Just a few observations early in the season.

1. It is nice to fantasize about a top twenty five team but it was extremely unrealistic given the loss of Andre, Ben and Donte.

2. The team is perhaps more talented than last year and the freshman are some of the best ever. THAT SAID, however, it will take time for them to become
integrated into Porter's system.

3. I was at the Fort Myers tip off classic and had the opportunity to listen in on a team meeting which was replete with manila folder handouts for the players and an intense video film session of the offensive and defensive tendencies of Boston College. There is a mental aspect to the game that often goes unnoticed or is not fully appreciated by the fans. During the video the coaches reviewed the film and used code words to site certain plays of BC and the players were later required to identify and shout out what tendency was being displayed on the film. Those players who are new are required to learn the system and how to work together both on offense and defense, so this requires time and mistakes will be made.
To me that was the biggest reason why there will be times when things appear to be out of sync.

4. This coaching staff works very,very hard not only on the physical conditioning of the players and coaching techniques but also on the mental aspects as well. I had the opportunity to talk with Coach Moser and most of the coaches.

5. The ability to schedule better teams will strengthen this team and will make it more battle tested. That will accelerate the learning process.

6. While not a top 25 team yet, I am confident that this squad will be in the top spot in the MVC and will make the NCAA tourney or at worst the NIT

7. Next year the team will step up to another level of preseason tournament play as it will compete in an eight team tourney in the Cayman Islands.

8. The Richmond game demonstrated the jekyl and hyde nature of the development process as it was a terrible first half (down 36-33) but a great second half where the lead stretched to 24 points.

9. We finally have genuine "big" as Big Frank, Negron and Aher will all be real pluses this year and beyond. The challenge next year will be to replace Custer and Townes.
10. Williamson has really progressed and will be a great one. Budjuso is also making rapid progress as well and Kaifes will be a major contributor. Next year Kennedy, Hall, Wojcik, and Welch will also provide some immediate contributions.

So while coming down from the clouds of the Final Four is not easy, the success achieved last year will be sustained.

Thanks for the insightful observations Streak!

I think everyone seems to agree that this year's team is much better than the last year's team at this point in the season. I don't think we should be worried about some of these tough losses out of conference. The chances of us getting an at large tourney bid this year were not substantially high. As long as we continue to develop the young guys, we'll be in good shape come during conference. We're a talented team!

Go Ramblers!

It's tough not to get bummed out by the two losses so far, but when you look at what we have coming in next year, combined with our talented freshmen now, and 2 more years of Krutwig after this season, there is still SO MUCH to be optimistic about.

Having three highly touted, productive freshmen is impressive, but the fact that all three have played with each other for several years and already have a good bond is going to pay dividends as far as their progression once they get on campus. If everything holds constant, we are going to be a power in the MVC for quite a long time. It's good to be a rambler right now, even with the somewhat slow start to this season

Thanks for your post and insight, streak. I agree with a lot of what you said. Except: I haven't thought for a second about next year.

We have two 5th year senior guards and an all-conference center. And Lucas who has continued to improve each and every time out. We need a couple more reliable pieces to step up this year. I hoped that Bruno would show more improvement, and that Aher would be much more solid, if not spectacular. There's time to get it together, and as you say, we should remain the league favorites, but we are risking getting buried in the nonconference season unless something comes around fast.

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Great post. This one jumped out to me--is this confirmed? This year's Cayman Islands Classic featured Boise State, Akron, Illinois State, Clemson, Creighton, Georgia State, Georgia and Bonnies...so, yes a definite step up!

Let's see. Almost exactly a year ago (without Richardson) we lost to Boise by 105 or whatever it was. On the other hand, a few days later we had what I think was a breakout game in destroying UIC. A week after Boise, we won at Florida. To be better (i.e., more accomplishments) than last year's team before final exams, we would pretty much have to run the table (Nevada, @UIC, Ball State, @Maryland). Would love to see that because it would mean it has all come together.

I don't think I expected this team to be a Top 25 team, but I did have some expectations of being near the bottom of the Top 50. As it is, I think we're somewhere in the 70-80 range. When things are going well, like against UMKC, the 20-0 run against Furman, the 2nd half against Richmond, we look like a bottom of the top 25 team. When things are going badly, we look like that year after the the CBI run when nobody knew their role in the offense, and nobody wanted to be the scorer.

We could be a team in the 25-40 range by early January if we put things together and get some contributions from the bench on a regular basis. The first things are to get better 3-point production, improve the free throws, and have the new guys understand their roles.

The Cayman's trip is official from the top source possible. Next year Northwestern will be one of the teams in the FT. Myers classic. Ft. Myers was a well run event as the were already advertising next yeaer and the official hotel, the Marriott Sanibel, was as good as you could want. A great time and the Loyola staff did a great job. The hotel had three great pools, a great workout facility and a outdoor basketball court. Great restaurants at reasonable prices. There was a day between the Monday and Wednesday games and the Loyola contingent spent most of the time at the pools. Great weather. Also a number of us went on a two hour dinner cruise. The buffet was just fantastic.
As for the Cayman's the only real downside is the airfare cost will be higher.For Ft. Myers, this year my wife and I were able to get airfare on United for $350 each whereas the islands usually run about three times that amount per person.
But it is also an eight team tourney with three games running the Monday through Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So start saving your nickels and dimes.
There was a great Loyola contingent for Ft. Myers and a majority of it was Florida residents or at least Florida snowbirds.
The Alumni relations group put on two great pregame parties at Shoeless Joe's bar located in the Holiday Crown Plaza.
I was also told that in two years, the preseason tourney will be even better than the Cayman's but I could not coax the name out of the source.
The Watson regime has definitely stepped up the program and is committed to a first class athletic department.
As for now, I have confidence that the pieces will soon fall into place for the season.

Per this ESPN article it may be the Battle 4 Atlantis which would be a MASSIVE upgrade. That's a big time tournament.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... l-four-run