unbelievable

[PowercatPat]

Why did Jones sit the 2nd half?

He was injured

Eye hernia?

[AppleJack]

This is what losing @ OU does, we are eating our own 

[felix rex]

I enjoy the drama. Much bbetter than being indestructable. Peaks and valleys. The lows are what make the highs as truly fantastic as ours have been.  

the run of wins last year, from the cu road game on, was incredible.  i don't think it is valid to expect that sort of thing though.

Exactly. Sometime losing games you "should" win catches up with you. It did all the time for over a decade before Huggs and Frank.

This.  I understand the basis for people's belief that it will all get better, I just don't believe in it.  At all.  Or rather, I don't see it as some foregone conclusion.

Yes but this reaction says to me that you either think that we will win every game or the season ends on January 25th.  I said that we would finish 5-3 in the 8 game stretch after Baylor, so aside from the frustration of how we lost I'm not going to meltdown until its apparent we aren't making the tournament.

For conference purposes, our regular season pretty much ended today. And I'm not quite to melting down over not making the tournament, but I'll admit to autonomic preheating. On the bright side, disappointed fans, when properly managed, are crucial to fostering a positively dynamic environment for the bball program.

I don't know if fan sentiment can make or break a sports program (because I think the program itself enjoys the greater leverage  between the two), but it can absolutely mold it and can absolutely significantly contribute to it either positively or negatively. And it can also be easily manipulated. Disappointment may be a tactical negative, but it is a strategic positive. Somewhat the inverse of "surprise." It's the latent and currently docile strains  of disinterest that are the real danger of coming out of remission. I don't think we're there yet for the masses, but speaking as a weak-hearted canary, it's definitely seeping into the air down here at the bottom of the mine.

[michigancat]

I enjoy the drama. Much bbetter than being indestructable. Peaks and valleys. The lows are what make the highs as truly fantastic as ours have been. 

the run of wins last year, from the cu road game on, was incredible.  i don't think it is valid to expect that sort of thing though.

Exactly. Sometime losing games you "should" win catches up with you. It did all the time for over a decade before Huggs and Frank.

This.  I understand the basis for people's belief that it will all get better, I just don't believe in it.  At all.  Or rather, I don't see it as some foregone conclusion.

Yes but this reaction says to me that you either think that we will win every game or the season ends on January 25th.  I said that we would finish 5-3 in the 8 game stretch after Baylor, so aside from the frustration of how we lost I'm not going to meltdown until its apparent we aren't making the tournament.

For conference purposes, our regular season pretty much ended today. And I'm not quite to melting down over not making the tournament, but I'll admit to autonomic preheating. On the bright side, disappointed fans, when properly managed, are crucial to fostering a positively dynamic environment for the bball program.

I don't know if fan sentiment can make or break a sports program (because I think the program itself enjoys the greater leverage  between the two), but it can absolutely mold it and can absolutely significantly contribute to it either positively or negatively. And it can also be easily manipulated. Disappointment may be a tactical negative, but it is a strategic positive. Somewhat the inverse of "surprise." It's the latent and currently docile strains  of disinterest that are the real danger of coming out of remission. I don't think we're there yet for the masses, but speaking as a weak-hearted canary, it's definitely seeping into the air down here at the bottom of the mine.

wow, fantastic post.

[MakeItRain]

I enjoy the drama. Much bbetter than being indestructable. Peaks and valleys. The lows are what make the highs as truly fantastic as ours have been.  

the run of wins last year, from the cu road game on, was incredible.  i don't think it is valid to expect that sort of thing though.

Exactly. Sometime losing games you "should" win catches up with you. It did all the time for over a decade before Huggs and Frank.

This.  I understand the basis for people's belief that it will all get better, I just don't believe in it.  At all.  Or rather, I don't see it as some foregone conclusion.

Yes but this reaction says to me that you either think that we will win every game or the season ends on January 25th.  I said that we would finish 5-3 in the 8 game stretch after Baylor, so aside from the frustration of how we lost I'm not going to meltdown until its apparent we aren't making the tournament.

For conference purposes, our regular season pretty much ended today. And I'm not quite to melting down over not making the tournament, but I'll admit to autonomic preheating. On the bright side, disappointed fans, when properly managed, are crucial to fostering a positively dynamic environment for the bball program.

I don't know if fan sentiment can make or break a sports program (because I think the program itself enjoys the greater leverage  between the two), but it can absolutely mold it and can absolutely significantly contribute to it either positively or negatively. And it can also be easily manipulated. Disappointment may be a tactical negative, but it is a strategic positive. Somewhat the inverse of "surprise." It's the latent and currently docile strains  of disinterest that are the real danger of coming out of remission. I don't think we're there yet for the masses, but speaking as a weak-hearted canary, it's definitely seeping into the air down here at the bottom of the mine.

Not a lot to disagree with here.  Two things, I will guarantee that every top five team will lose at least one home or road game to a bottom five team.  I'll put the chances of winning the conference at less than 10% at this point, but not totally dead.  Also I see no strains of disinterested or malaise within the fan base at this point, none.  There was plenty of that in 2004, I know what that looks like and we're far from it.  Again it isn't wrong to be disappointed from yesterday's performance, I just feel its too early to glean any long term deciders from it.

Good post blerd, sincerely.

[Pete]

My canary isn't moving, what should I do?

[MakeItRain]

My canary isn't moving, what should I do?

Sorry Pete


mine is still a beautifully singing bitch I'll loan her to you

[catzacker]

I enjoy the drama. Much bbetter than being indestructable. Peaks and valleys. The lows are what make the highs as truly fantastic as ours have been.  

the run of wins last year, from the cu road game on, was incredible.  i don't think it is valid to expect that sort of thing though.

Exactly. Sometime losing games you "should" win catches up with you. It did all the time for over a decade before Huggs and Frank.

This.  I understand the basis for people's belief that it will all get better, I just don't believe in it.  At all.  Or rather, I don't see it as some foregone conclusion.

Yes but this reaction says to me that you either think that we will win every game or the season ends on January 25th.  I said that we would finish 5-3 in the 8 game stretch after Baylor, so aside from the frustration of how we lost I'm not going to meltdown until its apparent we aren't making the tournament.

no, my reaction simply means that I don't believe that we'll get better based upon what we did in '08/09 (which ended in the NIT) or last year.  Because, imo,  both circumstances and dynamics are wildly different.  But I understand why some would believe it.  there are other reasons why we could or won't get to the tourney, but they have nothing to do with previous years' performances. 

in year 5, we shouldn't have lost this game. 

[michigancat]

I enjoy the drama. Much bbetter than being indestructable. Peaks and valleys. The lows are what make the highs as truly fantastic as ours have been. 

the run of wins last year, from the cu road game on, was incredible.  i don't think it is valid to expect that sort of thing though.

Exactly. Sometime losing games you "should" win catches up with you. It did all the time for over a decade before Huggs and Frank.

This.  I understand the basis for people's belief that it will all get better, I just don't believe in it.  At all.  Or rather, I don't see it as some foregone conclusion.

Yes but this reaction says to me that you either think that we will win every game or the season ends on January 25th.  I said that we would finish 5-3 in the 8 game stretch after Baylor, so aside from the frustration of how we lost I'm not going to meltdown until its apparent we aren't making the tournament.

no, my reaction simply means that I don't believe that we'll get better based upon what we did in '08/09 (which ended in the NIT) or last year.  Because, imo,  both circumstances and dynamics are wildly different.  But I understand why some would believe it.  there are other reasons why we could or won't get to the tourney, but they have nothing to do with previous years' performances. 

in year 5, we shouldn't have lost this game. 

Every non-elite team loses games they shouldn't every year. Heck, so do the elite teams. Maybe you should quit expecting us to be KU and never lose a game we're expected to win?

[catzacker]

If baylor wins the league what will our excuse be?

[j-dub]

i'm considering putting my bball fandom on hold til march every year. what's the point in watching BIOQ and FBF games 

[EllToPay]

On the bright side, disappointed fans, when properly managed, are crucial to fostering a positively dynamic environment for the bball program.

wow, can i use this?

[kim carnes]

My canary isn't moving, what should I do?

I LOL'd @ this.

[kougar24]

felix is an underappreciated gem.

[MakeItRain]

 

If baylor wins the league what will our excuse be?

They're better

[catzacker]

If baylor wins the league what will our excuse be?

They're better

should they be?

[michigancat]

If baylor wins the league what will our excuse be?

They're better

should they be?

With their talent? Absolutely. If you want to criticize Frank's recruiting, I think you would be acting perfectly reasonable.

[sys]

If you want to criticize Frank's recruiting, I think you would be acting perfectly reasonable.

i don't.  martin is recruiting very well for kstate.  drew recruiting even better for baylor doesn't alter that.  it's the same point as the road record of final four teams thing.

[michigancat]

If you want to criticize Frank's recruiting, I think you would be acting perfectly reasonable.

i don't.  martin is recruiting very well for kstate.  drew recruiting even better for baylor doesn't alter that.  it's the same point as the road record of final four teams thing.

Is he recruiting very well relative to the league? I'm not completely unhappy with it, but criticism of his recruiting/roster management over the years is a lot more valid than his substitution patterns or zone defense possessions. Just landing one of Maymon, Fontan, or Rosario instead of Omari would have made a HUGE difference.

[catzacker]

If baylor wins the league what will our excuse be?

They're better

should they be?

With their talent? Absolutely. If you want to criticize Frank's recruiting, I think you would be acting perfectly reasonable.

I am.  All my criticisms are rooted in the idea/belief that frank should be recruiting better and isn't.  Bench angel? fine.  but have someone better than Will Spradling or Tay out there.   Don't completely wiff on the'08 recruiting class and maybe this isn't a problem...don't run off or recruit better than Nick Russell and this isn't a problem.  

[sys]

If you want to criticize Frank's recruiting, I think you would be acting perfectly reasonable.

i don't.  martin is recruiting very well for kstate.  drew recruiting even better for baylor doesn't alter that.  it's the same point as the road record of final four teams thing.

Is he recruiting very well relative to the league? I'm not completely unhappy with it, but criticism of his recruiting/roster management over the years is a lot more valid than his substitution patterns or zone defense possessions. Just landing one of Maymon, Fontan, or Rosario instead of Omari would have made a HUGE difference.

don't know if you've noticed, but fontan and rosario suck.

it's more valid, but still not very valid.  he's recruiting to kstate at a higher level than at any time in the modern recruiting era.  that's the only valid basis we have to compare him to.  it's possible that kstate is an attractive destination and the previous coaches dramatically underperformed it's true recruiting allure.  but it seems more likely that martin is overperforming.

[catzacker]

Frank's recruiting has been average, relative to the other members in the league.  KU, UT, Baylor have been head and shoulders above the rest, OSU has been better, imo.  You could make a case for A&M's, though we'll see post Turg.  It's average. Which is absurd.  Especially considering Baylor's success.  

also, recruiting better than altman, asbury, wooly, should not be the standard/benchmark. 

[Underdog Wildcat]

The thing about Baylor this year is that even with Drew's outlandish recruiting over the past several years, they haven't really looked like a national contender until they landed a couple of relatively under the radar prospects to soldify their backcourt, and their team as a whole.

Heslip was an unranked 3* out of HS, RS'd at freakin Boston College, transferred, and now his deadly spot up shooting and heady all-around play is a tremendous asset for them at the 2.

Then they mined, Jackson, arguably their most dynamic and important player from the JC hinterlands. He did end up being the JC player of the year last year(which in the past hasn't necessarily meant a lot in relation to high major ball) but before the 10-11 season, James Watson was actaully rated as a better prospect(43 and 62 respectively in the JC Junction '11 Top 100).

I guess even the most ruthless, star hunting recruiters out there need to unearth some DITRs in order to make it all come together.

[sys]

Frank's recruiting has been average, relative to the other members in the league.  

he's finished in the top 4 of a 12 team league 4 out of 4 times.

[michigancat]

If you want to criticize Frank's recruiting, I think you would be acting perfectly reasonable.

i don't.  martin is recruiting very well for kstate.  drew recruiting even better for baylor doesn't alter that.  it's the same point as the road record of final four teams thing.

Is he recruiting very well relative to the league? I'm not completely unhappy with it, but criticism of his recruiting/roster management over the years is a lot more valid than his substitution patterns or zone defense possessions. Just landing one of Maymon, Fontan, or Rosario instead of Omari would have made a HUGE difference.

don't know if you've noticed, but fontan and rosario suck.

Compared to Omari? Fontan is hurt. And you know Rosario wouldn't suck for Frank. You know it in your heart.