We're lost out there

[hawk]

I don't think this season is over or a dumpster fire or anything like that.  I also dont't strongly disagree with much of what has been said.  I'm not sure what the biggest gripe is.  Is it not using the portal or misjudging talent or inept coaching?  As the team sits this year, I agree that the junior class is more than a disappointment.  Norman has been a whipping boy on this board since he showed up and Lowery has shown flashes but never really came around.  Jones is too injured to make a judgement on.  I think Parham and Hamilton still have a way to go but in the traditional "star" system that Smart sems to favor it is on the upper classmen to lead.  Ross got the memo but Gold didn't and I think that is the begining of the issues for this team.  I also think Smart is missing the boat with Hamilton.  He needs to come down, do his work early in the blocks and set up for his hook shot or drive to the rim.  Smart has no business having him handle the the ball at the top of the key.  I think Jones becomes important later in the season to support James who will certainly tire as the minutes stack up. I think minutes need to go to Stevens,Philips and Clark so that they are ready next season to play before Norman,Lowery and Owens if they remain on the team.  Next season's freshmen look to be at least as good as this years and so I have hope for the future whetheer Smart goes to the portal or not.  I wil say at this point The relationips I am most interested in is the one with Victory

[brewcity77]

I don't think this season is over or a dumpster fire or anything like that.  I also dont't strongly disagree with much of what has been said.  I'm not sure what the biggest gripe is.  Is it not using the portal or misjudging talent or inept coaching?

Wow, that's a big block of text.

The season isn't over, but unless we beat Wisconsin and Purdue on the road or win the Big East Tournament, our hopes of playing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament are over. There just isn't a realistic path to an at-large bid that doesn't involve winning those two games.

I think the gripes are threefold:

1. The talent isn't good enough at this level. We don't have players that can score the basketball given the looks they get and they cannot defend adequately in the system we want to play.

2. The staff misevaluated the talent. If they truly believed Sean was the heir apparent to TK/Kam, they grossly misjudged him. If they truly believed we had a Big East level front court, they grossly misjudged the team. And if they believed we had enough wing scoring, this current crop simply didn't grow enough to make that a reality.

3. Lack of portal use. Right now we are getting very little from our junior and sophomore classes, which should make up a good percentage of starter and front-line bench minutes. In terms of hit or miss, the closest thing to a hit would be Zaide, who would be fine as our fifth starter but is needed to be much more and hasn't demonstrated that yet. Being able to fill in with experienced players that have longer track records could paper over some of these recruiting misses.

[GoldenEagles03]

Wow, that's a big block of text.

The season isn't over, but unless we beat Wisconsin and Purdue on the road or win the Big East Tournament, our hopes of playing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament are over. There just isn't a realistic path to an at-large bid that doesn't involve winning those two games.

I think the gripes are threefold:

1. The talent isn't good enough at this level. We don't have players that can score the basketball given the looks they get and they cannot defend adequately in the system we want to play.

2. The staff misevaluated the talent. If they truly believed Sean was the heir apparent to TK/Kam, they grossly misjudged him. If they truly believed we had a Big East level front court, they grossly misjudged the team. And if they believed we had enough wing scoring, this current crop simply didn't grow enough to make that a reality.

3. Lack of portal use. Right now we are getting very little from our junior and sophomore classes, which should make up a good percentage of starter and front-line bench minutes. In terms of hit or miss, the closest thing to a hit would be Zaide, who would be fine as our fifth starter but is needed to be much more and hasn't demonstrated that yet. Being able to fill in with experienced players that have longer track records could paper over some of these recruiting misses.

The fact that we are lined up to potentially see Caedin Hamilton be a 3 year starter is just so so so defeating. It actually hurts to think about.

[jfp61]

In terms of hit or miss, the closest thing to a hit would be Zaide, who would be fine as our fifth starter but is needed to be much more and hasn't demonstrated that yet.

Generous. Like is he better than Royce or a Greg Elliot?

[BM1090]

Talent identification and evaluation have been the huge issues. We're getting next to nothing from the junior and sophomore classes. The good news is we have two good freshman guards and you can definitely see how Phillips could contribute next year. The system seems fine. It's generating open threes and open to mildly contested layups. We just can't put the ball in the hoop.

Royce had a few good moments of bully ball on Tuesday hat I'd like to see him capitalize on. Play more like that and less as a drifter around the arc. Start giving him postups and see what happens.

[brewcity77]

Generous. Like is he better than Royce or a Greg Elliot?

It does feel generous. In terms of high-level impact, those two classes have been very disappointing in the past month.