A Minority of One
By Jeff
well, it seems my view on UH joining the Big West and its impact on basketball is not shared by most of you who took the time to respond. So be it. All i can say is it shows how far UH basketball expectations have fallen over the past few years. I know i have little interest in seeing UH play most of the Big West schools, and I hope many of you are right that the move will give UH a " chance" to make it to the tournament. I also acknowledge that there doesn't appear to have been any options, but that just tells you how UH basketball is viewed by folks like the Mountain West. In any event, I appreciate most of the comments and appreciate the time you all took to weigh in.
Chicago State this Friday on Maui should be a laugh-er, although if the team plays like it did the first half against HPU, who knows. A big question is whether Bill Amis will be back, and how many minutes he may play. No need to rush Bill back. The team should win easily without him this Friday, and he is critical if UH is to compete in the WAC.
Chicago State is 2-9, and has lost 5 straight. They have not won a road game all year. UH assistant Benjy Taylor its the head coach last year.
Dont forget to tune in to Hoopstalk tomorrow evening at 6 pm on ESPN 1420. Our guests tomorrow will include Bobby Cremmins ( who promises to make it this time), and Notre Dame head Coach Mike Brey.
Hoops Talk
December 16th, 2010 at 1:19 am
i think MOST understand that "Fan Talk" about dominating, winning on paper and 'laugh-ers' might be good for Fan-egos, and sound good as fan-fodder...
BUT as the UNACCEPTABLE Behavior contributes to a GREATER possibility that some 17 or 22 year old will show up having read their own press clippings, be less-than-fully, mentally and physically prepared -- Athletics history shows that "NO One can just turn it on mid-stream/ mid-game" -- It IS THE BASIS for Upsets, disappointments, inconsistency AND LOSERS...
IT would be one of The Greatest Personal and Team Mastery Disciplines to just CUT THAT OUT ! ALWAYS Respect the Opponent ... [Only the Most Arrogant (And Stupid) of Coaches would not at least temper themselves to note that "if we do what we need to do and should do, then we ought to win" AND they WILL still suffer more than their share of UPSETS ]
IT is MORE than just superstition or jinxes, it's self-discipline and Personal Mastery that supports ONE, Two or TEN more wins per year because you "ALWAYS" show up ready to play AND win the "Close Ones", such as when the 'lousy' team shows up on one of their Hot-Shooting, "Inspired" or Angry (from press clippings/audio/video?) Nights -- Everybody has 'em -- you gotta be ready to beat them on their "Best Nights" -- ABSOLUTELY the difference between being a Poor, Mediocre, Good or GREAT Team ...
Chicago lost five straight -- UH lost two straight (? 'shoulda' been one or none? did we suffer from the above scenario? -- even two baskets worth of focus ? missing two shots that 'should have been' full-focus hits in the first 30 minutes of the game?, two rebounds, two defensive series, two passes ?
JACKSON is a GREAT Part of Hoops Talk Radio [Thanks!] ... BLOG too ?
December 16th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Whoo-hooo!!! Portnoy back on the blogs! We needs you on the airwaves in the morning again
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Yeah. Gotta see how this all pans out with the new leagues (under the sea; I kid) UH sports will now be in, 'specially with football, which seems to be WAC, part II in a lot of ways . . . man, what kind of Picard Christmas/Earl Grey dream might the football deal become viewed as. Shakespeare's tragedies tend to begin with good intentions and happiness and joy joy by a majority, let's not forget. Hey, if UH kicks butt every, who cares, eh?
Can always share in the "you can't handle the truth!" honest and not-necessarily-happy joy times (love it!) offered on the Portnoy wavelenght, ha ha! Looking forward to more hoops blogs (got TWO, now at this 'site [!])!
December 16th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Jeff,
Missed your earlier blog so I'll weigh in now.
While I agree that the Big West is not the best place for Men's BB it's a place to begin. Yes, the program, has fallen into bad times and needs time to rebuild. It would be best to allow the progam to build back up. When we show that we can dominate the conference, then and only then, we can complain that we are a misfit and need a better conference.
I, don't think the MWC is out ot the picture in the future. Once the economics are established with football, our other programs may be looked on more favorably, especially if we improve in key programs and can bring real value to the MWC to offset the higher travel costs.
December 16th, 2010 at 10:07 am
No worries on your opinion on the UH conference moves Mr. Portnoy. We're all pretty much used to your constant negativity regarding UH basketball. If the Big West sucks for basketball, would you have us stay in the sucky WAC?
If you have such little interest in watching UH play in the Big West, if all indicators point to how far UH basketball has fallen, maybe it's time to end the hoops talk show and close down your blog and just allow yourself to suffer alone in your misery?
UH administrators have done the best they could. Maybe you could try and support the state and its teams.
December 16th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Quite to the contrary, Jeff pulls no punches,or sugar coat things ,he may be wrong sometimes and a bit rough around the edges but he does support UH and is a member of the booster club.
December 16th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I don't think UH wants to play basketball in the MWC. There would be too much travel and related costs as compared to the Big West. Also for travel reasons, the MWC wouldn't want UH.
UH has had a difficult time competing in the WAC recently, so let them try the Big West. However, they have also had a hard time with those teams too.
December 21st, 2010 at 10:39 am
No worries on your opinion on the UH conference moves Mr. Portnoy. We're all pretty much used to your constant negativity regarding UH basketball. If the Big West sucks for basketball, would you have us stay in the sucky WAC? If you have such little interest in watching UH play in the Big West, if all indicators point to how far UH basketball has fallen, maybe it's time to end the hoops talk show and close down your blog and just allow yourself to suffer alone in your misery? UH administrators have done the best they could. Maybe you could try and support the state and its teams.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Whoo-hooo!!! Portnoy back on the blogs! We needs you on the airwaves in the morning again
. Yeah. Gotta see how this all pans out with the new leagues (under the sea; I kid) UH sports will now be in, 'specially with football, which seems to be WAC, part II in a lot of ways . . . man, what kind of Picard Christmas/Earl Grey dream might the football deal become viewed as. Shakespeare's tragedies tend to begin with good intentions and happiness and joy joy by a majority, let's not forget. Hey, if UH kicks butt every, who cares, eh? Can always share in the "you can't handle the truth!" honest and not-necessarily-happy joy times (love it!) offered on the Portnoy wavelenght, ha ha! Looking forward to more hoops blogs (got TWO, now at this 'site [!])!
December 23rd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Quite to the contrary, Jeff pulls no punches,or sugar coat things ,he may be wrong sometimes and a bit rough around the edges but he does support UH and is a member of the booster club.