i'm just not down on tinkle or this program, for these reasons:
1. tinkle's first two years were .500, and that looked like mediocrity to me. but this year's team was not a .500 team. in fact, they came down the stretch with an outside chance to win 20 games, despite the loss of their starting point guard for several games, and the injury to selvig at the end.
2. this team played defense, leading the big sky in defensive field goal percentage. that was the stat i was loooking for, and i got it.
3. the bill evan hire was a good one. it meant tinkle was willing to go outside his circle of buddies for expertise--a key to the maturation of any administrator or coach.
4. the talent on board is cause for great optimism. if thurman woods and will cherry play next year, it means our freshman class of woods, cherry, moikubu and ward should be outstanding, a striking upgrade in athleticism, and one of the best freshman classes ever at montana. i think cherry and ward, two kids we signed early, would now be welcome at many pac-10 programs. and if will cherry, an inner-city kid from oakland, can find happiness in missoula, the will cherry era could be something real special for us.
it was a dark night for us last night, but it's always darkest just before dawn. you heard it here.
1. tinkle's first two years were .500, and that looked like mediocrity to me. but this year's team was not a .500 team. in fact, they came down the stretch with an outside chance to win 20 games, despite the loss of their starting point guard for several games, and the injury to selvig at the end.
2. this team played defense, leading the big sky in defensive field goal percentage. that was the stat i was loooking for, and i got it.
3. the bill evan hire was a good one. it meant tinkle was willing to go outside his circle of buddies for expertise--a key to the maturation of any administrator or coach.
4. the talent on board is cause for great optimism. if thurman woods and will cherry play next year, it means our freshman class of woods, cherry, moikubu and ward should be outstanding, a striking upgrade in athleticism, and one of the best freshman classes ever at montana. i think cherry and ward, two kids we signed early, would now be welcome at many pac-10 programs. and if will cherry, an inner-city kid from oakland, can find happiness in missoula, the will cherry era could be something real special for us.
it was a dark night for us last night, but it's always darkest just before dawn. you heard it here.
