Is this year's team better than last year's? Maybe.

[Abugabby]

We started 8-0 last year before our first loss and beat #18 NC and #5 Villanova before losing on a mircale shot (and a bad time keeper). This year we are at 10-0 beating #6 Gonzaga and #8 Duke. Tonight's game was ugly, but a W is a W. We should be 13-0 before meeting Rutgers.

 

[indyogb]

This team seems more cohesive and more capable from top to bottom. Last year's team seemed to have a higher ceiling, offensively (early in the year, last year's team was a buzz-saw).

 

[jdbrees922]

Talent absolutely not. But we play better defense and less turnovers

 

[Rutherak1]

Last year, defensive was optional for some it seemed.

 

[Roeder]

Zach/Zach > Trevion/Zach
Gillis/Furst/TKR > Gillis/Furst
Morton < Ivey
Loyer > Sasha
Smith > Hunter

Newman > Newman
Jenkins > IT


.....Yep

 

[New Pal Boiler]

We started 8-0 last year before our first loss and beat #18 NC and #5 Villanova before losing on a mircale shot (and a bad time keeper). This year we are at 10-0 beating #6 Gonzaga and #8 Duke. Tonight's game was ugly, but a W is a W. We should be 13-0 before meeting Rutgers.

We lost 5 good players, but added 5 good players… and the 5 players we added seem to fit better with the 5 returning players.

 

[Lionheart1]

It’s a better “team” this year. As last year went along the more press Ivey got he became a little more of a “me” player. Easy to do I’m sure thinking about what is ahead.

 

[Woodsa]

Last year's collection of players was just that, "me players". This year's squad plays together like a team.

 

[dumpsterFyre]

Last year, conference play turned into Ivey's NBA audition. That's why we cooled after the hot start.

 

[Lee3370]

We started 8-0 last year before our first loss and beat #18 NC and #5 Villanova before losing on a mircale shot (and a bad time keeper). This year we are at 10-0 beating #6 Gonzaga and #8 Duke. Tonight's game was ugly, but a W is a W. We should be 13-0 before meeting Rutgers.

Rutgers is at home, we saw tonight Big Ten road wins will still be tough. I think our first loss will be at OSU. Being from Ohio, and having many OSU family members I hope I am wrong, that is a big bragging rights game for me but I think we beat Rutgers at Mackey by 10 or so.

 

[Roeder]

It’s a better “team” this year. As last year went along the more press Ivey got he became a little more of a “me” player. Easy to do I’m sure thinking about what is ahead.

No doubt team chemistry is better. I will say there were times that Ivey had to be the guy last year. I am in the camp wishing Ivey was even more agressive at picking his spots.

Hunter/Sasha/IT collectively disappeared in big games down the stretch. This year's supporting cast appears to be much better.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Rutgers is at home, we saw tonight Big Ten road wins will still be tough. I think our first loss will be at OSU. Being from Ohio, and having many OSU family members I hope I am wrong, that is a big bragging rights game for me but I think we beat Rutgers at Mackey by 10 or so.

Rutgers got hosed at the end of that game in Columbus and, I can't believe they don't have a monitor review for something like that. Yeah - Bob - let's check that random no hook/hold or shot clock/goal-tend, but a player steps out of bounds right before the wining shot? Ahh, let's hit the showers and get to our steakhouse reservations.

That's going to be a really tough one for the Boilers coming off a home battle with the Scarlet Knights. Battle of the Z's - Zed and Zachen!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ferees-error-game-winning-basket/10868283002/

 

[Dryfly88]

Completely agree Tex. Can't believe you can't review such a critical play. Ridiculous.

 

[KentuckyBoiler]

Talent absolutely not. But we play better defense and less turnovers

We also play together more as a "team" with this year's team over last year's team

 

[BoilerAndy]

We started 8-0 last year before our first loss and beat #18 NC and #5 Villanova before losing on a mircale shot (and a bad time keeper). This year we are at 10-0 beating #6 Gonzaga and #8 Duke. Tonight's game was ugly, but a W is a W. We should be 13-0 before meeting Rutgers.

We haven't lost to Rutgers yet, so we got that going for us.