Donnie Freeman injures foot

[IthacaMatt]

Please, that is not accurate. They get pulled if they get repeatedly torched on defense or are responsible for sloppy turnovers. Part of the learning curve. Most Freshman have one. If a kid isn't mentally tough enough to learn from it and improve, get hungrier from siting on the pine he better take advantage of the free education he is getting because he will never get to the NBA.

If he actually pulls people for repeated defensive mistakes, then why were we down 22-2 the other night before he called his first time out? He has started pulling people for defensive mistakes, but it took him until the season was already effectively over before he started doing it. Bad defensive habits were already well ingrained by then.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Yes Donnie and Sadiq are close. Yes Donnie expressed interest to come back after 10 games because he wants to be here and wants to play with those guys next year. Yes I expect Donnie to be back next year. When something changes I’ll post it.

How can I do give you an internet hug

 

[kcsu]

Cuse will have money to compete even if they do. Donnie got 150k from cuse this year. He had offers that were double and triple that. His injury is not helping his draft stock or his transfer stock either… And he knows how much the roster next year will suit his game

Thank you for sharing this information. I know that i forget that these are young guys and that relationships still do matter that it isnt always about the money.

 

[Red2003]

If he actually pulls people for repeated defensive mistakes, then why were we down 22-2 the other night before he called his first time out? He has started pulling people for defensive mistakes, but it took him until the season was already effectively over before he started doing it. Bad defensive habits were already well ingrained by then.

Hah tough to argue that.

 

[jdubs30]

He does Donnie fit with Sadiq? They’re both the same size - neither could really shoot or handle the ball. Donnie is definitely someone who can make 3s but the consistency isn’t there yet. Plus you’d still need a big on the floor because I don’t think either are playing the 5.

Defensively I think it would work

 

[Newhouser]

He does Donnie fit with Sadiq? They’re both the same size - neither could really shoot or handle the ball. Donnie is definitely someone who can make 3s but the consistency isn’t there yet. Plus you’d still need a big on the floor because I don’t think either are playing the 5.

Defensively I think it would work

I am back to wanting the 5 best athletes on the floor. For a while in JB's term I wanted to get shooters even if it meant less athleticism, but now I want as many fast twitch, strong and tough guys on the floor as we can. Screw positions and it's not like our offensive sets get us open looks. Let's get after people on the glass and defensive end like Houston.

 

[Fly Rodder]

He does Donnie fit with Sadiq? They’re both the same size - neither could really shoot or handle the ball. Donnie is definitely someone who can make 3s but the consistency isn’t there yet. Plus you’d still need a big on the floor because I don’t think either are playing the 5.

No one knows what the lineup is going to look like next season, but I think there's a lot of smoke being blown around to get the heat off of Red.

 

[kingtidge]

If he actually pulls people for repeated defensive mistakes, then why were we down 22-2 the other night before he called his first time out? He has started pulling people for defensive mistakes, but it took him until the season was already effectively over before he started doing it. Bad defensive habits were already well ingrained by then.

I think it's things like this where people lose patience. I know I do.

The start of the Stanford game was a complete trainwreck and coaching malpractice.

To his credit, Red used the next game to change how he prepares the guys for the start of games with pre-game practices and it seemed to work against a very pedestrian Cal team. Is this something we're going to see regularly??

But there's been a lot of remedial coaching behavior that is frustrating.

Short-hooking players dogging it on defense is just starting to happen now?? This is basic stuff you'd expect from day one (at least I did.)

I also expected to have patience with Red as he learns the finer nuances of being a head coach, but I was not prepared with how remedial some of his behavior has been on the sideline. There was always going to be a learning curve level as a 1st-time HC, but he's further behind the 8-ball than I was expecting, and why I question his ability to do the job effectively.

I really like Red as person, as a former player, and he seems to have some chops on the recruiting trail and connects with kids.

Obviously, I hope it works out and he makes substantial strides with his coaching chops, but I can't lie - my optimism for that is a bit shaken.

 

[Red2003]

I am back to wanting the 5 best athletes on the floor. For a while in JB's term I wanted to get shooters even if it meant less athleticism, but now I want as many fast twitch, strong and tough guys on the floor as we can. Screw positions and it's not like our offensive sets get us open looks. Let's get after people on the glass and defensive end like Houston.

Same here. I don’t care about stat stuffers. That’s all smoke.

Get guys that are long, athletic and have a motor and we’ll be worlds better whether the coach can coach them or not.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Same here. I don’t care about stat stuffers. That’s all smoke.

Get guys that are long, athletic and have a motor and we’ll be worlds better whether the coach can coach them or not.

Better get an entire new team then. The guys we have coming in along with the potential returnees don’t fit that style. On top of that Houston is one of the best shooting teams in the country this season at 39.3% from 3. Better than any single player on our team. We need to commit to a style and stick with it.

 

[Red2003]

Better get an entire new team then. The guys we have coming in along with the potential returnees don’t fit that style. On top of that Houston is one of the best shooting teams in the country this season at 39.3% from 3. Better than any single player on our team. We need to commit to a style and stick with it.

You ain’t no psychic. You know 3 freshman coming in and at best can guess 2-3 likely returnees. That leaves 5-6 portal guys and you have no idea who they’ll be.

 

[Cusefan0307]

You ain’t no psychic. You know 3 freshman coming in and at best can guess 2-3 likely returnees. That leaves 5-6 portal guys and you have no idea who they’ll be.

I assume we are not going to have unlimited NIL. I don't think it takes a psychic to figure that out.

 

[Fly Rodder]

You ain’t no psychic. You know 3 freshman coming in and at best can guess 2-3 likely returnees. That leaves 5-6 portal guys and you have no idea who they’ll be.

It's pretty easy to know who the primary guys will be. There are *four* incoming freshman, one is definitely starting (Sadiq), two others can be considered either likely to start (Fennell) or potentially a starter (Kiyan), and then Womack is a longer term guy. IF* Donnie comes back, it being the big topic of this thread, that won't be to sit either, so now you have two, probably three starters.

What are you doing with JJ? Expecting him to bounce or return? If you want him back, that's probably 4 of the 5 starters. It looks like the last piece would be a scoring wing or a center. So potential portal guys could be two of three (a center, a wing and/or a PG). But that depends on what Red wants to do and who sticks around. And if they're not starting Fennell, then they're not going to wait until he gets on campus to figure out if they want to add a starting PG.

But of course, some with connections seem to contradict what you're writing: If Freeman knows that next season's lineup is good for him, then the staff must have some solid ideas about who will be here and what role they're playing.

 

[Sbucketball]

It's pretty easy to know who the primary guys will be. There are *four* incoming freshman, one is definitely starting (Sadiq), two others can be considered either likely to start (Fennell) or potentially a starter (Kiyan), and then Womack is a longer term guy. IF* Donnie comes back, it being the big topic of this thread, it won't be sit. And if you want Freeman back, that won't be to sit either, so now you have two, probably three starters.

What are you doing with JJ? Expecting him to bounce or return? If you want him back, that's probably 4 of the 5 starters. It looks like the last piece would be a scoring wing or a center. So potential portal guys could be two of three (a center, a wing and/or a PG). But that depends on what Red wants to do and who sticks around. And if they're not starting Fennell, then they're not going to wait until he gets on campus to figure out if they want to add a starting PG.

But of course, some with connections seem to contradict what you're writing: If Freeman knows that next season's lineup is good for him, then the staff must have some solid ideas about who will be here and what role they're playing.

I've given this thought and I feel like bubble will be our ceiling next year with the starters were probably penciling in, including if Donnie returns and we start Donnie/Sadiq/JJ. If this program wants to contend again, keep and start Freeman with Sadiq getting 20 minutes off the bench and a stud starter SF from the portal. Elite PG, and a solid center. Kiyan, Moore and Fennell off the bench, among others. But, Sadiq isn't coming here to play off the bench, so I don't see it - we're either losing Donnie which hurts badly or we're playing a very strange combo of Sadiq/Donnie at forward which might not fit well. If we're starting Fennell/JJ/Freeman/Sadiq/portal, while I like the pieces I'll feel like we're just killing time.

 

[phil77]

I've given this thought and I feel like bubble will be our ceiling next year with the starters were probably penciling in, including if Donnie returns and we start Donnie/Sadiq/JJ. If this program wants to contend again, keep and start Freeman with Sadiq getting 20 minutes off the bench and a stud starter SF from the portal. Elite PG, and a solid center. Kiyan, Moore and Fennell off the bench, among others. But, Sadiq isn't coming here to play off the bench, so I don't see it - we're either losing Donnie which hurts badly or we're playing a very strange combo of Sadiq/Donnie at forward which might not fit well. If we're starting Fennell/JJ/Freeman/Sadiq/portal, while I like the pieces I'll feel like we're just killing time.

I thought before the injury there was talk that JJ wouldn't be back? That may have changed since.

JJ/White/Freeman will be a terrible shooting combo but I imagine they would go Portal/JJ/White/Freeman/Portal - Fennell - Anthony - and a few portal bench pieces like Taylor and Davis. Not sure if Moore will stay or not. But again, it depends on how much NIL money they have and how much JJ White and Freeman take to come/stay here. Then, what is left to fill out the roster will determine how good we are.

 

[Red2003]

I've given this thought and I feel like bubble will be our ceiling next year with the starters were probably penciling in, including if Donnie returns and we start Donnie/Sadiq/JJ. If this program wants to contend again, keep and start Freeman with Sadiq getting 20 minutes off the bench and a stud starter SF from the portal. Elite PG, and a solid center. Kiyan, Moore and Fennell off the bench, among others. But, Sadiq isn't coming here to play off the bench, so I don't see it - we're either losing Donnie which hurts badly or we're playing a very strange combo of Sadiq/Donnie at forward which might not fit well. If we're starting Fennell/JJ/Freeman/Sadiq/portal, while I like the pieces I'll feel like we're just killing time.

While I agree. I think our fanbase and for good reason has been conditioned over the last several years to expect there will be no improvement from beginning of the season to the end of the season.

So when people throw in their takes on rotations and ceilings next year it’s all based on how players are expected to play in November based on how they are playing in high school and now.

I get it, the staff and program haven’t shown us much else to think something else could happen.

In my twisted brain I keep thinking what could happen if the team next year actually clicked early on and stayed healthy and improved during the year. Talent aside just these 3 things happening should make a big difference.

 

[Sbucketball]

I thought before the injury there was talk that JJ wouldn't be back? That may have changed since.

JJ/White/Freeman will be a terrible shooting combo but I imagine they would go Portal/JJ/White/Freeman/Portal - Fennell - Anthony - and a few portal bench pieces like Taylor and Davis. Not sure if Moore will stay or not. But again, it depends on how much NIL money they have and how much JJ White and Freeman take to come/stay here. Then, what is left to fill out the roster will determine how good we are.

There was talk of JJ not coming back, but I don't know how accurate it was. He's a hometown kid who is close with Red and has been given the keys, so unless he's getting a ridiculous NIL offer I don't know why he would leave. And his pro opportunities won't be good enough this Spring to make him skip his last year of college. So, unless someone says he's definitely gone, I'm assuming there's a good chance he's our starting SG next year.