When Coach K took over 8 years ago, the program was a complete "dumpster fire" as everyone knows. With that said, I think he has accomplished 3 of the 4 following main objectives that he was tasked with when he became Head Coach of the Rockets:
1. Clean up the Program by bringing in high character players. Besides having to kick off a few players for unknown reasons, I cannot remember any players that he had to suspend for 1 or more games other than Justin Drummond for his DUI arrest during his senior year and Jon Jon Williams for the George Washington post season game his senior year. Add to that, Coach K being named this week Chairman of an NCAA Men's Basketball Division 1 Ethics Committee and you have a Coach who plays by the rules and recruits good kids.
2. Improved Academic Performance. This goes hand in hand with recruiting high character players, and he has demonstrated the emphasis on academics year in and year out by the Rockets being at or near the top of the league in GPA and APR.
3. Improved performance on the Court. There has been much discussion on the message board about Coach K's success or lack of success on the court. While there is legitimate concern about not winning the MAC Tournament and getting to the NCAA Tournament, there can be no argument that he has taken the program from the depths of despair to a consistent, highly entertaining program that can compete annually for the MAC regular season championship.
That leaves us with the 4th objective which is winning the MAC Tournament and getting to the "Big Dance". Coach K has gotten to the finals twice and lost both times to teams that were obviously better, i.e. Western Michigan and Buffalo (without Fletcher!) Can Coach K get the monkey off his back and deliver a MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA bid that fans have been craving for? That is still to be determined!
Eight years is a lot of opportunity to recover a program so I don't think I give points there. Hasn't had a really, really bad year that I recall, so there are points there. I'm not convinced he has recruited for a consistent team, one that can improve in a particular offense/defense so faults there. It's kind of seemed to me, half his recruits are taylored to one style of play and the other half to another. Not an expert though, maybe something there I'm not seeing in the correct perspective.
Since it's Football Season and I don't have a lot to do tonight, I thought I'd chime in on this subject. I'll be the first to admit that there are times when I get frustrated with Coach K, but, then I remember, I couldn't tell you the first thing about coaching basketball. Coach K knows what he is doing. We've consistently won in a very tough conference and UT MBB is now the cream of the crop. Let's face it, if we get through the MAC Tournament and make it to "The Dance, just how far do we expect to go? Unless we consistently schedule BIG 10, ACC, AAC, etc. teams, we will not fare well even if we get to the NCAA Tournament. Plus having no at large bids from The MAC doesn't help.
GO ROCKETS !!!!
Not on board with "cream of the crop". Getting better but still NOT a top tier MAC MBB team year in and year out. We are not consistent in many parts of the program. Defense is very suspect (getting better); recruiting seems to be all over the place from year to year...the huge number of guys leaving doesn't seem to be building a solid foundation; without TreShon we are an average team in 2017-18 and not sure how much luck vs. recruiting operation gets those recruits...this is a critical year for the hoops operation IYAM. Go Rockets!
Basketball is/was my favorite sport so I've wanted UT to be successful. As a boy, I watched the Rockets play in the Fieldhouse and then opening up Centennial Hall by beating undefeated NC Indiana, I thought we were on the way to being relevant. Coach K is a good guy and a decent coach. Unless we have someone better to replace him, let's stick with him even if we don't accomplish #4. Remember what happened after Bobby Nichols and then after Stan Joplin.
When coach K started here he inherited a team with almost no D1 talent. He has now built up a solid program and has really improved the talent the last couple of years. What I find disappointing is the absence of big wins. Perhaps the best victory was beating Boston College, and that isn't much. The present team has everything in place to win the MAC championship. It is experienced, deep and athletic. Lets see if we take that next step.
I think Coach K's most talented team was Juice Brown, Rian Pearson, Justin Drummond, Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe. That is a really talented starting five. K has been able to recruit a lot of good players to UT. The defense has never been stellar. I think he should get credit for consistently putting a competitive team on the floor, year in and year out.
I don't think UT's troubles under Cross have any bearing on an evaluation of Coach K. Teams turn over pretty fast in college basketball. It's not like the NBA, where it may take eight years for a team to climb out of a hole. I will give K credit for the speed with which he climbed out, since it only took one year. But after a couple of years, our prior ineptitude had no bearing on K's success. I think it can be easier to recruit when you're the new face in town turning around a program, rather than being the veteran coach who has had some success but who appears to have a ceiling.
This year, I see the Rockets finishing in the top half of the conference, but they will have a hard time matching last year's second place finish. The conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
(09-04-2018 07:21 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]I think Coach K's most talented team was Juice Brown, Rian Pearson, Justin Drummond, Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe. That is a really talented starting five. K has been able to recruit a lot of good players to UT. The defense has never been stellar. I think he should get credit for consistently putting a competitive team on the floor, year in and year out.
I don't think UT's troubles under Cross have any bearing on an evaluation of Coach K. Teams turn over pretty fast in college basketball. It's not like the NBA, where it may take eight years for a team to climb out of a hole. I will give K credit for the speed with which he climbed out, since it only took one year. But after a couple of years, our prior ineptitude had no bearing on K's success. I think it can be easier to recruit when you're the new face in town turning around a program, rather than being the veteran coach who has had some success but who appears to have a ceiling.
This year, I see the Rockets finishing in the top half of the conference, but they will have a hard time matching last year's second place finish. The conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
Rockets will surprise everyone this season. Better team than last year.
it could be raining threes but will there be any D's?
(09-04-2018 07:45 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-04-2018 07:21 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]I think Coach K's most talented team was Juice Brown, Rian Pearson, Justin Drummond, Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe. That is a really talented starting five. K has been able to recruit a lot of good players to UT. The defense has never been stellar. I think he should get credit for consistently putting a competitive team on the floor, year in and year out.
I don't think UT's troubles under Cross have any bearing on an evaluation of Coach K. Teams turn over pretty fast in college basketball. It's not like the NBA, where it may take eight years for a team to climb out of a hole. I will give K credit for the speed with which he climbed out, since it only took one year. But after a couple of years, our prior ineptitude had no bearing on K's success. I think it can be easier to recruit when you're the new face in town turning around a program, rather than being the veteran coach who has had some success but who appears to have a ceiling.
This year, I see the Rockets finishing in the top half of the conference, but they will have a hard time matching last year's second place finish. The conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
Rockets will surprise everyone this season. Better team than last year.
AJ Edu will be MAC Freshman of the Year
tough to replace a 6-7 guy who can run the offense and shoot, but everyone else is back and there should be improvement. saw a recent pic of sanford and he looks even more cut and fit. both the jacksons should make a jump. remember willie has yet to play a full season of college basketball and is could really find himself this yr. knapke has improved significantly each season. coaches stated that alderson has grown the most in his overall game in the offseason. littleson is a player and should be eager to contribute. edu is a great addition and gives us another big guy with versatility. he made an impression over the summer and was the top player in his country's junior national team run to the semis of the asian games. saunders for a minute was a big signing before edu kinda stole the headlines. he's a legit player who could have signed with a P5 type school but preferred UT. and logan hill will at least have a few dunks that will obliterate the white men can't jump stereotype
(09-06-2018 04:31 AM)pono Wrote: [ -> ]tough to replace a 6-7 guy who can run the offense and shoot, but everyone else is back and there should be improvement. saw a recent pic of sanford and he looks even more cut and fit. both the jacksons should make a jump. remember willie has yet to play a full season of college basketball and is could really find himself this yr. knapke has improved significantly each season. coaches stated that alderson has grown the most in his overall game in the offseason. littleson is a player and should be eager to contribute. edu is a great addition and gives us another big guy with versatility. he made an impression over the summer and was the top player in his country's junior national team run to the semis of the asian games. saunders for a minute was a big signing before edu kinda stole the headlines. he's a legit player who could have signed with a P5 type school but preferred UT. and logan hill will at least have a few dunks that will obliterate the white men can't jump stereotype
Sounds spot on.
(09-04-2018 07:45 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-04-2018 07:21 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]I think Coach K's most talented team was Juice Brown, Rian Pearson, Justin Drummond, Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe. That is a really talented starting five. K has been able to recruit a lot of good players to UT. The defense has never been stellar. I think he should get credit for consistently putting a competitive team on the floor, year in and year out.
I don't think UT's troubles under Cross have any bearing on an evaluation of Coach K. Teams turn over pretty fast in college basketball. It's not like the NBA, where it may take eight years for a team to climb out of a hole. I will give K credit for the speed with which he climbed out, since it only took one year. But after a couple of years, our prior ineptitude had no bearing on K's success. I think it can be easier to recruit when you're the new face in town turning around a program, rather than being the veteran coach who has had some success but who appears to have a ceiling.
This year, I see the Rockets finishing in the top half of the conference, but they will have a hard time matching last year's second place finish. The conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
Rockets will surprise everyone this season. Better team than last year.
Agreed ... This years edition might be the most athletic and gifted from top to bottom of K’s tenure as a Rocket coach... Hopefully, if they make it to the Gund/MAC finals, they do not get blown out like they did against WMU, with that loaded Juice/Weatherspoon team...
(09-06-2018 08:05 AM)FMRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-04-2018 07:45 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-04-2018 07:21 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]I think Coach K's most talented team was Juice Brown, Rian Pearson, Justin Drummond, Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe. That is a really talented starting five. K has been able to recruit a lot of good players to UT. The defense has never been stellar. I think he should get credit for consistently putting a competitive team on the floor, year in and year out.
I don't think UT's troubles under Cross have any bearing on an evaluation of Coach K. Teams turn over pretty fast in college basketball. It's not like the NBA, where it may take eight years for a team to climb out of a hole. I will give K credit for the speed with which he climbed out, since it only took one year. But after a couple of years, our prior ineptitude had no bearing on K's success. I think it can be easier to recruit when you're the new face in town turning around a program, rather than being the veteran coach who has had some success but who appears to have a ceiling.
This year, I see the Rockets finishing in the top half of the conference, but they will have a hard time matching last year's second place finish. The conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
Rockets will surprise everyone this season. Better team than last year.
Agreed ... This years edition might be the most athletic and gifted from top to bottom of K’s tenure as a Rocket coach... Hopefully, if they make it to the Gund/MAC finals, they do not get blown out like they did against WMU, with that loaded Juice/Weatherspoon team...
Which means tougher/more competitive practices with the better talent.
(09-06-2018 09:09 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-06-2018 08:05 AM)FMRocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-04-2018 07:45 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ] (09-04-2018 07:21 PM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]I think Coach K's most talented team was Juice Brown, Rian Pearson, Justin Drummond, Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe. That is a really talented starting five. K has been able to recruit a lot of good players to UT. The defense has never been stellar. I think he should get credit for consistently putting a competitive team on the floor, year in and year out.
I don't think UT's troubles under Cross have any bearing on an evaluation of Coach K. Teams turn over pretty fast in college basketball. It's not like the NBA, where it may take eight years for a team to climb out of a hole. I will give K credit for the speed with which he climbed out, since it only took one year. But after a couple of years, our prior ineptitude had no bearing on K's success. I think it can be easier to recruit when you're the new face in town turning around a program, rather than being the veteran coach who has had some success but who appears to have a ceiling.
This year, I see the Rockets finishing in the top half of the conference, but they will have a hard time matching last year's second place finish. The conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
Rockets will surprise everyone this season. Better team than last year.
Agreed ... This years edition might be the most athletic and gifted from top to bottom of K’s tenure as a Rocket coach... Hopefully, if they make it to the Gund/MAC finals, they do not get blown out like they did against WMU, with that loaded Juice/Weatherspoon team...
Which means tougher/more competitive practices with the better talent.
For me, the key is will this team be able to play "tougher", both physically & mentally. That has been the difference between being a good team and a great one during TK's tenure. If we have more guys who are like Rian Pearson was, then we'll be in good shape.
OK, I give up. What does IYAM mean/stand for ?
(09-07-2018 07:15 AM)Michigan Rocket Wrote: [ -> ]OK, I give up. What does IYAM mean/stand for ?
He's either for yams, quoting Popeye "Iyam what Iyam"or he's saying "If you ask me".
They have to replace Roberts, Adway, and of course, Fletcher. I think they have enough to cover the first two, but not sure about covering Fletcher. He was pretty special.
This may be as deep a team as I remember, and with decent talent top to bottom. But I don't remember Coach K being a guy to use more of his bench, even when it seemed obvious to do so. Going through the roster, how many names jump out as someone who should be spending a great amount of time on the pine? Not many IMO.
The only guy I see as having locked in minutes is Sanford. I'm not sold on Navi, nor Luke (for different reasons), becoming a dominate player. They can still be useful as role players; with minutes based on proper match-ups. I want to see what W. Jackson can do, as well as Smith, Littleson, Alderson, Saunders, and Hill (not necessarily in that order). Then there is the Edu guy...
That said, they don't have that dominate player as in the past (Juice, Boothe, Taylor, Fletcher), nor a floor leader (like Fletcher or Juice), so they might as well give them playing time. Let's see who can play and who can't.
Of course I'm not coaching the team, Coach K is. And a good reason for that. :-)
I don't expect more than a 3/4 division finish. But I'll be watching (I hope - this ESPN thing in the other thread is scaring me).
(09-08-2018 08:47 AM)Dwight Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...l-bpi-2018
Just came across this ESPN top 100 pre-season ranking from late July. Buffalo is 41 and Toledo 97. No other MAC teams ranked.
Can never understand why EMU doesn’t get the love. If their big guy wasn’t such a head case they would be the top team in the MAC, IMO. Losing Bond will hurt but the returning talent and the weird defense puts them at Number One in the West as far as I’m concerned. Coaching may be the thing that holds them back.