Donnie and JJ back

[Sbucketball]

Good on Red man. This is probably our biggest and most difficult retention since the portal started. I hope to see him get the guys needed to give him a fighting chance and then whatever happens, happens.

 

[Irt4su]

 

[JOC44]

This is huge. We were a losing team with a coach on the hot seat this year. To get good players, we'd have to grossly overpay or assure them that we're going to have good players for them to play with. Donnie looked much better to me as a frosh than he did as a high schooler. Similar progression and we have our stretch four who can be a magnet for other good players (like a point guard). Now we can show top portal guys some semblance of the team they would play with.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Shooting is a desperate need. That has to be the focus of the portal with our pg pickup.

defense is where im most worried, personally

shooting is also important though...

JJ and Donnie havent shown to be "plus" defenders, by any means...so either they improve there or better defenders are brought in to bolster them as starters, imo

 

[Cusefan0307]

The only point guard I think would be a better fit is if Naithan George hit the portal from Georgia Tech. But explain what concerns you on Cadeau?

We cannot play him and JJ in the backcourt together. Rich mans Carlos.

 

[Fly Rodder]

 

[Sdot]

Keep an eye on William Kyle from UCLA.

 

[Scott11]

The only point guard I think would be a better fit is if Naithan George hit the portal from Georgia Tech. But explain what concerns you on Cadeau?

He can't shoot at all. Horrific idea pairing him with JJ.

 

[bnoro]

Hopefully JJ can figure out the hitch in his shot, and also work on his handle/finishing this offseason.

Very happy to see year 2 of Donnie.

 

[Cusefan69]

It's going to be fascinating to see how quickly we get visits. Prime players get their calendars filled pretty quickly. First visits matter. Who will be our "first visits"?

 

[JOC44]

Hard, hard, pass on Cadeau.

Agree with you there. For a guy with such a good pedigree, he never looked very good to me.

 

[dwilmont44]

A little surprised and very happy about Donnie. Hoping he stays healthy and puts together that potential.

 

[Etown]

This is great news! Hopefully, they can bring in some key guys in portal to add to the current roster.

 

[MikeSU02]

Donnie is the most important get we'll have this year. Kudos to Red et al.

JJ needs to work on some stuff and decision making to improve efficiency, but if he can focus on what he CAN do well and allow others to take some of the burden he had this year, hopefully he can get to where we need him to. Local kid. Seems like a good kid. Obviously wants to be here. So rooting for him.

Need some work elsewhere and we def need Red to improve, but I'm going be happy today.

 

[Newhouser]

We need a PG to get the ball out of JJs hands .

Donnie is the key. JJ is fine but still think we could do better, but two solid roster spots to build with.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Keep an eye on William Kyle from UCLA.

Looks like he was very good two years ago but had a rough time this season. Super athletic though.

 

[Sdot]

Looks like he was very good two years ago but had a rough time this season. Super athletic though.

Yep pretty sure he’s visiting.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm not suggesting everyone ignore the obvious with JJ. I'm there with you. We need to deal with the reality of what he is and can be.

BUT...

He's a local kid who clearly wants to win at home. At best, we can hope he has an amazing SR season without crapping on him all offseason.

Again, not suggesting we shouldn't be recruiting over. We should be giving him some comp for PT, imo. But we can hope he steps up his game to the next level.

It's not crazy to think JJ, as a senior, can come back as a much improved basketball player and give us his best year of basketball.

We seem to be forgetting that's how it normally works.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Yep pretty sure he’s visiting.

 

[pearl31]

We need a PG to get the ball out of JJs hands

this this this

 

[Red2003]

Hopefully JJ can figure out the hitch in his shot, and also work on his handle/finishing this offseason.

Very happy to see year 2 of Donnie.

What hitch!? Donnie and JJ last year and this year.

 

[kingtidge]

I would like to thank the boot.

I am going home now and putting my aircast on in solidarity...

 

[djcon57]

It's not crazy to think JJ, as a senior, can come back as a much improved basketball player and give us his best year of basketball.

We seem to be forgetting that's how it normally works.

I'm also not going to be shocked if he's the same player we've seen for 2 years, which is why we need alternatives, but we can hope he starts doing certain things better on D and is more efficient with diff parts around him

 

[Red2003]

Good stuff. Long way to go but this is what building looks like and not how last year went.

1. Recruit Highly rated Frosh - Check
2. Portal out non producers - Check
3. Retain young / veteran Talent - Check
4. Portal in best available with money and playing time - In Progress
5. Fill Coaching and Support Staff Need - ?
Seeing Auburn with a Hoops support staff of 22 and us with 12 needs to be addressed. Let's be honest, Autry needs to at least change up something with his staff cuz something wasn't working last year.

Overall this is huge news and gives Autry and Kline something to work with when they're hitting the portal.

 

[kingtidge]

It's not crazy to think JJ, as a senior, can come back as a much improved basketball player and give us his best year of basketball.

We seem to be forgetting that's how it normally works.

It rarely works like that anymore.

The biggest jumps in improvement are normally frosh to sophomore and sophomore to junior.

JJ will be coming back as the JJ we know most likely... which is OK if we can build better around him and limit his minutes more.

Good stuff. Long way to go but this is what building looks like and not how last year went.

...
4. Portal in best available with money and playing time - In Progress
5. Fill Coaching and Support Staff Need - ?
Seeing Auburn with a Hoops support staff of 22 and us with 12 needs to be addressed. Let's be honest, Autry needs to at least change up something with his staff cuz something wasn't working last year.

That's on Red.

Wildhack said when he confirmed Red's coming back that he's ready to support Red however he wants with additional coaches and that Red had not asked for any additional coaches up to that point.