Quiet

Nyght of course isn't singular in his conspicuous absence when things go good. Hard to understand fans of a program who can't give their own team credit when they play well because they would rather the team play to their opinion . I love it when I'm wrong about the home team when it means they've played better than I predicted or a player steps up and performs beyond the limits I've imposed on their potential . But hey, each to their own. Right now I'm just really happy to see a kid like Karly turn the corner and be playing with such confidence and aggression. I remember how KK struggled for a period her frosh year, and then boom, once she figured out how her game transalated to this level, she never looked back again. Like I said in another thread, it's not hard at all to now envision Karly as the leader of this team the next two years. This is the best stretch of basketball I've seen from the LB's since the 2004-05 season[WNIT Yr] not just because we've won 5 straight, but because the players getting the minutes nightly are valuing that time with effort, team ball, and some grit. And again, what appeared a concerning level of inconsistent play by a senior ladden team, has now become a steadily improving starting 5 of 3 sophs, a junior and Casey, with several vets now contributing on a rotating basis nightly depending on need. Yesterday Lacey[ 11pts] and Jazz[ 8rbs] came up big off the bench.

The lineup change has obviously helped stimulate effort by some and emergence by others. Again, I think there was the tendency to overlook shortcomings in the veteran squad because they had had to play from day 1 in the program. Experience is great but it can only take you so far when there are physical limitations. We needed more strength and athleticism on the court, and we still need more quickness and length on the perimeter[ but those are coming] to compete with teams who have those attributes. The last 4 weeks of this season will be extremely interesting to see how this team continues to evolve, and especially to see how it sets up for the coming years. Karly has been concpicuous but just as important has been the time and play on the court we are getting from Bry and Dezz, and those token minutes for Nijay. Along with KW and the veteran frontline returnees, that bunch will have to set the tone for carryover from this year to the talented bunch of frosh next year. But you can actually see life beyond this senior bunch , and from my vantage it's looking damn good.

I don't think anyone has problems with your stated reservations Vision whether they agree or not. You go to games and Iknow you try to be fair and honest in your critiques. It's the utterly stupid assertions that some like to throw out as if they're accepted fact that draws the ire of some of us. There is a thing called being "fact stupid" in which you can be right in your facts but totally stupid in your conclusions. It's like if I pointed out Albert Pujols got a hit in less than 70% of his official plate appearences this year, didn't drive in a 100 runs and led the league in GDB, and then asserted he sucked and was washed up. True facts, stupid conclusion.

I have no problem with people questioning a coaches decision making, recruiting, player developement, or any area of performance. That's what boards are for, to cuss and discuss. But when you make stupid assertions off a few facts and ignore others, those also are fair game to be cussed and discussed . Nyght called our program and team "lousy", and has stated our coach isn't D-1 worthy. That's an insult to everyone connected with the program and quite frankly a totally assinine statement that bears no support in fact. I don't agree with everything Nyla and staff do and there are things I wish they did different; big deal, I thought the same when Cheryl was here and that hardly made me smart, just as people's differences with Nyla doesn't mean they are either. If in the end the coaching job here is judged on the criteria of winning the Valley and getting to the NCAA tourney in x# years and she falls short, then so beit, that's just how it is. But that hardly means our program is lousy and the coach is inept, and anyone saying so deserves to be called out.

At the end of this year, how many coaches in the Valley will be able to say they won 20+ games 3 straight years. Right now only one has a chance , ours. How many MVC teams have three 3 * and one 4* players signed for next year in their recruiting class. Right now one, ours. I laugh when I see the statements about how with all " the resources available" we should dominate the Valley annually in WBB. This ain't 1995 people. Nyla inherited a program that was dead last and 7-21 the previous year and in 7th place the year before that. I was at a meeting earlier this year and was told our spending for WBB is "middle of the pack" in the MVC. I didn't know that, but since it came from the AD 's office, I believe it to be true. So what resources are we talking about. I asked a very knowledgeable media person in WBB what she saw in our program when Nyla took it over and her direct statement was " too many slow, unathletic kids who don't shoot well." So after just going with the flow of a bad team with 3 senior returning starters and no chance to really recruit and change the team dynamics the first year, Nyla blows it up and goes with youth her second yr to the tune of 10-20, then goes 22-11 and 3rd place, 24-11 and second place, and now 16-6 and tied for 1st. If that's inept and and non D-1 worthy , then what are the other 250 someodd D-1 coaches who are below that and the other MVC coaches as well. Again , if the criteria to keep this job is to win the MVC and go to the NCAA tourney by year xyz and to have to do it xxx # times and she falls short, then that's the way it is. But don't come on here and call our program lousy and tell me the coach can't cut it at D-1 , you just sound stupid.

ZO came in and won in 3 years, but he did it with short term bandaids of jucos and transfers, and it became clear he was here to build a resume not a program. So Lusk inherited a very unfinished rebuilding process. Nyla made a "snake in the grass" mistake of an early hire on her staff that set recruiting back a year or so, but since then has set about building a program with layer upon layer of solid HS kids, and now we see the benefit when 3 sophmores have supplanted seniors in the lineup and next years crop looks to be the best yet. I'll be the first to say I thought things would go quicker than they have and I bet Nyla would have said the same. But it is what it is, and getting over that last hump has been tough. But we are right there, and we are going to be in the hunt for the forseeable future, and if that's not good enough for some then be miserable and find every reason to piss and moan you want. I feel sorry for ya, cause the last 3 weeks have been the most fun I've had with WBB since the WNIT win and I know it's been the same for the core group of fans I sit and talk with. And whether we win the MVC and tourney or not this year, I am stoked about our team, the returnees and new recruits. We have a chance to see something be built again, indeed are seeing it. That's what it's all about , not trying to meet some bitter persons perception of the past.