Game 30: St. Louis (10-6) on Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00 PM.

[PoorManProfit]

Sad but not totally true. We all praised DP for changing the culture here, I’m now wondering what that entailed.

How, exactly, did Frumpy Dave change the "culture"? The fact that he is not Paul Hewitt? And we all didn't praise DP for changing the culture, just to be clear.

 

[GSII]

Hello, team went to Chuys the other day. Go team! Our culture is damn good.

 

[Mason32]

Sad but not totally true. We all praised DP for changing the culture here, I’m now wondering what that entailed.

Please enlighten us on what a "good basketball culture" should look like for team that started 11-1 and may finish under. 500

 

[tblack33]

I think it's less of a "good" culture than a "clean" culture.

Everyone heard the stories of the punted ball in summer practice, starting SG quitting basketball all together before the season started, etc.

There's a few posters on here with stories about drug related run ins with players during Hewitt's tenure.

Okoloji's leg stomp. not a huge sense of team play during on the court moments like foul shots, guys on the floor, etc.

It's a mistake to associate a clean culture with a good culture or a winning culture. I don't think anyone would argue that we don't have a clean culture right now.

 

[By George.]

Hello, team went to Chuys the other day. Go team! Our culture is damn good.

It was a meet and greet, did anyone show up?

 

[PoorManProfit]

I don't think anyone would argue that we have a clean culture right now.

Yup, like pussycats. Everytime I see the opponent I see men. I see G Mas and I see boys. But it's clean...

 

[G M U]

Please enlighten us on what a "good basketball culture" should look like for team that started 11-1 and may finish under. 500

Nobody can define a good basketball culture. After reading the boards for the last few years, people say Hewitt killed it and somehow Dave saved it. Yet nobody can define what TF it is. Its fluff talk and will be held against you if we are bad and support you if we thrive.

 

[gmujim92]

Nobody can define a good basketball culture. After reading the boards for the last few years, people say Hewitt killed it and somehow Dave saved it. Yet nobody can define what TF it is. Its fluff talk and will be held against you if we are bad and support you if we thrive.

Not true at all. There are easily identifiable traits of a program with strong culture — beginning with accountability on and off the floor, putting team before self, discipline, attention to detail, work ethic, communication and leadership.

People erroneously assume that we have problems in all or most of these areas because we’re not winning.

The truth is this team is both young and inexperienced at key spots, offensively challenged and not deep enough to overcome nights when our 3 or 4 best players aren’t clicking at the same time. None of those have anything to do with “culture.”

 

[PoorManProfit]

The truth is this team is both young and inexperienced at key spots, offensively challenged and not deep enough to overcome nights when our 3 or 4 best players aren’t clicking at the same time. None of those have anything to do with “culture.”

who gives a f**k about culture? This program sucks a**.

 

[By George.]

Not true at all. There are easily identifiable traits of a program with strong culture — beginning with accountability on and off the floor, putting team before self, discipline, attention to detail, work ethic, communication and leadership.

People erroneously assume that we have problems in all or most of these areas because we’re not winning.

The truth is this team is both young and inexperienced at key spots, offensively challenged and not deep enough to overcome nights when our 3 or 4 best players aren’t clicking at the same time. None of those have anything to do with “culture.”

Spoiler: it’s not strong

I attribute culture to the fan base, the home arena experience as well and campus interest in the team, it’s why Dave was passing out donuts his first 2 years here. You claim we haven’t quit, others felt like Greene looked disinterested. Yes, players haven’t texted mid game, you’re right. There’s a ton of issues to debate, I just don’t think he deserves praise for our culture this year, or some massive overhaul/cleansing during his time here.

Yes, winning cures all, but we’re still benching players and switching starting lineups a week before the tourney. Who actually knows what Greene did to deserve the suspension?

 

[Patriot8]

The truth is this team is both young and inexperienced at key spots, offensively challenged and not deep enough to overcome nights when our 3 or 4 best players aren’t clicking at the same time.

This seems to have been the case for the last 5 years.

 

[gmujim92]

Spoiler: it’s not strong

I attribute culture to the fan base, the home arena experience as well and campus interest in the team, it’s why Dave was passing out donuts his first 2 years here. You claim we haven’t quit, others felt like Greene looked disinterested. Yes, players haven’t texted mid game, you’re right. There’s a ton of issues to debate, I just don’t think he deserves praise for our culture this year, or some massive overhaul/cleansing during his time here.

Yes, winning cures all, but we’re still benching players and switching starting lineups a week before the tourney. Who actually knows what Greene did to deserve the suspension?

Who cares what he did? I don’t feel entitled to know and I trust the situation has been handled.

If we start having guys suspended regularly, that’s a completely different discussion. But one player getting pissy over being benched for whatever reason is not indicative of a larger problem.

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Yes, winning cures all, but we’re still benching players and switching starting lineups a week before the tourney. Who actually knows what Greene did to deserve the suspension?

Every group needs a bad boy. Hell even boy bands have that one "bad boy" in the group. But with DP, he wants a team of angels. You can't win with a team of Angels. The most competitive people on the planet have at least a bit of attitude.

I want at least one guy on the team that doesn't help the opponent off the ground after a hard foul. I want at least one guy who talks a lot of shit.

Of course, you can't win with a team of all bad boys either. But DP seems to try fit round pegs in square holes. Sometimes you have to let players be who they are. But DP ain't having it. And his lack of compromise not only in dealing with players but also changing a system that obviously doesn't work will be his undoing.

 

[PoorManProfit]

But with DP, he wants a team of angels.

You think so or is that all this doughy dude can get?

 

[gmutom]

Who cares what he did? I don’t feel entitled to know and I trust the situation has been handled.

Jim, maybe times have changed, but the first question I would ask at the press conference is why didn't Javon start. And I'm fine with him saying "it's an internal decision I won't discuss publicly" as long as knows that fans want to know what's going on.

Regarding culture, you and I do agree completely that Dave has run a clean program. I have the utmost respect for the way he grooms our players as people and students. I just hate how apathetic I feel and most of our fanbase feels about the program right now. I went to all but three games this year due to traveling because I love my school and the team, but damn if it isn't getting harder and harder to get excited about the direction under Dave. If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I'm just not seeing it.

 

[gmujim92]

Jim, maybe times have changed, but the first question I would ask at the press conference is why didn't Javon start. And I'm fine with him saying "it's an internal decision I won't discuss publicly" as long as knows that fans want to know what's going on.

Regarding culture, you and I do agree completely that Dave has run a clean program. I have the utmost respect for the way he grooms our players as people and students. I just hate how apathetic I feel and most of our fanbase feels about the program right now. I went to all but three games this year due to traveling because I love my school and the team, but damn if it isn't getting harder and harder to get excited about the direction under Dave. If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I'm just not seeing it.

I don’t have a problem with asking Dave about it in a press conference and agree he most likely would give a non-answer. I was speaking solely from the perspective of a fan; some things are none of our business.

As for a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s either going to make significant improvement next year or he’s most likely gonna be gone. I see no scenario in which it goes any other way, given his contract status and a new president who didn’t hire him.

 

[psyclone]

Jim, maybe times have changed, but the first question I would ask at the press conference is why didn't Javon start. And I'm fine with him saying "it's an internal decision I won't discuss publicly" as long as knows that fans want to know what's going on.

I have the sense that ALL coaches have been giving that sort of answer to a "team rules" situation for a very long time. Ok to ask the question, but I would be surprised if it elicited any kind of information.

 

[By George.]

I have the sense that ALL coaches have been giving that sort of answer to a "team rules" situation for a very long time. Ok to ask the question, but I would be surprised if it elicited any kind of information.

That’s why I didn’t ask him about it, I don’t know why he got suspended either but apparently swimmom does. This isn’t typically information we search for but considering how important he is to us, I’m def curious.

 

[Falco]

And just so everyone is aware the coaches did not listen to us! No min for JDS this game. They really must think he’s bad. Even when XJ disappeared with an injury JDS didn’t see the floor.

I think paulsen forces players to want to transfer. He rather have the spot open for Boyd next year

 

[Petey Buckets]

Every group needs a bad boy. Hell even boy bands have that one "bad boy" in the group. But with DP, he wants a team of angels. You can't win with a team of Angels. The most competitive people on the planet have at least a bit of attitude.

I want at least one guy on the team that doesn't help the opponent off the ground after a hard foul. I want at least one guy who talks a lot of shit.

Of course, you can't win with a team of all bad boys either. But DP seems to try fit round pegs in square holes. Sometimes you have to let players be who they are. But DP ain't having it. And his lack of compromise not only in dealing with players but also changing a system that obviously doesn't work will be his undoing.

I think this misses the fact that Dave hasn't landed his top recruiting targets. If he had his pick of guys we'd have a very good basketball team. Jamarius Burton is having a great freshman year for Wichita State but we didn't make his final five. Tre Wood is a player but we lost him to UMass (since transferred). There are other guys who went to schools we should reasonably compete with for recruits that we've missed out on. I have problems with Dave's offense (who doesn't) but he's a solid enough x's and o's guy that if he had the horses he'd be fine. To me that's his biggest shortcoming, with player development a close second.

EDIT Just to add that the two best recruits he has landed, judged by strength of other offers, are AJ and Goanar, which is where player development comes in. AJ wasn't an impact player until his 4th year in the program and we don't need to rehash Go's Benjamin Button career again.