Hope I'm wrong but feels like NIT

Really big picture, I feel better than prior to the season. I told several friends when the job opened that I didn't think Bucky's system would work at this level. I've learned a lot more about him as a coach to where I think we're in good hands long term and he's shown a willingness to tweak things. Each time Bucky talks I get more confident he will ultimately do well here. Plus I love having a coach who actually says insightful and interesting things when he talks, he doesn't just pretend to be insightful.

This season? I was probably too optimistic and that has a good bit to do with Pop/Mgbako, plus a slight overestimation of how we'd be defensively. I don't remember the exact timeline of the Duke Miles leaving/Pop arrival, but I think we clearly lost that trade.

My conference expectations are fairly low, 6-12 or 7-11 type range and just hope to be surprised. We're going to get blasted a few times, but I also think we can surprise some people on a random night or two. Our style requires a lot of guys, but I think Holloway is still getting way too many minutes and it is getting late fast for Pop to figure it out. I was willing to give him time, but seems the staff is even skeptical at this point. As a team we show some really exciting glimpses at times, but I'm afraid we just don't have enough time to really put it all together consistently to make the tournament. Ultimately a shame so many of these guys are just one year players.

- Has your opinion of Bucky and/or his system changed since before the season?
Seemed like a standup guy and he still does.
Thought the players would be gassed by the end of the game and they are.
- Has anything surprised you so far?
He announced his game plan to everyone AND he seems to be following that game plan. It still seems to be working. That is surprising.
Fuego's success has been surprising.
I shouldn't be surprised, but the minute-distribution has been pretty spread. Buzz seemed to do it as a part of some known cycle. I think Bucky is just running the guys and cycling them in and out.
- What's your biggest concern for the rest of the year?
Conference play will be a grinder.
Team staying healthy full court press + exhaustion = injuries
- Do we make a run at the NCAA Tournament?
Yep. Think they make it in

If we could have held on in the SMU game, I'd be ecstatic about our current record. Still good.

I can't analyze basketball like many of you can. So I don't have a lot to add. My general feeling about it:

- They're certainly a lot more fun to watch. Some of that may be the newness of it though.
- I think the record at this point is about as good as could be reasonably expected for a brand new team and coaching staff.
- I'm concerned that Florida State and Pittsburgh seem to be turning out to just not be very good (Florida State certainly). I don't think we've shown yet that we'll beat teams in the top 3/4ths of the SEC. They've shown promise, but are going to have to show improvement and play complete games otherwise the season record could end up pretty ugly.

I think we'll shock a few teams in the SEC and then have a few WTF losses.

Rollercoaster season for sure.

But that comes with the territory with a new coach and practically entirely new roster.

Will be fun to watch nonetheless.

- Has your opinion of Bucky and/or his system changed since before the season?
No. Way too early for that, especially given some of the highs we've seen

- Has anything surprised you so far?
Really impressed by how his style allows for guys to play so much more free. We can actually see the natural skills and abilities of guys who would otherwise look awful on a Buzz type team

- What's your biggest concern for the rest of the year?
End of game management by both coach and team when the frenetic style can't always be executed.

- Do we make a run at the NCAA Tournament?
It will be difficult, but i'll be pollyannish and say sure. If we struggle mightily in SEC play I still won't be dissuaded until we see a couple years of this system and at least one full cycle where he can truly recruit to what he wants.

Players in order of who I trust:
Agee
Lane
Hill
Dominguez
Griffin
Mgako
Vinson
Holloway
Isaacs
Fed
Clemence
Dibba

Has your opinion of Bucky and/or his system changed since before the season?
I am happy with how straightforward Bucky is during press conferences / interviews. I wasn't expecting that. Nothing has changed regarding his system. It is still fun to watch and we absolutely steam roll bad teams, which we never did under the previous regime. I can't wait until we get a few years under our belt.

- Has anything surprised you so far?
How important Agee is to the team. I know Luke was banging this drum, but I don't want to think about where we'd be without him.

- What's your biggest concern for the rest of the year?
I'm concerned that the guys I was most excited about (Pop and Mgbako) will never put it together. Mgbako looked like a 40 year old man against SMU and Pop just hasn't gotten into the flow of the offense yet. I was thinking they'd just need a few weeks to get up to speed, but time is running out for the lightbulb to turn on.

- Do we make a run at the NCAA Tournament?
It will depend on my previous concern being resolved imo. In SEC play we will need dependable scorers that can create for themselves if needed.

Pleased with what little I've seen. I think we'll be right there at the end fighting for a bubble position and hoping for a late season run.

I'm liking what I see as far as players appearing to believe in Bucky ball. It's asking a lot for it to all come together in just a few months, but if they believe, they'll continue to work harder.

If we make the tourney, it's a great season.