While I wish with all my heart that KP will soon be a new euphemism for program failure (like Kragthorpe), I have to prepare for the very real possibility that he will be given another year for reasons that have been discussed at length on this board. Many of those who feel that KP will be back like to project who will return, who we will get from the portal and how useful new recruits will help him rebuild the program and how this will play out record-wise.
In my own season-tortured mind, I tend to look at this differently. I feel like it may be wiser to consider who, on the current team, has had enough and will be looking for better situations next year. Do ANY of our current players want to relive the nightmare that we’ve seen this year. Also, consider the lengthy (demanding?) practices that KP says happen on a daily basis. Has Sid had enough of the “What’s wrong with Sid?” conversations? Is Withers tired on the constant criticism that he plays below his potential? Is Fabio’s butt numb from sitting too much? Does BHH’s foot really hurt or is he already done. Would Wheeler like to leave but maybe doesn’t see a path out of here? Do Lands and JJ feel like they would have a better role at other schools. Does any player with remaining eligibility look at the guys who left last year and found much better success at their new homes? Do any of them recall Dre Davis’ words to KP when he said, in essence, “Coach, I wake up every morning and it’s Louisville.”
To me, option A for most players looks like the portal or maybe the G league. How could you finish a season 3-28 with a coach who is deeply unpopular with the fan base and whose seat is hotter than a blacksmith’s forge?
Using the same logic, how does any player in the portal look at Louisville and think…”Yeah…looks like the right place for me”.
If KP is kept, next year could very well be worse than this year. We may be using the same thinking that we used this year…what if we still had the players from last year’s team? Sorry for the apocalyptic mindset, but reality is really starting to take hold. I just don’t see any reason for hope if we stay the current course.
In my own season-tortured mind, I tend to look at this differently. I feel like it may be wiser to consider who, on the current team, has had enough and will be looking for better situations next year. Do ANY of our current players want to relive the nightmare that we’ve seen this year. Also, consider the lengthy (demanding?) practices that KP says happen on a daily basis. Has Sid had enough of the “What’s wrong with Sid?” conversations? Is Withers tired on the constant criticism that he plays below his potential? Is Fabio’s butt numb from sitting too much? Does BHH’s foot really hurt or is he already done. Would Wheeler like to leave but maybe doesn’t see a path out of here? Do Lands and JJ feel like they would have a better role at other schools. Does any player with remaining eligibility look at the guys who left last year and found much better success at their new homes? Do any of them recall Dre Davis’ words to KP when he said, in essence, “Coach, I wake up every morning and it’s Louisville.”
To me, option A for most players looks like the portal or maybe the G league. How could you finish a season 3-28 with a coach who is deeply unpopular with the fan base and whose seat is hotter than a blacksmith’s forge?
Using the same logic, how does any player in the portal look at Louisville and think…”Yeah…looks like the right place for me”.
If KP is kept, next year could very well be worse than this year. We may be using the same thinking that we used this year…what if we still had the players from last year’s team? Sorry for the apocalyptic mindset, but reality is really starting to take hold. I just don’t see any reason for hope if we stay the current course.
