This was our year to do it. Xavier wasn't that good. The Hansen team would have beat them going away the way they played against UCONN. The Bigs/Haffa team would have beat them by 20 the way they played against Syracuse. This team was better than they played tonight.

The zone D was terrible giving up offensive rebounds. We gave away the game on the line. Ainge made poor decisions. Lee was MIA. And Plaisted played as bad as I've seen him. Very disappointing to turn in that kind of performance in the game of your life against a very beatable opponent.

Yeah, he had a bad night but where would we have been without him this year. True, he's still pretty raw and he didn't make the huge jump we hoped he'd make this season. But accusing him of lacking heart, intellect and desire goes too far imo. My guess is that he has plenty of heart and desire.

He sure seems like a Shawn Bradley type - he was always able to rely on his height to dominate players in high school and because if that, he's lazy and doesn't think he needs to work on his game.

I don't see him working nearly as hard as Keena. Keena defines desire.

Plaisted apparently hasn't noticed.

It's Rose's job to get Plaisted to improve. If Plaisted isn't 100% better next year I put this on both Plaisted and Rose.

Good call.

Rose has a guy who could be a very good college player, but if the player doesn't want to get better, there's not much Rose could do other than cut him loose.

Cut him loose?? His presence will be required next year.

I understand that - I'm just exaggerating what Rose needs to do as a coach. His job is to develop Plaisted, but if Plaisted isn't willing to do his part, there's not much Rose can do to help him.

Some anecdotal evidence to support your 'painfully shy' assessment:

I saw Plaisted walking down the hall at the Thomas and Mack last week. A couple of fans said "nice game" to him and he looked like he wanted to drop through the floor with embarrassment. He was definitely bashful.

He needs to see a sports psychologist.

Smoltz did, and it helped him.

He needs to get coached, improve his basketball IQ by playing against people better than him, needs to get his head straight.

So, I guess Indy didn't have the balls to respond to this thread.

Just like I thought.

Wrong again Indy. Keep pumping the figures. Maybe you'll come up with something.