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2015-2016 Expectations

J-Rod

J-Rod

Well-known member
2014-2015 was an awesome ride...an unexpectedly awesome ride. Preseason optimism became a running joke here on WN. Whether it was football or basketball, the cycle was the same: build expectations potentially too high, have moderate success early on to reinforce those dreams, and then watch the team fail to reach its goals and we get upset. Rinse and repeat.

Last season, this was not the case. For once, the dream happened. We won a MW title and went to the big dance. Larry Nance got drafted in the 1st round! Program momentum is clearly trending upward.

Now the party is over and we get to play ball again. What are the expectations for 2015-2016? What do you want from this team this season? Repeat? 20+ wins? Growth?

The MW doesn't seem overly strong this season. SDSU should be difficult as usual. Will New Mexico bounce back? Boise State should be very good again. UNLV has talent, but they always do and never live up to their potential.

Do they release o/u on win totals for college basketball? I'd be curious to see Wyoming's.

Anyways, post away...
 
I talked a little about this in another post but I'll chime in. I'm not really expecting anything from this team. I do think it's a pretty amazing treat this year heading into the season because I could realistically in my brown n gold glasses see us finish as high as 1st in conference to dead last. That's crazy right???? It's just how I feel it could go, either way to the extreme. I have such tremendous belief in our coaching staff to achieve things above our own imaginations. I also have tremendous faith in Josh "heart and soul" Adams...dude is pure fire on the court. So I'm really hoping for the best. If these freshmen surprise a bit and we have growth from our other guys I'd like to think of us as 5th or higher in conference, which would be a tremendous season towards continuing that upward trajectory.

We seem to have the most depth we've had in years too, especially in the backcourt. If we run a guard oriented offense then we might even be able to sustain some injuries if they occur. Another thing that I've been thinking about is that we might have the ability to run BIG lineup. If Barnes and Naughton can both play MWC level ball we could put both of them on the blocks and run Herndon at the 3, maybe Mo Marshall at the 2 and Adams at the 1. How's that lineup sound Pokes fans? Lotta ifs but I already love the kind of versatile lineups we might be able to run. Those things matter in college bball.

The players have their sights set on another NCAA tourney bid though. I LOVE that!!!!! Maybe we should join them.
 
I hope we finish in the top 1/2 of the conference and make the NIT. What I think will happen is we hit 17-20 wins with 5-8 conference wins and a trip to the CBI. Not getting my expectations too high with such a young squad.
 
I'm expecting a couple of youth losses in the first half of conference play. I'm thinking we finish top half of the league. I'm hoping and wouldn't be surprised if we become the team no one wants to play before the tourney starts.

I just want to see good progress and continual improvement for the Pokes. They need minutes.

No one thinks we'll win the league this year. I just hope these guys commit to defense early and let the offense come throughout the year. If so, I think we have a top half team that might finish as high as 3rd or 4th.

We'll see. It's a "one day at a time" year if there ever was one and day one was today.

How much can they improve each day?
 
Big Dance. Adams being MWC POY. 1 of 2 MWC Championships. 25 wins. Adams gets drafted by NBA.

I have big expectations, whatever.
None of this, "I hope we are good but it's okay if we aren't."
 
You saw what happened last year when Nance was out of the lineup. Well Nance is out of the lineup next year. The 15/16 team is still pretty green overall. Preseason not bad but a 50% conference win record will be a surprise. But wait till 16/17!
 
Adv8RU12 said:
You saw what happened last year when Nance was out of the lineup. Well Nance is out of the lineup next year. The 15/16 team is still pretty green overall. Preseason not bad but a 50% conference win record will be a surprise. But wait till 16/17!
Click to expand...
COMPLETELY different team and different dynamic. Apples. Oranges.
 
BeaverPoke said:
Big Dance. Adams being MWC POY. 1 of 2 MWC Championships. 25 wins. Adams gets drafted by NBA.

I have big expectations, whatever.
None of this, "I hope we are good but it's okay if we aren't."
Click to expand...
I'm with you on it all. I think this year will be quite surprising.
 
I would say the best thing about this team is the depth. If something isn't working we can switch to something else. Small no prob big hopefully no prob. San diego and utah state have length and now we have a few big guys that makes up able to matchup better. Expectations aren't number 1 or bust but we should be top half of conference now 2 years from now my expectation will be win mwc with all these fresh as juniors. This year will be fun to watch josh and see the youth learn to play shyatt ball.
 
Adams should be a 1st team all MWC selection and a candidate for league mvp

Herndon I think could be on one of the top 3 teams.

I think Barnes will be better than expected. So imo it comes down to marshal and James. If they are both impact players it makes the team a contender to win the MWC. If those 2 guys aren't top 4-5 guys on the team then the depth that mcM and Conway/Washington bring gets negated because then they're the primary options and not role players.

Naughton is a huge key also. If he can play it makes a huge difference w having the option of always playing 2 bigs.

I would hope the best 5 are Adams/Marshall/James/Herndon/Barnes. If naughton, mcM, and Lieberman were your 6-7-8 guys then that's a pretty talented rotation. Then w Conway/Washington, moumeka gives you some athletes. I think there's a spot in the rotation for dalton or gorski or both as a shooter.


This teams got a really high ceiling. I think the downfall if there is one will be playing the 3 small guards too much and pushing Adams and Marshall to the 3. Adams and Marshall should start at 1 and 2. Make other teams guards try to cover those 2 and bring the small speed in off the bench.


I strongly believe though that there will be a lot more small 1-3 lineups then I hope. I like Lieberman as a Brett McFall gunner role, just don't like the idea of taking the ball out of Adams hands just to put it in washingtons
 
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