(03-10-2016 11:33 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 06:44 PM)adunifon Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 06:32 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  This fan base is a dumpster fire.

We aren't all as good as you at accepting mediocrity.

I don't think that supporting the team when they're struggling is the same as accepting mediocrity

A team with SEVEN freshman on the roster rarely wins a championship and is usually tremendously inconsistent and that is what we got. Expectations for some have been a little too high for this year.

We all want to go to the dance. We have not been there since the "Conehead" Rocky the Rocket days.

(03-11-2016 08:04 AM)T-Town Wrote:  

(03-10-2016 10:28 PM)rkt Wrote:  Someone, I hope it wasn't you, predicted a few years ago that Marjele (sp?) was going to be first team all MAC also and he wound up a bust in the GLIAC. I think both guys you named are better than he was, but to predict our success based on two guys who didn't make the all frosh team being all MAC, a freshman pg taking over and two inside guys who haven't played yet leading the way sounds a little optimistic. But I hope you're right. I think you're dreaming, but I hope you're right.

In some fans' eyes you are not being "a good fan" by pointing out all that reality and expressing concerns for the future. According to those folks you are suppose to be eternally optimistic about every UT sport despite their records or performance or prospects. Of course if reality proves all that optimism to be unfounded , as it usually does, they simply ignore that reality and just dismiss anyone expressing concerns as a "bad" or "non-supportive" fan.

There is a subtle difference between "hope" and "optimism" that some people don't recognize.

While I am a very optimistic fan, I always recognize the reality. Based on the way they were playing, I knew that it was unlikely that the UT men would win at EMU on Monday. I still had faith that they could pull it off and win the whole tournament, though. Why not dream?

(03-11-2016 10:15 AM)RocketBBallFan Wrote:  

(03-11-2016 08:04 AM)T-Town Wrote:  

(03-10-2016 10:28 PM)rkt Wrote:  Someone, I hope it wasn't you, predicted a few years ago that Marjele (sp?) was going to be first team all MAC also and he wound up a bust in the GLIAC. I think both guys you named are better than he was, but to predict our success based on two guys who didn't make the all frosh team being all MAC, a freshman pg taking over and two inside guys who haven't played yet leading the way sounds a little optimistic. But I hope you're right. I think you're dreaming, but I hope you're right.

In some fans' eyes you are not being "a good fan" by pointing out all that reality and expressing concerns for the future. According to those folks you are suppose to be eternally optimistic about every UT sport despite their records or performance or prospects. Of course if reality proves all that optimism to be unfounded , as it usually does, they simply ignore that reality and just dismiss anyone expressing concerns as a "bad" or "non-supportive" fan.

There is a subtle difference between "hope" and "optimism" that some people don't recognize.

While I am a very optimistic fan, I always recognize the reality. Based on the way they were playing, I knew that it was unlikely that the UT men would win at a EMU on Monday. I still had faith that they could pull it off and win the whole tournament, though. Why not dream?

Fair enough. Plenty of perspectives on this Board--and that's the point.

(03-11-2016 08:52 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  

(03-10-2016 11:33 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 06:44 PM)adunifon Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 06:32 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  This fan base is a dumpster fire.

We aren't all as good as you at accepting mediocrity.

I don't think that supporting the team when they're struggling is the same as accepting mediocrity

A team with SEVEN freshman on the roster rarely wins a championship and is usually tremendously inconsistent and that is what we got. Expectations for some have been a little too high for this year.

We all want to go to the dance. We have not been there since the "Conehead" Rocky the Rocket days.

Indy nailed it here.

Transfer Steve Taylor was considered the best player in Illinois when he was a senior in high school. He will bring some maturity and talent to the team next year. Knapke will be a very different center that Boothe, There will definitely be offensive talent on the team next year. It is up to the coaching staff to teach and demand solid defense. If so, it could be an excellent year.

The way I look at both the men's and women's programs based on both teams relying on freshmen for considerable minutes is simply if we are not an NCAA tourney team by the time they graduate, then it's time to look for new head coaches

Thought it would be interesting to read our comments from a year ago

Enjoy

Not sure why anyone would expect things to get better. Coach has been playing with the players that HE recruited for four or more years now. Same fake help defense. No inside help. Teams get open shots inside and outside. Coach still calls out players in public by name. Players leave, coaches leave. I give credit to the coach for cleaning up a dumpster fire but there has been no change by him in his coaching. No evaluating what has been a weakness forever...defense. Players seem at times to go through the motions. Coaches complains about it but it is his responsibility to change that type of attitude. I hope he can finally look at himself and see what needs to be done to move to another level. The opportunity is there for him to adjust and take the men's program to another level.