(02-12-2024 08:28 AM)ODUCoach Wrote: Not gonna lie, watching those highlights makes me emotional.
It was a glorious time. We didnt know we peaked. Just assumed we'd continue to get better and better. Being "Gonzaga of the east" was a dream, but not one that seemed impossible at that moment.
Not sure if it's the coaching precepts -- or lack of talent and attitude that have plagued us he last few years. Either way, we are way overdue for a wholesale change. I wish there was someone on here who knew what admin was thinking. Legitimately, not some speculation.
What I loved about those teams was the swagger and confidence. I honestly felt as if we could compete with, and beat anyone. I expected to beat VCU, crush JMU and thought it would be a 50/50 type game when we played the likes of Xavier, Va Tech, Wisconsin, Clemson etc. And it usually was (except VT, who we beat most of the time). Not making an NCAA or NIT was a true disappointment, not a foregone conclusion. I miss the expectation and anticipation of excellence.
(02-12-2024 10:11 AM)monarx Wrote: What I loved about those teams was the swagger and confidence. I honestly felt as if we could compete with, and beat anyone. I expected to beat VCU, crush JMU and thought it would be a 50/50 type game when we played the likes of Xavier, Va Tech, Wisconsin, Clemson etc. And it usually was (except VT, who we beat most of the time). Not making an NCAA or NIT was a true disappointment, not a foregone conclusion. I miss the expectation and anticipation of excellence.
Times have changed, and I am not making excuses for the current staff, and you know this because I have completely voiced my displeasure. That video was a different age when you could retain players and develop them through your strength programs, and develop a system that a veteran team like that would become familiar with and execute almost perfectly. Learning the system over years is much easier than learning it over months. That breeds confidence to go into games in the video above that leads to teams knowing they can compete and win. It's just different now, and it is adapt, or die. We died, and need revival.
(02-12-2024 09:53 AM)bench jockey Wrote: Not sure if it's the coaching precepts -- or lack of talent and attitude that have plagued us he last few years. Either way, we are way overdue for a wholesale change. I wish there was someone on here who knew what admin was thinking. Legitimately, not some speculation.
Whether it's coaching, talent, or lack of attitude it all falls under the same category - coaching.
Blaine was a coach that utilized a tough system (defense and rebounding). He recruited the kinds of players needed to play that system successfully. And he coached them to play it, instilled toughness in them, and won a lot of games at ODU with it.
It's even harder to watch this ODU team after watching those highlights from 2011 as they are so dissimilar in every meaningful category. That team would dominate this one - and likely dominate this season's JMU team as well.
I loved this game man. This has to rank as one of my top 5 of all time. A total beat down of a rival late in the season on their home court. The look on Skeen’s (? Spelling) face was priceless late in the game when you could see he was completely worn down.
I loved this game man. This has to rank as one of my top 5 of all time. A total beat down of a rival late in the season on their home court. The look on Skeen’s (? Spelling) face was priceless late in the game when you could see he was completely worn down.
Damn. We were good ! They were good too but we were better. Makes what's happening now seem all that much worst.
I loved this game man. This has to rank as one of my top 5 of all time. A total beat down of a rival late in the season on their home court. The look on Skeen’s (? Spelling) face was priceless late in the game when you could see he was completely worn down.
Amazing to watch how this team seemed to have actual fundamentals. Excellent hustle, better rebounding, and actually playing together as a team. Wish our 2024 roster could learn those basic fundamental items.
(02-12-2024 02:07 PM)Old Dominion Wrote: Watching that I'm reminded we had trouble finishing at the rim even then. Difference is then we had 2-3 bigs to clean it up.
Like somebody else said, who knew we had peaked?
We're just enduring a down period at the moment. I'd like to think that the next coach will show us that 2011 wasn't actually the peak for ODU basketball.
That crowd. That energy. That team. Seems like forever go now. I hope they show these types of videos to people applying to be our next coach so they understand what we can be like with the right leadership.
(This post was last modified: 02-13-2024 10:03 AM by monarx.)
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This Day in ODU History
