I do agree with you. I don't want to give the impression that it was a good year that we should be happy about, it wasn't. My point has always been that it wasn't this massive disappointing shit show.
There is absolutely no doubt to me that we were a soft and fragile team. We were what, 12-2, but could have easily been something like 8-6. Once we hit some adversity...it got really bad of course. Not sure what happened, was it confidence, was it injuries taking a toll on the psyche of the team, was it chemistry, was it the low point of a long season for a soft, inexperienced team?
Regardless it pissed the season away, even though we ended up righting it at the end of the schedule when it looked like we were heading for a classic Crean complete off the rails season ended.
So yeah, it was a disappointing season and Archie lost some confidence, but it wasn't this massive underachieving dumpster fi
I agree. It was a disappointing that the team was as fragile and soft as it was. We were 12-2 at one point but could have easily been something like 8-6, with losses to some crappy teams.
We were young, soft, undersized and pretty stagnant offensively which is a huge debate. How talented were we really?
Archie's Dayton teams were known as tough. Sean Miller's teams at Xavier and Arizona have always been known as tough.
When a soft team meets adversity, it tends to fold. Which we definitely did. Was that a confidence issue, an injury issue, a chemistry issue, an experience issue? I believe it's all of the above, which has been my stand of the post you replied to (while agreeing with you).
It was not a good season for Archie. Every coach has disappointing seasons, even Knight. I argue that it wasn't as disappointing as gets pushed here because his program is still evolving and was simply on the green side (and unfortunate side with injuries).
I've been watching Arizona games this summer and it seems to me like they run almost the exact same style offensively and defensively. Sean's teams are typically led by tough, experienced players like Tarczewski, Ashley, McConnell, Alonzo Trier, Johnson, Gabe York and then lately he's been getting a one and done like Johnson and Ayton (with Ayton being his first #1 pick on a team that disappointed to be honest).
When Arizona was good, it was mainly upperclassmen that played tremendous defense.
That's their brand and we're not quite there yet which is why I'm still optimistic.
While we've been bitching about the lack of one and dones, Archie has turned the roster over with as many four star multi year talent, from Indiana since we've had since the Zeller teams and soon to be since the 93 team and that's something that keeps me optimistic for now.