What Would It Mean...

[TJ]

Because he's Willie...he doesn't often make sense or provide any real insight...other than the fact that WE NEED A DECENT BIG!!

I don't often agree with willie, but he makes a half decent point here.  We, as in everyone involved from top of MU to fans, need to raise expectations above expecting 11 wins and top half of BE if we ever want to consistently do better than that.  This year's results should be considered acceptable, not successful.  I know there were hardships and injuries and short benches, but we really didn't accomplish anything significant.  The goal should certainly be set higher.

[GGGG]

I just get a kick out of people who see others doing well, and then expect MU to be no different.  From an outsiders point of view there are plenty of teams with more $$$ than MU that don't do nearly as well.  That same type of logic should be used to say we can do no better than them.  So I think the only thing you can do is look at an individual team, and look at what they are doing to compete at a high level.  By Willie's logic, UW-Milwaukee, UW-GB, etc. should all be competing at the level Butler is.  I hate when people make demands, but offer no suggestions for how to get there.  If Butler would have had Willie's type of attitude from the start, they wouldn't be where they are now.

Here is another reason UWGB (and others like them) will never really compete.

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20100404/WRT02/4040499/1829/wrt02/Salary-could-be-an-issue-in-UWGB-coaching-search

[avid1010]

but we really didn't accomplish anything significant.  The goal should certainly be set higher.

Really?  What were your expectations coming into this year?  What were the goals for MU this season?  If you don't think MU accomplished anything this year I don't think you watched much MU basketball.

[TJ]

Really?  What were your expectations coming into this year?  What were the goals for MU this season?  If you don't think MU accomplished anything this year I don't think you watched much MU basketball.

Going into the season, I thought the situation was comparable to Novak's senior year (and I still do).  My preseason expectation for this year was about 10-11 conf wins and a spot in the tourney, which I know is easy to say because that's what happened, but I am serious.  I think the goals for the year should have been at least that, plus a tourney win or two.  Set goals high and strive for them, don't set mediocre goals and bask in your mediocrity.  And I didn't say MU didn't accomplish anything, I said MU didn't accomplish anything significant.  It was an entertaining, fun, frustrating season, but no one's going to look back on this season 10 years from now and feel pride that we beat every team below us in the standings at least once (except ND) and lost to every team above us.  There won't be a banner that says "exceeded preseason expectations".

Now, what are your expectations for next year?  What should the goals for 2010-2011 be?  I think the goal should be at least 13-14 conf wins and a Sweet 16.

[avid1010]

Going into the season, I thought the situation was comparable to Novak's senior year (and I still do).  My preseason expectation for this year was about 10-11 conf wins and a spot in the tourney, which I know is easy to say because that's what happened, but I am serious.  I think the goals for the year should have been at least that, plus a tourney win or two.  Set goals high and strive for them, don't set mediocre goals and bask in your mediocrity.  And I didn't say MU didn't accomplish anything, I said MU didn't accomplish anything significant.  It was an entertaining, fun, frustrating season, but no one's going to look back on this season 10 years from now and feel pride that we beat every team below us in the standings at least once (except ND) and lost to every team above us.  There won't be a banner that says "exceeded preseason expectations".

Now, what are your expectations for next year?  What should the goals for 2010-2011 be?  I think the goal should be at least 13-14 conf wins and a Sweet 16.

Let's start out by stating that my goals for this year were very minimal when at the time the injuries occurred, I thought we lost our only true point guard and only true center...not to mention the Maymon fun.  With such a small roster and short bench, I would have been thrilled if someone would have told me MU would be in every game and make the NCAA tourney.  Some very knowledgeable people on this site were worried about MU's ability to defend and hit the three given past performance and size. So, to have a goal to reach the Sweet 16 and win the BEAST last year was fine, but to have fans who sit back in their Lazy Boy and act like they it's just a given that MU should do this on a yearly basis is a joke.  They should be calling for the heads of Williams, Howland, and Calhoun.  I guess I just get a kick out of alums and fans acting like if they demand something it will come true.  It's like DePaul having an attitude that they just have to go hire a huge name coach, yet they haven't put themselves in the position to do so yet.  If I managed my employees with simply one very high goal and no benchmarks I'd be setting them up for failure. 

So if the goal for MU is to compete for BEAST championships and a Sweet 16 and better finishes in the NCAA tourney that's reasonable, but I think you need to realize they hit a number of benchmarks this year that will help them get to that point.  Those benchmarks are most significant to me because they would really be the only tangible and fair measures of the year.  I don't think it's at all okay to call this year insignificant because we didn't win the BEAST and make it to the Sweet 16.  Buzz began to prove he can put a competitive team on the floor no matter the situation, and we had a number of both young and experienced players show huge improvements from the previous year.  So I'm not looking for a BEAST championship or Sweet 16 appearance next year.  I'm looking to see Buzz develop a talented freshmen class, I'm looking to see Butler and DJO take over the team, I'm looking to see guys like E-Will, Yous, Otule, Junior, etc. take big strides forward...  I'm not sure that that translates to a BEAST championship or Sweet 16 run just yet, but it puts MU on track to get there.

[TJ]

If I managed my employees with simply one very high goal and no benchmarks I'd be setting them up for failure. 

There is a balance to strike of course, and I do recognize that willie went too far, but on the other hand you're not going to let your employees do the opposite and set really low goals with lots of insignificant benchmarks either.  Achieving goals should be an accomplishment, not just what you're "supposed to do."

I felt going into the season that everyone here set their sights so low that they were bound to be happy by whatever was put on the floor.  I'm hoping that doesn't happen next year.

I don't think it's at all okay to call this year insignificant because we didn't win the BEAST and make it to the Sweet 16.  Buzz began to prove he can put a competitive team on the floor no matter the situation, and we had a number of both young and experienced players show huge improvements from the previous year.

If you remember that in 10 years, I'll be impressed.  More likely you'll remember an average year with an average number of wins and a tourney loss.  I'm not saying there wasn't anything to be happy about, but we shouldn't be going around pounding our chests and acting cocky either.  We were a top 40 team, we won 20 games, 11 in conference, we made the tournament... all good things, but nothing lasting or significant.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Not to be a d*ck, but I hope we all know that "our expectations" have ZERO effect on how the team actually does.

If I expect Jimmy Butler to score 30/game next year, that doesn't really do anything.

There are a handful of people whose "expectations" need to be met (coach, president, AD, handful of major donors).

Outside of those people, it really doesn't matter what all of us think. The only impact we can really have is attendance, but that usually lags behind performance.

[TJ]

Not to be a d*ck, but I hope we all know that "our expectations" have ZERO effect on how the team actually does.

If I expect Jimmy Butler to score 30/game next year, that doesn't really do anything.

There are a handful of people whose "expectations" need to be met (coach, president, AD, handful of major donors).

Outside of those people, it really doesn't matter what all of us think. The only impact we can really have is attendance, but that usually lags behind performance.

Mostly true, but if fans are happy, what motivation does leadership have to demand more?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Mostly true, but if fans are happy, what motivation does leadership have to demand more?

Let's face it, on some levels, MU hoops is a marketing and revenue tool for MU. How well the team actually does doesn't really mean squat. If they are on TV a lot (marketing the school), sell out a lot of home games and sell merch (creating revenue), then a lot of people will be satisfied.

At the end of the day, MU is a school, not a pro basketball team. If the basketball team is creating revenue and adding value to the school, most of the board members and higher ups will be satisfied.

Now, what does MU need to do to keep selling out games and sell additional jerseys? Well, making the sweet 16 every few years will probably keep that ball rolling.