I am an idiot.
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 6:03 pm
This goes without saying.
For those who know me, or especially those who don't and only see what I put on this board.
After picking myself up off the pavement after arguably the 2nd worst loss in URI regular season basketball history (2009's senior day vs UMASS I believe still holds the crown), I sit here to myself and say - how can I spin this so that cutting my wrists vertically doesn't become the viable option to yelling at myself in section 205 while I watch a dumpster fire unfold in front of me.
Mental gymnastics is a preferred hobby and pastime of mine, which is a must for a person who's lifestyle decisions for the most part are guided by a voice saying "ehh fuck it, see what happens."
Obviously I've been absent from the board, it's become a tough read. You come for the basketball but most of it is 4 people just posting the same thing over with slightly different verbiage - we get it; Dan bad, blah blah something else 1978, blah blah Dave Gavitt. Maybe try saying it in spanish to flavor it up a little bit. Sorry for coming back and bringing more sanctimonious preaching to those who don't want it. Deal with it or feel free to join me in 205. Been getting my balls kicked in for nearly 2 decades and a bad week is fly swatting at this point, so I'll be there.
I figured that maybe I'd try to be the beacon of hope on this board and eventually get backed up by some clutch wins and an NCAA birth. But my lighthouse of dreams was crashed by some SHIT basketball in the past few days/17 years.
I saw the argument brought up about Jim Carr's scouting - sorry don't buy it. Last nights poo fest wasn't a scheme, scouting, or gameplan thing. That was just heartless, gutless, watery-latrene-poo basketball. There is never a time when URI's starting 5, or bench, should ever be out worked, out hustled, and beat in every facet of basketball by fucking FORDHAM. That's a roll the ball out there and win game.
Where I question Dan is situations like last night about his feel for the pulse of the game. How in the name of God do you not watch players straight up not try against smaller, less talented players..with a legitimate NCAA bid on the line essentially...and not try to send a message. I don't care how out of shape or behind on scheme Berry or Layssard are...the fact that you wasted an opportunity to send a message to ANYONE - either your players or the dozens of us, who for some reason were still in attendance, that you won't tolerate a lack of fight and effort in a URI jersey is beyond me.
If there's one thing I've admired about Dan it's how emotionally invested he is in the games - wins and losses. They affect him, which I respect. I want my coach to care as much as I do...but you need to be able to move on. It just seems like after big, deflating losses or injuries that feeling of defeat gives the team an excuse to suck because of what happens. I love that everyone is emotionally invested but they need to be able to turn the page. A little of column A and B won't be the worst.
I also don't understand why EC is on the floor in clutch situations. After 3 years it's apparent if you have "it" or you don't. He doesn't. I can think of 2 times in 90 or so games where EC stepped up and made a winning play in crunch time. A big 3 against Cinci, and down the stretch against UMass. I can think of many more times that he's hurt us or cost us the game. He's great at getting to the rim and finishing with his left hand - phenomenal actually, but I struggle to think of another aspect of his game that lends me to believe he's a "next level player." In fact, it makes him more of a detriment when he believes he is capable of doing things he can't. Defense, fast breaks, being on-ball, step-back shooting - all bad. If you do one thing great that no one can stop you at...there's no shame in doing that over and over again.
HOWEVAH (stephen a smith voice) - this team is so mind numbingly and frustratingly inconsistent, that they could just show up in Pittsburgh, roll out the balls, and win 3 or 4 games and dance. Legitimate weaponized inconsistency. Somehow, someway...the team that took a cleveland steamer on my alma mater's logo last night beat Cincinnati and is a total of 4 made shots away from being 20-5 with a polished NCAA resume.
Granted, that's the unfortunate reality of being a URI fan post-Y2K. We just always find ourselves on the wrong side of every single bounce in every single big game that we need to win to dance. Some would call that a correlation, or a curse, but I'm just going to continue being dumb and hoping that maybe that means that we're due for some bounces our way.
So put me still in the camp that this team can find their nutsacks and figure out how to catch fire in Pittsburgh.
But also remember that I'm an idiot.
I'll happily celebrate with you all and say I told you so in a few weeks!
(or more than likely have another miserable birthday drinking brown liquor until I black out before Greg Gumble doesn't call Rhode Island's name, then wake-up hungover and lead the charge to burn this mother down)
For those who know me, or especially those who don't and only see what I put on this board.
After picking myself up off the pavement after arguably the 2nd worst loss in URI regular season basketball history (2009's senior day vs UMASS I believe still holds the crown), I sit here to myself and say - how can I spin this so that cutting my wrists vertically doesn't become the viable option to yelling at myself in section 205 while I watch a dumpster fire unfold in front of me.
Mental gymnastics is a preferred hobby and pastime of mine, which is a must for a person who's lifestyle decisions for the most part are guided by a voice saying "ehh fuck it, see what happens."
Obviously I've been absent from the board, it's become a tough read. You come for the basketball but most of it is 4 people just posting the same thing over with slightly different verbiage - we get it; Dan bad, blah blah something else 1978, blah blah Dave Gavitt. Maybe try saying it in spanish to flavor it up a little bit. Sorry for coming back and bringing more sanctimonious preaching to those who don't want it. Deal with it or feel free to join me in 205. Been getting my balls kicked in for nearly 2 decades and a bad week is fly swatting at this point, so I'll be there.
I figured that maybe I'd try to be the beacon of hope on this board and eventually get backed up by some clutch wins and an NCAA birth. But my lighthouse of dreams was crashed by some SHIT basketball in the past few days/17 years.
I saw the argument brought up about Jim Carr's scouting - sorry don't buy it. Last nights poo fest wasn't a scheme, scouting, or gameplan thing. That was just heartless, gutless, watery-latrene-poo basketball. There is never a time when URI's starting 5, or bench, should ever be out worked, out hustled, and beat in every facet of basketball by fucking FORDHAM. That's a roll the ball out there and win game.
Where I question Dan is situations like last night about his feel for the pulse of the game. How in the name of God do you not watch players straight up not try against smaller, less talented players..with a legitimate NCAA bid on the line essentially...and not try to send a message. I don't care how out of shape or behind on scheme Berry or Layssard are...the fact that you wasted an opportunity to send a message to ANYONE - either your players or the dozens of us, who for some reason were still in attendance, that you won't tolerate a lack of fight and effort in a URI jersey is beyond me.
If there's one thing I've admired about Dan it's how emotionally invested he is in the games - wins and losses. They affect him, which I respect. I want my coach to care as much as I do...but you need to be able to move on. It just seems like after big, deflating losses or injuries that feeling of defeat gives the team an excuse to suck because of what happens. I love that everyone is emotionally invested but they need to be able to turn the page. A little of column A and B won't be the worst.
I also don't understand why EC is on the floor in clutch situations. After 3 years it's apparent if you have "it" or you don't. He doesn't. I can think of 2 times in 90 or so games where EC stepped up and made a winning play in crunch time. A big 3 against Cinci, and down the stretch against UMass. I can think of many more times that he's hurt us or cost us the game. He's great at getting to the rim and finishing with his left hand - phenomenal actually, but I struggle to think of another aspect of his game that lends me to believe he's a "next level player." In fact, it makes him more of a detriment when he believes he is capable of doing things he can't. Defense, fast breaks, being on-ball, step-back shooting - all bad. If you do one thing great that no one can stop you at...there's no shame in doing that over and over again.
HOWEVAH (stephen a smith voice) - this team is so mind numbingly and frustratingly inconsistent, that they could just show up in Pittsburgh, roll out the balls, and win 3 or 4 games and dance. Legitimate weaponized inconsistency. Somehow, someway...the team that took a cleveland steamer on my alma mater's logo last night beat Cincinnati and is a total of 4 made shots away from being 20-5 with a polished NCAA resume.
Granted, that's the unfortunate reality of being a URI fan post-Y2K. We just always find ourselves on the wrong side of every single bounce in every single big game that we need to win to dance. Some would call that a correlation, or a curse, but I'm just going to continue being dumb and hoping that maybe that means that we're due for some bounces our way.
So put me still in the camp that this team can find their nutsacks and figure out how to catch fire in Pittsburgh.
But also remember that I'm an idiot.
I'll happily celebrate with you all and say I told you so in a few weeks!
(or more than likely have another miserable birthday drinking brown liquor until I black out before Greg Gumble doesn't call Rhode Island's name, then wake-up hungover and lead the charge to burn this mother down)