We have some bona fide talent on this team, and we have some good experience coming back. Shields teams generally over-achieve. We are due. We have legitimate size this year for a change. We have what ought to be some good senior leadership.
We seemed to have chemistry issues last year. We have had way too much personnel turnover. Shields teams historically struggle offensively, and we did not have the defense to compensate last season. The cloud of "no postseason" has hung over the program for too long.
(07-07-2010 07:26 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote: [ -> ]We have some bona fide talent on this team, and we have some good experience coming back. Shields teams generally over-achieve. We are due. We have legitimate size this year for a change. We have what ought to be some good senior leadership.
We seemed to have chemistry issues last year. We have had way too much personnel turnover. Shields teams historically struggle offensively, and we did not have the defense to compensate last season. The cloud of "no postseason" has hung over the program for too long.
I realize we had a miserable season last year, but being fair, we weren't that far off from a reasonably decent season. Many times we played just well enough to lose. If Big Mike had played all year, we would have probably won four or five more games. Most of our starters were underclassmen, several of whom were either transfers (Solo) or Jucos (Alex). Burton was totally ineffective offensively, especially at the free throw line, so that made our inside game null and void.
The key to having a successful season will be how the new players mesh with the returnees. If our veterans welcome these players into the fold and help them to succeed, the team could succeed, at least to some level. But if there are cliques, we'll be right back to where we were last year, and that would not be a pretty sight. It will also help if Matt can come back this year at full strength from his foot surgery. We need his outside shooting. Right now, I'd say we should expect to be middle of the pack in the Western Division, but with some luck, we could surprise.
