So here we sit. A 13-1 start got us up to a #4 ranking. Now we're 20-10. 7-9 in the conference. Got blown out 4 times. Got beat at home twice. Sitting on the outside looking in for the first time in 6 years.
Days 'til Selection Sunday: 6 Days 'til Spring Practice: 19 Today's RPI: 42 Latest Projected first round NIT opponent: Wright State
I guess, in one sense, it's better that Alabama won't be making it to the NCAAs. My bracket should play out much better than it has the past few years (thanks to my biased opinion).
The problem, whether anyone wants to address it or not, is both coaching and the lack of a point guard. Hollinger and Torrance are not SEC point guards. They can't handle the basketball. Gottfried doesn't know how to coach against the press. Steele was the only player we had that knew what to do when a team presses.
We're sloppy with the basketball. We don't move on offense. We don't have any effort on defense. And somehow, we found a way to win 7 conference games (3 of them by a combined 6 points). Does that go to coaching, or just to the talent itself? Either way, next year is, sadly, a make or break year for CMG. With the talent and experience that is returning, he should finish no less than 10-6 in the conference. We should see another 20+ win season and an upper seed in the NCAA tournament.
Anything short of that and John Pelphrey will be the new head coach, if he isn't snapped up by somebody else first.
¶ 10:00 AM
Comments:
I think Torrance is fine. The team played flat at State, they just looked like they were "thinking about it" too much or something like that. I think Torrance's passing and driving abilities are superb, but he just made some freshman mistakes on Saturday. The guy hasn't had any minutes all year, he's playing point guard on the road in the SEC, with the added pressure of an NCAA berth on the line. It's a lot to ask. I just can't believe the fall from grace we took this year. Then again, no one expected Jermareo's tragedies to occur, Steele's knees to be shot, etc. We'll be strong next year as each player gets more experience and finds more of a niche on the team. Hopefully we can make a little noise in the SEC tournament this weekend. # posted by Steven S. : 2:51 PM
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