Expectations- Regular Season and Tourney

[cprh9u]

This is strictly my opinion. You do not have to agree with me or like what I say. Again, my opinion, respond if you like or don't.

Many know I am not a CMP fan. I will say I have been pleased overall with how this season has went. The loss to Illinois was BAD, while Butler and @ UM were disappointing. But that happens to most teams in most years. We had some very nice wins especially against MSU and MD. Overall, I will gladly admit I was pleased with the rotation adjustments and overall coaching of CMP and company. Kudos to him on a nice year.

That said, it all comes down to the tournament. One bad game can make a season that seemed good turn bad in the eyes of fans/coaches/players/AD's/etc. Consequently a nice 3-6 game win streak starting in mid-March can make a disappointing season seem great.

That said, what are you "expecting" starting tomorrow? I know, we are fans, what we expect doesn't matter. But I'm curious nonetheless. What would you be pleased with? What would disappoint you? I would still feel good about this team with a S16 loss. Of course I would like more than 2 wins, but make it to the S16 and lose to #1 seed UVA, and that is a good year for this program. Losing in round 1 would be very disappointing, and turn a good, solid season into a disappointment for me. Round 2 (3, whatever) would be somewhat disappointing even considering a solid regular season as well. Make the S16, expectations met. Elite 8, I would feel very good and final 4 - Championship, I would be ECSTATIC.

No overreactions to whatever happens. This is how I will "feel" depending on what happens. How about you?

 

[BoilerBiker]

Since we didn't end up competing for the big ten regular season title, I think it made the team even hungrier. Then add on the close btt loss.

Id have to wait and see how the games play out to say disappointment after each round I guess.
But Right now I'd say sweet 16 minimum and final four a definite possibility especially in our region - so I'll go with elite 8 as final expectation.
We did finish the regular season ranked tenth in coaches poll after all.

The way we are playing right now (utilizing talent, teamwork, coaching, all of it), I imagine the players/team would be devastated not making a run deeper than the first weekend.

 

[BoilerNGold013]

Tournament: In term of the post season, of course I will be sad if/when we lose but I won't be disappointed if the team goes out fighting their hearts out. I will be very angry if this group goes out on a whimper like the team did against VCU. I don't see that happening with Davis as the captain and the rest of the troops really buying into the defense.
In terms of actual results, I have no expectations. We could lose in the first round or cut down the nets in Houston. The tournament is drastically overrated for determining who the best team is when all the teams are so close in talent and experience (i.e. this year). The tournament is slightly more then a crap shoot so as long as the team plays their hearts out every game, win or lose I will be satisfied.

Regular Season: The season was a story about a knee ligament once again. Specifically, The Captain's knee. I truly believe that we would have only lost 4 regular season games and gotten at least a share of the regular season title if RayDay's knee was 100% for the whole year.
But it wasn't. And as such, the team had to go through a painful offensive awakening as did RayDay in my opinion. From Ray's perspective, for the first time in his basketball life, he could not rely on his upper level first step to get the defenders on his hip and get into the lane. He also had to adjust himself on the defensive end but for whatever reason his defense never fell off like his offense. Probably due to his massive heart and smarts. I look at the Illinois regular season game as definitely the low point in the season and for Ray. I think he was really feeling the effects of his knee that game worst then at any other point.
The team itself had to finally come to the realization that Ray couldn't really be there for them on offense except for sparing moments and usually struggled to score consistently. Ironically enough, the funk wasn't broken out of until the second half in Bloomington this year.The Ohio connection finally said enough was enough and Vince and Dakota started to be aggressive and attack instead of just being post feeders. Ever since that game, the team has seemed to have way more heart and smarts on offense AND defense. Ball movement became crisp and confident. And 3 point shots finally started to fall.
So to get back to the expectations part. Yes the team fell short of what I thought they could do at 100% but in retrospect they did a fantastic job of keeping the ship together during the down period and played their best ball at the end of the season. I am proud of this team and every single play on it.

 

[Boiler_HD]

Tournament: In term of the post season, of course I will be sad if/when we lose but I won't be disappointed if the team goes out fighting their hearts out. I will be very angry if this group goes out on a whimper like the team did against VCU. I don't see that happening with Davis as the captain and the rest of the troops really buying into the defense.
In terms of actual results, I have no expectations. We could lose in the first round or cut down the nets in Houston. The tournament is drastically overrated for determining who the best team is when all the teams are so close in talent and experience (i.e. this year). The tournament is slightly more then a crap shoot so as long as the team plays their hearts out every game, win or lose I will be satisfied.

The bolded point is key for me as well, I expect to go far.... i.e Elite 8, but this is a game of runs and who is hot at the right time.

Boiler Up my friends!

 

[snowsquirrel11]

Since the title is expectations, I'll go with sweet sixteen because this team is a top 16 team. My hope, obviously, is final four or championship, but the legitimate expectation would be sweet sixteen. The only teams that should expect a final four this year, imo, are Kansas and UNC. There are a lot of teams with FF potential, Purdue included, but there is a lot of parity in CBB.