2023-24 Roster

[Amaseinyourface]

With 4 scholarships left there's still some glaring needs.

Another ballhandler or two.
An alpha Guard/Wing that can carry the team to a win down the stretch of a game vs a quality team.
Another PF to go with Slazinski.
A backup C.

The first three can be a bit of a venn diagram of sorts, ie Dingle being another ballhandler + an alpha Guard. A guy like Brady Dunlap doesn't fill any of those needs but would be a nice piece to have as well.

Agree pretty much all the way but I’d doubt we add another PF and center. 1 who could play both.

 

[MJDinkins]

Sounds good. But if $50 is too steep for you just say the word and you can donate what’s within your budget.

Not at all. Just the wager I've set upon any takers.

 

[Marillac2]

Who was on Providence's roster that was top 50 other than Delray Brooks? Who was on his first Kentucky squad that was top 50 other than Jamal Mashburn (frosh)?


16-20 might be the current range since the roster has yet to be finalized.

Pitino was 17-14 his first year in Providence with a future NBA PG. 3 of the 6 leading scorers were seniors, two were juniors, and the other was a soph.

Pitino was 14-14 his first year in Kentucky with a senior Derrick Miller (1st team all SEC and high school all-American) and junior Reggie Hanson (cup of coffee in NBA).

 

[guinness77]

If we don’t win the conference and then the national championship next season, I, for one, will consider it a crappy season.

I mean, 20 win seasons grow on trees around here, right? Winning the conference should be a walk in the park.

 

[MJDinkins]

Pitino was 17-14 his first year in Providence with a future NBA PG. 3 of the 6 leading scorers were seniors, two were juniors, and the other was a soph.

Pitino was 14-14 his first year in Kentucky with a senior Derrick Miller (1st team all SEC and high school all-American) and junior Reggie Hanson (cup of coffee in NBA).

I'm glad Google is your friend. The college game was VERY different at that time than it is today. There were TONS of "older" teams at the time, so that doesn't exactly hold any weight. Go check out other Big East teams during Pitino's first season at Providence and talk to me. Teams that was "old" as well, with quality talent and coaches.

He took a Providence team (in his second season), a point guard who he helped turn into a brief NBA player, that only had one top 50 player (Delray Brooks, who sat out in Pitino's first season) into a 25 win (10 Big East wins) team that reached the Final Four. I have a hunch that Providence team would've probably fared a bit better his first season if there was a three-point line.

His first Kentucky team, on probation, won 10 Southeastern Conference games and finished up with 14 wins. I believe that particular team would've finished a bit better with more scholarship players.

I'll also repeat again..... The roster is yet to be finalized.

 

[Marillac2]

If we don’t win the conference and then the national championship next season, I, for one, will consider it a crappy season.

I mean, 20 win seasons grow on trees around here, right? Winning the conference should be a walk in the park.

Who are you responding to? I think 16-20 wins is a reasonable range for year one for Pitino. I don’t know why some of you have to frame sentiment in such extremes. Who is saying we will be terrible or great? What am I missing here?

 

[bamafan]

I'm glad Google is your friend. The college game was VERY different at that time than it is today. There were TONS of "older" teams at the time, so that doesn't exactly hold any weight. Go check out other Big East teams during Pitino's first season at Providence and talk to me. Teams that was "old" as well, with quality talent and coaches.

He took a Providence team (in his second season), a point guard who he helped turn into a brief NBA player, that only had one top 50 player (Delray Brooks, who sat out in Pitino's first season) into a 25 win (10 Big East wins) team that reached the Final Four. I have a hunch that Providence team would've probably fared a bit better his first season if there was a three-point line.

His first Kentucky team, on probation, won 10 Southeastern Conference games and finished up with 14 wins. I believe that particular team would've finished a bit better with more scholarship players.

I'll also repeat again..... The roster is yet to be finalized.

Not to mention I’m pretty sure Kentucky’s OOC schedule did not resemble CMA’s cupcake OOC schedule and was more like Michigan St.’s Tom Izzo’s typical OOC schedule.

 

[Rocket]

It was Jarvis. Nike wanted Jarvis in place and SJU wanted Mckillop. Nike ponied up funds for Jarvis they where not ponying up for McKillop.

Pretty irrelevant now and Bob Mckillop had not established any reputation yet at Davidson whatsoever compared to Mike Jarvis. Bob's success at Davidson didn't begin for another 5 years after the Jarvis hire.

 

[MJDinkins]

Not to mention I’m pretty sure Kentucky’s OOC schedule did not resemble CMA’s cupcake OOC schedule and was more like Michigan St.’s Tom Izzo’s typical OOC schedule.

They played four top 25 teams in their OOC schedule.

 

[vegasman2000]

Eventually someone on Twitter will guess right strictly due to dumb luck

I am active on Twitter and can attest this is true. Lots of burner accounts. Which is good I suppose, we matter enough for them to exist

 

[fordham96]

Pitino was 17-14 his first year in Providence with a future NBA PG. 3 of the 6 leading scorers were seniors, two were juniors, and the other was a soph.

Pitino was 14-14 his first year in Kentucky with a senior Derrick Miller (1st team all SEC and high school all-American) and junior Reggie Hanson (cup of coffee in NBA).

You lose any credibility by actually trying to argue that Pitino's first team at Providence or Kentucky were in any way decent let alone good and therefore he underperformed those years...lol

That argument is so stupid it doesn't pass the laugh or smell test.

And btw Pitino did not inherit an NBA pg at Providence in as much as his coaching put that kid in the NBA. And if you don't believe me ask the kid since he was set to transfer to Fairfield when Rick took over...lol

 

[vegasman2000]

You do realize that is crazy thinking right?
So if the number one pick in the NFL or NBA draft bombs for you, going forward you should trade the pick for a second round pick?
That is some logic straight out of that Draft Day movie.

As if the coach doesn't matter. The players are pieces, the coach is what matters in college

 

[vegasman2000]

How about AJ Storr and Brandon.... ah forget it.

Those are the only two regrets I have. Maybe just Gardner after Store decided "I don't want a tough coach who will ask a lot of me."

 

[vegasman2000]

Agreed. My biggest concern so far is we have some solid to decent pieces. But outside of Soriano who else instills fear or keeps coaches up at night on the roster so far? We have 1 clear great player & a bunch of solid guys. I’ve been saying assuming we don’t pull rabbit out of hat with a few big time guys, making NCAAT with this group with only 1 clear great player would be among best coaching performances I’ve seen. I truly hope Pitino can coach them up a lot.

As if Posh and Wusu kept coaches up at night. Keep your eye on Alleyne, for my money he is a star, and underused on the best top seven in college basketball.

 

[vegasman2000]

This is a solid squad. Dingle would put us up a notch and Dunlap would be another awesome building block. I’m not going to have faith in Mgbako coming but I’m curious if anyone else emerges between now and June.

Zach said they’re looking for a starting PF who can space the floor next to Soriano. If not Mgbako, then who? Also that implies Pitino knows Slazinski is better off coming off the bench

Want some faith in Mgbako? Kansas is the main competition and they have depth like Duke. How nuts is it that Duke basically tells a top ten recruit to pound sand as they don't need him?

 

[vegasman2000]

Not sure what I said that wasn’t calm. If you’re really saying ‘stop disagreeing with my stance’, that’s fine, please feel free to skip my posts.

Other coaches are in/have been in the exact situation as Rick. One of them in our own league. Rick choose scorched earth, Ed didn’t. Ed’s rebuilt is going much more smoothly.

RP will have a chance to prove he is worth the massive amount St John’s gave him and win a bunch of games, but he’s going to have to overcome stumbling out of the gate.

Tell me other than Soriano who on this team are you confident will lead us to the upper half of the big east?

I am very confident in Alleyne and Taylor. Already a big step above last year

 

[fordham96]

I'm glad Google is your friend. The college game was VERY different at that time than it is today. There were TONS of "older" teams at the time, so that doesn't exactly hold any weight. Go check out other Big East teams during Pitino's first season at Providence and talk to me. Teams that was "old" as well, with quality talent and coaches.

He took a Providence team (in his second season), a point guard who he helped turn into a brief NBA player, that only had one top 50 player (Delray Brooks, who sat out in Pitino's first season) into a 25 win (10 Big East wins) team that reached the Final Four. I have a hunch that Providence team would've probably fared a bit better his first season if there was a three-point line.

His first Kentucky team, on probation, won 10 Southeastern Conference games and finished up with 14 wins. I believe that particular team would've finished a bit better with more scholarship players.

I'll also repeat again..... The roster is yet to be finalized.

The season prior to Pitino taking over PC and Kentucky were absolute disasters. PC was 11-20 and going nowhere but evidently Pitino took over a roster ready to compete against Gtown, SJU and Cuse...lol

Kentucky was 13-19 its worst season since 1927 and proceeded to lose its two best players in Chris Mills and LeRon Ellis to transfer because they were put on 2 years probation with no post season and no TV oh and play a big time non conference schedule. Mills went to Zona and Ellis to Cuse.

And in year 2 at PC he went 10-6 won 20+ made the NCAAs and went to the Final 4. Hell his NIT in year 1 was an unbelievable coaching job.

And year 2 at UK they won the SEC regular season but could not participate in post season.

Anybody who thinks anyone could have done more in either situation is simply not a serious person.

His UK turnaround is all time. If he had stayed at UK he would IMHO be ahead of K right now in wins and Nattys.

 

[RedStormRising]

I am very confident in Alleyne and Taylor. Already a big step above last year

I’d agree that Alleyne is the prize of the recruiting class. I know very little about Taylor having only seen him play once (I have fondness for the UDubb). And nobody on either team played well in that game.

Statistically he seems like the 2nd best player on a lower tier pac-12 team. Is he a big step up over Storr? I’m skeptical, but I guess we will see. I’m sure there are people in Wisc going “why are we taking the 2nd best player on a bottom tier big east team too”?

 

[monte]

Want some faith in Mgbako? Kansas is the main competition and they have depth like Duke. How nuts is it that Duke basically tells a top ten recruit to pound sand as they don't need him?

Kinda reminds me of what Chris Beard did with Nyiwe

 

[monte]

Even if we have the same level of talent as we had last season, and it most certainly seems like we will at this point, with Rick as our coach and with roster filled with his kids, Id be shocked if we're not dancing next season.