Here we sit undefeated at home (admittedly not a very challenging OOC home schedule) at 12-6 overall tied for the East lead in the loss column with a team we defeated earlier in the year. Was this unexpected with so many new faces, the transfer of the player considered the best returner, with two expected contributors sidelined with injuries, and after three disastrous years? For sure it's surprising but does McDevitt deserve three mulligans for his first 3 years, the last of which was one of, if not the, worst years in MT basketball history?
Our losses this year, all on the road, are to:
Stephen F. Austin - first road game - worst loss point wise 13; now 12-7
Murray State - Nuff said - Leading the OVC; 17-2
Ole Miss - Next to the bottom of the $EC but still it's $EC - 9-9 overall (interesting that Davis' worse year at Ole Miss apparently will coincide with McDevitt's best, so far, at MT)
Chattanooga - Leading SoCon; 16-4
Rice - First conference game and obviously first road conference contest - lost by 4 - In 4th place in the West at 4-3; 11-7 overall
UNT - Tied for 1st in the West at 6-1; 13-4 overall - Raiders lost by 7
What's most encouraging to me is that this team can win playing either a shoot out or a grinder and even as yesterday when shots aren't falling. If we have no more defections, if the two injured players return healthy, and if the two incoming guards (one verbal, one signee) are as good as advertised we could be very good for the next few years. How we finish this year is obviously up in the air. The upcoming 3 game road trip will give a clue.
As for me - If this was McDevitt's first year I would have been very pleased with the hire and with where we are at this juncture of the season. I would like to have thought that he had the ability to continue the program's status obtained during Davis' last years. Time will tell.
Our losses this year, all on the road, are to:
Stephen F. Austin - first road game - worst loss point wise 13; now 12-7
Murray State - Nuff said - Leading the OVC; 17-2
Ole Miss - Next to the bottom of the $EC but still it's $EC - 9-9 overall (interesting that Davis' worse year at Ole Miss apparently will coincide with McDevitt's best, so far, at MT)
Chattanooga - Leading SoCon; 16-4
Rice - First conference game and obviously first road conference contest - lost by 4 - In 4th place in the West at 4-3; 11-7 overall
UNT - Tied for 1st in the West at 6-1; 13-4 overall - Raiders lost by 7
What's most encouraging to me is that this team can win playing either a shoot out or a grinder and even as yesterday when shots aren't falling. If we have no more defections, if the two injured players return healthy, and if the two incoming guards (one verbal, one signee) are as good as advertised we could be very good for the next few years. How we finish this year is obviously up in the air. The upcoming 3 game road trip will give a clue.
As for me - If this was McDevitt's first year I would have been very pleased with the hire and with where we are at this juncture of the season. I would like to have thought that he had the ability to continue the program's status obtained during Davis' last years. Time will tell.