Toughness

There are a lot of things I do not like about this team (mainly their lack of shooting), but I definitely like their toughness, and that can make up for a lot of deficiencies.

Slap fouls

One thing that really bugs me is when referees will not call slap fouls. So often this just allows the game to degenerate into playground-ball, with little discipline or structure.

Comparing eras

Four of the best teams of the last decade (2004 UConn, 2009 NC, 2007 Florida, 2005 NC) lost a combined 19 games.

From 1964 to 1976, the 13 national champions lost a combined 12 games. With one and done, you just do not see the great teams any more.

Northwestern out again?

With the overtime loss last night, it looks like Northwestern will not make it to the NCAA once again, barring heroics in the Big Ten tournament. I think it is time for Carmody to go. His teams are just soft, and can't/won't rebound and play hard-nosed ball.

MTSU next year

Middle Tennessee should return four starters next season with some awfully impressive stats, but I will go on record now as saying that they will not be nearly as scary without LaRon Dendy at the top of the stat sheet. He just is a huge difference maker at the Sun Belt level, and they will not be the same team without him.

Watch out!

Keep your eyes open for upcoming gimmicks by the NCAA to try to distance the Big Six conferences from the rest of D1 college basketball.

DOESN'T CARRY WEIGHT WITH ME

Some people argue in favor of the 3-point shot because it helps the little guys, who generally are unable to get top-level post talent, but can sometimes get shooters. That argument does not hold water with me. Sure, it helps the little guy, but if you have to invent a gimmick to level the playing field, what does it matter? If you can't do it legitimately, it does not count.

Overachievers

This team really has over-achieved this year. Their surprising record in conference play may have lifted our expectations some, but I still have my doubts. We are absolutely terrible shooters, and with Neighbour hurting, we are woefully short-handed in the post. I love defense, but it can only carry you so far. For the season as a whole we are mediocre at rebounding, fair at FT shooting, and only OK at taking care of the ball. That is not much of a resume to make up for not being able to throw the ball in the ocean.

Make the season relevant

One thing the NCAA badly needs to do is something to make relevant the regular season in college basketball. The tournament is their big draw, but they seemingly have put all their chips in that one basket. Drawing fans to regular season games is getting harder and harder - and no wonder, since those games mean very little. Hey, NCAA - give this some attention. It is not brain surgery. But probably they are so focused on football that nothing else matters.

Shooting - in the foot?

This team's shooting is TERRIBLE. Perhaps the worst-shooting Trojan team on record. They have to do a bunch of other things well in order to succeed.

3-point defense

3-point shooting totally dominates college basketball because it rewards bad shots. However, it is a fact of life. So, I would submit that the single most important statistic a coach can look at is 3-point percentage defense, or in other words, a team's opponents shooting percentage from the arc.

Polls?

Just exactly what are the polls supposed to be measuring? Which team has had the better overall season? Which team would beat another at a given moment in time? Which team has been hot lately?

Our crowds are terrible!

Our crowds at the Jack are depressing! Not talking about the number, but the fact that they don't cheer! They just sit there! Even when the team is in a close game and needs them. They just are not basketball fans!

Phew!

We really stunk against Monroe. We will have to pick it up a bunch to finish strong. Not much to brag about at all!

Take care of business

As far as winning the division, our situation is in our own hands. We are in the lead, we just have to keep the lead. Win the ones we ought to win, and we will be OK.

Bad scheduling?

Richmond is one of the better FT shooting teams around. They hit 75.5% as a team. But their opponents shoot 76.9%. What did they do, only schedule teams that could hit their charity shots?

Win what we ought to

If we will just win out the games that we should win, this will have been a fairly successful season given the number of new faces. And lots of optimism going forward. But we have to win them.

Try again next year

I had high hopes for Northwestern this year, but they blew it. Just plain blew it! They have the skills; what they do not have is the toughness.