Re: 2002-03 season postmortem

[zahid javaid]

SNIP

"I for one cannot wait for next season.  Having a disappointing year should
> make you that much hungrier.  I know Huggins and his staff will be VERY
> hungry.  Hopefully, that rubs off on the players."
>
>
> J. Keith Wedinger
> Senior Software Developer
> Sterling Commerce


I agree they will be hungry and probably win 25 games, but what will they do 
that will make them get 2-3 wins in the tourney consistently (say 3 out of 5 
years, not asking too much, is it)?

How do we avoid having inept offense (one year it can't play against a zone, 
another it has no ball handler, another it can't shoot...)?

How do we consistently get hard-nosed mentally tough, talented people.  I 
think it is hard to get these hard-nosed, mentally tough, talented people to 
contribute if they are only here for 2 years. Herb Jones was one of the few 
exceptions.

Can we compete head to head in recruiting with the top programs and not have 
to take talented transfers (juco and D1 transfers)?  I don't have the 
answers.  One thing I was very surprised about, was Huggs saying they would 
go do well in tourney (or aganist the Zags?) if they made shots. It was just 
a quote, and maybe Huggs mentioned defense, charges, rebounding but that was 
not mentioned in the quote.  I hope he doesn't convince himself everything 
is perfect, it is just the shots don't fall!  I think if we played the 
"bearcat" style we have come to know and love (see last 10 years) we could 
have beated the Zags.
IMHO, step 1: get the defense, taking charges, rebounding, toughness back.  
Step 2: fix the offense.  Many of our last 9 losses would have been won by 
playing  "bearcat style".  That would have gotten us to Sweet 16, probably.  
Then, we would have been ranked high, and would we have had the offense, and 
leadership, etc. to go farther?  This year we didn't have number one or two. 
 I am hoping we restore the "D" and make an offensive philosophy change.
Go Cats!
Zahid


> From: "Wedinger, Keith" <address@hidden>
> Reply-To: address@hidden
> To: address@hidden
> Subject: [UC Basketball] 2002-03 season postmortem
> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 12:10:31 -0500
>
> Let's consider the following:
>
> 1.  Donald Little was kicked off the team...again.  UC was counting on him
> being the guy in the middle.
> 2.  BJ "I am a McDonald's Gold Club Member" Grove ate his way off the team.
> So say goodbye to centers #1 and #2.
> 3.  Huggins suffered a life threatening heart attack.
> 4.  Huggins' mother was in ill health
> 5.  Most of the scoring and rebounding from last season was gone.  Gone too
> was the team's leadership.
>
> Despite all of this (I believe #3 and #4 had a BIG impact on Huggs this
> season), the team won 17 games, beat up on 3 top 10 teams along the way and
> made it to the NCAA tournament.
>
> I would be lying if I said that this season did not leave a bad taste in my
> mouth.  We have all come to expect:
> 1.  25+ wins
> 2.  Conference championships
> 3.  Top 25 rankings
>
> So anything less than this results in disappointment and questioning of the
> team and/or the coaching staff.  I am as guilty as anybody when it comes to
> this.
>
> Huggins has said time and time again that this year's up and down season 
> was
> entirely his fault.  I have a feeling that #3 and #4 above had something to
> do with Huggins demeanor towards the team.
>
> I honestly believe that next seaon will be different at least from an
> attitude and an effort perspective.  Huggins is not going to put up with a
> lack of effort next season.  It'll be his way or the bench.  We all know
> that next season's team will have more talent and it will hopefully have a
> true center (the expectations for Whaley are so high right now, I don't see
> how he could meet them unless he averages a triple double in points, boards
> and blocks).
>
> I for one cannot wait for next season.  Having a disappointing year should
> make you that much hungrier.  I know Huggins and his staff will be VERY
> hungry.  Hopefully, that rubs off on the players.
>
>
> J. Keith Wedinger
> Senior Software Developer
> Sterling Commerce


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