Why we are going to make the NCAAs next year

[UR80sfan]

If the games only lasted 25 minutes or record would have been 21 and 12. We lost a number of very close games to good teams including Georgetown, Davidson and VCU and most recently St. Louis. I felt we were right on the edge of playing consistently well and if we had one or two additional solid players with experience it would have made the difference. Next year almost the whole team is coming back and I expect a lot of them to improve greatly. Just look at how much Golden improved from his true freshman year or Cayo. We are also adding Sherod and Frances.

I understand that their are other young teams in the A10 that might also improve, but they probably will not be adding the quality new players that we will be adding. I also think next year the A10 will have 2 or 3 teams making the NCAAs which will give us multiple shots on goal.

 

[DTSpider]

NCAA is amending the game to be 30 minutes long?

 

[MidloTrader]

And I've got some swamp land to sell you, if you actually believe what you wrote above. We've have better players on the court last 8 years and did we get to NCAA tourney? No and only close ONE season. We can no longer live on "hope" that these good players can become a TEAM and play BOTH ends of the court. The common denominator is at the helm and without a change there and in offensive & defensive strategies, we might have a .500 record next season.

 

[ur2K]

How does this team improve on defense next year? Or will we plan on averaging 90 ppg?

 

[Tickman]

How does this team improve on defense next year? Or will we plan on averaging 90 ppg?

In 30 minutes.

 

[8legs]

NCAA is amending the game to be 30 minutes long?

Good one DT! I'm sure 80sfan is a good guy (person) but he doesn't understand he is saying the same thing that has been said every year for the past 8 years, we haven't been to the dance and there is only one constant...guess who?

 

[UFA 2006]

If the games only lasted 25 minutes or record would have been 21 and 12. We lost a number of very close games to good teams including Georgetown, Davidson and VCU and most recently St. Louis. I felt we were right on the edge of playing consistently well and if we had one or two additional solid players with experience it would have made the difference. Next year almost the whole team is coming back and I expect a lot of them to improve greatly. Just look at how much Golden improved from his true freshman year or Cayo. We are also adding Sherod and Frances.

I understand that their are other young teams in the A10 that might also improve, but they probably will not be adding the quality new players that we will be adding. I also think next year the A10 will have 2 or 3 teams making the NCAAs which will give us multiple shots on goal.

I also think that if there were only three players on the floor at a time instead of five, we probably would have only lost 5 games. Our top 3 are excellent (very few could disagree with that) and all of Mooney's recruiting misses would have far less impact.

If subbing on the fly were permitted like it is in hockey, we may have been undefeated because we could swap out our poor free throw shooters for free throw shooting specialists.

 

[Hanca]

Can Mooney coach hockey any better?

 

[8legs]

I also think that if there were only three players on the floor at a time instead of five, we probably would have only lost 5 games. Our top 3 are excellent (very few could disagree with that) and all of Mooney's recruiting misses would have far less impact.

If subbing on the fly were permitted like it is in hockey, we may have been undefeated because we could swap out our poor free throw shooters for free throw shooting specialists.

Which rebounders would we have swapped in?

 

[MidloTrader]

Which rebounders would we have swapped in?

Hey, we got any really big & tall FB players we could just put under the basket and say "hold the line and do NOT let that runner (driver) get through you to that basket"? Opponent guards might actually bounce off em. Couldn't get any worse that what all of us witnessed this year.

 

[UR80sfan]

What I don't understand is if a lot of you are extremely negative on the program and it makes you unhappy watching what is going on why do you still stay engaged? I know many of you think you are adding value by trying to get the coach fired, but if he ain't going anywhere why torture yourselves?

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I can't follow Richmond unless I am hopeful and I am hopeful for next year. I was also hopefully for this year. I thought if all 5 starters had come back we would have finished in the top 4 in the A10. It is too bad for all involved that that did not happen.

 

[spider23]

80, Mooney is sucking the basketball life out of us season by season, minute by minute. If Hardt does his job and cans Mooney and makes a good hire, we will be excited again.

 

[Spider B]

UR80s, You still haven’t answered how we will better next year on defense, rebounding, bench coaching, and in game adjustments. For years now, these have been major issues. Be forever hopeful, I think most of us on here are realistic. Coach has had nearly a decade to get us back to the NCAA tournament. Our issues continue to be issues with no adjustments. And the icing on the cake is we have actually gotten worse the last 2 years.

 

[Tickman]

UR80s, You still haven’t answered how we will better next year on defense, rebounding, bench coaching, and in game adjustments. For years now, these have been major issues. Be forever hopeful, I think most of us on here are realistic. Coach has had nearly a decade to get us back to the NCAA tournament. Our issues continue to be issues with no adjustments. And the icing on the cake is we have actually gotten worse the last 2 years.

But these factors are not part of the game until the 26th minute.

 

[GKiller]

And if the rims were 11 feet we'd get dunked on less

 

[UR80sfan]

UR80s, You still haven’t answered how we will better next year on defense, rebounding, bench coaching, and in game adjustments. For years now, these have been major issues. Be forever hopeful, I think most of us on here are realistic. Coach has had nearly a decade to get us back to the NCAA tournament. Our issues continue to be issues with no adjustments. And the icing on the cake is we have actually gotten worse the last 2 years.

If we are losing games in the last one or two minutes of the game it doesn't take much to change the outcome. We will be a much better team next year due to more experience and adding great players.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Mooneyball predates these players.

 

[8legs]

What I don't understand is if a lot of you are extremely negative on the program and it makes you unhappy watching what is going on why do you still stay engaged? I know many of you think you are adding value by trying to get the coach fired, but if he ain't going anywhere why torture yourselves?

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I can't follow Richmond unless I am hopeful and I am hopeful for next year. I was also hopefully for this year. I thought if all 5 starters had come back we would have finished in the top 4 in the A10. It is too bad for all involved that that did not happen.

80sfan,
Hey bud no disrespect intended for any of our UR posters. We all have to deal with this frustration in our own way. If you choose to be hopeful again this off season and that helps maintain your interest, good for you. Genuinely glad you still have some optimism. Personally I have been hopeful for 8 off seasons and can't continue to be optimistic anymore. I long for the times the whole UR community, fans, students, media, etc. were energized by an NCAA appearance and season long competitive games. "Here we go again" is a phrase I'm tired of saying at the end of games. My friends have turned in their season tickets, can't get my kids (UR grads) or grandkids to go to games with me and have no interest in reading the morning Sports page. As my basketball playing 9 year old grandson said.."Papa, I like to see real basketball." I'm tired of watching and paying for mediocrity and would give alot to be excited and optimistic again!

 

[MidloTrader]

Amazing how no one is ever hopeful enough that we'd actually WIN the A10 regular season & tourney. Maybe I missed it, but also never heard that from these coaches in 14 seasons. Pretty telling and sharp contrast from our sports programs that do win and expect championships . . .

 

[ur2K]

I am positive that I love that your profile picture is of Buck. Just wait until the Runners start up in 2019, this board is going to follow their season very closely.

 

[MidloTrader]

If we are losing games in the last one or two minutes of the game it doesn't take much to change the outcome. We will be a much better team next year due to more experience and adding great players.

You can be positive and that's great for you. But saying we'll add "great players" is mind boggling. Good or Very Good A10 talent, yes. Great, no. Zion at Duke is a great player. Guy at UVA has been great this season. But no matter how good our players are, they'll still be playing Mooney's defense that stops no one on the dribble, leaves shooters wide open, creates mismatches, and gets you next to no rebounds. That's not a recipe for getting into NCAA tournament, even if you do score 75+ consistently.

 

[SpiderGuy]

80sfan,

As others have said, you seem like a decent guy and a true fan. Equally the many many of us are true fans whose patience have now been exhausted. One can only watch a B movie but so many times. It's gotten to the point that almost every coach who coaches against Mooney knows how to beat his predictable system. Last night was at least the 10th or so time the same pattern unfolded this season. When we get to the 5 minute mark, it's time to exit the arena because the outcome is going to be the same. We finished with 1 win in our last 6 games. We started the season with embarrassing loses to Longwood, Hampton, and Oral Roberts.

All of the talk of next year grows old. It's transference from year 1 to year 2 to year 3, etc.

80's - you have an entire year now to make a list for next year of what will go wrong - all the rationalizations in the world. At the end of next season, it'll be finished and you'll just have to pull it out, and voilà, your post will be ready to go. Again, you seem like a decent guy with a unlimited optimism. Sorry if Mooney has sucked the optimism out of many of us.

 

[spiderman]

I'm obviously in the same boat as 80sfan. we bring back a lot of talent next year. we add a ton of talent next year. so I believe we can be really good. yes, I believe we can go from what this season was all the way to the dance.

I think we will be substantially better offensively. if Sherod and Francis are so good as to move Woj and Goose to reserve roles as we project, then our starters and bench are both better.

we're probably not going to be a shutdown defense or out rebound teams, but we're young and not very strong so an off season in the weight room will help. we can be better defensively. and we have to do a better job on the defensive boards.

my hope is that either way this coaching decision is over quickly. if we make a change, we'll have a ton to talk about here. if we don't and the board continues the nonstop Mooney talk, I don't know how I can come here for the next 7 months. I don't know how any of you can. don't you ever get tired of posting and reading the same complaints day after day? I know it's important, but man it's a drag.

 

[MidloTrader]

Actually, they led with 5 minutes left in 21 games this season (13-8 record in those games). Doesn't even count ones we had a lead at half and then got blown out.

 

[9Legs]

I also think that if there were only three players on the floor at a time instead of five, we probably would have only lost 5 games. Our top 3 are excellent (very few could disagree with that) and all of Mooney's recruiting misses would have far less impact.

If subbing on the fly were permitted like it is in hockey, we may have been undefeated because we could swap out our poor free throw shooters for free throw shooting specialists.

In 3 man play is REBOUNDING allowed?

 

[SpiderK]

In 3 man play is REBOUNDING allowed?

Rebounding at UR is met with a taser shot or cattle prod.

 

[spider23]

spiderman, it will be like an NCAA death sentence if Mooney is back. Yes, likely scenario is a lot of folks will drop off, and those left will be the ardent truthers (like the 4 or 5 on here) and the most ardent #FMM. It will be a blood bath on here.

 

[PhillySpider]

I'm obviously in the same boat as 80sfan. we bring back a lot of talent next year. we add a ton of talent next year. so I believe we can be really good. yes, I believe we can go from what this season was all the way to the dance.

I think we will be substantially better offensively. if Sherod and Francis are so good as to move Woj and Goose to reserve roles as we project, then our starters and bench are both better.

we're probably not going to be a shutdown defense or out rebound teams, but we're young and not very strong so an off season in the weight room will help. we can be better defensively. and we have to do a better job on the defensive boards.

my hope is that either way this coaching decision is over quickly. if we make a change, we'll have a ton to talk about here. if we don't and the board continues the nonstop Mooney talk, I don't know how I can come here for the next 7 months. I don't know how any of you can. don't you ever get tired of posting and reading the same complaints day after day? I know it's important, but man it's a drag.

I agree with the fact we'll have better talent next year. But to achieve what their talent indicates they COULD achieve, they need better coaching. Up and down the staff. Period. Our defense and FT shooting and rebounding and zone offense and . . . remain the same (not good) every year regardless of the players. We could be good next year. We won't be with the current coach!

Why is the notion that we'll be better because we'll have better PLAYERS so easy for the Mooney supporters to grab onto, but the notion that we'll (also) be better with better COACHES so difficult to accept?

 

[spiderman]

because I don't think Mooney is as bad as you.
I know I can't win this argument. but he wasn't a 12 win coach all of these years. we won 22 games a couple years ago. if we win 22 next year, we'll have a shot.

 

[nathanw19]

because I don't think Mooney is as bad as you.
I know I can't win this argument. but he wasn't a 12 win coach all of these years. we won 22 games a couple years ago. if we win 22 next year, we'll have a shot.

I don’t think he’s as bad as he had been the past 2 years, but I also don’t think he’s as good as the 2010 and 2011 years.

I think your description of “we’ll have a shot” is pretty typical of a Mooney team. I’m just tired with that level, and think we can shoot for championships instead of the top 4 in the A10 and having a shot.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

If the games only lasted 25 minutes or record would have been 21 and 12. We lost a number of very close games to good teams including Georgetown, Davidson and VCU and most recently St. Louis. I felt we were right on the edge of playing consistently well and if we had one or two additional solid players with experience it would have made the difference. Next year almost the whole team is coming back and I expect a lot of them to improve greatly. Just look at how much Golden improved from his true freshman year or Cayo. We are also adding Sherod and Frances.

I understand that their are other young teams in the A10 that might also improve, but they probably will not be adding the quality new players that we will be adding. I also think next year the A10 will have 2 or 3 teams making the NCAAs which will give us multiple shots on goal.

If the game lasted 25-minutes Mooney would start the choke at the 20-minute mark

 

[Spider B]

Agree Nathan, we can do so much better. That’s why I don’t understand why good, true diehard Spider fans like sman and UR80s accept this level of basketball and losing at UR. Everything is in place for us to be a powerhouse in the A10.

 

[Eight Legger]

because I don't think Mooney is as bad as you.
I know I can't win this argument. but he wasn't a 12 win coach all of these years. we won 22 games a couple years ago. if we win 22 next year, we'll have a shot.

Maybe not, but having back to back horrific seasons like we just did is not exactly heartening when it happens at the END of a 14-year run. Recency syndrome and all that. I'm not sure he has adjusted to changes in the game and have no confidence at this point that he will.

 

[MidloTrader]

because I don't think Mooney is as bad as you.
I know I can't win this argument. but he wasn't a 12 win coach all of these years. we won 22 games a couple years ago. if we win 22 next year, we'll have a shot.

And did we make NCAA tournament 2 years ago? NO. Winning just 20-22 games a year hasn't gotten non-P5 teams in for about 15 years, cause if you lose 10+ games there are bound to be BAD losses in there. You're living in the 80's & 90's when teams only played about 25-27 games in regular season. Now we play 30-31. You better win at least 25 or more and schedule hard, unless you're in a P5 conference or pretty sure you'll win your conference tournament (like Zags and even they got beat in their conf final).

 

[SpiderGuy]

Maybe not, but having back to back horrific seasons like we just did is not exactly heartening when it happens at the END of a 14-year run. Recency syndrome and all that. I'm not sure he has adjusted to changes in the game and have no confidence at this point that he will.

Yet most opposing coaches have adjusted quite well to playing against his offense & what is a semblance of defense.

 

[PhillySpider]

because I don't think Mooney is as bad as you.
I know I can't win this argument. but he wasn't a 12 win coach all of these years. we won 22 games a couple years ago. if we win 22 next year, we'll have a shot.

So, you don't think Mooney is that bad and the new players will turn us around? I actually have a lot to say about that because I think its been repeated almost every year for awhile now and never pans out, but even I was to agree with you that he's not that bad I'll say simply this . . can't see why we want to live with a standard of not that bad. Surely we have to aspire to more than that? And where is the evidence that he's a good coach? There is no evidence in "we'll be better next year". That's just a hope. What has he done over the last few years to indicate he's a good coach? Do you think he got the max or anything close to it out of this group or last years? Folks every year cite next year and then find some reason why its OK the team didn't accomplish what you yourself said was achievable??

 

[Eight Legger]

Someone find the last example of a team at our level -- in a multi-bid league -- that doubled its win total from one year to the next.

 

[SpiderRick]

80sfan,

As others have said, you seem like a decent guy and a true fan. Equally the many many of us are true fans whose patience have now been exhausted. One can only watch a B movie but so many times. It's gotten to the point that almost every coach who coaches against Mooney knows how to beat his predictable system. Last night was at least the 10th or so time the same pattern unfolded this season. When we get to the 5 minute mark, it's time to exit the arena because the outcome is going to be the same.

Actually, after the Longwood game, I started leaving every with 5 or 6 minutes left in the game, and I went home happy most every game that I went to!!!
It was a great strategy! Plus, I beat the parking lot jams....

 

[Gospiders06]

We are going to win 16 games next year. We had a very soft out of conference this year. Next year harder schedule and not much depth at all.

 

[wr70beh]

Someone find the last example of a team at our level -- in a multi-bid league -- that doubled its win total from one year to the next.

Between 06-07 and 07-08, we improved from 8 to 16 wins.

Between 2015-16 and 2016-17, Mason improved from 11 wins to 20. It was Paulsen's second year.

I know they arent a multi-bid league, but Longwood improved from 7 wins to 15 (new coach).