Confidence in DK

Big10Land · Post by **Big10Land** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:19 pm

Bad two week stretch, but we also predicted this. The A10 is a good conference and we have targets on our backs. The other teams and crowds have circled us on our schedule and unfortunately we stumbled. The selection committee is going to look how UMass will finish the year out, not a bad stretch in the first half of conference play. They are going to look at how we respond. This year's team is playing at a different level than last year. DK is getting better as a coach each year. I do believe he will make the adjustments, including working around an Esho injury if needed.

tom mclaughlin · Post by **tom mclaughlin** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:45 pm

You find out a lot about a team after tough losses and things aren't always easy. Just look at Pete Carroll and his difficult journey and how that turned out. DK is a UMass grad and has been around enough and had a great teacher in John Calipari. Imagine some of the coaching meetings he's been involved in during his young career. He is a coach who has UMass written all over him. He is in the mold of Jack Leaman where Umass in his blood and he's not looking for his next step up in the coaching profession where he's motivated by money.
The game is different and AAU basketball has affected the game and players attitudes are tricky to deal with because of all the family and outside influences and DK is doing a solid job. The A10 is the 6th top league sandwiched in between the ACC and SEC who are at 5 and 7. There are no easy road games and to have 3 losses all on the road is not the end of the world. Get home and start a streak and steal some road wins and you are looking at a great season. Just get to NCAA's and make some Shining Moments! Remember UVM with TJ Sorentine's shot against Syracuse or Valpo with their buzzer beater and Princeton with their backdoor layup vs UCLA. Those memories last a lifetime and DK and this UMass team is in a position to seize the moment.
Be mindful that players, their families, friends and coaches read this board and they need to know that we are proud of everything they have done and we are so happy they chose to play at UMass and they have given us all something to be proud about. The best is yet to come and no one should ever question how hard a UMass player plays. If you look at any UMass athlete the one thing always stands out and that is how much pride they have in that UMass uniform and we are always the underdog in our state and we need to fight for everything we get. I expect this team to fight and reach that NCAA goal and hopefully be able to give us all a Shining Moment.

69MG · Post by **69MG** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:51 pm

^ Coach, you are always the calming influence and most of us need that. The posters on this board are among the most avid UMass supporters but we let our emotions get the better of us a lot of the time. Thanks, again, for putting things in perspective.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:56 pm

Tom, I agree with most everything you say, and your opinions carry great credibility, obviously. The one nit I would pick is about questioning someone playing their hardest. Guys don't put on the UMass uniform and magically turn into Lou Roe or Kitwana Rhymer, leaving everything they have out there on the floor. At times, some guys need to check themselves and see if their commitment to their team and winning is at the level it needs to be. Ultimately, good leadership gets everyone on board, unless you just have someone who just doesn't have it in them. I think we have the leadership here. So let's see what happens going forward.

LS71 · Post by **LS71** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 1:31 pm

Thanks again Coach!

As I've been posting right along...winning a college basketball game on the road is that hardest thing to do in team sports.

Your take is a right on...UMass just needs to get the invite...they've played extremely well on neutral floors this season.

Depending on matchups, there's no doubt in my mind that they a can get a a win or two in March.

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:26 pm

Rather have them learn this little bit about themselves at this point of the season vs. in the A-10, or NCAA tourney. Need to peak in March.

When you see how pissed DK and some of the guys are after a loss like sat., it just shows you the passion they have, and that's a good thing. They're too good to let this season slip away so I expect them to get after it from here on out. Still have a great opportunity for a huge year

CapeCodBruiser · Post by **CapeCodBruiser** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:54 pm

Coach McLaughlin-
I was a student when you ushered in the "modern era" of UMass Basketball 33 years ago in the Fall of 1981. As I remember you went to Coca Cola and got a new scoreboard for the Cage and you started a student fan group. Those nights in the Cage were magical as we became the best homecourt in America and people like myself became UMass basketball fans for life.

Now here we are in 2014 and since 1981 we have been to the top of the mountain and to the bottom of canyons. Or to use another analogy, some years we were dating Christie Brinkley and other years Phyllis Diller. These next 10 or so games in Atlantic 10 play and A10 tournament action will go a long way to writing the next chapter of UMass Basketball. Will we make the NCAA tournament? Will we win the A10 championship? The best part is that we have put ourselves in position to control our own destiny. That is all we can ask for right now so it is up to the entire UMass Family to get behind this team and push them over the next 6 weeks to "The Shining Moments". When the word UMass comes up on our TV screens on Selection Sunday it shall be GLORIOUS! #SlapTheFloor #NeverGiveUp

HoopHead · Post by **HoopHead** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:39 pm

i'm trying to figure out who I'd like to date more, Phyllis Diller or Christie Brinkley?

Gets me thinking!

tom mclaughlin · Post by **tom mclaughlin** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:42 pm

I got hooked on UMass basketball because of Jack Leaman. He was an ordinary guy who was passionate about UMass basketball and at the time he was chasing UConn, BC and Providence. He was a lunch pale type of guy but the players love him to this very day. He brought together people that keep in touch and truly respect one another and I had some of the best teammates anyone could ask for. Guys like Charlie Peters. Al Skinner, Rick Vogeley. Jimmy Burke. Julius Erving, Billy Endicott, Rick Pitino, Peter Trow, Billy Greeley, Sam Provo, Chris Coffin, John Bettancourt, John Murphy and others. When I transfered I looked at BC, Holy Cross and UConn but to this day UMass was the best experience a player could ask for! The fans were tremendous and I can't put into words what playing at the Cage was like. The Syracuse game was unbelievable and the Missouri game at Madison Square Garden was fun. I just wish every UMass basketball player experiences that feeling that deep down in your gut you know you accomplished something special.
I wasn't much of a coach, but I will always have great feelings for UMass and it's fans because they stuck by us thru thick and thin. The fan base deserves an NCAA bid as much as the players and I hate seeing UConn having success year after year and UMass considered inferior. If you haven't been to Amherst in awhile it's worth the trip because you will see a vibrant university with a beautiful campus and an amazing Commonwealth College and great students that are good kids trying to make their way thru life. Hopefully this team will earn that NCAA bid and set the table for many more NCAA bids. UMass fans deserve it.

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:48 pm

Hoophead, I think Phillis Diller is dead. Christie B just hit 60, but still looks hot.

Old Cage · Post by **Old Cage** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 3:53 pm

tom mclaughlin wrote:If you haven't been to Amherst in awhile it's worth the trip because you will see a vibrant university with a beautiful campus and an amazing Commonwealth College and great students that are good kids trying to make their way thru life.

^ This! Thank you, Tom. There are SO MANY grads that have not been on campus for several years.

jdawg 43 · Post by **jdawg 43** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:41 pm

LS71 wrote:What a dumb f*cking thread/poll.

Yep.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:11 pm

Plenty of confidence in DK.

My only complaint after the other night was that I never actually saw him rip into the team during time outs. He has plenty of fire on the sidelines and towards the refs, but he needs to light a fire under these guys during games.

Beyond that, we've still seen great strides from him.

LS71 · Post by **LS71** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:13 pm

^ I don't know how ripping into a player/players on an opponent's floor is a good thing.

Public humiliation is not a motivator.

UMass picked it up after the half so maybe whatever he said behind the closed doors of the locker room made an impact.

I'd rather see him blow his top at one of the refs and get T'd up. The perception by the guys is more likely to be that he has their backs.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:32 pm

LS71 wrote:^ I don't know how ripping into a player/players on an opponent's floor is a good thing.

Public humiliation is not a motivator.

UMass picked it up after the half so maybe whatever he said behind the closed doors of the locker room made an impact.

I'd rather see him blow his top at one of the refs and get T'd up. The perception by the guys is more likely to be that he has their backs.

Who the fuck said anything about public humiliation?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?!? Wow.

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Confidence in DK

Do you have the confidence that DK has the ability to make the changes needed to get this team playing well again?

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