To clarify…perhaps the faction of this board that was intended for doesn’t have a clear delineation. I don’t feel like you fall into that faction. I read your posts often and respect them. You have reasoned posts, and you rightfully point out what you see as flaws.
My question was geared towards the “we’re gonna lose in the first round” and “fire brad now” and “never play Tomi again” type posts.
To answer your question…I definitely question this teams ability to make a deep run now. They’ve git a wall, their flaws are exposed, the Ivisics are in a bad shooting slump, etc etc. But this team is far too talented to exclaim with certainty that they’ll lose in the first round. This team has clearly shown they have no trouble beating the quality of team they’ll see in that 14 or 15 spot. And they SHOULD beat a 6-7 seed team in the 2nd round. After that…my confidence drops off a cliff, for sure. So, I feel like Sweet 16 is where we land…but who knows? This team has shown they are capable of making a run and playing with anybody, so its not impossible. Plus thats the beauty of March. Anyone can get hot and make a run. Remember that 8 seed v 9 seed Championship game between UConn and Kentucky?
Anyway…I’m not saying you shouldn’t have doubts, shouldn’t want more March success, etc. All reasonable things to question. Again, the line is blurry between oosts like yours that are critical, and the extreme takes claiming we’rendoomed to lose in the first round.
From the first 7-8 games of the season, we learned things about this team that have been evident limitations ever since.
1. They lack the foot speed to be an elite defensive team
2. They are not elite in the area of mental toughness and hoops IQ, not at all unexpected for a team that features two frosh in the starting lineup.
3. Overall, this team is lacking in mental toughness and does not seem to have a leader who can pull them out when games get tight in the last minute. That may be because they can all score and are unselfish...or that opponents have developed a good scout on them all by now.
There is nothing to be done about the first other than by trying to max help and cover up the inability to guard quick, aggressive guards, a factor that proved critical in today's loss. As Brad stated in the post game, it was a tail of two halves regarding defensive focus and effort.
And though I would not trade Wagler or Miri for any player, they are frosh andnot as crafty and confident as they will be in 3 more seasons wherever they play.
For me, this team should be in the S16 and battle someone to make the next round. ..and that might happen. As BU stated and the post game, they are as good offensively as anyone, seldom if ever suffering a six minute scoring droughts that have made.. Illini fans shake their head and wonder how anyone on the roster ever made it to D-1. It is the other end though that is challenged, as we knew all along it would be. Regardless, I love this team and wish them the best....hoping they can get their heads straight, play loose, and play smart...and show a bit more mental toughness.
