Now that we've landed Folefac, are there any guard prospects we are pursuing to finalize roster?

[RF2044]

Fair but who available at PG solves that equation?

Well, that's the million dollar question. And I'll begin answering by turning the lens inwards on our program.

Because IMO, this puts a lot of pressure on Dual to be THE GUY. I don't view Tobiason as being capable of shouldering that load full time, on an NCAA-caliber team. A few minutes here and there? Chipping in as a complimentary ball handler? Sure--on both accounts. Ditto Doty. But if we are rolling with Tobiason at lead guard, it will make us pine for the lackluster Frank Howard days.

So if Dual isn't up to the challenge, we have a big hole at the most important position in college basketball.

And I don't know if we can land anybody from the portal at this point to fill the void. Maybe there's an international prospect out there [versus the portal] who is ready to play big minutes.

So [coming full circle], Dual better be THE GUY. Which is no sure thing, given his play at his first two stops, and him not being a full-time PG at McNeese State last year.

 

[007]

I don't think it is a formula for success to have the Jimmy B scenario where a guy plays more minutes for us than he did at a lower level.

If that's where we go with Dual, he needs to really, really make a leap as a breakout player.

Dual was 2nd on the team for McNesse St in minutes/game (27mins)

He doesn't need to be a "breakout player" to be successful. That would require him to be a ball dominant PG - something he is not. Dual is here because of his positional size/length, assist to turnover ratio, and his rep as an elite defender. Those are the things he needs to continue to do well vs ACC level talent. The risk is more about how well those skills translate and not whether he can make a the leap to being a breakout star.

 

[Cappy3]

This isn’t a realistic post either. There’s usually some progression as players get older.

Well, just off the top of my head, Tobiason shot 40% fro 3as a frosh, the “improved”to 34%as a sophomore. Just getting older doesn’t guarantee anything.

 

[Nicknack]

It is in fact indicative of how far we've fallen. It's a rebuild now and after 2 sub .500 seasons in succession I would accept being above the mendoza line once again. Really I'd like a team that isn't outclassed and out worked. I can forgive talent deficit if effort is there much more than "potential" elite talent getting run out of the gym by double digits before the game starts. Just give me max effort honestly. Even 15 mil, if we even have that, isn't in the ballpark of what some big money/elite schools are currently paying out... just give the fans a team that cares as much as they do.

Like Gmac said repeatedly in his interview with Rothstein, it's ALL about winning, nothing else matters and excuses don't count. We must get back to the ncaa tournament, starting next year. Winning more games than we lose doesn't matter to me if we miss the tournament.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Well, just off the top of my head, Tobiason shot 40% fro 3as a frosh, the “improved”to 34%as a sophomore. Just getting older doesn’t guarantee anything.

That’s because he took more difficult shots. Catch and shoot he was 37%.

 

[Dcuse]

Kiyan can put it on the floor also, needs to knock down FT’s

I honestly thought ball handling was an area he needed major improvement. He turned it over many times with minimal pressure.

 

[Yeti]

All I’m asking for is a passive aggressive eye roll emoji/reaction.

Is that too much to ask for?

 

[tptcuse]

That’s because he took more difficult shots. Catch and shoot he was 37%.

I think he’s going to be great for us. Of our portal players, I’m most excited about him and Wilson.

 

[721Comstock]

All I’m asking for is a passive aggressive eye roll emoji/reaction.

Is that too much to ask for?

Yes.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Dual was 2nd on the team for McNesse St in minutes/game (27mins)

He doesn't need to be a "breakout player" to be successful. That would require him to be a ball dominant PG - something he is not. Dual is here because of his positional size/length, assist to turnover ratio, and his rep as an elite defender. Those are the things he needs to continue to do well vs ACC level talent. The risk is more about how well those skills translate and not whether he can make a the leap to being a breakout star.

That's not quite what I said.

I said it's not a formula for success usually to take a guy from a lower level and have them play more minutes at a higher level. That's a general statement that isn't speaking to Dual specifically.

Dual is an interesting case though, because if I'm right, that means we're in rough waters if Dual say, plays 32 minutes a game, 5 more than he averaged for McNeese St.

And Dual is also relevant because he is the surest thing at point guard on the roster, currently. We will need his minutes to come at the 1. Which means even though he has positional versatility, would we expect any of those minutes to be off the ball given the other guys on the roster? I don't think they would be. I suspect he's the lead ball handler every minute he plays. Sure, one of the wings might bring the ball up and initiate the offense for a possession here or there, but Dual is still the point guard.

I feel like I'm giving the impression that I don't like Dual, and that's not the case. I think he's a good pickup and will have a solid final season of college basketball.

I really, really do not expect him to thrive in the ACC if he's asked to play much more than he did at McNeese St., and I really, really do not like the lineup when he isn't on the floor of the PG2 minutes get soaked up by Moesch/whichever wing gets assigned that.

That can resolve itself several ways, but as of right now they all seem unlikely.

Maybe Moesch is ready to give competent minutes right away. I'm skeptical, but maybe. This is maybe the one option where Dual is also on the floor at the same time, and Moesch plays the 1 because there's nowhere else for him to go. But that's a backcourt combo that can't be expected to provide much shooting.

Maybe one of the wings emerges. Tobiason maybe has it in him, but that means you've moved the most proven catch and shoot player on the roster to lead ball handler. So it can work but comes at a cost that maybe isn't great.

People have talked about Doty as a possibility, but now we're expecting him to not just make the jump to the ACC while maintaining some level of efficiency to his offensive game, but also add in some competent point guard minutes? I understand people are excited for him and he's Gerry's guy and everything but that's a lot.

Kiyan maybe has some ability here but I'm one of his biggest fans on the board and I don't think it's a great idea to put much expectation on him there.

I don't think we necessarily need a point guard better than Dual, but if we want a winning, tournament qualifying season we probably do need a better PG2 option than the current grab bag.

Plus, the talk about the roster construction has been about depth so there can be roster resilience.

We're brittle at PG1. Why would we be inconsistent with the roster philosophy at such a critical position?

 

[OrangeinNH]

I’d be very comfortable with a lineup of Doty-Tobiason-MMM-Folefac-Siby for instance, with Doty handling the ball and having options to kick to or throw a lob to. I think that the coaches have given us a lot of versatility, because likely two or three of those are not in the starting lineup.
Not sure if it has been talked much about, but one thing that could be sneaky important is the ability for Sadiq White to work with Carmelo over the course of the next year. I wonder how much of a role that had in his return. There is likely no regulation on his ability to work with the players, and the things that Carmelo excelled at, are the exact things that Sadiq would most benefit from improving upon.
It’s never a one to one comparison, but I don’t think many of us saw Hakim Warrick’s sophomore offensive explosion coming. If he works hard and we’re lucky, that type of improvement changes the trajectory of our season.

 

[orangefog]

All I’m asking for is a passive aggressive eye roll emoji/reaction.

Is that too much to ask for?

 

[007]

That's not quite what I said.

I said it's not a formula for success usually to take a guy from a lower level and have them play more minutes at a higher level. That's a general statement that isn't speaking to Dual specifically.

Dual is an interesting case though, because if I'm right, that means we're in rough waters if Dual say, plays 32 minutes a game, 5 more than he averaged for McNeese St.

And Dual is also relevant because he is the surest thing at point guard on the roster, currently. We will need his minutes to come at the 1. Which means even though he has positional versatility, would we expect any of those minutes to be off the ball given the other guys on the roster? I don't think they would be. I suspect he's the lead ball handler every minute he plays. Sure, one of the wings might bring the ball up and initiate the offense for a possession here or there, but Dual is still the point guard.

I feel like I'm giving the impression that I don't like Dual, and that's not the case. I think he's a good pickup and will have a solid final season of college basketball.

I really, really do not expect him to thrive in the ACC if he's asked to play much more than he did at McNeese St., and I really, really do not like the lineup when he isn't on the floor of the PG2 minutes get soaked up by Moesch/whichever wing gets assigned that.

That can resolve itself several ways, but as of right now they all seem unlikely.

Maybe Moesch is ready to give competent minutes right away. I'm skeptical, but maybe. This is maybe the one option where Dual is also on the floor at the same time, and Moesch plays the 1 because there's nowhere else for him to go. But that's a backcourt combo that can't be expected to provide much shooting.

Maybe one of the wings emerges. Tobiason maybe has it in him, but that means you've moved the most proven catch and shoot player on the roster to lead ball handler. So it can work but comes at a cost that maybe isn't great.

People have talked about Doty as a possibility, but now we're expecting him to not just make the jump to the ACC while maintaining some level of efficiency to his offensive game, but also add in some competent point guard minutes? I understand people are excited for him and he's Gerry's guy and everything but that's a lot.

Kiyan maybe has some ability here but I'm one of his biggest fans on the board and I don't think it's a great idea to put much expectation on him there.

I don't think we necessarily need a point guard better than Dual, but if we want a winning, tournament qualifying season we probably do need a better PG2 option than the current grab bag.

Plus, the talk about the roster construction has been about depth so there can be roster resilience.

We're brittle at PG1. Why would we be inconsistent with the roster philosophy at such a critical position?

Yeah, I think you and I are in agreement here - there is risk at the PG spot. Especially if Moesch is not ready or Dual gets injured. I've said many times, a lot is riding on Gerry's ability to know "good" when he sees it.