My main point of reference with regard to the team was watching them play at Oakland the day after Thanksgiving. I left with 12 minutes to go in the game because I just couldn't take it anymore. Kampe completely outcoached TK and it looked like it was going to be a 20 point blowout - at least. I got there late and UT was up 8. I left and they were down 15. To my surprise, I learned later they came back and only lost by a couple. What I saw was abysmal. Juice Brown was completely outplayed by the Oakland point guard - and they had a guy who could nail 3 pointers all day. We had no semblance of an offense - at least not one that looked like it had a plan to it.

He may have taken this program as far as he can. I agree with Boca's comments about Nichols. He inherited a lot of talent -- and a lot of problems. If TK can do what Nichols did, then I will stand corrected on my assessment. But, Nichols did it with a lot less talent after Mix was gone. The team he inherited was loaded. TK had similar issues with what he inherited, only about 10x worse - and not nearly as much talent.

If K is a poor coach I'm curious what it takes to be a good one. Most wins ever in a season, turned around the Cross mess almost overnight. As for Stacey, how do you not know what you're getting into when you sign on? To leave the school in the lurch after it shows its faith in you by hiring you is what I find bizarre. Stick around and maybe learn what it takes to win a MAC Championship and 27 games in a year. Stacey opted to bail.

(08-08-2015 08:56 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  If K is a poor coach I'm curious what it takes to be a good one. Most wins ever in a season, turned around the Cross mess almost overnight. As for Stacey, how do you not know what you're getting into when you sign on? To leave the school in the lurch after it shows its faith in you by hiring you is what I find bizarre. Stick around and maybe learn what it takes to win a MAC Championship and 27 games in a year. Stacey opted to bail.

(08-08-2015 05:03 PM)MotoRocket Wrote:  My main point of reference with regard to the team was watching them play at Oakland the day after Thanksgiving. I left with 12 minutes to go in the game because I just couldn't take it anymore. Kampe completely outcoached TK and it looked like it was going to be a 20 point blowout - at least. I got there late and UT was up 8. I left and they were down 15. To my surprise, I learned later they came back and only lost by a couple. What I saw was abysmal. Juice Brown was completely outplayed by the Oakland point guard - and they had a guy who could nail 3 pointers all day. We had no semblance of an offense - at least not one that looked like it had a plan to it.

He may have taken this program as far as he can. I agree with Boca's comments about Nichols. He inherited a lot of talent -- and a lot of problems. If TK can do what Nichols did, then I will stand corrected on my assessment. But, Nichols did it with a lot less talent after Mix was gone. The team he inherited was loaded. TK had similar issues with what he inherited, only about 10x worse - and not nearly as much talent.

That Oakland game just happened to be one of their worst games. I don't believe that one game is a reflection of Coach K. I find it hard to believe that a bad coach could possibly win the most games in a season in school history which TK did in 2013-2014. No UT basketball team had ever won 27 games in a season, including Bob Nichols' teams, but Coach K's team did.

I know that this past season was a disappointment, but I am confident that the program is in good hands with Coach K.

there's things we overlook here. ut just finished a great upgrade of savage before coach k arrived. the campus is a lot better than similar state schools. we'd been pretty good for a while under stan. the upheaval of stan's last yr and the coach crosshisssss ridiculousness gave coach k both a terrible mess and a clean slate to work with at a generally good mac program. he was provided with the scenario and tools to take a rock bottom program and make it a respectable mid major. he not only quickly accomplished that but he provided 3 straight years of meeting or exceeding expectations - 2011-12 getting to the postseason w rebuilding roster and sanctions, next year the co-championship of the division in spite of harsh ncaa sanctions that had nothing to do with current players and staff , and then, the 27 win 13-14 season, when our offense was very efficient.

really, this past season was the aberration. some of the key players regressed or had bad stretches. the departure of stacey was badly timed. and momentum wise - where the yr before we opened on the road with a close win against an acc team. the 2014-15 team played well most of the game against a top 20 team on the road to open up, but closed weakly and lost. we followed that up with a long trip to oregon where with some poor calls and justin drummund inexplicably gunning wildly we kinda beat ourselves. the team never found it's footing after and played like they were poorly coached at times.

coach k now has a big new class fitting into a 2 year plan to mix good young players w a veteran big man leader (boothe this year and Taylor next) and a couple versatile veteran scoring guards (mosley and williams). if we are healthy and we don't have many key guys leave the program we could be back to good teams that meet or exceed expectations. this is a place coach k may have never really earned to be in before. now, we see if he can not only keep up the house, but add on to it.