First many thanks to CBR, his staff and players for giving us the last 5 years of exciting, enjoyable basketball and making Furman basketball relevant again. When that shot went in last March I feared that was not only the end of the season but the end of a great run. With losing AH and CG and possibly JS and MB, those fears were certainly warranted. As JS and MB eventually announced they would return, hopes again were back on the table. The mindset was we will turn heartbreak into a positive and motivation would be at an alltime high. That hasn’t happened. Then in the off season we continue to get reports on how hard the team is working, this player and that player is so much better yada yada yada so natuarally expectations were high again for the “run” to continue. Couldn’t wait for the season to start and see the improvement all the players had made not named Slawson or Bothwell. Unfortunately that improvement turned out to be negligible at best.The obvious huge problem is defense. We are not good at man to man defense. That is blatantly obvious and I know it irks CBR to no end. A good example yesterday is WCU had the ball at the baseline with 6 seconds on the shot clock. They throw in to the left of the foul circle. Player takes the ball dribbles around the top of the foul circle and down the opposite side of the foul lane and lays it in uncontested. Don’t know if our one on one defense ineptness is mental or physical but probably both. Losing 2 great 3 point shooters certainly hurts but is those same 2 players defense missed more? Certainly looks that way. Some more thoughts as I ramble on.
RECRUITING-CBR’s first 2 classes were nothing but stellar. It produced great dependable players, leaders, the mainstays of the program. The next 3 classes basically produced roll players and those roll players are now taking turns showing up game to game. CBR hit a homerun in his first venture into the transfer portal. His second venture has yet to produce but there is still time. I expect a player or 2 to move on. If that is the case CBR needs to hit the portal hard.
THE SEASON- Even tough we are 10-5 I think no one is currently pleased especially after yesterday’s debacle. All season I think most of us tried to ignore what we were seeing and tried to keep thinking things would get better and this player or that player was really going to step up. That has not happened. I think we are all tired of player x having a good game and said player disappearing the next game. Still a long way to go and still have a chance to turn it around but really see nothing to base that hope on. Optimism has turned to skepticism. Still hoping for a top half finish in the SoCon.
LAST 5 YEARS- It has been fun to receive so much positive publicity, rankings etc. Checking the daily rankings of kenpom and the ncaa net rankings and seeing Furman listed in the 50’s and 70’s has been exciting. We just dropped out of kenpoms top 100 for the first time in a long time. We have dropped out of the Net’s top 150. Looks like those days are behind us but it was a good ride.
FUTURE- After this season we will be left with no obvious stars, mainstays, leaders, go to players, whatever you want to call them, just basically roll players. Regardless of how this season plays out the foreseeable future does not look bright but things can change, but again the last 5 years were awesome to follow. Hoping CBR can do something but have no idea what that would be.It is what it is. Beat Citadel.
RECRUITING-CBR’s first 2 classes were nothing but stellar. It produced great dependable players, leaders, the mainstays of the program. The next 3 classes basically produced roll players and those roll players are now taking turns showing up game to game. CBR hit a homerun in his first venture into the transfer portal. His second venture has yet to produce but there is still time. I expect a player or 2 to move on. If that is the case CBR needs to hit the portal hard.
THE SEASON- Even tough we are 10-5 I think no one is currently pleased especially after yesterday’s debacle. All season I think most of us tried to ignore what we were seeing and tried to keep thinking things would get better and this player or that player was really going to step up. That has not happened. I think we are all tired of player x having a good game and said player disappearing the next game. Still a long way to go and still have a chance to turn it around but really see nothing to base that hope on. Optimism has turned to skepticism. Still hoping for a top half finish in the SoCon.
LAST 5 YEARS- It has been fun to receive so much positive publicity, rankings etc. Checking the daily rankings of kenpom and the ncaa net rankings and seeing Furman listed in the 50’s and 70’s has been exciting. We just dropped out of kenpoms top 100 for the first time in a long time. We have dropped out of the Net’s top 150. Looks like those days are behind us but it was a good ride.
FUTURE- After this season we will be left with no obvious stars, mainstays, leaders, go to players, whatever you want to call them, just basically roll players. Regardless of how this season plays out the foreseeable future does not look bright but things can change, but again the last 5 years were awesome to follow. Hoping CBR can do something but have no idea what that would be.It is what it is. Beat Citadel.
Last edited by apaladin on Sun Jan 01, 2023 1:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
