The most telling part about tonight.

[bilsu]

They also have three juniors that played in the national championship game last year.  They have WAY more experience than we do.

That is irrelevant to the situation. They have improved and we have not.

[GGGG]

That is irrelevant to the situation. They have improved and we have not.

Of course experience is relevant.  Cmon...

[bilsu]

Of course experience is relevant.  Cmon...

They were also experienced when we played them in December. For whatever reason they were playing poorly for Ryan. They continued to play poorly at first for Gard as he switched how they were going to play. Lately they have been playing better than they were. Lately we have been playing worse than we were. In both cases they are the same teams with the same players. UW had three final 4 players in December and have 3 final 4 players now. I do not see relative to them that that makes a difference. Same level of experience either way.

[mu03eng]

I would say Duane, Fisch, Wally, and JJJ are all better than last year. Sandy was better but has really fallen off this last month. The others are freshmen.

Disagree on Duane, not sure on Fisch(is it actual improvement or just a healthy shoulder) but I agree on Wally and JjJ.

Traci was regressing during the cupcakes and it continues, Henry has seemed to plateau, and Haanif seems to be really good with a touch of inconsistency(so a freshmen)

Heldt has seemed to improve.  Guess it's a bit of a mixed bag, guess I'll let your optimism win this one.

[bilsu]

I do not believe anyone has talked about Wojo changing the starting lineup. Was this a good move or a sign of desperation?

[GGGG]

They were also experienced when we played them in December. For whatever reason they were playing poorly for Ryan. They continued to play poorly at first for Gard as he switched how they were going to play. Lately they have been playing better than they were. Lately we have been playing worse than we were. In both cases they are the same teams with the same players. UW had three final 4 players in December and have 3 final 4 players now. I do not see relative to them that that makes a difference. Same level of experience either way.

Did I say it was the only factor?  You said it was "irrelevant."  I think it is a relevant factor as to why UW has improved since we have played them.

[WarriorPride68]

I do not believe anyone has talked about Wojo changing the starting lineup. Was this a good move or a sign of desperation?

Wally is our Scoop treasure. No one wants to talk about his DePaul game (0 pts, 2 reb, 1 foul).

Be interesting to see who starts vs the Johnnies

[CTWarrior]

I do not believe anyone has talked about Wojo changing the starting lineup. Was this a good move or a sign of desperation?

There was no reason to be desperate going in to the DePaul game.  I think he just figured those guys earned it.  I like Wally, but as a change of pace energy guy off the bench.  I think he should play more often than he had been (maybe four 3-5 minute spurts over the course of the game instead of one or two such spurts in the first half).

Otherwise JJJ is playing better than Sandy, so why not start him?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I do not believe anyone has talked about Wojo changing the starting lineup. Was this a good move or a sign of desperation?

Personally didnt like it. Thought it screwed up our substitution patterns.

One change I think I might want to see is starting Heldt. Im tired of Luke picking up two fouls in the first five minutes. Take a page out of Buzzs playbook.

[MU82]

Wally is our Scoop treasure. No one wants to talk about his DePaul game (0 pts, 2 reb, 1 foul).

Be interesting to see who starts vs the Johnnies

Wally is the classic 2nd string QB. Everybody wants to see him start ... until he actually has to start.

For every Tom Brady, there are hundreds of Jonathan Quinns and Matt Flynns.

Here's hoping Wally is at least a Nick Foles, and not a Henry Burris!

[ChicosBailBonds]

That is irrelevant to the situation. They have improved and we have not.

I could not disagree with your first sentence more.  It is entirely relevant.  Did they improve?  Yes, they have.  Is that because of their experience, not panicking as a result of that experience?  In my view, yes.  That leadership of having gone through the gauntlet helps tremendously, including the ability to overcome adversity, play better through the peaks and valleys.

We see it all the time in sports and certainly in the business world, as well as everyday life. Experience means so much in how you approach life, be it on the fields of play, the boardroom, dealing with your kids, etc.

[naginiF]

I could not disagree with your first sentence more.  It is entirely relevant.  Did they improve?  Yes, they have.  Is that because of their experience, not panicking as a result of that experience?  In my view, yes.  That leadership of having gone through the gauntlet helps tremendously, including the ability to overcome adversity, play better through the peaks and valleys.

We see it all the time in sports and certainly in the business world, as well as everyday life. Experience means so much in how you approach life, be it on the fields of play, the boardroom, dealing with your kids, etc.

IMHO these are the single greatest set of words you've written on this board.

*grammar edit

[forgetful]

I could not disagree with your first sentence more.  It is entirely relevant.  Did they improve?  Yes, they have.  Is that because of their experience, not panicking as a result of that experience?  In my view, yes.  That leadership of having gone through the gauntlet helps tremendously, including the ability to overcome adversity, play better through the peaks and valleys.

We see it all the time in sports and certainly in the business world, as well as everyday life. Experience means so much in how you approach life, be it on the fields of play, the boardroom, dealing with your kids, etc.

I second this being very wise.  '

The problem is, everyone always thinks they have adequate experience to speak/act/lead on topics they don't actually have adequate experience in.

You see that in kids that become uncoachable, because they think they know better or that handlers know better. 

Fortunately, I don't think Wojo, brings in players like that.  They are learning and getting the experience.  They will just be more prone to ups and downs.  So will UW, they are on an upswing right now, they will fall back down also.

[MU82]

I coach middle school girls basketball. Yes, I know, everybody is happy for me.

My first year at this school, 2013-14, we had two bad 8th-graders, two OK 7th-graders, four 6th-graders and a fifth-grader. Early on, these players had trouble hitting the rim on layups. We gradually, very slowly improved and finished 7-9.

Last season, my second at the school, our former 7th-graders were now good 8th-graders. Three of the former 6th-graders returned and were outstanding 7th-graders. The former 5th-grader, now a year older, was by far the best 3-point shooter in the league. We also got a new player, an athletic 7th-grader who was new to basketball but got better during the year. We finished 15-4 and made it to the conference title game for the first time in the school's 15-year history.

This season, those girls who were little 6th-graders two years earlier are now 8th-graders and are among the best players in the league. The girl who joined the team as a 7th-grader worked hard all offseason, went to camps, got private coaching and is now the best player in the league as an 8th-grader. The tiny 5th-grader is now a very good 7th-grader. We have played every team in the first half of our round-robin schedule (and a couple of them a second time) and are 10-0. None of the games have been close. We have some talent, we outhustle everybody and, at least as importantly, we have experience. WE UNDERSTAND THE GAME, AND WE PLAY AS A TEAM BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 2-3 YEARS.

Also, I was a rookie coach back in 2013-14. I have a little better clue now, too.

Yes, it's only middle school girls basketball. But it's still the same dynamic as men's college basketball. Young players grow into experienced players, and a newby coach also can  establish himself/herself.

Or the nattering nabobs here can take the opposite view and say, "Young players NEVER improve ... and a young coach NEVER becomes better with experience ... and we're doomed."

[Lennys Tap]

I coach middle school girls basketball. Yes, I know, everybody is happy for me.

My first year at this school, 2013-14, we had two bad 8th-graders, two OK 7th-graders, four 6th-graders and a fifth-grader. Early on, these players had trouble hitting the rim on layups. We gradually, very slowly improved and finished 7-9.

Last season, my second at the school, our former 7th-graders were now good 8th-graders. Three of the former 6th-graders returned and were outstanding 7th-graders. The former 5th-grader, now a year older, was by far the best 3-point shooter in the league. We also got a new player, an athletic 7th-grader who was new to basketball but got better during the year. We finished 15-4 and made it to the conference title game for the first time in the school's 15-year history.

This season, those girls who were little 6th-graders two years earlier are now 8th-graders and are among the best players in the league. The girl who joined the team as a 7th-grader worked hard all offseason, went to camps, got private coaching and is now the best player in the league as an 8th-grader. The tiny 5th-grader is now a very good 7th-grader. We have played every team in the first half of our round-robin schedule (and a couple of them a second time) and are 10-0. None of the games have been close. We have some talent, we outhustle everybody and, at least as importantly, we have experience. WE UNDERSTAND THE GAME, AND WE PLAY AS A TEAM BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 2-3 YEARS.

Also, I was a rookie coach back in 2013-14. I have a little better clue now, too.

Yes, it's only middle school girls basketball. But it's still the same dynamic as men's college basketball. Young players grow into experienced players, and a newby coach also can  establish himself/herself.

Or the nattering nabobs here can take the opposite view and say, "Young players NEVER improve ... and a young coach NEVER becomes better with experience ... and we're doomed."

So this year we make it to the championship game and next year we win it all? Sweet!

[WarriorPride68]

I coach middle school girls basketball. Yes, I know, everybody is happy for me.

My first year at this school, 2013-14, we had two bad 8th-graders, two OK 7th-graders, four 6th-graders and a fifth-grader. Early on, these players had trouble hitting the rim on layups. We gradually, very slowly improved and finished 7-9.

Last season, my second at the school, our former 7th-graders were now good 8th-graders. Three of the former 6th-graders returned and were outstanding 7th-graders. The former 5th-grader, now a year older, was by far the best 3-point shooter in the league. We also got a new player, an athletic 7th-grader who was new to basketball but got better during the year. We finished 15-4 and made it to the conference title game for the first time in the school's 15-year history.

This season, those girls who were little 6th-graders two years earlier are now 8th-graders and are among the best players in the league. The girl who joined the team as a 7th-grader worked hard all offseason, went to camps, got private coaching and is now the best player in the league as an 8th-grader. The tiny 5th-grader is now a very good 7th-grader. We have played every team in the first half of our round-robin schedule (and a couple of them a second time) and are 10-0. None of the games have been close. We have some talent, we outhustle everybody and, at least as importantly, we have experience. WE UNDERSTAND THE GAME, AND WE PLAY AS A TEAM BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 2-3 YEARS.

Also, I was a rookie coach back in 2013-14. I have a little better clue now, too.

Yes, it's only middle school girls basketball. But it's still the same dynamic as men's college basketball. Young players grow into experienced players, and a newby coach also can  establish himself/herself.

Or the nattering nabobs here can take the opposite view and say, "Young players NEVER improve ... and a young coach NEVER becomes better with experience ... and we're doomed."

[vogue65]

Our kids have a positive attitude and that's a big deal.  I don't see them being deluded in any way.  It is a reality based team, just young, weren't we all once like that?

[NickelDimer]

I do not believe anyone has talked about Wojo changing the starting lineup. Was this a good move or a sign of desperation?

Reaked of inexperience and uncertainty

[NickelDimer]

I coach middle school girls basketball. Yes, I know, everybody is happy for me.

My first year at this school, 2013-14, we had two bad 8th-graders, two OK 7th-graders, four 6th-graders and a fifth-grader. Early on, these players had trouble hitting the rim on layups. We gradually, very slowly improved and finished 7-9.

Last season, my second at the school, our former 7th-graders were now good 8th-graders. Three of the former 6th-graders returned and were outstanding 7th-graders. The former 5th-grader, now a year older, was by far the best 3-point shooter in the league. We also got a new player, an athletic 7th-grader who was new to basketball but got better during the year. We finished 15-4 and made it to the conference title game for the first time in the school's 15-year history.

This season, those girls who were little 6th-graders two years earlier are now 8th-graders and are among the best players in the league. The girl who joined the team as a 7th-grader worked hard all offseason, went to camps, got private coaching and is now the best player in the league as an 8th-grader. The tiny 5th-grader is now a very good 7th-grader. We have played every team in the first half of our round-robin schedule (and a couple of them a second time) and are 10-0. None of the games have been close. We have some talent, we outhustle everybody and, at least as importantly, we have experience. WE UNDERSTAND THE GAME, AND WE PLAY AS A TEAM BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 2-3 YEARS.

Also, I was a rookie coach back in 2013-14. I have a little better clue now, too.

Yes, it's only middle school girls basketball. But it's still the same dynamic as men's college basketball. Young players grow into experienced players, and a newby coach also can  establish himself/herself.

Or the nattering nabobs here can take the opposite view and say, "Young players NEVER improve ... and a young coach NEVER becomes better with experience ... and we're doomed."

Teal?

[ATL MU Warrior]

Reaked of inexperience and uncertainty

Or it was a sign that he is willing to change things up and reward guys who play hard/well.

[We R Final Four]

The only area I haven't seen improvement in that concerns me is rebounding. Henry and Luke do about everything you could ask them to do but our guards are terrible at it. Not sure how to fix it.

This is the most concerning part of this team for me.  If you watch(ed) that dePaul game.  Traci, Sandy(several times in several games), and Duane allowed their man to get past them with out even boxing out.  I dont know if they dont understand this concept or if they think HE will just take care of it.  Sandy had two fouls pushing his guy in the back after he didnt box him out.....adn that was DePaul.  My biggest problem is Sandy does this consistently and I dont see Wojo get upset or correct the problem the next game.  Watch Sandy box out toinght--if he decides to.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Or it was a sign that he is willing to change things up and reward guys who play hard/well.

Last season we complained when Wojo didnt change lineup. This season we complain when he does!

[Loose Cannon]

Last season we complained when Wojo didnt change lineup. This season we complain when he does!

The Beauty of our Board.  God Bless Them.

[Ardmore Mug]

Not when he said the quote. Frosh were eligible at the end of als career

the NCAA allowed freshman eligibility in  basketball effective with the 1972-73 academic year.