... lot of frustration for Cat fans with the latest loss, especially at home, and against the Hogs. We all want to win. That said, there are some significant roster realities for the season thus far and moving forward. CMP in a last-minute effort, cobbled together a team full of largely mid-major players where the sum is somehow greater than the individual parts. The fact that we have beat some good teams, may be more surprising than the suspect losses that we have sustained.
Our roster going into the season, most people when they looked at it objectively recognized the limitations that it presented athletically, etc. The Cats were a preseason borderline top 25 team, a middle of the pack SEC team ... and as it stands today, 2 or 3 of those players aren't playing, won't play, or may play some moving forward.
Our roster going into the season is better - and there were concerns with what it was - than the roster we have currently:
Robinson
Butler
Oweh
Carr
Williams
Brea, Kerr, Garrison, Almonor ...... and then Perry, Noah, and Chandler
We had some bench. We had 2 experienced PGs. We still weren't athletic, but at least we had some more bodies.
Our roster now, has deficiencies that can't be ignored:
Robinson
Brea
Oweh
Almonor
Williams
Carr, Chandler, Perry, Noah
Kerr - out, Butler - out, Carr - restricted
There's no bench. We have no experienced PG. We lack the athleticism to defend at this level. We are arguably fortunate to have as good a record as we do. If we can somehow scratch out 4-5 wins to finish the SEC against our schedule, as frustrating as that may be in the moments ahead, the Cats will probably be fortunate to finish that well.
And, if you move to next year, there are major holes that must be filled.
Oweh (?), Garrison (?), Perry, Chandler (?), Noah, J. Johnson, Moreno, Lewis ... that thin roster isn't beating anybody. Cats have to find about 4 big-time starters in the portal if we want to physically compete in the SEC and compete for a big NCAA run.
So, while the frustration is real, this team's current roster reality will require huge efforts to find wins moving forward to avoid losses. The big wins we have had are probably more upsets on our part than they are expected realities from our roster. This team needs all the support they can get right now.
Our roster going into the season, most people when they looked at it objectively recognized the limitations that it presented athletically, etc. The Cats were a preseason borderline top 25 team, a middle of the pack SEC team ... and as it stands today, 2 or 3 of those players aren't playing, won't play, or may play some moving forward.
Our roster going into the season is better - and there were concerns with what it was - than the roster we have currently:
Robinson
Butler
Oweh
Carr
Williams
Brea, Kerr, Garrison, Almonor ...... and then Perry, Noah, and Chandler
We had some bench. We had 2 experienced PGs. We still weren't athletic, but at least we had some more bodies.
Our roster now, has deficiencies that can't be ignored:
Robinson
Brea
Oweh
Almonor
Williams
Carr, Chandler, Perry, Noah
Kerr - out, Butler - out, Carr - restricted
There's no bench. We have no experienced PG. We lack the athleticism to defend at this level. We are arguably fortunate to have as good a record as we do. If we can somehow scratch out 4-5 wins to finish the SEC against our schedule, as frustrating as that may be in the moments ahead, the Cats will probably be fortunate to finish that well.
And, if you move to next year, there are major holes that must be filled.
Oweh (?), Garrison (?), Perry, Chandler (?), Noah, J. Johnson, Moreno, Lewis ... that thin roster isn't beating anybody. Cats have to find about 4 big-time starters in the portal if we want to physically compete in the SEC and compete for a big NCAA run.
So, while the frustration is real, this team's current roster reality will require huge efforts to find wins moving forward to avoid losses. The big wins we have had are probably more upsets on our part than they are expected realities from our roster. This team needs all the support they can get right now.
