I have stayed off this site for some time now . Mostly because I was being accused of only coming on after losses but I feel I have to make a couple of comments.
1. As much as I was a Lavin supporter, and am still not calling for his job, if there was a grade given to his overall body of work this year it would be a D. Sure we all like to say that our kids can't shoot straight, the refs were against us there were discipline issues on the team etc. but the bottom line, as witnessed by today's performance, is that these kids as a whole have not only not progressed but have regressed in their total play on the court. Between bone headed fouls and players not understanding their roles ( ala Amir Garret who now believes he can shoot ), poor usage and recognition by the staff of players abilities to put them in a position where they can be team contributors, a continued lack of fundimentals etc. etc. etc., either coach has to re evaluate his talent level, bring in smarter players, take a crash course in x's and os or bring in an assistant and relegate himself to the role of motivator and cheer leader.
2. For posters who are still ad nausium use the " young team" excuse. The reality is that we have several players who have played two full seasons which in many programs, players don't even get the opportunity to pay till their Junior year. The fact that we were schooled today by two frosh from Virginia kind of says something as well.
3. While Moose would have you all believe that the teams demise came about as DLo was suspended, that is the furthest thing from the truth. If you have followed the team all year, the reality was that in the later part of the season when the real games began, DLo contributed little if anything and caused much discord within the team. Might we have won one more game with him, perhaps but it woulld have been a miserable experience watching it at best.
4. In terms of the Gods Gift fiasco. I guess we will never know the truth on that one. Why was he redshirted to begin with? Certainly he would have improved our 297th ranking in rebounding differential. And yes, Lavin did state that Gifts redshirt was tied into Sanchez's elegability whether posters on here want to agree with that or not so why then did Gift never return?
Once again, I am not calling for Lavins head at all but there are certainly several deficiencies in his game coaching, preparation/ game plan and recruiting, yes recruiting that need to be addressed. The interesting thing is many on here claim Lavin to be a great recruiter? If that's the case then why are we getting smoked by the likes of UVA and others. If these kids are in fact great recruits then we have to put blame on the staff for their lack if development or, if they are not great recruits, then Lavins recruiting is suspect. Which one is it, you can't have it both ways.
Hi Linda. Hope your having a lovely weekend. Check out how many points we scored a game without Mr Harrison. Tell me how many games your going to win like that at this level.
Poison says the same thing as me. So does WASJU. But yet you single me out?
Thanks!
But do you, in your heart believe that this team would have been better off with Harrison with the attitude he displayed? I think we would have been better off with a Harrison who had self control and was at the top of his game but prior to his being benched, he had neither and you know that. Did you watch the Syracuse game and believe that Harrison should not have been disciplined? I am surprised that the coach of the day showed such restraint as to not have sent him to the locker room early. I turned the game off because of his antics.
Are you insane? You turned the game off because of his "antics"?
More than any of the other nonsense that's been perpetuated on the boards this season, this notion, that Harrison's demanor hurt us, is by far the biggest load of bs.
Do you know what you punish players for? For what they do and say. Not what they think.
Did he tell coach to go f himself? Did he punch an opponent? Refuse to go into the game?
No? Then his "antics" didn't hurt us that much, and everyone should get over it.
I have no problem with coach suspending D'angelo, but that's because many people have said he was unbelievably disruptive in practices. Even trying to attack one of the assistants allegedly. That's obviously grounds for suspension, and maybe what went on in practice did leave a bad taste in his teammates mouths.
But, to say his on court demeanor is what hurt us? Please. That's nonsense.
Your post is nonsense as you obviously did not watch the game as he completely ignored any semblence of team basketball and turned his back on the coach at time outs when his coach was giving instruction. And yes, if you knew anything about human nature, you would realize his demeanor did hurt the team as other players looked to him as a leader. I know nothing of him attacking anyone, nor are my comments based on that. But Lavin has a pretty easy going personality ( which was one reason why he was canned from UCLA as he was perceived as not a disciplinarian ), so if he suspended DLo, he must of had good reason to do so.
Linda,
you turned off the game because you didn't like the way Harrison was looking at coach Hines. That tells us all we need to know.
I'm far from being an apologist. Take issue with our stupid weave offense. Get on coach for using a different rotation in almost every game this season.
Ask why on earth we can't recruit anyone who weighs more than 170lbs. ... All of that and more is fair game.
But your insistence that D'angelo's demeanor was a big factor in why the team struggled, is ridiculous. You don't punish a player for making faces, or looking down, or what you assume he's thinking. Was he listening in the huddle? Did he hear the play that was called? Ok then. You make him run a few extra suicides, and talk to him in your office later in the week about the eye rolling stuff. Otherwise, it's really a non issue.
I absolutely think we would have been better off with Harrison, even with any attitude problem you perceive.
And no, I don't think the Syracuse game was evidence of any inexplicable behavior.
I can live with players who demonstrate a little frustration, and maybe role their eyes. I punish guys for behavior that is actually detrimental to team.