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re: Auburn @ Sooners “Walk the Line” to MM’26 Game Thread
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:18 pm to marshallcotiger
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:18 pm to marshallcotiger
quote:
What makes this year worse is the entire conference is down and we're still struggling to stay above water.
This is a little short sighted. This is the 2nd best year the SEC has had in the KenPom era if I am not mistaken. Not nearly as good as last year, but still quite good.
We replaced almost every player. Don't read too much into this season. There are some ominous signs for sure, but not enough data to cast out SP & co.
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Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:28 pm to auyushu
Ron Sanchez was named the interim coach. Big difference then being named the head coach like Steven. Plus Virginia didn’t make the tournament under Sanchez.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:29 pm to CorchJay
quote:
There isn’t a coach out there that makes us a final 4 contender
I don't think any coach would be able to do that with this roster. Looks to me that there is talent there, but it's not a complete team. No killer shot blocker and rim protector to hold down the paint looks like the main problem.
Curious, SP gets a rash around his neck at the start of the game. It fades out as the game progresses. Must be anxiety.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:41 pm to CorchJay
I don’t understand the rush to fire, hire or promote on game by game basis.
Outside of the roster which yes I’ll concede I’m sure Steven had input in. Outside of that what has all these Steven haters seen that makes them question his coaching no ability? We still run one of the most efficient offenses in the country. With the right roster our defense would snap right back to being very good. Our scheme requires a shot blocker. We funnel everything to the middle of the court to our bigs in our “normal” defense.
Without a true shot blocker we have to play drop or sagging defense on the perimeter hence why people are shooting lights out from 3 against us and still shooting high percentages at the rim as well. It’s a recipe for disaster. Put Dylan Cardwell on this team and we are in the top 4 in the conference. It’s that simple. No shot blocker in our scheme and we suck. We went after 3 to 4 other big name bigs just got outbid. Not much you can do about that. That’s why I said prior to the season Opurum was the most important player on the roster because I knew Murphy wasn’t a shot blocker.
When your front court is 6-10, 6-7 at center, and 6-8,6-7 at PF. It’s the defensive end that struggles. That’s what we have. Bad bad defense.
Still got things to finish this season then get a roster in here to compete. We need 11ish guys that want to work together, fight together, and win together. Who those 11 guys are we will
Just have to wait. Then I’ll judge Steven.
Outside of the roster which yes I’ll concede I’m sure Steven had input in. Outside of that what has all these Steven haters seen that makes them question his coaching no ability? We still run one of the most efficient offenses in the country. With the right roster our defense would snap right back to being very good. Our scheme requires a shot blocker. We funnel everything to the middle of the court to our bigs in our “normal” defense.
Without a true shot blocker we have to play drop or sagging defense on the perimeter hence why people are shooting lights out from 3 against us and still shooting high percentages at the rim as well. It’s a recipe for disaster. Put Dylan Cardwell on this team and we are in the top 4 in the conference. It’s that simple. No shot blocker in our scheme and we suck. We went after 3 to 4 other big name bigs just got outbid. Not much you can do about that. That’s why I said prior to the season Opurum was the most important player on the roster because I knew Murphy wasn’t a shot blocker.
When your front court is 6-10, 6-7 at center, and 6-8,6-7 at PF. It’s the defensive end that struggles. That’s what we have. Bad bad defense.
Still got things to finish this season then get a roster in here to compete. We need 11ish guys that want to work together, fight together, and win together. Who those 11 guys are we will
Just have to wait. Then I’ll judge Steven.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:45 pm to auburnnyc94
quote:
This is a little short sighted. This is the 2nd best year the SEC has had in the KenPom era
No idea but if anyone outside of Florida makes it past the round of 16 I'll be shocked and I don't expect many to make it to the sweet 16.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:48 pm to CorchJay
quote:
hen your front court is 6-10, 6-7 at center, and 6-8,6-7 at PF. It’s the defensive end that struggles. That’s what we have. Bad bad defense.
Do you not remember having Horace Spencer and Mclemore as our centers with both being 6'7? Those guys still defended and altered shots. Also it's not the interior where we're struggling defensively. It's the other teams guards going off behind the 3 point line. Our defensive issues are 100% poor technique and effort. Blaming it on a lack of size is making excuses
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:49 pm to CorchJay
quote:
Without a true shot blocker we have to play drop or sagging defense on the perimeter hence why people are shooting lights out from 3 against us and still shooting high percentages at the rim as well.
I’ve been wondering why we aren’t up in their grille when on defense as we were the previous few years with SP being our defense guru….
This explains a lot for my low basketball IQ
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:53 pm to CorchJay
quote:
Ron Sanchez was named the interim coach. Big difference then being named the head coach like Steven
Right. And why is that not preferable considering the circumstances.
You dont have to worry about firing anybody because you never have to worry about the optics of an interim being let go.
This post was edited on 2/25/26 at 1:55 pm
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:55 pm to jangalang
Just more knee jerk reaction.
You ever stop long enough to think about the what-if's? About what happens when the bargain basement hire for next year fails?
Because the sure thing is going to want half of next years NIL... if he's replacing a one and done. So where's the players money coming from? And what-if the more affordable coach bombs in year 1 or 2. Can we shite can him? The PTB have starred in this game before, and its old as JABA, and everyone should remember how this ends. Because the long road back for that program.
Plus like I've been saying the house money you're playing with is simply not there. You just weren't aware we rolled the dice for at least two years.
You ever stop long enough to think about the what-if's? About what happens when the bargain basement hire for next year fails?
Because the sure thing is going to want half of next years NIL... if he's replacing a one and done. So where's the players money coming from? And what-if the more affordable coach bombs in year 1 or 2. Can we shite can him? The PTB have starred in this game before, and its old as JABA, and everyone should remember how this ends. Because the long road back for that program.
Plus like I've been saying the house money you're playing with is simply not there. You just weren't aware we rolled the dice for at least two years.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 1:58 pm to marshallcotiger
I think Bama & Arky are plenty good enough to make a run. UK & UT & VU to the sweet 16 wouldn't surprise me at all either.
Not close to how good the top 4-5 teams were last year in the league play, and I don't see a potential national champ in this group either. It will be Arizona, Michigan, or Duke this year.
Not close to how good the top 4-5 teams were last year in the league play, and I don't see a potential national champ in this group either. It will be Arizona, Michigan, or Duke this year.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 2:01 pm to awestruck
quote:
Just more knee jerk reaction.
Irony is that is how an unproven coach got a 5 year deal.
quote:
You ever stop long enough to think about the what-if's? About what happens when the bargain basement hire for next year fails?
lol. What was Steven? The mudsill under the basement?
quote:
Because the sure thing is going to want half of next years NIL... if he's replacing a one and done.
Fine. Go get sure thing. Scared money never made money.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 2:04 pm to CorchJay
quote:
Outside of that what has all these Steven haters seen that makes them question his coaching no ability?
Gee, maybe the fact we've gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on and he looks to have lost the team. We are judging him based on his actual coaching over the course of the season and not hand waving away things based on some "coachable players" nonsense like you are. Any coach that is completely unable to adjust to his roster and improve as the season goes on is not a good coach.
Steven can't be blamed completely for this roster as he didn't have final say in high school recruiting over the past few years, but he was directly on charge of portal recruiting. So he is directly responsible for the main portion of our roster. So if he was recruiting "uncoachable" players that is directly on him.
And your we are in the tournament no matter BS is just silly, just like your Hugh Freeze is coaching fine he just needs his players rhetoric was BS over the last three seasons of football. You love to throw out absolutes that aren't so absolute.
Literally one team in the past decade has made it into the tournament with 17 wins, and they had a winning record in conference play. It is no certain thing.
I'm not going to judge whether we should keep Steven till the end of next season, but you acting like he hasn't been showing a ton of red flags since the Texas game is a terrible take. You either haven't been watching the games or are being willfully blind.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 2:40 pm to auyushu
Just wondering how recruiting is going as we will need to rebuild next season, too.
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:02 pm to SabansHairDye
quote:Are you thinking nobody is returning? Or everybody will be cut loose to "start over"? I'm of the hope there are 3-4 guys that return.
as we will need to rebuild next season, too
Posted on 2/25/26 at 3:16 pm to CallFoy
4 hopefully returns. Need Jovic, Sway, and Freeman to stay and develop.
Overton will be a senior. Hope he stays but wont hurt my feelings if he doesnt. He let Forsythe blow by him yesterday.
Overton will be a senior. Hope he stays but wont hurt my feelings if he doesnt. He let Forsythe blow by him yesterday.
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