1. What are everyone's thoughts about accepting a WNIT bid? I hope we do--we have some young players who need to get more experience & become better players, so the extra practice time & game(s) would help...but is this team too emotionally drained? Is the coaching staff into it? This was supposed to be "the year".
2. What does Coach Cullop do now? Let me be clear, I am not questioning her character at all when I say this, but the "easy" thing now would seem to be to move on, wouldn't it? I mean, it's not likely she'll be pursued by a "great" job (like she might have been had we made the NCAA and maybe even won a first round game), but even a "cellar dweller" in a "big" conference might look appealing, because anything she does there to start to turn that program around will probably make her very popular--much like she is here--and while the cupboard isn't exactly bare at UT going into next season, we may need to become a bit more humble as fans for a season or two...who could blame her if she moves on?
3. If Coach stays (and I for one hope she does, and continues to tackle the challenge of finally making our program the women's equivalent to a Butler or Gonzaga--lofty goal, I know), then do we start to schedule some "top 25" caliber programs on the road, even at the expense of some home games? I'm not necessarily talking about doing this for "strength of schedule" purposes, more for strengthening the team for difficult games that come later in the season. Maybe a few more games against better competition this season would have helped prepare the team for today--maybe not.
Oh well...spring football is here!
I don't see how you could turn down a NIT bid UNLESS the players decided they did not want to play....and I think that is highly unlikely.
I still think that Coach Cullop is an excellent coach and representative of the university. She has been acknowledged as coach of the year in the MAC in 3 of the past 5 years so that conclusion appears validated. My guess is that after a couple of years with her replacement we would all be pleading for her return.
I think that Toledo needs to beef up the nonconference schedule in part to match up against tougher competition but also to improve the strength of schedule. This strategy of collecting home games and stressing winning the MAC tourney as a means to an NCAA invitation isn't working so well so far. And its obviously a high risk strategy. As often as not the top seed doesn't win a conference tourney. There are 30 at large invitations to the big dance. And I am interested to see how we would do against "bigger" competition. Part of our problem with Central Michigan was that there personnel were bigger and stronger than ours which created match up problems for our guards and Smith. Players in the Big 10, ACC, etc are generally physicially stronger than those in the MAC.
Win MAC tourney...watch how that does wonders for your NCAA tourney dreams...
(03-15-2013 04:41 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote: [ -> ]Win MAC tourney...watch how that does wonders for your NCAA tourney dreams...
OK...based on that I'm adding a 4th question:
4) What do we need to do to win a MAC tournament championship again in women's basketball?
(03-15-2013 04:55 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-15-2013 04:41 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote: [ -> ]Win MAC tourney...watch how that does wonders for your NCAA tourney dreams...
OK...based on that I'm adding a 4th question:
4) What do we need to do to win a MAC tournament championship again in women's basketball?
That's the problem...I don't know.
I guess a team that plays decent defense but scores a lot of points. Based on roster Right now, I don't see many consistent scorers for next season
At 27-3 why is Toledo not getting into the NCAA?
SOS of 200+
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Of course the Rockets will accept an NIT bid and play lots of games at home with this solid team. Winning an NIT title is doable and would be a great way to send the five seniors out.
It was defense that put the Rockets to come back from several double digits deficits and to be in position to win. It was defense by CMU, #13 in particular, that saved the W for the Chips.
Looking at the top four teams in the MAC this year, you can see there is lots of talent. For the Rockets to dominate this league they will need larger and faster players who can handle the ball and hit shots at or near the 50% mark. We have several but not up and down the lineup. UT is a quality team but if you watch the abilities of the top 20 teams and there is significant jump in the talent level.
Playing our younger players some in NIT games will bode well for next season. Our senior class is CLASS. They have won the hearts of the Toledo community. Ranking 20th in the country in attendance is amazing. No other MAC school is anywhere near that mark and that will be a huge factor in recruiting stars for tomorrow.
This loss stings but back off a bit to see the bigger picture and it looks pretty good compared to lots and lots of other programs (26 mi S for one)
As has been mentioned before, we have had some bad recruiting and thus we have little to no depth. Right now, I don't see us being any better than maybe the fifth best team in the MAC next year. There are a lot of good young players in the league. The hope is that this incoming class plus Nunn can make an immediate impact and we won't fall too far.
Was surprised at how tentative our team seemed as CMU hit those early threes...it seemed like we were dumb struck and having trouble matching their early intensity...being down for so long seemed to take something out of us...agree with the physicial comments, especially our bigs...CMU has a swagger that our teams have trouble adopting AND backing it up...staff seemed like it had no answer to the misses from our post players...good year to say the least...hoping the community and team can rally around another NIT run.
(03-15-2013 06:14 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote: [ -> ]At 27-3 why is Toledo not getting into the NCAA?
We don't have many quality wins which validate overall team strength. Coach Cullip, in post game press conference, called Central a to 50 team and pointed to our win on their home floor. But the problem is we only won one of three against Central. Lost to Dayton. Charlotte is the only NCAA team which Toledo has defeated, unless Central beats Akron tomorrow. NCAA selection committee can find lots of teams with wins against top 50.
Coach Cullop has put together what I think is the sports program with the most class of any in any UT sport for the 35+ years I've been a fan. God I hope she stays, and I hope the University is doing everything in their power to make sure that happens. Yes, the MAC tourney losses have been gut punches, but she has built a quality program and I don't see us getting over that hump by starting over.
As for next season, I'm actually optimistic. I don't expect 27 wins, but I think we've got the making for a 20+ win team again. We'll miss Naama immensely, but remember we won 24 games without her last year. Cre may be the hardest to replace. I think the starting lineup will be solid. Dola, Janelle, Crunch, Inma & Recker as I see it today. In some ways that lineup has a chance to put up more points, as Crunch can play the high post and hit jumpers to open up space inside. Inma will likely be given free reign to be the offensive leader and I can see her averaging 15+ points a game. Recker has gobs of offensive potential, but she has been hesitant to show it behind all the senior talent, but if coach turns her loose and she gets her legs in the preseason I'm hoping for good things from her.
The defense and the bench are open questions. Capotosto showed some good minutes, and if Nunn can be the player as advertized, plus we get some good quality minutes from one of the frosh post players, then I think we can be competitive in the MAC again next year, although certainly not the anointed frontrunner like this season.
(03-15-2013 06:22 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote: [ -> ]As has been mentioned before, we have had some bad recruiting and thus we have little to no depth. Right now, I don't see us being any better than maybe the fifth best team in the MAC next year. There are a lot of good young players in the league. The hope is that this incoming class plus Nunn can make an immediate impact and we won't fall too far.
I still disagree with this. 'Bad recruiting' would not lead to a 95-28 record over the last 4 years (an average of 24-7 each year). What about the 2x MAC DPoY, who is a junior? The 3rd team All-MAC sophomore? Just because we don't have another Naama (at least not yet! Let's see what Inma is like next year) that is a sophomore or junior doesn't mean our recruiting is 'bad'.
(03-15-2013 06:22 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote: [ -> ]As has been mentioned before, we have had some bad recruiting and thus we have little to no depth. Right now, I don't see us being any better than maybe the fifth best team in the MAC next year. There are a lot of good young players in the league. The hope is that this incoming class plus Nunn can make an immediate impact and we won't fall too far.
I think I've posed this before and don't recall an answer but who were you proposing we go after, that we did not?
I mean, are you saying "poor recruiting" in that you knew those offered were not up to what you hoped for or are you saying in hindsight the recruits brought into the program did not meet your expectations?
And when exactly do you feel this poor recruiting started? 4 years ago, 3?...
Being fair, at least trying to, I can't make sense of "poor recruiting" with this type of win-loss record.
I hope that one of our incoming freshmen is in serious competition for MAC Freshman of the Year next season...that would be a very good sign.
I think alot depends on whether Coach Cullop stays or not--and again, let me be clear on this--I don't think her job at UT is in "jeopardy" at all, regardless of the MAC tournament performances over her tenure...but I do just wonder if she feels she has accomplished what she can here, and that a move may be good for her. If she stays, then I predict that UT starts at least 1 freshman next season, maybe 2 if you count Nunn, and while we may not win the division, maybe next season's team will be able to play without the pressure on, gell during conference play, and pull some surprises come MAC tournament time.
If Coach Cullop leaves, and we lose some of the recruits as a result...then get ready for a couple lean years again until the ship gets righted.
(03-15-2013 06:57 PM)eastisbest Wrote: [ -> ] (03-15-2013 06:22 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote: [ -> ]As has been mentioned before, we have had some bad recruiting and thus we have little to no depth. Right now, I don't see us being any better than maybe the fifth best team in the MAC next year. There are a lot of good young players in the league. The hope is that this incoming class plus Nunn can make an immediate impact and we won't fall too far.
I think I've posed this before and don't recall an answer but who were you proposing we go after, that we did not?
I mean, are you saying "poor recruiting" in that you knew those offered were not up to what you hoped for or are you saying in hindsight the recruits brought into the program did not meet your expectations?
And when exactly do you feel this poor recruiting started? 4 years ago, 3?...
Being fair, at least trying to, I can't make sense of "poor recruiting" with this type of win-loss record.
I will say this...I cannot understand why any female basketball player who is going to play college basketball at the MAC level would pick any other place over UT--unless they like playing in front of 350 fans a game. Having said that, I have to assume that we aren't being turned down by any recruit who we really want just to see them go to a rival MAC school. If we're losing our top targets to the Big 10, Big East, ACC, etc...that's one thing, but if we are losing recruits to MAC schools, that's a problem.
What a block by Zeke! Or should I say "grab in the air." Akron back on top 47-46 as both teams are now shooting 45 percent for the game.
(03-15-2013 06:40 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Coach Cullop has put together what I think is the sports program with the most class of any in any UT sport for the 35+ years I've been a fan. God I hope she stays, and I hope the University is doing everything in their power to make sure that happens. Yes, the MAC tourney losses have been gut punches, but she has built a quality program and I don't see us getting over that hump by starting over.
As for next season, I'm actually optimistic. I don't expect 27 wins, but I think we've got the making for a 20+ win team again. We'll miss Naama immensely, but remember we won 24 games without her last year. Cre may be the hardest to replace. I think the starting lineup will be solid. Dola, Janelle, Crunch, Inma & Recker as I see it today. In some ways that lineup has a chance to put up more points, as Crunch can play the high post and hit jumpers to open up space inside. Inma will likely be given free reign to be the offensive leader and I can see her averaging 15+ points a game. Recker has gobs of offensive potential, but she has been hesitant to show it behind all the senior talent, but if coach turns her loose and she gets her legs in the preseason I'm hoping for good things from her.
The defense and the bench are open questions. Capotosto showed some good minutes, and if Nunn can be the player as advertized, plus we get some good quality minutes from one of the frosh post players, then I think we can be competitive in the MAC again next year, although certainly not the anointed frontrunner like this season.
I agree that Inma should be a big time scorer next year. Jones has a surprising soft touch around the basket. BUT Dola is primarily a defensive player, her shot is often off balance and rushed. Consequently she has a low FG % (less than 35%). I think Janelle has gone backward this year. I agree that Recker has promise but so far, halfway through her college career, its unfulfilled. Capotosto is the only other player who even looks like she could be productive.
That leaves us with Nunn and the freshman and they are all totally unknown quantities. The Rockets would need one or two of them to contribute significant minutes and some scoring for a 20 win season.
I agree. In order to not fall too far behind next season, Nunn and at least 1 of the incoming freshmen--maybe even 2 of them--need to be immediate contributors. It can happen--Naama did it, "Deuce" did it, Inma did it...I really think the post player coming in from Illinois may just be capable of starting, Nunn has the "pedigree" from high school (just have to hope the injuries that caused her to redshirt aren't nagging ones), we've had some success with players from across the ocean. We'll see.
(03-15-2013 07:02 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-15-2013 06:57 PM)eastisbest Wrote: [ -> ] (03-15-2013 06:22 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote: [ -> ]As has been mentioned before, we have had some bad recruiting and thus we have little to no depth. Right now, I don't see us being any better than maybe the fifth best team in the MAC next year. There are a lot of good young players in the league. The hope is that this incoming class plus Nunn can make an immediate impact and we won't fall too far.
I think I've posed this before and don't recall an answer but who were you proposing we go after, that we did not?
I mean, are you saying "poor recruiting" in that you knew those offered were not up to what you hoped for or are you saying in hindsight the recruits brought into the program did not meet your expectations?
And when exactly do you feel this poor recruiting started? 4 years ago, 3?...
Being fair, at least trying to, I can't make sense of "poor recruiting" with this type of win-loss record.
I will say this...I cannot understand why any female basketball player who is going to play college basketball at the MAC level would pick any other place over UT--unless they like playing in front of 350 fans a game. Having said that, I have to assume that we aren't being turned down by any recruit who we really want just to see them go to a rival MAC school. If we're losing our top targets to the Big 10, Big East, ACC, etc...that's one thing, but if we are losing recruits to MAC schools, that's a problem.
My thought is that there are 4-5 players on the bench who were almost completely ineffective this year. Early in the season the coach would put them in as a unit in blowout games. The group could not score! I mean the other team would close the gap from 35 to 15 or 20 points over the last 7-8 minutes. As the season progressed coach realized that they were not competitive and would subsititute 2 or 3 of them with a couple of players who could control the ball and at least set someone up for a shot. I have a difficult time seeing these players becomming part of the rotation down the line. And having 5 players on the bench who are unable to contribute is a significant drag on team effectiveness. If you are correct that MAC recruited players are unlikely to turn down a Toledo scholarship, then one can only conclude that some poor decisions were made on talent evaluation....several times. And then there is the story of Cat Wells.