phil95, I never claimed to be angry, so let's drop that framing—it's inaccurate and dodges the actual discussion.There is no "code" here eithe; that's entirely in your framing also. Most posters in this forum are knowledgeable, passionate fans. Others only show up to vent when the team is struggling (which has been the pattern for years, as plenty of others have noted—not just my observation).Passion cuts both ways: constructive criticism feels warranted when things are rough (we have all done it), and acknowledgment of progress feels warranted when it's happening. A 6-2 run, four straight A-10 road wins (program record), holding opponents to ~72 PPG in a clear rebuild year—that's objective improvement. You don't have to applaud it, and I'm not asking anyone to agree with me. Disagreement is fine.

CLK wrote:

phil95, I never claimed to be angry, so let's drop that framing—it's inaccurate and dodges the actual discussion.There is no "code" here eithe; that's entirely in your framing also. Most posters in this forum are knowledgeable, passionate fans. Others only show up to vent when the team is struggling (which has been the pattern for years, as plenty of others have noted—not just my observation).Passion cuts both ways: constructive criticism feels warranted when things are rough (we have all done it), and acknowledgment of progress feels warranted when it's happening. A 6-2 run, four straight A-10 road wins (program record), holding opponents to ~72 PPG in a clear rebuild year—that's objective improvement. You don't have to applaud it, and I'm not asking anyone to agree with me. Disagreement is fine.

phil95 wrote:

Of course there has been measurable improvement in game results & coaching, but that's not what I commented on. I disagreed with the idea that the coaching staff  has figured out the major issues that caused the team to struggle through the first half of the season & that Dru is now among the elite coaches in the conference.

At least for me, the manner in which the wins & losses have occurred during this run of success speaks to the first point & the duration of the run speaks to the second.

While the defense has improved, the Dukes have gotten crushed on the boards the last two games, struggled mightily to defend in the second half against Mason, GW, & SBU twice, & allowed both Mason & the lowly Bonnies to shoot better than 49% from the field. 19, 15, 17, & 18 fouls in the last 4 games is an improvement, but not nearly good enough considering Dixon, who is playing his best basketball ever, fouled out of the first one & has had 4 in the last 3. The experience of winning close games is great, losing the combined second halves of the last 5 times out by 12 points is not. This team has a problem staying focused on defense & slamming the door when staked to a lead. I want them to go at least 5-1 down the stretch. I don't think they can do it playing this way.

I can't see how going 6-2 while crapping the bed at home to SBU & almost doing it again on the road has taken Dru from being one of the worst coaches in the A-10 to one of the best. 8 games is just not long enough for me to sign on for that. If Dru's squad can finish the regular season with 4 or 5 wins & win 2 tourney games, I will very happily change my tune. Then again, if that happens, there is a decent chance that he will get gobbled up by a sexier program.

A bunch of dedicated posters picked the Dukes to win 21 or more games this season. I don't recall any of them indicating at that time that this would be a rebuilding year. I think you predicted 22-24 wins. What makes this, in your opinion, a rebuilding year?

Should the program ever be in the position that 20+ wins is a rebuilding year, I might not be able to control myself!😃

Wow! My original post was simple... Drew has done good job over the last eight games. You have taken this discussion way up field,  including adding a strawman—no one's crowning Dru "elite." That's your invention to knock down. And rolling eyes at "rebuilding year" as a pathetic excuse for 20+ wins? Lazy deflection.Context: Year 2 under Dru, post-Dambrot retirement, heavy roster turnover after 2024's NCAA run, digging out of last year's 13-19 hole. Real rebuild, not lowered expectations.Facts show progress: 15-10 overall, 7-5 A-10 (solid mid-pack), season-high 4-game streak, program-record 4 straight road A-10 wins, holding opponents to 76.4 PPG. That's improvement from last season's mess and this year's disappointing start—not stagnation.The 20+ win hype came from talent brought in via portal/roster moves—many of us (including those "dedicated posters") saw a path , and still do. Hindsight cherry-picking to bash optimism isn't analysis; it's agenda. Chronic negativity while ignoring trajectory looks more like pessimism than passionate fandom. Plenty see steps forward without demanding perfection.

I am growing tired of this merry-go-round conversation. The Board can make their own conclusions and opinions on this topic. I am going to continue to root for this team and Coach. You can continue to do you.