and the reason that our assists stats are down a little bit is because the ball isn't going in the basket, so I think if we were scoring more, the rebounding stats would iron out, and we've taken care of the basketball in every game. Our assists are down because if you don't make shots, you don't get assists. Those are stats that are a little bit a result of not shooting well. To answer your question, because we aren't shooting well, it's crowded in there. It's tough sledding in there for Mike because they can bring a crowd around him and challenge us from the perimeter. That's what people are doing, and that's why we're not getting as many post baskets.
Would you like to get more out of players like Jermaine Jackson, Brandon Penn and maybe even Dera Nd-Ezuma?
I'm playing more guards hoping that we can loosen up the game with some shooting, because I look out there and can see the defensive styles. No matter who's out there in the post, there's not going to be a ton of space for them. So I'm trying to spread the floor with the guards, not only so we can shoot 3s, but so we can drive the ball to the basket. If Jermaine or Mike or whoever's in there, if they don't play them and somebody's out on the perimeter, it takes away a lot of the ability not only from the post game but from our lanes to drive to the basket, which are really shrunk right now. That's kind of way we've tried to spread the court a little more.
Was Wesley Jenkins' performance (26 points) just about a great player going off, or were you unhappy with the way you defended him?
What happened was, we had to try to turn the tempo up. We were trying to do that to help us score, so whenever you're out pressing, you're going to take some chances, and when that happens you're going to get some open shots. He got a couple in a stretch after we cut it to two, but we cut it to two with the press. He got free a little on the back end of the press, and made two 3s, but that's what all-league players do. We cut it to two, he hit two 3s and it was back to eight and we were chasing him tonight. He's a very good player, he gets 26 and they beat us. That's the name of the game. Your players have to play. He did a great job. Jenkins did a great job, Bacon did a great job with 18 and 11, and they got out of here with a win. That's where we're at right now.
To what extent have you had to chance what you're trying to do as a result of shots not falling?
We haven't. We play how we play. ... We try to be who we are. I think that's how you build a program. That's how we play. We want to play up-tempo. We want to stretch the defense, we want to shoot the 3, we want to drive the ball and share the ball. That's how we play. We're going to double the post on defense, we're going to trap some ball screens and try to get out in transition. And we play, the things that I wrote on the board tonight were on the board before the Mississippi State game.
This is how we're going to try to get out and play and share, and although it hasn't gone in a great direction, you don't just try to revamp who you are and try to become somebody that you're not, because this is a process. You can't scrap things that you've been doing well for three years because you're in a tough spot. I think you pull yourself out of it by just getting better at what we do, focusing on what we do, because that's how we're built. You build your team through recruiting to run and to press and to do those things, and to be built a certain way. We're not built right now to just throw the ball in the post all night long and just have a guy go to work all night long. That's not how we're built. So the fact that we're struggling shooting the ball is a major issue, but if we're going to be a good team from now until the end of the year, we're going to have to shoot the ball better. You can analyze it a hundred different way.
We're not getting bad shots. Alright, I didn't think we got a lot of good shots against Iona, but most of our games, we're getting good shots. We're missing layups, we're missing free throws. It's not just the 3s. There's a little bit of a lid on the basket or a big lid on the basket, and that's really affecting our entire mojo so to speak.
Are you worried?
Not yet. Not yet. I believe in these guys. I really do. I believe in Ryan and I believe in everyone else that we have, and we're going to get it done. We're not going to be in the play-in game."
Another tough night. Another tough night for our team. We're just trying to find a way to battle through. It just seems like we're not playing well, but we're also not getting a lot of breaks out there. It seems like everything seems to be going against us during the course of the game, during the flow of the game. I think when you're not playing well as a team, the breaks don't seem to go your way.
We just have to try to keep fighting because it's too early to give in and because of the way everybody's so bunched up, the difference between finishing second or third and finishing seventh or eighth is still very small. But we just have to find a way to win some games.
Are you starting to think about finishing in the 7 to 10 spots now that we're getting a little bit closer?
I haven't given that any thought at all. There's just too much time left to start worrying about seeding. You start worrying about those things in the middle of February. Right now, again, we're just trying to focus on playing better, and it's just clicking with us.
Has it surprised you that you've played so poorly at home?
I'm surprised we haven't made more shots at home. But I think our play, you know, just hasn't been good in general. You can't think that just because you're home you're automatically going to play great. Normally, the ball goes in a little bit at home. I'm surprised we haven't made more shots at home, but you know, that's just where we are right now.
Are you concerned about the lack of production from low-post players?
You're going to get out-rebounded when you shoot 37 percent and they shoot 51 percent. You look at the rebounding and you think that's a sign, but they shot a good percentage so there weren't as many rebounds out there for us as there were for them. They missed 23 shots and we missed more so, the reason our rebounding stats or down and the reason that our assists stats are down a little bit is because the ball isn't going in the basket, so I think if we were scoring more, the rebounding stats would iron out, and we've taken care of the basketball in every game. Our assists are down because if you don't make shots, you don't get assists. Those are stats that are a little bit a result of not shooting well. To answer your question, because we aren't shooting well, it's crowded in there. It's tough sledding in there for Mike because they can bring a crowd around him and challenge us from the perimeter. That's what people are doing, and that's why we're not getting as many post baskets.
Would you like to get more out of players like Jermaine Jackson, Brandon Penn and maybe even Dera Nd-Ezuma?
I'm playing more guards hoping that we can loosen up the game with some shooting, because I look out there and can see the defensive styles. No matter who's out there in the post, there's not going to be a ton of space for them. So I'm trying to spread the floor with the guards, not only so we can shoot 3s, but so we can drive the ball to the basket. If Jermaine or Mike or whoever's in there, if they don't play them and somebody's out on the perimeter, it takes away a lot of the ability not only from the post game but from our lanes to drive to the basket, which are really shrunk right now. That's kind of way we've tried to spread the court a little more.
Was Wesley Jenkins' performance (26 points) just about a great player going off, or were you unhappy with the way you defended him?
What happened was, we had to try to turn the tempo up. We were trying to do that to help us score, so whenever you're out pressing, you're going to take some chances, and when that happens you're going to get some open shots. He got a couple in a stretch after we cut it to two, but we cut it to two with the press. He got free a little on the back end of the press, and made two 3s, but that's what all-league players do. We cut it to two, he hit two 3s and it was back to eight and we were chasing him tonight. He's a very good player, he gets 26 and they beat us. That's the name of the game. Your players have to play. He did a great job. Jenkins did a great job, Bacon did a great job with 18 and 11, and they got out of here with a win. That's where we're at right now.
To what extent have you had to chance what you're trying to do as a result of shots not falling?
We haven't. We play how we play. ... We try to be who we are. I think that's how you build a program. That's how we play. We want to play up-tempo. We want to stretch the defense, we want to shoot the 3, we want to drive the ball and share the ball. That's how we play. We're going to double the post on defense, we're going to trap some ball screens and try to get out in transition. And we play, the things that I wrote on the board tonight were on the board before the Mississippi State game.
This is how we're going to try to get out and play and share, and although it hasn't gone in a great direction, you don't just try to revamp who you are and try to become somebody that you're not, because this is a process. You can't scrap things that you've been doing well for three years because you're in a tough spot. I think you pull yourself out of it by just getting better at what we do, focusing on what we do, because that's how we're built. You build your team through recruiting to run and to press and to do those things, and to be built a certain way. We're not built right now to just throw the ball in the post all night long and just have a guy go to work all night long. That's not how we're built. So the fact that we're struggling shooting the ball is a major issue, but if we're going to be a good team from now until the end of the year, we're going to have to shoot the ball better. You can analyze it a hundred different way.
We're not getting bad shots. Alright, I didn't think we got a lot of good shots against Iona, but most of our games, we're getting good shots. We're missing layups, we're missing free throws. It's not just the 3s. There's a little bit of a lid on the basket or a big lid on the basket, and that's really affecting our entire mojo so to speak.
Are you worried?
Not yet. Not yet. I believe in these guys. I really do. I believe in Ryan and I believe in everyone else that we have, and we're going to get it done. We're not going to be in the play-in game."
posted by Ben Doody at
2:44 PM
12 Comments:
Rider needs a beat writer that actually understands the game....they need Eckel back.
Doods did a fair job with the interview, no reason to kill him. Dempsey has done a horrific job of coaching this season and to further that he hasn't taken any of the blame for the collapse. Unacceptable. He's luck I am not the AD, who might be in bed with him as a friend, etc., because he'd be getting some harsh criticism and flat out told his job is on the line. You've got the pre-POY and what should have been 3 other All-conference players. I want results, not BS.
Doods did a great job with the interview. Dempsey is the victim of his own idiotic expectations. There is a reason why D1 coach’s often talk in “coach speak” Dempsey voting his team #1 was silly- having confidence is one thing- talking stupid is another, see Joe Mihalich’ s comments to see how its handled. He basically said Siena is the champ till someone unseats them- he had confidence in his team but Siena deserved the #1 spot. MAAC teams have figured out how to play Rider- you stop the 3 point shot and Rider has nothing. If Dempsey doesn’t change how he is doing things Rider will have a terrible year. Yeah Rider is not built to throw it into the post- but chucking up contested 3 pointers is not getting the job done. From a talent point of view Rider is way behind Siena- and from the looks of it behind Fairfield , Iona and several others. Unless Dempsey makes some changes Rider is destined for the PiG – and how stupid does Dempsey look for his vote right now?
The players did not respond to the high expectations.....especially the preseason player of the year. He has crumbled under the weight of that award and the thought of being a draft pick. The coach is taking all the blame himself but it's tough to play him when RT and novar have been awful.
Rider needs to play fewer guards and use the remaining of the season to develop the post players.
Anon #1 must be Tommy Dempsey. Doods does a very fair job of covering this team. Unless you'd like him to cheerlead and write about how awesome 10-9 Rider is. We suck and need a change at the top
Brian-
what are your credentials for deciding they need a change at the top....former coach, player or AD?
Anon - I don't need to have been a D-1 coach to know that a change needs to be made. Tommy Boy has lost this team. He has stocked the roster with 1's, 2's & 3's, and, as a result, the offense has no low post options. And his game-day coaching has not improved over 3 years. Tommy Amaker is a better bench coach than Tommy Boy, and that's saying something.
lost the team??? how about if they just make some shots, or the POY plays like he belongs on 1 of the 3 all-MAAC teams.
Keep blaming this on RT, Anon (or should I call you Tommy Boy Jr.?) It must be RT's fault that this team has to play 4 guards because Tommy Boy hasn't developed Penn or Jackson and the only 5 on the roster is a total project.
correct me if I'm wrong, but i think they played a lot of 4 guard sets the year they won the regular season championship and last year when they were a banked 3 away from their second straight final. The system and the style are not the issue....player execution obviously is though
To be clear, at no point have I advocated for any specific changes. It would seem reasonable to me for Rider to change SOMETHING, since what they've been doing clearly hasn't been working. As for the four-guard sets, yes, they certainly worked last year, but a lot of things worked last year and haven't worked this year.
But I don't claim to have a magic potion to turn the team around. All I did was ask the question, which seemed reasonable given the lack of recent success.
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