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sure to draw some debate - let's talk about the most prevalent current topic...
sorry about the long post & lots of thoughts - but feel free to challenge - this is what a message board is all about
Each of the last couple games has drawn a fairly harsh criticism from our local press about our guys' TOUGHNESS.
one column called out their toughness in rebounding - LINK
and another called out their overall toughness - LINK
Well - I am going to stand up for our guys and take issue here for several reasons.
#1-It's one thing to be critical of shooting, skills, even coaching moves - but challenging multiple players' "toughness" is claiming somehow you are an expert psychiatrist and that you can get inside their heads and know how they think and how they're driven - how dare some guy who sits on his butt and makes a living watching games and criticizing - throw our kids under the bus.
It's one thing to be critical of shooting, skills, even coaching moves - AND - didn't they tell us how incredibly tough our players are -
#2- I am 100% convinced they are wrong - I think we do have just as much toughness as any team in the MVC. If you don't see it you are not looking.
Walt is tough - maybe one of the toughest kids in the league. He'll fight anyone, dive on the floor, and give you 100%. - someone even has an avatar of Walt toughing up against an opponent - LINK LINK LINK
Then - anyone want to say Tyshon Pickett isn't tough? Constantly battling bigger guys, giving 100%, among the leaders in both scoring & rebounding.
(actually he LEADS the entire league in rebounding at present)
Ka'Darryl Bell played half last season with a ripped up shoulder, never complained and even caused a delay in the decision to do surgery because he played hard despite the pain. then when he had his shoulder surgery - he came back to 100% in record time. Sorry - KB is tough.
Chris Blake?? OMG - you are talking tough inside & out. I know he doesn't score but the issue is toughness. CB is as tough as you get.
..and our past guys as well - Chris Roberts, Dyricus, Sammy, Jake, Dodie, and guys like WE & San Singh playing with broken bones in their face.
So just who are the toughest guys in the entire MVC?
I can't name one on ISU or SIU - maybe Ballentine, Gant, and a couple Shockers & UNI guys.
BUT seriously if we had to name a TOP TEN TOUGH GUYS in the MVC - I hafta think we get four of the TOP spots.
#Lastly - I like talking about this topic but tough isn't all you need. Even a skinny, soft guy that can hit 45% on his jumpers is still a pretty important piece that somehow we have failed to recruit.
Remember the SIU teams from 2008 thru 2012?? Filled with super tough guys (Fay, Mullins, Hare, Dillard, Teague, Freeman, Seck, and Jeff Early - a 6-1 guy who led the league in rebounding!) but nobody could hit the broad side of a barn or play team-ball, and they repeatedly lost 15 to 23 games every year and got Lowery fired.
sorry about the long post & lots of thoughts - but feel free to challenge - this is what a message board is all about
Each of the last couple games has drawn a fairly harsh criticism from our local press about our guys' TOUGHNESS.
one column called out their toughness in rebounding - LINK
and another called out their overall toughness - LINK
Well - I am going to stand up for our guys and take issue here for several reasons.
#1-It's one thing to be critical of shooting, skills, even coaching moves - but challenging multiple players' "toughness" is claiming somehow you are an expert psychiatrist and that you can get inside their heads and know how they think and how they're driven - how dare some guy who sits on his butt and makes a living watching games and criticizing - throw our kids under the bus.
It's one thing to be critical of shooting, skills, even coaching moves - AND - didn't they tell us how incredibly tough our players are -
#2- I am 100% convinced they are wrong - I think we do have just as much toughness as any team in the MVC. If you don't see it you are not looking.
Walt is tough - maybe one of the toughest kids in the league. He'll fight anyone, dive on the floor, and give you 100%. - someone even has an avatar of Walt toughing up against an opponent - LINK LINK LINK
Then - anyone want to say Tyshon Pickett isn't tough? Constantly battling bigger guys, giving 100%, among the leaders in both scoring & rebounding.
(actually he LEADS the entire league in rebounding at present)
Ka'Darryl Bell played half last season with a ripped up shoulder, never complained and even caused a delay in the decision to do surgery because he played hard despite the pain. then when he had his shoulder surgery - he came back to 100% in record time. Sorry - KB is tough.
Chris Blake?? OMG - you are talking tough inside & out. I know he doesn't score but the issue is toughness. CB is as tough as you get.
..and our past guys as well - Chris Roberts, Dyricus, Sammy, Jake, Dodie, and guys like WE & San Singh playing with broken bones in their face.
So just who are the toughest guys in the entire MVC?
I can't name one on ISU or SIU - maybe Ballentine, Gant, and a couple Shockers & UNI guys.
BUT seriously if we had to name a TOP TEN TOUGH GUYS in the MVC - I hafta think we get four of the TOP spots.
#Lastly - I like talking about this topic but tough isn't all you need. Even a skinny, soft guy that can hit 45% on his jumpers is still a pretty important piece that somehow we have failed to recruit.
Remember the SIU teams from 2008 thru 2012?? Filled with super tough guys (Fay, Mullins, Hare, Dillard, Teague, Freeman, Seck, and Jeff Early - a 6-1 guy who led the league in rebounding!) but nobody could hit the broad side of a barn or play team-ball, and they repeatedly lost 15 to 23 games every year and got Lowery fired.
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