Random thoughts from a cluttered mind...

I really don't think this team lacks heart or aggressiveness or anything like that. I really believe the biggest issue with this team was youth and all that goes with that. Most of us have been part of a team whether in sports or business or whatever. When the trials come and the stuff hits the fan chaos is looming, leadership is what matters. And on the court, leadership is based on an almost unquestionable warranted confidence in the leader. When Mason was a senior, the team knew that when the backs were against the wall, Mason would stay calm and lead. He would not lose his composure and get rattled. It did not always lead to success because the opponent also gets a vote and sometimes the opponent just out executes. But when the team knows that the leader will execute and the team has been refined by fire and they know that the emotion they are feeling is just something to deal with and that the real key is to set aside the emotion and execute what they know they can do. This confidence and trust is instilled over time and through trial. Freshmen led teams are never as good as senior led teams all other things equal. I really think this team suffered from youth and missing key components. How calming is it when you know that you have Udoka inside to throw it to when you absolutely need a basket and he shoots 75%. And if they double on Udoka you have a scoring machine in option 2, Dedric. And you have a Udoka's giant body to set screens and fill up the lane for Devon or someone else to Drive to get either a hoop or a foul. But when Udoka is out and Deric becomes the No. 1 option, that seems alright since he is as effective as Udoka at scoring. The problem is now the No. 2 option is a big drop off and the no. 3 option is now far less effective with the loss of the big body to screen. So losing Udoka and having both a very young team and a team of players that almost totally are playing their first season together. Not only their first season together but one where the whole scheme has had to change several times over the season. While I am disappointed in a 22-8 season I am really not disappointed in any particular player (other than LaGerald and to some degree Grimes). The ingredients to a good team in college has a huge dose of experience and togetherness. Last season we won some games we probably should not have because you had Svi and Devonte' who had played 4 years together. If Udoka and Dedric return, this team will be top 5 again. If they do not, we will still be probably a solid top 10.