As crazy as this sounds, assuming that the bracket-nerds are right and they do manage to sneak in with one of the final at-large bids, I think we have to admit this has at least been an improvement over the Miller era. But you’re right Bob, it’s just not good enough. After 4 years a pattern for Woodson’s teams has been established: underachieve compared to the talent available, then finally begin to play their best basketball with about 2-3 weeks left in the season to get themselves onto the tournament bubble, if not into the tournament itself (TJD’s senior year being the one exception, but even that team was capable of more than what it delivered). Bottom line, Indiana fans are knowledgeable enough about the game to know what a roster is generally capable of, and I think what they want to see as much as anything is 1.) a team that performs to the level of it’s talent year in / year out 2.) can at minimum comfortably get in the tournament field every year as a baseline, and 3.) every 3-4 years have a team that can truly contend for a Big Ten title and be talked about as a squad that can make a deep tournament run. Yeah, there will always be delusional idiots who think every season should end with a Final Four, but find a coach that can do what I just outlined and I think the vast majority of us will be quite happy.
I don't understand blowing off Don Fischer. I'll never understand that. Glad they found a way to pull it together finally, but it doesn't excuse everything else
Bob--what do you make of Woodson hitting the showers after his postgame interview (mobbed by his players) instead of saying something to the crowd and thanking his players to their faces? I think the video was a cop-out, personally, for a guy who seems to have given up on the relatability part of the gig. Leal having to wonder during his speech if his coach could hear...wasn't that kind of sad? I thought so. At least awkward.
As crazy as this sounds, assuming that the bracket-nerds are right and they do manage to sneak in with one of the final at-large bids, I think we have to admit this has at least been an improvement over the Miller era. But you’re right Bob, it’s just not good enough. After 4 years a pattern for Woodson’s teams has been established: underachieve compared to the talent available, then finally begin to play their best basketball with about 2-3 weeks left in the season to get themselves onto the tournament bubble, if not into the tournament itself (TJD’s senior year being the one exception, but even that team was capable of more than what it delivered). Bottom line, Indiana fans are knowledgeable enough about the game to know what a roster is generally capable of, and I think what they want to see as much as anything is 1.) a team that performs to the level of it’s talent year in / year out 2.) can at minimum comfortably get in the tournament field every year as a baseline, and 3.) every 3-4 years have a team that can truly contend for a Big Ten title and be talked about as a squad that can make a deep tournament run. Yeah, there will always be delusional idiots who think every season should end with a Final Four, but find a coach that can do what I just outlined and I think the vast majority of us will be quite happy.
I don't understand blowing off Don Fischer. I'll never understand that. Glad they found a way to pull it together finally, but it doesn't excuse everything else
Bob--what do you make of Woodson hitting the showers after his postgame interview (mobbed by his players) instead of saying something to the crowd and thanking his players to their faces? I think the video was a cop-out, personally, for a guy who seems to have given up on the relatability part of the gig. Leal having to wonder during his speech if his coach could hear...wasn't that kind of sad? I thought so. At least awkward.
Really enjoyable read, thanks Bob!