I'm looking forward to seeing these kids play next year......

[Hall91]

despite the point that it's hard to have much faith in Willard, I am looking forward to having Gibbs, Whitehead, Carrington, Desi and Delgado and the rest supporting cast back for next year. We have quite a bit of talent next season; contrast this to other years when we really didn't feel like we could make that statement.

I could be wrong, but I think in hindsight many players were unfairly accused of being contributing factors to Sina leaving (myself included). So, it appears we have a relatively solid group of kids who have good character; they may be no angels but who is anymore.

So even though this past season really went in the shitter, I'm willing to look forward and have cautious optimism about the next season. Worst case scenario is that the team underperforms and Willard is shown the door around this time next year. At least it's clear what our situation is.

 

[SHUPirate08]

Originally posted by Hall91:
Worst case scenario is that the team underperforms and Willard is shown the door around this time next year.

Are you kidding me with this post? That is the BEST case scenario.

 

[dcPirate]

If Willard showed ANY SIGN of being able to in-game coach I might feel differently, but I have zero expectations for nexy year if Willard is back. If you really watch the games from an X/O's stand point, The Hall has to be the easiest team in the league to gameplan for. The offense is the weave up top 25-30 feet from the basket (out of shooting range) and they rarely if ever get the ball into either the post or the foul line area. Doesn't help when often times one of the big men is out 25 feet setting a pick outside the top of the key...

Marquette played a ton of zone vs The Hall in the first game at their place and The Hall ran out to a 20-25 point lead. Once Wojo adjusted to man to man they made it a ball game for awhile before losing by 10. Last night they played a lot of zone but had made ADJUSTMENTS from the first game and were effective.

I'm not sure what makes people optimistic that this team can do great things next year. Because the freshman are now sophomores?? The lack of depth will be worse with Mobley and Karlis gone (excluding Manga b/c who knows what KW was doing with him). The Hall is brining in a SG and a 6'7 wing. The team already has trouble on the boards and Delgado is getting zero help. Everyone else in the league will be better as well as they have better classes coming in for 2015. And that doesn't even take into account IF Gibbs leaves...
This post was edited on 3/12 9:27 AM by dcPirate

 

[Seton75]

I remain hopeful that good players can find a way and that bad coaches can get better.

 

[Section112]

Originally posted by Seton75:
I remain hopeful that good players can find a way and that bad coaches can get better.

Agree and that is all we have to grab onto at this point.

 

[SnakeTom]

I agree we have a good core of players and talent eventually rises to the top. We still need a few pieces but our young talented players will only get better.

Tom K

 

[MBF72]

I don't completely buy the argument that we have great kids/players who were led to a dismal season by a poor coach. Willard gets criticized for not reigning in a pouting Delgado, often out- of-control Whitehead and Carrington, a whining Gibbs ....and his family. If he does a Calhoun or Geno on them, do they leave? He took the positive road with them:"They are only freshmen."

The problem is with the same team back next year plus two in comings 6"7' and smaller, I don't see our BE record noticeably different .

 

[SHUSource]

Originally posted by MBF72:
I don't completely buy the argument that we have great kids/players who were led to a dismal season by a poor coach. Willard gets criticized for not reigning in a pouting Delgado, often out- of-control Whitehead and Carrington, a whining Gibbs ....and his family. If he does a Calhoun or Geno on them, do they leave? He took the positive road with them:"They are only freshmen."

Could be, but I tend to think the opposite. If the diagnosis, as made by Willard, is that what ails this team is youth, then you have to treat them as youth. And what do kids respond to better, coddling and accommodation or discipline and structure? If a parent makes everything with his or her children a negotiation, you wind up with a young adult who thinks everything is negotiable. I think this is transferable to our program, where the coach must play the role of parent, and the players - especially on a frosh-laden squad - are the kids. If their malady is youth, and all that comes with it, they need a firm, clear structure in which to learn, guard rails on their road to maturity.

 

[The Crows Nest]

I know it's early. I know there are a lot off unknowns.. But based on what we know today... Name the teams that we will be better than next year.

Nova? Georgetown? Um... No
Butler? Xavier? More resounding no's.
Marquette? Not a chance. Wojo has recruited well for next year... And they already beat us reducel twice this year.
Creighton? I don't think so. This was their down year-round but they are well coached
Providence? Not a chance
Depaul? Well... Maybe? But.. They finished ahead of us this year and as I recall beat us twice.
That leaves St. John's... And the only reason they are here is their roster will be depleted, and right now they don't have enough replacements.

But, as I said above.. It's early, so they still have time. Who do you have more confidence in bringing in some talent at this late stage of the game, Lavin or Willard?

That's what I thought.