The difference for me with this year's team as opposed to say, last year's team, is even when Duquense went on a little run to start the 2nd half and cut our lead in half in the first 4 minutes, I wasn't worried about the train going off the tracks. Kinsey, Taylor, Curfman and Obinna showed some composure and grit to keep battling and at about the 10 minute mark I didn't think the game was really in question. A couple poor possessions led to the lead dwindling but we continued to play unselfishly, the freshman stepped up, and the older guys kept grinding. I actually thought the defense played pretty solid after the first 4 minutes of the 2nd half. Guys were fighting for the ball and competing. A lot to like about this squad.
Another difference, IM0, when you sit back and look at the team composition now as we approach the one third of the season is that Coach D. perhaps has his best mix of quality experience PLUS quality newcomers at one time that he has had while at MU. Kinsey and Taylor have, it seems, been playing at MU forever. After a year and a half of pretty extensive D1 competition, OAK is no long a "greenhorn". Even guys not currently getting a lot of PT, like Goran, Marko and Early, have a solid base of experience if, at times, perhaps in the postseason with games back-to-back, etc., Coach has to go deeper into his bench. Then, we have the newcomers, especially all the freshmen who are playing extensively. To me the difference is that they are playing with enough VETERANS, who provide a steading hand, and guidance, unlike, perhaps in some past years. Don't forget, Taylor is a transfer, even before the "Portal" became such a big deal in college basketball. Taylor played in a perennial good SO CON program, Furman, before coming to MU. Now this year, we got Curfman, who has played 3 seasons at VMI. So instead of blending a bunch of second year players, sophs but still relatively new to D1 basketball, at MU with another freshman class, Danny instead has the luxury of a core of experienced players, thanks in part to "transfers", to mix with some talented, but inexperienced freshmen. A big difference, IMO.
Let's just hope going forward, Coach D. now sees the wisdom and the positive possibilities in mining the portal, not so much as in the bat-crap crazy wholesale use of it like we see at some schools. Rather, as a means to obtain a quality player with experience to plug in at a key and needed position, like Curfman this season. And like we obtained via a transfer, but pre-portal, in Andy Taylor.
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