Shane Wilson

As of late, several conversations with Emporia State men’s basketball coach David Moe have led to the same few phrases being said over and over. Moe has admitted several times that his team is “not well prepared” and “not coached very well.”

A red flag went up in my mind after each occurrence.

Now we have to understand – it’s very commendable for a coach to step up and take responsibility for a team’s mishaps. Not very often do the anointed leaders of a team rise above the criticism and take the blame for a team’s losing ways.

One thing I don’t understand, however, is how a coach can continually take sole responsibility for a losing season and there not be much concern about it.

The men’s basketball team is loaded with ballers. The talent level of this team alone should be capable of a winning season. A senior-laden team as this one can dominate the game – and we’ve seen just that from time to time.

Take, for instance, the games versus Central Missouri and Ft. Hays State. The opposing teams were ranked in the top five in the nation at the time ESU played them. Despite the difference in ranking, Emporia State played each team neck and neck, down to the wire. Even though ESU lost both games, it was still worth noting how well the team played while facing far superior teams, on paper at least.

Now take, for instance, the last game versus Northwest Missouri. While the team took a 16-point lead in the second half, they couldn’t hold on for long and lost to a ho-hum Bearcats team.

So where’s the connection?

A well coached team doesn’t play down to their competition. A well coached team plays together and uses their collective talents to smother their opponent.

At times, this Emporia State men’s basketball team doesn’t look like it is well coached.

The inconsistencies that are on display when this team plays are ever apparent. Great plays are followed up by boneheaded ones on a regular basis. And the kicker is this – in conversations with some of the players on the team, not one of them can explain where the true problem lies. Yes, some offer possibilities in not valuing possessions and playing poor transition defense.

The problem of poor preparation is not one easily noticed, especially when you’ve been in the routine for some time.

I’m not saying the problem is Moe, only Moe and nothing but the Moe. And I’m certainly not advocating for his removal. I’m simply saying this – if a team loaded with talent is not performing up to par, shouldn’t there be someone, anyone, in the administration looking into the situation?

With these frequent admissions from Moe, I would say there’s definitely something to examine.

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