For what I heard referred to this weekend as a "Come to Jesus" meeting in our athletic department, starting mainly in men's basketball. Dave needs to sit down with Bartow and the entire staff, find out what went wrong, and what the plan of action is to correct the disorganized, desheveled nature that is our basketball program. From there, there needs to be a meeting with every returning player next season after Thursday night, explaining to them what is to be expected of them in the off-season to prepare for next year. the 2006-2007 campaign starts on Friday morning. For our guards, they need to be stronger, and need to learn how to handle pressure better. Travis Strong just needs to learn how to handle the basketball period. The big men need individual Coming to Jesus meetings with the coaches. For Brad, it's get your ASS IN GEAR or go to Clinch Valley to finish your master's and your eligibility out. For Reed and Thomas, you're weak physically, and I fully believe that Candice Parker is a better all around player than both of you. Get stronger, develop a mid-range J, and for Reed, learn to atleast be able to guard a bag of M and M's. Hopefully Swader's knee will be 100 percent next year, and he'll be a good player for us. I think everyone has sort of forgotten about him, but he's still around. There's some talent coming back next season, alot more than the conference leaders have. Lipsomb loses six seniors, Belmont loses three or four, that were as valuable as if not more than what ETSU is losing.
The gauntlet needs laid down, either the players meet off-season expectations for improvement, or they need to go home. What has happened the last few games is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

Wouldn't it be simpler to fire David Mullins and then replace him with someone with ethics and an athletic vision?

What has happened over the last few games? THIS HAS GONE ON FOR TWO YEARS!!!!

Can't you see that?

I don't think you need a "come to Jesus" meeting to know what went wrong. Ben Rhoda's injury is what went wrong. ETSU's last six losses were with him out of the lineup. Rhoda's absence was particularly painful because the Bucs' other 3 man, Kenyona Swader, has been out pretty much all year with a knee problem.

A good 3 man is what I call a "connector." He connects the backcourt to the frontcourt. He's a hybrid, a guy with the size to get some things done around the hoop and the skills to play on the perimeter.

In my view, this connector is particularly critical for ETSU because of Smith's unorthodox style of play. Smith needs a strong connector, someone like Rhoda or Wadood, to help ensure that all four guys on offense get involved. And a strong connector helps compensate for Smith's weaknesses on defense.

Without a connector, ETSU becomes way too guard-oriented and is relatively easy to defend. I think that's why both Lipscomb and Belmont pretty much shut the Bucs down in the second half. Lipscomb would have had a more difficult time shutting Smith down if Rhoda had been available.

Assuming Swader's knee gets healthy, he should be a solid connector next year, particularly since he's got nice size and can shoot and handle it outside. Sounds like Mike Smith and Micah Williams could be good connector types in the future.

Had Rhoda been available for these past six losses, I suspect ETSU would have won at least four of them and been a No. 1 or 2 seed. Had Rhoda and Swader both been available all year, I suspect ETSU would have ripped through the A-Sun with an 18-2 record, or better.

I know Bucs fans are frustrated, but I wouldn't get too down on the players or coaches. Injuries happen, and they really hurt when they attack one position.

On most college teams, I would say the point guard is the most important player. But on ETSU's team this year, because Smith really isn't a point guard anyway, I would say the 3 man is the most critical. And the Bucs have had the misfortune of playing critical parts of their schedule without either three man.

Even Murray Bartow said in the paper that wasn't the case-

"To be candid, if Ben was in uniform the last two games, I don

We would have lost to Belmont, they hit 14 three's or some crap like that.
I do believe however that they don't lose to G-Webb or FAU, which would have given them momentum going into Nashville.