|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Jan 3, 2020 10:08:24 GMT -5
Rodney Prior was an absolute beast. Totally agree. But he "needed the ball." If there was a problem with Akinjo and Mac, just imagine Rodney as a third in that mix. I always thought LJ did a pretty unselfish job of mixing in with Rodney. That team didn't make the tourney though. Our overall skill level has been non-tourney level for awhile which is pretty embarrassing considering how easy it is to make the tourney.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Jan 2, 2020 13:57:21 GMT -5
Not surprised in his decision, but still hurts. Third full recruiting cycle for Pat and there's not much to show for it at this point. I'm not blaming Coach, it's just frustrating how everything has worked out. We need some talent As someone else said, it's impossible to question Ewing's hard work, which is evident as he's constantly out on the trail. Like you, I am disappointed that it hasn't really manifested in much in the way of results. The Akinjo/LeBlanc/McClung class was really good, but as we know 2 of the 3 are gone, and there's nobody in the pipeline other than Sibley and Harris. I do think it is unfair to go after the kid. We've recruited guys who have decommitted from elsewhere (like McClung, or going farther back, Chris Wright), it happens. While there was some smoke here before the recent transfers, you cannot blame the kid if that contributed to his decision making. Ultimately, I don't see how you can fault a kid for going to a program like Michigan that has had so much recent success, not to mention Michigan is a fine academic institution, as well. Unless we start putting out a quality product that makes the tournament, recruiting is not going to get easier. And, while I think we have a decent chance at the tournament this season barring more injuries (and a quick McClung return), it's hard to envision being back there anytime soon given how short our roster is next season. Other than the base of McClung, Pickett, Blair, and the project bigs, it's looking like a major rebuild year next season. Sustainability is the key and in this transfer environment, you can't count on a roster two years out let alone one. Ewing will need to hit some out of the park in the Spring for us to build the overall talent level to where we can be top 1/3 of the league every year which is where we should be. I love his effort though.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 30, 2019 14:13:00 GMT -5
How did they beat Texas? Those are some horrible L's they took and the only outlier is their last game against Texas. I'm sure it will be tight but we gotta get a W.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 30, 2019 12:07:24 GMT -5
Hopefully Pat is candid with them about our needs and their potential. We have a need at the four, not so much at the 5. Time would probably be available at the 4 even with a jump by Wilson in the offseason but two kids with the same skills might be one too many.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 30, 2019 12:05:36 GMT -5
Win the next two and we should be in the polls. Starts tomorrow and I think a Seton Hall team even with Powell back is very beatable.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 23, 2019 10:48:07 GMT -5
So now Yurt has been putting up number only because he is grabbing boards over smaller opponents? Hmmmmm. Why doesn't Seton Hall 's big guy do that too? Funny how fans of Duke and Memphis never said that about Carey or Wiseman after they feasted on inferior teams. Heck I recall when Mourning and Mutombo were dominating inside against even weaker ooc opponents early in a season without wondering if those results would translate to better BE competition. Have people forgotten Yurtseven made an All ACC Team as a sophomore? MCI I hope you are right. I just see a lot of those boards over the top turning into fouls against bigger foe.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 23, 2019 10:01:37 GMT -5
We’ve gotten lucky so many times with our opponents missing their top guy. Would have been nice to continue that but no such luck it seems. Maybe he’ll be rusty though and chemistry will be off. I’ll settle for 1-1 on the road to start. Was going to say the 2nd best scenario is getting SH with Powell on his 1st game back...all the confidence gained by the role players will be wasted for that game and Powell will likely be really rusty.... That and with Mamushakevli out, we should win this one. Yurt will have to deal with the length of their center. He has been getting by on grabbing boards over the top of smaller foes. That isn't going to happen in BE play.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 20, 2019 13:57:53 GMT -5
I am not a local but Whitney Young is a highly reputable program in Chicago. Didn’t Allen play with Cowan at Dematha? Beard and Seward could be a similar combination. Cowan went to St. Johns. I am sure Dematha had a lot of guard talent when Allen was there (Maybe Markelle Fultz)?
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 18, 2019 16:31:57 GMT -5
I would have been interested to see how we played against Rogers. Playing a small quick guard I have no doubts Jagan and Allen could handle the defensive responsibility but I would be interested if those two could isolate and post a guy like that.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 18, 2019 16:30:36 GMT -5
Blair has made some outstanding passes. He’s contributed beyond making threes. I would not be shocked to see Blair starting next year. At this point he would have to. We will only have three guards on the roster in him, Mac & Harris. I hope he starts but as our third guard in a three guard line-up. Our 1 hopefully isn't on the roster or signed as a recruit yet as I think we will need a grad transfer while any freshman acclimates. There was a reason with Akinjo at the 1 last year that we weren't great and I think it is hard for a freshman point to guide a winning team.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 18, 2019 10:09:31 GMT -5
I also expect Yurt to hit his stride in January. He has had rusty moments where I don't think you can replicate game intensity sometimes in practice. Coach has his work cut out for him to fill holes next year but there is no reason this team can't outperform expectations (those post transfer expectations).
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 17, 2019 14:35:54 GMT -5
I doubt this is a Brandon Bolden situation. Oak Hill probably spreds minutes & shots around so a small outing isn't a big deal.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 17, 2019 13:09:36 GMT -5
Guess I have been drinking the cool aid more than the coaches or the AP... To be honest the real annoyance I have with this poll is the constant seeming disrespect of the big East. Am I the only one that feels that way? We are about to go into conference play and beat each other up. So if we don’t have some ranked teams going in—-that doesn’t help. We kind of got hammered in the Big Ten challenge so its hard to argue. We did well in the Big 12 challenge. I think teams are ranked right where they should be presently and I would like to see us close out the OOC 3-0 and take the first 2 in Big East play. That will get us on the radar for the rest of the year.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 16, 2019 13:47:41 GMT -5
This kid is still on the radar right? We will need another wing or two in addition to Sibley with recent roster turnover.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 16, 2019 13:46:16 GMT -5
Coaches are probably just looking at records. WE've got 3 losses. If we win the next three against subpar competition, we will be 10-3 and my guess is we sniff the polls then. The Provy & Seton Hall start to the season looks more palatable as well.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 16, 2019 11:04:16 GMT -5
No reason for Ewing not to be at this. It is close, no need to fly, and he can watch multiple kids. Williams is gone but who knows what may shake out in the Spring. As the Cuse game displayed, we are going to need a guard or two in addition to our current recruit as well as a wing or two. The only spot we seemingly are good as at the 5 with the current freshman.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 13, 2019 15:56:54 GMT -5
CALL OF THE PRESS...Bring on the zone.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 13, 2019 15:56:28 GMT -5
Hopefully against Samford, UMBC and American we get Timmy & Malcolm some run. Not ideal against Cuse
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 13, 2019 15:27:54 GMT -5
Azinge & Robinson better be ready to go. Could use some ball handling in this one. Can't afford foul trouble.
|
|
|
Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Dec 13, 2019 15:09:39 GMT -5
Well that scholarship crunch for next year eased up. We just need the core left to put together an NCAA campaign, not get hurt, not get in foul trouble, and back fill in the spring with minutes to spare for 20/21.
|
|