We are going to do it.

If you do not determine to do it, you likely will not do it. And it starts here, with Mr. Fan. This is the year! Everything comes together. No locker room problems. Good attitudes. No excuses.

I wonder if the NCAA has ever considered

It just might be the three-point shot that is causing the offensive production to go down. Offenses focus so much on shooting threes that they to a large extent neglect the other facets of the game (except the fast break). It sounds ironic, but maybe going to the old rules would open up the game for more creativity. Just a thought.

What about the defense, guys?

The NCAA almost every year tweaks rules to help the offensive players, yet they hardly ever do the opposite. What is it, folks? Do you just hate defense?

"No nonsense" players

You want players to have fun, but this year we need a few of the no-nonsense type to help set the tone that "we are going to get it done this season." I do not know who that would be, but we need some - badly.

One bad apple

A good locker room and practice atmosphere is so important to a team. One bad apple - one complainer or "me" player or loafer in practice - and a season can be ruined just like that. Coaches can do what they can do, but sometimes the damage is done. Here's hoping we have none of those.

Why I like blue collar basketball

I like the plodders, the not-so-talented guys who make good by hard work and perseverence. I do not care much for the high flyers. I don't like fancy and flashy because I am not fancy and flashy. Blue collar teams may have talent, but they make it on just on talent, but on defense and teamwork. They defend hard, rebound hard, and depend on one another.

Trojan tough

There will be other teams in the Belt that will have better talent than we do; there always are. But we just have to be tougher. Tougher. Tougher. Write it down. Memorize it.

Why teams go south for no reason

It happens sometimes. There is always a reason, though. Sometimes it is because the "pecking order" is disturbed, and it takes time to establish the team leaders.

You have to put windage on prognostications

Flashy teams tend to get overrated. Defensive-oriented teams tend to get underrated. Just the way it is. So, you have to put windage on predictions.

Devonte Smith - I love the numbers

I have never seen him play, but these numbers are impressive.

In his last four years (2 juco, 2 HS), his teams were a combined 115-11. That is a .913 winning percentage!! That included a national championship and two state championships. And since he averaged over 31 minutes his two years at South Plains, you have to figure he was a  big part of the reason for the wins.

Another stat: At South Plains he had a combined 2.93 A/TO ratio. Believe me! that is really impressive, especially for a juco point guard.

Sure he has not scored much. But your point guard does not have to score much if his play is making everyone else score a lot more.

Look for Ben Dillard to have a breakout year playing with Smith.

Here is the fact that keeps staring me in the face

Occasionally players will regress for whatever reason, but that is not the usual trend. Usually they get better, even if only marginally. And, they tend to be considerably better in their second year at the D1 level. Billings, Hagins, Isler, Osse and White will all be in their second year of playing D1 next year. Throw in the fact that Evans, Isom and Poulter have all had a year to absorb as much as they can of D1, even though they could not play. We lost three key players, but we have a lot of key players  back, and some players who OUGHT to be considerably better next year. Throw in the fact that we will have a couple of scholarship seniors this year, which we did not have last year.

Sure, Shields' coaching needs to improve, and I am hopeful that it will. But regardless, he should have more of a talent/experience/maturity combination to work with, and better talent helps make better coaches.

Greatest college player ever?

No competition here. It is Lew Alcindor. Those of you who are younger cannot imagine how good he was. He literally changed the course of the college game.

Isler is the key

This team will achieve or fail based upon its toughness, and Leroy Isler is the man who will set the tone for that quality. Brooklyn tough. Trojan tough.

Frank Kaminsky

Kaminsky was the back-up center for Wisconsin this past season. He logged 329 minutes of play time. He had 26 assists against only 7 turnovers - really a remarkable stat for a big man, or for anyone, for that matter.

Just how much worse will the Belt be?

We lost two teams (MT and NT) who had more success lately than they had been accustomed to having. On paper, it looks like we will be down, but time will tell. Some of the incoming programs have potential. Georgia State actually is coming from a basketball conference that is better than the Belt historically.

A loser?

A few IDIOTS are calling Phil Mickelson a "loser" because he has finished second so many times at the US Open. Good grief! He beats all but one golfer in the entire world, and he is a loser?!

Say it over and over again.

Will will get his 3-point shot back. Will will get his 3-point shot back.

As always the summer is a big key

How hard will the players be working over the summer - to get healthy if they have that problem, and to get in shape regardless. And to get their shots back, if they are Will Neighbour.

I really like the maroon and silver color scheme.

Shields played too many players last year, but

it has payed off in good depth this year.