When you lose to a team you flat-out should've beaten, I can search for GOOD but can find plenty of BAD and UGLY

Ugh. Good evening AUHoops.com fans! Thanks to all of you who came out and participated in our liveblog today. For those of you haven't heard. We lost. Again. For the seventh time in a row. Unlike the past couple of losses, this is a game we should've won, and, well, we didn't. Let me give a disclaimer here, I'm going to write up this Good, Bad, and Ugly based on the box score, the recaps I read, and the comments in the liveblog. If I don't get it entirely correct, I apologize in advance, but I think I'll probably do a pretty good job. (Good enough for government work, as they say). Here's the recap and box score.

Anyway, let's get on with it, painful as it may be.

THE GOOD

Stephen Lumpkins - Welcome back to (for the little its worth) the good graces of the AUHoops blog. 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, no turnovers? Solid. Even better, 6-11 shooting. Much better today, finish those shots, and if you can't finish them, get to the line. Another wasted Lumpkins effort, sadly, but he's going to be a very special player for AU the next three years.

Simon McCormack - Simon played a game-high 30 minutes and made it count. 10 points and 6 rebounds. He gets a demerit here for the four turnovers he had (more on the turnovers later), but Simon had been quiet the past few games, and it's good to see that he bounced back today.

And honestly, that's it for full-fledged good entries. Here's some honorable mentions, players who had above average games but for some reason or another couldn't be said to have had good games (the reasons they don't make this section are included in parentheses): Nick Hendra (too many turnovers), Daniel Munoz (too many missed shots).

Now, onto...

THE BAD

Riley Grafft - Riley didn't have a particularly atrocious game from what I can see, but I do have a bone to pick that lands him here. Riley, please stop shooting the long ball. I don't get why you're trying to do it; it isn't working out. I'm baffled why with 24 seconds you decided to shoot from 3; maybe the shot clock was winding down or something, but for God's sake, drive into the lane and try to pick up a foul or something. At 6'11", you are not the long-range shooter we've been looking for. I also would've liked to see less missed buckets (3-10?) and more rebounds (just 6?) Especially on the rebounds, Riley needs to assert himself more. He's 6'11", and I think he needs to be more aware of that and use it aggressively.

Our ability to protect the ball in the first half - FIFTEEN TURNOVERS!? FIFTEEN!? I mean, I guess it's good we only had 7 in the second half. But fifteen turnovers in one half is completely inexcusable. That's embarrassing.

Our ability to steal the ball - We've been pretty bad about stealing the ball all season, and today was no different. Four steals isn't going to generate us many points, and we need those points badly. I guess this is something that is a result of having a young team (and specifically young guards); as their instincts get honed a bit we'll see more steals generated, but that honestly cannot happen soon enough.

And, my least favorite part...

THE UGLY

Our perimeter shooting - 3/13 from behind the arc. 23.1%. Really shows you how weak we are from long range when Bersch has a cold game.

Our assist to turnover ratio, both for this game, and for the season: For the game, assists to turnovers was .54, for the season it is a dismal .83. We are not taking care of the ball, and it is really hurting us.

The last 5 seconds before halftime - It sure seems like every game we give up a 3 pointer at the buzzer. I know it's not every game, but it has happened like 4-5 times this season out of 9 games. Unreal. I don't know if it's bad luck or poor perimeter defense. I'm inclined to believe it's some perversely negative amalgamation of the two.

The realization that we just lost to the University of Maryland - Eastern Shore - I mean, I know this is a rebuilding year. I'm a patient guy, and an understanding one. When we lose to Manhattan and Fairfield, I get that. When we lose to UMES? I'm baffled and disappointed. Today was a major step back for the Eagles; have we progressed since the beginning of the season? I guess we have, but it's days like today where that progress is almost imperceptible.

See you on Tuesday for Howard. This could be our last chance to get a win for quiiiiiite a while.

Pro deo et patria and GO EAGLES!