Post by zagsfanforlife on Nov 29, 2009 5:58:30 GMT -5
Sorry about the loss guys. Even though UCSB was undefeated I expected you guys to gut this one out.
I am starting to see the frustration brewing amongst us Lions fans and my only advice to you would be to show a little bit of patience. No team, I dont care how many transfers you had sitting out or how many injuries, goes from a 3 win team one season to 20+ wins the next. Sure I might have predicted LMU to finish fourth in the conference, but now seeing how good the other teams are in the league I think 5th or 6th is more reasonable.
With that said, the team is still comprised of only one senior and two juniors who gets significant playing time. While it is hard now to see the light at the end of the tunnel try to focus on the bright future that many of these Lions have. Drew Viney is an absolute star in the making. At 6'7 and with the ability to play Sg Viney should be the first player since a guy named BO to play in the NBA. Then you have the bright future of Edgar Garibay. Hopefully his knee is okay because Garibay will turn into the best post player since Matty Knight. Given needs more playing time, but he will as the season progresses. He is very quick, very smooth and has the makings of a very nice player in the future. When Larry gets healthy the team has another scorer to add to their lineup. Dubois will continue to improve, most likely into a 1st team WCC player by the time he finishes. He comes from Westchester High and is a proven winner. I can't see him being okay with these losses and by his Junior and Sr years Im confident he can will the team to victory. While Hamilton looks lost as of now and looks to be set back by his season ending injury last year, he still has three more years to develop. He has the size, body and athleticism to be an impact player in the future. Laron and Vernon will continue to improve as well. Vernon still has another year and Laron has two more.
Concerning the defense, do we really think Max Good is going to let this continue? He is one of the most fiery, passionate, old school coaches I have ever witnessed. He knows that defense is the key to winning games, and I'm sure this morning hes working to find ways to improve in that aspect. Lets continue to pray that LMU can snag Aziz to be the enforcer inside that the team needs.
Baby steps my friends. A championship team is not built overnight. While the W's arent coming, improvement has been shown. They have been competitive each and every game this year, and while the defense needs work, the offense is pretty fun to watch (even on a sh*tty feed streaming on the internet).
As a young coach in my own right the phrase "A team needs to learn how to win" is often thrown around. While this may confuse some of you, let me tell you, the phrase is true. The more a team is battle tested, the more these close games come to fruition, the more experience these youngsters get. Eventually the team will start to win these close games, presumably when they get older, more confident and more acclimated to D1 ball. When this happens, the winners mentality will ensue. In close games and in tight situations people will start making plays, getting defensive stops etc. This winners mentality or "learning how to win" will happen sooner than later because there is talent on the LMU team. Experience is all they need.
While I know times are hard right now LMU fans, I beg you to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It may seem like the past 15 years we have been living in basketball hell, but combine talent with youth on this team and one day, in the next three years, we will look back on the past 15 and be proud of the accomplishments that team has made. Whether it be a WCC championship, an NCAA tournament birth, or even more than that, this group of guys believe it or not has the talent, coaching and eventually will have the experience to take us there. Keep your chins up, continue to support the Lions and one day you will see why patience is a virtue.
I am starting to see the frustration brewing amongst us Lions fans and my only advice to you would be to show a little bit of patience. No team, I dont care how many transfers you had sitting out or how many injuries, goes from a 3 win team one season to 20+ wins the next. Sure I might have predicted LMU to finish fourth in the conference, but now seeing how good the other teams are in the league I think 5th or 6th is more reasonable.
With that said, the team is still comprised of only one senior and two juniors who gets significant playing time. While it is hard now to see the light at the end of the tunnel try to focus on the bright future that many of these Lions have. Drew Viney is an absolute star in the making. At 6'7 and with the ability to play Sg Viney should be the first player since a guy named BO to play in the NBA. Then you have the bright future of Edgar Garibay. Hopefully his knee is okay because Garibay will turn into the best post player since Matty Knight. Given needs more playing time, but he will as the season progresses. He is very quick, very smooth and has the makings of a very nice player in the future. When Larry gets healthy the team has another scorer to add to their lineup. Dubois will continue to improve, most likely into a 1st team WCC player by the time he finishes. He comes from Westchester High and is a proven winner. I can't see him being okay with these losses and by his Junior and Sr years Im confident he can will the team to victory. While Hamilton looks lost as of now and looks to be set back by his season ending injury last year, he still has three more years to develop. He has the size, body and athleticism to be an impact player in the future. Laron and Vernon will continue to improve as well. Vernon still has another year and Laron has two more.
Concerning the defense, do we really think Max Good is going to let this continue? He is one of the most fiery, passionate, old school coaches I have ever witnessed. He knows that defense is the key to winning games, and I'm sure this morning hes working to find ways to improve in that aspect. Lets continue to pray that LMU can snag Aziz to be the enforcer inside that the team needs.
Baby steps my friends. A championship team is not built overnight. While the W's arent coming, improvement has been shown. They have been competitive each and every game this year, and while the defense needs work, the offense is pretty fun to watch (even on a sh*tty feed streaming on the internet).
As a young coach in my own right the phrase "A team needs to learn how to win" is often thrown around. While this may confuse some of you, let me tell you, the phrase is true. The more a team is battle tested, the more these close games come to fruition, the more experience these youngsters get. Eventually the team will start to win these close games, presumably when they get older, more confident and more acclimated to D1 ball. When this happens, the winners mentality will ensue. In close games and in tight situations people will start making plays, getting defensive stops etc. This winners mentality or "learning how to win" will happen sooner than later because there is talent on the LMU team. Experience is all they need.
While I know times are hard right now LMU fans, I beg you to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It may seem like the past 15 years we have been living in basketball hell, but combine talent with youth on this team and one day, in the next three years, we will look back on the past 15 and be proud of the accomplishments that team has made. Whether it be a WCC championship, an NCAA tournament birth, or even more than that, this group of guys believe it or not has the talent, coaching and eventually will have the experience to take us there. Keep your chins up, continue to support the Lions and one day you will see why patience is a virtue.
