You think some magic thing happened between the Ohio State game and yesterday?
Yes. We played against a team that wasn't in the top 20. Not even in the top 75. Pretty magical.
You think some magic thing happened between the Ohio State game and yesterday?
I hope everyone realizes that even in a strong Big Ten at worse we would need to be 18-13 (add 1-1 in the BTT for 19-14) by March. Unless everyone sees something that I don’t, it’s hard to envision us going 15-6 the rest of the way. I’m thinking more 8-13ish
Yes, it is definitely crazy to hope that the best case scenario falls into place. Dang us overly optimistic types.Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.
Im a litle confuse on your post. I actually agree with portions of each of your scenarios. I think BU has potential to bld a good prog, I see signs of progress, but dont always like his demeanor. I wish that he would be intense in practice and be confident and relaxed during game. One of the VB players said it best about Thompson. His biggest impact in his 1st 2 years is instilling confidence.....thats what Bball team needs. We have young talent that can compete...they need confidenceOk, so we are 1.25 years of games into BU’s tenure, close to 2 years on the job.
Without rehashing all the positives and negatives, but skipping right to the point. Which camp are you in?
1. Did you see how effective BU’s system was vs UNLV, guys are getting it and gelling. Samba will solve a lot of issues that cost the team earlier losses, Tev will do the same and this is an NCAA bubble team. Go Illinois!
2. Team looked good vs UNLV, a lot of good signs, Samba can get tick the next three games, which will allow him to be a missing piece in the B10. Tev will serve his suspension, get tick the next three games, and with Samba and Tev contributing (assuming the rest of the guys play the same as they have to date), this team will finish inside the top 10 in the Big. Recruits will see the vision working and we will sign immediate difference makers for 2019 in addition to Higgs as a RS, no significant talent will transfer, and we will be a legitimate NCAA team next year.
3. Sure, we looked good vs UNLV, but they’re one of the weaker teams we’ve played to date, have a lot of new, raw, undeveloped talent, and we almost gave the game away AT HOME! Samba will go back to the bench once the B10 games start, Tevian is so far behind right now that the best we can hope for are spot moments in vs B10 teams. Without significant contributions from Samba and Tev, we know what this team is and finishing ahead of Rutgers is realistic, better than that is icing. Significant potential talent for next year will transfer, January signs, but other recruits will not see the vision and the best we can hope for is to sign a diamond in the rough who will be the next Giorgi.
What a dumpster fire, BU turns kids off, our recruiting is bad, and this program takes 1 step forward, but 2 steps backwards, and next year will be no better than this year. Whitman better get his short list out and make the right call on the next coach.
Not sure where I’m at yet, but the above seem like very plausible scenarios, am I missing any other scenarios?
Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.
Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.
Im a litle confuse on your post. I actually agree with portions of each of your scenarios. I think BU has potential to bld a good prog, I see signs of progress, but dont always like his demeanor. I wish that he would be intense in practice and be confident and relaxed during game. One of the VB players said it best about Thompson. His biggest impact in his 1st 2 years is instilling confidence.....thats what Bball team needs. We have young talent that can compete...they need confidence
Thanks Konnie...you put it much better than I did. Well said!I agree with this comment. I read where Tamas called a certain play for match point but Poulter countered with a play and he deferred to her. And that displayed a lot of confidence in his players to execute the play. Underwood is a long way from displaying that confidence in his team but I hope the team gains the much-needed confidence and Underwood is able to defer to the team to make good decisions and to provide input into some of the decisions that are made.
While I agree with your premise, I think I'd maybe tweak the wording a little.Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.
I was going along with you just fine until the final sentences. "Trying to rush him in just to get a couple of W's is worthless . . . " Don't see how trying to get a couple of W's is ever worthless. Just can't wrap my head around that part. I get that rushing him is risky. I get that a guy who didn't even play is likely not the difference in W/L. Anyway, not a big deal, but I just couldn't get off that part of the sentence.If by "magic" you mean getting up to speed with the rest of the team that had been practicing, playing, working out, and watching video together eight weeks more than he had....then yes. BU's idea of when a freshman 5 is ready for high major game competition is light years ahead of everyone here.
This is all debate for our entertainment. BU has to decide for real. Trying to postulate our views as opposed to a coach with 30 odd years of coaching experience is pretty funny.
Kane has the chance to be a very good 5 here. Trying to rush him in just to get a couple of W's is worthless and could have backfired.
You think some magic thing happened between the Ohio State game and yesterday?
I do think these guys have the potential to be a good team. The pieces are there to finish in the middle of the B10. There are only 3 guys on this team with any B10 experience and only 2 (not counting the walk-ons) that played for Underwood last year.. If they can pick up a couple more wins before they get back in the B10 schedule, I think we will see their team-play improve game to game. That is how Underwoods teams have done at his other stops.I am not impressed with the overall team, but am impressed with small improvements that could be building blocks. Seems to me that the kids are starting to understand BU's O and D. BUT, the clock is slowly running out. The kids can no longer use games to improve.
7 wins isn’t that crazy. To think that we play so many underclass men, have had some injuries, suspensions etc. and still have been competitive against such a tough schedule says a lot. best part about being so young, their growth will be much greater and quicker than most teams. if this team was filled with juniors/seniors, with our record, and way we have lost games, i think 3-17 in conference is likely. but it’s not. it’s filled with youngsters who have showed some big strides since Evansville. 7 wins isn’t that crazy.Find 7 games on the remaining schedule that you believe we'll be favored in. East Tennessee State, Florida Atlantic, Rutgers(Home) and Penn State(Home)?
Where are you possibility seeing 7-13 in conference. We're already 0-2. You think this team has the horses to go 7-11? Find me the 7 conference games that you feel "good" about us winning.
Lets be positive and say we beat Missouri, East Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic. We'd be 6-7 with 18 conference games remaining. I think 4-14 is our best case scenario. That puts us at 10-21. It stinks to lay it out like that, but it's what it is.
Of the major conferences (ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC and Big East)....we'd finish in the bottom three of every one of them. So yes, we are one of the worst teams in the country.
Being positive, 10-21 might not even be a failure if we're playing and developing young players. Maybe we'll be scrappy at the end...who knows?
To say they're going to win 7 conference games is just pulling a number out of the air.
I would LOVE to be wrong. Thrilled to be! However with the remaining schedule, the talent level and the experience level of this club....if we get to 13 wins, that would be a wildly successful season.
First, his in game demeanor and treatment of players shows a lack of respect for the players....being tough on them is one thing but publicly yelling at them in uncontrolled anger should is not acceptable.
Secondly, he needs to look in the mirror and come to terms with his poor end game coaching that has cost his team several times....or nearly so as against UNLV. His lack of knowledge of how to coach in pressure situations must change....and it is not that difficult... if he wants to learn and improve.
Yelling at them that they are not getting the job done because they are not doing what he wants is simply fruitless.
BU needs to learn from the myriad coaches who have gone that route and failed...and the few who have failed their way to success by controlling and overcoming their own shortcomings. Bobby Knight was not an admired man outside Indiana, but Indiana kids flocked to Bloomington to play simply because it was their dream.
Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.
As a rule I am a very patient person when it comes to coaching. At first glance, the BU hire was a strong one based on his previous 4 yr. record and his desire to coach the Illini. But two things have caused me to withdraw any support for his coaching the Illini basketball team. First, his in game demeanor and treatment of players shows a lack of respect for the players....being tough on them is one thing but publicly yelling at them in uncontrolled anger should is not acceptable. Hold them accountable, bench them, look them in the eye and explain why their play cannot be tolerated by the team, whatever. But to get respect you must give respect....and Underwood is going to lose his team quickly if he cannot control his anger and frustration in an adult manor.
Secondly, he needs to look in the mirror and come to terms with his poor end game coaching that has cost his team several times....or nearly so as against UNLV. His lack of knowledge of how to coach in pressure situations must change....and it is not that difficult... if he wants to learn and improve.
Three Cons
1. Temper
Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.
I was going along with you just fine until the final sentences. "Trying to rush him in just to get a couple of W's is worthless . . . " Don't see how trying to get a couple of W's is ever worthless. Just can't wrap my head around that part. I get that rushing him is risky. I get that a guy who didn't even play is likely not the difference in W/L. Anyway, not a big deal, but I just couldn't get off that part of the sentence.
Making the tourney was never the goal this season. I know I saw the normal crazies in the prediction thread but the goal this season is solidifying the core with the scheme's the staff is trying to teach. Pick up a couple guys and compete for tourney presence in year 3.