BIRDS @ CATS

[Championz]

Ill. St, is going to give some teams heartburn in the Valley this season.

They play to the level of their competition. And their coaching is subpar. Therefore, they'll get up for teams like UNI and WSU and blow chunks against Bradley and Missouri State.

[Redbirdgrad]

They play to the level of their competition. And their coaching is subpar. Therefore, they'll get up for teams like UNI and WSU and blow chunks against Bradley and Missouri State.

Coming from you, I wouldn't expect anything less...

The Birds are a pretty raw bunch right now. Playing a lot of 5 out, and struggling a bit on defense. I don't think they'll "blow chunks" against Bradley and Missouri State... they're more talented and more athletic than most teams in the Valley, but learning a system without a big man in the middle to protect the rim. That takes time when you're used to having the help.

The schedule the Birds have this year is brutal, but it's going to help when they get into Valley play. The talent level is there to be 4th or better... just have to see if they can live up to it.

And the coaching is better than Championz is letting on.

[Championz]

Coming from you, I wouldn't expect anything less...

Do I know you or are you just a long time lurker? Solid first sentence of your first post.

Birds are a pretty raw bunch right now. Playing a lot of 5 out, and struggling a bit on defense. I don't think they'll "blow chunks" against Bradley and Missouri State... they're more talented and more athletic than most teams in the Valley, but learning a system without a big man in the middle to protect the rim. That takes time when you're used to having the help.

The schedule the Birds have this year is brutal, but it's going to help when they get into Valley play. The talent level is there to be 4th or better... just have to see if they can live up to it.

Raw? There's a pretty good amount of upperclassmen and experienced guys on that team. I certainly would expect most athletic teams to put away teams like Morehead State and South Dakota State at home, and definitely a TCU.

So what exactly did you disagree with in my post? Because it wasn't all sugar-coated? 4th place would equal middle of the pack which is essentially what I said. And the results so far have shown just that.

And the coaching is better than Championz is letting on.

Explain.

Given all the supposed uber-talent Redbird fans have exclaimed that Muller has brought in, where has that landed them? Right in the mediocre middle. His teams look lost and undisciplined. That's been the Muller way at this point. Sorry if the harsh reality doesn't penetrate your skin very well.

[Redbirdgrad]

You don't know me and I don't care to know you. Long time lurker that's tired of the anti-ISU cap that you consistently spew. As I've been reading lately others share in that sentiment.

Yes, the Birds are raw. Not a lot of 4 year juniors and seniors leading this squad. Also sounds like you're uneducated regarding South Dakota State. Pretty darn good team right there. Few teams in the country would "put them away" regardless of location of the game. But thanks for focusing on the weakest part of the schedule.

Muller's game planning and in game coaching are actually very solid. That lost and undisciplined squad knocked you out of the MVC tourney last year and was 20 min from dancing.

Don't worry, they will be soon.

[Cdizzle]

Muller's game planning and in game coaching are actually very solid. That lost and undisciplined squad knocked you out of the MVC tourney last year and was 20 min from dancing.

That's kind of the point he's making. The team occasionally gets up to play a top 10 team, but then sh!ts the bed against TCU. If there is enough talent to compete with Top 10 teams, and the game-planning and in-game coaching are very solid, then the math doesn't add up at all when you look at the W/L record. You were 20 minutes away, but the entire season was riding on that 20 minutes, because not enough was done over the previous 4 months. And as much as one might like to crow about knocking off WSU and being "just 20 minutes away," most of those same folks seem to gloss over the 23-point sh!t-kicking that actually happened in those 20 minutes that mattered.

I'm not sold on Muller, and I don't know how much I'd run around defending him at this point, even as a fan of the team. Believe in him, sure, but maybe not run on about him. By year 4, most post-game pressers probably shouldn't involve "I need to have them better prepared to play."

[Championz]

Long time lurker.

Yep, figured so. I'm glad I was able to give you that extra nudge to finally come out from behind the wall.

Yes, the Birds are raw. Not a lot of 4 year juniors and seniors leading this squad. Also sounds like you're uneducated regarding South Dakota State. Pretty darn good team right there. Few teams in the country would "put them away" regardless of location of the game. But thanks for focusing on the weakest part of the schedule.

Lots of excuses riddled in this post. I focussed on the weakest part of the schedule because Illinois State has looked the weakest against those teams. Hence what I said in my original post that they play up and down to the level of their competition. Hence they would get up for WSU/UNI, blow chunks against MSU/BU. Are you following this or just slow with the uptake?

Muller's game planning and in game coaching are actually very solid. That lost and undisciplined squad knocked you out of the MVC tourney last year and was 20 min from dancing.

1 out of 8 ain't bad. You should hang a banner.

Don't worry, they will be soon.

Dancing? In the NIT?
Well, I would hope so. It's only been about 18 years and the second longest drought in the conference. For a sport that's supposedly so "cyclical", you guys are sure trying to defy the odds.

[Redbirdgrad]

Lol you're a piece of work Championz, you really are.

I understand your point, I just think it's incorrect. It's called a difference of opinion, which happens from time to time. Look it up, along with the usage of the word "hence".

For now I will laugh at your hypocrisy (more on that later), and continue to cheer on a better Birds team than you think the box scores are showing.

[CaliRdBrd]

I'll be honest, as a Redbird alum and fan, I'm a little concerned with the coaching...

[Redbird Recon]

I'll be honest, as a Redbird alum and fan, I'm a little concerned with the coaching...

[Cdizzle]

I'll be honest, as a Redbird alum and fan, I'm a little concerned with the coaching...

Right? I mean, I get giving it time. And I get being a fan and being supportive even if the numbers aren't quite there yet. But in year 4 you should be able to start getting a very accurate reading on what you've got. Still a lot of season left, so it will be interesting to see which way the scales end up tipping.