If this current group of players didn't evolve and continue to improve throughout this past season, I would be much more concerned about Rice and where the program was headed. Guess what? They did, and some to great lengths.
I thought by the end of the season that the overall improvement by the freshmen was significant. That shouldn't be overlooked while analyzing this season. Not only did the freshmen all improve, but so did Jelan Kendrick. Also, Wood became a much better player by the end of the season than he was early.
Those are key whenever looking at where the program is headed long term. Rice may not be the world's best in-game coach yet, but he has a way with young players and it clearly looks like he can make them better. Getting them to be better as a unit is the next step.
Coaching players that have been in your system for a couple of years is way easier than everyone being in it for one. Even our fifth year seniors were basically brand new. How much playing time had Jelan Kendrick had in his long collegiate career? Doolin was brand new to the system with a bunch of first-year players around him.
This was going to be a difficult year to be consistent. I think everyone was in agreement with that at the beginning of the season. The improvement from our first game to the last, in regards to players, was there. That's what I personally wanted to see. That was accomplished.
I thought by the end of the season that the overall improvement by the freshmen was significant. That shouldn't be overlooked while analyzing this season. Not only did the freshmen all improve, but so did Jelan Kendrick. Also, Wood became a much better player by the end of the season than he was early.
Those are key whenever looking at where the program is headed long term. Rice may not be the world's best in-game coach yet, but he has a way with young players and it clearly looks like he can make them better. Getting them to be better as a unit is the next step.
Coaching players that have been in your system for a couple of years is way easier than everyone being in it for one. Even our fifth year seniors were basically brand new. How much playing time had Jelan Kendrick had in his long collegiate career? Doolin was brand new to the system with a bunch of first-year players around him.
This was going to be a difficult year to be consistent. I think everyone was in agreement with that at the beginning of the season. The improvement from our first game to the last, in regards to players, was there. That's what I personally wanted to see. That was accomplished.
