I walked out of Mackey in December after the Gardner-Webb loss pretty dejected. My brother was repeating what he'd been saying for two years, Painter needs to go. I was pretty sure he was right, after vehemently disagreeing for two years. We'd have to blow up the whole thing and who knows, maybe we were entering a three- or four-year tour of the Big 10 cellar. Maybe Painter's replacement would bomb and the program would be set back a decade. Those were the worst fears.
I give full credit to Painter and his staff and the players on this team -- especially Hammons and Davis, who have only been part of majorly struggling teams and had to learn how to win and lead on their own -- for not giving up.
Now two months later the horizon not just for this season but looking out several years looks pretty hopeful. Yes, Painter needs to keep it up on the recruiting trail.
Amazing what a ride this season has been. I started out saying "I'm just going to enjoy watching this team grow up" and I now realize what BS that is -- ha. I'm pretty much incapable of enjoying the low parts of that process.
Here we go. Keep it up, boys. This is a hell of a lot more fun than losing to Gardner-Webb.
I give full credit to Painter and his staff and the players on this team -- especially Hammons and Davis, who have only been part of majorly struggling teams and had to learn how to win and lead on their own -- for not giving up.
Now two months later the horizon not just for this season but looking out several years looks pretty hopeful. Yes, Painter needs to keep it up on the recruiting trail.
Amazing what a ride this season has been. I started out saying "I'm just going to enjoy watching this team grow up" and I now realize what BS that is -- ha. I'm pretty much incapable of enjoying the low parts of that process.
Here we go. Keep it up, boys. This is a hell of a lot more fun than losing to Gardner-Webb.
