As I watched the Cal State Northridge Matadors stumble through another disappointing first half last week, I couldn't help but recall that fascinating Filipino expression from our knowledge base: "Akala niya yata sa kanya [directed e], siyempre nakatingin ako sa kanya [at] pumapalakpak ako." The translation—"He probably thought it was for him, of course I was looking at him [and] I was clapping"—perfectly captures what I believe is the core issue with this team's dynamics. There's a fundamental miscommunication happening on that court, players thinking the offense runs through them individually when it should flow through the team collectively. I've been covering college basketball for fifteen years now, and I've seen this pattern before—talented players who don't quite understand their roles within the system.

The Matadors currently sit at 7-13 overall and 2-6 in Big West Conference play, and having attended six of their games this season, I can pinpoint exactly where things are breaking down. Their offensive efficiency rating of 98.3 points per 100 possessions ranks them 287th nationally, which is frankly unacceptable for a program with their resources. What strikes me most is the body language between players—when one player makes a move to the basket, others stand watching rather than moving into supportive positions. It reminds me of that concept from our reference material—players thinking the play is "for them" individually rather than understanding they're part of a coordinated effort. The assist numbers tell the story clearly: just 11.2 per game, which places them near the bottom of Division I basketball. I've charted their possessions and found that on approximately 40% of their offensive sets, the first pass leads directly to a shot attempt rather than working for better opportunities.

Defensively, there's a different but related issue—players are often caught "ball-watching" rather than maintaining awareness of both their man and the overall defensive scheme. I noticed this particularly in their loss to UC Santa Barbara where they gave up 84 points, including 12 three-pointers from defensive breakdowns. The rotations are slow, communication appears minimal, and there's that same individualistic mentality we see on offense. When I spoke with Coach Trent Johnson after the game, he acknowledged the need for better "five-man connectivity," which aligns perfectly with what I'm observing. They're allowing opponents to shoot 46.2% from the field, which puts them in the bottom quartile nationally, and their defensive rebounding percentage of 68.3% simply isn't good enough for a team that wants to compete in March.

Now, here's where my experience covering successful mid-major programs comes into play—the solution isn't just about X's and O's, it's about changing the team's collective mindset. I'd implement what I call "recognition drills" during practice, specifically designed to address that "akala niya yata sa kanya" mentality. These would involve scenarios where players must constantly read and react to each other's movements, with consequences for those who default to individual play. From a tactical standpoint, they need to simplify their offensive sets—right now there's too much standing around watching the ball handler. I'd like to see them adopt more motion principles with constant screening and cutting, similar to what programs like Gonzaga have implemented so successfully. Their current offensive system relies too heavily on isolation plays, which account for nearly 28% of their possessions according to my tracking.

The personnel decisions also need reevaluation. Atongese Atongese shows tremendous potential in the post but only averages 22 minutes per game—I'd increase his playing time to at least 30 minutes, even if it means sacrificing some perimeter shooting. His presence inside forces defensive adjustments that open up opportunities elsewhere. Speaking of shooting, their 32.1% conversion rate from beyond the arc is frankly abysmal, and I'd implement a mandatory extra shooting session for all guards—300 made three-pointers daily, monitored by staff. Having visited other programs, I know this is standard practice for teams that shoot well from distance.

What many fans don't realize is how much of basketball success comes from the mental side of the game. I'd bring in a sports psychologist to work specifically on team cohesion and role acceptance—something I've seen work wonders at other programs facing similar challenges. Players need to understand that clapping for each other, supporting each other's successes, and buying into defined roles creates more winning opportunities than any individual highlight play. The reference about "pumapalakpak ako" (I was clapping) speaks to this supportive dynamic that's currently missing.

Looking at their remaining schedule, I count eight winnable games if they can implement these changes quickly. The Big West isn't particularly strong this year, and with some adjustments, the Matadors could still finish around .500 in conference play. They have the talent—I'm particularly high on sophomore guard Darius Brown II, who shows flashes of brilliance but needs better support from his teammates. What they lack is the cohesive identity that turns individual players into a unified team. I remember covering Stephen F. Austin during their famous tournament run—they had less raw talent than CSUN currently possesses but played with remarkable synchronization.

The path forward requires acknowledging that current approach isn't working and making meaningful changes both strategically and culturally. It's about transforming that "for him" mentality into a "for us" approach where every player understands their role within the system. When that happens—when players move without the ball, communicate defensively, and genuinely celebrate each other's successes—we'll see the Matadors start winning games they're supposed to win. The foundation is there, the talent is adequate, now it's about building the connective tissue that turns individual players into a cohesive unit capable of surprising people in the Big West tournament. I haven't given up on this team yet, and neither should their fans—with the right adjustments, this could still become a season worth remembering rather than one to forget.