The bottom line is that last year we had to have a lot of things go perfectly right to be competitive and win against good teams. We didn't have a pure point guard so we had to win without having a distributor. We didn't have a knock down shooter so we had to depend on someone getting uncharacteristically hot. We had very little D1 experience so we had to depend on players to develop quickly.

Now we have players that have played point guard their entire lives. We have players that have shot well at every level before this one and we have much more experience. We don't need as many things to fall just right and so many players to play well to win. We have a lot more margin for error. We don't know what our ceiling is, but it is for sure higher, and we don't know how bad we can be, but we for sure won't have as many horrible losses as last year.

OOC schedule is definitely tougher this year. Hopefully we get a big win or two that gives the team confidence to build on. Not really sure what to expect against teams like Nova (if we play them) and UT. We’ll know a lot more once the games start.

(06-14-2018 08:12 PM)Stammers Wrote:  The bottom line is that last year we had to have a lot of things go perfectly right to be competitive and win against good teams. We didn't have a pure point guard so we had to win without having a distributor. We didn't have a knock down shooter so we had to depend on someone getting uncharacteristically hot. We had very little D1 experience so we had to depend on players to develop quickly.

Now we have players that have played point guard their entire lives. We have players that have shot well at every level before this one and we have much more experience. We don't need as many things to fall just right and so many players to play well to win. We have a lot more margin for error. We don't know what our ceiling is, but it is for sure higher, and we don't know how bad we can be, but we for sure won't have as many horrible losses as last year.

I think everyone has seen the Sweet 16 and is this team better than 2008 team talk on other social media. Which is really unfair to this team with

New HC and staff

Many new players-chemistry, PT, etc

Not many players who have proved they are good vs high D1. Maybe only one- Martin.

I always watch to see how a team improves throughout the season. We have potential to be pretty good but No one is sure how good. Much will depend on players buying into sacrificing for the team which Penny did a great job with at East. I’m as excited as anyone as I’ve been bitching since the SFA game in 2014 when it hit home that most any one could beat us.

We have to develop the mental toughness that we don’t lose at home and will be in single digits with 10 minutes to go on the road with ANYONE. Cal preached that early on and the players bought in.

Very early factors indicate we have improved and could better our AAC final standings from last year based on:
1. More experience at the D-1 level and playing with each other (last year I think only Martin and Rivers were returning players),
2. More talent,
3. Better outside shooting (It would be hard to be worse),
4. A true point guard and improved ball handling,
5. Greater crowd support at home,
6. A projected weaker AAC.

OTOH, we cannot count on other teams' injuries and luck (like Brewton's three against Temple and Johnson's winning shot against Samford) to bail us out and the majority of the coaching staff is untested at the D1 level.

(06-14-2018 08:12 PM)Stammers Wrote:  The bottom line is that last year we had to have a lot of things go perfectly right to be competitive and win against good teams. We didn't have a pure point guard so we had to win without having a distributor. We didn't have a knock down shooter so we had to depend on someone getting uncharacteristically hot. We had very little D1 experience so we had to depend on players to develop quickly.

Now we have players that have played point guard their entire lives. We have players that have shot well at every level before this one and we have much more experience. We don't need as many things to fall just right and so many players to play well to win. We have a lot more margin for error. We don't know what our ceiling is, but it is for sure higher, and we don't know how bad we can be, but we for sure won't have as many horrible losses as last year.

Well said.

(06-14-2018 09:41 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 08:12 PM)Stammers Wrote:  The bottom line is that last year we had to have a lot of things go perfectly right to be competitive and win against good teams. We didn't have a pure point guard so we had to win without having a distributor. We didn't have a knock down shooter so we had to depend on someone getting uncharacteristically hot. We had very little D1 experience so we had to depend on players to develop quickly.

Now we have players that have played point guard their entire lives. We have players that have shot well at every level before this one and we have much more experience. We don't need as many things to fall just right and so many players to play well to win. We have a lot more margin for error. We don't know what our ceiling is, but it is for sure higher, and we don't know how bad we can be, but we for sure won't have as many horrible losses as last year.

I think everyone has seen the Sweet 16 and is this team better than 2008 team talk on other social media. Which is really unfair to this team with

New HC and staff

Many new players-chemistry, PT, etc

Not many players who have proved they are good vs high D1. Maybe only one- Martin.

I always watch to see how a team improves throughout the season. We have potential to be pretty good but No one is sure how good. Much will depend on players buying into sacrificing for the team which Penny did a great job with at East. I’m as excited as anyone as I’ve been bitching since the SFA game in 2014 when it hit home that most any one could beat us.

We have to develop the mental toughness that we don’t lose at home and will be in single digits with 10 minutes to go on the road with ANYONE. Cal preached that early on and the players bought in.

I think this is what Penny means when he says culture. Mental toughness, who has that dog in him, or in pure "Memphis" terms, who has the nuts and guts to make plays when things get tough is a must when the players are on the floor. Which player establish themselves as the leader that the team reflects their personality is just as important as the X's and O's

(06-15-2018 10:36 AM)rolexjames Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 09:41 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 08:12 PM)Stammers Wrote:  The bottom line is that last year we had to have a lot of things go perfectly right to be competitive and win against good teams. We didn't have a pure point guard so we had to win without having a distributor. We didn't have a knock down shooter so we had to depend on someone getting uncharacteristically hot. We had very little D1 experience so we had to depend on players to develop quickly.

Now we have players that have played point guard their entire lives. We have players that have shot well at every level before this one and we have much more experience. We don't need as many things to fall just right and so many players to play well to win. We have a lot more margin for error. We don't know what our ceiling is, but it is for sure higher, and we don't know how bad we can be, but we for sure won't have as many horrible losses as last year.

I think everyone has seen the Sweet 16 and is this team better than 2008 team talk on other social media. Which is really unfair to this team with

New HC and staff

Many new players-chemistry, PT, etc

Not many players who have proved they are good vs high D1. Maybe only one- Martin.

I always watch to see how a team improves throughout the season. We have potential to be pretty good but No one is sure how good. Much will depend on players buying into sacrificing for the team which Penny did a great job with at East. I’m as excited as anyone as I’ve been bitching since the SFA game in 2014 when it hit home that most any one could beat us.

We have to develop the mental toughness that we don’t lose at home and will be in single digits with 10 minutes to go on the road with ANYONE. Cal preached that early on and the players bought in.

I think this is what Penny means when he says culture. Mental toughness, who has that dog in him, or in pure "Memphis" terms, who has the nuts and guts to make plays when things get tough is a must when the players are on the floor. Which player establish themselves as the leader that the team reflects their personality is just as important as the X's and O's

I hope you're right. We've needed some dogs for a while now.

(06-14-2018 02:43 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:00 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:29 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:17 AM)oruvoice Wrote:  NCAA tourney invite metrics?

Regular season champs?

I fear it's going to be a long, hard season if those are the expectations for a first year coach...

Why does "first year coach" matter?

Memphis' mix of talent, depth, and experience will be greater than every other team in the American.

Having a new coaching staff with only one coach with ANY college experience (and with so many new players) will affect a lot of things probably including how many games we win. I hope we go to the E8 but you have to be realistic. If you look at the history of first year coaches , most get better as they become more experienced and familiar with each other. That being said, I hope we can play our way into the tournament somehow.

If Memphis gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this year, Penny should be considered for national coach of the year.

My opinion is that about .500 season, middle of the pack in the conference, would be where I'd set my expectations. But, as it is clear reading this board...I'm in the vast minority.

We should be better than last year with a Weaker Conference and some damn good new players ... I'm curious why you think we're a middle of the pack in the AAC team.

(06-15-2018 12:39 PM)steves Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:43 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:00 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:29 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:17 AM)oruvoice Wrote:  NCAA tourney invite metrics?

Regular season champs?

I fear it's going to be a long, hard season if those are the expectations for a first year coach...

Why does "first year coach" matter?

Memphis' mix of talent, depth, and experience will be greater than every other team in the American.

Having a new coaching staff with only one coach with ANY college experience (and with so many new players) will affect a lot of things probably including how many games we win. I hope we go to the E8 but you have to be realistic. If you look at the history of first year coaches , most get better as they become more experienced and familiar with each other. That being said, I hope we can play our way into the tournament somehow.

If Memphis gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this year, Penny should be considered for national coach of the year.

My opinion is that about .500 season, middle of the pack in the conference, would be where I'd set my expectations. But, as it is clear reading this board...I'm in the vast minority.

We should be better than last year with a Weaker Conference and some damn good new players ... I'm curious why you think we're a middle of the pack in the AAC team.

I'm not convinced any of the new players will be difference makers as Freshmen. And, I think a never before college coach (even as an assistant) might struggle, early on.

(06-15-2018 03:16 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 12:39 PM)steves Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:43 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:00 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:29 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Why does "first year coach" matter?

Memphis' mix of talent, depth, and experience will be greater than every other team in the American.

Having a new coaching staff with only one coach with ANY college experience (and with so many new players) will affect a lot of things probably including how many games we win. I hope we go to the E8 but you have to be realistic. If you look at the history of first year coaches , most get better as they become more experienced and familiar with each other. That being said, I hope we can play our way into the tournament somehow.

If Memphis gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this year, Penny should be considered for national coach of the year.

My opinion is that about .500 season, middle of the pack in the conference, would be where I'd set my expectations. But, as it is clear reading this board...I'm in the vast minority.

We should be better than last year with a Weaker Conference and some damn good new players ... I'm curious why you think we're a middle of the pack in the AAC team.

I'm not convinced any of the new players will be difference makers as Freshmen. And, I think a never before college coach (even as an assistant) might struggle, early on.

Define difference maker. We don’t need someone to come in and lead the team in scoring. We return our top 4 scorers from last year plus Thornton (who stepped up at the end of last season). The only way I can envision the young guys being overwhelmed is if somebody like Martin gets hurt and we have to ask too much of them too soon. If the freshmen can make open threes at a better clip than our paltry percentage last year, we should be ok. Jamal Johnson averaged nearly 7PPG on 35% shooting from the field. We lost Jimario, but he didn’t stretch the floor and surely the new guys can scrap together 7 points and 3.5 boards.

(06-15-2018 03:55 PM)cscottl1981 Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 03:16 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 12:39 PM)steves Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:43 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:00 PM)Shooters Wrote:  Having a new coaching staff with only one coach with ANY college experience (and with so many new players) will affect a lot of things probably including how many games we win. I hope we go to the E8 but you have to be realistic. If you look at the history of first year coaches , most get better as they become more experienced and familiar with each other. That being said, I hope we can play our way into the tournament somehow.

If Memphis gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this year, Penny should be considered for national coach of the year.

My opinion is that about .500 season, middle of the pack in the conference, would be where I'd set my expectations. But, as it is clear reading this board...I'm in the vast minority.

We should be better than last year with a Weaker Conference and some damn good new players ... I'm curious why you think we're a middle of the pack in the AAC team.

I'm not convinced any of the new players will be difference makers as Freshmen. And, I think a never before college coach (even as an assistant) might struggle, early on.

Define difference maker. We don’t need someone to come in and lead the team in scoring. We return our top 4 scorers from last year plus Thornton (who stepped up at the end of last season). The only way I can envision the young guys being overwhelmed is if somebody like Martin gets hurt and we have to ask too much of them too soon. If the freshmen can make open threes at a better clip than our paltry percentage last year, we should be ok. Jamal Johnson averaged nearly 7PPG on 35% shooting from the field. We lost Jimario, but he didn’t stretch the floor and surely the new guys can scrap together 7 points and 3.5 boards.

Difference maker = someone who can make the team appreciably better. I just don't think any of the new guys are going to make big impacts as Freshmen.

That said, we'll have about the same level of team as last year...with a new coach (no college coaching experience) and new system.

I just think there's going to be a BIG learning curve for all involved (players and coaches). I'm very concerned that all the hoopla of the last couple of months has gotten everyone into a frenzy and that we should temper the expectations.

It will be an interesting year. Some unknowns, but I think our league as a whole will be down from last year. We’ve added talent to what we had last year, but our OOC schedule is better. I’m curious to see us play and Penny coach, but (in theory) 20+ wins doesn’t seem unrealistic.

so where is the actual schedule or a list of teams we are playing

can't find it anywhere

(06-15-2018 12:39 PM)steves Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:43 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:00 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:29 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:17 AM)oruvoice Wrote:  NCAA tourney invite metrics?

Regular season champs?

I fear it's going to be a long, hard season if those are the expectations for a first year coach...

Why does "first year coach" matter?

Memphis' mix of talent, depth, and experience will be greater than every other team in the American.

Having a new coaching staff with only one coach with ANY college experience (and with so many new players) will affect a lot of things probably including how many games we win. I hope we go to the E8 but you have to be realistic. If you look at the history of first year coaches , most get better as they become more experienced and familiar with each other. That being said, I hope we can play our way into the tournament somehow.

If Memphis gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this year, Penny should be considered for national coach of the year.

My opinion is that about .500 season, middle of the pack in the conference, would be where I'd set my expectations. But, as it is clear reading this board...I'm in the vast minority.

We should be better than last year with a Weaker Conference and some damn good new players ... I'm curious why you think we're a middle of the pack in the AAC team.

We will have more talent and more experience in a weaker league and he believes we will perform worse.

Honestly I think he is not fully sold on Penny being anywhere near as good as Tubby as a basketball coach (Recruiting Excluded), that is the only thing that makes sense here and he has alluded to that idea.

He is entitled to his opinion and he could be right as Penny has no history as a college coach...it will play out soon.

We only lost one guy that contributed very much and the JC player replacing him will be much better. Also we will have much better shooters and a true point gaurd. Yes I say we will be better, much better.

(06-17-2018 05:43 PM)tigersgrizzfan Wrote:  so where is the actual schedule or a list of teams we are playing

can't find it anywhere

Probably won’t have that until September. Grizzlies are primary Forum tenant, and NBA schedule usually is released in mid August.

(06-17-2018 06:06 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 12:39 PM)steves Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:43 PM)oruvoice Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 02:00 PM)Shooters Wrote:  

(06-14-2018 10:29 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  Why does "first year coach" matter?

Memphis' mix of talent, depth, and experience will be greater than every other team in the American.

Having a new coaching staff with only one coach with ANY college experience (and with so many new players) will affect a lot of things probably including how many games we win. I hope we go to the E8 but you have to be realistic. If you look at the history of first year coaches , most get better as they become more experienced and familiar with each other. That being said, I hope we can play our way into the tournament somehow.

If Memphis gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament this year, Penny should be considered for national coach of the year.

My opinion is that about .500 season, middle of the pack in the conference, would be where I'd set my expectations. But, as it is clear reading this board...I'm in the vast minority.

We should be better than last year with a Weaker Conference and some damn good new players ... I'm curious why you think we're a middle of the pack in the AAC team.

We will have more talent and more experience in a weaker league and he believes we will perform worse.

Honestly I think he is not fully sold on Penny being anywhere near as good as Tubby as a basketball coach (Recruiting Excluded), that is the only thing that makes sense here and he has alluded to that idea.

He is entitled to his opinion and he could be right as Penny has no history as a college coach...it will play out soon.

That is 100% correct.