I realize that the cupboard was not overly well stocked for DW, but it looks almost certain that we will finish out the non-conference season at 5-8, with two of those wins being against non-D1 foes and one of the losses being against a SWAC team. That is the stuff that can really get a fan base fired up! Coming out of non-conference with your big wins being over Sam Houston State (in an off year), Tennessee State and Howard is truly inspiring.

We will be 0-3 against central Arkansas opponents that not very long ago would have been considered almost guaranteed wins. (Does the word "laughingstock" come to mind?) We probably are the worst Division 1 program in the state (unless somehow A-State manages to be worse than we are). I don't know where we go from here, but at least it can't be down very much, because there is just not very much room to go down. Hopefully we can at least win three more to get back up to the heroic 7-win effort of last season. (At least we already have the considerable satisfaction of having equaled the 4-win effort of the last Fayetteville offering to Little Rock coaching.)

I like our recruiting class, even if it is not a world-beater; but there is not yet much evidence that Walker is the man to be able to do much with it. We shall see (since that is the only choice we have).

You may be 100% right in your pessimism. I haven't given up hope in this team as of yet. I feel like we do have some talent and some really nice young players. I know making excuses gets old, but we have had 2 key players (their names have changed) missing in every game since our blow-out of Howard. Last night it was DeAndre, probably are best shooter, and Ryan, who has been shooting really well from the behind the arc and seems to be a really stabilizing factor when he is on the court. We technically had Markquis back, but he played very limited minutes and was certainly not back in the flow. So for the last 5 games we have had some combination of Rayjon, DeAndre, Markquis, and Ryan in street clothes. Damir has missed all our games- I have no clue if he would be a factor, or not, if healthy. Regardless, it is extremely difficult to build any sense of continuity/chemistry for a new coaching staff when key players are missing. It is clear we are not a good team when key players are out. We don't have enough depth, talent, and experience to overcome that. I am still hopeful we can be competitive in the Sun Belt when we get healthy. I just hope that happens sooner than later.

I haven't given up by any means, but I am just not seeing any ability in DW yet to get the kids to play like they ought to. We seem to have a great propensity for shooting ourselves in the foot at the worst time, as opposed to rising to the occasion at the right time.

And the depth issue is squarely on DW. He has no excuse on that one. If you don't use your scholarships, you CANNOT use lack of depth as an excuse.

Lack of toughness definitely is an issue. Last night was a good example. And it isn't the lack of a go-to guy, because we certainly have that in Tucker. We are just not there yet, and it is DW's job to get us there, and it isn't happening - yet.

I will say that I think this team is close. We have a go-to scorer in Tucker. Bankston is close to becoming the best scoring force down low that we have had in a long time. Lottie is close to becoming the point guard that we need. We have several offensive options.

We lack a take-charge rebounder and a lock-down defensive stopper.

I see improvement, if only a bit, and I see a team playing some semblance of actual basketball. I’m happy as could expect to be. It’ll take a little time to come back from the embarrassment that was Wes Flanagan.

I will say that win or lose this is an entertaining team to watch as far as wow type plays.

(12-09-2018 07:56 PM)Karl B Wrote:  I will say that win or lose this is an entertaining team to watch as far as wow type plays.

That's true. No one left last night's game feeling like they didn't getting their money's worth. Only us die-hards left rather sick to our stomachs.

This is DW's D-1 coaching debut and by all accounts this is a rebuilding season. He has some adjusting to do and the injuries don't help. Nevertheless, this team still gets up and down the floor and puts on a fun performance and leaves it all on the floor. If we go on a losing skid--assuming we will be full strength by then--during the conference campaign, only then I would question his ability and his motivation. If we get swept by ASU then I'd say his seat should be red hot. So far he shows he is more adept at leading this team than his predecessor and no worse than Shields. He has proven he can coach in the pros and D-2 so it's not his first rodeo as the head coach. The athletes play the game but leadership sets the tone and timbre of the season (DW is a jazz aficionado , hence the musical metaphor there). He is being calm and collected, knowing that it is a learning process. I can't stand coaches that over coach on the sidelines (Shields). I hope that does not translate to him just fiddling while the Jack goes up in metaphorical flames in conference play.

On the other hand I will predict that If DW's teams get close to the level of success that Chris Beard reached, the Jack will be rocking like Barnhill in the 80's.

I am disappointed with some of our losses (UAPB; UCA X2), but not deflated. This team has talent and they play hard. Darrell is improving our defense, but it is a work in progress. This team has people who can score, and that will certainly improve with a healthy DeAndre, Markquis, and Ryan. I wouldn't be surprised if DeAndre is held out the last 3 games of the year and then we have almost 2 weeks off for Christmas. Hopefully, that will allow his toe to fully heal. It would be great for this team's confidence if they could sneak out a win in Memphis or Georgetown. Not probable, but you may catch a team looking ahead to Christmas break. Regardless, I am looking forward to see how this team looks in conference play.