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Message: [QUOTE="Hans Sprungfeld, post: 4871936, member: 181"] This team has thus far given us reason (well on display in these comments) to imagine that the BE regular season championship, BET championship, and NCAA championship are all plausible. Adjusting for their own conference particulars, not many teams are in such a position. Let that in. "If healthy" has been the primary qualifier throughout this season, and it is astonishing that the team is ranked #1 by the polls, leads its conference standings, and shows itself near the top of so many other measurements in spite of being fully healthy for one game only. The likelihood of winning 6 consecutive games against escalating competition is quite rare. Doing so when a key player is unavailable due to illness or injury is unheard or or nearly so (someone else can look that up). The additional possibility of extraordinary performance by an unexpected team has ample precedent. In short, a National Championship is very very difficult, but somebody does it every year. We are still in, "Why not us?" territory, but we're also just past the conference season's midpoint. We've been witnessing a team that has conjured the possibility of winning even with a key absence. The unlikelihood of such success is what's driving most of the equivocations here, as would be fully expected, and as should be. It truly is a time to savor each game. When several players are among the voices saying that this team has significant room for improvement, believe them, and watch how the 'February build' unfolds. Expect that the coaches and players are on a mission. Hope, pray, or summon whatever is your chosen tool that we are not subject to a deep compromise of the type that will undoubtedly affect some number of teams at the highest levels in the weeks to come. Past that, I'd like to see this team win 4 consecutive 2-game weekend tournaments after completing the Big East regular season in first place. I believe that all of that is possible, subject to the already identified key qualifier, and knowing as well that player absences have already been a notable part of this season. As always, it will be one game at a time. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach