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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 31, 2023 10:35:58 GMT -5
Hunter Dickinson would be a huge get. The guy is a great offensive player; I haven't seen him play but a friend who has says he's slow on defense. But, he's 7'1, shot three point shots at 42.1%, and twos at 58%. This would be a HUGE get if Cooley can pull it off.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 31, 2023 10:07:16 GMT -5
I've thought American made sense for Jones for a while. Good place for him to prove what he can do as a coach at the NCAA level. And it's better for us if he's there vs. being an assistant at a high major and pulling top local players to that school. Wasn't sure if the Terps might try to bring him back to the area to fill the spot vacated by Tony Skinn. Sorry to quote myself but there are also rumors Grant Billmeier might take the head job at NJIT, which would mean two openings on UMCP's staff. Interesting to see how they fill those, hopefully Willard goes with somebody outside the area, although he seemed to prioritize the DMV when he filled out his staff the first time with Cox and Skinn. All the more reason to hope Jones gets AU. If they were able to swipe him from VT, you'd think they'd be pretty well positioned to land both Dickinson and Moore from the portal if they do indeed decide to transfer. For what it's worth, Hilltop Hoops' reporting this morning on transfers said that his understanding was that Dickinson would not be a good fit for Maryland, and thus, unlikely to land there.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 31, 2023 10:04:18 GMT -5
Ed Cooley has been here less than two weeks, and he is already all over the place and ingratiating himself to the community. I love it. This is the type of modern approach we need. Every time Cooley does something like this, he wins some fans for life. It adds up.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 17:41:38 GMT -5
I didn't make Ronnie the bogeyman. Aidan and a vocal section of Hoyatalk did, blaming him for all sorts of ills within the program, even though it has never been clear what exactly his role, authority or influence actually was. (From Aidan's piece--"In nearly every interview with current and former members of the program, the consensus reply to the question “What exactly does Ronny do for the program?” was either a shrug or an “I don’t know”. hilltophoops.substack.com/p/ronny-thompson-georgetown-basketball-influence ) On the other hand, you are absolutely correct that whatever he did or did not do in the program, his efforts did not result avoidance of the recent slow motion car crash, and as such his removal (along with the rest of the pre-Cooley staff) would appear more than warranted. And the removal of Ronny's name from the directory would seem to indicate that removal. Rejoice! When Reed or Cooley or JDG are willing to confirm he's no longer with the program or athletic department I'll rejoice because that would be a huge signal that leadership is finally ready to move forward Agreed, but I doubt that will happen--formal confirmation that Ronnie is not involved, that is. It's a good thing he's off the directory and doesn't have a formal role. Of course, Georgetown hiding his previous role for a while isn't confidence inspiring, but from what we have seen of Cooley so far, there's no indication he's willing to just let someone like Ronnie have influence. So, I am not concerned for now.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 15:18:06 GMT -5
I did think it was odd that Wahab left after 2021, but I am not sure I'd say he "flaked out." I am sure he had his reasons, and quite frankly, given the disaster that 2021-2022 became, it's possible Wahab saw the writing on the wall. The 2021-2022 team would have obviously been better had Wahab stayed, but it would have still been a really bad team. We also don't know why Wahab "left" this season especially since he came back. I am sure it wasn't easy coming back and coming off the bench, but he did. He didn't just quit. That makes me think he really did miss those games for reasons unrelated to Ezewiro. In any event, we don't know, and I think my position is just as reasonable as yours on whether he left this year because of Ezewiro or not. On Wahab's performance, you're just wrong on many of these: - professorhoya: "Could no longer automatically score down low" - Wahab shot 71.2% from two this year, anbd 67.3% in 2021. So, he shot better. He was also more efficient. - professorhoya: "suddenly couldn’t block shots/rim project or rebound like he did before Maryland." Yes, and no. Wahab's block rated did fall from 6.2 in 2021, to 4.2 in 2022 to 3.3 in 2023. So you're right about that. On rebounding though, Wahab rebounded better offensively this year than in the past by rebound rate, and his defensive rebounding rate in 2023 was only slightly under 2021. I would add Wahab improved over 2021 in other ways, including a much lower turnover rate, a slightly higher (but still not great) assist rate, and he got to the line more frequently than in 2021, too. He also shot free throws at a higher percentage than in 2021. Was Wahab's defense overall worse this year? Probably, but Georgetown as a team was WAY worse in 2023 than 2021, and Wahab was on both teams, so you cannot put that all on Wahab. Obviously, hi sblocking was worse. I don't know Wahab or his personality, and I don't know if Cooley feels like he can use Wahab in a better way than Ewing. But, if Cooley does want him, I would welcome him back with open arms. In fact, after going through this exercise, it makes me want him to stay (if Cooley wants him back) more. If he was as efficient as he was given the dumpster fire he was dealing with in our team and coaching last year, I think in a real system he could really excel. He left after he won the BET championship and made the tournament. That is highly unusual and flakey. Makes him a risk for Cooley. Your Rick Pitino would get rid of him and is already cleaning house. You never even liked the guy because he doesn’t have a “modern” game and doesn’t shoot 3s. You cherry pick some stats but he isn’t the same player he was pre Maryland. Pre Maryland he was a low post monster, rebounder and rim protector. His FG% was 58 and 59% pre Maryland. That’s very important for him because all he does is score down low. He was 51% last year. Huge difference. He was at 1.6 blocks sophomore season. Now at .7 blocks. He no longer protects the rim. And not as good a rebounder anymore either. Anyone with size or strength or length has always given him trouble and now there are a bunch of guys bigger and stronger than him. Sanogo, Clingan, Nungee, Dixon, His production is way down and he’s a flake risk plus has the losing mentality/culture. When you are rebuilding a program this is the type of guy that you have to clean out because losing and negativity is infectious. Lampkin, Kentucky transfer center are better options and you also have to account for keeping Mutombo. www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/qudus-wahab-1.htmlYou are right on FG%, I misquoted Wahab's stats - I mixed up FT% and 2 point percentage. So, you're right that his two point percentage went down. And I agree that's a big difference. So sorry about that. But, he was still a more efficient player this year than last year or the year before that. As far as your comments on him being a "flake risk" and having "the losing mentality/culture," unless you know Wahab personally I don't know how you possibly know that, unless you are an expert at reading body language and converting that into an understanding of whether someone has a "losing mentality/culture." Also, I don't think someone transferring makes them a "flake," and you are attributing Wahab's absence a few games on what YOU are deeming his being flaky, when in reality, we have know idea. For all we know, maybe someone in his family was sick. I have no idea, and you do not either. As I said, I really defer to Cooley on this. I think there are both reasons that he could be useful, and other reasons to move on, as well.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 14:19:09 GMT -5
He shouldn't have a thread. This should be in Pro & College Sports. Also, this could easily fall into the Big East 2023-2024 thread if we want to talk about Hopkins and Carter.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 14:16:49 GMT -5
16 of 20 projected starters in the Final Four were on their teams last year. The portal is certainly useful but you cannot restock your roster every year and have sustained success. You need some continuity. I mean, we should know this after Ewing’s awful failure to retain players led to 2022 and 2023. Just last week y’all were praising the teams and coaches that are making wholesale portal changes and how awesome Kelvin Sampson and Jim Larranaga were. You keep imputing things other people say onto me, just like you did about Wahab in the other thread. If you're going to attribute things to me, I'd prefer that you only do it when I actually say what you are referencing. I am pretty sure I have never commented about Larranaga in any capacity whatsoever, so I have no idea what you are talking about. As far as Sampson, I do think he's a good coach. On Sampson, some of the guys at Houston who got the most minutes this year were on last year's team, so I am not even sure what you are talking about. I have never been an advocate for the portal to the detriment of high school recruiting, either. Again, if you are talking about other posters, fine. But, I was long a critic of Ewing's inability to retain the roster. Restocking the roster from the portal every year simply doesn't work. Obviously, if you're in a situation like we are now, you need to use the portal more heavily, but that should be only for rebuilding, and getting 6-7 guys from the portal should not be a yearly event.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 14:01:22 GMT -5
People are way too hard on Wahab. I understand people don’t like that he left, but it’s hard to blame anybody for leaving under Ewing. You’ve trashed Qs game for years. Not sure why all of a sudden you are desperate to get him back. Would you rather have Mutombo or Q? Your statement that I have "trashed Qs game for years" is nonsense. Go back and find those posts, they don't exist. I think you are confusing my general statements about big men and old-style of playing, with Wahab personally. So, no, this is wrong. I also know I was happy he came back last year, at the same time many people were not happy because he had left. To answer your other question, I would rather have Mutombo than Wahab because I think Mutombo will stay two more years and has potential that is untapped. With Wahab, I think he can get better, but we largely know what we've got. I agree it's odd that he left after the BET, but he came back. Given that Ewing couldn't retain anybody, you would think his return would have made people like you (who supported Ewing to the end) happy.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 8:45:57 GMT -5
It’s useless speculation at this point, but I think had Cooley passed there’s a chance we would’ve considered English, as I think Shrewsberry would have gone to Notre Dame over us given his Midwest roots. For the Big East, I hope English does well but he’s by no means a sure thing at this point and he had a mixed record at George Mason. It’ll be interesting to see what he does with Providence.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 8:42:41 GMT -5
16 of 20 projected starters in the Final Four were on their teams last year. The portal is certainly useful but you cannot restock your roster every year and have sustained success. You need some continuity. I mean, we should know this after Ewing’s awful failure to retain players led to 2022 and 2023.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 30, 2023 8:38:03 GMT -5
Anyone who knows PE2 realizes that this is a loss for the program. Come again? I think he’s saying that Patrick Ewing Jr. not being employed by the program is a loss. I did see he’s still listed in the directory (or was 2 days ago) but I thought he has left a while back. I don’t know enough about Ewing Jr. to comment one way or another, but my understanding was that he had an alumni coordination role when he was employed and based on last week’s reports many alumni, including Reggie Williams were angry. So that does make me question how effectively alumni outreach had been done in the past. That said, I thought Ewing Jr. had moved on after the 2022 season ended. So not sure why it’s even a question?
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 29, 2023 18:47:05 GMT -5
Couldn’t he have entered the portal and gone into the draft too? That he’s not doing that tells me he’s actually more likely to come back, not less likely.
People are way too hard on Wahab. I understand people don’t like that he left, but it’s hard to blame anybody for leaving under Ewing.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 29, 2023 18:42:40 GMT -5
I know a lot of people are high on English, but if I were Providence I would have hired Rhoades or Odom ahead of English.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 29, 2023 14:18:47 GMT -5
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 28, 2023 23:38:10 GMT -5
How is it risky for Georgetown or Cooley? Worst case scenario Wahab sits and doesn’t play that much. Either way he’s done after this year. I really think some don’t appreciate that even in a horrible situation, with a terrible coach and no structure, Wahab was still very efficient. He isn’t a perfect player but he has some skill. I think much of the disappointment is his failure to improve, but and some of that falls on Wahab surely, but it also falls on Ewing and the staff. For me, the bigger question I cannot answer is does the skill Wahab does have in any way fit with how Cooley wants to play? That I don’t know. Obviously I also have no idea about the “fit” when it comes to other factors like personality. Wahab flaked out when he left right after the BET championship. Really hurt Ewings momentum which eventually led to being fired. Was really disruptive to the program and team. When he came back he was a shell of his former self. Could no longer automatically score down low suddenly couldn’t block shots/rim project or rebound like he did before Maryland. Then didn’t seem to take being benched for Ezeweiro well. I just think the risk of disruption/distraction/negativity is too great compared to the reward for Cooley. He’s a poor fit for Cooley because Cooley likes space eaters at center who are tough, strong and physical. I did think it was odd that Wahab left after 2021, but I am not sure I'd say he "flaked out." I am sure he had his reasons, and quite frankly, given the disaster that 2021-2022 became, it's possible Wahab saw the writing on the wall. The 2021-2022 team would have obviously been better had Wahab stayed, but it would have still been a really bad team. We also don't know why Wahab "left" this season especially since he came back. I am sure it wasn't easy coming back and coming off the bench, but he did. He didn't just quit. That makes me think he really did miss those games for reasons unrelated to Ezewiro. In any event, we don't know, and I think my position is just as reasonable as yours on whether he left this year because of Ezewiro or not. On Wahab's performance, you're just wrong on many of these: - professorhoya: "Could no longer automatically score down low" - Wahab shot 71.2% from two this year, anbd 67.3% in 2021. So, he shot better. He was also more efficient. - professorhoya: "suddenly couldn’t block shots/rim project or rebound like he did before Maryland." Yes, and no. Wahab's block rated did fall from 6.2 in 2021, to 4.2 in 2022 to 3.3 in 2023. So you're right about that. On rebounding though, Wahab rebounded better offensively this year than in the past by rebound rate, and his defensive rebounding rate in 2023 was only slightly under 2021. I would add Wahab improved over 2021 in other ways, including a much lower turnover rate, a slightly higher (but still not great) assist rate, and he got to the line more frequently than in 2021, too. He also shot free throws at a higher percentage than in 2021. Was Wahab's defense overall worse this year? Probably, but Georgetown as a team was WAY worse in 2023 than 2021, and Wahab was on both teams, so you cannot put that all on Wahab. Obviously, hi sblocking was worse. I don't know Wahab or his personality, and I don't know if Cooley feels like he can use Wahab in a better way than Ewing. But, if Cooley does want him, I would welcome him back with open arms. In fact, after going through this exercise, it makes me want him to stay (if Cooley wants him back) more. If he was as efficient as he was given the dumpster fire he was dealing with in our team and coaching last year, I think in a real system he could really excel.
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 28, 2023 21:30:54 GMT -5
Kayvaun on Cooley:
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 28, 2023 21:29:56 GMT -5
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 28, 2023 21:29:34 GMT -5
I didn't want Kayvaun Mulready not to have his own thread, so here we go! Welcome Kayvaun!
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Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 28, 2023 21:25:33 GMT -5
Cooley gets it. It's great that he is seemingly everywhere and wearing the Georgetown gear.
Did any official Georgetown twitter accounts tout Cooley being at the game? I still think it's crazy that none of the assistants have been officially announced yet.
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Transfers
Mar 28, 2023 18:36:21 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by hoyasaxa2003 on Mar 28, 2023 18:36:21 GMT -5
Nickleberry. As soon as he lands somewhere else, I'm sure he'll be following in tow Agreed that he was a member of the traveling Nickleberry. I expect both Nickelberry and Allen will be taking a step down in class wherever they land next. I hope our NIL guys didn’t give Allen a down payment on his services (though I suspect they did). Can you make an enforceable NIL commitment to someone who hasn’t even enrolled yet? I know it’d be bad form to pull that, but still…
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