Class of 2024 SG Aiden Tobiason (DEL) Portal from Temple / Visiting

[CardiacCuse]

So this is what I’ve been grappling back and forth with. Say you dump a huge chunk of your NIL into Hines and Wilkens or the $$ level equivalent and then go in on Tobiason. Then you fill in with as many bargains as possible. Is that exciting us because we don’t trust this staff or is it truly exciting the donors more than more of a complete team with the need to coach them up but with likely more options both now and next year?

My concern is the splash excites us but also comes at the cost of a higher likelihood of failing with reduced depth or injury crushing everything… not all that unlike Donnie did even if most of the issue was Red..

I see both points of view and I go back and forth on this. I think it’s us as true fanatics more than how we think the donors see it but that’s a guess. I think a foundation that wins and is tourney bound with more big fish in year two is a better look.. but who knows

at the end of the day, there arent really many "stars" out there to grab...and they will be hard to get anyway with a bunch of suitors...

so on one hand, its hard to criticize any of the pickups or targets...you kinda have to go with what you can

its not like you can go to the portal store and request the specific players you want and its signed and sealed

players have to agree etc

otoh, i think theres a ton of "under the radar" talent...and thats where its at ...finding those underanked gems

this is where scouting and having an eye for talent is indispensibly important

also, going for european bigs can be a way to really max out on bang for the buck imo

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I get that but in trying to assess it objectively who in the portal right now would make that case? I’m not at all aiming to be argumentative here I’m just trying to frame it up.

As in Hines is a good player with a lot to offer but does he meet that mark? Not sure it’s a clear yes given he has some obvious issues to work out. At Guard Wilkens may or may not equate to meeting that mark. Wilkinson at first glance is a maybe until you look a little deeper. I’m not seeing much outside of Bidunga, Wright, Haggerty, Momcilovic or Harris that truly hit that mark.. maybe Graves too. The rest are more expensive but stars ? Debate worthy that they instantly make the rest of your team look better.

It’s reported that Bidunga and Shelstad cost Louisville 9 million. That’s madness and could truly tank them because Shelstad isn’t much to write home about.

Bidunga is not a massive upgrade over Fru. He is very good but not sure what they have around him if Brown is leaving ( as of yet). Even 7-8 mil for two players puts a 13 million dollar budget in a tough spot..

So think about it like this



One great talent absolutely matters more than 5 pretty good guys. Basketball is a weird sport because there's only 5 guys to a side and if one of them is even a single magnitude better it changes everything.

It's not really my job to know who all the burger boys and transfer portal guys are that make an impact. I just know if you don't have the best guys, it's really bucking the odds to have one of the best teams. Or even a good team.

I can't say what the right move is for Louisville. And we're far from done. But I just don't see how you can compare Louisville's roster news as of right now to our roster news right now and think they're the crazy ones.

 

[Orangezoo]

at the end of the day, there arent really many "stars" out there to grab...and they will be hard to get anyway with a bunch of suitors...

so on one hand, its hard to criticize any of the pickups or targets...you kinda have to go with what you can

its not like you can go to the portal store and request the specific players you want and its signed and sealed

players have to agree etc

otoh, i think theres a ton of "under the radar" talent...and thats where its ...finding those underanked gems

I agree. Tobiason and the kid from San Diego fit that bill a great deal. Dual may as well. His reputation and shooting numbers project a ton of doubt which I get. He also has value. This is where coaching and building a team will come in. Skepticism will prevail for a while I’m afraid but we get one shot at turning this around and as fans we will see what they can do or we will be back to the apathetic place we’ve been for a while.

 

[Orangezoo]

So think about it like this



One great talent absolutely matters more than 5 pretty good guys. Basketball is a weird sport because there's only 5 guys to a side and if one of them is even a single magnitude better it changes everything.

It's not really my job to know who all the burger boys and transfer portal guys are that make an impact. I just know if you don't have the best guys, it's really bucking the odds to have one of the best teams. Or even a good team.

I can't say what the right move is for Louisville. And we're far from done. But I just don't see how you can compare Louisville's roster news as of right now to our roster news right now and think they're the crazy ones.

I think that’s a fair take and good synopsis. Im not seeing many guys that can jump off the page to give us the warm fuzzies to make everyone better is mainly where I sit. I see possibilities even with where we sit now and might sight if the Temple kid joins the party. I’m looking at this as I expect the skepticism to persist no matter who we add , even if we pulled Hines or someone much bigger since things are under the radar in silence right now.

I’d love to feel over confident but I suspect it’s going to just come down to mid November how we feel about this team.

 

[granthath9]

I want this kid real bad. I think Gerry could turn him into an NBA player. He’s got so much talent.

 

[Orangezoo]

I want this kid real bad. I think Gerry could turn him into an NBA player. He’s got so much talent.

He will have like minded guys around him which he did not at Temple. It would be worth out bidding here IMHO. Im intrigued who the other secret visitor supposedly was yesterday floating around Twitter…

 

[McCuse]

I agree. Tobiason and the kid from San Diego fit that bill a great deal. Dual may as well. His reputation and shooting numbers project a ton of doubt which I get. He also has value. This is where coaching and building a team will come in. Skepticism will prevail for a while I’m afraid but we get one shot at turning this around and as fans we will see what they can do or we will be back to the apathetic place we’ve been for a while.

I like the size they seem to be shooting for. 6'5" and 200 + lbs is a strong positive for a tough and physical team. A bit like Houston.

 

[CardiacCuse]

I agree. Tobiason and the kid from San Diego fit that bill a great deal. Dual may as well. His reputation and shooting numbers project a ton of doubt which I get. He also has value. This is where coaching and building a team will come in. Skepticism will prevail for a while I’m afraid but we get one shot at turning this around and as fans we will see what they can do or we will be back to the apathetic place we’ve been for a while.

yeah this is where past success or lack thereof really comes into play...makes it harder to just pick who you want...

and why im hoping we are gonna go heavy on the euro/international options...because i feel like 1 - the skilled bigs are there and 2 - you see smaller and less successful schools pull very good players internationally ...so its just more likely to pull one of those off the radar players - because - 3 - i think the rankings services and sites etc overrrate american talent relative to international players and a lot of programs seem to just go off of ratings when shopping for players

 

[baggerbob]

yeah this is where past success or lack thereof really comes into play...makes it harder to just pick who you want...

and why im hoping we are gonna go heavy on the euro/international options...because i feel like 1 - the skilled bigs are there and 2 - you see smaller and less successful schools pull very good players internationally ...so its just more likely to pull one of those off the radar players - because - 3 - i think the rankings services and sites etc overrrate american talent relative to international players and a lot of programs seem to just go off of ratings when shopping for players

The only championship JB won was with a point guard who didn't shoot 3's but could get in the lane anytime he wanted and score.
And he wasn't fast, but fast guards couldn't handle him. He could get the ball to anyone o the floor in scoring position.
That was Billy, that's exactly what Gerry needs is someone who makes everyone else better, but if you are in trouble can take over a game. See Oklahoma State, and the second half of the Championship game. Gerry bruised hand and Melo bad back.

 

[23Zone]

Any word on how visit went?

 

[LpoolNative]

Any word on how visit went?

If we get this kid and a good center I’ll feel a lot better.

If not, I don’t know. It’s not gonna look pretty on paper. I can tell you that much.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The only championship JB won was with a point guard who didn't shoot 3's but could get in the lane anytime he wanted and score.
And he wasn't fast, but fast guards couldn't handle him. He could get the ball to anyone o the floor in scoring position.
That was Billy, that's exactly what Gerry needs is someone who makes everyone else better, but if you are in trouble can take over a game. See Oklahoma State, and the second half of the Championship game. Gerry bruised hand and Melo bad back.

That was 23 years ago. Pre Curry influence. Guys played differently then. Coaches coached differently then.

 

[tptcuse]

That was 23 years ago. Pre Curry influence. Guys played differently then. Coaches coached differently then.

But to your earlier point, there has never been a Syracuse a team that was successful without a star.

 

[Wrinkle]

I want this kid real bad. I think Gerry could turn him into an NBA player. He’s got so much talent.

Yes I believe this is the critical signing from all names I've seen thus far

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

The only championship JB won was with a point guard who didn't shoot 3's but could get in the lane anytime he wanted and score.
And he wasn't fast, but fast guards couldn't handle him. He could get the ball to anyone o the floor in scoring position.
That was Billy, that's exactly what Gerry needs is someone who makes everyone else better, but if you are in trouble can take over a game. See Oklahoma State, and the second half of the Championship game. Gerry bruised hand and Melo bad back.

Technically, his starting PG made 6 three pointers in the first half