Well, I said after the Xavier loss that this team was a slightly above .500 team and it would be great to make the NIT. As knowledgeable as folks seem to be on the BY, it is almost like you guys don't watch college basketball. There is a big difference between good teams and really good teams. In college basketball anyone can beat anyone on any given day. Once you get into your conference schedule - and I don't care what conference you are in - there are no gimme's no matter what KenPom says, especially on the road.
It is more than talent and coaching. There is gelling as a team and having the will to win (winning culture). Talent is improving, playing a team is improving but having that ability to pull out a close game is not there yet. The way I felt, the fact that they did not actually beat Xavier was an indication that we were not there yet. Everyone said I was re-acting to the loss instead of focusing on that we took a ranked team to overtime and almost won. Coming close is still a loss. Really good teams win those games. Period. Indiana is another example of a game we "should have won" but didn't. Still a loss. I am not at all surprised by the last two losses and I won't be surprised if we beat some of the top AAC teams later this season - especially at home. But getting 18 wins and going to the NIT this year? I think that is the ceiling.
