Quote from: willie warrior on July 14, 2026, 12:59:38 PMThat needed to be said at least 3 times so Reeker could get the point.

Rent free. The offseason must get lonely.

Operative phrase being first half of the year.

During the first half of the season, MU's struggles came down to two things.  Making lay ups (the Chicago St of lay up percentage) and playing poor defense.  Caedin was A part of that, but everybody stunk.  Sean, Chase, Zaide (missed 7 in a game.  First domino in his saga) Tre, NJ, AS, Royce, everybody.
  MU's defense, IMO, was the worst of the Shaka era from November through early January.  Switching and help were disasters.  Basic principles not  followed. 
  Chase wasn't able to step into the Batman role (how many blown game tying/winning shots), and neither Sean nor Zaide were capable of being Robin.  And in my 42 years of following MU hoops, with one exception (hello, Key/Mac/Amal), the success of MU's seasons are related to how good the guard play is. Last year was no exception. Sean, Tre, and Zaide are gone.
  I am glad Nolan transferred in and would have liked another guard.  With all of the wings, I would be stunned if Shaka started all 3 of his guards.  The starting a wing and bringing a capable guard off the bench makes so much more sense.

Good health at guard = good season.  Back up center?  Meh.

That needed to be said at least 3 times so Reeker could get the point.

Quote from: Pakuni on July 14, 2026, 12:04:26 PMLooking forward to the day when wins and losses are replaced in the record books by KenPom and Torvik rankings.

(That likely reads harsher than I intended ... just think it's a bad way to measure best/worst seasons when you have wins and losses right in front of you).

Yes. Seasons should not be rated on season records. Better to award Achievement/Participation ribbons of various colors

Quote from: Pakuni on July 14, 2026, 12:04:26 PMLooking forward to the day when wins and losses are replaced in the record books by KenPom and Torvik rankings.

(That likely reads harsher than I intended ... just think it's a bad way to measure best/worst seasons when you have wins and losses right in front of you).

Yes. The seasons should not be rated by record. Better would be Achievement/Participation Badges with various colors.

Quote from: Pakuni on July 14, 2026, 12:04:26 PMLooking forward to the day when wins and losses are replaced in the record books by KenPom and Torvik rankings.

(That likely reads harsher than I intended ... just think it's a bad way to measure best/worst seasons when you have wins and losses right in front of you).

Yes. The seasons should not be rated by record. Better would be Achievement/Participation Badges with various colors.

Quote from: Pakuni on July 14, 2026, 12:51:44 PMI say this not to weigh in on which is worst - potayto/potahto - but last year's starting lineup for the first month or so featured three seniors, a junior and a redshirt sophomore. They weren't really a young team until a combination of injuries, poor play and a transfer required it.

Fair point.

Quote from: BM1090 on July 14, 2026, 12:33:10 PMEither way. 12-20 with a young team vs 13-19 with a team led by seniors (2015). Give me last year over that year.

I say this not to weigh in on which is worst - potayto/potahto - but last year's starting lineup for the first month or so featured three seniors, a junior and a redshirt sophomore. They weren't really a young team until a combination of injuries, poor play and a transfer required it.

I do think we had a lot more reason for optimism going forward next year than we did after 2015, the Ellenson's notwithstanding.

Quote from: Pakuni on July 14, 2026, 12:04:26 PMLooking forward to the day when wins and losses are replaced in the record books by KenPom and Torvik rankings.

(That likely reads harsher than I intended ... just think it's a bad way to measure best/worst seasons when you have wins and losses right in front of you).

Either way. 12-20 with a young team vs 13-19 with a team led by seniors (2015). Give me last year over that year.

I do think 2016 and 2020 teams were better than last year, despite the rankings. Can't see last years team beating LSU/ASU on a neutral court in the first half of the year

It feels like Star Wars.  Everyone saying 'may the farce be with you.'