Now that GMac is HC, what does next year's squad look like?

[shu 49]

My biggest fear this off season is we low ball Freeman, or run him off altogether.

Then he goes to another team that coaches him well, and we literally told an All American to start packing.

On a bad team, with bad coaching, without consistently enforced role or system, Freeman was 16.5ppa, 7.2rpg with almost a block and a steal on defense, handing out 1.3 assists. In spite of the animated trauma response that was our team defense, Freeman dramatically improved on that end. He came out of high school literally not knowing how to rotate to the middle to contest shots. He got way better very quickly.

He also has played only 37 career games... Freeman is a leap in effectiveness away from being a superb player that can make a team's season. That is no less true going into next season as it was this season.

The difference is that I am far less optimistic of him reaching his potential after this past season... But I also am very content to lay a lot of the blame for this bad past season on the coaching staff. Red just never really seemed to have the team after Vegas, and it got worse as the season went along.

Each of the Red's seasons were punctuated with chaos on and off the court. I can only hope GMAC, coming in after two seasons as head coach, manages player personalities and expectations better than Red did.

I disagree. He gave up playing against Boozer completely. He stands at 3 point line and when some else shoots he doesn’t rebound the ball. He gets back like a guard. He IS NOT A GUARD. I hate when bigs wanna play only that way. Jesus look at Denver guy. He plays in and out. Passes. Also Donnie’s defense is not good with low to no effort. He either wants to play in nba or doesn’t. We shall see but he ain’t ready as of now.

 

[Irishsecra1]

Sherman Douglas is one of the all-time greatest players in program history.

This kid will be lucky to be 1/10 of the player The General was.

Let's stop with the hyperbole.

Not comparing him to the General, just saying being 6 foot doesn't mean he cant be good.

 

[shu 49]

Donnie isn’t staying, he came for straughn and red, both are gone

Fine I’m ok with that.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

I disagree. He gave up playing against Boozer completely. He stands at 3 point line and when some else shoots he doesn’t rebound the ball. He gets back like a guard. He IS NOT A GUARD. I hate when bigs wanna play only that way. Jesus look at Denver guy. He plays in and out. Passes. Also Donnie’s defense is not good with low to no effort. He either wants to play in nba or doesn’t. We shall see but he ain’t ready as of now.

A lot of that sounds like Donte Green and Chris McCullough. And can’t all three of those characterizations be considered a reflection on their coaching?

If a HC doesn’t want them to play that way, he insists on a different style, installs plays and schemes that force a different style, and enforces all of this in practice and with playing time. No?

Ideally, you recruit the kind of player you want. I expect our coaches understood what they were getting and didn’t try to change the kids’ inherent characters.

 

[Cusefan0307]

cost of players is going up...I would temper expectations about who we will bring in next year. We will need a few bodies from Siena for sure. I cant see us getting a top transfer. We need a GM soon.

Small time thinking

 

[phil77]

We should create a monster frontline and then play off of them. Get a combo of JP Estrella and Lazar Djokovic and start them both. (neither are in the portal yet) But a big physical front line would be the ticket. Then add a couple of shooters at the PG and SF spot.

 

[bnoro]

I can say for a fact that the one you are talking about has every coach hitting him up to come play there. They all think he can contribute at a high level.

Great, I hope he goes elsewhere.

 

[Jasoncuse]

This kids footwork and strength at 7’2 is phenomenal. There’s no connection to him as far as I believe but man, what a get this would be.

Good player

ELITE name

 

[LpoolNative]

Good player

ELITE name

Yea, can’t say I ever heard of someone named 7’2 Demon before

 

[Orangezoo]

Banke is a similar prospect to Krivas at Zona. A step down but interesting player. Took 34 3s and made 13 as well. One to watch when we see what other bigs go into the portal. We should be aiming for a top 5-10 big man overall. Same strategy with PG

Banke would be much more interesting than pursuing Estrella for those looking at JP, unless you want JP as a 4. JP offers zero rim protection even at 6-10.

 

[LpoolNative]

Banke is a similar prospect to Krivas at Zona. A step down but interesting player. Took 34 3s and made 13 as well. One to watch when we see what other bigs go into the portal. We should be aiming for a top 5-10 big man overall. Same strategy with PG

If Gmac wants to get a GM he can collaborate ideas with I think this roster will look really nice. Only time will tell

 

[Briancuse]

Donnie will command money in the portal due to his size and stats and pedigree. The question is could this amount (no idea but maybe $2M) be better spent elsewhere as Cuse is building an actual team.

Gerry will also need to make a call as to if Donnie is willing to be coached hard and give 100% effort all the time.

If I were betting, I think Donnie goes elsewhere and puts up good stats.

Im not giving Donnie 2 mil, good luck at auburn

 

[LpoolNative]

Keep kingz & try for Sadiq and Betsey. Rest I’m okay with moving on from.

 

[phil77]

Really like Christian Bliss. Was a UVA recruit and redshirt. Dropped down a level to play right away. And his stats look great. Love the size and shooting from our lead guard. This is someone I think we should go after, especially if our shooting guards aren't going to be marksmen.

 

[sweetpea]

We will see what happens, but the glue guys to me are even more important than the top tier talent. That was one issue last season, we had no glue guys or players that bought into being glue guys.

Always seem to have better glue guys when there is better talent.

 

[sweetpea]

Correction. Talent AND HEART AND COMMITMENT wins. Bringing in three Siena players who will put forth 200% effort every practice, every training session, and do everything GMAC says will show other players what commitment and intensity mean.

I hope they may help, but this isn't the movie Hossiers. We need talent!

 

[sweetpea]

another thing about doty, based on what gmac has said about him, is that i wouldn't be surprised if he's taking 200 3pt shots a day between now and when the season opens.

He and anyone else who isn't a center should be taking far more than that.

 

[Blanko97]

Small time thinking

Oh 100% that’s ridiculous. If we can’t get a big transfer with 13m pack it up

 

[rrlbees]

He and anyone else who isn't a center should be taking far more than that.

you would think huh?

 

[dasher]

I love Donnie but the nba draft is calling you

????? No NBA team is going to draft him. I guess someone could take a flyer on him late late in the second round but even at that...I don't know. He needs a power year with much improvement in college. Or be happy in the G league.

 

[dasher]

Sherman Douglas is one of the all-time greatest players in program history.

This kid will be lucky to be 1/10 of the player The General was.

Let's stop with the hyperbole.

All true but he wasn't considered that coming in to college.

 

[Melancer46]

????? No NBA team is going to draft him. I guess someone could take a flyer on him late late in the second round but even at that...I don't know. He needs a power year with much improvement in college. Or be happy in the G league.

Would have to think he'll make more money in college next season than he would by going pro right now

 

[Eric15]

I completely understand that Donnie was immature and checked out the final 10 games or so of the season, and I recognize that sometimes addition by subtraction has worked out well for us (e.g. Michael Lloyd, Deshaun Williams, Paul Harris, etc.). But we aren't Duke, and we can't just tap into our limitless options of incoming 5-star recruits.

Donnie is 6'11", has the wingspan of a pterodactyl, can lay the ball in from like 6 feet away, can rebound and block shots when he wants to, and can shoot the ball. IMO he's probably our most talented player this decade just ahead of Buddy, Judah and Jesse.

I really want him back. I get the sense that Donnie would benefit from a more intense personality like GMac than that librarian personality of Red's. If we utilize him correctly and design thoughtful offensive sets where he can be isolated on the low block instead of always floating around the perimeter, I really think he can shine next year if he comes back.

 

[llandz]

I completely understand that Donnie was immature and checked out the final 10 games or so of the season, and I recognize that sometimes addition by subtraction has worked out well for us (e.g. Michael Lloyd, Deshaun Williams, Paul Harris, etc.). But we aren't Duke, and we can't just tap into our limitless options of incoming 5-star recruits.

Donnie is 6'11", has the wingspan of a pterodactyl, can lay the ball in from like 6 feet away, can rebound and block shots when he wants to, and can shoot the ball. IMO he's probably our most talented player this decade just ahead of Buddy, Judah and Jesse.

I really want him back. I get the sense that Donnie would benefit from a more intense personality like GMac than that librarian personality of Red's. If we utilize him correctly and design thoughtful offensive sets where he can be isolated on the low block instead of always floating around the perimeter, I really think he can shine next year if he comes back.

"librarian personality" may be my favorite take on Autry.

 

[llandz]

Now I think we sit back and enjoy the ride of watching a team come together. But most of all he needs his staff and a GM or some analytics person. Of course, we are analytics university, and probably could have a group of students step in with some data to get the ball rolling. Not a permanent solution, but we are on a very tight schedule.