Part of the problem that our fan base refuses to accept is just how far we have fallen. When looking at both of the "revenue" sports, instant success is what people want. Unfortunately that's usually not how this works. When both programs fall to the levels that ours have reached (why they got there is a completely different discussion) it becomes a monumental task for nearly ANYONE to rebuild.
Take football as a prime example. Josh Whitman was able to hire a former NFL Coach of the Year who lead a team to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman as it's QB. The National Media went crazy over the hire. Less than 3 months ago (4 years into his tenure), the vocal majority (at least on this board) wanted him gone. He won a few crazy games, got to a bowl, and most of those vocal majority, for now, have seemed to calm.
Here we are in SEASON 3 of what most everyone would agree was a complete rebuild. We sit at 9-5 currently against, I agree, a weaker schedule overall. Yet, our losses currently are on the road at Arizona RPI 30, by 2 to Miami RPI 41, by 1 on the road at Maryland RPI 5, Missouri RPI 118, and on the road MSU RPI 14.
Missouri, no excuse, bad loss. Most teams in year 3 of a complete rebuild are going to have bad losses, it's apart of the game. (Bad losses also creep up on Blue Bloods in a non rebuild, i.e. Kentucky, Evansville). Those same teams in rebuild mode are also going to have great wins, Michigan RPI 24. Right now, this team is really struggling with the most important aspect of the game, putting the ball in the hoop. Is Underwoods "system," or lack there of a major cause of this, that can definitely be argued and debated. Are there not enough players on the floor who are capable of scoring consistently against high major talent? Or is it something else? I don't know the answer to this.
However, my point of posting this in this particular thread finds it's way back to the opening, the fan base, and what I deem unrealistic expectations. We've been stuck at rock bottom for a really long time now. We ALL want out of this. However, to cut ties after 2.5 years (or 3 at the end of this season), with a basketball coach with a very impressive resume that got him this job just seems way too early to know what we've really got. This takes time. Please be patient. If we're unable to give a guy who went 89-14 in his first three seasons in Division 1 more than 3 years at something he really has to build from the ground up, who do we honestly think we can get to replace him?!