Hillbilly Ball now is 1 out of 3 against OHIO (MAC)

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

Unspactuclar.
.

Which is it? It cannot be both.

Yes, it can.

What you fail to understand is that Marshall's place in football and in basketball in the conference is different.

Taking everything into consideration (facilities, location, history, fan support, budget, academic restrictions/non-qualifiers, etc.), Marshall is one of the top 2 in Conference USA in terms of best opportunities to win. If you were to rank those things, Marshall would be near the top in facilities, near the bottom in location, near the top in history, near the top in fan support, middle of the pack in budget, and near the top in academic restrictions/non-qualifiers. Under that situation, having 1 conference championship and 2 division titles in a decade is woefully under performing.

In terms of basketball, Marshall would be in the middle for facilities, near the bottom in location, middle to lower portion for history, upper third for fan support, no idea about budget, near the top for academic restrictions. As you can see, finishing in the middle of the conference isn't a failure with what Marshall's basketball has to work with. However, coming off of a second round game in the NCAA tournament, and bringing back just about everyone, fans rightfully expected far better than the first part of the season thus far. Pessimism and negativity is understandable.

 

[i am herdman]

Odd?

It should not be a Doc vs. Danny contest. Both are doing a solid, if unspectacular job. Leaving out age or any other issue, neither should be fired, and neither is going to get a better job either. Solid. Unspactuclar.

And, both were hired by, and are retained by, the same AD, the one you vilify in football threads, as "satisfied with mediocre". And both play in CUSA, the, according to you, dog awful conference of cupcakes and random programs that should be no contest for the mighty men in the Green and White. (Forgetting, of course, that CUSA was founded on football, and about a third of the league actually are not trying at basketball). Both have taken the team to the post-season. Both under a system that requires the management (the NCAA in basketball, ESPN, more or less, in football) to take us in a "watered down" format where there are a lot more slots than there used to be and we are, for want of a better term, automatic qualifiers they HAVE to take. Both have won exactly one conference championship. Neither ever beat WVU, and never will.

So which is it? Is being in the upper part of CUSA an acomplishment, or not? Where your "68 spots is too many" thread? Where your "being seeded 13th is not good enough" companion to the "Boca Raton and Gasparilla and New Mexico are not good enough" thread? When this team loses in conference, will you be there to tell us how vastly superior we should be to such a school, after all they are in CUSA? Is the AD an idiot for hiring and retaining Doc, or a genius for hiring Danny? Where is the companion your "woe is us, other CUSA teams have lost bowls" based on the mighty CUSA losses to such powers as Delaware, UNC Greensboro, Fordham, Northern Iowa, Bethune-Cookman, William Carrey (div 2), and North Florida (div 2). All of these by teams with better records than we have?



Which is it? It cannot be both.

The football program is under performing. Point blank. One conference championship in this watered down conference where Marshall has nearly every advantage in football other than being in a fertile recruiting area. But, that can be overcome. Again, one conference championship is terrible given Marshall's pedigree in football and advantages compared to conference mates. Some of the teams have little tradition and some are basically upstarts(who were not even that great in lower divisions).

The AD is letting the football program slide and has accepted mediocrity and frankly backed himself and the unviersity in a corner with the contract extensions.

Frankly, Marshall should dominate this conference in football. There is not another program that has the advantageous Marshall has when you look at the overall picture.

Marshall basketball does not have the same advantages. There are teams with more history and teams with better arenas and so on. Different animal.

You need to stop the excuse making for the football program.

 

[The Real SamC]

That, sir, is WVU fan level delusion. Enjoy. What color is the sky in your world?

So CUSA is such football garbage that Marshall should dominate it, but doing so is really no accomplishment. But such a basketball super-conference with these mega arenas and super historic programs, that we should be grateful to be in it. (Apparently, no one has told the committee, which has seeded the one-bid league's champion 13th, 12th, 15th, and 14th in the CUSA 3.0 era).

 

[i am herdman]

Sam,

That is not delusional. Marshall should be winning more than on CUSA 3.0 football championship every decade. You are an excuse maker and selling the program short. Just like the AD and School who are sitting watching the program mired in mediocrity. That is a shame and frankly a travesty.

 

[The Real SamC]

The same genius AD who hired the basketball coach?

How many basketball conference championships should we win?

 

[Sean Hammond]

Where's this idea coming from that winning CUSA championships in football isn't an accomplishment? Talking about a damn straw man, jesus christ.

The fans aren't upset because we're winning championships in a weak league. They're upset that we're not winning our division (playing for championships) in a weak league.

 

[C.K. Ocsevol-Evad]

Where's this idea coming from that winning CUSA championships in football isn't an accomplishment? Talking about a damn straw man, jesus christ.
.

Finally! Over the last four attempts of people on here accusing others of using straw men, none have been correct in applying it.

It’s finally used correctly!

 

[The Real SamC]

Where's this idea coming from that winning CUSA championships in football isn't an accomplishment?

In about every football thread we have. MU has these massive "advantages" over all of these cupcake teams and should "dominate" the league.

When all you can do is criticize and belittle your conference foes, you do not consider winning the league (which, BTW, the current football and basketball coach have exactly the same number of conference championships) an accomplishment. In football, with all of our "advantages" we should dominate this "dead league". In basketball, we should really be grateful all of these great historical programs allow us to play in their mega arenas.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

When all you can do is criticize and belittle your conference foes, you do not consider winning the league (which, BTW, the current football and basketball coach have exactly the same number of conference championships) an accomplishment.
.

Yes, we do. They are still our peer schools being not only G5 but also C-USA. Winning among our peer schools is an accomplishment.

If Marshall played in the same conference as Houston, Boise, Colorado State, UCF, East Carolina, Fresno, Troy, App State, USF, and Cincinnati, Marshall fans wouldn't complain if they were competitive in the conference most years. Why? Because those schools measure up favorably in the opportunities to win categories. Marshall fans wouldn't expect to win the conference every year.

 

[Sean Hammond]

In about every football thread we have. MU has these massive "advantages" over all of these cupcake teams and should "dominate" the league.

When all you can do is criticize and belittle your conference foes, you do not consider winning the league (which, BTW, the current football and basketball coach have exactly the same number of conference championships) an accomplishment. In football, with all of our "advantages" we should dominate this "dead league". In basketball, we should really be grateful all of these great historical programs allow us to play in their mega arenas.

Straw manning the fvck out of this argument hahaha. Half the bullshit you just posted rarely gets mentioned. And when it does, someone usually calls them out on it. But it's cool, I understand you have to embellish like a child to make your point.

But a couple things:
1) Basketball championship was last season, football's was 4 years ago.
2) Football has much better tradition than basketball over the last 30 years.
3) Basketball hasn't served up a shit sandwich equal to what Doc served up in 2016.
4) Basketball has progressively gotten better every year under Dan, while football seems stuck since Cato graduated. Fair to assume basketball may do the same without Elmore, but hasn't happened yet.


Facts:
If football's title was last season, if 2016 in football never happened, if the last 30 years was spent propping up the basketball program (especially after a $30,000,000 IPF), we were a national brand in basketball 15-20 years ago, and we continually underachieve d in basketball while overachieving in football, the conversation would be completely reverse. Not sure why you can't see that.

 

[johns_1124]

On a Different note: Does CUSA get their first bowl win tonight? I say UAB gets it done against NIU.

 

[oldeherd]

On a Different note: Does CUSA get their first bowl win tonight? I say UAB gets it done against NIU.

1124, is this an attempt at a "plastic" straw man diversion??

 

[i am herdman]

In about every football thread we have. MU has these massive "advantages" over all of these cupcake teams and should "dominate" the league.

When all you can do is criticize and belittle your conference foes, you do not consider winning the league (which, BTW, the current football and basketball coach have exactly the same number of conference championships) an accomplishment. In football, with all of our "advantages" we should dominate this "dead league". In basketball, we should really be grateful all of these great historical programs allow us to play in their mega arenas.

The point is we are not reaching out potential in football. I don't know why that is so hard to understand.

 

[johns_1124]

1124, is this an attempt at a "plastic" straw man diversion??

No, but after seeing UAB QB I realize how behind IG really is.

 

[lexkyherdfan]

I just wonder why nobody is upset that we had what we had coming back in basketball yet it ok we have lost the OOC games we have? I mean I thought the object was to win and when you are in a mid major in a conference that changed it's conference scheduling to a format to work towards getting multiple teams in the NCAA tournament. If the league is doing that and we know Coach D'Antoni schedules in a way that helps the team in terms of both competition (good) and ability to win then why shouldn't we expect our guys to be ready? I love what Coach D'Antoni has done and is doing but for the those who only criticize football and make excuses for basketball needs to look at things more objectively. There is nothing wrong with questioning a loss by as many as we did at Maryland or losing at home to Toledo or on the road at Ohio.

We won a game last year in the tournament and that is awesome. We lost one player albeit a pretty darn good one but returned 4 of top 5 plus top subs. Isn't it fair to say we had a lot coming back and should be doing better? Now someone is going to say...well losing Penava was a big loss... I don't deny that. I agree 100% but the question I have in return is why didn't we have someone to follow in his footsteps? Why in year 5 do we not have someone ready to step in for certain positions? Those are all fair questions to ask. Doesn't mean someone doesn't like where the basketball program is going. I guess we as Herd fans shouldn't expect to see Marshall doing like Buffalo is doing. I mean they are ranked 14 in the country and just beat Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. They also beat WVU. Old Dominion has beat Syracuse on the road. Belmont beat UCLA on the road. We beat EKU and Akron on the road and lost to Toledo at home.

I guess with what we had coming back and the optimism I got from Coach and those that would go to practices was not what I thought. We all have been critical of the league office however now everybody has supported the changes...well shouldn't we as a program in CUSA also do what we are supposed to do in the OOC to help lead toward multiple bids? If teams are not going to try to be successful in the OOC then the CUSA scheduling model will wear teams down late for nothing. I know for me questioning our lack of success in some games so far won't keep me from watching the next game and the next game and so on. I question football just like do basketball. At the end of the day I am a fan and I expect them to do their best and be successful on the field. Quite frankly, the football team has been a disappointment in terms of winning conference titles and so far this basketball season, to me it has been a disappointment we have lost the games we have lost. I figured at worse 9-2 right now or maybe even 10-1.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

No, but after seeing UAB QB I realize how behind IG really is.

UAB QB has been in the program 3 years and is 22. I'd say he has more college experience than IG and certainly older and more mature. Plus, coaching helps a tad bit and our QB's over Doc's tenure just haven't developed well aside from Cato. Litton got worse.

 

[Herdmeister]

...well losing Penava was a big loss... I don't deny that. I agree 100% but the question I have in return is why didn't we have someone to follow in his footsteps? Why in year 5 do we not have someone ready to step in for certain positions? Those are all fair questions to ask. .

Danny had planned for Iran to have this year as a developing year playing behind Ajdin. He did NOT anticipate Ajidin leaving a year early.
You also know, I assume that Danny puts little stock in W-L's. To him its all about getting better as the season moves along. In a 1 bid league, winning 25 games in regular season gets you ZERO. Ask Middle Tennessee. Danny knows that full well and prepares his team for that.

 

[The Real SamC]

I love what Coach D'Antoni has done and is doing but for the those who only criticize football and make excuses for basketball needs to look at things more objectively. There is nothing wrong with questioning a loss by as many as we did at Maryland or losing at home to Toledo or on the road at Ohio.

Exactly. Well said.

There is, sad to say, a delusional element to our fanbase that has soured on Doc. Happens almost everywhere eventually. I'm sure you can find rando know-nothings down on Nick and Dabo if you look hard enough. Fine. Free country, all of that.

The problem is, in order to twist reality to conform to this world view, one has to denigrate CUSA football to this easy as pie nothing that we should "dominate" due to a laundry list of nutty reasons. Yet CUSA basketball has to be this super difficult league.

Forgetting, of course, that CUSA was founded on football. AKA "football centric". By which I mean that everyone is CUSA is trying to be on the same level in football. Football is why we are in a league that stretches from south Florida to Tidewater Virginia to the Texas-New Mexico border to the Ohio. If there was no football, we would not be in a league with UTEP, now would we? Founded on football. Which means, of course, that basketball (and every thing else) got drug along for the ride. Different programs at different levels of commitment. That is the reality. And Marshall is certainly in the upper third of CUSA program in the level of commitment to basketball and the importance of basketball to its fanbase.

That is the reality. CUSA is a solid football league of 14 teams all trying to be on the same level in football. CUSA is a good one-bid basketball league with many teams having a deep commitment to basketball, and a few that play it because they have to.

BOTH Doc and Danny have been doing well lately. Right now, after flushing out the mess left to him, Danny has had two solid years. Including a special one, or better said, a special two weekends, last year. This year, SO FAR, the team has greatly underperformed. Solid. Right now, after flushing out the mess left to him, Doc has, with one exception, a solid run of winning seasons over a long stretch. Solid. Neither are spectacular. Neither deserve scorn either.

 

[i am herdman]

I think people are "upset" at the basketball so far. But, reality is two fold. First, more people care about the football program. Two, basketball can still save the season.

Finally, Doc has had enough time and a body of work. He is mediocre at best. If that is what Marshall wants then that is what we get.

 

[lexkyherdfan]

Danny had planned for Iran to have this year as a developing year playing behind Ajdin. He did NOT anticipate Ajidin leaving a year early.
You also know, I assume that Danny puts little stock in W-L's. To him its all about getting better as the season moves along. In a 1 bid league, winning 25 games in regular season gets you ZERO. Ask Middle Tennessee. Danny knows that full well and prepares his team for that.

I am sure he didn't think Penava would leave early....still we needed more than one Penava before considering Bennett. Everybody knew Bennett needed more work.

Again...I want whats best for the program...and I sure know that more people know about Buffalo (AP #14, 10-0), Furman (AP #24,12-0) and Houston (AP #21, 10-0) because they are winning OOC games. Why can't we be the same? I remember yourself and others all excited when Mark Adams came to Huntington and spoke about the new scheduling format to get more teams into the NCAA. Well if our coach and other CUSA coaches don't put stock into becoming a multi-bid league then why did CUSA pay him consulting services? We can say...well we are a one bid league so we have to play for March... the conference will never be any better and earn more respect. I keep pointing back to the scheduling philosophy of the conference. The conference made a change to help...the teams need to step up and do the same..otherwise what is the point in having to play someone multiple times to get to the same point...one bid. I don't know about you guys but I would prefer to not play WKU 4 times to win the CUSA Championship. That could happen.

I don't have to ask MTSU anything. That is the past. We are talking about the present and the future. Changes were made to help. You and everybody else was all excited...now we make excuses for bad losses to Maryland, Toledo and Ohio. Yes Maryland is a big school but if anybody reads about that game and watches it, knows just how bad that game was.

None of my comments involve football either. I just want our teams to function at the level they should be. Football is not and I have been critical...but am still a fan. Basketball has been a disappointment. With scheduling changes in the conference and our OOC conference schedule you better believe we could have had a shot at an at large bid. Buffalo is now being talked about as having a shot at an at large bid. We crucify Doc for losing P5 games, why can't we be critical of Coach Dan when we get taken to the woodshed by teams like Maryland and Ohio State. I just look at both programs the same and expect the same and be critical. Those that try to use one against the other is downright silly.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

lexkyherd - I understand your point. I only want to point out that Coach Cline worked on getting us more challenging OOC games, perhaps because of the success last year and the expectations for this season. Complaining and disappointment after 1/3 of the season seems premature. It's like the football team being 2-2 in their OOC games and people are giving up on the season because we lost to NC State & VPI. Dan is getting them ready for CUSA, and he is still teaching them & seeing what combinations work in different game situations...I am still optimistic.

 

[Sean Hammond]

I am sure he didn't think Penava would leave early....still we needed more than one Penava before considering Bennett. Everybody knew Bennett needed more work.

Again...I want whats best for the program...and I sure know that more people know about Buffalo (AP #14, 10-0), Furman (AP #24,12-0) and Houston (AP #21, 10-0) because they are winning OOC games. Why can't we be the same? I remember yourself and others all excited when Mark Adams came to Huntington and spoke about the new scheduling format to get more teams into the NCAA. Well if our coach and other CUSA coaches don't put stock into becoming a multi-bid league then why did CUSA pay him consulting services? We can say...well we are a one bid league so we have to play for March... the conference will never be any better and earn more respect. I keep pointing back to the scheduling philosophy of the conference. The conference made a change to help...the teams need to step up and do the same..otherwise what is the point in having to play someone multiple times to get to the same point...one bid. I don't know about you guys but I would prefer to not play WKU 4 times to win the CUSA Championship. That could happen.

I don't have to ask MTSU anything. That is the past. We are talking about the present and the future. Changes were made to help. You and everybody else was all excited...now we make excuses for bad losses to Maryland, Toledo and Ohio. Yes Maryland is a big school but if anybody reads about that game and watches it, knows just how bad that game was.

None of my comments involve football either. I just want our teams to function at the level they should be. Football is not and I have been critical...but am still a fan. Basketball has been a disappointment. With scheduling changes in the conference and our OOC conference schedule you better believe we could have had a shot at an at large bid. Buffalo is now being talked about as having a shot at an at large bid. We crucify Doc for losing P5 games, why can't we be critical of Coach Dan when we get taken to the woodshed by teams like Maryland and Ohio State. I just look at both programs the same and expect the same and be critical. Those that try to use one against the other is downright silly.

It’s not the loss to Maryland that pisses me off, it’s the way we lost—not competitive. The Ohio & Toledo losses do piss me off. Ohio moreso than Toledo, again, because of how we played. The Ohio & Maryland losses were bullshit the night they happened and they’ll be bullshit in March. Hated losing to Toledo too, because of the way we played in the first half, but was encouraged by our comeback—just couldn’t put them away in the last 4:00 when we had a chance. I was expecting a loss to Duquesne, but wish we would have been more competitive there too.

I’m upset about it, but I’ve stayed pretty level with the basketball program. I’ve been on board since day one under Dan and have believed we’ve been better than given credit for about three straight seasons. But I also didn’t allow 3 weeks of good basketball inflate my opinion of the basketball program to be much greater than it actually is. That’s been the problem. Few people bought in until we won the CUSA title, then when we shocked The Shockers, people went ape shit. But if we had more depth a few years prior, we could have done that to MTSU instead of WKU. Last season didn’t surprise me, just affirmed what I believed—that the style we play is our best hope to be competitive. The slow start is upsetting, but it also isn’t that much of a surprise. It’s what we’ve done every season.

Now, if we don’t win the regular season, get bounced in an early round of the CUSA tournament, and this season has no post-season play after all we had coming back, I’ll display my displeasure. Then if next season is a discombobulated mess because of what we lose, I’ll display my displeasure. Then if the next season gives a sense of a leveling off & no bounce back, I’ll start wondering who the next HC should be while we’re stuck in mediocrity under an aging old HC. But we just came off a CUSA title, after a CUSA title appearance the year before. While the way we’ve played pisses me off, I'm not going to act like I have years of frustration built up.

 

[Always The Herd]

I just wonder why nobody is upset that we had what we had coming back in basketball yet it ok we have lost the OOC games we have? I mean I thought the object was to win and when you are in a mid major in a conference that changed it's conference scheduling to a format to work towards getting multiple teams in the NCAA tournament. If the league is doing that and we know Coach D'Antoni schedules in a way that helps the team in terms of both competition (good) and ability to win then why shouldn't we expect our guys to be ready? I love what Coach D'Antoni has done and is doing but for the those who only criticize football and make excuses for basketball needs to look at things more objectively. There is nothing wrong with questioning a loss by as many as we did at Maryland or losing at home to Toledo or on the road at Ohio.

We won a game last year in the tournament and that is awesome. We lost one player albeit a pretty darn good one but returned 4 of top 5 plus top subs. Isn't it fair to say we had a lot coming back and should be doing better? Now someone is going to say...well losing Penava was a big loss... I don't deny that. I agree 100% but the question I have in return is why didn't we have someone to follow in his footsteps? Why in year 5 do we not have someone ready to step in for certain positions? Those are all fair questions to ask. Doesn't mean someone doesn't like where the basketball program is going. I guess we as Herd fans shouldn't expect to see Marshall doing like Buffalo is doing. I mean they are ranked 14 in the country and just beat Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. They also beat WVU. Old Dominion has beat Syracuse on the road. Belmont beat UCLA on the road. We beat EKU and Akron on the road and lost to Toledo at home.

I guess with what we had coming back and the optimism I got from Coach and those that would go to practices was not what I thought. We all have been critical of the league office however now everybody has supported the changes...well shouldn't we as a program in CUSA also do what we are supposed to do in the OOC to help lead toward multiple bids? If teams are not going to try to be successful in the OOC then the CUSA scheduling model will wear teams down late for nothing. I know for me questioning our lack of success in some games so far won't keep me from watching the next game and the next game and so on. I question football just like do basketball. At the end of the day I am a fan and I expect them to do their best and be successful on the field. Quite frankly, the football team has been a disappointment in terms of winning conference titles and so far this basketball season, to me it has been a disappointment we have lost the games we have lost. I figured at worse 9-2 right now or maybe even 10-1.

Ask your dad (Allen) about our high school team in our senior year of 1969 and have him explain why we lost. It should NOT have happened but it did!!!

 

[Always The Herd]

lexkyherd - I understand your point. I only want to point out that Coach Cline worked on getting us more challenging OOC games, perhaps because of the success last year and the expectations for this season. Complaining and disappointment after 1/3 of the season seems premature. It's like the football team being 2-2 in their OOC games and people are giving up on the season because we lost to NC State & VPI. Dan is getting them ready for CUSA, and he is still teaching them & seeing what combinations work in different game situations...I am still optimistic.

Why shouldn't Coach Cline work on getting us more challenging OOC games? That's what the problem with our home schedule is now....at least IMO!! There are bad teams each and every year that schedule "tough" games....we shouldn't have to wait until we "get good" to schedule them. Realistically speaking CUSA is NOT good in football this year and Coach Holliday has only added to the "worsening" of the league. A little off topic....but he just "looks lost" on the sideline, is a boring speaker, does not have that "likeability" presence (for those of us who do not know him) or personality that DD does. Mr. Hamrick doesn't appear (at least to me) to want to get involved "publicly" other than "Big Green" functions. There are thousands of fans at games or who never attend a game that have no insight to the program'S (now or in the future). Why can't we have some TV interviews, newspaper articles, radio programs with Mr. Hamrick? Let him interact with "US" and answer some of the "TOUGH" questions and not "side-step" the issues?

 

[muthed]

Why shouldn't Coach Cline work on getting us more challenging OOC games? That's what the problem with our home schedule is now....at least IMO!! There are bad teams each and every year that schedule "tough" games....we shouldn't have to wait until we "get good" to schedule them. Realistically speaking CUSA is NOT good in football this year and Coach Holliday has only added to the "worsening" of the league. A little off topic....but he just "looks lost" on the sideline, is a boring speaker, does not have that "likeability" presence (for those of us who do not know him) or personality that DD does. Mr. Hamrick doesn't appear (at least to me) to want to get involved "publicly" other than "Big Green" functions. There are thousands of fans at games or who never attend a game that have no insight to the program'S (now or in the future). Why can't we have some TV interviews, newspaper articles, radio programs with Mr. Hamrick? Let him interact with "US" and answer some of the "TOUGH" questions and not "side-step" the issues?

Doesn't MH have a radio show from Fat Patty's?

 

[W-S HerdFan]

Also MH employs twitter on occasion to take ?’s from fans.....tbh a TV interview isn’t all that these days....

 

[Always The Herd]

Doesn't MH have a radio show from Fat Patty's?

There are many who do not live in Huntington

 

[Herdmeister]

There are many who do not live in Huntington

Pretty much all that is said on the show is tweeted. Also the show can be heard FREE and live via TuneIn app

 

[The Real SamC]

Doesn't MH have a radio show from Fat Patty's?

Also MH employs twitter on occasion to take ?’s from fans.....tbh a TV interview isn’t all that these days....

Pretty much all that is said on the show is tweeted. Also the show can be heard FREE and live via TuneIn app

There you all go, messing up a good MH hate with facts.

 

[lexkyherdfan]

It’s not the loss to Maryland that pisses me off, it’s the way we lost—not competitive. The Ohio & Toledo losses do piss me off. Ohio moreso than Toledo, again, because of how we played. The Ohio & Maryland losses were bullshit the night they happened and they’ll be bullshit in March. Hated losing to Toledo too, because of the way we played in the first half, but was encouraged by our comeback—just couldn’t put them away in the last 4:00 when we had a chance. I was expecting a loss to Duquesne, but wish we would have been more competitive there too.

I’m upset about it, but I’ve stayed pretty level with the basketball program. I’ve been on board since day one under Dan and have believed we’ve been better than given credit for about three straight seasons. But I also didn’t allow 3 weeks of good basketball inflate my opinion of the basketball program to be much greater than it actually is. That’s been the problem. Few people bought in until we won the CUSA title, then when we shocked The Shockers, people went ape shit. But if we had more depth a few years prior, we could have done that to MTSU instead of WKU. Last season didn’t surprise me, just affirmed what I believed—that the style we play is our best hope to be competitive. The slow start is upsetting, but it also isn’t that much of a surprise. It’s what we’ve done every season.

Now, if we don’t win the regular season, get bounced in an early round of the CUSA tournament, and this season has no post-season play after all we had coming back, I’ll display my displeasure. Then if next season is a discombobulated mess because of what we lose, I’ll display my displeasure. Then if the next season gives a sense of a leveling off & no bounce back, I’ll start wondering who the next HC should be while we’re stuck in mediocrity under an aging old HC. But we just came off a CUSA title, after a CUSA title appearance the year before. While the way we’ve played pisses me off, I'm not going to act like I have years of frustration built up.

You are saying basically what I am saying. My pointed in being disappointed isn’t mean giving up. It means I am disappointed at our results so far. I have watched almost every game on tv or in person for one. I plan on doing the same the rest of the season. I am from Mullens. There is not a bigger fan on here of the D’Antonis. I grew up idolizing them. I am thrilled that Danny is here...however that doesn’t prevent me from being critical of something. I get criticism in my job so why shouldn’t he? This Weekend I will be back in Mullens. You know what we will do as a family on Saturday? Turn the game on. If we come out and treat another OOC game as a scrimmage then I will remain disappointment at how we put in effort.

It’s like this...should fans come out to OOC games if wins/losses don’t matter to the staff and some of those that preach the basketball word? As a consumer should a person spend money on a glorified scrimmage that the result doesn’t matter? Now if I was close I would go to some games at home more than not that’s for sure however I wouldn’t question someone at all if they didn’t because the attitude was well we have to be at our best in conference and March and not be worried about the OOC games. That is where my concern is.

We have to as a conference and a team strive to be the best. Seeing those teams I mention in the top 25 and getting press coverage and then how we played in those losses drive me. Inkers just like when I see Boise and UCF ranked and in access bowls. It seems both football and basketball games against big teams are having results that are very similar. But Basketball plays an exciting brand of basketball so they get a pass. Heck no they don’t. Those losses weren’t exciting brands of basketball. Disappointment in a loss is. It the same as disappointment in a season. I left a couple words out above so I want to make it clear I am not disappointed and giving up. That is silly. I am just disappointed in how we are where we are as we expected bigger things this year.

I can’t wait for the bowl game tonight and basketball game Saturday.

 

[LowellGeorge]

Most on here have critiqued and criticized Docs recruiting and roster structure.

IMO, DD recruiting and especially roster structure deserve some criticism - especially around the failed attempts to evaluate JUCOs who can contribute and the constant Euro recruiting (Rigot) that has really produced 1 siginicant contributor.
Fire away - this should be fun to watch.

 

[i am herdman]

Most on here have critiqued and criticized Docs recruiting and roster structure.

IMO, DD recruiting and especially roster structure deserve some criticism - especially around the failed attempts to evaluate JUCOs who can contribute and the constant Euro recruiting (Rigot) that has really produced 1 siginicant contributor.
Fire away - this should be fun to watch.

I don't disagree. I don't think Coach Dan has recruited "great". I think he tries to find character guys who fit his system.

 

[The Real SamC]

My pointed in being disappointed isn’t mean giving up. It means I am disappointed at our results so far.

It’s like this...should fans come out to OOC games if wins/losses don’t matter to the staff and some of those that preach the basketball word?

But Basketball plays an exciting brand of basketball so they get a pass. Heck no they don’t.

I am just disappointed in how we are where we are as we expected bigger things this year.

Another great post.

There is a double standard between the two major sports. In football, every loss, even in a step up game is a crisis, and every game, win or lose, is met with massive criticism of the coaching staff, the league, and the players, as wins count for nothing due to the league and losses are tragic because of the amazing superority of this program. In basketball, apparently, the conventional wisdom is that the regular season is some sort of glorified practice and losing game upon game is all a part of a plan to win the conference tournament. No discussion of the game, coach, or players, can be held, because everything must be held in suspense until a single elimination event in March. The standard response to any basketball discussion is that it really doesn't matter and we sure will be ready come tournament time.

It is sad on both sides. In football, as I have stated in several football threads, some here suffer from football anhedonia, the inability to enjoy anything. You need to get over it, and enjoy what was a solid year. In basketball, the reverse is true, some here suffer from cases of delusion that make a typical Spamite look reasonable. The active discussion of what is a AWFUL start to what was predicted to be a good season (1st or 2nd in most pre-season mags, 25th nationally in the most respected one) is unwelcome. Sorry, the basketball team deserves to be discussed, and right now it has to get righted and very quickly or this season is over.