BEST WOOLDRIDGE DEFENSE....EVER!

[michigancat]

Excellent commentary:


Editor,

I have followed K-State men’s basketball since I was in grade school and have attended home games and followed the program every year to date. I feel great about where our program is right now, but there are those who would criticize Coach Jim Wooldridge and say six years is way to long to develop his team. I would like to discuss some things in defense of Wooldridge.

Let me say that my family and I were ecstatic in 2000 when we found out Tom Asbury was being replaced. By the end of his time here, he was a foul-mouthed coach who didn’t care about the team.

So, however much Bill Snyder had to build our football program in the late ‘80s, Wooldridge has had to completely rebuild the basketball program: If Snyder had to start from scratch, Wooldridge started with a handicap and had to work his way up to scratch. He inherited Asbury players who were ill-trained and in their final years. To make matters worse, there was a new Big 12 rule in place the year Wooldridge started that prevented him from signing more than five players in a single year and no more than eight in two years. Thankfully, this was finally removed in 2004.

In conference play, we have lost some games we should have won, but this is not bad coaching. We have never been the most physical team. We do not have a team of brutes and brawlers who go out and hack the heck out of their opponents. I appreciate Wooldridge teaching his team proper basketball skills.

Lastly, I know Wooldridge hasn’t always felt the warmth at home that he should have: He and his teams also have lacked the support of an adequate fan base. I appreciate those who have been loyal and not fair-weather fans, and I know Wooldridge feels the same way. On a side note, the reason we didn’t get into post-season play last year was because Athletic Director Tim Weiser was successful in preventing us from getting into the NIT. This was because he wanted to fire Wooldridge. Please support Wooldridge and his team for the rest of this season!

I want to close by saying that, win or lose, I will always cheer for our basketball team. I hope the rest of you K-Staters can say the same thing. Wooldridge is doing a great job with his team, and this year it’s going to pay off.

 Jeff Woodward | Junior in electrical engineering


I especially like the part about JW's situation being worse than Snyder's.



http://129.130.29.130/article.php?a=8624

[JavaCat]

Gawd damn engineers.

[JavaCat]

I have a special prize for the person that finds out which poster this is.

[ksu_FAN]

As a "Woolite" according to most, that is a rediculous.  Not knowing the difference between a Big 12 rule and a NCAA rule didn't help his case.

The only point that might have some legitimacy was the one on the NIT, but I don't think Weiser was into some big conspiracy.  He enquired and was waiting to see if we got in based on merit.  That has a place, but teams that are elgible for the NIT that want to go can generally find a way to get in if they are proactive enough.  I think MU simply offered the NIT a better deal.  Granted, they had a slightly better resume, but their willingness to guarantee tickets for a home game had more to do with their selection than merit IMO.

[michigancat]

I have a special prize for the person that finds out which poster this is.

It's fatty fat fat.  What do I win?

As a "Woolite" according to most, that is a rediculous. Not knowing the difference between a Big 12 rule and a NCAA rule didn't help his case.

The only point that might have some legitimacy was the one on the NIT, but I don't think Weiser was into some big conspiracy. He enquired and was waiting to see if we got in based on merit. That has a place, but teams that are elgible for the NIT that want to go can generally find a way to get in if they are proactive enough. I think MU simply offered the NIT a better deal. Granted, they had a slightly better resume, but their willingness to guarantee tickets for a home game had more to do with their selection than merit IMO.

Wooldridge has no one to blame but himself for not getting into the NIT.  Accomplishing any of the following would have easily got them in:

1.  Not blowing a 15 point second half lead at home (OU)
2.  Not peeing down your leg against a next-to-last place team at home (CU)
3.  Making free throws and/or not making stupid fouls in a winnable road game (NU)
4.  Not getting worked over at home by a last place Big East team (Rutgers)
5.  Playing defense late in a winnable home game (TT)

[JavaCat]

It's fatty fat fat.  What do I win?

Nothing.

[ksu_FAN]

No doubt on all 5 points.  It isn't good when you have to lobby for an NIT bid. 

However, for the kids and momentum going into this season, I would've liked to see us give every effort to get a bid and I don't think we did.

[michigancat]

No doubt on all 5 points.  It isn't good when you have to lobby for an NIT bid. 

However, for the kids and momentum going into this season, I would've liked to see us give every effort to get a bid and I don't think we did.

If you thought you were going to be able to fire Wooldridge, would you have lobbied for the NIT, especially when he was a full two games shy of the "required" wins?

[ksu_FAN]

Probably not, though I have to wonder why the MU AD did for Snyder.

[fatty fat fat]

Gawd damn engineers.

They suck.

[michigancat]

Probably not, though I have to wonder why the MU AD did for Snyder.

They're keeping Snyder around this year so the new coach will be able to leave campus to recruit next year.

[ksu_FAN]

Those sanctions were lifted this fall.

[michigancat]

Those sanctions were lifted this fall.

Still, a coach would have taken the job with recruiting restrictions for his entire first class and most of his second class.

What MU did makes sense.

[ksu_FAN]

Yeah, could be. 

Its always strange the Missouri isn't great at anything.  Only big school in the state, ie. school that plays D1 football. 

We can say that here and not have to worry about an influx of Shockers, correct?

[BarryMcCockner]

Wow.  THAT is how to take a few solid viewpoints and ruin them with incorrect assertions while watering them down with lame excuses.

[The1BigWillie]

Anyone know where Jeff Woodward is these days and if he would care to look back on his "I feel great about where our program is right now."  comment?