Basketball fandom or mental illness?: A thread

[TampaKAP]

So I know the title of the thread but I like to think of it in terms of VCU’s future, not a single person. As such, just curious if those that were against the AAC would like to be there today? I am undecided but maybe we can talk about that without anyone getting ………upset

 

[HBK]

Agreed. But it also raises an interesting point. Sampson came with some baggage. Houston is being rewarded for rolling the dice on his past, and considering the previous 22 years before his arrival, maybe it was worth it to them. How would VCU fandom feel if given the choice: keep rolling along with goodness under Rhoades or accept Sampson-like baggage and have what Houston has experienced over the past six years?

I think the reactions would be mixed. Most would probably overlook the baggage if he wins. Others would likely no longer support the team as much as they had. On the other hand, the reason Sampson was forced out at Indiana were for NCAA violations that may not even be violations these days. Truthfully, I don't even know what constitutes a major violation any longer.

 

[Ramlove81]

Because no one wants to be realistic.... they just wanna be happy. Don't we all.

It's like all the people that said we "just missed" the NCAA Tourney last year and that winning one of those bad losses or beating Richmond in the A10 Tournament (even if we lost the next game) would've gotten us in the tournament.... but we were a 3 seed in the NIT... meaning at best.... we were the 9th team out.... we could've been as far as the 12th team out, or somewhere in between. News flash for all those people.... "THAT'S NOT CLOSE".

It's also like people wanting to throw out the 2020 season because the A10 tournament never happened... they don't wanna count that season as missing the tournament.... when we woulda had to run the table including beating #1 Dayton in the quarterfinals (assuming we got by UMass) to make the NCAA Tournament. Well when you lose 8 out of 10 down the stretch, and had all the issues that have been addressed countless times in this thread (and others).... It's pretty safe to say... we were not running the table in the A10 Tournament.

Ultimately, it's just that some people are stuck in their way of thinking & refuse to see the other side of the coin. Some people are positive only, you say one bad thing about the team.... and they're ready to fight, or their screaming "MODS" or whatever. You also have those who wanna do nothing but point out the negative side of things... and anytime someone tries to say something positive.... it's immediately met with resistance.

Some people can't handle criticism.... whether justified or not. Some people can't handle players and/or coaches being criticized when they are under performing on the court. And there are people who also take it overboard.

That all being said.... if you're (not you specifically, just in general) one of those people that only look at the positive side of things & only wanna hear good things..... then lets be honest.... Message boards are not the place for you. Because every team, in every sport across the world that has a message board for their team... no matter what level.... there will ALWAYS be people pointing out Negative things. Even if a team is undefeated.... there will always be those 1 or 2 people pointing out flaws in the team.

Not gonna call people out specifically.... but there are certainly people on here that only come on here and try to pump positivity, and try to condemn any negativity on the players or coaches. My thing is... as long as the criticism is strictly regarding basketball & the performance on the court..... then it's fair game. If those people don't like it.... they can see themselves out.... there's the door... 🚪, don't let it hit you on the way out.

To me Chill... you seem pretty fair or real in your observations... you're not discounting how good we look right now..... but you're also being realistic in that you know that we're on a short leash when it comes to opportunities for an at large..... and for some people they just can't handle it. A lot of them are probably the same ones that thought we "just missed" the NCAA's last year and that one or two wins woulda fixed that.... but we all know that's not the case.

Well stated Rowdy with one omission (and not talking about you Chill), there are some who only come on here when they have something negative to say.
We could win a NC and their comment would be "Yeah but..." I am definitely on the positive side, but have no problem with people who are not and see themselves as bringing a realistic view point (Chill for one), but there are those who seem bound and determined to create negative energy around the program and never have anything good to say. I do have a problem with that. We're not perfect, our coaches and players certainly aren't perfect and we have some problems, but there is a lot good going on right now too. Seems like pulling teeth to get some folks to admit that.

 

[mrgeode]

So I know the title of the thread but I like to think of it in terms of VCU’s future, not a single person. As such, just curious if those that were against the AAC would like to be there today? I am undecided but maybe we can talk about that without anyone getting ………upset

I'd have been for the the move. Not sure now that they have teams leaving, which was always the worry. Even so, I figure go for it - I doubt the A-10 wouldn't take us back if it came to that.

 

[Ramlove81]

I'd have been for the the move. Not sure now that they have teams leaving, which was always the worry. Even so, I figure go for it - I doubt the A-10 wouldn't take us back if it came to that.

Yeah, I don't know what the cards will hold in the next few years with continued conference shuffling. Heel and some others are more informed than I am on that. But right now the AAC would be a really good conference to be in. There is a chance with more re-alignment that wouldn't be the case, but there is that chance (maybe a little less?) with the A10. Right now the A10 seems safer. And with our history of having been left out in conference re-alignment, sometimes safe seems better.

 

[Ramdog]

We're a top 4 A10 seed.

mason is not a top 4 A10 seed

 

[GarseIronjade]

Finally, I do not think anyone ever stated going into a season that the NCAA would be Nice but the NIT is fun. We all think NCAA every year as do about 100-150 other teams in the Country.

We're not the other 150 programs. Not too long ago, we were in the NCAA every year.

It was expected and was our standard.

It's one thing if that's over and we have to adjust our expectations, but let's not pretend it is some impossible dream.

It was VCU, and it can be again.

 

[Love2Ram]

We're not the other 150 programs. Not too long ago, we were in the NCAA every year.

It was expected and was our standard.

It's one thing if that's over and we have to adjust our expectations, but let's not pretend it is some impossible dream.

It was VCU, and it can be again.

Would you mind telling all of us how many teams expect as a standard to be in the NCAA every year? Hint, it's an extremely short list. As in fewer than 10 the last decade.

 

[Mistachill]

Would you mind telling all of us how many teams expect as a standard to be in the NCAA every year? Hint, it's an extremely short list. As in fewer than 10 the last decade.

Expect to be in the NCAA every year or actually got into the NCAAs every year? If this were 2003 I wouldn't say it was a reasonable expectation for us. By 2013, yeah, we were expecting to go every year. 2023 are we now saying it's back to being unreasonable?

 

[GarseIronjade]

Would you mind telling all of us how many teams expect as a standard to be in the NCAA every year? Hint, it's an extremely short list. As in fewer than 10 the last decade.

Which are you asking me? Expectation to make it or Actually making it?

 

[VCU85]

I think our expectations are to dance every year, but know the sh*t happens, and that can derails plans.

We were in the talk/hunt for several yeras in a row, right now that is history, and I don't like it.

I think we need to find a way to be relevant again, and to once again expect to be knocking on the door every season.

 

[Love2Ram]

Expect to be in the NCAA every year or actually got into the NCAAs every year? If this were 2003 I wouldn't say it was a reasonable expectation for us. By 2013, yeah, we were expecting to go every year. 2023 are we now saying it's back to being unreasonable?

No team has made the NCAA tourney every year. An extremely small selection of schools have done so over the last 10 years and the list shrinks the longer the time frame examined. Holding our program to a standard almost no other school achieves is insane even if we came close to achieving that level of success for a brief period. Getting upset enough to create a thread centered around replacing the head coach because you feel like we aren't living up to such a standard says way more about the author of the thread than the achievements of our coach. This whole thread was premature, petty, self-serving and childish.

At this point in the season it would take a real fool to continue stirring such a debate. I mean, you'd have to relish being embroiled in controversy to continue pushing the topic. I imagine visitors from other A-10 schools coming here, knowing we're in first place, and think this thread must be about locking Rhoades into a longer term contract. Outside of a personal vendetta against Rhoades why would anyone continue to even allude to the possibility he should be replaced at this time? In our conference SLU is the only team that wouldn't gladly trade places with us right now but that seems to sting a few of his critics around here.

Mistachill, I have the utmost respect for your opinions when it comes to all things related to VCU Basketball. I hope you'll consider letting this topic go for the time being. This back-and-forth, insistence on waiting out the season's finish before deciding on Rhoades future, is a battle unbefitting to your social status around here. The thread itself is a bad look for our program and a distraction from the success of the team. If we're unfortunate to a point where such a conversation is appropriate it will be abundantly clear to all. Until then, why not settle for just enjoying the moment?

 

[Ramdog]

no need to wait

The improvements this team has made is due to a great coaching job, sticking to the plan and coaching this team up

 

[VCU85]

I’m getting a little bit tired of hearing no team gets there every year of course they don’t, but the expectation that you should be in the hunt, that you are a program that’s solid year in and year out on a consistent basis.

There’s no reason to not have the expectation to be there even if it doesn’t always happen

 

[Love2Ram]

Which are you asking me? Expectation to make it or Actually making it?

My point is that receiving an invitation to the big dance year in and year out is exceedingly rare for any school let alone ours. The list of schools having accomplished such a task over the last 10 years is so small it might help in adding perspective when setting your standards of success. Like everyone else here I want to make the tournament on an annual basis and it sucks whenever we're left out. However, that should not discount everything else we are doing to build our program. Cheers all!