This team has terrible chemistry. We know something is/has been going on. (And yes, I agree that our flaws were masked by an easy schedule and that we can't shoot.) So, if we are mental Sherlocks, we can only deduce by evidence.
#1. MCW, leader of the team, shoplifts a bathrobe, and as far as we know, has not taken any real responsibility for it. A tone was set. The team has a leader who has character issues. How to trust him?
#2. Southerland is accused of cheating, and there is another issue of being let down. Even without that, he is inconsistent on court. A trust issue.
#3. Brandon has great difficulty being a leader. He puts way too much pressure on himself. He implodes.
#4. Grant steps up, then is yanked and given very few minutes, even though Southerland is proving unreliable. He is doubting his coach, doubting himself.
#5. Cooney has been an offensive no show. He is doubting himself, and his team is also doubting him.
#6. DaJuan entered the season with very high expectations for himself. Turns out, it's going to take time. Suddenly, he is not "the man." Then he has surgery and is out for a month. This is hard on a player's morale.
#7. This is the last year of the Big East and Boeheim is grieving. He has said as much, although he hasn't used that term. He wonders about his legacy and where all this is going? He may be feeling pretty weary. It's got to be difficult to be him right now.
#8. Coach Hop has high energy but he could be leaving. This is a blow. Perhaps bigger than the fans can understand.
#9. Jake has hinted that there will be off season issues. Something else is brewing that may be affecting everyone in the basketball program.
It seems to me there are a whole lot of ingredients in the meltdown stew that we are all now trying to digest. Doubt and mistrust appear to be the meat and potatoes. We can only wait and see.I feel badly for the team and for the coaches. I feel kind of bad for us, too!
In the meantime, I am going to the Big East Tourney!
