What happened with the student section seems consistent with what every other student section does, for better or worse. I commend the students for trying to get something going. As someone who tried to do the same, stay after it and try to be as creative as possible with what you’re doing.
As far as the team, we need to keep the perspective that we have an inexperienced backcourt, whether they be freshmen or D-1 newcomers and it’s awfully hard to win with a backcourt like that. Next year, I’ll want them to be the leaders of the team, dictating the tempo of the game. They weren’t the main reason we lost the other night, but a more experienced backcourt would’ve tried to control the game more. One example of this was the 3 Potter took late in the 1st half when we were still up 9 or 11. Normally, I’d be ok with the shot, but with the helter skelter play of the last several possessions and the great fortune we had that OU didn’t take advantage of that stretch, our guards shouldn’t have thrown him the ball. They should’ve stopped, waited, calmed everyone down, and run the offense. You can’t blame them too much for doing what they normally would, but that extra realization of controlling the pace only comes with experience.
I think if you wanted to be really fair, everyone involved with this edition of the program deserves an incomplete grade. It’s not a headline grabber, but that’s what it should be. Now starting next year, this year’s freshmen will be a year older and we’ll have another group in, plus Dean, Morris, and possibly (I know nothing) Mabrey and Lewis. The number of holes should be dwindling. I could see us getting an experienced D-1 guard, but that would be it for me.
I’m glad we keep honoring Charlie. Other schools have a memorial type game for someone they want to honor. On and off the floor, Charlie, to me, was the ideal Miami rep.