12-03-2018, 10:15 AM
I agree that it seemed like the focus and effort just weren't there for 3 quarters. Lots of missed layups, telegraphed passes and poor rebounding. But the team mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. I just wish we could have seen that starting at the beginning of the second quarter. The consistency is frustrating because players like Fingall and Carrington have great games or quarters and then sometimes disappear. I have hope that in their junior year we will see more consistent performances from them.
A note of optimism, the 2016-2017 team also lost to Gonzaga (and that game was at Maples). And that team went on to have a pretty good regular season (5 losses) and then shocked the world by making the Final Four. My hope for this year is that kind of season. Play at a pretty high level, get better through the year and then give ourselves a chance at an upset of a top team in the tournament. Next year, with our incoming recruiting class, my expectations are get back to the level of top team. Be in the top 5 of the rankings consistently, solidly beat good teams like Gonzaga, feel like the teams we had with Chiney leading the way and expect to be in the Final Four.
A note of optimism, the 2016-2017 team also lost to Gonzaga (and that game was at Maples). And that team went on to have a pretty good regular season (5 losses) and then shocked the world by making the Final Four. My hope for this year is that kind of season. Play at a pretty high level, get better through the year and then give ourselves a chance at an upset of a top team in the tournament. Next year, with our incoming recruiting class, my expectations are get back to the level of top team. Be in the top 5 of the rankings consistently, solidly beat good teams like Gonzaga, feel like the teams we had with Chiney leading the way and expect to be in the Final Four.