Game 16 - vs Murray State

[Wxcpanther]

I'd agrue last night was a bigger win than Saturday for 2 reasons. 1, against SIU we lead most of the way. They made a run late, we responded, game over. Last night it was runs back and forth all night long. Being at home obviously helps the cause, but the fact this young team has figured out how to manage something like that is MASSIVE. Second, the crowd was BETTER last night than it was Saturday! There were a couple hundred less people, which makes sense it being a Tuesday night vs Saturday afternoon (frankly I'm surprised that's all the difference was), but man that crowd was engaged and just purely enjoys what these guys are doing. In December when these guys were struggling, Jake had this quote "I feel like the people that are coming to our games and keep coming to them see the same things we see as a staff. I think they really like these guys too. There's a lot of reasons to like them. I really appreciate the people that are coming because they are the ones that are going to enjoy it the most when we start playing good basketball." As crazy as it sounds, I think that statement is just 100% spot on. The people who were there last night, were the same people who were there for McNeese and USF. That's why it got so damn loud in there on a random ass Tuesday night tip. This team is different. I don't think this is Jake's best team, it might be say a year from now when they're older, but I think they have a different connection with the fan base because of the youth and just how hard they play.

[QCPanther05]

I'd agrue last night was a bigger win than Saturday for 2 reasons. 1, against SIU we lead most of the way. They made a run late, we responded, game over. Last night it was runs back and forth all night long. Being at home obviously helps the cause, but the fact this young team has figured out how to manage something like that is MASSIVE. Second, the crowd was BETTER last night than it was Saturday! There were a couple hundred less people, which makes sense it being a Tuesday night vs Saturday afternoon (frankly I'm surprised that's all the difference was), but man that crowd was engaged and just purely enjoys what these guys are doing. In December when these guys were struggling, Jake had this quote "I feel like the people that are coming to our games and keep coming to them see the same things we see as a staff. I think they really like these guys too. There's a lot of reasons to like them. I really appreciate the people that are coming because they are the ones that are going to enjoy it the most when we start playing good basketball." As crazy as it sounds, I think that statement is just 100% spot on. The people who were there last night, were the same people who were there for McNeese and USF. That's why it got so damn loud in there on a random ass Tuesday night tip. This team is different. I don't think this is Jake's best team, it might be say a year from now when they're older, but I think they have a different connection with the fan base because of the youth and just how hard they play.

They got grit. I’ll give ‘em that. And that make just be enough to be in the mix later.

[orangetennis]

I would say that this little win streak here has us ahead of expectations for the season at this point. Obviously anything can happen from here on in but we're doing a little better than I thought we would.
Saturday will be, yet another, measuring stick game. I don't expect to win but I didn't expect to win the last couple games either. Sure, we have two Valley road wins already under our belt but those are two of the four easiest road games in conference. Winning at Belmont would be a new height for this team. A height I did not expect to reach this season.
While I don't expect to win on Saturday I'll stop short of predicting a loss. This team fights hard, doesn't give up and keeps improving. I'm enjoying the ride.
Go Cats!

[kochrab]

I would say that this little win streak here has us ahead of expectations for the season at this point. Obviously anything can happen from here on in but we're doing a little better than I thought we would.
Saturday will be, yet another, measuring stick game. I don't expect to win but I didn't expect to win the last couple games either. Sure, we have two Valley road wins already under our belt but those are two of the four easiest road games in conference. Winning at Belmont would be a new height for this team. A height I did not expect to reach this season.
While I don't expect to win on Saturday I'll stop short of predicting a loss. This team fights hard, doesn't give up and keeps improving. I'm enjoying the ride.
Go Cats!

I feel like we're playing with fun money at this point. Not that there shouldn't be goals to continue to improve, but with tampered expectations due to the youth of this team it should allow them to play a little more freely. Ultimately, I just want these guys to have fun together and continue to grow in skill and bond as a team. That will pay dividends next year.

[Purrrrrfect]

Winning helps recruits not change their mind too!

[clenz]

Winning helps recruits not change their mind too!

They've already signed. They aren't going ****ing anywhere.

[domedays]

They've already signed. They aren't going ****ing anywhere.

I hope your right, but serious question, does signing really mean anything? Or could a kid just decommit and go somewhere else?

Separately I agree winning helps keep kids, I would say having AJ getting playing time in the NBA has to help as well.

[clenz]

I hope your right, but serious question, does signing really mean anything? Or could a kid just decommit and go somewhere else?

Separately I agree winning helps keep kids, I would say having AJ getting playing time in the NBA has to help as well.

Once you're signed, as all three are, the ability to leave is significantly reduced. Once you're signed you're considered "rostered" even though you aren't rostered. You are "under control" of the program you signed with until after your freshman year. You need to be granted release by the program and school. It happened with Mc$ because we didn't have a choice really with how that played out, but actually signing and then going elsewhere is the most difficult transfer to make in all of the college sports - even by old transfer rules that were super tight.

Will programs grant releases? Sure. It depends on the circumstances, the coach's thoughts, the relationship maintenance with other parties, etc.

The NLI is a binding contract.

Beyond that, it is completely ignoring how massively ingrained those three are with UNI and UNI fans on social media, especially RJ.

[Purrrrrfect]

Yes, but much like a lot of recruits, they sign, get to campus and basically want out before things get going good or bad...if we were having a bad season and a recruit was like oh I could fix that and then it doesn't happen immediately they may jump. I e. Mr. Mosely at Mizzou as an example. But yes. I know NLI is binding..just saying once here doesn't mean much

[skydog0784]

Alright, 15 minutes until game time. We need Sivert to come through with a Belmont game thread. He's been a 4 game roll...