I'll admit, I'm a fisherman. In real life, and on this message board, sometimes the responses are so predictable, it makes it fun to see that happen. I'm sorry. Throwing rocks at hornets' nests isn't a smart decision, unless you're in heavy protection. The internet offers heavy protection from Hornets. Luckily, most of you know me, so throwing the rocks just makes an otherwise likable guy, less likable. Truth is, this board has become a cesspool for those that have been around since it's beginnings. It used to be fun, and there weren't any personal attacks. Now, you can't have an opinion without someone calling you an idiot. (which I've not done, I just start conversations where SOMEONE is going to get called an idiot....and for some reason, that's fun....call it boredom)
I've been pretty vocal about our basketball coach. In person to people that I know, and also on here. I don't know about y'all, but two sweet sixteens in 10 years is unacceptable for me. Two....in 10 years. And those two, were back to back. We've won one B1G title (tied), and won one B1G tournament. We've upgraded our facilities, we've paid our assistant coaches, and we've paid our coach more money. (after said Sweet Sixteens).
IF....IF....IF AJ Hammons decides to stay, I think we have a shot at some glory next year. If, he decides to leave, I'll predict a lower middle finish in the B1G and missing the NCAA tourney. I love Haas, and I'm glad he's here, but he'll have to put in some serious work in the off-season on conditioning and his handles. Far too many times, he got the ball swatted out of his hands in the post. If he is our only post presence next year, I think we'll struggle. We'll need to depend on our three point shooting to break the 2-3 zone that pretty much every team will throw at us, and you saw how that went for hot 3 point shooting teams in the tourney. We need balance.
Someone said it last week, Matt Painter is who he is, and we "have to live with it". Some of the problems that have plagued his teams, have plagued his teams for a while. Poor free throw shooting, poor game plan on in bounds passing, can't handle a press, constant substituting, etc...Do we win more games in the non conf schedule this past year if Coach Painter keeps JO in the game? Who knows, but from his own words...yes. He admitted he made a mistake and it probably cost us a win or two. After 10 years, do we just say "thanks for admitting your mistake, no worries Coach". It's just getting old. Not hitting free throws is getting old. I get that Coach Painter doesn't shoot the free throws, but bring in a specialist, something...we were 10th in the league in FT%. And in my opinion, you can tie the Cincy loss directly to that.
I guess what I'm most concerned about is the future. The next four years. If AJ stays, maybe we can make a run next year, and perhaps it will help us secure a top flight recruit. As it stands now, Coach Painter has gone back to his model of bringing in Purdue type players. (weatherford, cline etc..) I think that's fine, BUT he needs to deliver. As a school in the hot-bed state of basketball, I don't think it is too much to expect making the tournament every year, and making the sweet sixteen every 2 or 3 and competing for final fours every 6-7 years.
Re-reading this, I guess what I'm saying is that if AJ leaves, I think we're in trouble. long term. I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong, as you know, but my gut tells me things aren't going to get to the level that we should expect. When it comes to football, I don't expect anything. I expect to drink alot before games and I expect stout1 to make me laugh while watching the games. When it comes to basketball, we should expect more. Say what you want about my comment in another thread about Matt Painter holding us hostage. I'm obviously embellishing, but if I had done the same at my job, and said "Look, I want to win championships, and I think we can, but we need to pay our people more, I need more money, and we need better facilities, oh and by the way, I interviewed with another large company" and then I don't deliver? I'd be fired. Matt Painter expected MORE from Purdue University. Purdue University should expect MORE from Matt Painter.
I don't think it is too much to ask.
Now, let's see if we can have a civil discussion.
I've been pretty vocal about our basketball coach. In person to people that I know, and also on here. I don't know about y'all, but two sweet sixteens in 10 years is unacceptable for me. Two....in 10 years. And those two, were back to back. We've won one B1G title (tied), and won one B1G tournament. We've upgraded our facilities, we've paid our assistant coaches, and we've paid our coach more money. (after said Sweet Sixteens).
IF....IF....IF AJ Hammons decides to stay, I think we have a shot at some glory next year. If, he decides to leave, I'll predict a lower middle finish in the B1G and missing the NCAA tourney. I love Haas, and I'm glad he's here, but he'll have to put in some serious work in the off-season on conditioning and his handles. Far too many times, he got the ball swatted out of his hands in the post. If he is our only post presence next year, I think we'll struggle. We'll need to depend on our three point shooting to break the 2-3 zone that pretty much every team will throw at us, and you saw how that went for hot 3 point shooting teams in the tourney. We need balance.
Someone said it last week, Matt Painter is who he is, and we "have to live with it". Some of the problems that have plagued his teams, have plagued his teams for a while. Poor free throw shooting, poor game plan on in bounds passing, can't handle a press, constant substituting, etc...Do we win more games in the non conf schedule this past year if Coach Painter keeps JO in the game? Who knows, but from his own words...yes. He admitted he made a mistake and it probably cost us a win or two. After 10 years, do we just say "thanks for admitting your mistake, no worries Coach". It's just getting old. Not hitting free throws is getting old. I get that Coach Painter doesn't shoot the free throws, but bring in a specialist, something...we were 10th in the league in FT%. And in my opinion, you can tie the Cincy loss directly to that.
I guess what I'm most concerned about is the future. The next four years. If AJ stays, maybe we can make a run next year, and perhaps it will help us secure a top flight recruit. As it stands now, Coach Painter has gone back to his model of bringing in Purdue type players. (weatherford, cline etc..) I think that's fine, BUT he needs to deliver. As a school in the hot-bed state of basketball, I don't think it is too much to expect making the tournament every year, and making the sweet sixteen every 2 or 3 and competing for final fours every 6-7 years.
Re-reading this, I guess what I'm saying is that if AJ leaves, I think we're in trouble. long term. I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong, as you know, but my gut tells me things aren't going to get to the level that we should expect. When it comes to football, I don't expect anything. I expect to drink alot before games and I expect stout1 to make me laugh while watching the games. When it comes to basketball, we should expect more. Say what you want about my comment in another thread about Matt Painter holding us hostage. I'm obviously embellishing, but if I had done the same at my job, and said "Look, I want to win championships, and I think we can, but we need to pay our people more, I need more money, and we need better facilities, oh and by the way, I interviewed with another large company" and then I don't deliver? I'd be fired. Matt Painter expected MORE from Purdue University. Purdue University should expect MORE from Matt Painter.
I don't think it is too much to ask.
Now, let's see if we can have a civil discussion.
