We will almost certainly be a Sweet Sixteen team this year, worst case. Our D alone will carry us that far. How far we go after that depends on how certain pieces fall into place. Cooney delivering at SG will go a long way toward one of those pieces falling into place. In no particular order:
1) PG - will Ennis deliver at a NC-contending level? Big unknown, but all preliminary reports look good. We don't necessarily need an All-American performance, but he has to handle the pressure, play the D, keep the TO's down, and make FT's.
2) SG - will Cooney deliver at a NC-contending level? He showed the ability as a freshman to play D, handle the ball as a SG, and attack the rim. Can he shoot the 3 as hoped? I like his mechanics when he spots up in the flow. Off the dribble, not so much. We certainly have other options , but Cooney is the primary one.
3) Development of a go-to guy - most NC contenders need a guy to whom they can go on a clearout when the called play does not result in a good shot, and the clock is winding down. IMHO, CJ is perfect for the role with his ability to put the ball on the floor, break down his man, and draw contact in the lane. However, will the mild-mannered CJ show that killer instinct? I think he will, but it is easier said than done.
4) Development of a consistent inside game - who will step up? DC2, Rak, Jerami? Someone else? We need to do better here than last year, IMO. We have to be able to draw the double-team, and kick it out for the 3. Being able to put foul pressure on the opposing center, and take advantage of size mismatches is critical as well.
I honestly like our chances. Usually, when there are this many question marks, I lose some confidence. But I feel our answers to these questions are very good in every case - these are better than coin flips. There will doubtless be some bumps and inconsistency along the way, but JB knows that it is not December that counts, but March.
Gonna be a fun year to be Orange.
