Quote from: rocky_warrior on February 24, 2026, 05:21:30 PMI'd like to get back to this (because it's interesting to me).  It seems obvious Pitino (Sr) would be the poacher.   Freshman potential to be paid/poached:  Acaden Lewis, Najai Hines, Jamier Jones, Nigel James Jr., even Stefan Vaaks

But maybe I'm wrong and Shaka is trying to get Najai Hines and Stefan Vaaks.

Shaka strikes me as a guy that does it the natural way. As someone mentioned on here before, he seems more anti-Vaaks to me.

Quote from: withoutbias on Today at 11:31:37 AMBecause his explanation for drinking prior to 9 AM was that "it's almost like some people live in different time zones."  So if the explanation for 9 AM drinking is time zones, then 4 PM or 8 PM time zone differences means at some point there were some early morning drinking going on.

Or I was on vacation on a different continent. You twit. Rofl

Quote from: rocky_warrior on February 24, 2026, 05:21:30 PMBut maybe I'm wrong and Shaka is trying to get Najai Hines and Stefan Vaaks.

Look at me. We are the poacher now.

In mid-September I offered up my thoughts on our offensive four factors. We're done with games through February with at least four more to be played, but going to take a quick visit to see how things are coming along vs. projections.

Quote from: Jay Bee on September 14, 2025, 10:47:41 AMA year ago, our raw OE was #63 and our KenPom Adj OE was #35. Quick summary: I'm a bit worried and believe our Adj OE will rank worse this coming year... the only hope is crazy good shooting.

The only hope was crazy good shooting and it's been awful. So, there ya go.

Quote from: Jay Bee on September 14, 2025, 10:47:41 AMFT Rate - ranked #346 last year. Stevie's loss will be felt here, but a high-usage guy like Kam Jones was not a guy who got to the line.. there's not much room to fall, and it's very possible we are a little better this year.. but not meaningfully. We won't be a team that gets to the line a lot. (PS - FT% no matta, but I'd love to get to the line more).

We're ranked #261 nationally at 32.1 (avg is 35.2). In conference we're just 28.4. We're a little better, but still bad. This is in line with expectations.

Quote from: Jay Bee on September 14, 2025, 10:47:41 AMOR% - Nice improvement a year ago to rank #180. For a HM team, not good, but for us.. it was OK....All in all, I think being around the same as last year is attainable and perhaps a little improved. We're not going to be a strong OR% team.. but hopefully not miserable... I project to us again be 'ok, for us'.

30.0% last year ranked us #180. We're slightly improved at 30.3% percentage-wise, but down to #190 nationally. This is in line with expectations.

Quote from: Jay Bee on September 14, 2025, 10:47:41 AMTO% - SO GOOD last year. #8 in the nation. I'm hella concerned here. Our point guard was at 11.1% and Stevie was a sub 10% guy. Incredible. We will fall here this season -- the question is by how much....We are in trouble here. I'm hoping we can be a "good" TO% team.. maybe in the #40-50's... but there's a decent chance it's even worse. Huge area to keep an eye on and my biggest fear on offense.

At 15.8% this season, we rank #114 nationally - a big drop from #8 a year ago. To jump from #114 to into the 50's, however, would be done by only chopping 1% off the 15.8%. So, not an enormous GAP, but vs. last year it's icky. However, a big drop here was expected. In line with expectations.

Quote from: Jay Bee on September 14, 2025, 10:47:41 AMeFG% - This is our only hope for sustaining or improving on last year's Adj OE rankings. Our 2FG% of 54.7% ranked #52 in the land - very good....our 2FG% is in trouble. Let's hope for something like 52.5%.

Now, the ray of hope - 3FG shooting. Our 46.4% 3FGA/FGA was somewhat high and by design... wouldn't expect it to be crazy different, but would project maybe a little decrease. Jop and Kam took a lot. However, they were relatively bad for the season on a whole at 32.3% and 31.1%, respectively. As a team, we were at 32.6%, which ranked #237. In 2025-26, some of the same guys who could help us in 2FG% have the same opportunity from deep.. e.g., Ben and Royce. Royce shot only 28.0% last year, but (1) he can be A LOT better and (2) he will shoot A LOT. Does Chase have an incredible year with higher volume? Certainly possible. Wish frosh like M. Phillips and I. M. were more ready, but their help from outside can come in later years...

Last season our 52.0% eFG% was #115 in the nation. If* our 2FG% was 52.5% and our 3FG% rose to say 34.5%, with a 46% 3FGA/FGA... which I think are not unreasonable projections... we'd be at 52.2%, or a little better than last year. However, to make up for the projected drop in TO% performance, we need even better... can that happen? Of course.. but, tough to project.

It was our only hope and it's been putrid. 2FGA at 52.0% isn't crazy off my 'hope' of 52.5%, but still a far cry from last season - expected. 3FGA/FGA of 41.1% is indeed down from last year's 46.4%, but the accuracy is ugly.. 32.2% (#269) vs. 32.6% (#237 last year).. not a big drop, but this is where we needed to do well. Sure, Royce is better than 28.0%, but for the year has been bad (31.1%). IM redshirted and MP just doesn't have the volume to help much this year. Kudos to Nigel and Adrien for helping here, but it's been the ... almost unthinkable ... dreadful shooting of the seniors that has bogged down our 3FG% this year. Chase sub-28% and Ben sub-26%. Unreal, and has made a good offensive year impossible, all other factors considered.

So, the recap is TO%, OR%, and FT rate all behaving in line with expectations. eFG% was known to be the key, and was the only hope... it's turned out even worse due to the brutal 3FG shooting and insane amount of missed at-the-rim shots.

Do we need guys that can shoot? YES. But, also defend. I do want an experienced big man addition next season, but a guy that can shoot with some volume and do well from outside (e.g., wing) would be delicious as well.

#pray

Quote from: The Equalizer on Today at 03:22:45 PMHis dad did okay as the coach of Providence.

They are very different people. I would be shocked if Richard ever pulled a Porcini.

This thread has turned ultra-white.

Quote from: Hards Alumni on Today at 03:22:44 PMYou're assuming he'd be interested.

He loves his alma mater, ACU ("A Catholic University")!

Quote from: BM1090 on Today at 11:02:07 AMEh, I think you can see it with this year's freshmen. NJ and AS are clear. Same as you could see it with DO and RP. I think MP is in that group, but agree with JB he needs to learn how to play basketball and play this system.

I never saw that high of a ceiling with Chase or Tre. I did with Ben, and honestly I still do. I just don't think he has the mentality to reach it. He's so quick and has a good handle for a 7 footer, he just never learned how to play in traffic. Game never slowed down, and that part is tougher to see when judging potential.

I'd break it down like...

High ceiling, high floor - RP, NJ, AS (lower ceiling than the other two)
High ceiling, low floor - MP, DO

Too early to tell on everyone else but CH, who definitely does not have a high ceiling.

Mentality? BG is averaging a foul less called on him per game this year.

Quote from: BM1090 on Today at 11:02:07 AMToo early to tell on everyone else but CH, who definitely does not have a high ceiling.

And as we've seen, he has an exceptionally low floor.

Quote from: Warrior of Law on Today at 02:21:48 PMOne could argue that the trajectory of the end of 2026 is better than the trajectory of the end of 2025. This team is improving with younger players who will (presumptively) return and continue to get better. With the right addition(s), a return to the NCAA tournament should be a realistic goal.

100%.  The arrow is pointing up.  There is clear high level talent that needs to be supplemented.  There is no hoping they will be good or hoping they will step up with Nigel and Royce.  There is a feeling that they are two stars.  Never had that feeling with the returning players from 2025.  I have a much better feeling going into next year assuming they keep the core together and add a couple players from the portal.