Nothing else to be said. All of the excuses, all of the solutions start with the Head Coach. He needs to commit to a new concept of fundamental basketball. Defense, rebounding, taking care of the ball.
He needs to hire a defensive coach for his staff.
Not a terrible first year, but with his complete Big Sky staff and players why would you think he would do much better? Not on the level of Graham, but the warning signs are there. All this talk by fans of tournaments, NCAA, NIT, swelled the eyes when the truth landed.
First year Coach against high level Coaches and it doesn't get easier the year after next.
Riley time to get to the drawing board and get it done.
Not a terrible season, year.
Not a bad season, year.
Is between a below average to semi bad season, year.
Is a not met expectations, below expectations season, year.
Riley is not on hot seat.
Riley is not on Red Hot Seat.
If Riley is on either Hot Seat, or Red Hot seat, Riley should not be on either Hot seat, or red Hot seat.
1. 1 more win, out of, against 2 ultimate extremely bad teams, San Diego, Pepperdine, equals 17-14, an either CBI or bubble into NIT.
2. 2 more wins out of, against 2 ultimate extremely bad teams, equals 18-13, equal to Kyle Smith's 2nd, 3rd best season, equals NIT
3. Riley had to replace 11,12 players, only returned 2 players from last season, year's team.
4. Riley had a NBA undrafted FA, top overseas Pro, D league, college superstar Cedric Coward injured, out almost whole season.
5. 3,4,5 key injuries to starters, key back ups, etc.
6. The above caused lack of depth, only 7,8 available to play, caused 2,3 freshman to regularly have to play, caused tiredness, legs to be tired midway thru 2nd halves, caused lack of players to practice against, caused lack of jelling, lack of chemistry, caused losing streak, caused mental issues, caused trying too hard, pressing to hard, caused bad passes, turnovers, more losses.
Because of those 6 points above, and because it's Riley's first year, and because Riley's first year has been better then Dick Bennet's first year, Kyle Smith's first year, Ken Bone's first year, Sampson's first year, record wise, and where only Raveling, Tony Bennet had better first year's record wise, then Riley's first year, then Riley is not or shouldn't be on hot seat, red hot seat, etc.
Assuming Riley keeps team together an or plugs any departure holes with extremely good replacements, and assuming Cedric Coward gets a medical redshirt, and comes back, and assuming that next season doesn't have a lot of key injuries, and assuming Riley will have the team work on Defense, Not turning ball over, etc, then assuming those thing happen, WSU, Riley should make the NCAA tournament next season.
If Riley goes 0-2, does not win, loses against San Diego, Pepperdine, 2 of the ultimate extreme worst teams, and ends up 16-16, THEN AND ONLY THEN would Riley be, and or should be on semi hot seat. But I don't see that happening as Riley will probably get at least 1 more win, probably against San Diego at worst.
If Riley goes 0-2, his last 2 games, I will write my words on paper, and on another piece of paper, will write on that piece of paper that Riley is on hot seat, etc, and then I will eat both pieces of paper.