Quote from: Zog from Margo on November 26, 2025, 10:49:01 PMI think Hamilton and Clark both have a chance to be decent players as juniors and seniors. They were both projects but the trajectory has been good given where they started. To the extent there was a mistake it was expecting that they'd man the 5 spot this year. The best lineup is with Gold at the 5 and Parham at the 4 but neither is playing as well as I expected.

I generally agree with this, though I think Gold has been fine defensively when he's not running around near half court, and he's rebounding the best he has as a collegian. His lack of offensive progress has been disappointing. Parham has played with more aggressiveness the last couple of games but we need better all-around play from him.

Those who think Clark will never be a player might turn out to be tight, but IMHO it is way too early to say he'll never develop into one.

Quote from: Scoop Snoop on November 26, 2025, 07:05:58 PMI appreciate your reply, but I think the old "apples and oranges" cliche' comes into play here, in the sense that you did not recruit your team, right? Jim Boeheim had his version of the zone defense that was the foundation of his Syracuse teams, and they played it exceptionally well. He once said that he recruited players who he thought could play defense the way he wanted them to, and added that he would "coach them up" to playing offense if that was necessary.

I remember Al McGuire once saying something along the lines of "I've got horses, so I'm going to let them run."

So... where is Shaka in this "coach the team you have, not the one you want?" Do they need to adapt to what he wants, or does he need to accept them with the talents (or lack thereof) that they have demonstrated? For now, let's try to avoid the answer "somewhere in between the two", even though that may be true. I'm interested in a debate between the two.

I think it's possible that Shaka thought he was recruiting enough players who could play like he wants. Take Owens. Good athlete. Good shooter in HS. Showed some PG skills. 6-8 with good wing span for pressing. Recruited by lots of P5 schools, so it's not as if Shaka was the only one who saw the potential. But he just hasn't clicked yet for whatever reason. Parham - had a nice freshman year and even most Eeyores thought he was gonna be a player for us. But he hasn't taken that next step for whatever reason.

If the criticism is that Shaka has missed on HS evaluations and/or hasn't developed players well enough to fit the systems he wants to use AND that he refuses to use the portal to overcome some shortcomings, that's probably valid.

Still, the body of work has to mean something, no? If so, how much time does he get to prove what he's doing will work? If not, what? Fire him now? That seems drastic (and I'm not suggesting you're saying that).

Predict an injury is his first game back.  It's the Detroit way...

Quote from: Billy Hoyle on November 26, 2025, 03:41:05 PMFrank Ragnow is coming out of retirement for the Lions.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6840886/2025/11/26/frank-ragnow-lions-retirement-comeback/?campaign=15861973&source=athletic_breaking_targeted_email&userId=675260

There meaning CSU or UConn?  And he plays basketball?  Is he going out for football?

Quote from: wadesworld on November 26, 2025, 04:28:33 PMA guy I play basketball with weekly has a son that redshirted his freshman year there this year after tearing his ACL during his senior high school basketball season.

Whatever happened to Qanon

Quote from: Skatastrophy on November 26, 2025, 10:56:01 PMThoughts and prayers

Trae young is in a hell of his own making

Quote from: MU82 on November 26, 2025, 07:25:49 PMIt is impossible that there was a shooting in Washington DC. We have been told repeatedly that there is absolutely no crime there now.

Seriously, terrible tragedy in DC. There is some question as to whether the Guardsmen were killed or injured. Lots of other unanswered questions, too. Hoping for the best.

Please stay on topic

Thoughts and prayers

Quote from: MU82 on November 26, 2025, 05:03:59 PMI'm sure Shaka appreciates you giving him some credit for Oso's development. We all wish Gold were better, but he's already proven to be a starting 5 on an NCAAT-caliber team. Hamilton doesn't appear to be an NCAAT-caliber big; if he doesn't improve markedly, that would be a "fail." Way too early to tell with Clark IMHO.

I think Hamilton and Clark both have a chance to be decent players as juniors and seniors. They were both projects but the trajectory has been good given where they started. To the extent there was a mistake it was expecting that they'd man the 5 spot this year. The best lineup is with Gold at the 5 and Parham at the 4 but neither is playing as well as I expected.

Quote from: wisblue on November 26, 2025, 10:26:04 PMMaybe not.

Michigan is heading toward a total victory margin of about 110 points in its 3 games.

Absolutely insane Michigan is up 40+ on any team, let alone #12 Gonzaga. UM looks lethal.

Has any team won a game by 35+ then lost the next game by 35+ like the Zags are about to do?