Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

[XYZ]

You may be the last Eaves apologist standing, but even you can't be this obtuse.

Eaves, and Eaves ALONE, is responsible for this disaster.

No matter how much you try to spin the reality and make various excuses that doesn't change the fact that in his 13th season Eaves has assembled a team that has managed a merger 2 wins and halfway through the conference slate is 0-8-2. This team isn't just bad, it is abysmal. It will go down in the historical record as THE worst Badger team ever.

Eaves, and Eaves ALONE, is responsible for this disaster. Every final decision with regards to players to recruit and coaches to hire was Eaves, and it is the accumulation of those decisions that have resulted in thus wholy unacceptable season and is PRECISELY why Eaves should be removed as head coach.

Thank you.

 

[srkbadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

You may be the last Eaves apologist standing, but even you can't be this obtuse.

Eaves, and Eaves ALONE, is responsible for this disaster.

No matter how much you try to spin the reality and make various excuses that doesn't change the fact that in his 13th season Eaves has assembled a team that has managed a merger 2 wins and halfway through the conference slate is 0-8-2. This team isn't just bad, it is abysmal. It will go down in the historical record as THE worst Badger team ever.

Eaves, and Eaves ALONE, is responsible for this disaster. Every final decision with regards to players to recruit and coaches to hire was Eaves, and it is the accumulation of those decisions that have resulted in thus wholy unacceptable season and is PRECISELY why Eaves should be removed as head coach.

This sums it up nicely. BTW, unfortunately I believe your opening statement above is in error.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

So it's all Eaves fault? A little heavy on the drama IMO. Wis. lost its largest senior class in the last decade plus Kerdiles, which amounts to about 68% of scoring. That's huge and it happens. Typically a D1 team can't expect extraordinary goal scoring from a freshman class and Wis. currently has one of the largest freshman classes in the last 10 seasons. The senior class of LaBate, Navin, Paape were never true goal scorers since they were frosh. But it's usually a crap shoot for a coach when it comes to judging how players will adapt and perform at this level even though they performed well in the past. I see scoring spread out among a decent Fr class, some Jrs and Sos that can score, and Besse is a true goal scorer and I would not be surprised if he bags 20+ Gs easily with the right line chemistry next season. From my seat, it clearly looks like a rebuilding year for Eaves.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

From my seat, it clearly looks like a rebuilding year for Eaves.

And that excuses this? This isn't a rebuilding job, this is a demolition.

 

[Almington]

So it's all Eaves fault? A little heavy on the drama IMO. Wis. lost its largest senior class in the last decade plus Kerdiles, which amounts to about 68% of scoring. That's huge and it happens. Typically a D1 team can't expect extraordinary goal scoring from a freshman class and Wis. currently has one of the largest freshman classes in the last 10 seasons. The senior class of LaBate, Navin, Paape were never true goal scorers since they were frosh. But it's usually a crap shoot for a coach when it comes to judging how players will adapt and perform at this level even though they performed well in the past. I see scoring spread out among a decent Fr class, some Jrs and Sos that can score, and Besse is a true goal scorer and I would not be surprised if he bags 20+ Gs easily with the right line chemistry next season. From my seat, it clearly looks like a rebuilding year for Eaves.

Eaves is responsible in the same way that any CEO is responsible when the company struggles. Sometimes it isn't one specific decision that an be pointed out as the issue, but the cumulative effect of a long series of sub-optimal decisions that together result in seriously negative results. Eaves has been head coach for over a decade: who his assistants are, who gets recruited, the roster composition and the system of play are ALL final Eaves decisions. Independently, each of these are issues that can be explained away with the LITANY of excuses that have been offered up as to why each issue is really a non-issue when the cumulative of ALL those decisions is a 2-18-4 season which isn't something that should ever be acceptable.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I can report this morning that former Badger Dan Boeser is taking over as the head coach of the Chicago Steel after head coach/GM Scott McConnell (grandson of Badger Bob) was let go. I was told it was a mutual decision between McConnell and the Steel. McConnell is also engaged to former Wisconsin women's goalie Jessie Vetter.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Eaves is responsible in the same way that any CEO is responsible when the company struggles. Sometimes it isn't one specific decision that an be pointed out as the issue, but the cumulative effect of a long series of sub-optimal decisions that together result in seriously negative results. Eaves has been head coach for over a decade: who his assistants are, who gets recruited, the roster composition and the system of play are ALL final Eaves decisions. Independently, each of these are issues that can be explained away with the LITANY of excuses that have been offered up as to why each issue is really a non-issue when the cumulative of ALL those decisions is a 2-18-4 season which isn't something that should ever be acceptable.

It's the same with Lucia...he controls the show. But it takes a coaching staff time to pull out of a slump. You're making a lot of assumptions without citing specific examples to support your argument. As an observer, I cited several reasonable causes for Wisconsin's struggles. I would add from what I've seen (I did watch the Gopher/Wis. and Penn St./Wis. series) even though Rumpel has been left out to dry by an inexperienced D, his game is clearly off this season for whatever reason. Can a coach anticipate that? Can a coach who recruits players in 2010 be assured they will score 20+ goals in 2014? For example, Geoffrion, Zengerle, Mersch to name a few had a combined total of 15 goals as freshman. It seems to me if you are patient this team will be much improved next season.

 

[SanTropez]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Harley (and most MN fans) just wants you guys to keep Eaves...

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I wonder what the response would be from Gopher fan if this was their team with 2 wins and the same track record over the past 10 years.

Judging by the slit wrists and swan dives from ledges only a week ago west of the Mississippi during their current season, we'd probably seem patient to a fault in comparison.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I wonder what the response would be from Gopher fan if this was their team with ... the same track record over the past 10 years.

I know that I am in the minority with this, but I'll take 2 title game appearances and 1 championship in the last 10 years for Wisconsin vs the 1 appearance with 0 championships for Minnesota...and 6 is still > 5

But yes, this year is horrible, an absolute abomination. They should shut off the ice making gear in the Kohl Center and make then men play roller hockey on the basketball court until they can prove that they are worthy of the facilities and opportunities that have been presented to them...blah blah blah...

 

[bucky15]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

It's the same with Lucia...he controls the show. But it takes a coaching staff time to pull out of a slump. You're making a lot of assumptions without citing specific examples to support your argument. As an observer, I cited several reasonable causes for Wisconsin's struggles. I would add from what I've seen (I did watch the Gopher/Wis. and Penn St./Wis. series) even though Rumpel has been left out to dry by an inexperienced D, his game is clearly off this season for whatever reason. Can a coach anticipate that? Can a coach who recruits players in 2010 be assured they will score 20+ goals in 2014? For example, Geoffrion, Zengerle, Mersch to name a few had a combined total of 15 goals as freshman. It seems to me if you are patient this team will be much improved next season.

The expectations of what Rumpel needs to pull off nightly to win a game is a lot. He is seeing close to 40 shots nightly. The whatever reason he is off this year, is the team in front of him. I don't know exact puck possession figures, but one would think they are awful for UW. This means Rumpel is in his goalie stance and on point more than a normal goalie throughout a course of a game. This wears a goalie down mentally and physically.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

From 2008-11, Lucia had his worst seasons on record as a Gopher coach and we missed the NCAAs 3 years in row. It was frustrating, but I didn't abandoning ship anymore than I would as a player. Nor did I participate in calling for Lucia's head. I see the same thing happening here, yet Eaves had his 3rd best winning % last season in his 12 year tenure as coach. But hey, do what want, think what you want. But if you engage in the kind of reductionist thinking I see plastered all over this thread and solely blame Eaves for Wisconsin's struggles, that's just plain stupidity.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

No matter how bad you guys thought your "dark years" were, you didn't have a 2 win season.

You guys would have freaked the **** out and you know it.

 

[Almington]

From 2008-11, Lucia had his worst seasons on record as a Gopher coach and we missed the NCAAs 3 years in row. It was frustrating, but I didn't abandoning ship anymore than I would as a player. Nor did I participate in calling for Lucia's head. I see the same thing happening here, yet Eaves had his 3rd best winning % last season in his 12 year tenure as coach. But hey, do what want, think what you want. But if you engage in the kind of reductionist thinking I see plastered all over this thread and solely blame Eaves for Wisconsin's struggles, that's just plain stupidity.

Eaves is RESPONSIBLE for the DECISIONS that have lead to Wisconsin's struggles. That's what happens when you are the executive in charge and the results are unacceptable, and by any measure 2 wins after 24 games is unacceptable.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I wonder what the response would be from Gopher fan if this was their team with 2 wins and the same track record over the past 10 years.

Judging by the slit wrists and swan dives from ledges only a week ago west of the Mississippi during their current season, we'd probably seem patient to a fault in comparison.

Probably true, but it seems like expectations should have been quite different. MN lost a couple guys and very little scoring from a team in the finals. UW's cupboard was bare. To me if last year's UW team missed the NCAA's it would be similar to where MN sits at the moment. As to this year, even if UW had 4 wins in their first seven, (which would put them in with a large group of middling teams) and even if they didn't lose two games in the last 2 seconds, I seriously doubt the tone here would be any different.

The expectations of what Rumpel needs to pull off nightly to win a game is a lot. He is seeing close to 40 shots nightly. The whatever reason he is off this year, is the team in front of him. I don't know exact puck possession figures, but one would think they are awful for UW. This means Rumpel is in his goalie stance and on point more than a normal goalie throughout a course of a game. This wears a goalie down mentally and physically.

Rumpel has not been sharp. Defensive lapses not withstanding, he's let in at least 2 "that he would like to have had back" in each of the last 7 games. And that 3rd goal on Saturday was just horrible. This team obviously cannot afford those kinds of plays. And I'm definitely not laying those losses at his feet, but he's had his part in it. No disrespect to you or anyone, but if a kid playing in his 20th college game giving up 30 pounds and 5 years of age doesn't get a break for getting beat off the boards, Rumps shouldn't get one for being tired. Sure he's made plenty of great saves in between, it's what he's supposed to do. He's a senior and returning Richter and Hobey Baker finalist. He is expected to play at the top of his game every night, all night, and he has been inconsistent, especially lately.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Even if Rumpel has been sharp as a tack the whole year, what does that equate to, 6 wins? UW is averaging 2 goals a game. That's hideous. The pp is 14%, the pk is 74%. That is also hideous. The overall performance is beyond bad. I have to agree Eaves is the sole culprit. If he changes an assistant(s), adds Malone/ Freytag/Kunin (top 2 line talent, correct?), and no one bolts, can he turn it around? That is the question.

 

[IndianaBadger1995]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Kerdiles and McCabe return and this team has 10+ wins. You can't expect freshmen to carry the load and we have a terrible senior class. Give it some time and watch the magic happen. #BOlieve

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Kerdiles and McCabe return and this team has 10+ wins. You can't expect freshmen to carry the load and we have a terrible senior class. Give it some time and watch the magic happen. #BOlieve

We #BOlieve in our basketball team. We #belEAVES in our hockey team

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> to be without W Matt Ustaski (lower body) for Ohio State series. C Cameron Hughes (shoulder) made trip, but is questionable.</p>— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyBaggotWSJ/status/566021662764990464">February 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That really puts the Badgers in a tough spot. With Wisconsin only having 14 forwards on the roster that means if Cameron Hughes can't play you are down to option A) Walk on Cullen Hurley who has was recruited as a forward but has been practicing as a defenseman all season, or B) Walk on Alex Shuchuk, who is not a Division 1 caliber player.

I'm guessing they are going to do everything they possibly can to get Hughes ready for tomorrow's game, which scares the hell out of me.

 

[UWisco]

Even if Rumpel has been sharp as a tack the whole year, what does that equate to, 6 wins? UW is averaging 2 goals a game. That's hideous. The pp is 14%, the pk is 74%. That is also hideous. The overall performance is beyond bad. I have to agree Eaves is the sole culprit. If he changes an assistant(s), adds Malone/ Freytag/Kunin (top 2 line talent, correct?), and no one bolts, can he turn it around? That is the question.

PP is like 22% since starting 1 for 29 or something.