Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Tenspro2002, post: 2752653, member: 889"] Expectations going into 2016-17 were that it would be a season of learning and growth for a relatively young, unproven team with little depth. To our (positive) surprise, we ended up dominating the regular season up until the Final Four. There, the stage got to us, we played tight and ultimately wilted under pressure. Maybe that shouldn't have been as shocking as it was. At the time, the MSU loss was immensely disappointing, but relative to preseason expectations it was a very successful season. Then, going into 2017-18, adding an All-American transfer and the #1 recruit, we were expected to come out motivated and dominate wire-to-wire with nobody else close. While we didn't lose, there were some closer calls than expected, and the team never really played like they were on the vengeance tour that was expected (Contrast, to, say 2001 into 2002, as Geno has discussed.) For every dominant performance, there was an underwhelming one. The newcomers were inconsistent, even some of the veterans. Then, come the Final Four, we choked again in the face of a tough, disciplined opponent. There is no positive spin to put on this one. Frankly, something about that group of players didn't mesh on the biggest stage, they were tight and tentative, too robotic, and unwilling to take over the game. Coming into this year, who knows. Enough talent is there, the coaching is there. Some players will need to step up and take on new and bigger roles. A Final Four is reasonable, and then we'll see. Do Lou and Collier learn from their failures and come out with more confidence and toughness? Does it take a new face to give the team a different identity? [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach