I may be insane, but..

[ebucklewis]

I think the team will be better next year (although that does not necessarily mean we will be #1).. To arrive at this conclusion I needed to make some assumptions that are not too far-fetched i.e. - both Melo and Waiters will move on.

I think that losing both of those players will hurt, but it's not like the cupboard is bare behind them. You replace Waiters in the rotation with MCW who arguably has the greatest NBA potential on the team. Then you replace Melo with Coleman, who may be more advanced offensively that Melo.

additionally - MCW and RC will both be better next year ( I predict much better ). And Cooney has had a year in the program to give us a good 3rd guard. Triche should provide senior leadership..And a flock of talented 6'8" wings. What am I missing??

I know I wear Orange colored glasses but I seriously think we will be better.

 

[longislandcuse]

MCW-Triche-CJ-Rak-DC2. Cooney-Grant-Southerland-BMK-Mookie

I just worry about the 3 point shooting of our starting lineup if CJ doesnt develop a solid shot. Serious 3 point shooting firepower off the bench though.

Perhaps Southerland starts and CJ is first "big" off the bench?

 

[newmexicuse]

I think the team will be better next year (although that does not necessarily mean we will be #1).. To arrive at this conclusion I needed to make some assumptions that are not too far-fetched i.e. - both Melo and Waiters will move on.

I think that losing both of those players will hurt, but it's not like the cupboard is bare behind them. You replace Waiters in the rotation with MCW who arguably has the greatest NBA potential on the team. Then you replace Melo with Coleman, who may be more advanced offensively that Melo.

additionally - MCW and RC will both be better next year ( I predict much better ). And Cooney has had a year in the program to give us a good 3rd guard. Triche should provide senior leadership..And a flock of talented 6'8" wings. What am I missing??

I know I wear Orange colored glasses but I seriously think we will be better.

I could be wrong, but I believe Dion emerges as the big-time go to guy before this season is over. MCW & Cooney will not be able to replace that next season. Though DC may well be an O upgrade over Melo as a frosh, it is very unlikely that he will be able to play D at Melo's current level as a frosh. Foul trouble is always anh issue, too, for frosh bigs...Fab has mostly gotten past that as a soph.

To me, next year's team might be better even if Melo leaves, but no way will it better wo both Melo & Dion.

 

[jdubs30]

I think the team will be better next year (although that does not necessarily mean we will be #1).. To arrive at this conclusion I needed to make some assumptions that are not too far-fetched i.e. - both Melo and Waiters will move on.

I think that losing both of those players will hurt, but it's not like the cupboard is bare behind them. You replace Waiters in the rotation with MCW who arguably has the greatest NBA potential on the team. Then you replace Melo with Coleman, who may be more advanced offensively that Melo.

additionally - MCW and RC will both be better next year ( I predict much better ). And Cooney has had a year in the program to give us a good 3rd guard. Triche should provide senior leadership..And a flock of talented 6'8" wings. What am I missing??

I know I wear Orange colored glasses but I seriously think we will be better.

We might. But you could make the argument that Waiters/Melo/Scoop/KJ are our 4 best players (at worse, 4 of our best 5). This isn't a slight to the guys behind them, but no team in the country would lose their 4 best players and become better, at least right away.

 

[jordoo]

If Dion stays then yes, if not then no. Also losing fab changes our defense completely because of the shotblocking aspect as well as replacing him with a freshman Coleman. Most freshman struggle to learn the zone.

 

[jdubs30]

If Dion stays then yes, if not then no. Also losing fab changes our defense completely because of the shotblocking aspect as well as replacing him with a freshman Coleman. Most freshman struggle to learn the zone.

Isn't Coleman like 6'9 as well? He'll probably be a better area rebounder than Fab, but he won't block/alter nearly the amount of shots that Melo does.

I'd love both of them though.

 

[longislandcuse]

I would say Waiters/KJo/Melo/Triche are our 4 best. Scoop has my respect but his loss doesnt hurt us much and may be addition by subtraction. The potential of next years team is Kentucky-like in the fact that we have ridiculous young unproven talent.

MCW-McDonalds AA
Triche-Possible collegiate AA in his senior year.
Fair/Southerland/Grant-tons of talent but not sure anyone gives us KJo's production.
Rak-McDonalds AA
DC2-McDonalds AA

Cooney-Top 100 recruit with a redshirt under his belt.
BMK-Good backup center.

Pretty much everyone on this team's 10 deep, including Mookie was a high rated recruit.

 

[longislandcuse]

If Dion stays then yes, if not then no. Also losing fab changes our defense completely because of the shotblocking aspect as well as replacing him with a freshman Coleman. Most freshman struggle to learn the zone.

Although Rak will be a soph and BMK a healthy junior. Both are shot blockers. Not denying the loss defensively of Fab though.

 

[jdubs30]

Although Rak will be a soph and BMK a healthy junior. Both are shot blockers. Not denying the loss defensively of Fab though.

Fab has become an offensive and defensive threat. I love BMK, but he's not gonna score anytime soon, we'll see what Rak can do in a year, but that's the difference; Fab could easily give you 12/7/5 now it seems like, I don't know if anyone else will be able to do that. DC will score and get boards, but the blocks won't be there I don't think.

 

[jordoo]

Isn't Coleman like 6'9 as well? He'll probably be a better area rebounder than Fab, but he won't block/alter nearly the amount of shots that Melo does.

I'd love both of them though.

yah I think Coleman is 6'9 big bodied but pretty athletic for his build and weight. Id love to see him lose some weight before the start of next season. He is definitally not the shot blocker that Fab has become but he does seem to be avery good rebounder because he uses that body to keep guys away from the ball. If Fab and Dion stay they might as well cancel the season for everyone else.

 

[shermstheman]

The fact that we're #1 now speaks against the idea of us being better next year. We lose the leadership of Scoop and KJo, not to be underestimated. As some have pointed out, we may well lose our four best players. I don't care how much growth the rest of the team has- you can't replace that. No way Coleman/Rak replace what Fabs doing. I doubt MCW can be as dynamic as Dion. Very good- yes, better than this years, I doubt it. BUT...I'll just enjoy this ride and not worry about next year til next year.

 

[realorange]

The fact that we're #1 now speaks against the idea of us being better next year. We lose the leadership of Scoop and KJo, not to be underestimated. As some have pointed out, we may well lose our four best players. I don't care how much growth the rest of the team has- you can't replace that. No way Coleman/Rak replace what Fabs doing. I doubt MCW can be as dynamic as Dion. Very good- yes, better than this years, I doubt it. BUT...I'll just enjoy this ride and not worry about next year til next year.

MCW from a pure PG standpoint will be better than Dion. He will also take it to the basket, but his strength will be getting others involved. It's not a stretch to see him become one of our 4 all time best guards.

 

[SoBristol]

The fact this is even a discussion (can next year match a team that is 17-0 at this point) says a lot about the state of the program.

If Dion leaves, you lose the 3 guys who are best at putting the ball on the floor and getting inside. If Fab leaves, you lose the guy who took Pope out of the game (and will do the same for most of the bigs on the schedule). Difficult to replace either of those key elements (dribble drive; and the 7 ft shot blocker). Triche isn't a vocal leader, so you have to wonder about senior leadership as well.

How good will MCW become as a PG who can penetrate and create? How much progress with Rak make year to year, as an offensive threat and as a defender to pair with Coleman? JS has upside, will it materialize? Have to have a lot of positive answers to all questions. Possible --

 

[Niastri]

A starting lineup with Triche and CarterWilliams will be just fine shooting. Then you have Cooney and Southerland off the bench. Depending on the development of Christmas, and Coleman's conditioning, we might be better next year. A always in college ball, it depends on year over year improvement from players as much as anything else to determine how good a team will be.

 

[rrlbees]

We could be better next year, but maybe not. I don't think anyone can judge what kind of improvement a player can show from one year to another.

But, this conversation reminds me of the year we had seniors Addison and Alexis leaving and then Pearl announced he was going pro. We were like...oh no, we're gonna suck next year. But a sophomore PG named Douglas stormed onto the scene as a starter, a freshman named Coleman was a godsend and some senior by the name of Triche was a heady leader and we went to the F4.

 

[SUSScuse]

Along with the above there is always that top 40PF named Grant who wasn't even mentioned.

 

[thebigeast44]

If everyone comes back, we're preseason #1 and the favorite to win it all. If Dion and Melo leave, we'll still have a very good team but it's hard to prognosticate at this time as to how good we could be.