My take on this year’s Wildcats: (1) it seems to matter relatively little whom we face; (2) we are growing through, and seemingly beyond, the inconsistencies of an exceptionally green squad; (3) by virtue of key injuries, we're learning about guys who might otherwise not be getting big minutes on the floor, which should pay dividends down the road; (4) our guys have plenty of competitive fire and fight in their core; and, (5) our coaching staff is showing they can venture outside their natural comfort zone to keep the ship afloat in rough waters.
That list of 5 factors is what makes me positive about the road ahead, looking out a season or two or three. Cautiously optimistic is how I feel right now, and that’s a whole lot better than I expected to be in at this point in this season.
But, what do I mean by (1) above, that "it seems to matter relatively little whom we face”?
Well, here are 5 names: Merrimack, Radford, Norfolk State, SIU-Edwardsville, and Hartford. Our record with these relatively obscure programs is 2-3 and we are only a combined +7 in scoring differential, or +1.4 per game.
Then here are a dozen other names that are a tad more relevant and/or substantial: Providence, Bradley, Pitt, Boston College, Purdue, Michigan State, DePaul, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. The Cats’ W-L record against this group is 4-8 but the combined total point differential in these matchups is -4, or -0.33 per game. We’ve won by as many as 27 and 18 points in games against this group, and lost (badly) by as many as 14 and 13 (twice) but otherwise by single digits …. by 9 once, 5 twice, and 4 twice.
Glass more than half full here in Palindromeland.
ps.. this is just back-of-the-envelope stuff, so it might be a little off.
That list of 5 factors is what makes me positive about the road ahead, looking out a season or two or three. Cautiously optimistic is how I feel right now, and that’s a whole lot better than I expected to be in at this point in this season.
But, what do I mean by (1) above, that "it seems to matter relatively little whom we face”?
Well, here are 5 names: Merrimack, Radford, Norfolk State, SIU-Edwardsville, and Hartford. Our record with these relatively obscure programs is 2-3 and we are only a combined +7 in scoring differential, or +1.4 per game.
Then here are a dozen other names that are a tad more relevant and/or substantial: Providence, Bradley, Pitt, Boston College, Purdue, Michigan State, DePaul, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. The Cats’ W-L record against this group is 4-8 but the combined total point differential in these matchups is -4, or -0.33 per game. We’ve won by as many as 27 and 18 points in games against this group, and lost (badly) by as many as 14 and 13 (twice) but otherwise by single digits …. by 9 once, 5 twice, and 4 twice.
Glass more than half full here in Palindromeland.
ps.. this is just back-of-the-envelope stuff, so it might be a little off.