(01-19-2023 11:48 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(01-19-2023 10:03 AM)Tiger87 Wrote:  

(01-19-2023 09:08 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 06:04 PM)msu35 Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 05:57 PM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  All teams deal with setbacks. Injuries, players leaving, COVID - these are not unique to Memphis. And again, we are not discussing a one off year, we are discussing 5 straight years. There is a significant difference.

We've been dealing the Wiseman issue that entire time. You're going to discount the effect that can have on recruiting? I suppose if we were a blue blood it wouldn't matter, but we're not. The injuries wouldn't be so bad if recruiting wasn't hampered by the NCAA challenges. Are you forgetting we had what amounts to a Sweet 16 or better team last year too? Apparently.

Don't take my word for it.

Penny Hardaway: Favorable IARP decision a 'fresh start' for Memphis basketball

Quote:Even though Hardaway avoided a suspension and the Tigers’ postseason opportunity was spared, the past two-plus years were punishment enough.

“Of course it did, for three years it hurt the program, because a lot of things were looming,” he said, confirming rival schools tried to use the investigation against Memphis on the recruiting trail. “Now, there’s no cloud and there’s no other school that can hold that over our heads to another kid.

“It’s a great feeling to know that the guys know we’re going in without any kind of negativity on our backs. That we’re staying together. The new staff is meshing with the guys. It feels like a fresh start.”

We had the number one class in the country two years after Wiseman... He has signed multiple 5* and 4* players (without considering the current verbal/signed recruits). He has brought in multiple top end transfers in that timeframe as well.

Did it hurt recruiting? Possibly. He still has had top 10 classes every year when considering transfers and we are still a bubble team every year.

Just because we are a bubble team right now, doesn't mean we will be at year-end.
I'm reminded of the same thing I said a couple of years ago when folks were worried about Penny's early season recruiting...
Let's see how it plays out before demanding a change.

I do not blame you if you do not read the whole exchange...

Realistically, we are looking at an 8-9 seed best case, short of winning out (which is not realistic IMO). My original point was that we have been in this same position for more or less 5 years and so I feel like at some point Penny has to adjust something to get out of the purgatory of this seeding and break through to the next level.

I did not bring up recruiting concerns of any kind and certainly in no way was suggesting much less stating Penny should be fired.

The basis of my stance is pretty simple. Penny is a good coach and has the potential to be a great coach. But 5 years in it seems clear that something in his approach, system, whatever needs to change to make that jump because he appears to be stagnating in the good range.

I will contrast that with Pastner where after 4 or 5 years I was all in on JP being fired because it seemed very clear that he did not have the potential to ever break through and reach the next level as a coach. I fully believe Penny does but also believe there is some change that needs to occur for this to happen.

Sounds like a pretty bad groin injury, and he will be out at least another 2 weeks and maybe another 4. Hate it for him and for the team.

(01-20-2023 01:00 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Sounds like a pretty bad groin injury, and he will be out at least another 2 weeks and maybe another 4. Hate it for him and for the team.

I hope it's two, but they take a long time to heal. We need to find a way to get by Cincy, and then see who emerges out of our 2 guards to take at least some of the ballhandling duties away from KD.

(01-20-2023 01:00 PM)Tiger87 Wrote:  Sounds like a pretty bad groin injury, and he will be out at least another 2 weeks and maybe another 4. Hate it for him and for the team.

Luckily we will be on a soft stretch of games after Cincy till Feb 16th when we play UCF here which is the game before Houston. Hopefully we can will all those games and have him back by UCF and Houston.