BG Birds of Prey

Well, I waited 24 hours to post so I could do so rationally rather than emotionally.  Not sure I can even now. Bottom line is we aren’t real good and BG is even worse.  That game was just painful to watch and frankly we had no business winning it.  When I found out Wiggins wasn’t going to play I was giddy. After the first five minutes, seeing their talent, I thought we are gonna drub this team.  Their other bigs are terrible and their guards slightly above average.  But I underestimated our proclivity for stupid passes, bad shot selection and repeated fundamental errors.  Gunn comes in and chucks three horrible threes out of rythum at really poor times, El Amin was lost as usual and our starters just stumbled around like they were drunk.  I swear other than Sellers, who else plays with any freaking consistency?   At least he hustles.  God knows I love TP, but he is BSU’s version of Lance Stephenson, either spectacular and dramatic or out of control and an emotional midget.  

Im glad as hell we won, but if anyone could come away from that game encouraged then you’re an idiot homer with no common sense.  Pick up your sign on the way out the 🚪 

BTW, belated happy birthday 🎈 to my boy Rob.  At least your Cards gave you a W!   

The harsh reality is our team is a mess and RC outlined that quite well. Glad we got the win, but oy.

Maybe we should have red-shirted them as well. Because you know development and stuff. 

Yeah you wouldn't want that fifth year on the back end of Hall of Fame career, what you want to do instead is  red-shirt the worst guy in every class. Apparently,  you want the least talented around as long as possible, or something to that effect. 

Many do RS.   We gave Teague a RS year and it seems to have worked fine, what is the big deal about that?

Huggins used a scholarship we had not filled, was not expected to be anything other than what he is, and that is a player you expect to develop, but don't now know whether he'll be a player who just adds depth or becomes part of the rotation in a few years up front.  This is true for many MAC big men, RS or not. 

So far reports indicate he is doing well enough in his first year.  We'd all have liked an impact big man recruit instead, but Koch who we saw last night was considered a pretty good MAC recruit and in 20 minutes a game, BTW much like Wiggins his first year, is getting maybe 5 pts and 5 rb a game.

That is below what Moses produced and Teague produced in their first year. I'd love to see  more recruits like those two, or better,  added.

But, if we could get something from Huggins in a year or so, we win the bet.  But I like your idea of recruiting several guys better.  OTOH if we don't, we'll likely be glad to have him to provide some rebounding and defense.  What's the problem with that exactly?  

You've identified the main issue with our teams for the past few years -- "Consistency and fundamental discipline". That doesn't stem from natural talent. It is a factor of structure and preparation.

Having players committed to a regimen or philosophy that prepares them for a complete six month schedule is important. Having coaches that push the players year round to be prepped for the six month schedule is critical.

IMO we have a breakdown in both facets. We don't appear to have that commitment. We don't appear to have staff pushing for that kind of commitment.

Basketball doesn't seem to be the only program suffering from this.

Yep. It is called complacency from our administration. We give a coach not one, but 2 extensions based on a mirage from poor scheduling. We improve our schedule this year and get our asses destroyed by Oklahoma and Oregon, beat a Notre Dame team that is currently 13-10. We start MAC play by being destroyed at home by Buffalo and have been pretty mediocre ever since. I just do not sense our administration or a majority of our coaches caring about being the best. Mediocrity is accepted and good enough.