Hi-Line Lax wrote:I don't think you need to apologize Will, you're doing a really good job. I also understand about not having the depth to take out your starters, but it doesn't mean you have to keep attacking the cage... perfect your stall, work all your plays through without taking a shot, whatever... scoring just to score (which is certainly what it looks and sounds like) is pointless and rude.
I've been on both sides of this situation, while playing at SFU and after having taken a team to the Space Needle Shootout that suffered a few losses as lopsided as this one. That being said, as a player and a coach, I'd be much more embarassed if a team all began playing left-handed and stopped shooting when they got open looks. And nothing is worse for the fans to watch than a team possessing the ball for the entire second half of a lopsided game.
As far as working your second or third string in, I definitely agree. But you can't tell a player who rarely sees playing time to not shoot or try to score when this may be his only chance all season. And if that second or third string middie (which it seemed WWU had) passes to a starter, should that starter NOT shoot and take away an assist for that third stringer?
I wasn't at the game, but WWU had 12 different scorers on a 22 man roster... sounds like almost everyone got in on the action at some point.
Kudos to Willamette for sticking it out, its tough to be on that side of a big loss. But every team has been there at some point, including UO, SFU and Montana... and they seemed to build from that, with a lot less complaining too.