2025-2026 Season
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
fan since 65
Well-known member
He said that at the Flat Top fund raiser at Sebonack earlier this week, so probably not. Seems like he's still searching for answers.
"In Rick We Trust!"
You had to expect some early Rick focus and animation on the need to get this group more dedicated to defending consistently and intelligently. Yes. they appear to have added much better shooting, but they need to replicate least year’s bread and butter, aggressive, hand in glove team defense sooner than later.
Go deflections!
Go deflections!
dk423
Well-known member
You obviously don't want to hear they're still searching for a starting five that's cohesive on both ends. But if your glass is half-full, you can also interpret this has, this team is really deep.
The offense was always going to come quicker than the defense with this group. The good news is, defense is 90% about "want to" and every interview you see with these kids they talk about the selflessness and commitment of all the guys on the team. So you have to believe that with another month before Alabama, they're going to get there-ish (and improve throughout the season).
I’m encouraged. The last 2 years Rick was complaining about defense in July
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Redenbacher
Well-known member
Three weeks before we play Michigan, a team that's consistently ranked in the preseason top 10. Should be a great test. Like us, they have only 1 returning player who's expected to be in the starting 5. Here's how the Athletic describes Michigan:
"There’s too much talent here to fail, even if some of the early lineup experiments don’t work out."
Sound familiar?!
"There’s too much talent here to fail, even if some of the early lineup experiments don’t work out."
Sound familiar?!
We May not want to hear it but It was always going to be the case with Jackson being an u proven pg. There Will be growing pains.
This is where Darling comes into play. If he can play at this level (which I suspect he can); it'll be an added and huge bonus.
MugCostanza
Well-known member
My guess is the first five is Jackson, Sanon, Sellers, Hopkins, Zuby.
Second 5 is Darling, Lefty/Odih, Ayo, Prey, Mitchell.
Not sure if Rick's been changing up the first five over the course of the scrimmages though
Only whoever has been attending practices knows who first five have been but my guess is Rick has been changing it up from time to time.
In any case, we have loads of depth and my optimistic guess is he will get them where they need to be by November.
So then we call the first five "The Jackson 5"?
If Coach is complaining about the D I'm not sure that has anything to do with whether Jackson can handle the point. Not that it wont be an issue during the season, but not sure that's it in this instance.