An embarrassment

[Eight Legger]

Everyone affiliated with this program as a player, staff member or fan should be simply embarrassed about the lack of effort this team puts forth night in and night out. I can accept losing to a better team. I cannot accept not trying, not caring and not competing for 40 minutes. We simply don't even come close to doing those things.

The program is completely stale. Change for the sake of change is desperately needed.

 

[Marley13]

At least the halftime Valiums are working.

 

[SpiderHoops32]

I really hope for everyone's sake that TJ stays.

 

[SpiderK]

Everyone affiliated with this program as a player, staff member or fan should be simply embarrassed about the lack of effort this team puts forth night in and night out. I can accept losing to a better team. I cannot accept not trying, not caring and not competing for 40 minutes. We simply don't even come close to doing those things.

The program is completely stale. Change for the sake of change is desperately needed.

This team quit after they blew the VDU game at home.

 

[Spideroldie]

If our administration prides itself on almost always having a "winning" (albeit .550) record, this team is going to have to work hard to maintain our consistent level of mediocrity, and end the season with that winning record.
At least we will have a chance to see some new (and talented) newcomers next fall, and it would be nice if our coaching staff made some middling effort to look in the mirror, question seriously what they see, and tear into some real innovative defensive systems, with a passion not seen here in 10+ years. How many of us believe that it will happen?

 

[iSpider]

What does it mean when you do not care about losses anymore?

 

[SpiderK]

What does it mean when you do not care about losses anymore?

You become a Cubs fan.

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

Everyone affiliated with this program as a player, staff member or fan should be simply embarrassed about the lack of effort this team puts forth night in and night out. I can accept losing to a better team. I cannot accept not trying, not caring and not competing for 40 minutes. We simply don't even come close to doing those things.

The program is completely stale. Change for the sake of change is desperately needed.

we will suck until Mooney

Everyone affiliated with this program as a player, staff member or fan should be simply embarrassed about the lack of effort this team puts forth night in and night out. I can accept losing to a better team. I cannot accept not trying, not caring and not competing for 40 minutes. We simply don't even come close to doing those things.

The program is completely stale. Change for the sake of change is desperately needed.

I wonder if some "rich fat cat" has secretly told the "powers that are" at the university that he or she is willing to pay the remaining years of Mooney's contract so that after the Spiders lose in the first round of the conference tournament, the search can commence in finding a new head coach ? Our basketball program is in shambles and is a dumpster fire. Sad to say.

 

[Marley13]

I thought I was an idiot. Then I read your post. It's not me.

 

[I-M-UR]

Does anyone know for sure that CM's contract is good for all 10 years regardless of performance? It would be believable because Universities are so used to tenure, but I really have a hard time believing Miller was that stupid? Why would you give anyone a 10 year contract without any performance requirements.

 

[KE Spider]

Ano's department may have had more to do with a loss of faith in the "system" than reduced playing time. Clearly, he did not believe that the "system" was going to take us to the NCAA this season.

He had been here four years and was tight with his teammates. When things began going south this season, the remaining players came to the same conclusion. IMO there is no longer any faith in Mooney's system on the team. You see it in the lack of fire, the lack of fight, and the lack of committed effort this year.

In short, Mooney has lost the team.

 

[97spiderfan]

I agree KE, this team has been missing for a while now, a lack of intensity/urgency. I think the team got up for senior night but when they lost after having played with all that urgency, I think the resolution set in to the team what this board has felt for a while, that the season is over.

I fully expect a quick exit from the A-10 tournament, a venue that even on slightly better years, has been a house of horrors for mooney coached teams.

 

[I-M-UR]

Didn't realize it until today, we were 1 win away from being in the play in games. I honestly thought the liklihood of that was virtually impossible, when I asked the question a month ago

 

[SpiderRick]

I would love to see us win two games in the tournament so at least we can finish with a winning record.

 

[Ulla1]

Rick, that would be great. For me, it is hard to believe that we are the same team save for Kendall that beat Arizona State and played with Miami last year in the NIT. One can offer explanations, but this total downfall is inexplicable. OSC

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Is a 2-27 margin with 2nd chance points! Will CM ever come to realize the defensive rebounding issues play a big role in determining wins and losses. Probably not.

 

[Spiderbymarriage]

Not sure if it's player recruiting, player development, or the system itself, but so many of our guys fail to thrive through their careers under Mooney. The ones that get to see the court look robotic -- little fun, little creativity, little fire. Last night's rebounding performance was a new low.

Is it surprising that the most fiery guy we have is a freshman (Fore)? What will he look like in a couple of years? I fear he will be a lifeless robot.

 

[urmite]

Didn't realize it until today, we were 1 win away from being in the play in games. I honestly thought the liklihood of that was virtually impossible, when I asked the question a month ago

It was nearly impossible but only because we were winning every tiebreaker against the bottom 5.

 

[97spiderfan]

Not sure if it's player recruiting, player development, or the system itself, but so many of our guys fail to thrive through their careers under Mooney. The ones that get to see the court look robotic -- little fun, little creativity, little fire. Last night's rebounding performance was a new low.

Is it surprising that the most fiery guy we have is a freshman (Fore)? What will he look like in a couple of years? I fear he will be a lifeless robot.

When SDJ was a freshman and even last year, he played with an edge, now he has taken on the personality of the coach, analytical and largely joyless. In fact, except for Khwan does anyone else on the team play with any great joy and excitement. I watch a lot of different teams and we are by far the most reserved team, very little celebration, outward passion.

That come straight from the head man.

 

[Eight Legger]

Maybe he's been spiking the team Gatorade jugs with his Xanax?

 

[Spiderbymarriage]

When SDJ was a freshman and even last year, he played with an edge, now he has taken on the personality of the coach, analytical and largely joyless. In fact, except for Khwan does anyone else on the team play with any great joy and excitement. I watch a lot of different teams and we are by far the most reserved team, very little celebration, outward passion.

That come straight from the head man.

I think we should be careful not to short-change TJ in this discussion. He also plays with tremendous heart, and if we were winning more games it would look like joy and excitement. But the broader point remains -- it feels like the systems and/or the coach are sapping the team's passion rather than fueling it.

 

[Ulla1]

I think we should be careful not to short-change TJ in this discussion. He also plays with tremendous heart, and if we were winning more games it would look like joy and excitement. But the broader point remains -- it feels like the systems and/or the coach are sapping the team's passion rather than fueling it.

Spiderbymarriage, your condescending remarks are not appreciated. Go back to your friends on the vdu board. OSC

 

[SpiderGuy]

I think we should be careful not to short-change TJ in this discussion. He also plays with tremendous heart, and if we were winning more games it would look like joy and excitement. But the broader point remains -- it feels like the systems and/or the coach are sapping the team's passion rather than fueling it.

I think you framed that quite well. I do believe KF and TJ play with a lot of passion, and for the most part SJ does too. They both can be so good & dynamic.

I will also agree with 97 that SDJ has taken on a more analytic role, but I will say that there have been plenty of games this year where he played with determination & took over games.

Those 3 core players are quality athletes & a good group to build around with the addition of...here we go...incoming freshman that are certainly touted to be a cut above. I hope the heck that plays out.

If the above paragraph does play out, & if CM does some introspection and finds "a moment in which one suddenly sees or understand something in a new or very clear way", then we really may be able to turn things around. And yes, it's more than just a tweak that's needed.

Jeez...I don't like using "if's".

 

[Spiderbymarriage]

Spiderbymarriage, your condescending remarks are not appreciated. Go back to your friends on the vdu board. OSC

I'm completely dumbfounded by your personal attack, when my comment had nothing to do with you, and at this point is a pretty mainstream view of members of this board. If you'd like to argue the other side of my point, I'd welcome the debate.

 

[Ulla1]

I'm completely dumbfounded by your personal attack, when my comment had nothing to do with you, and at this point is a pretty mainstream view of members of this board. If you'd like to argue the other side of my point, I'd welcome the debate.

Maybe change your handle to "vduspider". OSC

 

[TBSpyder]

Hard to understand the vitriol that I sometimes, see on this board. UR is a relatively small school, trying to compete at the highest level of basketball, nationally. Shouldn't we have more in common, than sometimes, seems apparent.

 

[Eight Legger]

Ulla, you are completely wrong. Stop picking fights where there are none to be picked.

 

[Spiderbymarriage]

Trying to bring things back on topic, it's interesting that there aren't a lot of posters challenging the opening point in the thread. In previous years, the team has been frustratingly inconsistent, but I don't think many would have said that the players weren't trying hard. What's changed this year?

 

[coachfezz]

I remember when ANO wore a different face when playing

 

[MrTbone]

The lack of emotion may be more symptomatic than causal. I'd be pretty joyless as a player if I were part of this seasons results, there's not much to be happy about.

 

[Rivercup]

I know that a lot has been written about not having Ododa on the team and missing his defense, but I really think that the guy that we miss most this year is Josh Jones. At the end of last year he was playing well both offensively and defensively, he is 6'4", rebounded well and played hard every time he was in the game. Ododa was the back line of the defense but if he didn't get the block, the other team always scored, he was not much of an offensive threat and was a so-so rebounder. Thoughts?

 

[PASpider]

Disagree wholeheartedly. Our expectations were built on how Richmond fared last season, and little of that had to do with Jones.

Their biggest weakness is they have nobody to defend big men or offer support defense if the guards play their opponents tight and occassionally get beat. I feel ANO was woefully inconsistent and drove me nuts more than any player. In fact, I wrote many posts saying that Richmond would only go as far as ANO would take them, which wound up never being great enough because of his inability of lack of motivation to take over a game. We invested a lot of time and patience in ANO and he rewarded Richmond by leaving to play 3 minutes a game for a team that might make he tournament. Part of that was a result of his lack of playing time at the end of last year that resulted from his inconsistent play. He is just another player for Pitt, whereas he could have been a true difference for a team that needed him and recruited him if he just would have adopted a new attitude. Without him, we had no true center on the roster and nobody to block, defend, and rebound down low.

 

[32counter]

This team quit after they blew the VDU game at home.

Bingo.

 

[SpiderK]

Disagree wholeheartedly. Our expectations were built on how Richmond fared last season, and little of that had to do with Jones.

Their biggest weakness is they have nobody to defend big men or offer support defense if the guards play their opponents tight and occassionally get beat. I feel ANO was woefully inconsistent and drove me nuts more than any player. In fact, I wrote many posts saying that Richmond would only go as far as ANO would take them, which wound up never being great enough because of his inability of lack of motivation to take over a game. We invested a lot of time and patience in ANO and he rewarded Richmond by leaving to play 3 minutes a game for a team that might make he tournament. Part of that was a result of his lack of playing time at the end of last year that resulted from his inconsistent play. He is just another player for Pitt, whereas he could have been a true difference for a team that needed him and recruited him if he just would have adopted a new attitude. Without him, we had no true center on the roster and nobody to block, defend, and rebound down low.

Agree, I have always said ANO was a lazy player, as it turns out , selfish too.

 

[Eight Legger]

The best-case scenario this year is that we had a team of guys who just were overvalued by our coaching staff from day one and whose ceiling is nowhere near where they thought it would be. They are lazy, soft and not A-10 caliber players. That's the BEST-case scenario.

The worst-case scenario is that the coaching staff and/or schematics we employ have taken a bunch of capable players and made them lazy, soft and sub-A10 caliber players. I don't know which it is, but I sure hope the coaching staff knows.

 

[SpiderK]

The best-case scenario this year is that we had a team of guys who just were overvalued by our coaching staff from day one and whose ceiling is nowhere near where they thought it would be. They are lazy, soft and not A-10 caliber players. That's the BEST-case scenario.

The worst-case scenario is that the coaching staff and/or schematics we employ have taken a bunch of capable players and made them lazy, soft and sub-A10 caliber players. I don't know which it is, but I sure hope the coaching staff knows.

Physically ANO and TA should have dominated this conference the last three years. TA finally did for about 1/2 of last season and first 1/2 of this season. ANO never did anything.
As to the reasons why? I don't know either.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

PA I disagree on Josh Jones cause more he played at the end, the better he got and
we played well. Zo would have have won us 2-4 more games simply by having a shot
blocker in the lane and maybe allowing more rest for TJ and was better foul shooter
than Trey or DT. Just having experienced depth would have made us better.

I might tend to agree the first VCU lost took a lot of wind out of our sails but our 3 point
shooting seemed to get worse as season went on, which amplified our defensive deficiency.
Where did TA go in the last half? His pro stock certainly dropped. Did he put too much pressure
on himself?

I like our players and I expected more, but there is a culmination of many things that made this
one of the most frustrating years in memory. Yes, I have sat through losing seasons but we were
expected to lose. This year is different.

 

[64Spider]

So if it is agreed that ANO gave us nothing but an occasional blocked shot and added a few points here and there, it would make sense to me to put PF in games. He could add at least what we are saying is missing from last years team, especially in the conference games.
We will never know.

 

[WebSpinner]

for me, all of this bitching and moaning is far worse than the losing..........going out to clean the pool and get some sun, you guys keep on going

 

[97spiderfan]

The problems within our program go a lot deeper than the losses of Josh Jones and ANO. We have major recruiting issues, an insular staff who defers almost completely to the head coach, an indescribable lack of urgency and intensity both on and off the court from the head coach and most disturbing a lack of accountability for winning that seems to permeate the program.

And this is not even going into the X and O's strategy and player personnel decisions that are questioned daily on this board.