Stop the scapegoating!
by rickmbari on Mar 18, 2011 9:50 PM EDT
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I'm extremely disappointed in the number of people playing the blame game. It was the referees' fault, it was Pitino's fault, it was Marra's fault, it was Siva's fault, it was stay-at-home fans' fault. Pitino should go, Justice should go, Marra should go. Certain referees should be beaten up or worse. Heads should roll.
Enough already.
We had a bad day and ran into a hot team, and the breaks didn't go our way. It happens.
I'm sorry to see Preston's career end, and I wish for his sake he could have gone out on a happier note. He deserved better, and so did the rest of the team. I wanted more for them, but I couldn't have asked more from them than the way they played this season. They played their hearts out every time they took the floor. They fought through more injuries than I can count, more bad breaks than anyone deserves, more adversity than I can recall any Cardinal team facing, and they never quit. Yes, the season came to a bitter end, and no, we won't see Preston playing for the Cards again. But those who remain will use this loss as motivation. You could see it in TJ's comments about wanting only to find a gym and go to work. They will be back and tougher than ever.
We don't know who will be the floor leader next year; there are at least three upperclassmen who I think could grow into the role. TJ will be a senior, and the attitude and desire evidenced by the aforementioned comment will earn him some respect. Kuric and Siva will be juniors, and both have the potential to be leaders. But whoever steps up, I'd lay odds we'll see another team that plays for each other and for the Ville, and not for themselves.
I'm tired of fans who think they are owed a Final Four wallowing in self-pity and looking for someone to blame. Do you seriously think there is a single player on the team who doesn't feel worse about the loss than you do?
I'm ready to look forward to baseball, soccer, football, and more basketball. I have a feeling it's going to be a great year. In the meantime, stop al the damned finger-pointing.
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I think you are right on.
Bottom line was that the Cards just did not play well enough to win.
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.
by LvillefaninLex on Mar 18, 2011 10:14 PM EDT reply actions
I agree with all of the above comments Rick.
I would like to further add something. I have never, ever been a fan of the words, “Wait until next year.” Ever. But I saw something in the BE tournament and even the Morehead State loss that makes me incredibly excited for next year for the first time in memory. The impending emergence of Gorgui Dieng as a major talent. The near-miss monster one hand jams everyone criticized him for; they won’t be missed next year. The short jumper coming into focus. The down low soft bank starting to develop. Pitino stated Dieng, “isn’t going anywhere” this summer but is going to focus solely on basketball. I believe this will be his first full summer of skills training in the United States. I look for him to grow tremendously in the next several months and be almost unrecognizable come next fall from this year. Pitino has stated that Blackshear is a ‘one and done’ player. You combine that with TJ, Kuric (who I believe will be the captain; official or not), Siva, along with Buckles, Price, Behanan and the other returnees, and I think we have much to be excited about.
And Preston will be the first fan in the stands watching. Screw wallowing.
Wait ’til next year.
This class seems perfect for our rebounding woes. Behanan, Price and Woods. WOW!
by Carolina Cardinal on Mar 19, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Blackshear as well
Is tall for his position and supposedly is a great rebounder.
by Get_In_My_BELLY_ on Mar 19, 2011 10:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
How They Feel
Yes, Kyle will be a senior. Never mind how we the fans feel at this moment. They feel pretty bad. So please stop bashing them. Thanks.
by CA Observer on Mar 19, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Was that directed at me???
If it was, can you please explain how that was “bashing” anybody? It was a question in response to the post, which says Kuric will be a junior.
The last thing I would EVER do is bash this team.
Specifcially You, No.
Was just answering your question and felt the need to post that. Probably should have gone on another fanpost. My apologies.
Sorry for freaking out.
I’ve been a bit … uh… sensitive for a couple of days.
Thank you!
Every time I came to the site in the last couple days all I heard was whining. That doesn’t make for very good reading. Thanks for this post. Rec’d
"During my ME time in the shower the other day I thought, we really havn’t goteen THAT signature game yet" - Austin Montgomery
Well said buddy - and rec'd
And the good news is our two Achilles’ heel areas Pitino spoke of (free throw shooting and rebounding) should be history next year. Most of our guys shot 10-20% higher in high school than this past year, that proves they can do it. A little focus and a years experience and that should be fixed. And with Dieng, Price and Behanan our rebounding woes should be history as well. I don’t want to hang this mantle on him but Behanan looks eerily similar to a guy named Unseld (6’6"-250 lbs.) and would that ever be awesome.
GO CARDS
by Carolina Cardinal on Mar 19, 2011 9:47 AM EDT reply actions
I guess
alot of that was aimed at me. Believe me I loved this team, but that shouldn’t mean we should ignore the cracks in this program. Yes it was a “bridge year” but we also shouldn’t have lost in that fashion to Morehead St in the first round of the NCAA tournament. If it was before Christmas, I wouldn’t have had much of a problem with the loss, but in the first round of the NCAA? I don’t expect Final 4s every year, but I expect to make the NCAA tournament every year and to not lose in the first round to a 13 seed. It shouldn’t be a crime to love this team and have evolving expectations.
Yes at the beginning we didn’t expect a tourney birth, or maybe even the NIT, but this team came together and got to an 11 ranking and the 3 spot in the BE. At that point I expected not to lose to Morehead St in the first round. A second round loss? Maybe and I would be fine with that. I really don’t think its whining when you’re try to find a reason for something unexpected.
Not aimed at you
it was a general trend around here that was bothering me.
And why shouldn’t we “ignore the cracks in this program”? Tough love is fine when it can accomplish something, but it’s not like we’re in a position to make anything better. I doubt that any of the players are saying “Wow, the Chronicloids are upset, I guess that means I’d better work on my free throw technique over the summer.”
I understand people’s need to vent, but at some point we have to move on.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
I want to see morehead get a shot at kansas
That would be great.
by Get_In_My_BELLY_ on Mar 19, 2011 10:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Well said Rick. This team needs to be remembered as a very special one.
Dealing with sudden disappointment and loss, is a difficult thing, it takes a physical and emotional toll on you and really the only thing age and experience can do for you is to lessen the time it takes to get over it. But each time, the pain is just as sharp as the first time. You want to lash out, retaliate, lay blame, swear you will never open yourself up to that kind of pain again, and yet somehow slowly you manage to let it go, and the pain lessens and you start looking forward instead of backward. So much time is spent trying to change the past. You hope you learn from it so you don’t make the same mistakes, but you can’t change it, no matter how much you try.
I think as a fan base we were like that at the beginning of the year, 2 years out from a crushing end in the Elite Eight, an underperforming and dysfunctional team last year, off court turmoil for both players and coaches. Seemingly unprecedented success of our rivals,
made most of us wary about this upcoming season. Common wisdom was " the Yum! will be the star this year" we will be lucky to make the tournament… Why haven’t we more to show for 10 yrs under Pitino…
The real truth about this year is this: we all fell in love again watching this team. Everyone kept saying CRP looked younger coaching these guys. Didn’t all of you feel younger watching them? I’ve decided to hang onto that feeling about this season, and when I think about this team, and this season, I’m always going to smile a big contented smile.
+1
NAILED IT!! For the rest of my life, I’ll smile when I remember Preston! It would be totally inappropriate to allow his four years of passion for the game to be swallowed by those last eight minutes in Denver. He is a tough, gritty guy who gave us great memories.
Is it just me or is anyone else getting a slight sick feeling hearing Rick saying things
like in the BE tourney, “if this was my last team coaching….” (he said that three separate times) and “I’ve coached a long time…maybe too long” right after the Morehead loss?
I don't think he's considering retirement
but I think other coaches will paint it that way when they’re recruiting against him. I wish he hadn’t said those things.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
Richmond
did everything right that we did wrong. Richmond… not Louisville. They made Morehead look like we should have made them look. Sorry, broke my own moratorium on just moving on to Spring football. I’ll try to avoid any further lapses. :p
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