Stay Calm and Bruce On.
For all its inconsistencies, this team is three baskets and some decent refereeing from sitting at 21-5 and discussing whether it's a three or four seed in the NCAA Tourney. When most prognosticators kept it at a seven or eight even after the three recent (frustrating as all fuck) losses? Not much reason to be concerned, I hope.
The only recent loss that really bugged me was A&M. That one got away.
We knew early on this team wouldn't win the SEC. Replaced too much. We knew it would have off nights. So reset the target - Spend the season getting better, play well enough to make the tournament and then play the hand that's dealt. Last year there was so much focus on winning the SEC in the regular season, the whole team (and us too) was out of gas by the time the tournament came around.
Not going to be the case now. Bruce Pearl knows it needs to peak at tournament time, and I honestly believe it will. Wouldn't surprise me to see it get hot, win a couple and make the 16 or the 8. It could also play like absolute shit and get bounced in the first. That would surprise me more, I think.
Don't know about you, but I'm kind of excited that the prospect of NOT making the tournament evokes anguish instead of blithe acceptance.
Bruce Pearl is the single greatest hire in AU history. I hope he stays forever.