|
Thank you, everyone. I welcome your mocking and derision about even suggesting The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ is remotely possible. Your poo-pooing the idea will make it all the more sweet when The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ comes to pass.
When sports journalists, college basketball scholars, and socially-awkward sports nerds look back on the genesis of Loyola's pivot from two generations of potential-filled but under-performing mid major to perennial tournament team and minor college hoops powerhouse, they will cite The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ as the real turning point, the place where it all came together, where the pathway to becoming a minor hoops dynasty first revealed itself to the scraggly band of undernourished college basketball fans shielding their eyes from the bright, magnificent future that suddenly appeared from the mist.
But first, before we get ahead of ourselves about me getting ahead of myself, let me posit my methodology for predicting The Eight Game Winning Streak™.
1. I submit that this team, even with seven games played so far (five against D1 foes), is underrated. Therefore, I think some of the probabilities listed by TeamRankings.com are inaccurate.
2. Loyola had a seven game winning streak in 2014-15 that could have been a 10-game winning streak if the team hadn't come out with no energy and a bad game plan at home against Tulane. That streak was during roughly the same part of the year, against a series of teams that were not too dissimilar from the quality of teams that will become part of The Eight-Game Winning Streak™. That streak was a little surprising to a lot of fans, but it proved it can be done.
3. Loyola has the same head coach, and three members of the starting lineup (Doyle, Ingram, Richardson) were a big part of that seven game streak (that really should have been 10) in 2014-15. Only this time, instead of being two freshmen and a sophomore, those guys are two juniors and a senior.
4. Most of the new players-- specifically Jackson, Custer, and Satterwhite-- have not only lived up to potential, they look like they're maybe a little better and more poised than expected, there's a high ceiling for them, and they seem to have great attitudes. Ben Richardson has made a great leap forward as a player from his sophomore to junior season, and he's playing with the fire of a senior. After a mediocre sophomore season where he seemed to struggle with all that was expected of him, Donte Ingram seems more comfortable and even eager in his role and expectations.
5. There's a lot to be said for taking it one game at a time, but I feel that part of achieving The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ is envisioning The Eight-Game Winning Streak™. I think The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ needs to be conceived in toto so there will not be let-downs in games we otherwise should win, but don't adequately focus on because they're gimmes. That has been a problem in the past, and especially with our often times lackluster fan support. In other words, The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ can't happen if we don't beat UIC at the Pavilion, AND beat a favored San Diego State team at home, AND beat Wright State on a Wednesday night before probably 1200 fans during Finals week. If you want The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ to happen, you have to treat all components of The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ as equally valuable. If the urge to let up ever comes, it should be rejected because it's not just four minutes of one game against a team we're supposed to beat when you've got an exam tomorrow, it's part of The Eight-Game Winning Streak™.
6. The most difficult parts of The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ are San Diego State and Toledo. Those are the two games which, from a probability standpoint, make The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ unlikely, even improbable. But they are not, in and of themselves, a big stretch-- maybe we'll be four point dogs in those games. Illinois State is no picnic (right now a 57% chance according to TeamRankings,com), but I think at this point we are slightly better than most people think, and they are slightly worse. But the importance and seriousness of those games becomes much bigger and more impactful if they are core parts of The Eight-Game Winning Streak™.
7. I've got a gut feeling about this.
So bring forth the slings and arrows. I welcome them. Actually, I'm starting a personal collection of slings and arrows that I'm going to put on display in my den and charge admission to view. You're all going to look pretty foolish when The Eight-Game Winning Streak™ happens.
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
