Basketball season starts in 7 weeks!

[GatoLouco]

I'm with you. How many other people have stated the same thing over the last year or two? The community has basically died over the last two years after a pretty decent run.

Funny how perception works. I've been posting for around 3 years. Before that I used to check this board maybe every other week.

My perception is that PWB, like his opinions or not, helped the conversation staying alive around here. That we would be seeing a lot more apathy without him.

Am I right? No idea.

Another perception: any and every new high volume poster will get a lot of people coming after him:
1) For the simple fact there are a lot of posts to come after
2) Because he is the new kid in the sandbox. And while playing in the sandbox is fine, making a lot of noise isn't. After all you are the new kid, and this has been our sandbox for longer

I have had my share of folks coming after me. Sometimes with extreme intensity. Sometimes with such enlightening arguments as "I don't think you have a good feeling for how basketball works". The less I post the less I get attacked.

In the end this is the internet. Where people, me included, get way more triggered and emboldened with aggressiveness. All while, often, having a lot of common ground anyway.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Actually, I give PWB lots of credit. He rarely, compared to others, takes it personal despite the constant personal attacks. Something I can’t do - I get right in it.

Let’s try another side of this argument. PWB incessantly used a spurious stat (one which he would not accept as being limited) to jam his agenda (you have an agenda when literally every statement.you make is a shot at the coach who built a team that took us to the dance) repeatedly down everyone’s throat, while literally stating that Collins is an idiot (the reason I put him on ignore). I have also found PWB to be reasonable and sympathetic to others at times, which is an encouraging sign. But the vitriol he largely created on this board is prima facie evidence that his arguments were not unbiased nor impenetrable.

Go Cats!

Gordie, you just wrote

"PWB incessantly used a spurious stat (one which he would not accept as being limited)"

Thats just false.

I started with the +/- numbers and defended their usefulness against a lot of attacks. It isn't repetitive to produce new numbers for each game - that seems to have driven a few people crazy. I don't get that at all. The NHL and NBA both use the stat because it captures intangibles. I concluded certain people were going ballistic because the +/- numbers didn't support "their players."

I also used those numbers to analyze Coach Collins' substitution patterns and lineups. It was interesting (to me) to discover that Collins appeared to allocate minutes based on something other than the success of the team (points scored minus points allowed). I was merely looking for a fair, rational basis for evaluating a coach. People didnt like the implications and attacked me and the numbers themselves, which are, of course, facts.

Lastly, and most importantly, I actually DID listen to the criticism that the +/- number was misleading if you viewed it in a vacuum - that it did not reflect how effective each player was individually. If two guys played the whole game together and got the same (-5) for their "+/-" rating, one guy may have played a lot better than the other guy. So I came up with a methodology to evaluate how well each guy played. I started calculating those numbers and publishing them after each game.

They are quite good (and unbiased) - something that none of the critics of "+/-" has ever acknowledged. It is silly to accuse numbers of having an agenda!

When you put somebody on "ignore" you just miss out on such progress.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Actually, I give PWB lots of credit. He rarely, compared to others, takes it personal despite the constant personal attacks. Something I can’t do - I get right in it.

That is what probably drove the mob away. They couldn’t break him and it drove them nuts while the team pretty much validated his substantive points.

The mob wanted a better team, wanted the Disney ending and took it out on him to their own ultimate frustrations. My hat is off to PWB - a far better poster than me.

I think extremes tend to get backlash. Gordie would likely be perceived as the biggest CCC supporter here. PWB pribably lands on one of the most critical of CCC. They both stick to there guns. Good for both of them.

This thread is a good example of why many people go away. Getting called the “mob” and PKK” is your practice of stoking the flames and gleefully watching the NU “fans” go at it as you provoke fights. You can’t help riding in on your big white steed to rescue every poster that you perceive to be bullied by who you affectionally call the mob, News flash Bob, you don’t need to jump into literally every dispute or continue to throw gasoline on every situation. PWB is capable of defending himself and usually makes an effort to support his position. I may not agree with it, but at least his approach typically isn’t to attack any entire group of people until you provoke everyone into a mudslinging contest.

Bob, you blast me for bringing nothing to the table but attacks. Yes, I have lowered myself to the mudslinging with PWB and others. I just am not going to do it anymore (will at least try) as it falls right into your trap. Your martyr role that you relish so much serves your agenda of stirring the pot. The sad part is that I and others you call the mob can often agree with the needed steps at the end of the day. Replacing CCC is a perfect example, but that is just too clean for you, no fun, where can I stir up a fight between the believers and the non-believers. It’s not worth and many have voted with their feet. You win.

 

[IGNORE2]

I think extremes tend to get backlash. Gordie would likely be perceived as the biggest CCC supporter here. PWB pribably lands on one of the most critical of CCC. They both stick to there guns. Good for both of them.

This thread is a good example of why many people go away. Getting called the “mob” and PKK” is your practice of stoking the flames and gleefully watching the NU “fans” go at it as you provoke fights. You can’t help riding in on your big white steed to rescue every poster that you perceive to be bullied by who you affectionally call the mob, News flash Bob, you don’t need to jump into literally every dispute or continue to throw gasoline on every situation. PWB is capable of defending himself and usually makes an effort to support his position. I may not agree with it, but at least his approach typically isn’t to attack any entire group of people until you provoke everyone into a mudslinging contest.

Bob, you blast me for bringing nothing to the table but attacks. Yes, I have lowered myself to the mudslinging with PWB and others. I just am not going to do it anymore (will at least try) as it falls right into your trap. Your martyr role that you relish so much serves your agenda of stirring the pot. The sad part is that I and others you call the mob can often agree with the needed steps at the end of the day. Replacing CCC is a perfect example, but that is just too clean for you, no fun, where can I stir up a fight between the believers and the non-believers. It’s not worth and many have voted with their feet. You win.

Yup, I’m the problem. Nailed it.

I will agree that I mix it up with those that banter with me. The more mud they sling, the deeper I stick nails under their fingernails. And I know I’m effective at it.

But Mike Webb and I were able to have amicable discourse. On the rant, stpaul and I bantered. Glades and I used to go at it. But in the old fashioned way that the country evolved. Intellectual debate. That is a plus.

When you turn debate about personal fandom, personal otherwise, then you are fair fodder. And I like fodder. And I can be very disruptive on various levels. I know it. So - some folks are good w stats. I’m good getting under skin. 🤷‍♂️

But paint me as pure evil. That’s the current way - the cancel culture world that I openly reject. Somewhere Mike Webb is reading this and saying this is a guy I can debate. Win or lose - I can simply debate.

As PWB just points out, the villains were made because we swam against the koolaid. Guess what? We were right. Doesn’t make us happy. Quite contrary. Infuriates us. We began verbalizing that anger long ago. CcC, JON, PF - none of this makes us happy. We saw it and started raising the flag and got flogged. And now you all finally see it too - except a few.

I schooled in the dark ages. I partied w Pat Baldwin 1.0 and Kevin Rankin. I endured that period. But I’m a competitor. I’m competitive. So fvck me til dawn. It’s who I am. Bleed purple, don’t bleed PF, don’t bleed CCC, definitely don’t bleed participation trophies or graduation rates. And I saw greatness and saw the fall off and called it out. And became the pariah. Fine. But take your higher moral ground PPD, we still suck across the board and it’s not my fault - I’m simply pissed and been ranting for a bit.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Yup, I’m the problem. Nailed it.

I will agree that I mix it up with those that banter with me. The more mud they sling, the deeper I stick nails under their fingernails. And I know I’m effective at it.

But Mike Webb and I were able to have amicable discourse. On the rant, stpaul and I bantered. Glades and I used to go at it. But in the old fashioned way that the country evolved. Intellectual debate. That is a plus.

When you turn debate about personal fandom, personal otherwise, then you are fair fodder. And I like fodder. And I can be very disruptive on various levels. I know it. So - some folks are good w stats. I’m good getting under skin. 🤷‍♂️

But paint me as pure evil. That’s the current way - the cancel culture world that I openly reject. Somewhere Mike Webb is reading this and saying this is a guy I can debate. Win or lose - I can simply debate.

As PWB just points out, the villains were made because we swam against the koolaid. Guess what? We were right. Doesn’t make us happy. Quite contrary. Infuriates us. We began verbalizing that anger long ago. CcC, JON, PF - none of this makes us happy. We saw it and started raising the flag and got flogged. And now you all finally see it too - except a few.

I schooled in the dark ages. I partied w Pat Baldwin 1.0 and Kevin Rankin. I endured that period. But I’m a competitor. I’m competitive. So fvck me til dawn. It’s who I am. Bleed purple, don’t bleed PF, don’t bleed CCC, definitely don’t bleed participation trophies or graduation rates. And I saw greatness and saw the fall off and called it out. And became the pariah. Fine. But take your higher moral ground PPD, we still suck across the board and it’s not my fault - I’m simply pissed and been ranting for a bit.

That was interesting...

I share your disdain for cancel culture. People are entitled to their opinions/beliefs, even if I disagree. In fact, I think I learn more by engaging with people who disagree with me. Of course, it is re-assuring when your opinions/beliefs align with those of other people.

But personal attacks don't do much other than undermine the discussion.

 

[NJCat]

This team will stink this year. NU did the cheap ass thing and didn’t terminate CCC’s contract. Literally no one feels they will turn it around this year, so go ahead and waste a season in returning players careers and in recruiting. It’s an injustice to the returning players especially when the AD basically fired the Coach without firing him. You get what you deserve. This board will be fun all year! Ridiculous operation of what is supposed to be a P6 program.

Aged well.

 

[TheC]

Aged well.

Come on.... you could probably do this to a post from 90% of us. I know I expected this team to suck and be battling for last place.

 

[NJCat]

Come on.... you could probably do this to a post from 90% of us. I know I expected this team to suck and be battling for last place.

That's why I only replied to one extremely vitriolic post. No one saw this season coming.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

That's why I only replied to one extremely vitriolic post. No one saw this season coming.

GMAB, I already fell on the sword that I didn’t see this coming. It not the first or last time I will be wrong. At least I took a position. It turned out to be wildly incorrect, but it isn’t wishy washy like a lot of the “we might be good if this happens” people. You are never miss a shot if you never take one.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

That's why I only replied to one extremely vitriolic post. No one saw this season coming.

Yeah but to his credit PPD did a u-turn and got right back on the Wildcat bandwagon.
He even admitted he was wrong - and that is pretty rare around these parts.
It requires a sense of honor.
Like others, he was led astray by the small cadre of people who kept insisting last year that our players sucked and that there was no hope.

 

[Catreporter]

I have always liked Chris and did not want him fired last year but I thought this was a do or die year for him. After watching the Pitt debacle, I never would have guessed how this season would turn out. I still regard the incredible bounce back win at Michigan State as the key turning point of the season., After that, the team looked like they believed...and as Gary Barnett often said, "belief without evidence is tough to achieve." They got some confidence, and even with the setbacks that you'll always have in a long season, they kept coming back until they got the absolute evidence of beating the #1 team in the nation. And I give our sometimes maligned student body some credit too for believing without evidence (three days after the blowout loss to OSU) and showing up loud and proud for the upset over Illinois.

 

[Sec.112]

I especially like the deaf, dumb and blind "We [the fans] have zero bearing on W or L’s."

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

I am hoping we shock people this year. You know I want Matt Nicholson to take the league by storm, after getting buried by a nonsense rotation last year. Hunger and Martinelli haven't proven they can't play - I will give them (and Collins) the benefit of the doubt until we see otherwise.

I hope Barnhizer justifies the optimism I have about him too! And Roper. Buie can play. Maybe he and Roper can make it work.
...
Rebound. Play defense. Win.

@PurpleWhiteBoy - your hopes have been answered! Amen.

 

[EagerFan]

So you're saying there's a chance!

 

[Alvious]

The Chris Collins death march.

To say the least, this did not age well.

 

[UpsetAlert]

GMAB, I already fell on the sword that I didn’t see this coming. It not the first or last time I will be wrong. At least I took a position. It turned out to be wildly incorrect, but it isn’t wishy washy like a lot of the “we might be good if this happens” people. You are never miss a shot if you never take one.

Zero credit for missed shots, especially when they’re anti-‘Cat. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

 

[IGNORE2]

Zero credit for missed shots, especially when they’re anti-‘Cat. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Thank goodness I’m on ignore by so many…