Ahhhh - - -- the annual thread where a large group of our fans assess our talent level and predict great things for us. This despite the fact that (1) returning players have never achieved close to the success predicted; (2) new arrivals have not yet played a minute (and are generally ranked (aside from on this board) at lower level than much of the rest of our league) and (3) this coach has never demonstrated an ability to make OK, or even good players, good enough to go to the Dance (Sweet 16 team had GREAT players including the 2nd highest drafted player we have ever had (Harp) and arguably the greatest player we have ever had (KA)). Yet year after year these expectations of NCAA's and 20+ wins etc. keep on coming.
In one sense, I have no real problem with this as one can chalk it up to just fans being fans. But what I just can't figure out is why the overlap between fans with out-sized expectations and Mooney defenders is so strong. To those with expectations every year, this is YOUR assessment of what the team should achieve. But we never do! Then, somehow, when Mooney getting canned gets discussed, much of the same group rushes to his defense? How is that? And this I can't simply write-off to fans being fans. If you are fans of Chris Mooney more than you are fans of UR and its players maybe I guess. But the coach is under performing your own assessment of what the team should accomplish on a consistent basis. The kids to me certainly seem to deserve better (i.e. to be able to achieve what they are capable of), so if you are a fan of theirs I don't see how defending CM sits so easily and if you are a fan of the University more holistically, don't you want (need?) to see the school get more of their dollars and the efforts of so many in the community?
This is why I have such a tough time on this board - - - the Mooney faithful seem to have elevated their love of CM ahead of their love for the school itself or the many players who represent us!
As for my predictions of "realistic" (that's what the thread said) post season expectations - - - I'd put them at slight (NIT) to near zero (NCAA). Again, none of the core (players and coaches) of this group is a proven college winner (a fact I do not blame on players- - (see numerous fire Mooney threads for who I do blame)) and this core in fact has lost 20+ games two years running; people returning from injury often do not return to their former glory (some ever and some at least not in year one) and our injured star is also not a proven collegiate winner even if he does end up being 100%; our freshman have yet to play a minute and are relatively unheralded; our transfer has yet to play a minute for us and his prior NCAA experience was at a level (or two) below us. Our coach has shown nothing with this group (or any group for a bunch of years for that matter) that would indicate he can raise their level. And as for NCAA's - - I think it takes at least 23 wins and probably 24 and possibly even 25 to get us an at-large (look at the past few years and construct a profile for us that you think gets us in with only 21 or 22 wins absent several teams on our schedule significantly outperforming their own expectations). I see very little chance we go from 13 to 24 wins (with an upgraded schedule) in one year. So to me NCAA's is a dream. I do expect us to be better and thus NIT is a slim hope.
