Deacon B-Ball Wisdom

by dmacetal on Mar 14, 2009 2:30 PM EDT

So let's see here: the Deacs were a 'no show' for the ACC tourney this year. What do you suppose our young team (and coach) can take home from this experience? Well, let's couple it with the regular season wins and loses. Great wins against Duke and Carolina; bad losses to the likes of Virginia Tech (at WFU) and NC State, for example. We've shown up at every game (and in particular away games) with a big question mark hanging over the team. Who's going to play today? No real consistency. No consistent tough defense. A bunch of hot dog dunks. Very little finesse. The Deacs are just not a seamless team. Not yet.

What they have shown me this season is they are individually greatly talented; as a team, though, they are typical of a bunch of young guys that just haven't had enough experience together to get their act on. It needs to jell. The message here to our gifted kids is 'stay put; no NBA aspirations for a year, if not two'. You've got the potential to get to the Final Four, but not this year. It'll come together for you in the next year or two. Just give it a chance as great teams and great college players have done in years past. Len Chappel took us there in '62, his senior year. It's high time to get there again. We can do it with all the talent we've got, but not if we lose the likes of James Johnson, for instance, if he should choose to exit at the end of the current year.

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This team just loves to toy with our emotions. Some games RPhilpott and I will walk out saying “I don’t see us losing another game” and same games we are left thinking that Austin Peay would have their way with us. I have enjoyed this season immensely, as the rise to being nationally relevant again was certainly a welcome change.

While we have no idea which team will show up in the NCAAs, I am right back on the bandwagon. We could easily lose in the first round or we could make it to the Final Four. That’s just the price you pay for following this edition of the Deacs, the Bi-Polar edition.

If we are lucky enough to get all the guys back (which I think is very unlikely) we would be preseason #1. Losing HH and adding Ari, CJ, and the Grim Threeper would be a huge net positive. We will also see much more of Ty Walker next year, who will be fun to watch develop in a Wake uniform. Even if James decides to leave, we should have a great season next year if Teague comes back. Even though he has struggled a lot recently, we need his scoring ability from the guard spot because LD and Ish are better when they can play within their roles. The future looks pretty bright if we can hold on to two of our big three.

by WakeJake on Mar 15, 2009 2:05 AM EDT reply actions

Concern

Actually, the inexperience issue is no longer an excuse. I think they are lost. I am a fanatical fan and this whole thing was a big mistake. They should have gone national in their search for a coach even if it meant losing the big three recruits. They have no passion and no teamwork. Len Elmore was correct about Teague: he is too much into himself and is a sulker. Johnson is too detached from the intensity of winning. It is all about being able to generate the intensity to win. They needed to watch the first half of the Duke/NC game to learn what ACC basketball is all about.

I really feel that most of the team will move out after this season. If they have a chance to be drafted, Teague, Johnson and Aminu will be gone. I expect a few others to transfer perhaps.

Now, in fairness, they really need another shooter. However, with the kids they have they should be playing much better defense (especially help defense) and should have some visible plan to attack defenses to stack it in.

They are more than disappointing!

by ClannaGael on Mar 15, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

I respectfully disagree. We went from being out of the NIT to #1 in the nation in one year. You just have to step back and look at the big picture sometimes. The world is not ending and we will be ok.

by WakeJake on Mar 15, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Hope you are right

I sure hope you are right, but I have observed a lot of basketball. It is not the record that is the issue. I believe that tt is clear to anyone who has watched them that they had extraordinary talent (missing one more shooter) in particular with many extremely talented big men. They fell apart, have no passion (or confidence) and are unable to “bring it”. Instead of improving as we would have expected of a “young” team (like Maryland, Florida State, Duke, Virginia Tech, etc.) they fell apart. The issues are mental/Morale/respect/intensity/commitment. I believe there will be little left of this team after the season is over.

by ClannaGael on Mar 16, 2009 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

They did finish the season before the ACC Tournament 6-1 with the only loss at Cameron. I wouldn’t call that falling apart completely.

Certainly the loss to Maryland on Friday was disappointing, but this team does have passion—it’s there. The only thing lacking is consistent passion and intensity. There’s no better place to harness that than the NCAA Tournament. Just like the X-Files, I want to believe.

Bah da da da da da da da, Go Deacs.

Blogger So Dear

by Martin Rickman on Mar 17, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

I’m not ready to give up either. Certainly, the loss against Maryland was a disappointment, but I saw our team get hit in the mouth with a strong defensive zone, and turn to the weakest part of our game, the 3 point shot, in an attempt to beat it. As for a lack of passion, I don’t believe that. Lack of fortitude and a relapse of basketball IQ, sure. We know these guys can get up and play big against powerhouse opponents. Let’s hope they got shocked into a frenzy for Thursday.

by dcdeac on Mar 17, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions