(01-13-2020 12:18 AM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:59 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:35 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:11 PM)tharmon15 Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 07:12 PM)Penny1 Wrote:  He's 11-2 without the projected #1 overall pick.

If you have watched each game, and you might have, there are clearly things he is struggling with right now that he needs to work on. His record right now does not equate good coaching. He has played many teams without a pulse. We have won a few games that could have gone either way because we could not keep the foot on the gas.

I do not think Penny is a bad coach. I also do not think he is a good coach. This is a long process that each Memphis fan should have known going into this. I back Penny 100%, but I also try to be realistic.

People get caught up in the moment. Fans are the worst. When he was 12-1 he was being considered for coach of the year after what happened with Wiseman. He loses to WSU with two starters who were getting over the flu. Lester broke his hand. Dandridge coming off knee surgery. Maurice the starting center didn't play today (not sure whats wrong with him now).

With none of that happening, I think the vast majority of Memphis fans still would have figured they still would have lost two or three games by now. Why? Because they're freshman.

Now we're asking whether or not he can coach. Everyone needs to take a deep breath.

We've got a bunch of young bucks who are learning how to play at the college level. They'll figure it out.

That was not the view expressed by many tiger fans on here in the preseason. Despite a few coming with a schtick as the season approached.

So? We brought in the #1 class in the country. What do you expect SOME of the fans to think?

There was a Temple fan in here who thought they were going to be the **** based on almost nothing. A Houston fan (you know who I'm talking about) acted like their football team was going to be ranked, win the AAC, and set the world on fire. What happened? They red-shirted the season. Things change.

NCAA suspended Wiseman the #1 recruit in the country and he quit. Again, things change. Sometimes they change dramatically.

You want to revise history? Go for it. We're struggling, but the season isn't over yet.

And Miggy gets hell for it. Just as Memphis fans should get hell for the crap that was spewed here. Strangely enough, a lot of those fans aren't as perky or posty anymore. Funny how that works.

(01-13-2020 12:18 AM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:59 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:35 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:11 PM)tharmon15 Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 07:12 PM)Penny1 Wrote:  He's 11-2 without the projected #1 overall pick.

If you have watched each game, and you might have, there are clearly things he is struggling with right now that he needs to work on. His record right now does not equate good coaching. He has played many teams without a pulse. We have won a few games that could have gone either way because we could not keep the foot on the gas.

I do not think Penny is a bad coach. I also do not think he is a good coach. This is a long process that each Memphis fan should have known going into this. I back Penny 100%, but I also try to be realistic.

People get caught up in the moment. Fans are the worst. When he was 12-1 he was being considered for coach of the year after what happened with Wiseman. He loses to WSU with two starters who were getting over the flu. Lester broke his hand. Dandridge coming off knee surgery. Maurice the starting center didn't play today (not sure whats wrong with him now).

With none of that happening, I think the vast majority of Memphis fans still would have figured they still would have lost two or three games by now. Why? Because they're freshman.

Now we're asking whether or not he can coach. Everyone needs to take a deep breath.

We've got a bunch of young bucks who are learning how to play at the college level. They'll figure it out.

That was not the view expressed by many tiger fans on here in the preseason. Despite a few coming with a schtick as the season approached.

So? We brought in the #1 class in the country. What do you expect SOME of the fans to think?

There was a Temple fan in here who thought they were going to be the **** based on almost nothing. A Houston fan (you know who I'm talking about) acted like their football team was going to be ranked, win the AAC, and set the world on fire. What happened? They red-shirted the season. Things change.

NCAA suspended Wiseman the #1 recruit in the country and he quit. Again, things change. Sometimes they change dramatically.

You want to revise history? Go for it. We're struggling, but the season isn't over yet.

Before the Wisemen mess, Vegas (not over exuberant Tiger fans) pegged Memphis among the top five (maybe higher - I cannot remember) to win the NC.

I tempered my expectations in pre-season after reading an article by Gary Parrish about past success for freshman dominated teams in the NCAA Tourney. Hence, I picked WSU to finish first in the regular season.

The Tigers (as of now) are a much better rebounding team than at the start of the season. I hope for similar progress on the turnover problem.

(01-13-2020 07:38 AM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 12:18 AM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:59 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:35 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:11 PM)tharmon15 Wrote:  If you have watched each game, and you might have, there are clearly things he is struggling with right now that he needs to work on. His record right now does not equate good coaching. He has played many teams without a pulse. We have won a few games that could have gone either way because we could not keep the foot on the gas.

I do not think Penny is a bad coach. I also do not think he is a good coach. This is a long process that each Memphis fan should have known going into this. I back Penny 100%, but I also try to be realistic.

People get caught up in the moment. Fans are the worst. When he was 12-1 he was being considered for coach of the year after what happened with Wiseman. He loses to WSU with two starters who were getting over the flu. Lester broke his hand. Dandridge coming off knee surgery. Maurice the starting center didn't play today (not sure whats wrong with him now).

With none of that happening, I think the vast majority of Memphis fans still would have figured they still would have lost two or three games by now. Why? Because they're freshman.

Now we're asking whether or not he can coach. Everyone needs to take a deep breath.

We've got a bunch of young bucks who are learning how to play at the college level. They'll figure it out.

That was not the view expressed by many tiger fans on here in the preseason. Despite a few coming with a schtick as the season approached.

So? We brought in the #1 class in the country. What do you expect SOME of the fans to think?

There was a Temple fan in here who thought they were going to be the **** based on almost nothing. A Houston fan (you know who I'm talking about) acted like their football team was going to be ranked, win the AAC, and set the world on fire. What happened? They red-shirted the season. Things change.

NCAA suspended Wiseman the #1 recruit in the country and he quit. Again, things change. Sometimes they change dramatically.

You want to revise history? Go for it. We're struggling, but the season isn't over yet.

And Miggy gets hell for it. Just as Memphis fans should get hell for the crap that was spewed here. Strangely enough, a lot of those fans aren't as perky or posty anymore. Funny how that works.

Use ECU fans be like:

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two semi serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post regardless. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations to a 7 man one and play the the legit players we have on this team like other teams would.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post in Coleman and Baruti. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations and play the rest of the legit players we have on this team like other teams would with such a disparity in performance.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

Dooley is most certainly a bum and doesn't know what he's doing. Where do you coach at Jonesing? To my weak basketball mind, I'd say whoever is hitting shots is getting more minutes and that maybe we have some depth to do that now.

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post in Coleman and Baruti. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations and play the rest of the legit players we have on this team that don't get us the kind of minutes.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

To add to this. I'm impressed by how ECU has come along so far this year. They were abysmal early (that was to be expected with a completely new roster) but have clearly made strides. They've pulled off a couple games in conference and look competitive. If you're asking me who finishes last in the AAC I'd still take ECU, but with their start and improved play I don't think that is the forgone conclusion it seemed a month ago. There could be 2-3 teams that finish behind them when it is all said and done (again not my prediction but it's possible).

The idea that they'll finish in the top half is a pipe dream.

(01-13-2020 09:21 AM)Black Bart Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post in Coleman and Baruti. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations and play the rest of the legit players we have on this team like other teams would with such a disparity in performance.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

Dooley is most certainly a bum and doesn't know what he's doing. Where do you coach at Jonesing?

Many of his rotations are just indefensible. How did that LeDay coming off the bench behind Walkon's an Spas work out last year? He's still running these nonsense rotations we've been fortunate to overcome of late where as we didn't early. You remember those games like Coppin State, App State, Navy, UMBC etc right this year? They still exist and all and playing guys like Gardner 26 minutes off the bench certainly had some things to do with that as well as just poorly conceived biggest lineups in the nation etc.

(01-13-2020 09:23 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  The idea that they'll finish in the top half is a pipe dream.

We got the probably the best player in the conference certainly top 3 or 4. We should be top half if we had anything around him. That's exactly why we need to max the 5 good players we do have and play Gardner 35+ and it probably could be a possibility. We would have won more of those easier games early if we had been playing Gardner more (like we have recently) and the good players we did have at the time like LeDay as well. There is enough talent to do some things between Gardner, Suggs, Newton, Robinson, and Jackson but we won't play them all enough.

Wait, since when is SMU a "bottom half" team?

One thing that could allow a lucky top half finish for ECU is they only play WSU, Houston and Memphis once each

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

(01-13-2020 09:34 AM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  One thing that could allow a lucky top half finish for ECU is they only play WSU, Houston and Memphis once each

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

That's why the conference standings don't really tell you the full story because they aren't apples to apples and a game or 2 can be the difference in half the conference as well.

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two semi serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post regardless. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations to a 7 man one and play the the legit players we have on this team like other teams would.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

I don't think they are perfect, but I also don't think they are nearly as flawed as you let on.

(01-13-2020 09:44 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two semi serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post regardless. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations to a 7 man one and play the the legit players we have on this team like other teams would.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

I don't think they are perfect, but I also don't think they are nearly as flawed as you let on.

Suggs
17.8 PER
.593 True shooting
+13.1 Net Rating

JJ Miles
5.8 PER
.424 True shooting
-18.6 Net Rating

You don't see a difference? Miles is getting 25+ minutes a game consistently when he's not in foul trouble when guys like Suggs are getting minutes in the teens in some of these games so Miles can brick shots. Newton role is lessen too. Bench Miles and I think we might have a chance. Even the games it looks like Miles is doing ok in he regresses back to the mean even with in the game no less trying to heat check. He might eventually win us a game with fluke shooting, but he'll lose us a bunch more. If he had shot good in JUCO or HS maybe I would have some hope but the guy is completely miscast as our 3 point ace. He shot 32.6% in JUCO's and Dooley feeds him 3's like he is Ray Allen.

(01-13-2020 09:44 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 08:03 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  I don't think we're finishing last. In fact beat Tulsa this week and who knows, maybe upper half of the league.

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two semi serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post regardless. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations to a 7 man one and play the the legit players we have on this team like other teams would.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

I don't think they are perfect, but I also don't think they are nearly as flawed as you let on.

I think JJ Miles is playing far too many minutes and being allowed far too much of a green light to shoot. He's top 15 in the entire conference in 3 point attempts despite shooting an abysmal 28%. He should be much more of a 10 minute per game player who if he comes out hot gets a longer leash. Baruti at least provides length and defensive versatility, JJ if he's not making shots (and most of the time he's not) provides nothing. He's 6'7" Shawn Williams if he was a bad shooter vs an average-ish one. Hopefully as Robinson's minutes restrictions go away JJ's minutes start going way down and you see Newton playing more off the ball with Robinson. Suggs and Newton should be averaging closer to 30 mpg (Suggs currently is at 23 mpg and Newton is at 27 mpg) and JJ should be closer to 10 (currently at 22 mpg).

(01-13-2020 09:56 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:44 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two semi serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post regardless. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations to a 7 man one and play the the legit players we have on this team like other teams would.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

I don't think they are perfect, but I also don't think they are nearly as flawed as you let on.

Suggs
17.8 PER
.593 True shooting
+13.1 Net Rating

JJ Miles
5.8 PER
.424 True shooting
-18.6 Net Rating

You don't see a difference? Miles is getting 25+ minutes a game consistently when he's not in foul trouble when guys like Suggs are getting minutes in the teens in some of these games. Newton too. Bench Miles and I think we might have a chance. Gardner is going to have to be really amazing to keep overcoming that. Even the games it looks like Miles is doing ok in he regresses back to the mean even with in the game no less trying to heat check. If he had shot good in JUCO or HS maybe I would have some hope but the guy is completely miscast as our 3 point ace. He shot 32.6% in JUCO's and Dooley feeds him 3's like he is Ray Allen.

He isn't improving, look at the last 5 or 6 games. Also I love Suggs, but he has to play within himself, JJ can actually shoot over a defender or off screens.

So you don't think we're improving? Charlotte, USF, SMU, or even Wichita don't show that?

UConn is home
@NoEscalators
· 19h
This is the last time UConn will play Wichita State in a scheduled conference game. Enjoy replacing this with a road game to Tulane next year Shockers! ?

(01-13-2020 10:00 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:56 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:44 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 09:12 AM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 09:42 PM)oasispirate Wrote:  Is that really a ridiculous take?

Our rotations are still hot garbage from game to game, and I think people like you know it it even if you want to ignore it because we're getting away with it at home vs mostly bad teams in this stretch. We have 5 good players and two semi serviceable ones that are going to have to play some in the post regardless. Gardner is one of the best in the country so we might could be good we would cut our rotations to a 7 man one and play the the legit players we have on this team like other teams would.

Dooley is still running out 10+ man rotations where several of the 5 good players we have are still playing role player minutes from game to game especially obvious are Suggs. Suggs has been our 2nd best player this year, and he played 17 minutes vs SMU. 12 and 13 in competitive games vs Charlotte and EKU. That's the kind of crap where we are making these games harder than they even need to be that's eventually going to catch up to us.

I don't think they are perfect, but I also don't think they are nearly as flawed as you let on.

Suggs
17.8 PER
.593 True shooting
+13.1 Net Rating

JJ Miles
5.8 PER
.424 True shooting
-18.6 Net Rating

You don't see a difference? Miles is getting 25+ minutes a game consistently when he's not in foul trouble when guys like Suggs are getting minutes in the teens in some of these games. Newton too. Bench Miles and I think we might have a chance. Gardner is going to have to be really amazing to keep overcoming that. Even the games it looks like Miles is doing ok in he regresses back to the mean even with in the game no less trying to heat check. If he had shot good in JUCO or HS maybe I would have some hope but the guy is completely miscast as our 3 point ace. He shot 32.6% in JUCO's and Dooley feeds him 3's like he is Ray Allen.

He isn't improving, look at the last 5 or 6 games. Also I love Suggs, but he has to play within himself, JJ can actually shoot over a defender or off screens.

So you don't think we're improving? Charlotte, USF, SMU, or even Wichita don't show that?

I'll give JJ this, since the Campbell game his 3 point % has approached respectable. He's shot close to 36% from 3 thru this run of good play. Of course he's shot 34% from the field overall over that same time period, which is still real bad. If he's gonna be a 36% 3 point shooter going forward he can have a roll, but it needs to be just shooting 3's and heading to the bench with quickness when they aren't going in.

(01-13-2020 10:00 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  He isn't improving, look at the last 5 or 6 games. Also I love Suggs, but he has to play within himself, JJ can actually shoot over a defender or off screens.

Yeah, he shoots epicly poor over them. 31% from the floor and 28.8% from three. It's not like he has this great pedigree of shooting anywhere else either to make me believe he's not that guy or will not regress back to the pretty well established mean in a few games. 32.6% in JUCO's and even his "hot" streak is pretty muted.

Robinson, Newton or Suggs could probably try to shoot closely guarded off screens and not do much worse if put in that role. Plus you put Newton or Suggs out there and you probably pass your way into a better 3's or at least get better shots or do other things to cut the margins elsewhere. Miles is a terrible defender, rebounder, 11th highest turnover percent in the AAC etc

Quote:So you don't think we're improving? Charlotte, USF, SMU, or even Wichita don't show that?

Sure, Gardner is amazing and we are playing him more as well. We are winning despite ourself and making a lot of these games closer than they should even be IMO. That's one of the reasons I think we could be good if we would bench Miles. What could our point differential be if he wasn't such a drag.

Also I think Suggs probably has one of the highest BB IQ and plays within himself the most of anyone other than Newton. They are probably the 2 most steady guys on the team not making mistakes and bonehead plays. Robinson and Jackson are the guys that are good for some bonehead mistakes like every game. Miles of course as well of the guys getting lots of minutes.

If anything I wish we would unleash Suggs and Newton more because I think especially Newton has an extra gear to explore. I think they way they are jerked around on minutes caused them to play scared in a box, pass up shots etc because they don't want to fuc up and get subbed out. That's a real thing, look at the Milsap doctrine. Guys that don't have consistent minutes play tight. I think Newton especially is playing safe at all times because that's what he hears from Dooley.

(01-12-2020 11:35 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 11:11 PM)tharmon15 Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 07:12 PM)Penny1 Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 07:09 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(01-12-2020 07:07 PM)Penny1 Wrote:  Penny can coach.

If this was any coach except ours, I would say 'what sport?' We have not improved this year in many areas, and our offense is bad, at best. I love Penny but he also has a learning curve.

He's 11-2 without the projected #1 overall pick.

If you have watched each game, and you might have, there are clearly things he is struggling with right now that he needs to work on. His record right now does not equate good coaching. He has played many teams without a pulse. We have won a few games that could have gone either way because we could not keep the foot on the gas.

I do not think Penny is a bad coach. I also do not think he is a good coach. This is a long process that each Memphis fan should have known going into this. I back Penny 100%, but I also try to be realistic.

People get caught up in the moment. Fans are the worst. When he was 12-1 he was being considered for coach of the year after what happened with Wiseman. He loses to WSU with two starters who were getting over the flu. Lester broke his hand. Dandridge coming off knee surgery. Maurice the starting center didn't play today (not sure whats wrong with him now).

With none of that happening, I think the vast majority of Memphis fans still would have figured they still would have lost two or three games by now. Why? Because they're freshman.

Now we're asking whether or not he can coach. Everyone needs to take a deep breath.

We've got a bunch of young bucks who are learning how to play at the college level. They'll figure it out.

I think these points are all valid. Penny is learning that you can't give freshmen as much freedom as he has, without some of them being confused by the speed of the game and how it demands instant decisions. IF they get it by the end of the year, then we could be really good. As it stands now we could easily be a bubble team. Halfway done now and everything is still possible, from abject failure to exalted success.