I am going to say this again so people don't think I'm a hater - I have loved Red since he was in high school. I cannot stress how much I want him to succeed.
But here is my point: I'm done convincing myself that we still have a legit chance at being a second tier elite team anymore or that it's in our near future. And that is my expectation for Syracuse because that is what I grew up with.
I get that this is not all Red's fault. I get that he has to build up out of the muck. I get what JB left him with.
And if we are the team that is just happy making the tournament and that's what the majority of the fan base is good with, I'll shut up.
But I don't think it is. And I do not find it acceptable that Davis and Taylor are who we got. I do not find it acceptable that we missed on Acaden, Tillery (and even worse if we were never in it), Jemison, Shon and Strong. I don't. If I am being unfair, I get it. I'm just a fan. Who cares what I think, ya know? And I'm saying that seriously with no snark. If we can't sell Syracuse because we got one top ten kid (who is, to be very clear, not on the top tier level of the other top players like Flagg, Harper, Edgecomb), then let's just pack it in for ever being elite.
But I don't want to hear how if 7 things happen right for this kid, he may be good for us. I want to get great players and then if this kid hits, it just puts us over the top.
I love this team. I love the school. I love Red. I will convince myself that this Womack kid will hit a growth spurt and end up our DerMarr Johnson because I am insane. But right now, in a sober time of assessment and reflection, no way.