I know this game is going to lead to the same argument we have every day. And I think both sides have some validity.
Let's start with the cynical view: There is no way this team should be down 20 points in the first half on back to back nights against K-State and Northwestern. Just no way. Completely agree with that point of view. And when the coach says he could see it coming, it's fair to lay the blame for that (especially tonight) at his feet. I mean, I don't know really if he could do anything different to instill confidence in these guys, but I do understand those who blame him.
On the glass-half full side: They didn't lay down. They fought and had a legitimate chance to win the game. And that counts for something. No, it doesn't count as a win. No it doesn't erase the first half. No, you shouldn't be thrilled with moral victories. But a night after laying down and never making a game of it, at least they didn't do that again.
The best sign to me was the beginnings of an actual rotation. Anderson has said it's not possible to play 11 guys all year. Right now, Jakeenan Gant, D'Angelo Allen and Russell Woods are battling for 9-11. At least one of them is going to see a fairly serious reduction in playing time (it seems like Allen right now). Tramaine Isabell seems to kind of be the odd man out among the guards. Clark, Rosburg, Puryear, Phillips and Wright are going to be your starters. VanLeer looks like the first guy off the bench to me. At least for a few games and we'll see how it works. Missouri has three games it absolutely should win at home next week before facing Arizona on the road, which probably won't go well. The NC State and Illinois games follow and to me, those could very well determine the season. Both teams are beatable, but both are probably as good as the Northwestern team that was up 20 on Mizzou tonight, so the Tigers are certainly capable of losing to both. They should go into that two game set at 5-4. Win both, you've got a chance at 9-4 non-con and you've got to be pretty happy. Lose both, your'e 7-6 and a 12-13 win season becomes a very real possibility. And that's not good.
A terrible two days in Kansas City, but we'll see going forward if the last 20 minutes kept it from leading to a completely lost season.
Let's start with the cynical view: There is no way this team should be down 20 points in the first half on back to back nights against K-State and Northwestern. Just no way. Completely agree with that point of view. And when the coach says he could see it coming, it's fair to lay the blame for that (especially tonight) at his feet. I mean, I don't know really if he could do anything different to instill confidence in these guys, but I do understand those who blame him.
On the glass-half full side: They didn't lay down. They fought and had a legitimate chance to win the game. And that counts for something. No, it doesn't count as a win. No it doesn't erase the first half. No, you shouldn't be thrilled with moral victories. But a night after laying down and never making a game of it, at least they didn't do that again.
The best sign to me was the beginnings of an actual rotation. Anderson has said it's not possible to play 11 guys all year. Right now, Jakeenan Gant, D'Angelo Allen and Russell Woods are battling for 9-11. At least one of them is going to see a fairly serious reduction in playing time (it seems like Allen right now). Tramaine Isabell seems to kind of be the odd man out among the guards. Clark, Rosburg, Puryear, Phillips and Wright are going to be your starters. VanLeer looks like the first guy off the bench to me. At least for a few games and we'll see how it works. Missouri has three games it absolutely should win at home next week before facing Arizona on the road, which probably won't go well. The NC State and Illinois games follow and to me, those could very well determine the season. Both teams are beatable, but both are probably as good as the Northwestern team that was up 20 on Mizzou tonight, so the Tigers are certainly capable of losing to both. They should go into that two game set at 5-4. Win both, you've got a chance at 9-4 non-con and you've got to be pretty happy. Lose both, your'e 7-6 and a 12-13 win season becomes a very real possibility. And that's not good.
A terrible two days in Kansas City, but we'll see going forward if the last 20 minutes kept it from leading to a completely lost season.
