re: Got to admit I was wrong about MM

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If we can muddle through this season and be .500 in the SEC I will be happy. That is a trajectory that puts you back in the tourney in year three.

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9-9 in the SEC puts you in the conversation for the Tournament THIS year (though I think LSU's weak non-conf. performance would keep them out)

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back in the tourney in year three.

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That's really an antiquated way of thinking. Progress isn't necessarily linear in college basketball anymore because of so much roster turnover from year to year. Last year's team had 10 new players. This year's team has 7. Several players on this year's team are 4th and 5th year players. So it's entirely possible, if not likely, next year's roster will have 7-8 new players. That's the nature of the sport now. So it is foolish to think just because this year was good it will carry over to the next because next year will be a significantly different roster. McMahon, and every HC, has to show they can take a roster...win with it immediately...then build a largely new roster and win with it immediately

I'm glad there is some early excitement in the program. Hopefully that drives more people to the PMAC. But the predictions of a great SEC season are ridiculously premature. LSU is probably 1 game above where they should be in the SEC right now. The win at A&M wasn't expected. The win last night over the worst team in the SEC was. It was a sluggish win, and LSU still has some pretty deep flaws. Even though they have played better over the last 4 games or so the offensive efficiency numbers continue to drop (ranked nearly 150 at the moment). That has to improve to compete night in and night out vs the really good teams in the league.

Be excited there is reason for optimism. Don't go off the deep end and think a 2 game sample size confirms McMahon is a "great coach". Still a LONG way to go.

I'm proud of this team. They battle on the defensive end, and outside of Wright and Cook there isn't a consistent scoring option. That being said, we're about to hit a meat grinder of a schedule the next month.

@ #16 Auburn 1/13
vs Ole Miss 1/17
vs Texas A&M 1/20
@ Georgia 1/24
@ Alabama 1/27
vs Arkansas 2/3
@ #5 Tennessee 2/7
vs Alabama 2/10
@ Florida 2/13
@ South Carolina 2/17
vs #6 Kentucky 2/21

I see us winning 4 games at most out of these 11 games. We'll be lucky to be a game or two under .500 after this stretch. But with the way last year went, a .500 conference record is a hell of an improvement. I'll take that in spades. It might even get us an NIT invite.

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turned into a quick breakaway basket for TAM. Nothing but a lazy pass that ended in two turnovers in 3 times down the court. During the next timeout, MM just patted him on the should like it was OK,

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And after that we broke the press with ease and Cook did a great job.

Comparing him to some HS history teacher teaching two hand bounce passes is a little silly

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He is a better coach than Wade with WW players.

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All 2 of them?

Cook tends to play with a lackadaisical attitude sometimes on offense and that's fine as he has a way of adjusting his momentum to throw off the defender but he sometimes brings that same attitude to defense and you can't do that. Defense needs to be played with intensity. He also had that same attitude when we inbounded the ball too him late in the game and Vandy got the TO. Need to understand the moment. Not to mention selfishly taking 3 pointers with bigs wide open under the goal. And some selfish one on one drives with bigs wide open. This caused us to lose our big lead and get Vandy back in the game. You could see MM was pissed and said as much in the interview after the game. Clean that up and they can compete.

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This team plays hard and fast. They have great ball movement. They are relentless on defense

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That was the type of coach he is. Maybe he needed to get the right type of players.

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I mentioned this to my son early last season as well. Good movement and energy. Then that seemed to evaporate as they moved into SEC play.

I'm gunshy right now but they seem even more energetic this season but are still making mistakes, particularly turnovers. Those do seem to be better than last season, as well. The offensive rebounding is not good enough yet but it also looks better to me, though I have not compared the stats to verify.

In a nutshell, I see improvement with still more room for improvement. I hope it continues. This team is head and shoulders better with Cook than before he was eligible. I'm not quire ready to be hurt again, though. Come SEC win 4, depending on if and when that is, I may be.

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sportsbooks had our O/U on conference wins at 9.5 at the beginning of this season

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This is absolutely not true. That puts us at 9-9 or 10-8 in SEC, that's borderline NCAAT material after a 2-16 SEC record and a team that had 14 straight losses last season.

I'm really happy we're 2-0 baws, but seriously the chest pounding and lack of perspective is upsetting. Let's see what we can do moving forward. I'm not big into moral victories, but a decent showing against AU would be nice. They are kenpom top5.

Since SEC play started they have cut down on TOs which was killing them, those empty possessions and unforced TOs were a big reason for struggles in OOC games, also their rebounding has improved and those 2 areas of improvement have made all the difference in performance

Vandy and the Aggies are looking like lower half of the SEC teams right now. Our big test as to how real this team is will be our next game against Auburn which will be a road game. Auburn is one of the better teams in the league and is well coached by Bruce Pearl. They lead the league in assists which is where we have a weakness.

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Alt26

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Yeah…not really

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There always has to be someone who has to input a dissenting opinion just because he's the one who's right and anybody with a contrary viewpoint is stupid.