Before we bury the Men’s Basketball Team for the 2014-15 season, let’s see how they perform in Cleveland next week as it looks most likely they are going to be the #4 Seed and have to win 3 games. Are they capable of doing that? Yes, I think so, especially on the offensive end where they have performed very well, averaging 76 points per game. It is on the defensive end where Toledo’s fate is most likely going to be determined. In their 6 MAC loses to date, with all games being decided by 8 points or less, it has been their lack of coming up with key defensive stops down the stretch that has cost them dearly. With the parity of the top 5 teams being what it is, they will have to do a much better job on the defensive end if they want to “cut down the nets” in Cleveland on March 14th!
Haven't we been saying "they will have to do a much better job" with "xyz" all along? What is going to change in Cleveland? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
This team is just so frustrating to watch. Hard to justify the gas, tolls, parking, food, and tickets to go to Cleveland and then watch then perform the same way. I've gotten to the point where I get way too frustrated and angry watching the Rockets instead of it being something fun and enjoyable. What a waste of talent. I guess team chemistry is the missing factor that is so hard to come by.
I've decided that I'm going to spend my money doing something else next weekend. We are becoming the proverbial bridesmaid in football and basketball year in and year out. Always on the cusp of greatness but we never quite get there. Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
Building Champions, Toledo Tough, etc. just ring hollow.
(03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Haven't we been saying "they will have to do a much better job" with "xyz" all along? What is going to change in Cleveland? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
This team is just so frustrating to watch. Hard to justify the gas, tolls, parking, food, and tickets to go to Cleveland and then watch then perform the same way. I've gotten to the point where I get way too frustrated and angry watching the Rockets instead of it being something fun and enjoyable. What a waste of talent. I guess team chemistry is the missing factor that is so hard to come by.
I've decided that I'm going to spend my money doing something else next weekend. We are becoming the proverbial bridesmaid in football and basketball year in and year out. Always on the cusp of greatness but we never quite get there. Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
Building Champions, Toledo Tough, etc. just ring hollow.
Feel exactly the same way watching these games.
(03-04-2015 11:51 AM)adunifon Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Haven't we been saying "they will have to do a much better job" with "xyz" all along? What is going to change in Cleveland? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
This team is just so frustrating to watch. Hard to justify the gas, tolls, parking, food, and tickets to go to Cleveland and then watch then perform the same way. I've gotten to the point where I get way too frustrated and angry watching the Rockets instead of it being something fun and enjoyable. What a waste of talent. I guess team chemistry is the missing factor that is so hard to come by.
I've decided that I'm going to spend my money doing something else next weekend. We are becoming the proverbial bridesmaid in football and basketball year in and year out. Always on the cusp of greatness but we never quite get there. Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
Building Champions, Toledo Tough, etc. just ring hollow.
Feel exactly the same way watching these games.
I agree and with no discipline its really hard to swallow.
I agree defense is key. UT has not guarded the perimeter very well the last two years. Don't think anything will change in Cleveland. Some other guy who averages 8 a game will light us up from three point land.
(03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
There is a big difference between hardly winning and losing heart breakers. The kids that are losing close games or big games are in the hunt for a championship. Let's not forget that these are young adults with huge changes going on in their lives. They are competing well but remember they are just kids and prone to mistakes.
Nothing wrong with going to Cleveland and watching the tournament. But, if you have hopes of this team going to the dance, faghetaboudit.
(03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Haven't we been saying "they will have to do a much better job" with "xyz" all along? What is going to change in Cleveland? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
This team is just so frustrating to watch. Hard to justify the gas, tolls, parking, food, and tickets to go to Cleveland and then watch then perform the same way. I've gotten to the point where I get way too frustrated and angry watching the Rockets instead of it being something fun and enjoyable. What a waste of talent. I guess team chemistry is the missing factor that is so hard to come by.
I've decided that I'm going to spend my money doing something else next weekend. We are becoming the proverbial bridesmaid in football and basketball year in and year out. Always on the cusp of greatness but we never quite get there. Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
Building Champions, Toledo Tough, etc. just ring hollow.
I remember those "dark days" when they used to give away Wendy's Frosty coupons if the Rockets scored 6o points in a game! There were many games where they didn't get to 60 points. I wouldn't equate those days to now when were winning 18-20+ games a year. Yes, we still haven't gotten to the "promised land" yet under Coach K, but we are competitive in the MAC and very entertaining to watch which counts a lot in my book!
One other little problem. Against NIU, Juice was 7 of 19 with zero assists. When your PG has zero assists, you are in trouble.
(03-04-2015 12:13 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: [ -> ]Nothing wrong with going to Cleveland and watching the tournament. But, if you have hopes of this team going to the dance, faghetaboudit.
Why? Nobody in the MAC is a complete team. Every team has bad losses this year. UT has just as good of a shot as anybody. It would not surprise me if any of the Top 5 teams in the MAC win the tournament. It'll be about whoever is hot on a particular day.
(03-04-2015 01:04 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Haven't we been saying "they will have to do a much better job" with "xyz" all along? What is going to change in Cleveland? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
This team is just so frustrating to watch. Hard to justify the gas, tolls, parking, food, and tickets to go to Cleveland and then watch then perform the same way. I've gotten to the point where I get way too frustrated and angry watching the Rockets instead of it being something fun and enjoyable. What a waste of talent. I guess team chemistry is the missing factor that is so hard to come by.
I've decided that I'm going to spend my money doing something else next weekend. We are becoming the proverbial bridesmaid in football and basketball year in and year out. Always on the cusp of greatness but we never quite get there. Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
Building Champions, Toledo Tough, etc. just ring hollow.
I remember those "dark days" when they used to give away Wendy's Frostie coupons if the Rockets scored 6o points in a game! There were many games where they didn't get to 60 points. I wouldn't equate those days to now when were winning 18-20+ games a year. Yes, we still haven't gotten to the "promised land" yet under Coach K, but we are competitive in the MAC and very entertaining to watch which counts a lot in my book!
You have to remember that frustration is a measure of the extent to which performance fails to meet expectations. In that regard, in many ways this team is more frustrating than some those Cross years where expectations were non-existent. By the same token I was much more disappointed with the 2012 Rocket Football team than some of those terrible teams in Stutz's last years.
(03-04-2015 01:10 PM)rockytop Wrote: [ -> ]One other little problem. Against NIU, Juice was 7 of 19 with zero assists. When your PG has zero assists, you are in trouble.
Yes, especially with a team that relies so heavily on the PG like UT does with Juice. A PG with no assists (or just one or two) either means that he's not passing the ball, he's committing turnover, others are not making shots, or a combination of any of those three. Bad, bad situation that usually leads to a loss.
(03-04-2015 11:55 AM)Rocket_Tree Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
There is a big difference between hardly winning and losing heart breakers. The kids that are losing close games or big games are in the hunt for a championship. Let's not forget that these are young adults with huge changes going on in their lives. They are competing well but remember they are just kids and prone to mistakes.
And playing against other young people who are facing the same challenges of being a college athlete. It's just that somehow certain teams--namely Central and Kent, even Northern--have found a better way to fight through it at least when playing against us.
Cue the "you're not a true fan" comments in ....3.2.1
I completly agree with ranger and the other comments about this team. We all should have had high expectations given last year and who we had coming back. Something hasn't been right with this team all season. I didn't even watch or listen last night because I knew we would wilt in this big game. Doesn't make me any less of a fan. Still love the rockets, but if it's not this year it's going to be a few more before we have a seasoned team like this one. Sounds like we have some talent coming in, but I wouldn't expect us to challenge for a few more years. We have controlled our destiny the last few yrs in football and basketball and haven't been able to get it done. It does get frustrating, but I will take a bowl win as consolation and it's been 35 yrs since going to the ncaa tourney, so what is a few more years? Not like we are missing anything?
(03-04-2015 02:56 PM)emanoh Wrote: [ -> ]Cue the "you're not a true fan" comments in ....3.2.1
I completly agree with ranger and the other comments about this team. We all should have had high expectations given last year and who we had coming back. Something hasn't been right with this team all season. I didn't even watch or listen last night because I knew we would wilt in this big game. Doesn't make me any less of a fan. Still love the rockets, but if it's not this year it's going to be a few more before we have a seasoned team like this one. Sounds like we have some talent coming in, but I wouldn't expect us to challenge for a few more years. We have controlled our destiny the last few yrs in football and basketball and haven't been able to get it done. It does get frustrating, but I will take a bowl win as consolation and it's been 35 yrs since going to the ncaa tourney, so what is a few more years? Not like we are missing anything?
Yep.
(03-04-2015 11:23 AM)RangerRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Haven't we been saying "they will have to do a much better job" with "xyz" all along? What is going to change in Cleveland? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
This team is just so frustrating to watch. Hard to justify the gas, tolls, parking, food, and tickets to go to Cleveland and then watch then perform the same way. I've gotten to the point where I get way too frustrated and angry watching the Rockets instead of it being something fun and enjoyable. What a waste of talent. I guess team chemistry is the missing factor that is so hard to come by.
I've decided that I'm going to spend my money doing something else next weekend. We are becoming the proverbial bridesmaid in football and basketball year in and year out. Always on the cusp of greatness but we never quite get there. Doesn't really seem to be a great deal of difference being 4-27 versus being 27-4 to me when we just can't finish.
Building Champions, Toledo Tough, etc. just ring hollow.
For me personally, the 27 win season last year was 1 million times more enjoyable for me than the 4 win seasons. I understand what everyone is saying about frustration level in relation to expectations, but, for me as a fan, there is an astronomical difference between 27 wins and 4 wins. My expectations are for the team to win many games and contend for the championship, which they did last year and are doing this year. I guess my expectations are just not as high as some people's.
(03-04-2015 01:37 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 12:13 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: [ -> ]Nothing wrong with going to Cleveland and watching the tournament. But, if you have hopes of this team going to the dance, faghetaboudit.
Why? Nobody in the MAC is a complete team. Every team has bad losses this year. UT has just as good of a shot as anybody. It would not surprise me if any of the Top 5 teams in the MAC win the tournament. It'll be about whoever is hot on a particular day.
I follow the different conference tournaments every year and they are often very unpredictable. Things that haven't happened all season happen during these tournaments. Teams that have been good all year play poorly. Teams that have struggled play like the best team in the league. My point is, UT still has a legitimate chance to win this tournament and go to the Big Dance despite how they have played thus far.
(03-04-2015 03:38 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 01:37 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 12:13 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: [ -> ]Nothing wrong with going to Cleveland and watching the tournament. But, if you have hopes of this team going to the dance, faghetaboudit.
Why? Nobody in the MAC is a complete team. Every team has bad losses this year. UT has just as good of a shot as anybody. It would not surprise me if any of the Top 5 teams in the MAC win the tournament. It'll be about whoever is hot on a particular day.
I follow the different conference tournaments every year and they are often very unpredictable. Things that haven't happened all season happen during these tournaments. Teams that have been good all year play poorly. Teams that have struggled play like the best team in the league. My point is, UT still has a legitimate chance to win this tournament and go to the Big Dance despite how they have played thus far.
Rockets have been playing like a #4 or 5 MAC team. Certainly not capable of making it to the Big Dance.
(03-04-2015 04:17 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 03:38 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 01:37 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 12:13 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: [ -> ]Nothing wrong with going to Cleveland and watching the tournament. But, if you have hopes of this team going to the dance, faghetaboudit.
Why? Nobody in the MAC is a complete team. Every team has bad losses this year. UT has just as good of a shot as anybody. It would not surprise me if any of the Top 5 teams in the MAC win the tournament. It'll be about whoever is hot on a particular day.
I follow the different conference tournaments every year and they are often very unpredictable. Things that haven't happened all season happen during these tournaments. Teams that have been good all year play poorly. Teams that have struggled play like the best team in the league. My point is, UT still has a legitimate chance to win this tournament and go to the Big Dance despite how they have played thus far.
Rockets have been playing like a #4 or 5 MAC team. Certainly not capable of making it to the Big Dance.
If a 10-19 Cal Poly team could win the Big West Tournament last season, then I believe that a 19 win and counting Toledo team can win this year's MAC Tournament, which is filled with teams that have been up and down all year. CMU is the only team that has played pretty consistently throughout the year. BG, Buffalo, and Kent have all been up and down like UT.
(03-04-2015 04:17 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 03:38 PM)RocketBBallFan Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 01:37 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote: [ -> ] (03-04-2015 12:13 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: [ -> ]Nothing wrong with going to Cleveland and watching the tournament. But, if you have hopes of this team going to the dance, faghetaboudit.
Why? Nobody in the MAC is a complete team. Every team has bad losses this year. UT has just as good of a shot as anybody. It would not surprise me if any of the Top 5 teams in the MAC win the tournament. It'll be about whoever is hot on a particular day.
I follow the different conference tournaments every year and they are often very unpredictable. Things that haven't happened all season happen during these tournaments. Teams that have been good all year play poorly. Teams that have struggled play like the best team in the league. My point is, UT still has a legitimate chance to win this tournament and go to the Big Dance despite how they have played thus far.
Rockets have been playing like a #4 or 5 MAC team. Certainly not capable of making it to the Big Dance.
Which Top 5 MAC team has been playing head and shoulders above the rest? I think CMU is the best team in the MAC, but they just lost by 18 to NIU. Buffalo is on a winning streak, but they're 0-4 against West teams with a winning record. Kent swept UT, but only has two wins over the other Top 5 teams. BG is one of the most confusing teams I have seen in a while.
So if UT has no chance, which of these teams that have supposedly proven themselves will win the Tournament?