RE: Big Picture for Program
We chew this fat every few months - not that there's anything wrong with that.
I think we can generally agree that the SoCon has gotten stronger since Forbes arrived. Part of that is simply that ETSU has gotten stronger - but absolutely UNC-G and Wofford (and now WCU, with their hotshot transfer) have *really* stepped up, while Chatt-town has fallen apart - but seems to be doing a pretty good job of rebuilding.
I think we *have* at least challenged for a conference championship - either regular season or tournament - every year he's been here. And I think that's a pretty good resume.
With 10 schools in the SoCon, one would expect a championship once every ten years - all things being equal - which of course they're not. Yes, we've won only one tournament title in 4 years, but were runner-up two other times. So that's really a better picture than saying we've only won once - while that's certainly true. The Chattanooga loss was close; the UNC-G one was not. So another way to look at it is that we've been playing for the conference championship 3 out of the four tournaments since Forbes has been here. (As etsuBucsFan1988 notes.) Really hard to criticize that very much. It's not like we've been losing to chumps, or choking it away like happened multiple times under the previous regime. [But see discussion about whether or not UNC-G "owns" ETSU right now.]
I think there are two concerns that remains to be 'resolved', or not: 1) can he bring in enough freshmen to "build" a longer-lasting team. History teaches us that that is not his modus operandi - but he *is* bringing in some - and then some of those are leaving for whatever reasons. But at least he seems to be competing for, and sometimes getting, some good talent. But bartow did that, too - altho not to Forbes's level. And look -- he's mostly done a quite masterful job of bringing together a real "team"; these guys truly love each other. I know that's a cliche, but just watch how our guys react when a foul is called on one of them, or when one of them messes up. They look out for each other. That's worth a lot on the basketball court. And they're also really good kids. And they're graduating - at least mostly.
And 2) can he get us to that "next level" in which an at large bid is at least a moderate possibility almost every year. With Wofford's successful example last year, that should pay dividends come seeding time. We've GOT to win the games we're supposed to - and knock off a P5 team at least every other year, given adequate opportunities. I don't think the NDSU loss is really a "bad loss", but it's one that would have been nice to have in the back pocket. And a lot of concern #2 depends on the overall conference - and no doubt that is trending upwards. If we can have a couple of years where *any* SoCon team gets an at-large bid, I think we'll be in a very good place.
And what alternatives are out there? I think probably at least 90-95% of us would rather have Forbes than almost any other 'reasonable' possible alternative. I mean.....come on now........we've had a good team *every single season* he's been here - even the first one. We went 24-12 with a cobbled-together team. Yes, we had Merriweather, Bradford, and Lester Wilson, but not a whole lot else in the cupboard. That's just pretty darn good.
*Of course* anyone can nibble complain around the edges, but overall I think we're in good shape. I'd kinda like to know why some of the recruits leave so early, but we're likely not really gonna know. I just think that's what recruiting has evolved into. Sad, but I also want to grant those youngsters the freedom they (at least think) they need to find the best fit for them.
I think the old adage "you want to put yourself in a position to win" applies here. While that's most often referring to a particular game, it can apply also to an overall season. And Forbes has clearly been successful in that. If he was even slightly *more* successful.........he wouldn't be here. And as bartow famously taught us once.............."winning is hard; the other team is trying to win, too!".
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