Legacy on the line for 5th year seniors (and TyRob?)

[Newhouser]

Trevor and Mike have a chance to change their whole legacy over the next few weeks.
I think we all realize this team is what it is - decent club that can be very good and very beatable. IF Mike and Trevor can play well and lead us to the tournament and win one game their legacy is totally different than if we fade the rest of the way. They are 5th year players this year's result is on them. Right, wrong, good, or bad.

Trevor may be the most polarizing player ever here, and Mike has had moments good and bad without generating the venom (right now his lasting memory is missed dunks and the worst pull up jumps shot choice in basketball history). As it stands their legacy is either going to be "they couldn't lead us to the NCAA's", or they helped one of our more limited teams get to the dance and keep the brand on track and relevant.

I put TyRob in there as well because I too think he is gone. I don't think he is NBA bound, but I think kids today don't adjust to the "coaching up" that JB often provides. These kids have had carte blanche their whole basketball life and I think more and more that instead of taking having someone in their face, they check out and take a different (easier?) path. I think it is an understated reason why kids go pro too early - they don't enjoy the yelling that college coaches are more prone toward than their professional colleagues. I hope he stays but IF he leaves - his legacy here is going to be determined by his effort and production these last 2 weeks.

I hope these young men grasped the love the 96 team received Saturday. This team won't get to that point, but our fan base knows the score, and if this team makes us proud,the leaders are going to have a spot in our heart.

 

[Ward]

Trevor and Mike have a chance to change their whole legacy over the next few weeks.
I think we all realize this team is what it is - decent club that can be very good and very beatable. IF Mike and Trevor can play well and lead us to the tournament and win one game their legacy is totally different than if we fade the rest of the way. They are 5th year players this year's result is on them. Right, wrong, good, or bad.

Trevor may be the most polarizing player ever here, and Mike has had moments good and bad without generating the venom (right now his lasting memory is missed dunks and the worst pull up jumps shot choice in basketball history). As it stands their legacy is either going to be "they couldn't lead us to the NCAA's", or they helped one of our more limited teams get to the dance and keep the brand on track and relevant.

I put TyRob in there as well because I too think he is gone. I don't think he is NBA bound, but I think kids today don't adjust to the "coaching up" that JB often provides. These kids have had carte blanche their whole basketball life and I think more and more that instead of taking having someone in their face, they check out and take a different (easier?) path. I think it is an understated reason why kids go pro too early - they don't enjoy the yelling that college coaches are more prone toward than their professional colleagues. I hope he stays but IF he leaves - his legacy here is going to be determined by his effort and production these last 2 weeks.

I hope these young men grasped the love the 96 team received Saturday. This team won't get to that point, but our fan base knows the score, and if this team makes us proud,the leaders are going to have a spot in our heart.

I think to chalk up how JB treats his players in public to the media as being "coached up" is giving JB a huge pass. I can't think of any other coach at any level who publicly bashes his players like JB does when you think back to some of his comments he's made the past few years regarding Roberson, McCullough's draft prospects, Grant and Ennis after they left, Gbinije early on in his career, etc. That stuff hurts us on the recruiting trail and probably plays a role in their decision to leave early when they're on the fence. It's embarrassing to the program and there really is no need for it. Keep that stuff behind closed doors.

Having said that, I agree that a strong finish will shape a lot of thoughts on how Gbinije and Cooney are remembered. We need to look no further back then a couple years ago when the fan base was frustrated with Triche and Southerland senior leadership and then we rip off a Final 4 run and they end both of their great careers here on a high note. Despite the inconsistencies this year I think our best game can compete with all but a few teams in the country and am still holding on to hope that we can make some noise these next few weeks.