Wolken had said (on twitter) about the Tigers' problems on D (from what he saw Friday)

Quote:Lack of effort in transition, not enough ball pressure, allowing PGs to break down defense too easily

Lack of communication, not enough trust in help, bad closeouts

Today he says:

Quote:Tigers had a good practice today; got better defensively. Good sign: Coleman ran harder than at any time in the preseason.

In regular season, they'd usually go light and walk through the day before a game. Today was a legit, hard practice. What they need now.

Gaston's impressions, including reporting starting 5 (for tomorrow I assume):

Quote:Tigers going hard but this team will struggle.

Starting 5 @ Practice...Kemp,E-Will, PHN, Spoon & Mack.

Pastner workin team very hard. Focus on D and breaking the press.

Pastner really pushing his team. Nobody is standing out today.

edit: reordered Gaston's tweets into chronological order

So Sallie and Coleman come off the bench. I think this could change later down the line as Will gets in playing shape and Sallie gets in a shooting grove. I just cant see PHN playing for long stretches but hope i am pleasantly surprised.

I also expect it to be a struggle. Not a lack of confidence but realistically just so much new blood all around. Still love 'em. I'd love to be wrong as well.

Josh and the asst coaches have 10 days...and 2 full exhibition games before we tip off for real.

i think we'll be ready to go by the 13th.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

If and this is a very big IF --- we can get Niles and Coleman to rebound, play solid D, and stay out of foul trouble for the most part --- this can be a very quality NCAA team. I think we'll see a very improved Niles tonight.

(11-03-2009 06:32 AM)Tigers2BeChamps Wrote:  If and this is a very big IF --- we can get Niles and Coleman to rebound, play solid D, and stay out of foul trouble for the most part --- this can be a very quality NCAA team. I think we'll see a very improved Niles tonight.

I'm not as optimistic at this stage. I think both guys have a lot of work to do. Niles has always had greasy fingers and Coleman just needs to get into game shape and see division one play. I think as the season progresses Niles will be the likely key to our strengths and/or weaknesses. If he can't hold the round rock we are in trouble.

(11-03-2009 06:32 AM)Tigers2BeChamps Wrote:  If and this is a very big IF --- we can get Niles and Coleman to rebound, play solid D, and stay out of foul trouble for the most part --- this can be a very quality NCAA team. I think we'll see a very improved Niles tonight.

I hope you and others who agree with you are right, I hate being the voice of caution, it's not my style. I'm more of a wild guess and outrageous expectations kind of guy. But talking about the NCAA at this point is really stretching expectations for this particular team. If we make the NIT I'll be surprised and happy, the CBI will be about what I expect. The NCAA is simply too much for me to hope for right now.

define very quality? If you are talking about anything better than a 10 seed, you've lost the plot.

Have any of you actually looked at our schedule? Do you realize we still have a whole bunch of top 100 players? How about a little respect for those players?

The NIT is almost a given. The NCAA might be borderline, but is attainable. We can win CUSA. Until someone actually beats us, we're still top dog. I'm fully aware that we aren't going to have a season like the last four, but some of you are being way too negative. We're fans, not ESPN broadcasters, we don't have to be professional.

Go Tigers.

i like that starting line. having sallie, coleman, and barham bringing a huge spark off the bench

yep

We have eight legitimate DI players...two big men who have never consistently performed at this level, one freshman (Barham) and are one injury or foul trouble away from being equal to a lot of the teams on our schedule...I don't care how many Top 100 guards we have - you lose Coleman to foul trouble against Houston and the teams are very even...I think this team CAN make the NCAAs but will not be shocked, hurt, dissappointed, critical, et cetera if they do not...

I will be irrationally optimistic until I have a darn good reason not to be.

this team will be full of surprises. heart will be defined this year like no other

I love this team but we will be lucky to break .500. If everybody understands this it will be a fun year with the ship righting it self quickly next year. Go Tigers!!

Lucky to break .500?? Have you looked at our schedule? What a bunch of Debbie Downers.

Sorry, but I don't see a huge difference in our frontcourt than in 06-07 with a rising unproven junior in Dorsey who was more known for his mouth and technical fouls than anything else and a big stiff in Cooper. That team was a little deeper but not THAT much better and actually less experienced in the backcourt.

Maybe I am just an optomist, but I don't think a 20 win season is unrealistic for this team given the level of competition in CUSA.

(11-03-2009 10:36 AM)T-County Tiger Wrote:  Maybe I am just an optomist, but I don't think a 20 win season is unrealistic for this team given the level of competition in CUSA.

I don't think a 20 win season is unrealistic. I don't think getting to the NCAA's is unrealistic. But, I don't think a .500 season is unrealistic, either.

I do think that, if this team plays well and we are lucky wrt injuries, then this team will probably finish second or third in CUSA and end up in the NIT.

If this team stays injury free and continues to develop. They win CUSA. Memphis' backcourt is top to bottom that much better than the rest of CUSA.

With the season and the way the team is, as fans, I think we should expect nothing and appreciate everything. The team should expect the NCAA and to continue the 30 wins per year tradition, but as fans that would be unfair.

so, if this team doesn't win 20 games, will it be under achievers? if the vets on the team have improved and it's more cohesive, then i believe the sky's the limit

I feel as fans we should absolutely go into this season with Zero expectations and just cheer and root these guys on.

We have to look at the bigger picture which is 2-3 years down the road.

If we make the NCAA this year that would just be an incredible achievement.

I just think putting that expectation on a first year coach with a limited roster is unreasonable.

This team just doesnt have the Doziers and Anderson type glue guys.

I have no expectations one way or the other and just want to support this team good or bad.

Josh was dealt a rough hand to start with. We will be fine after a few recruiting seasons.

(11-03-2009 10:32 AM)transitt Wrote:  Sorry, but I don't see a huge difference in our frontcourt than in 06-07 with a rising unproven junior in Dorsey who was more known for his mouth and technical fouls than anything else and a big stiff in Cooper. That team was a little deeper but not THAT much better and actually less experienced in the backcourt.

you dont see a difference in the front courts? between dorsey and dozier starting up front versus Pierre and Wesley starting up front? i hope you are right, but I see a big difference there. and 06-07 had Antonio and CDR as well - i dont see anyone on this team like either of them. that said, maybe that team didnt have anyone like Elliot Williams, but otherwise, that team has got this one beat pretty good, in my opinion. I'd LOVE to be wrong on this, though.

(11-03-2009 10:30 AM)BartlettTigerFan Wrote:  Lucky to break .500?? Have you looked at our schedule? What a bunch of Debbie Downers.

No kidding! If Tic Price can coach a 6 man rotation led by Omar Sneed and Detric Golden to a record well over .500, then this team sure as hell will be over .500!!! Are the expectations really that low?!

Wow, lucky to break .500! You guys are crazy, we've always said our second unit off of the bench could win CUSA. Well that's what we have this year plus a McD's AA. I think we will contend for the C-USA title, win 20 games and make it to the tourney as a 8-11 seed.

(11-03-2009 11:33 AM)7Footer8Baller Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 10:30 AM)BartlettTigerFan Wrote:  Lucky to break .500?? Have you looked at our schedule? What a bunch of Debbie Downers.

No kidding! If Tic Price can coach a 6 man rotation led by Omar Sneed and Detric Golden to a record well over .500, then this team sure as hell will be over .500!!! Are the expectations really that low?!

I prefer the term realistic. But come on, Man, Battered Fan Syndrome affects all of us differently.

I'm just anxious to see what a zone defense looks like again

I still expect that we stretch the Conference Texas streak to 100. Am I a bad person?

(11-03-2009 11:49 AM)georgiatiger Wrote:  I still expect that we stretch the Conference Texas streak to 100. Am I a bad person?

Taking my cue from X, I refuse to use such an easy straight line.

(11-03-2009 11:50 AM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 11:49 AM)georgiatiger Wrote:  I still expect that we stretch the Conference Texas streak to 100. Am I a bad person?

Taking my cue from X, I refuse to use such an easy straight line.

I realize the quote had little to do with the question.

(11-03-2009 11:31 AM)spacedog Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 10:32 AM)transitt Wrote:  Sorry, but I don't see a huge difference in our frontcourt than in 06-07 with a rising unproven junior in Dorsey who was more known for his mouth and technical fouls than anything else and a big stiff in Cooper. That team was a little deeper but not THAT much better and actually less experienced in the backcourt.

you dont see a difference in the front courts? between dorsey and dozier starting up front versus Pierre and Wesley starting up front? i hope you are right, but I see a big difference there. and 06-07 had Antonio and CDR as well - i dont see anyone on this team like either of them. that said, maybe that team didnt have anyone like Elliot Williams, but otherwise, that team has got this one beat pretty good, in my opinion. I'd LOVE to be wrong on this, though.

06-07 had a JUNIOR Dorsey and a SOPHOMORE Dozier to go along with a SOPHOMORE CDR and a SOPHOMORE Anderson....hell, Dozier and CDR had come off the bench the year before.

I think when I mention this fact, people think of those four playing the way they did in April of 2008.
There were almost as many question marks about that team as there is this team.

(11-03-2009 11:53 AM)georgiatiger Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 11:50 AM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 11:49 AM)georgiatiger Wrote:  I still expect that we stretch the Conference Texas streak to 100. Am I a bad person?

Taking my cue from X, I refuse to use such an easy straight line.

I realize the quote had little to do with the question.

Of course not. You're my hero.

(11-03-2009 10:10 AM)HoopDreams Wrote:  We have eight legitimate DI players...two big men who have never consistently performed at this level, one freshman (Barham) and are one injury or foul trouble away from being equal to a lot of the teams on our schedule...I don't care how many Top 100 guards we have - you lose Coleman to foul trouble against Houston and the teams are very even...I think this team CAN make the NCAAs but will not be shocked, hurt, dissappointed, critical, et cetera if they do not...

Look on the bright side...
1.) Most teams only play 8 players major minutes in big or close games anyway. Our top 8 are better than any top 8 in C-USA.

2.) In all the cupcake games on our schedule, we should be able to use another player or 2 off the bench and still win (to preserve our starters).

3.) Until someone gets hurt or shows a tendency to get in foul trouble, it's not worth worrying about, and if it happens, Coach P will figure it out.

4.) Talent wise, I don't put much into it, but we should be comparable:
-Tyreke Evans vs. Elliot Williams = pretty close (Both MDAA,EWill has a year under his belt and is more athletic
- 08 Doneal Mack vs. 09 Doneal Mack = 09 DMack (more experience/more confidence/better system for his game)
-Antonio Anderson vs. Roburt Sallie = Anderson on Defense, Sallie on offense
-Robert Dozier vs. Wesley Witherspoon = Dozier, but WW should develop to be close to as good by the end of the season.
-Shawn Taggart vs. PHN = Taggart, but we will see how much Pierre has improved minus 80lbs.

-Bench

-08 Niles vs. Coleman = Coleman and we haven't even seen him in a game, but Niles was a non-factor
-08 Kemp vs. 09 Kemp = 09 Kemp for the same reasons as 09 Mack
-08 Sallie vs. Barham = should be about the same if Barham can shoot in games like he did in practice.
-08 Wesley Witherspoon vs. DJ Stephens = WW, but doesn't matter cause neither got or will get enough minutes in close games to matter.

Those who think we are a (lucky to be) .500 team need to re evaluate everything they think they know about basketball.

We will be a 20+ win team
We will get in the NCAA and likely be 2nd round team
This team WILL get better. Jezz, you should hear what they are saying about Kensucky right now and how badly people think that team stinks.

This should be a great year to be a fan. No expectation to get anyone down, just having fun watching a program try to recover.

(11-03-2009 11:59 AM)transitt Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 11:31 AM)spacedog Wrote:  

(11-03-2009 10:32 AM)transitt Wrote:  Sorry, but I don't see a huge difference in our frontcourt than in 06-07 with a rising unproven junior in Dorsey who was more known for his mouth and technical fouls than anything else and a big stiff in Cooper. That team was a little deeper but not THAT much better and actually less experienced in the backcourt.

you dont see a difference in the front courts? between dorsey and dozier starting up front versus Pierre and Wesley starting up front? i hope you are right, but I see a big difference there. and 06-07 had Antonio and CDR as well - i dont see anyone on this team like either of them. that said, maybe that team didnt have anyone like Elliot Williams, but otherwise, that team has got this one beat pretty good, in my opinion. I'd LOVE to be wrong on this, though.

06-07 had a JUNIOR Dorsey and a SOPHOMORE Dozier to go along with a SOPHOMORE CDR and a SOPHOMORE Anderson....hell, Dozier and CDR had come off the bench the year before.

I think when I mention this fact, people think of those four playing the way they did in April of 2008.
There were almost as many question marks about that team as there is this team.

I still dont see anyone on our current team who bring to the table what Sophmore Antonio and CDR did and Junior Dorsey did. and there were definitely a ton of questions about that team, and by the end of the year they answered them. I hope Wesley can make the strides CDR did from his freshman to sophmore year, and I hope someone can provide the interior defense that Dozier and Dorsey did, and I hope someone can be a bulldog defensively like Andre was and Jeremy Hunt, etc. like i said, i hope it turns out otherwise, i'm just not sure this team is capable of anything like what that 06-07 team ended up as, because I dont see anyone like Antonio, CDR, Dozier or Dorsey, even the 06-07 versions of those players. I hope Coleman ends up as good as Dorsey, I hope Spoon ends up as good as CDR, I hope Elliot is better than all of the above, and Sallie, Kemp, Mack, and Pierre play better than ever. i just think the comparisons to 06-07 and last years team are not realistic.

(11-03-2009 12:48 PM)spacedog Wrote:  I still dont see anyone on our current team who bring to the table what Sophmore Antonio and CDR did and Junior Dorsey did. and there were definitely a ton of questions about that team, and by the end of the year they answered them. I hope Wesley can make the strides CDR did from his freshman to sophmore year, and I hope someone can provide the interior defense that Dozier and Dorsey did, and I hope someone can be a bulldog defensively like Andre was and Jeremy Hunt, etc. like i said, i hope it turns out otherwise, i'm just not sure this team is capable of anything like what that 06-07 team ended up as, because I dont see anyone like Antonio, CDR, Dozier or Dorsey, even the 06-07 versions of those players. I hope Coleman ends up as good as Dorsey, I hope Spoon ends up as good as CDR, I hope Elliot is better than all of the above, and Sallie, Kemp, Mack, and Pierre play better than ever. i just think the comparisons to 06-07 and last years team are not realistic.

So? That team went to the Elite Eight. No one expects this team to go to the Elite Eight. But people saying this team will be lucky to be .500 are delusional.

I agree we'll be well over .500. i am just saying i dont think its realistic to compare this team to any of the previous 4 teams and I am glad that a year in which we may be a bubble team or NIT team is a down year instead of the norm like it was in the first half of x-coach's tenure.

Enjoy the ride.

Be a giver, not a taker.

Own your performance.

It is what it is.