Define Success for this season

[PantherLou]

OK, it's time to have some actual discussion on this board, so let's start with a simple question:

What do you want to see out of the team this year in order for you to consider this a successful season?

In other words, what's going to make you happy?

[pantherdon]

4th place or better and a winning record,
Any less and next year will be a big question mark again.

[PantherLou]

OK - I will start. I want to see the following:

1) .500 record overall

2) above .500 in conference

3) Advance to at least the semifinals of the conference tournament

4) Finish with a higher seed than UIC


I certainly think we can meet and exceed these expectations, but I do feel these are the minimums of success.

[Deleted]

.500, around middle of the pack in the HL. I expect a nasty non-conference record. A bunch of freshman guards to lead our team, and all newcomers in post. It will take many games to get this team to mesh. UWGB had the benefit of Ryan to lead their freshman and be the floor general. Similarly, MU was fortunate to have the amazing play and leadership of Novak. Unfortunately we dont have that. Our returnees probably wont be starting by the end of the season. No veteran leadership or starting talent in this bunch.

Remember this - 06-07 is catalyst for something special in future.

Adios,
Nick

[Deleted]

.500 record overall
9-7/10-6 conference record
semifinal's of conference tournament

Sorry Lou, it looks like I ripped off your post.

[Big Ern]

Much along the lines of the others:

1. .500 overall record

2. Above .500 in conference

3. Advance to the semis of conference tournament (could live with at least making it to the quarters ... only if that means winning a first-round game, not a 1 and done scenario a la UWGB).

4. Looking strong against UWGB on ESPN.

5. Fan interest and attendance increasing ... despite lowered expectations.

6. Shorter beer lines and even shorter bathroom lines (I could live with them if the attendance is increased though).

7. Another Freeway jam session.

8. Less cheerleaders, better cheerleaders (there's just waayy too many out on the floor and they need to finally get the guys back as cheerleaders ... not that there's anything wrong with that).

9. Strong black and gold presence at downtown establishments, especially when games conflict with Bucks, MU and Admirals games.

And finally ...

10. Continued bountiful amounts of cleavage from the waitresses at Miller Time Pub. ;D

[brewtownbrian]

Good topic.

I would like to see the team play the non-conference schedule competitively, but the non-con record isn't that important to me.

What is important to me is...

-an above .500 conference record, which can be accomplished by holding serve for home games and stealing a few on the road. Bonus points if they can beat GB on the road, UIC on the road and Butler...mainly b/c I think we have rivalries with those teams more than anyone else in the conference.

-I'd say anything BELOW a 5th place finish in the HL would be disappointing, but not devastating, and anything 5th or higher would be acceptable.

-I'm really interested to see who is going to step up as a leader this year. Naturally seniors will be leaders, but there is a great opportunity for some young guys to take on a leadership role and maintain that role for a few years. Swiggett? Franklin? Kaylan? Who will it be? Any thoughts/suggestions?

-avoid any major injuries.

-grow as individuals and as a team.

-gel as a unit.

-And get better throughout the season.

Overall I am on the fence, not overly optimistic or skeptical, I think the team has more working in its favor than against it. Youth, athleticism, quickness, shooting/scoring, etc.

It remains to be seen, and can only truly be measured in game situations, if they have the guts, toughness and desire to win.

We all know Jeter has the ability to instill that...so hopefully he can.

[BBFran]

Success would be any record better than .500 and a team that gets better as the season progresses, is competitive in all its HL games and is playing its best ball at the end of the year. I'm very optimistic we'll do at least that well, and I have no doubt the coaches and players have higher standards than I do.

[Big Ern]

I think I'm going actually enjoy the lowered expectations while watching games this year.

The past few years, I had this nervousness for almost every conference game like UWM should win this game and if they didn't win, they blew it.

And there probably were times when myself and other fans got complacent and took winning and good basketball for granted ... I don't know, maybe not cheered as much or as loud at times.

I'll probably just sit back and enjoy it more because I'll be pleasantly surprised when they exceed expectations.

[Deleted]

Brewtown, I suspect that Swiggett and Franklin will grow as leaders as they slowly take up major minutes. Right now they are probably shy as the 'newcomers'.

Cant wait for Flowers. I forget who posted this, but someone said he was the vocal leader on his top-notch AAU team. Excellent, that alone is worth getting this beast. Luckily he is a rebounding ace, and knows how to get to the hoop, too.

Swiggett, Franklin, Roberts, Flowers, Johnson, Gentry...

sh*t.

Watch out HL,
UWMfreak

ps. UW, 07-08 is a bad year to select for rebuilding.

[formerseasonticketholder]

6-8 in conference or better, or either a first round HL tourney bye or win are quantifiable watermarks that would make for a very successful season IMHO. The intangibles I'm looking for are growth as a team and as individual players as well as quality representation of the university on and off the court.
An NIT bid or advancing to the conference tournament championship game would be out of this world and making it back to the NCAA tournament would be such a huge achievement I don't have enough adjectives to do it justice.

[TBone]

.500 in conference.

I expect us to take some lumps early, but grow as a team.

Steal an away game or two from quality opponents, particularly later in the year.

Depending on our seed, a win in the Horizon tournament.

Growth and gelling of the team as the season progresses as a building block for next year is my biggest hope.

T

[Pantherholic]

well all of mine have already been said but to recap...

.500 non-con schedule

min. .500 conf. schedule

advance to semifinals in HL tourney

keep the poor man winless in milwaukee

no major injuries

increased attendance

ghostoffreak said:

ps. UW, 07-08 is a bad year to select for rebuilding.

on the contrary, its a great year to rebuild

[milwsport]

1) Increased attendance (that's something WE ALL should be helping with

2) a 500 non conference record

3) No worse than 3rd in the HL

4) Making the HL finals (and hopefully winning the HL tourney)

Those are somewhat lofty goals in some people's eyes but not in mine. Yes I know we are reloading BUT...

- We lost seven seniors after our first trip to the NCAA. That didn't prevent us from winning the league the next year

- As RJ says, successful programs stay successful. Year and year out, Bo's teams at Platteville were the teams to beat no matter what they lost. Good coaches find a way to win and RJ is a very good coach.

[PantherLou]

milwsport said:

1) Increased attendance (that's something WE ALL should be helping with)

Everyone should be spreading the word as much as possible to GET PEOPLE to the games!!!