My gut tells me coach is trying to get Negron to leave. I see no reason he shouldn’t be playing right now.
Seems like every year someone irrationally ends up in the doghouse and I can’t figure out any other reason for it.

Welp. Hope that was our Boise. Flush it.

Silver lining: we've apparently ruffled enough feathers that Shocker fans are still patrolling MVC boards to celebrate us losing.

We have had quite a few Boise's this year...

Yeah. It's easy to say "burn the tape" or whatever, but we really have to learn how to respond when the other team is on fire and pressuring us.

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Normally I would agree with 88 that a loss is a loss and I normally disagree with Brot's pessimism which occurs after losses.
But Brot is right on. This was a total collapse as we failed in all aspects of the game. I am sure fatigue was a factor (and didn't all MVC visitor teams lose last night).
But fatigue cannot account for not taking shots, stumbling all around, letting the Bears get second and third shot chances.
Yes, as a Final Four team you have a target on your back, but when you are a Final Four teams you lose by a buzzer beater not wiped out by 35 points. I noticed Cooper and Bruno diving for a loose ball toward the end and Bruno could barely move for it he was so exhausted.
This was a total disgrace and a complete embarrassment to the program. Years ago a Larry Farmer team scored something like 29 points against Wisconsin but this was a worse loss because Wisconsin was a decent Big Ten team and Missouri State was a bottom feeder.
Something seriously wrong with the "offense" if you want to call it that. We scored 41 against Maryland, 42 against St. Joseph, 48 against Evansville, and now 35.
Happened too often to be a fluke. Evidently the players do not fit into this system.
VERY DISCOURAGING FOR SURE. With two third of the season almost over, it is hard to see how we finish first or win Arch Madness.
This game was so bad I wanted to vomit.
I've decided to end my viewing parties with my neighbors as the Maryland, Evansville and Missouri State games all had the same stink!
My biggest fear is that the players have quit caring. Sad!

I do agree with this statement, but I don't think the situation is quite as dire as the rest of your post indicates. We are in first place, and will still be favored in nearly every game going forward. We still have everything to play for. I am interested to see how we respond vs SIU, a team we should handle at home. Only two more weeknight road games...

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Having read all of the previous posts, and having seen every game this season, I too was in disbelief how this game unravelled. I do not agree that the players quit, but once you let another team build confidence, it steamrolls as it did in Evansville too.
No one was making shots, and LUC was also pummeled by second and third chances on long rebounds by MS. Buzzer beaters over and over by MS after good defense down to 5 seconds or less has to wear you down and build frustration.
The offense is a mystery, as it is so Jeckyl and Hyde. You can see the hesitancy on some players when they have a perceived opportunity and pass it up. This creates the turnovers as flow is interrupted. I agree that 11 points in a half is hard to swallow. I believe our players are NOT quitters and will bounce back.
As a couch coach from afar, with no experience, I keep wondering about playing two big's for a different look. Cam is fleet of foot, Negron seems quick enough , and Frank is a presence. I've seen Cam take short range jumpers in pre game, etc. why not in a game? Otherwise, I defer to PM. As tough as it is for us as fans, it has to be three times tougher for the players and staff. Custer's scoring and passing works in sync with others on the floor, and that interrelationship is not as seamless as it was with our graduated players from last year.
The Valley has had weird swings this conference season, as last night's scores will suggest, and unfortunately we were not immune to the same.
Reality now suggests the conference title, seeding and the conference tournament are the only true goals available. I cannot follow ratings and rankings i.e. ken pom as it is too painful, and to this team at this point irrelevant. One year ago, we were thrilled to simply be successful in the Valley, and after this game, who would not be happy with the same result. Let's do it.
We all wish our situation was better, but again, we need to be on board and supportive. Gonna take time. Go Ramblers....
It will be much sweeter when we get past this stuff. We will....

These midweek road games are tough to win in the Valley and we have a target on our backs. We are going to get the home team's best game.

It is just one loss and it is no more than one loss. Admittedly, this loss and the Evansville loss have been concerning because we have looked so bad. We have lost games this season because we are not hitting shots, which I can accept. In those losses, there have been a few defensive breakdowns, but was good enough to win. Spacing looked fine, etc, This loss looks so bad because it was a complete failure. The offense looked bad and the defense broke down on several occasions. We struggled throughout. I am concerned that our rotation is thin and the players who are not starting do not appear ready to contribute. Those players may be seeing the recruiting class that we have coming in and are concerned about their status. We have seen these players play quality minutes and they need to be focused when they get their chance.

I don't know if this is necessarily true. The only surefire starters next year, imo, are Krut/Williamson. I think a lot of the younger guys should see opportunity, rather than threats.

Uguak has looked good at times but in no way has he shown that he will be a consistent contributor and starter.

Kaifes has shown he can be deadly from deep and has improved his defense but has shown too many lapses.

Bujdoso has solid defense and potential to be run the offense as a true PG.

Big Frank has been getting more PT but accumulates fouls to quickly.

Bruno will be the only senior next year but his role may be further diminished with Paxton/Marquise coming in with much higher ceilings.

Porter is a system guy.....He has his defensive and offensive rules and systems and does not stray....The offense he runs requires 4 guys that can dribble and finish, dribble draw double team and find open man,, drive and hit pull up jumper and if the open man on the perimeter hit the 3. Last year we had four guys that could continually do all 4 offensive skills. this allowed us to always pass up a good shot to get a better shot. This also helped wear out the other team by making them play defense. Also last years team seemed to intuitively know when to do what with confidence.
This year it seems we have 3 players (CUster,Townes and Williamson) that can do all 4 things. Everyone else has a weakness.....Kaifes great perimeter shooter but not a great finisher yet. Ughak not a great perimeter shooter or shooter at all yet, Bujdoso who seems to me to have all those skills seems hesitant to do so . Bruno who seems to have all the skills seems to just not be confident. So couple of thoughts....now when we work the clock our chances of getting a better shot at the buzzer are much slimmer and puts sooo much responsibility on two guys when Williamson is out..Last year it always seemed if one guy got closed out someone else picked them up. Last year was a perfect storm also with Jackson who could hit the 3 which as a bonus let us pull the defensive center out and let Donte take advantage of mismatches down low...that is not available this year. this team this year is just not talented as last years team....and with out the same supporting players it has to be taking a toll on Custer and Townes...The only guy that maybe is an okay guy is Krutwig as Frank as shown him to be an adequate.
defensively you lost one of the best defensive players we have ever had in Ben Richardson and Donte who could guard any spot on the court...We are not at the same level there yet either.
My gut tells me that we will have ups and downs this year.....and to win the Valley,,,we will need to have everyone, Healthy, with energy and the bench guys will have to continue to improve......Important for us to keep rooting hard and providing energy at home games....