I'm liking what Nate Oats is showing in his first month of games.
I like the effort. Haven't had consistent effort since Wimp. We don't have the horses right now, but that's coming.
On a related topic, I like the obvious buy-in on the part of the players. I think they genuinely like playing for Oats.
I like the offense. Yeah, when you live by the 3, you can also die by the 3, especially on the road (see yesterday in Lexington). Next year, we'll have an inside game to go with the outside, and might not be so beholden to something that comes and goes.
Shackleford is a rising star. He's not truly ready for prime time, but he shows flashes, and provides consistent enthusiasm and occasional brilliance. If the WVU transfer could stop being a foul machine, he'd be a difference-maker.
Oats is making the most of our strongest asset -- guards. Petty is still streaky, but more consistent than in the past. Lewis no longer feels like he has to do it all alone. Shackleford is getting better and better as time goes on. He (Oats) is also doing a good job covering up our weaknesses inside. Can't cover that altogether, but he's making chicken salad out of chicken [waste].
If we had any inside presence at all (I know....I know.....ifs and buts), we'd be a true threat. As it is, we're actually building for the first time since Gottfried's first couple of years, before he got complacent and distracted.
I really believe we made the right hire, and that he's doing the right things the right way. This year may not be the year. But for the first time in a long time, I can see that we're making real progress.
I like the effort. Haven't had consistent effort since Wimp. We don't have the horses right now, but that's coming.
On a related topic, I like the obvious buy-in on the part of the players. I think they genuinely like playing for Oats.
I like the offense. Yeah, when you live by the 3, you can also die by the 3, especially on the road (see yesterday in Lexington). Next year, we'll have an inside game to go with the outside, and might not be so beholden to something that comes and goes.
Shackleford is a rising star. He's not truly ready for prime time, but he shows flashes, and provides consistent enthusiasm and occasional brilliance. If the WVU transfer could stop being a foul machine, he'd be a difference-maker.
Oats is making the most of our strongest asset -- guards. Petty is still streaky, but more consistent than in the past. Lewis no longer feels like he has to do it all alone. Shackleford is getting better and better as time goes on. He (Oats) is also doing a good job covering up our weaknesses inside. Can't cover that altogether, but he's making chicken salad out of chicken [waste].
If we had any inside presence at all (I know....I know.....ifs and buts), we'd be a true threat. As it is, we're actually building for the first time since Gottfried's first couple of years, before he got complacent and distracted.
I really believe we made the right hire, and that he's doing the right things the right way. This year may not be the year. But for the first time in a long time, I can see that we're making real progress.
