Dai Dai Gone!!

[spot2180]

An interesting conversation going on here. Anti-Tang of course, with speculation about things not based on knowledge, but based on suppositions and an obvious hate for the current coach. None of the excuses offered up for that level of loathing amount to the between the lines disdain that clearly comes from those posts. Hmmm....I wonder what that is all about...

I have a feeling that even 5 years of NCAA tourney appearances, a couple of conference championships in a conference that gets increasingly difficult to win and trying to do right by players in a portal landscape that is constantly shifting to the point that it will destroy college sports just won't please him. Tang can't win with him, no matter how successful and accountable Tang is.

I am not surprised that much by Ames leaving. We don't know all of the ins and outs of what happened here, but with the influx of guards, Dai Dai obviously was not comfortable with his place on the team. In a sense, he gave up on himself in order to find some gratification rather than self-improvement. When you start hanging six figure 'salaries' in front of 18-19 year old kids, they will not always make the best decisions, not to mention in an already rocky 'what have you done for me lately' landscape BEFORE the extra money showed up.

[tmcats]

the interesting question for me is broader: how long before fans start losing interest in mbb altogether?

we have three dudes left that played with last year's outfit. one that was on the e8 team. the random old doesn't follow the game non-stop like you and me. they're going to grow weary real quick of seeing a new roster year-after-year. no dai dai, no r.j., no mitch, no ro.

much of the glamour of college sports came from watching youngsters develop. the jacob pullens of the game. now, that is pretty much gone portal. and i wonder how fans will react particularly to mbb? maybe it becomes more like baseball and wbb with fan interest. if great, they'll come. sure. if not: when's spring practice start?

[farrout10]

the interesting question for me is broader: how long before fans start losing interest in mbb altogether?

we have three dudes left that played with last year's outfit. one that was on the e8 team. the random old doesn't follow the game non-stop like you and me. they're going to grow weary real quick of seeing a new roster year-after-year. no dai dai, no r.j., no mitch, no ro.

much of the glamour of college sports came from watching youngsters develop. the jacob pullens of the game. now, that is pretty much gone portal. and i wonder how fans will react particularly to mbb? maybe it becomes more like baseball and wbb with fan interest. if great, they'll come. sure. if not: when's spring practice start?

remember when we used to get hyped about a 4* recruit, ho-hum now; here today gone tomorrow. If there is anything positive, we have the best coaching scenario with dynamic recruiting and proven ability to make (elite 8) the 'New' ball game work!

[katlander]

Have you noticed the turnover of young people in the workplace. Here today, gone tomorrow. The attention span of a house fly. Not surprising there is virtually no loyalty.

[learnin]

Aw, shucks. I don’t think any poster should be removed for a personal attack on the president of the University. I don’t think any of the above posters should be removed for a personal attack by insinuating Dai Dai left because he fell under the spell of his agent.

Wait a minute……..you’re suggesting I personally attacked SCKSCat. Not so. I thanked him for thinking out loud about the things every fan is thinking to themselves. I commended him for questioning and being discomforted by the mass exodus of good ball players. I assure you this was not an attack but gratitude for a poster who struggles with good players leaving and, a while back, the newspaper article that provided us with details about the Tomlin affair. He may not appreciate my gratitude, but I gave it.

I was not attacked. I enjoyed reading a viewpoint and outlook that varies from mine. Adversity can breed disharmony amongst a group of people. I think this fan base after the first year had a misconception about what lay ahead. Our expectations for doing well, getting to the final four, getting a national championship and a parade through Aggieville and a couple of alleys is great. Having a coach and staff who believes that is great. Having men and women who are Christian believers lead the program is wonderful. But I think we thought naively that every year would be like the first one. Well .... every dang program is fighting for the same thing and success is not going happen easy. It is a dog eat dog fight. People are going to have to rethink how things are done. I hope we never get to the point where this program treats players like meat that is consumed and the bones thrown out for jackals to pick over. I have been bemoaning about not getting players. I am sure I don't understand how it may be limiting to get the right players that fit the culture. I am just wanting a fun team to watch that plays sound basketball and beats Iowa State and KU.

Very nice post.

[learnin]

Please, this is not complicated.
1. Coaches are treating players in their program better than they ever have. They have no choice.
Guys who abuse their players like Greg Marshall used to will struggle with unlimited transfer.
2. Coaches are going to use the resources they have to sign the very best roster they can. Resources include NIL, playing time, development, fan engagement, chances of winning, etc.
Any coach that does not will not be successful.
3. Players are going to look for the best situation for them and their family. That means NIL, playing time, etc, etc. Best situation may not be their current school.
4. Their will be lots of player movement as players seek the best opportunity.
5. We are lucky to have a staff who is able to get into conversations with the best players.

Fans can either
1. Enjoy the pursuit of better players and how we fill the roster.
2. Hate the entire process and check out from enjoying college basketball.
3. Relax and see what happens in roster construction and then follow the wins and losses like they normally do.

Funny how lots of fans are actively rooting for some players to transfer out but whine and moan when others transfer. Why did we not have such an outcry when Finister left?

Very good thoughts. I've chosen #2. At my age, perhaps it's best. I get way too emotional and stressed about the teams I support.

[learnin]

An interesting conversation going on here. Anti-Tang of course, with speculation about things not based on knowledge, but based on suppositions and an obvious hate for the current coach. None of the excuses offered up for that level of loathing amount to the between the lines disdain that clearly comes from those posts. Hmmm....I wonder what that is all about...

I have a feeling that even 5 years of NCAA tourney appearances, a couple of conference championships in a conference that gets increasingly difficult to win and trying to do right by players in a portal landscape that is constantly shifting to the point that it will destroy college sports just won't please him. Tang can't win with him, no matter how successful and accountable Tang is.

I am not surprised that much by Ames leaving. We don't know all of the ins and outs of what happened here, but with the influx of guards, Dai Dai obviously was not comfortable with his place on the team. In a sense, he gave up on himself in order to find some gratification rather than self-improvement. When you start hanging six figure 'salaries' in front of 18-19 year old kids, they will not always make the best decisions, not to mention in an already rocky 'what have you done for me lately' landscape BEFORE the extra money showed up.

If you would go back and read the archives, you would find out the truth. You would find that I was an enthusiastic supporter of Tang's hiring. You would find that I was a season ticket holder his first year and read about how I praised him for giving the green light to Marquis and understanding that you need a guard who takes risks. You would read how I praised him for having great plays coming out of a time out. Then, you would read how I slowly, throughout the first year, began to have misgivings. Here are the things that slowly put out my fire for the hire.

1. When asked if he might consider leaving if good programs came calling, coach remarked that he goes where God tells him to go. I wrote then that this was a subtle way of saying, "I'm outta here if the right gig comes along."

2. After winning the Sweet 16 game, he proclaimed that, "this is what happens when you put God first." This is contrary to my belief about God.

3. After returning home from the elite 8 loss, he proclaimed that there would be a parade through Manhattan and soon. No coach should make such a prediction.

4. During that summer, he told a recruit that, "we're going to the final four with or without you." This is more than I could brush off.

This is the truth. There is no agenda.

[spot2180]

the interesting question for me is broader: how long before fans start losing interest in mbb altogether?

we have three dudes left that played with last year's outfit. one that was on the e8 team. the random old doesn't follow the game non-stop like you and me. they're going to grow weary real quick of seeing a new roster year-after-year. no dai dai, no r.j., no mitch, no ro.

much of the glamour of college sports came from watching youngsters develop. the jacob pullens of the game. now, that is pretty much gone portal. and i wonder how fans will react particularly to mbb? maybe it becomes more like baseball and wbb with fan interest. if great, they'll come. sure. if not: when's spring practice start?

I already have lost interest in the portal business. Whatever team Coach Tang puts on the floor, I will cheer for through the ups and downs. I think there are too many 'portal openings'. There should be only one period for that. And none of that mid season business that was brought up recently. Like you said, there needs to be guardrails, but the NCAA, the only semblance of an governing body, really, truly, sucks at their purpose. I don't want to see an endless stream of guys and girls chasing the money. It has become obvious that athletes these days aren't picking schools because it is a 'good fit'. To me, the school you cheer for is the one that reflects your values, and with the portal, those values will all go to the wayside.

Just my opinion.

[spot2180]

An interesting conversation going on here. Anti-Tang of course, with speculation about things not based on knowledge, but based on suppositions and an obvious hate for the current coach. None of the excuses offered up for that level of loathing amount to the between the lines disdain that clearly comes from those posts. Hmmm....I wonder what that is all about...

I have a feeling that even 5 years of NCAA tourney appearances, a couple of conference championships in a conference that gets increasingly difficult to win and trying to do right by players in a portal landscape that is constantly shifting to the point that it will destroy college sports just won't please him. Tang can't win with him, no matter how successful and accountable Tang is.

I am not surprised that much by Ames leaving. We don't know all of the ins and outs of what happened here, but with the influx of guards, Dai Dai obviously was not comfortable with his place on the team. In a sense, he gave up on himself in order to find some gratification rather than self-improvement. When you start hanging six figure 'salaries' in front of 18-19 year old kids, they will not always make the best decisions, not to mention in an already rocky 'what have you done for me lately' landscape BEFORE the extra money showed up.

If you would go back and read the archives, you would find out the truth. You would find that I was an enthusiastic supporter of Tang's hiring. You would find that I was a season ticket holder his first year and read about how I praised him for giving the green light to Marquis and understanding that you need a guard who takes risks. You would read how I praised him for having great plays coming out of a time out. Then, you would read how I slowly, throughout the first year, began to have misgivings. Here are the things that slowly put out my fire for the hire.

1. When asked if he might consider leaving if good programs came calling, coach remarked that he goes where God tells him to go. I wrote then that this was a subtle way of saying, "I'm outta here if the right gig comes along."

2. After winning the Sweet 16 game, he proclaimed that, "this is what happens when you put God first." This is contrary to my belief about God.

3. After returning home from the elite 8 loss, he proclaimed that there would be a parade through Manhattan and soon. No coach should make such a prediction.

4. During that summer, he told a recruit that, "we're going to the final four with or without you." This is more than I could brush off.

This is the truth. There is no agenda.

There is and you have decided not to put it into words.

“The self-righteous scream judgments against others to hide the noise of skeletons dancing in their own closets.”
― John Mark Green

[JazzCatDRP]

—Personal attack removed, per board rules -Jazz

Aw, shucks. I don’t think any poster should be removed for a personal attack on the president of the University. I don’t think any of the above posters should be removed for a personal attack by insinuating Dai Dai left because he fell under the spell of his agent.

Wait a minute……..you’re suggesting I personally attacked SCKSCat. Not so. I thanked him for thinking out loud about the things every fan is thinking to themselves. I commended him for questioning and being discomforted by the mass exodus of good ball players. I assure you this was not an attack but gratitude for a poster who struggles with good players leaving and, a while back, the newspaper article that provided us with details about the Tomlin affair. He may not appreciate my gratitude, but I gave it.

The personal attack I edited out was in Tbones post, not yours Learnin