Basketball Dilemma.

[Pokevette]

Not trying "bash" anyone here, but just taking a "realistic" look at where our Basketball team can end up this year. It is the mid-point of the conference season, so what can expect over the balance of the year? Looking at where we are today.

* We played a home game against the worst team in the league last night and one by just 1 point.

* Road games sure are not our strength. We have 4 of those left, including three (KSU/A&M/Texas) against all but certain NCAA bound teams. Maybe a road trip to Columbia might be winable for us.

* Home games left are Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska. I think splitting those would be the best we could hope for.

We are 11-11 overall right now. At best, we MIGHT finish 3-5 with our remaining schedule. That sends us in the Big-12 Tourney likely as an 11-seed facing a team who we probably did not beat during the regular season.

So, we probably will finish this season at 14-17 best case.


How would evaluate a season like that for OSU?

[pistolpete2002]

How would evaluate a season like that for OSU?


I would evaluate that as, absolutely horrible and something needs to be done ASAP!!! :mad:

[wickerbill]

To be honest, any season where we're not at least in the mix to get in the NCAA tournament is a disappointment. With our resources and decent success over the last 20 years, anything less is a failure. The occasional season with an NIT bid is nothing to get worked up about, but this will likely be the third year in a row without making the tournament.

With football ticket prices going up so much the past few years and the general feeling of the football program being on the rise, I see basketball season ticket sales suffering if this isn't fixed. I have had the same seats since the arena was expanded and my tickets have gone up 60% in that time, and they're not even very good seats. Tons of people purchased season tickets this year and aren't even coming out to the games. These tickets weren't cheap and for people to view those as a sunk cost and that the investment in time and gas isn't worth using those tickets is not a good sign for the fan's support of the program. I know it's not so easy to find people who want to go with me if my wife doesn't want to go to a game.

Maybe we've been spoiled, but I don't think OSU fans demand a perennial conference champion and final four team like Kansas fans. We just would like that every 5-10 years and to have a respectable NCAA tourney team the rest of the time. With the fan support and facilities we have, I don't think that's too much to ask. Many schools with less support and lesser facilities are doing better than us.

[Pokes4Life]

I think it's made worse by the fact that we weren't supposed to be in a situation like this. We had a coach designate in place with Sean before Eddie retired, and it was done so we wouldn't lose a foothold.

I also look to the future and wonder what is going to change. We have guard play but no one to play in the post, and we don't seem to be recruiting any significant post players for next year. Now, I thought Martavius Adams did a really nice job last night, and if he can continue that kind of progress, we'll be all right in the future. However, consistency is the number 1 problem with this team, so nothing's ever a guarantee.

I think what most bothers me most is that before the season began, Sean was gong to rely heavily on the 3 because apparently in early practices, we were shooting lights out. However, that has not translated to gametime performance. It seems to me that when that strategy failed, Sean didn't have any other gameplan to move to next. The recent article detailing the lack of 2-point buckets at the end of games reiterates that point too.

[Lewis the Pike]

you guys are all wrong , we have McDonald's All-americans on our team. And we have had some great recruiting classes.

we'll be in the NCAA.

(sarcasm)

[wickerbill]

Problem some of the best players from those recruiting classes either are no longer on the team or never were.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

I'm a bit more optimistic... maybe foolishly so... but I think the team is improving, and we have played tough games agaist those teams that you listed (UT, aTm, OU)

I think it is quite possible that we could go 3-1 at home; if we get hot against KU, then maybe better... maybe.

Certainly we would have to play better than we have to beat those teams on the road; but I think we're capable of playing better; actually, all we need to do is finish and not make silly mistakes down the stretch.

If Dove can put the kabosh on Beasley, then I think we're capable of beating KSU; on the road makes it very tough. UT and A&M get more production out of their bench than we do, but clearly we're darn near equal to them in talent and capability. I'm going for a split on the road 2-2...

Like I said, maybe a fools dream, but IMO we have shown that we are capable, we just have to do it.

[JimBob]

After that dog biscuit last night, 1-3 at home will be great.