Wins matter.
What I’ve learned in this thread is how far the program has fallen that we’re happy with empty arenas, sun 0.500 seasons, and finishing worse than 10th in the ACC as long as we get moral victories.
What do you expect from a Tech MBB coach? I expect an NCAAT birth every other year, a deep tourney run 1-2 times a decade, and winning ACC record every year.
People are free to expect what they want, but there is absolutely no historical precedence on which to base an expectation of a winning ACC record every year. None whatsoever.
When Pastner's teams put together consecutive 11 win ACC seasons, that was only the 4th time that GT had two consecutive winning seasons in the ACC. The other three times were by Cremins. Hewitt never did it in his 11 seasons. Cremins put together 3 consecutive winning ACC seasons only once in 19 years.
An NCAAT birth every other year is also pie in the sky for several reasons, but all amount to decreasing the statistical probability of getting an NCAAT bid:
1. When Cremins was going every year, there were only about 310 teams. Now there are 353 NCAAT eligible teams. An increase of around 15%
2. The rise of the mid-major programs and a selection process that favors mid-majors with fine records over mediocre Power 5 teams for at-large bids. Three of Cremins' 9 consecutive tournament teams would not have sniffed the NCAAT in the current era.
3. Power conference expansion. Having 15 teams in conference means larger conference slates and more teams relegated to .500 or below records in the Power 5. Being in the middle of an 8 team conference (with three of four teams above you in the conference) is not the same as being as being in the middle of a Mega-conference with 5 to 7 teams above you).
4. Power-5 budgets are pulling away from the ACC due to inequity of TV contracts, and GT ranks second to the bottom within the ACC. We are at the bottom of the bottom for Power-5 programs.
Empty arenas is not the solitary problem of GT. Half empty arenas are because young people are addicted to computer screens and Worlds of Warcraft or whatever and don't value going to live events.
We all want to win but wanting to win is not the same thing as a commitment to excellence. Fans understanding the bigger picture and, in the face of reality, are still trying to enjoy some college basketball. That is not settling for mediocrity. Pastner tries to get his teams to play good team basketball, they play hard, the kids represent very well. Lammers, Alvarado, Wright, those are stories that harken to the good old days. I am not going to withhold support because this coach can't magically overcome all the problems listed above and have us performing like a blue-blood program.
