Donnie Freeman transferring to St Johns

[RF2044]

Personally, I don't think it's just about "being pushed". Freeman didn't play a style of ball that emphasized his athletic strengths.

He drifted around the perimeter far too much. Any coach worth their salt would have him moving with purpose, taking advantage of mismatches, etc. Watch any NBA playoff game tonight and we'll find some guy playing the way Freeman should.

Needless to say, Red was incapable of both scheming that up and convincing Freeman to play in that manner.

Pitino will provide Freeman the blueprint. It'll be on him to follow it.

I don't disagree with any of your observatios about how Freeman played on offense.

But there was DEFINITELY a component of effort / intensity / defensive tenacity that was lacking, and that is 100% something that coaching can address. Pitino is going to demand that effort from Freeman, or Donnie will find his a$$ parked on the bench.

If anyone is capable of bringing that out of him, it is Pitino. And if he can't do it, then Donnie's NBA pipe dream will pop like a bubble.

 

[Nicknack]

I wouldn't bet against Rick Pitino. Even someone like Ian Jackson, night and day difference the toughness he displayed last season from his North Carolina year.

Yes, that was my point.

 

[RF2044]

It's interesting that Bruce Pearl still gets pilloried for his wrongdoing.
Yet no one says a word about Pitino.

As for Donnie Freeman...he's going to learn to play defense very quickly.
And that will make him a genuine NBA player.

Which wrongdoing specifically are you referring to? Because with Pearl, there are too many to keep track of.

Pearl was a wannabe snitch who tried to turn in another coach who was innocent, and then proceeded to cheat indiscriminately at multiple stops after he rebuilt his career.

He SHOULD get pilloried -- and that has nothing to do with whether Pitino deserves to be as well.