Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

The SC game was a brutal experience.  As with so many other times during this season, we have been teased with a run of success, we think that we may have overcome the intangible "missing link" that causes our inconsistency, and then we get brought back to earth...with (for me at least) this being the worst of all the prior losses.

Being introspective after the game, and reading the BN commentary, has caused me to think alot about the concept of "the switch" that DC (unwisely) brought up in the interview, and that Nestor and others have called out our team on.  I don't know that everyone will agree with the following thoughts, but thinking about this has helped me come to terms with what we're about to experience in the Tourney.

1. The Switch is Real.  I think that everyone would acknowledge that The Switch exists.  It is impossible for a team to maintain a high level of intensity for an entire season, and frankly even an entire game.  There are ebbs and flows to energy, and every team, and every person experiences it.  This is one of the reasons why no team goes undefeated for an entire season, and it is why we see major runs in the middle of games.  IT'S ALSO WHY WE LOVE COLLEGE BASKETBALL.  This is where upsets come from (Davidson, George Mason), and great ball games (Syracuse over UConn this weekend).
   
2. The Switch is Different Between Offense and Defense.  This, I think, is perhaps not as obvious to the masses in general as it might be to the loyal follower of Ben Ball.  And, frankly, I think that DC's comments that certainly didn't need to be said come from not realizing the differences between the switches, which are...
   
3. The Offensive Switch Exists, But Cannot Be Controlled.  There is definitely an offensive switch.  Let's consider Taylor Rochestie.  In the 82-81 Bruin loss, Rochestie was on fire.  Totally and completely.  He couldn't miss anything.  Then we have the PAC-10 tourney game.  We can talk about how our defense was better, but frankly, I think he had at least four or five relatively open shots that he missed, that in the 82-81 victory game, he would have hit.  And they were early enough that you can't give our physicality credit for knocking him off his game.  Was it because he had more motivation in his senior day game versus the Pac-10 tournament?  Personally, I don't think so.  Both are huge deals.  Although senior day was his swan song, the Pac-10 tournament was WSU's last ditch hope to get in the Dance.  More motivation, IMHO.  One day he had it, the other he didn't.  (I still think we would have won in the tournament even if he was on...my point is simply that his offensive switch was not on). 
   
4. The Offensive Switch Provides Us with Great Upsets in the Tourney.  Think Stephen Curry.  Good defensive team, and an offensive switch.  Think some of the past UA teams.  etc.  Not many champions though :)
   
5. The Defensive Switch Exists, And It CAN BE CONTROLLED.  The Defensive Switch also exists, but unlike the Offensive Switch, it can be controlled.  How?  By increasing the intensity.  SC, unfortunately, is a perfect example of this.  9-9 in PAC-10 play.  Maddeningly inconsistent.  Then something happens (IMO Simmons or whatever his name is being readded to the lineup injury free being a big part of it) and they switch over.  You could blame it on us (we certainly had lots of issues in the game) but look what they did to ASU today...I didn't watch the game, other than periodic score checks, but the only way a 15-point deficit is erased by a team like SC is the Defensive Switch.  More importantly, THIS IS WHAT HAS MADE UCLA GREAT over time.  Teams with the Defensive Switch can be atrocious free throw shooters, they can go cold for 5+ minutes, but the Defensive Switch can, by an increase in intensity and a will to win, be turned on.
   
6. The Defensive Switch AND The Offensive Switch both REQUIRE CONFIDENCE.  Of course we are all familiar with the concept that "shooters shoot" when they are going through a slump.  The lack of confidence of a shooter is deadly --- think AA's slump, or JS's slump, or, in the NBA, the slump of a Ray Allen in the pre-Laker games last year...The difference between the two, though, is that whereas the confidence of the Defensive Switch requires intensity (relatively controllable) the confidence of the Offensive Switch requires some weird subconscious section of the brain that goes on and off in streaks, and just "happens."  For some people like Drago it happens more often than others.  But even for them it still goes in waves...if his Offensive Switch was on early in the SC game, we probably would have won...
   
7. With the Offensive Switch, It is Next to Impossible to String Together Six Games in a Row.  The Offensive Switch almost never goes together for six games in a row.  Think of the Duke teams of the last decade.  It is easy to deride them, but they have had very winning seasons.  Is it because they are chokers that they lose?  Although many here might disagree, I believe it is not because they are chokers --- THEY RELY ON THE OFFENSIVE SWITCH.  And it always dies.  Think JJ Reddick.  Think Trajan Langdon.  Great players.  Who always had a cold game in the tournament.  It will always be the case.  Or, more recently....Stephen Curry.
   
8. The Defensive Switch Requires Five Guys.  Unlike the Offensive Switch, where one or two players can make it happen, the Defensive Switch dies when you have one or two weak links, and face a competent offensive team. 
   
9. In a Howland Defensive Scheme, the Defensive Switch Doesn't Work When the Opposing Team Has Five Solid Players.  When the core of your defense relates to double-teaming, hedging, etc, teams that feature five solid players can mitigate the power of the switch...fortunately there aren't many of these teams out there, but we historically got beat by these teams that were balanced and inherently less susceptible to the Defensive Switch. 
   
10. The Defensive Switch is Enhanced by Reputation.  In the past, IMHO the reputation of our defense added to it's ability to successfully turn the Defensive Switch on.  Players were afraid, they knew even if they got ahead that when the Switch turned on, they were susceptible to lose. 
    
11. Freshmen Don't Get the Defensive Switch Right Away.  Don't need to elaborate on this point, as we all know the examples of RW, AA, JF, etc.

So...those are my premises...am open, of course, to anyone disagreeing with any of them...what are the conclusions about our team, and about this post-season, that we can draw from them?

First, personally, I don't think we have a great defensive switch.  Some of this is personnel related.  The existence of Drago and Shipp in the starting lineup prevent us from having the Defensive Switch, but have given us the Offensive Switch.  IMHO, this is just a function of our players, not of CBH's philosophy.  Next year, from what I've seen, we'll be back to the Defensive Switch in force.  No question that ML, JA, DG will be defensive warriors.

Second, let's be positive on this team and the outlook for the tournament.  We've talked ad nauseum about the defensive weaknesses we have.  We can't expect the Defensive Switch that we've had in the past.  We can HOPE for an Offensive Switch and a solid defensive effort.  We can HOPE that we don't face a Defensive Switch team like CBH's alma mater Pitt and that we get UNC or Duke.  

DC's comments on the Switch were bad.  They shouldn't be in print.  They're unwise, provide minor fodder for opposing coaches...that being said, I think that they were made because in the past, we really did have a Switch, but it was the Defensive Switch.  Now we have a little Defensive Switch and a big Offensive Switch, but we can't rely on it, and shouldn't brag about being able to "turn it on and off."  But ultimately I think these comments are made from a blurring of the two, and let's support DC and hope that he can lead our team to do some damage in the tournament.  Because CONFIDENCE is a critical, foundational prerequisite to the Offensive Switch, and frankly even basic Defensive Competence, and hopefully he still believes it.

Do I expect a Sweet Sixteen?  Not necessarily. Do I think a Final Four is possible?

Not really...

But ... with an Offensive Switch, and a solid defensive effort, anything may be possible.  I will hope, and will not be disappointed.  CBH is doing what he can with who we have.  The worst thing for our team would be to lose confidence. Because no confidence = no switch, either offensive or defensive, and then we can't win. Anything can happen in the tournament.  We aren't as consistent because our defense isn't as consistent.  Our odds in the Tourney aren't as good as they were in the past, but, with an Offensive Switch and fundamental defensive competence (which we can execute), anything can happen.

Bruin fans, do not be discouraged!  Enjoy this team!  And rest assured that, although odds are not that this team will be the next banner, our coaching philosophy WILL GET US THERE.  And we need to enjoy the ride, and recover quickly from the pain...