7 Final Fours and 6 Title Game appearance in 9 years, yet many people think the world is ending. We should be able to get any recruit we want? Well, life doesn't work that way. UConn is starting to figure that out. No title game appearances in 3 entire years for them...heaven forbid. I like to be thankful for what we have and think the constant "woe is me" is a bit too much.
Not hard to say you are looking into the rear view mirror. Gotta worry about what’s ahead, and currently things don’t look very rosey.
At least that's what they keep telling me at work LOL. But seriously, look at our roster - not very bad all things considered. Some ND WBB fans have become spoiled Chicken Littles who only seem to be happy when they are worrying about the future.
It’s called parity and the past performance means little in that reality. It’s like falling behind in an arms race, doesn’t take long to be outgunned and falling back into the pack.
Exhibit A: ND football since the mid ‘90’s
You could have said the same thing after the disaster at Louisville two years ago. How have the last year and a half played out?
Especially under the basket. We have only 1 true post player and only one big with experience. And we currently don’t have enough players to even scrimmage. Recent recruiting and transfers and early WNBA have killed us
This team has a lot of talent and the FR-JR on the team are going to see one or more F4's again. The issue/debate is this specific season coming up:
1) Short of a miracle, this team does not have the component parts to make a F4 run.
They will make the NCAA and probably even find a way into the S16 -- but to this board, that's not considered a great year. With some key transfers -- we possibly could have taken it up another notch and skipped the rebuilding year.
2) They flat out do not have enough forwards on the team -- independent of skills or experience.
3) We had zero returning starters -- and then lost 2 of the 6 returning playuers we did have.
4) We did get two transfers to help plug some gaps -- but one of them has missed two seasons with injuries and is a wildcard if she actually will play at ND / break that trend
5) We have to have two freshman come in and be instant superstars at the level of Lloyd and Skylar to have any shot in hell of being a Top 5 level team.
Good news is Lloyd and Skylar did indeed do that -- so some have before. Bad neww is:
a) They BOTH didn't do it the same year
b) Neither of them were FR on a team that had zero returning starters
c) The #1 pick in the WNBA draft this year didn't follow that same path her freshman year. She was good for a FR, but she wasn't a super star from day one -- like we now need
We have two forwards that are long term projects -- that now need to be more than just average for us to hang with any top 5 level team. Top 5 level teams will have the balance we lack on our roster right now. Unlike our title year -- we don't have 5 WNBA draft picks that are SO or JR returning starters to fall back on to overcome a roster that's out of whack.
So, the sky isn't falling longer term. The sky did just fall in the short term because realistically we just lost our final shot at getting an instant impact forward to plug into our roster and give increased hope we can skip over the rebuilding phase this season.
It isn't hopeless though. There is a non-zero chance the 8 players we do have -- all or which were major stars coming into ND / their original college choice -- will jell very early, none will get injured, the freshman will come out of the gate on fire, and the two forwards will play at an elite level this year.
what you are saying. Its not being negative or "sky is falling" attitude. Its realistic. If you cant see the talent drain from transfers and "missed recruiting targets" results then you just aren't paying attention. Next years team will not be on the level we have come to expect, its just reality. However this coaching staff has kept this program at the top for a long time. They will adjust and figure out why we are having some issues.
I believe the fan base is intelligent and supportive and will understand the first rebuild in many years at ND.