This game exposed where SU is as a program. We saw the downside of all the players, the overall roster issues and a new head coach finding his way. It’s painful and hard to watch but necessary to have a realistic assessment. With the exception of Brown our best players faults are equal to their talents. We also have rotational players that wouldn’t get minutes on NCAAT caliber teams.
It is was it is. We are what we have seen. Sure this was the worst the team could perform but at their best this game is still a loss IMO. In some ways I wonder if Red has done a great job to have 11 wins so far. I’m not sure the roster is better than Pitt/BC/Oregon.
I’m going to marinate in this feeling. I’m going to remember it. One day we will be back and this will just make being back feel that much better.
jordoo:
I thought your post was very good.
I agree they weren’t going to win this game or will any games we play vs teams of NC’s caliber this year.
Left with a team that hadn’t really played together, we look like it but are beginning to look better. Red had been, with Gerry and Allen, on the go recruiting, trying to piece together the best team to begin with and then working on man, shooting and trying to sub in the best players to play.
IMO, this is a team that is slowly finding itself, its rhythm and the players are just beginning to gel. We‘ve only completed 1.0 of learning how to play man and I think too many are expecting too much too soon.
Red is getting a better idea of what he has and if he didn’t think something like this was going to happen I’d have to disagree. The team will slowly get better along with its record but maybe not this year.
The ACC is not a good place to play developmental games, especially when we are working to find who fits on the court with whom but that’s what you’ve got. Until we win something substantial and then follow it up with another we’ll plod along the way we are.
As you say, I believe this year’s team so far, is no better than the games you mentioned above and we’ll see if we can repeat against them coming up quickly.
One thing we are missing among others is a fairly consistent three point shooter or two – that would add something we don’t have yet and may not for awhile but is something needed on any team at this level.
Finishing this up, you can’t have players catching fire one at a time across games, you have to have good shooting by key players all the time – it’s how you win.