Summation:
I mean, anytime you lose to the imaginary clog-wearing birds to the west, it's bad. That goes without saying. But getting worked to nearly the tune of 30 while hearing that mindless bird-chant in our barn is particularly galling...always.
All of that said, the real story is this: Dennis Gates put together 10/13ths of a roster (well, 11/13ths if you count re-recruiting Shaw, as one should) in a couple of months. He has his team playing a fun style of ball to watch, and, as it appears with increasing likelihood, one players of note have fun playing. Today, not withstanding. And it was a good reminder that the level of competition the squad has faced to date is Glass Joe in the old "Mike Tyson Punch-Out" game (real ones know).
But make no mistake, there's still a loooooooong way to go in both talent acquisition and culture-building. Today showed that in stark relief. To reach anywhere near its maximum potential, Kobe Brown, for instance, cannot go for 4 points and 6 boards in 20 minutes. And writ large, it'd be great if the team collectively learned how to defend a simply middle ball screen and/or finding hot shooters in space. Because the defense we saw today was downright Kim Anderson-rific or Cuonzo Martin-tacular.
Still, there's much about which to be intrigued, if not downright excited, moving forward. My interest is piqued to see what Coach Gates (along with a heavy nod to assistant Coach CY) can put together on the recruiting trail.
Lastly, I thought coming into this season, given the wilderness in which the program has traveled over the past several seasons, a successful campaign might include things like being in contention for an NIT bid and/or finishing in at least the middle third of the conference. And those goals, while seemingly much more lofty and optimistic after today's bare-assed canoe-paddle spanking, are still on the table.
Today sucked. Here's to better days, kids.
I mean, anytime you lose to the imaginary clog-wearing birds to the west, it's bad. That goes without saying. But getting worked to nearly the tune of 30 while hearing that mindless bird-chant in our barn is particularly galling...always.
All of that said, the real story is this: Dennis Gates put together 10/13ths of a roster (well, 11/13ths if you count re-recruiting Shaw, as one should) in a couple of months. He has his team playing a fun style of ball to watch, and, as it appears with increasing likelihood, one players of note have fun playing. Today, not withstanding. And it was a good reminder that the level of competition the squad has faced to date is Glass Joe in the old "Mike Tyson Punch-Out" game (real ones know).
But make no mistake, there's still a loooooooong way to go in both talent acquisition and culture-building. Today showed that in stark relief. To reach anywhere near its maximum potential, Kobe Brown, for instance, cannot go for 4 points and 6 boards in 20 minutes. And writ large, it'd be great if the team collectively learned how to defend a simply middle ball screen and/or finding hot shooters in space. Because the defense we saw today was downright Kim Anderson-rific or Cuonzo Martin-tacular.
Still, there's much about which to be intrigued, if not downright excited, moving forward. My interest is piqued to see what Coach Gates (along with a heavy nod to assistant Coach CY) can put together on the recruiting trail.
Lastly, I thought coming into this season, given the wilderness in which the program has traveled over the past several seasons, a successful campaign might include things like being in contention for an NIT bid and/or finishing in at least the middle third of the conference. And those goals, while seemingly much more lofty and optimistic after today's bare-assed canoe-paddle spanking, are still on the table.
Today sucked. Here's to better days, kids.
