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Heart/leadership/toughness vs. pure talent

seattlebuff

Well-Known Member
Let's get this out of the way right off the top: This program is in great shape. Yesterday's debacle doesn't change that. Anybody with any knowledge of CU's hoops history (I go back to the late 80s) knows that. Nobody in their right mind would argue that we're headed over a cliff.

Given that, we all want the program to take the next step: from a team that finishes in the Pac-12 top third and gets into the Dance, to a team that challenges for conference titles and gets to Sweet 16s and beyond.

I see LOTS of talk on this board about lack of leadership, desire, toughness, etc. and that being the difference between us and Pitt, AZ, UCLA, et al. And certainly nobody can deny that was an inconsistent part of this team (this year anyway), and that is an important part of our evolution.

But I contend (along with others) that we simply lack pure basketball talent right now and that we will not take that next step unless we do at least 2 things:


  • Get 1-2 guards that can consistently shoot from the outside, and/or be threats to penetrate and FINISH
  • Change the offense to make the inevitable double on Scott/Gordon less effective

So the question: Is it balls or skills that takes us to the next level?

I'm going with skills.
 
It has to be both. We don't have pure scorer and our only guy who can efficiently penetrate won't draw the foul or finish easily because of his size. And the game yesterday tells us there is no leadership. the only player I can see enough toughness and desire is Booker.
 
I look at the tournament results and see Mercer with 5 senior starters taking down Duke. Other similar examples.

I am convinced that once Tad has upperclassmen that dominate the culture (like he did for the 2012 P12T run), that we'll be very happy with the results. Talent level is good enough. It's just not going to be good enough when we're playing mostly frosh and soph. You can't get away with that unless you're loaded with McDonald's All-Americans. And even then your team seems likely to flame out.

I'm looking forward to a 2014-15 with a senior backcourt and a frontcourt of 3rd year players. Night and day difference.
 
While there are some holes in the team and quality depth might also be an issue I'm with Nik, I see leadership and maturity as the two biggest issues on this team. We just didn't have a strong leader both by words and actions and it has a lot to do with youth. There was never a time when it was more noticeable than in our biggest games this season after Spencer went down. Unfortunately this was also when we needed strong leadership. XJ tried, by effort and words (a little ham-handed with the latter) and Ski tried. When Ski went off for 27 against Oregon (a big game) I thought he was ready. But in the end it was just too much for him to shoulder. It goes against popular thinking but I hope the Mayor stays for his senior campaign. We need his leadership and example for the younger guys to help them grow into leadership roles if they are capable of assuming those responsibilities when he is gone.
 
F.I.M. said:
While there are some holes in the team and quality depth might also be an issue I'm with Nik, I see leadership and maturity as the two biggest issues on this team. We just didn't have a strong leader both by words and actions and it has a lot to do with youth. There was never a time when it was more noticeable than in our biggest games this season after Spencer went down. Unfortunately this was also when we needed strong leadership. XJ tried, by effort and words (a little ham-handed with the latter) and Ski tried. When Ski went off for 27 against Oregon (a big game) I thought he was ready. But in the end it was just too much for him to shoulder. It goes against popular thinking but I hope the Mayor stays for his senior campaign. We need his leadership and example for the younger guys to help them grow into leadership roles if they are capable of assuming those responsibilities when he is gone.
Click to expand...

If Spencer doesn't return, this team will be much closer to .500 than to .750 next year unless Tory Miller is an early starting superstar, which is possible but not probable. The chance of Collier being a significant contributor next year (as far as W-L goes) is highly unlikely. I understand the youth argument because it's obvious, but it looks to me like the development/skill issue is much larger. The unfolding of SD not returning, if he doesn't, will be grim and will play out with much angst and handwringing on various message boards, even very intelligent venues such as this.
 
PAHIBuff said:
If Spencer doesn't return, this team will be much closer to .500 than to .750 next year unless Tory Miller is an early starting superstar, which is possible but not probable. The chance of Collier being a significant contributor next year (as far as W-L goes) is highly unlikely. I understand the youth argument because it's obvious, but it looks to me like the development/skill issue is much larger. The unfolding of SD not returning, if he doesn't, will be grim and will play out with much angst and handwringing on various message boards, even very intelligent venues such as this.
Click to expand...

We will be nowhere close to .500 next year.
 
PAHIBuff said:
If SD returns we will kick ass next year.
Click to expand...

We'll be fine without SD and likely Dance. Our freshmen are going to improve. Everyone is going to improve. Scott and others will be putting in the work this offseason and there's every reason to be excited about Dom and Miller. We should be much improved with passing, shoot at a higher clip, and not get hounded out of the post. We've seen in this year's Dance that experience is ****ing huge, no matter who you are. We're finally going to have reasonable experience next year. It will show.
 
Well, I hope so. I'll be a big fan and supporter regardless of how it goes. I'm a Tad believer and think he's on the right track. Things take time.
 
PAHIBuff said:
Well, I hope so. I'll be a big fan and supporter regardless of how it goes. I'm a Tad believer and think he's on the right track. Things take time.
Click to expand...

We're now overdue for a fortunate break in the Dance, as well. You know, beat a team and then get to play a lesser opponent in the next round.
 
CVilleBuff said:
We're now overdue for a fortunate break in the Dance, as well. You know, beat a team and then get to play a lesser opponent in the next round.
Click to expand...

I agree. I thought Illinois was a doable 1st round draw last year, and it was close. We're getting there.
 
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