bleedsmaroonandgold
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I think I said on a thread earlier this year that I evaluate the team against the following four metrics in order of importance to me: 1) postseason results (both how we did and whether or not it was an improvement from the year before), 2) B1G tournament (again, absolute performance and improvement), 3) B1G standings (absolute performance and improvement), and 4) performance against Wisconsin and Iowa (I don't really care about tracking year to year improvement on this one, I hate losing to those two teams and I love beating them though). Now that the year is done, I figured I would analyze how they did against those measuring sticks and what I expect to see next year.
1) Postseason play: NIT runner up. It was a fun run to watch in the NIT, but the fact of the matter is we were in a position to make that run because we failed to qualify for the tournament that I expect us to. However, we still qualified for a tournament we missed last season and then won 4 games, including 3 on the road. A definite improvement from last season. With Royce White going pro, next season, the only player we will not have due to transfers is Justin Cobbs, and we will have Trevor Mbakwe who we would not have had had it not been for his injury last year. Mbakwe>Cobbs, so we are actually in a better position due to transfers and injuries next season, so with the deck stacked in our favor, I expect us to be one of the last 32 teams standing in the NCAA, and if we fail to make the big dance, I will consider it a very disappointing season.
2) B1G Tournament: quarterfinals. Satisfactory performance here. 4 teams were eliminated before us, 4 were standing after us, and (including us) 4 were eliminated at the same time. In that respect, we were dead center in the toughest conference in college ball, so that is a respectable performance. Also, an improvement from last season when we were eliminated in the first round. We were one shot in regulation from making the semis, so for improvement to continue (especially with the good team we expect next year), I expect us to get that shot and make the semis next season.
3) B1G regular season: Tied for ninth, 6-12 (last season: ninth, 6-12). Could have been worse, but no improvement here, and frankly a very disappointing result. Next season, I expect us in the top half of the conference with 6th year Trevor, a Rodney who did not declare for the draft, and talented juniors and sophomores who will have a lot of minutes under their belts.
4) Wisco and Iowa: 0-4. Ouch. Couldn't have been worse. I don't know if we play them both twice or not next season, but I expect us not to lose to Iowa and to beat the Grinch at Williams if we seem them at home (they won't have Taylor, we have 6th year Trevor). Its always tough to play at the Kohl Center.
I am curious for anyone else's thoughts on how they evaluate the team, and what they think of this year versus what they expect next year.
1) Postseason play: NIT runner up. It was a fun run to watch in the NIT, but the fact of the matter is we were in a position to make that run because we failed to qualify for the tournament that I expect us to. However, we still qualified for a tournament we missed last season and then won 4 games, including 3 on the road. A definite improvement from last season. With Royce White going pro, next season, the only player we will not have due to transfers is Justin Cobbs, and we will have Trevor Mbakwe who we would not have had had it not been for his injury last year. Mbakwe>Cobbs, so we are actually in a better position due to transfers and injuries next season, so with the deck stacked in our favor, I expect us to be one of the last 32 teams standing in the NCAA, and if we fail to make the big dance, I will consider it a very disappointing season.
2) B1G Tournament: quarterfinals. Satisfactory performance here. 4 teams were eliminated before us, 4 were standing after us, and (including us) 4 were eliminated at the same time. In that respect, we were dead center in the toughest conference in college ball, so that is a respectable performance. Also, an improvement from last season when we were eliminated in the first round. We were one shot in regulation from making the semis, so for improvement to continue (especially with the good team we expect next year), I expect us to get that shot and make the semis next season.
3) B1G regular season: Tied for ninth, 6-12 (last season: ninth, 6-12). Could have been worse, but no improvement here, and frankly a very disappointing result. Next season, I expect us in the top half of the conference with 6th year Trevor, a Rodney who did not declare for the draft, and talented juniors and sophomores who will have a lot of minutes under their belts.
4) Wisco and Iowa: 0-4. Ouch. Couldn't have been worse. I don't know if we play them both twice or not next season, but I expect us not to lose to Iowa and to beat the Grinch at Williams if we seem them at home (they won't have Taylor, we have 6th year Trevor). Its always tough to play at the Kohl Center.
I am curious for anyone else's thoughts on how they evaluate the team, and what they think of this year versus what they expect next year.
