With the Roster Shaping up

[IthacaMatt]

So, if we add Jerry Deng, that will give us 5 guys who are 6-9 and bouncy. Only 1 of them with much bulk, but that's a lot of size up front, if we can get them to play physically and challenge people at the rim.

 

[Scooch]

Do we trust Kline's? Just take the best players if they're good. If we are going to have that opinion we are cutting down the population of players to choose from.

Not sticking up for Red. It's put up or shut up time for him and I don't think he's a particularly good coach, but I think it's been a lazy opinion here.

Kline hasn't built a roster prior to the past 3 weeks, so I don't see how anyone can say they trust him or not.

Red is signing off on everyone we've added. So to the extent Kline has done the heavy lifting, Autry is still the owner of the roster. And his instincts on mid-majors have been terrible.

That all being said, if we could sign a mid-major who could contribute I'm sure we'd do it. We just haven't yet.

 

[baggerbob]

Let me qualify the more than enough by saying it specific to Red proving his coaching chops. Maybe that’s unfair but in this day and age where money talks across the board now at the collegiate level he needs to make hay with this roster even if there some challenges not yet visible to overcome. That gets more buy in and more willing investors/donors etc.

The very first day of practice, the first statement he makes needs to be. (If you don't play defense you won't play for this team).
You have to be able to stop people on the defensive side in order to win games.

 

[Cusefan69]

The very first day of practice, the first statement he makes needs to be. (If you don't play defense you won't play for this team).
You have to be able to stop people on the defensive side in order to win games.

Starts way before that even. I show the team that picture of the Houston players who are all workout warriors and I show just highlights of what a strong defensive mentality looks like on the court.
Then I meet up with whoever is in charge of S&C for the hoop and dictate in no uncertain terms I want challenging strength and endurance goals and program for each player and then as summer starts you let the whole team know they will be tested upon return from the summer on those S&C goals. They need to return in the fall physically ready to go.

 

[althea]

And his instincts on mid-majors have been terrible.

I don't think this is fair. Davis and Taylor were decent off the bench players, unfortunately they had to become starters. Carlos was indeed a problem at the most important position.

 

[CuseIn282xx]

I think this is interesting. Coaching matters a lot.

Coaching and skills/physical development. In 2/3/4 years a 3-star player out of high school can develop like players of 20 or even 10 years ago couldn't. Optimal and individualized weight training, endurance, speed, nutrition, weight management, injury recovery, even opthamology, etc., all have continuously improved to maximize the performance of athletes in every sport.

 

[Scooch]

I don't think this is fair. Davis and Taylor were decent off the bench players, unfortunately they had to become starters. Carlos was indeed a problem at the most important position.

They were "decent" for a team that went 14-19 and was a conference bottom dweller.

They were not "decent" for a team that could make the NCAA tourney, and not even close to "decent" for a title contender.

I think we've really lost the plot in being able to evaluate talent around here. Those guys wouldn't have sniffed a minute on the teams we had from, say, 2009 to 2014.

 

[Niastri]

And as good as they were defensively, they were even better on offense

KenPom stats
14th in defensive efficiency
6th in offensive efficiency

It helps when you get 8-10 layups every game on clean runouts off live ball turnovers.

Every other play, it felt like, was Johnson dunking in transition off a Rautins steal.

Man, I should go back and watch that whole season!

 

[Newhouser]

The very first day of practice, the first statement he makes needs to be. (If you don't play defense you won't play for this team).
You have to be able to stop people on the defensive side in order to win games.

Can't say it if he can't teach it. You just don't blow a whistle and say defend.

 

[shermstheman]

The zone trap was so good teams just gave up on a third of the offensive zone… They were significantly more likely to turn it over than do anything useful in any of the four corners.

Sometimes you could see the opponent pass the ball to a corner, the trap was launched, and Rautins was already moving off the ball… it was like a designed play for the pass to go to him.

That team was so good defensively, it was crazy to watch.

That was fun. Sigh.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Kline hasn't built a roster prior to the past 3 weeks, so I don't see how anyone can say they trust him or not.

Red is signing off on everyone we've added. So to the extent Kline has done the heavy lifting, Autry is still the owner of the roster. And his instincts on mid-majors have been terrible.

That all being said, if we could sign a mid-major who could contribute I'm sure we'd do it. We just haven't yet.

So Kline is Jonah Hill and Red is Brad Pitt.

 

[althea]

So Kline is Jonah Hill and Red is Brad Pitt.

No, Kline would be Peter Brand and Red would be Billy Beane. The guys you mentioned are merely actors.

 

[OrangePA]

Tons of length at the top of zone.










Too soon?

I still believe that a strong match up zone is the way to go in college basketball.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

No, Kline would be Peter Brand and Red would be Billy Beane. The guys you mentioned are merely actors.

We’re all actors in the theater of the absurd

 

[IthacaMatt]

Can't say it if he can't teach it. You just don't blow a whistle and say defend.

Fair point. And I guess we will find out.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I still believe that a strong match up zone is the way to go in college basketball.

Too many guys can make a 25 foot 3 pointer these days. That stretches the coverage area too far.
You can use it as a change of pace, but not too much. People know how to attack it.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Interesting article about all the underrated Florida players. Dan Englestad, SU assistant is quoted regarding Walter Clayton.

No top-100 recruits but at least three NBA players? How development is the secret sauce behind Florida's rise

Florida's staff is on the verge of owning the crown as the best developmental staff in college basketball.

www.cbssports.com

 

[grepal]

Freeman does not = Freeman. He played all of 10 games his Freshman year and was playing well. Then 2-3 games with a stress fracture. I have expectations he will be significantly better in all areas in November...agree on the rest.

I think all returning players should get better. Another year older, stronger, the ability to work on weaknesses. To me, that is a reason I did not want to lose Petar.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think all returning players should get better. Another year older, stronger, the ability to work on weaknesses. To me, that is a reason I did not want to lose Petar.

We hope for the best, but neither Chris Bell nor JJ got better last year.
It's not automatic.

 

[kingtidge]

I think all returning players should get better. Another year older, stronger, the ability to work on weaknesses. To me, that is a reason I did not want to lose Petar.

Bell didn't. He got worse.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

They were "decent" for a team that went 14-19 and was a conference bottom dweller.

They were not "decent" for a team that could make the NCAA tourney, and not even close to "decent" for a title contender.

I think we've really lost the plot in being able to evaluate talent around here. Those guys wouldn't have sniffed a minute on the teams we had from, say, 2009 to 2014.

I've convinced myself that Carlos was so phenomenally bad at point and played so many minutes that it acted as an amplifier effect in Red's coaching issues, and with a better point guard Red will have a much better year.

 

[Sherman20]

Yep. We kicked the tires on Ballard, but felt he wasn’t a “fit” in style.

This is dumb. Ballard can run and is an elite rim protector and rebounder. And it’s good to have lineup versatility. He would help us. You should always be trying to upgrade the talent. All I have to say is, Red better run a more sophisticated half court offense next season and not rely too heavily on high ball screens. I want to see more consistent off ball screening actions and cutters constantly slicing into the lane towards the basket.

 

[grepal]

Bell didn't. He got worse.

Yeah, you can cherry pick if you want. Most players get better with age as long as health stays constant or maybe you just want to be snarky. If you worked for me and didn't improve year over year you would not have lasted very long.

 

[Sherman20]

We know. You're obsessed with height. How tall were Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson?

They were both great low post scorers with advanced footwork.

 

[IthacaMatt]

This is dumb. Ballard can run and is an elite rim protector and rebounder. And it’s good to have lineup versatility. He would help us. You should always be trying to upgrade the talent. All I have to say is, Red better run a more sophisticated half court offense next season and not rely too heavily on high ball screens. I want to see more consistent off ball screening actions and cutters constantly slicing into the lane towards the basket.

We already had signed one guy at pretty good money for the same position, and Ballard's price was about twice as high, according to that web site that another guy linked on people in the portal. It has their estimated NIL value / price. That's how I read it. So, go get that 6-8, 240 kid from the MAAC or the Patriot League for cheap.