Senglin, This Week & the Future of Weber Hoops

[Webergrad02]

We all know the comparisons between Lillard & Senglin. In Lillards freshman season, we were eliminated by MSU in the semi finals of the tournament. The next season Damian was the clear leader of the team and once again we suffered a heart breaking defeat in the tourney. Although Damian has proven that he is a tough, hardworking player, I am not sure that mental toughness has been our strong suit as a team for the past several seasons. Can this change with our young players?

I think this week is a huge opportunity for Jeremy & Joel. Next year they will be the leaders of a young and developing team. I think it will be huge if we can step up and win this tournament. They will know what it is like to perform on a big stage. Jeremy will have some big shoes to fill as the leader and primary scorer and I think he can do it.

 

[SWWeatherCat]

I know Weber has had its struggles with mental toughness but I wonder if some of the problem could be associated with one player carrying or depended upon to carry the scoring load?

In retrospect, there are some interesting details about the 08-09 season. First, Weber had what I would consider a poor OOC season (?like this year?). They lost to USU, BYU, and UofU among others. They lost at home to MSU by 5 (Lillard had 9) followed by 12 straight BSC wins, capped off with a 20 point drubbing of MSU in Bozeman (Lillard had GH 27). Seven days later, MSU beats Weber again at the DEC by 9 (Lillard had 7).

The next season (09-10) was a little different but still similar. They had a fairly poor OOC overall, including 2 loses to USU, 1 to BYU, and others. They had a good BSC run, including two 5 game win streaks. They beat the Griz at home by 8 (Lillard had GH 30). They lost in Missoula by 14 (Lillard had GH 24). Then, in a still too painful memory, Anthony Johnson goes off for 42 in a 22 point comeback (mostly in the second half) and the Griz beat Weber by 1 in the BSC title game (Lillard had 16).

In 08-09 it had more of a "as Lillard goes, so do the Wildcats" feel but Lillard was pretty consistent in 09-10 and that total collapse in the 2nd half will always sting. I don't think-- at least I hope-- Senglin doesn't have to carry the team scoring. I'm rooting for Rahe to establish a better team scoring system and break a cycle of relying on a DLill or Dev to carry the team. I think the talent will be there and it would only make Weber stronger, especially come tournament time when opposing teams can't disrupt their scoring as easily as shutting down one player.

Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like Weber has been more successful in seasons where team scoring trumps individual scoring.

 

[n.ogdencat]

I know Weber has had its struggles with mental toughness but I wonder if some of the problem could be associated with one player carrying or depended upon to carry the scoring load?

In retrospect, there are some interesting details about the 08-09 season. First, Weber had what I would consider a poor OOC season (?like this year?). They lost to USU, BYU, and UofU among others. They lost at home to MSU by 5 (Lillard had 9) followed by 12 straight BSC wins, capped off with a 20 point drubbing of MSU in Bozeman (Lillard had GH 27). Seven days later, MSU beats Weber again at the DEC by 9 (Lillard had 7).

The next season (09-10) was a little different but still similar. They had a fairly poor OOC overall, including 2 loses to USU, 1 to BYU, and others. They had a good BSC run, including two 5 game win streaks. They beat the Griz at home by 8 (Lillard had GH 30). They lost in Missoula by 14 (Lillard had GH 24). Then, in a still too painful memory, Anthony Johnson goes off for 42 in a 22 point comeback (mostly in the second half) and the Griz beat Weber by 1 in the BSC title game (Lillard had 16).

In 08-09 it had more of a "as Lillard goes, so do the Wildcats" feel but Lillard was pretty consistent in 09-10 and that total collapse in the 2nd half will always sting. I don't think-- at least I hope-- Senglin doesn't have to carry the team scoring. I'm rooting for Rahe to establish a better team scoring system and break a cycle of relying on a DLill or Dev to carry the team. I think the talent will be there and it would only make Weber stronger, especially come tournament time when opposing teams can't disrupt their scoring as easily as shutting down one player.

Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like Weber has been more successful in seasons where team scoring trumps individual scoring.

:clap: :clap: nice post! I'll agree. Under Rahe, Weber is far better when their is balance than when the team has to rely on one guy. Last season exemplifies that. Granted there will usually be one player who can be counted on to score on most teams, yet it is nice knowing that there is a Bamforth, Hansen, McCoy ready to take over if there is an off night by the star. This years team has kinda been missing that. Yes, Senglin is good, but he hasn't had that "big" game yet that Lillard had as a freshman, but what I like about Senglin is that he is consisten. Now if he can find his driving ability the Cats will become a hydra with multiple weapons. One thing Weber lost with Wheels, multiple guys who can consistently get to the rim and finish. Next season will be different. Wait and see kinda approach.

 

[Webergrad02]

I agree to a point, but wasn't McCoy the leader of the 08-09 team and isn't that the year he was POY?

Dames freshman season was pretty similar to Senglins stat wise. I remember Dame being more up and down as a freshman than than Jeremy. I remember McCoy putting his arm around Damian in that Montana State game when he was struggling. It was McCoy's team in 08-09 and Damian fully took over the next year.