I've been stewing about yesterday's loss for about 24 hours now. I couldn't quite figure out how to express not only the frustration that resulted from the inexplicable loss to Alabama, but the concerns I have about this team's mental state, so I decided an open letter to the team would probably be an effective way to vent.
Dear Commodores,
Hey, Daniel here, just dropping you guys a line letting you know I'm really impressed with what you guys have accomplished so far this year. I really wasn't expecting much from this team considering you guys lost DeeBee, Dan Cage, and Skuch, but ya'll have more than impressed. I guess A.J. has been the most pleasant surprise. No one really knew what to expect from him, and he was phenomenal in non-conference play. After hitting a wall at the beginning of SEC he really asserted himself and showed vast improvement in the second half of the SEC season. The other freshmen have been a pleasant surprise as well. Keegan's energetic presence at point guard, and the athleticism and tenacity of Andre and Darshawn have been a pleasant surprise. Jermaine's emergence as a scoring threat has also been fun to watch. Adding a jump shot to his unreal ability to distribute and protect the ball has given SEC coaches yet another reason for a sleepless night. But of course, it's really the seniors that have been the key this season. Red has been a steady source of energy, hitting a clutch shot or two, and Alan has done a man's work subbing in for A.J. and knocking down shots. Ross has shown great poise playing up top or down low, and his progression as a scoring threat has benefited the team greatly. That brings us to Shan. What else can I say that hasn't already been said? Astounding, Magnificent, Phenomenal, or Unbelievable? Yes. All those and more. Simply put, he is Da Truth. I can't remember a time this past season when tears didn't well up in my eyes when Shan came on the floor during player introductions. I can remember Shan's freshman year when no one could figure out how to say his name, or how he was knocking down all those ridiculous 3's. I can remember him putting back DeeBee's miss against UT in Nashville last year to win the game. Most of all, I can remember him coming to the student section after each and every home game, because he knows how much he means to us. It's been an awesome ride, and if there's been a player that has had a greater impact on this University during a four-year span, I don't know about him.
I said all that to say this: The season ain't over. We've still got work to do. Yes, making the Sweet 16 2 out of the past 4 years has been awesome, and has really brought a lot of momentum and energy back to the program, but we should never be satisfied. There's not a reason this team can't run the table in Atlanta and storm into the NCAA's. That's why I'm so frustrated with how we closed out the regular season. This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, but NCAA tournament games are not played at Memorial Gym. Forget about where the game is, and focus on what you need to do to get the job done. I suggest that this team rekindle whatever spirit we had before we dropped 2 of our last 3 to close out the regular season and focus on the task at hand. Call me crazy, but I think anything short of a Final Four appearance would be coming up short. So let's take it one game at a time, and finish this season like we started it, with 10 straight wins.
As Always,
Go 'Dores!
P.S.
I'm preparing to eat some crow as it appears that the Kentucky wildkitties will more than likely be going dancing. I like mine pan roasted with a side of brown rice.
P.P.S.
I'm calling it, here and now: UT does not make the Final Four. They either get stuck in the "Region of Doom" or just have a hiccup game. Hopefully this prediction goes better than my recent forecasts concerning another one of our SEC Eastern Division rivals.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
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