Up Next: #20 UNLV

[Kyle]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

We were bigger, stronger, and more athletic at almost every single position in 09-10.

This team is better than we showed tonight, but unfortunately, we do not have tournament caliber talent.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

At least we can quit worrying about at-large discussions and just play basketball. Just need to focus on the MVC and hope to make a magical 3 (hopefully not 4) day run in March.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

No more west coast trips please. Ugh.

[panther-state]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

I think this team could still make a run at one of the top 3 spots in the MVC and with either a very strong showing in St Louis or a ridiculous showing throughout conference play (finish 1st or 2nd) still sneak into the tourney. Stanford is MAYBE the only loss of ours that doesn't make the tourney. Still hard to look at that resume and see those "good" losses, but limiting "bad" losses at this point and picking up strong conference wins (and hopefully St. Mary's) and who knows. Crazier **** has happened

[GoPanthers85]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

We were bigger, stronger, and more athletic at almost every single position in 09-10.

This team is better than we showed tonight, but unfortunately, we do not have tournament caliber talent.

Bigger, yes! Stronger, probably. More athletic, not quite. Your saying that big Jordan is more athletic than Tuttle? I also think Sonnen now is a better athlete than either Johnny or Ali. Deon is quick but I don't know if he is a better overall athlete than Kwadzo.

[orangetennis]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

Were we bigger, more athletic or shooting better in 09-10? Quick answer: No. But we had heart. and a TON of it. This year, I don't see that heart anywhere but from Tuttle.

This team is missing the O'Rear type desire to win. We have more talent this year, but we just haven't put the puzzle pieces together yet.

Good thing is, we still haven't lost to anyone we weren't "supposed" to yet. And if we can put that all together, we can make a very dangerous run.

Below is the first ten games from the 09-10 season. As disappointed as I am with our 6-5 mark, I think this years team would be right at where the 09-10 team was at the same point in their season if playing the same schedule. And, as great as the 09-10 team was, they would have a handful of losses through these first 11 games of this yrs schedule too.

Nov. 13 at Denver W 71-65
Nov. 20 DePaul L 60-52
Nov. 21 East Carolina W 74-68
Nov. 23 Boston College W 81-69
Nov. 28 Northern Illinois W 52-45
Dec. 2 at Iowa State W 63-60
Dec. 8 Iowa W 67-50
Dec. 12 Siena W 82-65
Dec. 19 at North Dakota W 64-41
Dec. 23 Wyoming W 72-54

9-1 through 10 games. I think this years team could make it through the above schedule 9-1 or 8-2. Face it, were playing better opposition and that makes us look worse. I actually think we are as talented, if not more talented, it's just harder to see that with the stiffer competition.

[Zakelsta]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

Below is the first ten games from the 09-10 season. As disappointed as I am with our 6-5 mark, I think this years team would be right at where the 09-10 team was at the same point in their season if playing the same schedule. And, as great as the 09-10 team was, they would have a handful of losses through these first 11 games of this yrs schedule too.

Nov. 13 at Denver W 71-65
Nov. 20 DePaul L 60-52
Nov. 21 East Carolina W 74-68
Nov. 23 Boston College W 81-69
Nov. 28 Northern Illinois W 52-45
Dec. 2 at Iowa State W 63-60
Dec. 8 Iowa W 67-50
Dec. 12 Siena W 82-65
Dec. 19 at North Dakota W 64-41
Dec. 23 Wyoming W 72-54

9-1 through 10 games. I think this years team could make it through the above schedule 9-1 or 8-2. Face it, were playing better opposition and that makes us look worse. I actually think we are as talented, if not more talented, it's just harder to see that with the stiffer competition.

Totally agree. And as you said, that 09-10 would have quiet a few losses with our schedule. They might have pulled off the Iowa game, but the long/athletic teams would still cause matchup issues.

My original post was just to bring up the fact that while this team has struggles and some things to figure out, claiming that athleticism/size is the answer, is just not the way that we've found success in the past. We've sound success in team chemistry/defense/heart. Things that this team has some big steps to take in.

And I'm excited to see what this team can do as they put some of those things together. I'd love to see this team "hit their stride" during conference play and into postseason play. As opposed to early in the year like we did last season.

[BCPanther]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

Kwadzo is the most underappreciated player in program history. He made those teams go.

[williebat]

Kwadzo is the most underappreciated player in program history. He made those teams go.

Agreed. Imho he did get measurably better his junior and senior years.

[williebat]

Its more than just "toughness". That's part of it, but honestly, to me it seems like we usually always play hard. Its just that we don't have good enough players right now. We aren't big enough, we aren't athletic enough, and we aren't shooting the ball well enough.

I disagree I think we have talent and athleticism. We have proven we are athletic enough to hang with top talent. I think we just play dumb a lot of the time. Our basketball IQ seems very low with this team. If we made better decisions we would have beat Memphis and Louisville. I just think we are not a very smart team.

[achrist70]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

I know it isn't easy to do, and I am plenty guilty of it, but I think we need to quit trying to compare each UNI basketball team to the 09-10 team, its not really fair to do so to a team that is different than that team, especially during the season.

I know that the 09-10 team is now the "Gold Standard" for Panther basketball, but this years team is it's own team, not one from three years ago, they will hopefully find their way, and if they do it will probably be in a different way (not a huge difference) then the 09-10 team.

[ceaser150]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

Kwadzo is the most underappreciated player in program history. He made those teams go.

You're probably right, but an argument could me made for Orear. Put him on today's team and I think you see a vast improvement.

[Born-a-Panther]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

I know it isn't easy to do, and I am plenty guilty of it, but I think we need to quit trying to compare each UNI basketball team to the 09-10 team, its not really fair to do so to a team that is different than that team, especially during the season.

I know that the 09-10 team is now the "Gold Standard" for Panther basketball, but this years team is it's own team, not one from three years ago, they will hopefully find their way, and if they do it will probably be in a different way (not a huge difference) then the 09-10 team.

I agree with this. Not to mention how different this year's schedule is pre-season.

[BCPanther]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

I would still take this schedule over a bunch of easy wins. Better to go down giving yourself an at large chance than play teams that don't help the resume. This schedule was extreme, but I don't expect the overall philosophy to change.

I'm with Jake in believing you go out and play the best...

[UNIGrainer]

Re: Up Next: #20 UNLV

I would still take this schedule over a bunch of easy wins. Better to go down giving yourself an at large chance than play teams that don't help the resume. This schedule was extreme, but I don't expect the overall philosophy to change.

I'm with Jake in believing you go out and play the best...

Agree with this. If we go out and play a tough schedule and succeed, we will put ourselves in position for an at large in the NCAAs. If we fail, we will have to win Arch Madness to get in.

If we go play an easy schedule we will have to win Arch Madness to get in whether we succeed or fail.

We took our shot, it didn't work out, but were basically in the same position we would be if we played an easier schedule and went 10-2. At least we took a shot. Especially with a team we thought would be pretty good.