coolhandgopher
Well-known member
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- Nov 13, 2008
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1. In the 1999-2000 season Michigan State was defeated in late December by Wright State, 53-49. No bones about this game-it was a bad, ugly loss for the Spartans. Michigan State went on to win a national title that season.
2. In 2007-08, the Indiana Hoosiers looked to have the talent to contend not just for the Big Ten title, but a Final Four run. Senior D.J. White, who if memory serves went on to win the Big Ten POY was joined by stellar freshman Eric Gordon and those two were surrounded by a bunch of solid role players. The season began falling apart early, when allegations of drug use during a tournament or a game (hazy memory again) surfaced from the road. Suspensions followed. Kelvin Sampson was dismissed, Dan Dakich replaced him and a revolt ensued. The promising season was derailed, with the miracle loss to Minnesota in the BT Tourney and a first round dismissal in the NCAA tournament.
3. Just last year, the following teams defeated squads that made the Sweet Sixteen: Arkansas (Oklahoma); Western Kentucky (Louisville); UMass, Texas Tech (Kansas); Nebraska (Missouri); Portland State (Gonzaga); Cleveland State (Syracuse); UAB, Stanford, Oregon (Arizona). Virtually every team in the Final Four lost to teams who did not make the NCAA tournament, including 3 of the 4 Final Four teams.
4. More history? Google Tony Cole; Lester Earl; Ricky Clemons; Eddie Griffin; Derrick Caracter; Kenny Brunner; Sam Okey. The list could go on and on and on of talented basketball players who never touched their potential while simultaneously torching the basketball programs they associated themselves with.
5. Let's turn to coaches, sleazeball. John Calipari's name, whether fair or not, seems to always be the lightning rod for these conversations. Once again, try googling Quin Snyder; Dave Bliss; Todd Bozeman; Kelvin Sampson; Steve Fisher; Jim O'Brien; Jim Harrick; Clem Haskins. These coaches (many with a saintly image) either left or were forced out at their schools after major trangressions were discovered. For many of those programs, they are still trying to re-establish their previous success and for the coaches who have resurfaced in D-1 basketball, they're at the low or mid-major level.
Summary:
1. You can overcome a bad loss during the season to achieve great heights as a basketball team.
2. Talented players running a muck do not necessarily morph into the 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Often times, when warning signs are ignored and allowed to fester you have teams that disintegrate due to bad chemistry, ineffective leadership, and/or off the court distractions.
3. Recent events show us that teams can have losses that look bad early (Western Kentucky, Cleveland State) but don't look as bad once the season progresses. We also see that virtually every successful team has at least one unexpected bump in the road during the season.
4. Ignoring divisive, troubled characters on your basketball team purely for talent's sake can have disastrous implications for a team both short-term and long-term.
5. Many of the "shady" coaches aren't believed to be shady until caught; when things fall apart it can take years to recover and the wins and history are tainted under a cloud of suspicion. Fine academic institutions such as Cal, Baylor, Indiana, Minnesota, etc. become associated with renegade athletic departments and damage the institution's reputation.
Final point: While college basketball is fraught with hucksters and con men, Minnesota has one of the more honorable men in the business. Shortcuts taken in the belief of advancing the team on the basketball court often backfire, both short-term and long-term. Cries to ignore the transgressions of Royce White or to soft pedal the problems with Al Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook with the idea that it would benefit the team on the court could actually be detrimental. Hysteria over early season losses is often overreaction, as teams prove their worth and mettle during conference play.
2. In 2007-08, the Indiana Hoosiers looked to have the talent to contend not just for the Big Ten title, but a Final Four run. Senior D.J. White, who if memory serves went on to win the Big Ten POY was joined by stellar freshman Eric Gordon and those two were surrounded by a bunch of solid role players. The season began falling apart early, when allegations of drug use during a tournament or a game (hazy memory again) surfaced from the road. Suspensions followed. Kelvin Sampson was dismissed, Dan Dakich replaced him and a revolt ensued. The promising season was derailed, with the miracle loss to Minnesota in the BT Tourney and a first round dismissal in the NCAA tournament.
3. Just last year, the following teams defeated squads that made the Sweet Sixteen: Arkansas (Oklahoma); Western Kentucky (Louisville); UMass, Texas Tech (Kansas); Nebraska (Missouri); Portland State (Gonzaga); Cleveland State (Syracuse); UAB, Stanford, Oregon (Arizona). Virtually every team in the Final Four lost to teams who did not make the NCAA tournament, including 3 of the 4 Final Four teams.
4. More history? Google Tony Cole; Lester Earl; Ricky Clemons; Eddie Griffin; Derrick Caracter; Kenny Brunner; Sam Okey. The list could go on and on and on of talented basketball players who never touched their potential while simultaneously torching the basketball programs they associated themselves with.
5. Let's turn to coaches, sleazeball. John Calipari's name, whether fair or not, seems to always be the lightning rod for these conversations. Once again, try googling Quin Snyder; Dave Bliss; Todd Bozeman; Kelvin Sampson; Steve Fisher; Jim O'Brien; Jim Harrick; Clem Haskins. These coaches (many with a saintly image) either left or were forced out at their schools after major trangressions were discovered. For many of those programs, they are still trying to re-establish their previous success and for the coaches who have resurfaced in D-1 basketball, they're at the low or mid-major level.
Summary:
1. You can overcome a bad loss during the season to achieve great heights as a basketball team.
2. Talented players running a muck do not necessarily morph into the 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Often times, when warning signs are ignored and allowed to fester you have teams that disintegrate due to bad chemistry, ineffective leadership, and/or off the court distractions.
3. Recent events show us that teams can have losses that look bad early (Western Kentucky, Cleveland State) but don't look as bad once the season progresses. We also see that virtually every successful team has at least one unexpected bump in the road during the season.
4. Ignoring divisive, troubled characters on your basketball team purely for talent's sake can have disastrous implications for a team both short-term and long-term.
5. Many of the "shady" coaches aren't believed to be shady until caught; when things fall apart it can take years to recover and the wins and history are tainted under a cloud of suspicion. Fine academic institutions such as Cal, Baylor, Indiana, Minnesota, etc. become associated with renegade athletic departments and damage the institution's reputation.
Final point: While college basketball is fraught with hucksters and con men, Minnesota has one of the more honorable men in the business. Shortcuts taken in the belief of advancing the team on the basketball court often backfire, both short-term and long-term. Cries to ignore the transgressions of Royce White or to soft pedal the problems with Al Nolen and Lawrence Westbrook with the idea that it would benefit the team on the court could actually be detrimental. Hysteria over early season losses is often overreaction, as teams prove their worth and mettle during conference play.
