For good or bad - which only time shall tell - I did not imagine back in February there would be so many comments vouching for Hamer's defense just three months later.
I think that once a rational mind removes themselves from the emotion of the season from game to game, then the end of the season low that comes with losing, things become more clear after reflection.
There was a focus on two guys during the season that were the object of ire when we lost, which isn't uncommon. .ost people in life want an answer to why things happen whether that be our jobs, our kids, a meal we prepare, whatever. We don't want to see the big picture because it can be uncomfortable and we want to feel like there's a quick fix. Change two guys and we'd win more games.
Again, removing ourselves three months....with clear vision, our problems far beyond Hamer defensively. Do I love our defensive philosophy? I can't say that I love it, but wasn't the reason that we'd let up the points we did.
Things like:
1)Live ball turnovers by our guards leading run outs and layups didn't help.
2)Long rebounds went both directions(good and bad) because those would lead to rebounds.
3) Let's just be honest with ourselves, our depth in the front court wasn't optimal and that was made by 1)having guys that couldn't play without fouling and 2)illness. We can all point at the games, especially the ones where we got absolutely curb stomped where we got absolute destroyed in the paint.
4)We had no paint presence. Tomi was about it and I wouldn't put him in the intimidating category.
5)I loved our guards offensively, but outside of Kylan, guys like KJ and Riley were swinging gates when it came to keeping guys from breaking us down. When that happens, the entire defense is corrupted. Guards are just so important, on both sides, in the defensive end. The teams that win big have great ones and the ones that don't ...don't.
6) Experience, by physically and mentally were as issue. Again, we go back to Boswell. He was pretty much our only player able to play in a game like Kentucky. I was six rows off the floor at the NCAA Tournament. One team definitely looked different than the other team. Kylan clearly belonged. Others did not, but they would have next year.
These weren't easy fixes, which people don't like. They want, fire Hamer, dump Ben and we win 5 more games. That's kinda silly if you step back and really think about it.
Brad is a really, really smart man and an incredible coach. He saw the issues and completely changed his roster to fit. Athletically, will this work? Not sure, but on paper, it looks better.
He's not going to fire coaches if he doesn't think it moves the needle. Ultimately, this is his program, his reputation and wins and losses define him. Nobody in the country knows who Hamer is. They know Brad and Brad got extended and looking at the contract.....he's locked and loaded to be here a LONG time. Josh feels the same way about everything.
I think that's what you're seeing unfold.
