biggest detriment

What is the single biggest detriment to this program. The "we don't oink" factor? Lack of much history? Walk-on campus? Lack of attention of the administration? I don't know. Wish I did. But even if I did, I couldn't fix it.

humbug

Here's hoping the new superconferences and ESPN all go broke!

best and worst

In our best dream world, Money and Bails become beasts up front and we finally win it all. In our worst nightmare, they don’t, and we still don’t play defense, and we struggle to get to .500.

Money

I hope Montrelle spends more time at the 4 this season, instead of the 5. He is a natural 4, and I think he should do some outstanding work there.

the Wisconsin way

They didn't turn the ball over (8.8 turnovers per game). They did not allow many baskets (56.9 ppg by opponents). They didn't allow opponent to crash the glass (got 73% of available rebounds on defensive boards).

downside of jucos

One disadvantage of recruiting too many jucos. When a coach uses mainly freshmen, he can see when he might have an exceptionally good team and schedule a tough slate that year so he might make a little more impact than usual. With jucos, by the time you know if they are going to be good, they already are seniors and it is too late to toughen the schedule.

buy in?

I could be wrong, but it seemed like the 23-win team year before last bought into Shields' system pretty well and thrived on it. Every coach has his system, and that will be what the team uses. They can fight it, or buy into it. If they buy into it, they might do better earlier.

Quote from Jay Wright, Villanova coach

after their overtime win against Robert Morris:
"They are well coached. That is actually harder to play against than great athletes that are undisciplined."

DON'T RUN, WON'T RUN

There is a difference between teams that do not run - that is, they do not use that as their first option. It doesn't mean they are opposed to it, they just don't do it frequently as a part of their scheme.

Other team's won't run. Their coaches won't let them.

There is a difference.

Cautiously optimistic

Again, I definitely think we will be considerably improved next season. Now, considerably improved from a lousy season may not be great. However, I think the tools are there for a pretty good season. It appears our front line is staying intact, and that could work out to be huge. Our top three perimeter players are experienced and capable. How the point position works out could be the main key for how the season goes.

calm demeanor

Good quote about the young Butler coach's calm sideline deameanor: "Most coaches mellow with age, but if that happens to him, they may have to check for a pulse."

new faces?

We may be seeing some new faces among the top tier of the SBC next season. Both Florida schools could be making a move, and Denver looks to be strong again. Will there be others as candidates?

Williams

D'Andre Williams may be a key to whether we have even a decent season this year. If he is the real deal at point, good things could happen.

caveat

I might have to make a caveat on my prediction that Shields will not be back next year. If we have a reasonably strong season and if we sign Will Neighbour, then he definitely returns. That combination of events is quite a long shot, however.

one person?

Sometimes one player can make all the difference in the chemistry of a team, and you always hope that person is in the incoming class. Something was wrong last year, that is for sure.

important, but not everything

Talent is important, but it isn't everything. If a team plays hard, plays focused, plays together - good things usually happen.

hot shooting

Ricky Davison didn't just set the school single-season 3PT% record this year; he demolished it.

He shot 51.4%, way past the old record of 46.6% held by Nick Zachery. That is a differential of 4.8 percentage points.

By comparison, slots 2-10 have an average differential of 0.5% points, and the next largest was 1.1% points between David Hall, now in 4th, and Barky, now in 5th.

chemistry

It is just a guess, but I am thinking that our getting back into the top tier of the SBC next season will be more an issue of chemistry than talent. It takes very good talent to win it all, and we may not have that, but we did not get the best of what we had last season. We have to do that this year.

last year

I will go on record as saying that I think this will be Shields' last year regardless of what happens. Now, stick around and see if I am right.

half full department

Maybe the reason we haven't recruited hard this spring for post players is that the staff is confident of what they have. Could it be? Oh, well.