|
Post by bostonfriar on Apr 27, 2016 4:49:24 GMT -5
Battle was the choice before Dre was hired. wtm wrote: "Bob Simon was a major asset yet he was replaced by Jeff Battle - a highly regarded/respected recruiter and senior assistant coach" So true MOD...in fact, Battle would have been the Wake Forest HC if he wasn't dealing with personal family issues. I only wish he was 34 instead of 54
|
|
|
Post by oaklawnbob on Apr 27, 2016 5:33:56 GMT -5
Sneaky good class? Its either good or it isnt. Bottom line is white needs to play above his ranking for this to be a good class. Even if diallo doesnt we have plenty of options at the 3 where if he isnt playing someone else has probably stepped up. Figuring holt will be solid. Great point Walk. It's a guard game in college and we will need KC to take a break once in awhile.
|
|
|
Post by wtm97 on Apr 27, 2016 8:26:20 GMT -5
""Sneaky good" is apt .
Many will see Dunn leaving as a signature of decline - and it sure is if Ben bolts as we will be in a difficult place initially yet....
Pieces are being put into place with players that fit the Cooley mold. Paying attention when a recruit is compared to Jared Dudley as the ESPN article indicated may be wishful thinking, even trite - but it was offered.
Even with Ben returning, it will take time, hard work and good chemistry to bring this new group together. Competition and expectations of playing time will be key but that is the job of player developing staffers. Meanwhile we have what looks like solid talent coming in fairly late to join an experienced core.
So yes, we can sneak up on others as Jackson, Holt, White and Diallo climb onboard.
Nobody will be patient - and maybe we won't have to be but the season long trend of improvement is in place thanks to the leadership of Cooley.
Don't think TW could ever pull this off - maybe Keno could by blind mail order - (Cotton), but this is not blind luck this is a focused game plan and what he has accomplished is commendable.
"Sneaky Good" works...
|
|
|
Post by connfriar on Apr 27, 2016 9:00:07 GMT -5
Some terrific posts here and some revisionist history, too. The Simon loss hurt us big time in the moment but who indicated that it signaled the end or downfall of Cooley? His challenge was to stem the bleeding from the loss of Simon and Chukwu and then find quality replacements. Well, he did the former with a trip to the NCAA's (and one win!) and he's partially there on the latter. His staff is undoubtedly stronger than it was 18 months ago. Once he lands a true 5, we can put the Simon, Chukwu and even the Josh Fortune stuff in a box marked "Bubble Team"...I'm more excited about this team than when Ed Cooley was recruiting the likes of JaKarr Sampson and the so-called "Fab 5"...
This season, we are going to have depth through versatility...3's who can play the 4 or the 2...4's who can play the 5 or the 3...and 2's who can play the 3 or the 1 (in spurts)...I expect us to round into a team like Xavier, where we just keep coming at opponents with up-tempo play and fresh legs off the bench...we will have length, bulk, slashing ability and speed available, ready to be employed as the staff sees fit...my concerns are:
1. Outside shooting 2. Free-throw shooting 3. Defense 4. Point guard
Working in reverse order, Kyron is ready to lead this team but he will need backup help. I would not be surprised to see Diallo or Jackson get some time as de-facto 2's, freeing up KC to move without the ball. Ed Cooley and his staff will demand strong defense...so, that will come. If we can shoot better from the line and outside of the arc, there will be some VERY fun games this season in a stronger, deeper Big East. The shooting HAS to improve and I think it will...especially if Ben comes back.
|
|
|
Post by connfriar on Apr 27, 2016 9:09:37 GMT -5
""Sneaky good" is apt . Many will see Dunn leaving as a signature of decline - and it sure is if Ben bolts as we will be in a difficult place initially yet.... Pieces are being put into place with players that fit the Cooley mold. Paying attention when a recruit is compared to Jared Dudley as the ESPN article indicated may be wishful thinking, even trite - but it was offered. Even with Ben returning, it will take time, hard work and good chemistry to bring this new group together. Competition and expectations of playing time will be key but that is the job of player developing staffers. Meanwhile we have what looks like solid talent coming in fairly late to join an experienced core. So yes, we can sneak up on others as Jackson, Holt, White and Diallo climb onboard. Nobody will be patient - and maybe we won't have to be but the season long trend of improvement is in place thanks to the leadership of Cooley. Don't think TW could ever pull this off - maybe Keno could by blind mail order - (Cotton), but this is not blind luck this is a focused game plan and what he has accomplished is commendable. "Sneaky Good" works... It's a "focused game plan" but Ed Cooley has also shown an impressive aptitude to pivot when faced with unexpected obstacles. He did it with the recruitment of Ben Bentil. He did it with this revamped coaching staff. And, I'd offer that he did it with a seemingly late push for Diallo. He understood that the roster lacked quality depth and he responded quickly by, so far, landing two seemingly impactful players in Holt and Diallo. If he pulls a rabbit out of his hat and lands a quality big man, the transformation of his staff and roster in 12 months time will be remarkable. Let's face it, if TW or Keno felt the need to overhaul a roster after three straight trips to the NCAA's many of us would be questioning their sanity....
|
|
|
Post by drairf on Apr 27, 2016 9:28:25 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by drairf on Apr 27, 2016 10:04:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by friarj on Apr 27, 2016 11:06:20 GMT -5
wtm wrote: "Bob Simon was a major asset yet he was replaced by Jeff Battle - a highly regarded/respected recruiter and senior assistant coach" So true MOD...in fact, Battle would have been the Wake Forest HC if he wasn't dealing with personal family issues. I only wish he was 34 instead of 54I only wish I was 34 instead of 54
|
|
|
Post by thewalk on Apr 27, 2016 11:32:14 GMT -5
Conn - we have no 5s so our 4s have no option and whether we have any 2s remains to be seen. Jackson sure looks like a 2 but as I mentioned earlier, all reports had him helping the frontcourt. Even Cooley said we need a center (s) and we still have zero.
So we've added talent which is a huge plus. I still think our weaknesses remain without more than expected improvement from fazekas or edwards either of whom I could just as easily see redshirted next year.
|
|
|
Post by oaklawnbob on Apr 27, 2016 13:46:41 GMT -5
When Simon left Braxton left with him.
|
|
|
Post by connfriar on Apr 27, 2016 14:28:33 GMT -5
Conn - we have no 5s so our 4s have no option and whether we have any 2s remains to be seen. Jackson sure looks like a 2 but as I mentioned earlier, all reports had him helping the frontcourt. Even Cooley said we need a center (s) and we still have zero. So we've added talent which is a huge plus. I still think our weaknesses remain without more than expected improvement from fazekas or edwards either of whom I could just as easily see redshirted next year. I thought Ben, while not a 5, did pretty damn well playing it for us this past season...
|
|
|
Post by thewalk on Apr 27, 2016 15:01:48 GMT -5
one of the benefits of the new BE is you can play most nights without a center. Marq and X had true centers and we were 0-4. 1-2 against Nova although I think their center was hurt in some capacity for all three games.
AND cooley said we were missing a center....good enough for me
|
|
|
Post by connfriar on Apr 27, 2016 16:11:38 GMT -5
Good for you...re-read my post and you'll see I wrote that we have 4's who can play the 5 or the 3...and the initial point was about "depth through versatility"...but, feel free to stay stuck on the number 5...have a ball.
|
|
|
Post by friar71 on Apr 27, 2016 19:10:34 GMT -5
Good for you...re-read my post and you'll see I wrote that we have 4's who can play the 5 or the 3...and the initial point was about "depth through versatility"...but, feel free to stay stuck on the number 5...have a ball. Conn: We don't need a 5 on the offensive end. Bentil is better than any 5 offensively in the BE as well as most conferences. What we lacked last year was a rim protector. Ben is not that and neither is Bullock at the 4. Not sure how much Holt can provide around the rim. As far as rebounding goes, if Bentil returns I think we are okay there as well w/o a true 5. I think Bullock w a year under his belt will be a better rebounder and Lindsey improved as the year went on. I also think Zeke w a year in the weight room will help rebounding. Obviously Kris gone means the 2 guard needs to help out. Jackson should provide some improvement over Junior. Every team has shortcomings and as you pointed out we did damn well w/o a true 5 last year. Hopefully next year someone can improve that area since the loss of Dunn takes away a key component of last year's overall defense.
|
|
|
Post by thewalk on Apr 27, 2016 19:40:33 GMT -5
You pointed out Bentil playing the 5. Fact is we struggled against teams with true centers. It is not required against most teams in the BE. Not exactly rocket science but you ain't the quickest on basketball intel so no surprise.
|
|