Back Slowly Away From the Ledge

[forevershockerfan]

Let's reflect back to Gabe and Durley's Senior Season. Sometimes I wonder if that was our best team potentially, comparing it to even last Season's team and maybe even this Season's less experienced squad. That Season we were a very tough road team and won some games and won the NIT. Why no Dance? A loss here to SIU, a loss to VCU who eyeballed a gift horse in the mouth and got the unbelievable gift that kept on giving, and made the 2 throws, and the Indiana St. loss at the Lew. Thus, we were a team that could have won some games at the Dance, never made it, peaked at the NIT and brought home the gold.

What does all of this mean? K-State and Oregon found out yesterday in football that teams get up for you and are talented and prepared enough to take you down on a given Saturday. This years' team has 12 solid players, we are undefeated, and the last 2 games has us as irritated as a wet hen. Why? Yesterday, we got outrebounded in the first half by 4. Howard outscored us 36-32 the 2nd half? Howard zone stymied us into a team of playing their game much of the day, not ours. These issues make a feller so mystified he could eat fried chicken baby.

So what is the big fuss with 3G? Why were players at the long meeting thereafter resembling timid fleas on a sizzling skillet on a sultry summer day? It was the learning curve of 8 new talented players and 4 returning players that are being molded into a smarter team that can execute, outwork, and learn to play their own game, not what is being dictated to them by our foes. Now we will see zones until the cows come home. Now we know we better not get out-hustled ever because most teams we face will be much better than Howard.

In the scheme of things, there are still "gray areas" about our beloved Shocks. From top to bottom, I love our talent mix. The question becomes this. How long will it take for our team chemistry to develop into a team that will peak and become the best team we can be? Dunno--stay tuned. However, if and when we get to clicking on all 12 cylinders as a team, watch out because we are going to be a solid team. Yeal, we will get our 20 wins for the 4th Season in a row and get our Shocker record, but there could be some black and yellow frosting on the cake that we like even more. Now THAT is what we long to savor.

[WuDrWu]

Some things work, some things don't. Taking a group of talented young men that just showed on national TV that they can not only compete, but win, against a top 30ish opponent and snapping them back to reality and reminding them they are no better than their last game is a tool that usually works very well.

It works even better when you use a talented, confident and mature senior on the team that A)maybe deserves it and B) can handle it either way.

And let's talk factually for a moment. This team has more physical and basketball talent, 1 to 12, than any team since the early 80s, and probably even before that. But today, as inexperienced as they are playing together in this system, they are MORE than capable of losing 2 games in Cancun. Don't get carried away. The upside is huge, but right now, the downside has a fairly steep slope too.


As a fan and someone who not only has a vested interest in the program but who counts many in and around the program as friends, I have been critical on rare occasions of the harshness of our coach. The fact of the matter is that he knows what he's doing (a hell of lot more than I do) and his track record is one of tremendous success. It works. Why change?

Believe me when I tell you there are no big problems on this team. This is a bump, maybe even a planned one to some extent. The players, coaches, team and program will be better tomorrow than they are today.

Be supportive and enjoy the ride. I watched 2 wonderful young women play their final competitive home volleyball matches of their lives last night. It brought tears to my eyes (as it usually does). This whole thing goes WAY too fast to not enjoy the present.

This team's been on the court 5 times and won every time, and only once by single digits. I am happy expectations are this high, but remember that it can all change quickly, and enjoy the ride.

[SHOXAAC]

Well said Doc...perspective is everything...at least until ADHD sets in with some of us. Great post!

[1972Shocker]

nm

[wusphlash]

I used James Anacreon as an example because was a gifted athlete. He was long, fast and could jump. He showed that early in the year and some thought there was a possibility of him contributing up front. For whatever reason, he never really found a regular place in the rotation.

With all the guys needing minutes to develop, playing time will be hard to come by. Those not already possessing Coach's confidence have a steeper hill to climb. The bench is going to get shorter. If somebody can play their way off the end of the bench, more power to them.

The hope for a single players development cannot take precedence over the development of the team.