Please Help: 11 Qs on 2K5

[smsbears]

I guess so. I don't know if my defense was aweful or if this one player was just that good. Birmingham-Southern's S, his generated name on my game was Adler and he hit 6 of 7 threes and scored like 30 points. Everything he threw up went in. Any defensive tips for me? I guess I will restart my Career mode now that I know that was a regular occurrence. I did hang closer with Georgia the next game but they are aweful.

[nafsder2007]

Hmmm...defensive tips. Well, on fast breaks, try to anticipate where the outlet pass will go. If you are anywhere near the path of the ball, a lunging steal will be very easy to pull off (turbo+steal). I find drawing the charge to be a rather ineffective way to stop the fast break. If a guy is driving, let him get there...just make sure you are set up in front of the basket to go for a block. Force them to go baseline. If they do, chances are they will shoot something that goes behind the backboard (believe it or not it happens a lot in this game). And don't run a press. The AI is too good at moving the ball up the floor quickly to be stopped by a full court press. Well, that's how I play D...maybe my suggestions will help...probably not

[smsbears]

dang i love to press...that may have been my problem though. I am a big 1-2-2 guy, so that stinks if it doesn't work. I prefer up tempo games and pressing is a good way to do that.

Do you play with free throw assist on or off? That I think was the most challenging part of the game, becuase everyone has a different release point and shooting style that you have to figure out. I found that with free throw assist on it was almost too easy though.

[nafsder2007]

I keep it on only because I shoot an unrealistic 30%ish with it off. While it may be the most realistic free throw system I've used (come on...the little free throw meters with the moving basketballs in the NBA games ARE NOT realisitc), I also find it a little to vague on how to use it. Is it entirely determined by your release point? Or are there other factors that go into whether or not the free thow is made? I don't know, so I just let the computer help me.

[smsbears]

I think it has a lot to do with release point and who is shooting, based on their rating. I agree that it is the most realistic way, but I too shot like 30-40% in my 30 point loss to BSC. I think with that on I would have lost by a little under 20, because I missed at least 15-20 free throws and made only 10.

[detroitbasketball]

FTs are really simple for me, even without assist, dunno why. I'm just good at it, I guess...I have most of the routines that are in the game down. When you play with your team enough, you get to know the routines.

[smsbears]

you are my hero then, because it is tough. What difficulty do you play it on?

[smsbears]

When you start a career mode do you guys?:

A. Make a weak schedule to help build up wins?

B. Make a tough schedule with the hopes of getting some marquee wins and building up your wins in conference play?

C. Make a balanced 50% lower level & 50% upper level teams?

While at work I put together a few possible opponents to play, some weak some not so weak, but no real strong teams though. I was thinking about adding some, but might get a game against one if I jump into a tourney. What are your thoughts on your strength of schedule with a bottom tier team.

[BstnRdSx]

I leave the schedule the way it is. Realism is key in my eyes.

[Xanderski]

I left my schedule unchanged for my first season. Depending on how I do, I’ll probably have a nice mix of poor to decent teams next year. Since I’m in a weak conference, I’m not going to the NCAA tourney unless I win my conference tourney, so my record really won’t matter. I’ll probably try to find teams who have a rating close to mine so that I’ll have some exciting games. Preseason tournaments are fun, too.

Anybody know how important your win/loss record is when it comes to recruiting? Will getting to the NCAA tourney have a greater impact on recruiting than your record?

[smsbears]

I am a big guy on realism also, but the schedules change every year anyway and I like to put some fun matchups on my schedule. I don't know how much winning effects recruiting, because i just started, but it has to impact your stature as a coach and whether or not you get offers...right?

[Xanderski]

That’s a good point, you probably do need a good record if you want to move on to a better school.

As for schedules, I’m told that your schedules do not always change from season to season. I’m still on my first season so I haven’t experienced it myself yet, but I’ll be changing my schedule if that happens.

[smsbears]

When they offer you new positions on ESPN2K5 do they offer you positions at bad teams in better conferences, or like one of the flaws in EA's NCAA Football 2005 do they offer you a position at one of the better schools in the conference?

Like offering you a job to take over Baylor and not Oklahoma? NCAA football would offer you the job at Oklahoma and not Baylor, as if Oklahoma would fire their coach after a national title.

[Jami]

Typically you'll get job offers from the bad schools in the next level of conference. You start off as a school in a Conference Size of "Small"..you'll eventually work your way up to Mid-Major, then Major, then hopefully Power.

It's extremely rare, however, that you'll ever get an offer from a school like Duke, UNC, Kansas, etc., if only because their coaches are never fired - they just quit if they've had enough, which is pretty realistic in itself.

[BstnRdSx]

I started off with Alabama A&M once and went to Georgetown 3 years later, so it's possible.

[smsbears]

I don't want to go major right out of my job. I would rather move to mid major, and that is probably where I will stay once I get there.

[smsbears]

are there player transfers at the end of the season, or do players only leave or join through graduation and recruiting?

[detroitbasketball]

There's transfers, but they don't happen too often.

[smsbears]

Is there a way to tip in or have dunk putbacks on rebounds? I may not have looked at the instructions close enough, but don't remember seeing that.

[Jami]

There are putback tips and there might be putback dunks, but there's no special buttons to press for it..it pretty much happens if you hit the rebound button and your guy is right on top of the rebound indicator close to the hoop.