MBB, as per usual, is absolutely awful.
I was not expecting much from Murphy, given that this is his first year. However, I am officially skeptical that he will succeed here. How in the hell do you allow your team to get murdered by Santa Clara? There's no excuse for that. Our talent level is not THAT atrocious. But then, we shouldn't have gotten butchered at Texas Southern either.
My initial diagnosis is that we have a recruiter who is really popular with the players, but who has suspect coaching ability. I hope I'm wrong.
You were expecting us to hang with Santa Clara? They're a pretty good team with one of the best mid major players in the country in Kevin Foster. They have wins over Villanova and New Mexico, two teams that are also pretty good (although Nova has been underwhelming, it's still a decent win).
I had zero expectations with this season coming in. We were terrible last year, and we lost basically our entire offense with Bowdry leaving and no one to replace him, so I'd say your initial diagnosis of Murphy is unfair. These are all Ramsey's players, for the most part, so give him time.
(12-30-2011 08:30 AM)EagleSam Wrote: [ -> ]You were expecting us to hang with Santa Clara? They're a pretty good team with one of the best mid major players in the country in Kevin Foster. They have wins over Villanova and New Mexico, two teams that are also pretty good (although Nova has been underwhelming, it's still a decent win).
I had zero expectations with this season coming in. We were terrible last year, and we lost basically our entire offense with Bowdry leaving and no one to replace him, so I'd say your initial diagnosis of Murphy is unfair. These are all Ramsey's players, for the most part, so give him time.
We have done better than I thought we would and the young men haven't given up so I will not ether. I have seen a lot worse over the last 12 years. Murphy is doing okay with what we have. We are just weak in a couple of areas and teams are going to take advantage of that weakness.
(12-30-2011 08:30 AM)EagleSam Wrote: [ -> ]You were expecting us to hang with Santa Clara? They're a pretty good team with one of the best mid major players in the country in Kevin Foster. They have wins over Villanova and New Mexico, two teams that are also pretty good (although Nova has been underwhelming, it's still a decent win).
I had zero expectations with this season coming in. We were terrible last year, and we lost basically our entire offense with Bowdry leaving and no one to replace him, so I'd say your initial diagnosis of Murphy is unfair. These are all Ramsey's players, for the most part, so give him time.
My only question is HOW LONG does it take Murphy to turn this ship around?
ONE year was a pipe dream which I doubt anyone here believed was possible.
I originally thought TWO years, i.e., add Riley, Bryant, and Harrison and there is enough talent to be competitive w. 15+ wins.
Maybe THREE?
That would include the 2013 recruiting class which would be expected to contribute sooner than normal (but the '13 class just might be much, much better than a typical recruiting class).
Maybe Murphy gets a break with an EASIER schedule next year. This year's schedule is pretty tough for a team which is rebuilding.
I'd say he NEEDS to do well with 2013 recruiting. The 2012 class looks like a bit of a lost cause, unless we get a late gift like Ray Lee, which I don't think is likely. Our "rookies" next year will be Bryant and Harrison, which should absolutely help, but that makes the 2013 class even more vital, since a lot may be expected of them as sophomores.
I want to see an improved team next year, but I'm really hoping we are ready to be a competitive top tier MAC team in 2013 (year 3 for Murphy). Those should be reasonable expectations for him.
(12-30-2011 09:49 AM)EagleSam Wrote: [ -> ]I'd say he NEEDS to do well with 2013 recruiting. The 2012 class looks like a bit of a lost cause, unless we get a late gift like Ray Lee, which I don't think is likely. Our "rookies" next year will be Bryant and Harrison, which should absolutely help, but that makes the 2013 class even more vital, since a lot may be expected of them as sophomores.
I want to see an improved team next year, but I'm really hoping we are ready to be a competitive top tier MAC team in 2013 (year 3 for Murphy). Those should be reasonable expectations for him.
Agree with the caveat that don't count Murphy's recruiting skills short.
Last spring Dennis was bemoaning the lack of signees and then came Riley (small surprise) and then Bryant and then Harrison (both big surprises).
Bottom line without inside information trying to follow the '12 recruiting effort is very, very difficult.
Why? Because the class will not be 'typical' ('13 might be with several Michigan kids where someone can simply e-mail Steve Bell for last updates).
IF Murphy gets one or two more transfers this year, I ask this question:
"Where do we get this information?"
"From which of the 350 D-1 schools might a transfer come?"
"Who without inside information or Divine providence had predicted that Bryant and Harrison would transfer to EMU?"
Move along people, nothing to see here. This team may be the worst EMU team I have ever seen. We have scored 70 points exactly 1 time! and it was against that juggernaut, Colgate, for whom we lost to, of course. The one reason to sit through this misery is to see what Riley can do. Right now, he can't do much.
I hear you but don't count Murphy out in regards to the 2012 class. Word is that he and his staff are working hard to bring in a few more players this spring. Definately need a PG and of course scorers are always in demand.
(12-30-2011 11:37 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ]Move along people, nothing to see here. This team may be the worst EMU team I have ever seen. We have scored 70 points exactly 1 time! and it was against that juggernaut, Colgate, for whom we lost to, of course. The one reason to sit through this misery is to see what Riley can do. Right now, he can't do much.
Worst! Not even close Boones first year was horrendous! Might be in the bottem 10 though.
Scorers? Who is going to shoot the ball next season? I'm betting on Harrison stepping up. Sims is inconsistent and Thompson is a big dissapointment. Riley and Bryant are not scorers per say. Balkema? Harper?
We are averaging less than 50 ppg which isn't going to win a lot of games.
(12-30-2011 11:40 AM)emussuperfan Wrote: [ -> ] (12-30-2011 11:37 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ]Move along people, nothing to see here. This team may be the worst EMU team I have ever seen. We have scored 70 points exactly 1 time! and it was against that juggernaut, Colgate, for whom we lost to, of course. The one reason to sit through this misery is to see what Riley can do. Right now, he can't do much.
Worst! Not even close Boones first year was horrendous! Might be in the bottem 10 though.
Both teams share a certain something in common:
Both play(ed) a slow down game to keep the score down and reduce the chance of getting blown out.
Trying to jack up a bunch of treys leads to a lot of nice rebounds and fast break opportunities - for the OPPONENTS.
Call me crazy, but I vaguely remember Boone's teams having more talent. It would be hard to be less talented than this bunch. God bless Murphy, he was left NOTHING to work with. Not only could Ramsey not coach, he was an even worse recruiter. We'll be 100% better next year.
(12-30-2011 01:14 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ]Call me crazy, but I vaguely remember Boone's teams having more talent. It would be hard to be less talented than this bunch. God bless Murphy, he was left NOTHING to work with. Not only could Ramsey not coach, he was an even worse recruiter. We'll be 100% better next year.
I have a program from Boone's last season. It DID have talent. Bowler, Boo Jackson, Michael Ross, Markus Austin, Garrett, etc. etc.
That team would kill this year's team.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THIS YEARS TEAM? THEY SCORED 37 TTL THIS EVENING AGAINST AIR FORCE RE THOMPSON, OUR RETURNING TOP SCORER FROM LAST SEASON SCORED 0 POINTS THE LAST TWO NIGHTS IN THE SANTA CLARA TOURNEY.
We scored 37 points! but they only put up 42. Gotta give Murphy credit, he keeps us in most games and with our serious lack of talent, that is commendable. Still 79 total points scored? That would have been torture to watch. EMU and Air Force set basketball back to the days of the peach baskets. Bottom line, I see us winning 2 more games the rest of the way. We have 2 cracks each vs Northern Illinois and Toledo. We could maybe split those games and end up with 7 wins.
(12-31-2011 09:04 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote: [ -> ]We scored 37 points! but they only put up 42. Gotta give Murphy credit, he keeps us in most games and with our serious lack of talent, that is commendable. Still 79 total points scored? That would have been torture to watch. EMU and Air Force set basketball back to the days of the peach baskets. Bottom line, I see us winning 2 more games the rest of the way. We have 2 cracks each vs Northern Illinois and Toledo. We could maybe split those games and end up with 7 wins.
This is the point I made a few posts ago.
Both Boone, at the beginning, and Murphy, this year, are playing a style ball to keep us in the game.
The early Boone teams would have gotten killed trying to play an up and down style game.
(12-30-2011 11:11 PM)Dennis Hoopster Wrote: [ -> ]WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THIS YEARS TEAM? THEY SCORED 37 TTL THIS EVENING AGAINST AIR FORCE RE THOMPSON, OUR RETURNING TOP SCORER FROM LAST SEASON SCORED 0 POINTS THE LAST TWO NIGHTS IN THE SANTA CLARA TOURNEY.
Thompson isn't getting any minutes. He's either hurt or in the doghouse.