ElDuque wrote:

Seven months from now, I'll look back on the Dukes' 2014-2015 and judge in my own mind whether or not we have a successful season. Before this happens, I want to provide a few thoughts for my future self.

What should I realistically expect this year? After reading all of the positive reports about the summer league, and after seeing the schedule, my first reaction was that 19 wins seemed like the right number for an under/over. I've since adjusted my thinking. Now I put that number at 18, which means I think that's a reasonable expectation, anything above that will be bonus, and anything less will be a disappointment to me. 

I'm not expecting anyone else to buy into this. I'm sure everyone else has their expectations, and will make their predictions, and who knows, maybe someone will have more accurate foresight than I do. 

But I feel good about the number 18. It means 9-2 against an embarrassingly weak OOC and a .500 season in the A-10, which, based on last year, seems reasonable to me. Oh, sure, I don't expect everything to go according to hoyle. One of those weak Sisters of the Poor is going to hand us an ugly loss, and perhaps we'll have another "moment" like we did in St. Louis last year.

I don't expect to beat Pitt or Robert Morris this year. I still think both are better than us. I would certainly WANT to beat them, and I would be very happy just to beat Bobby Mo, but I don't expect it. 

I do believe in the staff in terms of recruiting. I still think the jury is out on their ability to coach the talent they have into a winning program. Why? Because they've been under .500 for two years. It's just logical to think they have to prove they can be successful, at which point I'll be happy to taste the Kool Aid.

I do believe in the players, especially McCoy and Mason. I still would like to see an upgade over Colter and Jones, the latter of which dropped a notch in my eyes with the stupid incident with the police this spring. Ditto for Mason: Dumb *$$. 

I think Gill can be a much better player this year, and Ridenour too.

I am hopeful about Robinson, but again, what my eyes see is more meaningful to me than what other say. That's why I have such a different opinion about Colter and Jones than some guys. I've seen them. Yes, they can certainly improve, but I think they need to improve a lot.

So, future self, if McCoy, Mason, Gill, Ridenour, Robinson give you "step up seasons," and you get something out of at least one of the newcomers, and either Colter or Jones has a breakout season, and Ferry can have them game-ready and then make smart decisions during the games, and if this team hits FTs and has an effective offense, and plays defense, I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

Meantime future self, keep the number 18 in mind. Would definitelt beat what we've done the past two seasons.

Excellent post! 18 wins would leave me satisfied as well, and this would be so even if instead of following ED's scenario, they went 15-14, and then made a run to the A10 Final to reach 18 wins. 18 wins would position them to make a run at the top 1/3 of the league the following year, which, if the league maintains it's current level of strength, would be within reach of a bid to the dance.

Nice post.  But I don't have any expectations.  That way I won't go crazy anymore when we lose to Upper Abilene Christian or Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley or the other schools on our schedule. 

No expectations have allowed me not to opine further over whether RMU has passed us by, GA should be fired or whether Ferry is just padding that schedule for self preservation.

Which "two guys" who have already left are you speaking of?

DukesFan79 wrote:

The coaching staff did not have a year to work with Robinson. He was NOT allowed to practice once the entire school year.

We all agree that we need to see more toughness and better play out of the Dukes. But this blind negativity needs to stop.

NJIT was a bad loss, but they did beat Michigan today.

Blind negativity? You crack me up, cousin!

PS, Winters and Watkins are the transfers about which I'm speaking.

Last edited by ElDuque (12/06/2014 5:42 pm)

Our guys will shoot any time, from anywhere. They are not shy. They are also not accurate.

When did Watkins ever show he was a good player? There is a reason he ended up at Furman. He shot 30% for the season on mostly shots within 5 feet of the basket.

Winters could score but did not have a position for this level. He was simply a better player than the others on the roster in 12-13. He is now at Washington averaging 4 ppg in 11 mins on 31% shooting.

Neither helped us defensively either which is where we can all agree is the biggest issue!