what if we don't make the NCAA's next year?

[HoyaJG]

First let me say that I am extremely pleased with the directin and progress of the GU program especially considering where we were last year at this time. BUt at the moment it appears that we will not make the NCAA's.

Now say for a moment that we miss again next year? What then? I'm just curious as to what people feel about JT3's grace period. I would have assumed he would get a couple years, but after a strong showing to start our season, have things changed? Will we accept not being a tourney team regularly now?

I guess the long and the short of it is do we expect simliar success to what we had under JT, and if not what do we expect?

[FOTP]

Let's settle down here. At least give the guy ONE recruiting class!

You have to give a guy 5 years. First year with the old guys and then 4 years to at least see one class all the way through.

I'd be very dissapointed if we didn't make it into the NCAAs next year or within the next two, but I'll give JTIII all the time he needs.

[HoyaJG]

don't worry, I'm settled. I also am hopeful that we will make the tourney next season, but at the same time, the new conference could make it difficult.

I guess I'm just trying to get a sense of what people's expectations of JT3 are at this point.

[HoyaSox04]

I think its imperative to look at the BE next year and realize that top-to-bottom, it is BY FAR the toughest conference in basketball. With the inclusion of 3 (perhaps 4) tournament teams from CUSA, along with the return of strong teams at Uconn, 'Nova and WVU, along with the continued growth of SJU and the always talented 'Cuse and Pitt, it will be considered a GREAT accomplishment if the Hoyas make the tourney next year. I wouldn't be surprised if we had to wait until this year's frosh class were juniors before we were dancing...

That being said, I think it can be done. The teams coming in from CUSA will be losing people to graduation and the NBA, as will UConn and 'Cuse and Pitt... along with a full summer in the program for BB/Jeff/Cook/Hibbs et all, plus the new frosh... I can't say that it won't happen, but I also can't say that we are definite locks for the tourney either.

But give us 2-3 years, and I definitely see us in the tourney every year.

[Cambridge]

Next year I'll be happy with a win over UConn and/or Syracuse, a strong BE season (9-7), significant improvement in our Freshmen and incoming class, solid recruiting effort in the class of 2006 and a strong run in the BET....

[FOTP]

Sorry. I thought you were implying that JTIII wasn't doing a good job.

I'm not convinced that next year is an NCAA tournament year actually. I'm giving JTIII a couple of years to get us back to consistent NCAA bid land.

The conference is brutal and a lot will come down to who we play and where.

The good thing is the league will get a ton of press that it's the best top to bottom.

[1803]

Bowman is the key next year. He showed real improvement this season, playing some big games. Obviously UConn was a setback last week, but he came back with a great effort against Providence on Saturday night. He is going to be a senior next year, and a first or second team all Big East campaign is certainly not out of the question. We should also see improvement from Jeff Green, Wallace and Hibbert. I am expecting a better year next year. JT III got a lot out of his guys this year. Here's to a good performance Wednesday, and a good effort against the best team in the Big East on Thursday.

[SFHoya99]

Anything less than an NCAA bid next year is a disappointment.

However, if it doesn't happen, I don't think anyone should be advocating a coaching change.

Hey, wait, I think I understand what Joe Lang was trying to say.

[NCHoya]

If the conference was not adding new teams next year, I would expect us to make the NCAAs and finish 4th or 5th, but because we are adding 4 teams that are better or even with us, I would think we need to have patience for a couple of years. There are just so few easy games next season, I wonder how that will effect JT3's out of conference scheduling. We could be a sub .500 team next year in the conference and be a better and improved team, that is a tough reality to face.

JT3 will have my support for the 5 year grace period every competent coach should get. I would expect that the progress he has already made and about to make in recruiting will turn me into a diehard JT3 supporter very soon.

I am also convinced other things will shake up the program out of JT3's control over the next 5 years such as the Big East's impending civil war between the football and education-focused schools.

[HoyaAlbany]

I'm not sure that 5 years is a justifiable grace period every time you bring in a new coach, seems a little too long. That said, I certainly think no one would be concerned if we don't make the NCAA's next year, as long as we show continued improvement , more consistency, and a strong sense of unity. There may well be some personnel changes over the summer, which may take a little adjustment next year, but I know that JTIII has us moving upward and onward.

[SFHoya99]

NCHoya said:

If the conference was not adding new teams next year, I would expect us to make the NCAAs and finish 4th or 5th, but because we are adding 4 teams that are better or even with us, I would think we need to have patience for a couple of years. There are just so few easy games next season, I wonder how that will effect JT3's out of conference scheduling. We could be a sub .500 team next year in the conference and be a better and improved team, that is a tough reality to face.

JT3 will have my support for the 5 year grace period every competent coach should get. I would expect that the progress he has already made and about to make in recruiting will turn me into a diehard JT3 supporter very soon.

I am also convinced other things will shake up the program out of JT3's control over the next 5 years such as the Big East's impending civil war between the football and education-focused schools.

JT has my full support, but there's some myths floating out there.

One, if people can call for a 7-9 team from the ACC next year, 8-8 in the NBE can do it. Our record may not be as good, but the RPI, SOS, and chance for big wins will be higher.

Two, we maybe lose DJ. No one else with any significant time is going. We're going into year two in a new system.

Yes, sometimes there is a sophomore slump for a coach, but if we were a couple of weak wins from the tournament, I don't see how the expectation could not be NCAAs next year.

[Gold Coast Hoya]

The talent caught up with us down the stretch and unless the freshmen contribute immediately I am not convinced that making the NCAA is realistic. Sure hope I am wrong.

[SFHoya99]

Gold said:

The talent caught up with us down the stretch and unless the freshmen contribute immediately I am not convinced that making the NCAA is realistic. Sure hope I am wrong.

I don't understand why we don't give our team any benefit of the doubt?

We beat Pitt at Pitt. We beat Nova at Nova. We beat ND. We almost beat Syracuse.

So down the stretch we slumped. Why the heck is that our natural level of ability? Why is it always that this team is not really any good, we just get lucky?

The team is what it is. We're a true bubble team. No better, no worse. We may not have UConn's talent, but we're not a high school squad here.

Jeff Green is a "freshman." Rudy Gay is a "lottery pick." Gimme a break.

Next year, which team has more talent:

Hibbert, Green, Bowman, Cook, Wallace, Sapp, Thornton, Egerson, Spann, etc.

Watkins, Roberts, Wright, Wright, McNamara, Devendorf, McCroskey, Mayben, etc.

You're telling me that our frontcourt can't take it to Syracuse next year?

How about, Palacios, Dean and a bunch of freshmen?
Or Jihad Muhammed, Downey, maybe Hicks, White, and a C we turned down?

We may still be treading a talent disparity with the big boys, but the disparity isn't that large.

[SirSaxa]

HoyaJG said:

Now say for a moment that we miss again next year? What then?

HoyaJG!

Hey, not to worry.
I know for certain that we are making the tourney next year!
So just sit back and enjoy the show!

[Cambridge]

**WARNING**

Apparently, SirSaxa got the flux capaciter working again and has travelled forward in time to obtain the sports almanac for 2005-2006. DO NOT ALLOW him into your tournament pool, under any circumstances.

You have been warned.

PS. Please watch all family photos carefully for evidence of SirSaxa replacing your father and you fading away in some sort of time/space divorce freakshow nightmare. Should this happen, contact Doc Brown immediately.

[FromTheBeginning]

Next year we not only have to perform well in the expanded conference, but a lot is going to depend upon the NCAA committee's feelings about how many is too many teams from one conference. We could be improved, play a better schedule, finish 9-7 in the BE and be in 9th place. I believe it is going to be very tough for the committtee to justify taking more than 7 teams from any conference.
The other side of the coin is that 11-5 or 10-6 could very well be a first place record in the new league. This is all uncharted waters and how the committee reacts to the size of the league will, IMO, be the determining factor as to whether the league survives in its new configuration. Teams who deserve to dance in the overall scheme of things who start getting left out year after year are not going to be happy.

[SFHoya99]

It will be very important to do well OOC. With a mediocre conference record and a good OOC, the thought will be that the conference is tough rather than the team not being all that good.

As for SirSaxa, how did he get the energy to power the flux capacitor? That thing takes 1.21 gigawatts! While in the future you may be able to pick up Plutonium at your corner store, the only thing that produces that kind of energy now is a bolt of lightning!

[Cambridge]

Ah, the whole Brandon Rush thing makes sense now....

I mean, if JTIII could go forward in time to see which prospects pan out, then back in time to sign them...well, we'll be a national powerhouse again in no time.

Now that's Nerd Mojo.

[coachmcguirk]

Doesn't matter what happens next year -- remember that Esherick might still be around if he hadn't irritated everybody with some of his public remarks. And I'm sure III was given assurances that he can stay as long as he wants.

The more relevant question is how they compete. Based on this year, I'd say we're on the right track.

[][-][ 0 `/ /-\ 5]

We have to hope that either we get a big man or hibbert can start playing 25-30 minutes reliably. I think most of the season will come down to whether we have a couple of guys out there at all times who can consistently rebound. I would love to see Hibbert come in next year as a more physical player who lasts longer in games. If Hibbert does this or if we get a quality big man(who knows maybe spann will do fine on the boards against taller opponents) then I would almost guarantee a trip to the tournament.