10 Years Ago.....

[FU Hoopla]

If I would have told you 10 years ago Furman Basketball was on its way to:

- Beating #8 ranked Villanova and get ranked in the AP Top 25 poll
- Winning the SoCon Tournament and beating #10 ranked Virginia in the NCAA tournament
- Getting a player drafted into the NBA
- Getting the full renovation of Timmons Arena on track for completion in 12 months
- Keeping the head coach that has been apart of all of that (Bob Richey) on board

You would have thought I was crazy!

[Paul C]

I would have called the Sheriff to make a wellness check....

What a decade.

[Affirm]

Yes, a good 10 years.
… So I wonder, what would we consider an amazingly positive outcome for the years 2024-2025 through 2034-2035?
… And I wonder, what would be just a “generally expected” outcome for the next 10 years?
What are our goals? … expectations?

[apaladin]

Those of you that will still be here years from now will look back on 2023 just like we look back at the ‘88 football season now. The year that was. 2023 was a very special year for FU football and basketball, like no other. We should not expect to see a year like that again especially where college sports is headed and already is. I am very thankful for the suuccess we had in 2023. What a year it was.

[FurmanFan23]

The past ten years have been great! Just imagine all we accomplish in another ten years!!!!!

[gofurman]

Yes, a good 10 years.
… So I wonder, what would we consider an amazingly positive outcome for the years 2024-2025 through 2034-2035?
… And I wonder, what would be just a “generally expected” outcome for the next 10 years?
What are our goals? … expectations?

The issue now is NIL - losing Pegues to Auburn etc. We better have $$$ if we want success. Otherwise, as was told to me, we are going to get our best guys cherry-picked from now on.

I honestly don't see how we keep anyone who is near the top of the SoCon anymore. It will happen to other teams too - Achor Achor left Samford for K-State. So we may still compete in the SoCon just fine / and that is great... but NATIONALLY we will drop further from the Power Schools. As will everyone at the mid-major level unless you have a HUGE DONOR. Like the Koch brothers or something. Someone willing to match the 250K or whatever that a SoCon stud might get from an ACC or SEC school.

Can't blame a kid.. most will never make the NBA .. get that 250K while you can !

[furpop16]

Yes, a good 10 years.
… So I wonder, what would we consider an amazingly positive outcome for the years 2024-2025 through 2034-2035?
… And I wonder, what would be just a “generally expected” outcome for the next 10 years?
What are our goals? … expectations?

Before the portal, my answer would have been simple: “Sweet 16”. But now? Maybe half the time make the tournament or NIT?

[FU Hoopla]

The past ten years have been great! Just imagine all we accomplish in another ten years!!!!!

[Affirm]

The past ten years have been great! Just imagine all we accomplish in another ten years!!!!!

Trying to imagine what is realistically possible, considering what I know and considering what is stated by the posters after you in this thread other than the one (you again) that just entered a big "100" whatever that means.

[FU Hoopla]

The past ten years have been great! Just imagine all we accomplish in another ten years!!!!!

Trying to imagine what is realistically possible, considering what I know and considering what is stated by the posters after you in this thread other than the one (you again) that just entered a big "100" whatever that means.

We celebrate our past and we look forward to our future...
Regardless of what is considered most 'realistically' possible ect., the only mindset worth having is that there is no limit to what can be achieved...

[Affirm]

Yes, a good 10 years.
… So I wonder, what would we consider an amazingly positive outcome for the years 2024-2025 through 2034-2035?
… And I wonder, what would be just a “generally expected” outcome for the next 10 years?
What are our goals? … expectations?

The issue now is NIL - losing Pegues to Auburn etc. We better have $$$ if we want success. Otherwise, as was told to me, we are going to get our best guys cherry-picked from now on.

I honestly don't see how we keep anyone who is near the top of the SoCon anymore. It will happen to other teams too - Achor Achor left Samford for K-State. So we may still compete in the SoCon just fine / and that is great... but NATIONALLY we will drop further from the Power Schools. As will everyone at the mid-major level unless you have a HUGE DONOR. Like the Koch brothers or something. Someone willing to match the 250K or whatever that a SoCon stud might get from an ACC or SEC school.

Can't blame a kid.. most will never make the NBA .. get that 250K while you can !

You say:
"So we may still compete in the SoCon just fine / and that is great... "
Also you say:
"NATIONALLY we will drop further from the Power Schools. As will everyone at the mid-major level unless you have a HUGE DONOR. Like the Koch brothers or something. "
A question that I have IS:
Which schools in the SoCon - if any - ARE going to to be able to not drop further from the Power Schools; that is, which SoCon schools are going to "... have a HUGE DONOR ... like the Koch brothers or something."?
Mercer?
Samford?
Chattanooga?
ETSU?
Could it be any of those? When and if it would be any of those, would that mean they soon would be leaving the SoCon?
I tend to doubt Furman, Wofford, Citadel, VMI, or UNCG have such a situation.
Perhaps the same is true for all 9 of the current SoCon schools?
ARE ALL 9 OF THE CURRENT SOCON SCHOOLS essentially "on a level playing field" when it comes to NIL power, not just now but predictably at some near future time?
Would an reasonable estimation of "NIL power potential ranking" be possible? What would that ranking look like? Even though I imagine every single school in the SoCon "still has to play the NIL game", would it (a reasonable estimation of "NIL power potential ranking") really mean anything as far as SoCon W-L ranking - or are ALL SoCon members "somewhat equally lacking in" HUGE DONORS for NIL?

[Affirm]

The past ten years have been great! Just imagine all we accomplish in another ten years!!!!!

Trying to imagine what is realistically possible, considering what I know and considering what is stated by the posters after you in this thread other than the one (you again) that just entered a big "100" whatever that means.

We celebrate our past and we look forward to our future...
Regardless of what is considered most 'realistically' possible ect., the only mindset worth having is that there is no limit to what can be achieved...

The only mindset worth having is that we just do the best we can.
That does not mean we abandon having goals that a realistic.
It is vitally important to have goals that are realistic.
What is realistic IS an important and valid question.
So, considering everything known and expected, including the impact of NIL and of conference alignments and likely power conference consolidations, what realistically the best can we can do?
Are we left to just dream and wonder, with no realism inserted into what is predictable for the coming 10 years?
Yes?
No?
I really want to know what people think - not about the fact that I am asking these question, but what, if any, considered answers to these questions there may be, beyond trite sayings and platitudes.

[Choir Boy]

Kool Aid and Fetenayl is not a good combination

[FU Hoopla]

Kool Aid and Fetenayl is not a good combination

See the first post in this thread champ

[FU Hoopla]

The past ten years have been great! Just imagine all we accomplish in another ten years!!!!!

Trying to imagine what is realistically possible, considering what I know and considering what is stated by the posters after you in this thread other than the one (you again) that just entered a big "100" whatever that means.

We celebrate our past and we look forward to our future...
Regardless of what is considered most 'realistically' possible ect., the only mindset worth having is that there is no limit to what can be achieved...

The only mindset worth having is that we just do the best we can.
That does not mean we abandon having goals that a realistic.
It is vitally important to have goals that are realistic.
What is realistic IS an important and valid question.
So, considering everything known and expected, including the impact of NIL and of conference alignments and likely power conference consolidations, what realistically the best can we can do?
Are we left to just dream and wonder, with no realism inserted into what is predictable for the coming 10 years?
Yes?
No?
I really want to know what people think - not about the fact that I am asking these question, but what, if any, considered answers to these questions there may be, beyond trite sayings and platitudes.

Everyone has their own philosophy...

Final Four or bust