The whole roster construction of this year's team is bizarre. Why the decision to go with only 3 guards and 3 forwards? Why only bring in a non-scoring PG with no offensive skills ... like playing with 2 and a 1/2 guards? JB obviously expected the starters to all play 35 minutes a game and never miss time due to injury or Covid. I can only guess they expected Swider to be a lot better than he is and that Benny would contribute a lot more than he has. In other words, more talent evaluation errors of which there have been too many of in the last several years.
Totally an outsider's view, but it always seemed like JB/the staff wasn't really going to 'go out and hit the portal.' We had a laissez-faire attitude, and took two players who were already most familiar to us. Swider, from his high school recruiting, and Symir from his hometown connections/friendships or whatever. Oh, and number one son, who was also vaguely familiar and with a commitment that also didn't require much effort to secure. It was the lazy approach.
Yes, we got what we thought would be another weapon in Swider—another gunner who could space the floor for Buddy. But, is that what we really needed, considering the rest of the composition? Jimmy could have been a very valuable piece if he were considered an auxiliary piece, not a frontline starter, relied on for 35 minutes and to be the #2 option. But, dad wasn't bringing him in to support a freshman or a different outsider forward.
Symir... i dunno—he doesn't
not make sense. Staff just expected him to be better at doing exactly what he does. He wasn't expected to supplant Joe, just not be a liability. Maybe serve as a defensive tool for a few possessions or in a press. But, he was a safe, comfortable pickup. I think the transfer portal world knew (or would easily be convinced by other coaches also recruiting from the portal) that Joe was going to get all the minutes, and that Jimmy Jr was a lock to come in, as well, and take a ton of the minutes. So, why would anyone of impact have bothered to consider us?
Definitely, Benny was expected to do more, sooner. I can't fault the staff for that, unless it's all a matter of confidence
