What do you want to see in the next 60 days?

[tptcuse]

FWIW, I may be stupid, but I haven’t given up hope yet. I still think that if they completely crush this offseason we could right the ship.

However, I’m not interested in hearing the pablum of the past few offseasons. If our first portal acquisition is some low major guy who’s “an undiscovered gem” I’ll know we’re not serious.

We need to see "Syracuse" next to the names of multiple top portal acquisitions.

 

[RF2044]

FWIW, I may be stupid, but I haven’t given up hope yet. I still think that if they completely crush this offseason we could right the ship.

However, I’m not interested in hearing the pablum of the past few offseasons. If our first portal acquisition is some low major guy who’s “an undiscovered gem” I’ll know we’re not serious.

I also want to state something about the approach you are pushing back on.

It is a smart strategy. BUT only when you have a quality nucleus / foundation in place. If you do, then supplementing through the portal in the way you are describing makes sense, to add depth with guys who fit your system.

And maybe once in awhile you swing for the fences, to add an elite caliber player to a quality nucleus, to take things to the next level.

But if you are making wholesale changes because you have a gutted roster, then mining for diamonds in the rough makes less sense.

 

[phil77]

The issues we have are that we have no foundation to build on, so we need an entire roster basically from the portal and that will cost big big money. If we make JJ a priority, then the team construction will already be at a huge disadvantage. Choosing to build around a player that is not a facilitator, isn't a shooter, isn't a defender, and isn't an efficient scorer isn't a good piece to build around. So right off the bat our roster is flawed.

All our depth will be Freshman, which will be hard and full of growing pains and as you can tell outside of Duke playing Freshman big minutes isn't conducive of winning.

We will need at least 2 centers from the portal because we have ZERO incoming and ZERO returning.

Freeman is 50/50 to return at best and if he does return it will cost a ton of cash to keep him away from the SEC and make his camp happy. Could it happen, maybe but I doubt it. He will eat a ton of NIL meaning you will have less NIL to use on bringing people in.

Cuffe/Bell/Westry/Moore All probably will be gone or should be gone.

So that leaves you with Petar, JJ, the Freshman class, and the NIL money to fill out the roster. With a coach on the "HOT SEAT" coming off the worst season in recent history (60 years). And to a conference that is going to get the least amount of teams it has had in the tournament in recent history. Maybe a big run by Duke can get ACC some hype. Not many top-flight program-changing transfers are going to be lining up to come here. I think you guys that have your hopes up are just going to be disappointed again.

 

[AcAndAc]

Make sure Freeman does not transfer. If he goes NBA, so be it. But we need to pay enough to and otherwise inspire him enough not to transfer.

Get a defensive-minded center on the roster as part of the portal crew. It is OK to devote some possessions to just bearing down on defense.

Retain recruits.

Remove an assistant and fill up assistant slots.

 

[Scooch]

I also want to state something about the approach you are pushing back on.

It is a smart strategy. BUT only when you have a quality nucleus / foundation in place. If you do, then supplementing through the portal in the way you are describing makes sense, to add depth with guys who fit your system.

And maybe once in awhile you swing for the fences, to add an elite caliber player to a quality nucleus, to take things to the next level.

But if you are making wholesale changes because you have a gutted roster, then mining for diamonds in the rough makes less sense.

The first great thing that Fran did was stabilize the roster he inherited. To me, that has to be Red's top priority. He has to retain Freeman, Moore and Starling. At least then we'll have a core. A flawed core, but a core.

If everyone but Starling leaves we're in trouble, because I don't believe we're going to have the money to build out an 8 man rotation. White is presumably a starter. Anthony is presumably a depth piece. And then...?

 

[pearl31]

Choosing to build around a player that is not a facilitator, isn't a shooter, isn't a defender, and isn't an efficient scorer isn't a good piece to build around

Retaining does not have to = "build around"

 

[phil77]

Retaining does not have to = "build around"

He will be the returning senior on the team, he will be the team leader if he is here.

 

[pearl31]

He will be the returning senior on the team, he will be the team leader if he is here.

Senior team leader does not have to = "build around" in terms of on-court personnel and offensive strategy

 

[phil77]

Senior team leader does not have to = "build around" in terms of on-court personnel and offensive strategy

Why would he come back then? Right now he has the ball in his hands all the time and can control the game so if the plan is to take that away from him why would he come back? If you were him why would you come back for your senior year if the team that you just played for decided to take the ball out of your hands and not make you a focal point?

 

[phil77]

The first great thing that Fran did was stabilize the roster he inherited. To me, that has to be Red's top priority. He has to retain Freeman, Moore and Starling. At least then we'll have a core. A flawed core, but a core.

So put yourself in Moore's shoes, why would he come back if JJ comes back? You have a senior leader who will get the bulk of the minutes, and then you have the incoming Freshman whose last name is on the building. I wouldn't see where I fit anymore? I just don't see it. I think better chance giving Freeman a blank check but even then I don't know.

 

[RF2044]

So put yourself in Moore's shoes, why would he come back if JJ comes back? You have a senior leader who will get the bulk of the minutes, and then you have the incoming Freshman whose last name is on the building. I wouldn't see where I fit anymore? I just don't see it. I think better chance giving Freeman a blank check but even then I don't know.

I think there is a very strong likelihood that both frosh are gonzo.

And potentially being replaced by incoming frosh that play the same positions, but aren't as good [in Anthony's case, it is debatable].

 

[hoopsupstate]

Because they have a proven coach.

Their roster additions weren't all that impressive, on paper. And yet he made it work.

That's the difference between their program and ours.

You didn’t say anything about coaching. You said players don’t want to play for losing program. No one lost more games than Louisville the last two years.

 

[hoopsupstate]

So put yourself in Moore's shoes, why would he come back if JJ comes back? You have a senior leader who will get the bulk of the minutes, and then you have the incoming Freshman whose last name is on the building. I wouldn't see where I fit anymore? I just don't see it. I think better chance giving Freeman a blank check but even then I don't know.

Moore is good friends with Anthony. That will help. I also think we may see more three guard offense. Anthony may play a little small forward next year.

 

[RF2044]

You didn’t say anything about coaching. You said players don’t want to play for losing program. No one lost more games than Louisville the last two years.

And? What part of that is unclear?

Players that are good generally don't WANT to play for losing programs. They want success. And they generally have multiple suitors, so they don't need to settle for an option that is subpar compared to other options.

The players that Louisville brought in weren't top notch guys -- they were decent portal adds, that Louisville had to overspend to land. Precisely because they were a losing program.

That's exactly the dynamic we'll have to face, if / when we have to replace 8+ players this offseason, due to roster attrition.

The reason that Louisville was better than expected this season is because they have a coach who knows what he is doing. He took an island of misfit toys that weren't an optimized roster, and made them a competitive group. The opposite of what Red was able to accomplish this year with a similar group of mismatched parts.

But back to the main point. What elite player is going to want to come to a team that barely qualified for the ACCT, without being grossly over-compensated to do so? And can we afford to pay that, if we need to get 5, 6, or 7 portal players?

 

[Scooch]

So put yourself in Moore's shoes, why would he come back if JJ comes back? You have a senior leader who will get the bulk of the minutes, and then you have the incoming Freshman whose last name is on the building. I wouldn't see where I fit anymore? I just don't see it. I think better chance giving Freeman a blank check but even then I don't know.

I hear ya, but the thread is about what I want to see happen, and one of those things is retaining the 4 guys I mentioned.

Why did Moore come in the first place when he knew Starling was already here?

Honestly, the answer is that Autry needs to convince Moore that he could start and get the majority of minutes at the 2 next season.

I don't care how he does it. That's what the head of the program needs to do. No excuses.

 

[tptcuse]

I hear ya, but the thread is about what I want to see happen, and one of those things is retaining the 4 guys I mentioned.

Why did Moore come in the first place when he knew Starling was already here?

Honestly, the answer is that Autry needs to convince Moore that he could start and get the majority of minutes at the 2 next season.

I don't care how he does it. That's what the head of the program needs to do. No excuses.

Three guards, two forwards (or three forwards, however you want to look at it.) Why not?

 

[pearl31]

Portal action:

1. Solid (as evidenced by performances vs p4 teams) PG
2. 1-3 shooters (pref small/pwr forwards) who can also defend adequately
3. C who is solid defensively

Staff:

1. Bye bye Griffin
2. Add at least one experienced assistant

 

[Cusefan0307]

I hear ya, but the thread is about what I want to see happen, and one of those things is retaining the 4 guys I mentioned.

Why did Moore come in the first place when he knew Starling was already here?

Honestly, the answer is that Autry needs to convince Moore that he could start and get the majority of minutes at the 2 next season.

I don't care how he does it. That's what the head of the program needs to do. No excuses.

Moore should have been given the minutes Carlos received this year. He had higher upside. It's hard to swallow Reds defensive excuses for him not playing when JJ and Carlos are just as bad on that end. At the end of the day he had a potential skill if developed that no one else at the guard spot had(shooting).

Once Red saw the season was in tank we should have done everything we could to force feed Moore minutes.

As much flack people gave JB for riding some guys excessive minutes one thing he did was move on from Kaleb Joseph and Jalen Carey when they looked completely incapable of running a team. You think at the very least Red would have picked up on that.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Basing it on the fact we are 60 games in, we still don’t know what our plan is, we have seen no ability to coach defense, we keep playing Carlos 30 mpg, and we have shown zero ability when to call timeouts or manage a rotation.

And the coach owns NIL/Roster building. See Fran.

Every game, there's a point in the first half that we have McLeod, Petar, Bell and Cuffe on the floor together, usually without JJ. This is just asinine and shows absolutely no feel or understanding of what is going on. He subs like a 7th grade coach.

 

[Doc5120]

How about "concepts of a plan?"

Of course Donniesyracuse says that!

 

[djcon57]

I'm of the camp that while high-level player acquisition matters greatly, Red needs to implement a system, or they'll just be another team with decent talent on the outside looking in of the tournament.

Get the players you can, but after that, it's on you. Not NIL, not fan support, the coach coaches the team. Excuse time is over.

The fact it even has to be mentioned heading into Year 3 highlight my general doubts in Red.

Yeah, I need to see some sort of vision in the pickups we get.

You want to throw a bunch of guys together again and point to so-called depth, we're gonna get the same results.

Get a core 8 guys and develop a plan of how we plan to score and defend.

 

[Charbroil]

God it’s depressing having these kinds of conversations in late February rather than talking about hypothetical matchups in conference and NCAA tourneys.

 

[Newhouser]

We need to move on from JJ. We have seen how he as our alpha scorer plays out. If he's here he sucks oxygen out of the ball, we need movement.

 

[hoopsupstate]

And? What part of that is unclear?

Players that are good generally don't WANT to play for losing programs. They want success. And they generally have multiple suitors, so they don't need to settle for an option that is subpar compared to other options.

The players that Louisville brought in weren't top notch guys -- they were decent portal adds, that Louisville had to overspend to land. Precisely because they were a losing program.

That's exactly the dynamic we'll have to face, if / when we have to replace 8+ players this offseason, due to roster attrition.

The reason that Louisville was better than expected this season is because they have a coach who knows what he is doing. He took an island of misfit toys that weren't an optimized roster, and made them a competitive group. The opposite of what Red was able to accomplish this year with a similar group of mismatched parts.

But back to the main point. What elite player is going to want to come to a team that barely qualified for the ACCT, without being grossly over-compensated to do so? And can we afford to pay that, if we need to get 5, 6, or 7 portal players?

We will soon find out. You might be very surprised!

 

[Doc5120]

We need to move on from JJ. We have seen how he as our alpha scorer plays out. If he's here he sucks oxygen out of the ball, we need movement.

Last year we talked about how Judah leaving would be good. I don't understand why people want to get rid of our leading scorers, and 1 of our best (if not best) players. We have to retain someone(s). Complete roster overhaul year to year and sinking NIL money into a mass amount of new players isn't a strategy for success. Need a core to build around unless our pockets are deeper than we think.