Consistency is the Key

The Mocs have a lot of keys as they head into the regular season. The expectations are higher than they have been in a while for a Mocs team that seems to have plenty of talented experience, and plenty of very athletic new guys who will be learning on the job.

Yet, there is still a feeling that the Mocs will wind up disappointing. Many around the program seem to be feeling that way. Why?

Well, quite simply, it is because even if the Mocs come out and beat Indiana on opening night (a stretch for sure, but not an impossibility), they are just as likely to show up in a couple of weeks to get beat by 35 by Mercer on the road.

The Mocs have been wildly inconsistent in recent years. They lose to Furman by 30 points, then beat the Paladins at home by 30 points. Two days later after they beat Furman by 30, they lose to Wofford by 30 at home. What is going on here?

It has been a very curious thing that the Mocs have dealt with in recent years. It has been partly going on throughout the Shulman era, but especially in recent years.

What are we looking for this year with the Mocs? How about a little consistency? If the same Mocs show up every night, then this team has a chance to be special. Very special. If the Mocs that beat CofC last year and but got humiliated by Austin Peay show up, then this will be a frustrating year to Mocs fans again.

Part of the problem may be Coach Shulman. He puts a heavy emphasis on winning the SoCon Tournament, which he should. Sometimes that means that regular season games get overlooked or ignored. That creates a feeling among the fans (and to the RPI) that the Mocs may not be quite as good as they could be. They also have thrown in the towel more than a few times when the score starts to get out of hand.

The mental toughness to hang in there and the consistency to play the same way every night are the keys this year for the Mocs. If they can put those two intangible pieces with the talent that is in place, then the Mocs could have a huge season. If not, then odds are that we are sitting here next preseason wondering if this will be the year the Mocs start showing some consistency.

GO MOCS!