Last year if Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler don't get hurt..?
Made the Sweet 16 without them...
Made the Sweet 16 without them...
How far could the Cats have gone....
- Thread starter nicky
- Start date
At this juncture doesn’t matter, like I often wonder what would’ve happened had I taken Kelli vice Tina to the prom in the 80s, keeps me up at night…
We've been playing the "If Game" for a decade.
Lamont Butler played. Obviously he wasnt 100%, but this is like the second or third time in a week where he’s been lumped in with Robinson.
We had a roster full of sixth year guys, which will never happen again, and four of them got significant injuries. People want to believe that proves Pope is worthy. It doesn’t.
We had a roster full of sixth year guys, which will never happen again, and four of them got significant injuries. People want to believe that proves Pope is worthy. It doesn’t.
So, serious question...if those players had been healthy, and they made a run to the final four, you don't think that would've proved Pope as being worthy? I just think that changes everything.
I'm not saying with those guys a Final Four was guaranteed or anything, but I think it's also fair to say those injuries were devastating. However, those guys were healthy, they beat both Gonzaga and a Duke team that went to the Final Four.
I just file it away with Bogans ankle in 2003, WCS’s foot in 2014, Poythress’ ACL in 2015, Dent’s ACL in 1994, etc.
There’s no way to quantify “what might’ve been.”
There’s no way to quantify “what might’ve been.”
I think we could have beaten UT for a 3rd time and made the Elite 8. I think we would have seen Houston the Elite 8 if memory serves. And I don't think we were beating them.
look at how many Ifs you just had to stack:
if Butler healthy
If Robinson healthy
If Carr healthy
If Kriisa healthy
If win sweet sixteen
If win elite 8 (this game is against the eventual runner up)
I reject that fantasy entirely, especially since injuries have proven to be a constant and not some outlier condition.
That's just like people who want to believe that the lack of success BBN expects while playing 2 seasons with 110+ games unexpectedly missed by expected contributors (top 9 guys) proves Pope isn't worthy.
That is why I still give Pope an "Incomplete" grade.
I just wish that we could see a team of seriously talented players with Pope coaching them, I don't think we ever will though.
Wow, those were all devastating injuries. Out of those 4 you listed, I think we could've won back to back in 14 & 15. WCS would've prevented all those drives to the rim in 2014 by those UConn *******. Poythress would've prevented the one white dude (his name escapes me) from scoring so much in 2015 against Wisconsin. The 1994 Dent injury hurt but we may have had to play Arkansas a 3rd time so idk about that one. 2003 with the Bogans injury, Kansas would've been standing in our way & they were pretty good.
Shoulda just taken both of them. Coulda been a memorable night. Throw in some Boone's Farm or Purple Passion, I like your chances. Plus, Tina just sounds like she's down to party.
Don't get me wrong, I think Pope has made plenty of mistakes... I just think if the 2024-2025 team made the EE or FF, then the perception/leash is totally different right now. Sure, teams have some injuries, but the 2024-2025 season was ridiculously crippling.
I don't remember the last team that lost the starting wing & backup PG for the season as well as starting PG, and starting PF for significant period of time, and when Butler/Carr did return, they were still injured.
I'm just trying to stay somewhat balanced in my perspective. Sure, there were 12 losses, but the SEC was the strongest last year that it's EVER been all while dealing with those injuries.
I think it's fair to say without all the injuries that team wins several more games during the regular season and a EE wasn't out of the question. If Robinson, Butler & Carr stayed healthy or reasonably healthy that was a pretty potent offense to help offset our weaker defense.
Sweet sixteen. That was the Ceiling on the team. They got smashed by UT who they beat twice. It tells you that they were done. They had enough and Jackson Robinson had elective surgery dude.. butler he he played in the tournament. Jackson Robinson was no difference maker unless he was willing to play point guard. I mean last year’s team should’ve made elite 8 no problem. Pope blew it. He won’t ever have a team like that again when you think about that team with Brea Car lotta guy from a major schools they could play man Oweh. That’s how it is in college basketball. You can tell your one whether you got a coach for the long run or you just wasting time. Even if we get Stokes, we have nobody we have no team for next year.. that means no one in the weight room no leadership to be there to greet new guys and make sure they get in the weight room this summer. It’s just gonna be a bunch of dudes trying to survive man..
And Carr, he was never the same after his back problem. They were final four good, and possibly #9.
What's that laughing
We will never know, but that's my take, and that was a fun team to watch, just bad fkn luck.