2023-24 Roster

RJ Luis, who has one year of college ball at UMASS is not coming into the Big East and starting over Alleyne who has 92 career starts - all in P5 conferences - and just won a national championship.

Glenn Taylor, who is a slashing wing and not a good 3-point shooter is also not staring over arguably our best 3-point shooter. Dingle and Jenkins need someone to drive and dish to who can knock down an outside jumper - that’s not Taylor’s game.

I’ve yet to read a reasonable argument as to why both these players should start over Alleyne, other than some hangup that we must start one of them because Alleyne is not a SF and you must start one PG, one SG, one SF, one PF, one C.
Dude I love playing 3 guards. I think the best spot for Alleyne is at the 3. I don’t think he is good enough, in combination with the roster we have, to start him there over the other wings. If one of them starts at the 4 I would think that 100% means it’s Alleyne at the 3. My point is I don’t think he starts and pushes both to the bench.

Nahiem has never once averaged 3 rebounds a game. Never once averaged 2 assists a game and never once shot 40% from the field. Taylor and Luis have better Rebounding rate. Better Assist rate. Better steal rate. Better true shooting % and are bigger and more athletic than Nahiem. Other than that I have no points.
 
Jenkins very well could be and I’ll gladly take our chances with him, but it’s certainly no guarantee.
Last season I made a comment that the backcourt of Walt Clayton and Daniss Jenkins was a better backcourt than Posh and Curbelo.
Now that we have Alleyne and Dingle in the mix, along with Cruz, I don't think we need to worry about the backcourt unless Dingle is told he will be a definite NBA pick. He can play both positions. RJ Luis is a natural 2 guard at 6'7"!
I see him as a swing player in Pitino's system.
 
Last season I made a comment that the backcourt of Walt Clayton and Daniss Jenkins was a better backcourt than Posh and Curbelo.
Now that we have Alleyne and Dingle in the mix, along with Cruz, I don't think we need to worry about the backcourt unless Dingle is told he will be a definite NBA pick. He can play both positions. RJ Luis is a natural 2 guard at 6'7"!
I see him as a swing player in Pitino's system.
I’m really excited about the backcourt talent and would have taken it without hesitation the day RP was hired, I just believe if Jenkins is capable of playing 25-30 minutes it will allow everyone else to function in the roles they operate best in. Less so if he’s more of a 20 minute guy at this level.
 
Dude I love playing 3 guards. I think the best spot for Alleyne is at the 3. I don’t think he is good enough, in combination with the roster we have, to start him there over the other wings. If one of them starts at the 4 I would think that 100% means it’s Alleyne at the 3. My point is I don’t think he starts and pushes both to the bench.

Nahiem has never once averaged 3 rebounds a game. Never once averaged 2 assists a game and never once shot 40% from the field. Taylor and Luis have better Rebounding rate. Better Assist rate. Better steal rate. Better true shooting % and are bigger and more athletic than Nahiem. Other than that I have no points.

We’ll just agree to disagree but I enjoy the healthy debate.
 
Good near the basket? He’s a career 39% shooter from 2.


Agree completely.
Luis and Taylor = Robin

One of them starting is a unique lineup suggestion?


I’m not going to write 4 paragraphs on why Alleyne is the one who shouldn’t start and highlight the negatives in a player I’m super happy to have but I’ll just say the case you build up I can make great one against. And it’s not only Alleyne but the other options that exist.

And as a guy who used to salivate over players with good rebounding and steal instincts, I’m surprised in the reverence you have for Nahiem who is just about the opposite of that. Keep in mind, whoever is starting at the 3 is playing next to two 6’3 guards who will have a lot to prove defensively and on the boards. The fact you and Matt don’t even think this is a debate is silly.

The unique part is not starting the guy with the most career starts on the roster and the only player who has started for a good high major team so you can start a far less experienced kid who played on a terrible team.

Alleyne won’t put up good rebounding #s as you’d expect from a deep shooter. Jordan Hawkins is a projected lottery pick and only averaged 3.0 rebounds per game for Uconn. His job will be to move and space the floor on offense. Jenkins is a + rebounder for the 1 and Dingle is at or near league average for the two. Joel will be there to pickup the slack.

Steals are not the best indicator of defensive ability. St. John’s was 37th in the country in steals. Uconn was 197th and nobody had more than 1.1 steals per game. Alleyne is an excellent positional defender with very good footwork. He’ll likely double his steals with Pitino’s system requiring him to take chances and jump passing lanes. I thought Shamorie had otherworldly instincts and a nose for the ball on defense, but Alleyne stays in front of his man better. Jordan Hawkins had less steals per minute as well.

The low FG% of Alleyne is a result of his inability to create easy shots off the drive. He looks good inside when the ball is delivered to him and he can finish or take a single dribble and finish. Maybe Pitino can help him add a few go to moves? It’s a weakness in his game.

Dingle needs space. Who do you think gives that to him? A pair of kids that are best driving to the basket or a career 37% 3 or shooter who shot 40.8% on 4.7 attempts per game the last time he had two small guards that could get into the lane? The answer seems clear to me.

Jenkins will rest 10-12 mpg and Dingle 6-10. That’s when you’ll see Taylor. Luis will get some time then too and also at the 4…probably some starts there.
 
The unique part is not starting the guy with the most career starts on the roster and the only player who has started for a good high major team so you can start a far less experienced kid who played on a terrible team.

Alleyne won’t put up good rebounding #s as you’d expect from a deep shooter. Jordan Hawkins is a projected lottery pick and only averaged 3.0 rebounds per game for Uconn. His job will be to move and space the floor on offense. Jenkins is a + rebounder for the 1 and Dingle is at or near league average for the two. Joel will be there to pickup the slack.

Steals are not the best indicator of defensive ability. St. John’s was 37th in the country in steals. Uconn was 197th and nobody had more than 1.1 steals per game. Alleyne is an excellent positional defender with very good footwork. He’ll likely double his steals with Pitino’s system requiring him to take chances and jump passing lanes. I thought Shamorie had otherworldly instincts and a nose for the ball on defense, but Alleyne stays in front of his man better. Jordan Hawkins had less steals per minute as well.

The low FG% of Alleyne is a result of his inability to create easy shots off the drive. He looks good inside when the ball is delivered to him and he can finish or take a single dribble and finish. Maybe Pitino can help him add a few go to moves? It’s a weakness in his game.

Dingle needs space. Who do you think gives that to him? A pair of kids that are best driving to the basket or a career 37% 3 or shooter who shot 40.8% on 4.7 attempts per game the last time he had two small guards that could get into the lane? The answer seems clear to me.

Jenkins will rest 10-12 mpg and Dingle 6-10. That’s when you’ll see Taylor. Luis will get some time then too and also at the 4…probably some starts there.
*I like Nahiem, he’s a great piece and a huge addition to the roster*

His BE numbers:
20 games
15.4 min
3.9 pts
1.1 reb
.7 ast
.3 stl
31 % fg
33 % 2fg
30% 3fg
80% FT

I talked about the good things he does. I agree with most of what you say. But I think this his has to also be part of the discussion.

That and I think I’m a little higher on Taylor and Luis than you must be.
 
*I like Nahiem, he’s a great piece and a huge addition to the roster*

His BE numbers:
20 games
15.4 min
3.9 pts
1.1 reb
.7 ast
.3 stl
31 % fg
33 % 2fg
30% 3fg
80% FT

I talked about the good things he does. I agree with most of what you say. But I think this his has to also be part of the discussion.

That and I think I’m a little higher on Taylor and Luis than you must be.

What about his ACC #s for three years though! Bryce Hopkins played 6.5 minutes at Kentucky behind elite talent and then made first team all Big East his first year. No way he saw 10 mpg at Kentucky this year.

Alleyne was playing behind a projected lottery pick in Justin Hawkins who has the same strengths and weaknesses as him except his strengths are a little bit better and his weaknesses are not as pronounced.

It was a terrible decision to go play at Uconn. He excelled with that small #3 kid getting into the lane and kicking his sophomore year. 40.8% on 4.7 attempts from three. And he doesn’t have to be set either…he can step back, curl off screens, catch passes off a near sprint and get set, etc.

FWIW Uconn was 8-0 when Nahiem started and beat Oregon, Iowa St., and Alabama in that span. Then they brought Andre Jackson, another projected first rounder this year, into the starting lineup for more ball-handling because you can’t have Jordan and Jordan Hawkins in there with just 6’5 Tristen Newton as your only ball-handler.

Nahiem also averaged 18.2 minutes per game the last 17 games and slightly more in the NCAA tournament. Alleyne would have played 35+ mpg at Umass.
 
What about his ACC #s for three years though! Bryce Hopkins played 6.5 minutes at Kentucky behind elite talent and then made first team all Big East his first year. No way he saw 10 mpg at Kentucky this year.

Alleyne was playing behind a projected lottery pick in Justin Hawkins who has the same strengths and weaknesses as him except his strengths are a little bit better and his weaknesses are not as pronounced.

It was a terrible decision to go play at Uconn. He excelled with that small #3 kid getting into the lane and kicking his sophomore year. 40.8% on 4.7 attempts from three. And he doesn’t have to be set either…he can step back, curl off screens, catch passes off a near sprint and get set, etc.

FWIW Uconn was 8-0 when Nahiem started and beat Oregon, Iowa St., and Alabama in that span. Then they brought Andre Jackson, another projected first rounder this year, into the starting lineup for more ball-handling because you can’t have Jordan and Jordan Hawkins in there with just 6’5 Tristen Newton as your only ball-handler.

Nahiem also averaged 18.2 minutes per game the last 17 games and slightly more in the NCAA tournament. Alleyne would have played 35+ mpg at Umass.
So, you obviously expect him to do better than what he did last year on uconn right? And the only sample size we have of him in the BE says otherwise. That’s my whole damn point, that it’s not obvious he’s our best choice. I’ve talked about his time at Vtech. It’s all part of the discussion.

Didn’t you say before that Taylor would have played more than him at uconn?
 
The unique part is not starting the guy with the most career starts on the roster and the only player who has started for a good high major team so you can start a far less experienced kid who played on a terrible team.

Alleyne won’t put up good rebounding #s as you’d expect from a deep shooter. Jordan Hawkins is a projected lottery pick and only averaged 3.0 rebounds per game for Uconn. His job will be to move and space the floor on offense. Jenkins is a + rebounder for the 1 and Dingle is at or near league average for the two. Joel will be there to pickup the slack.

Steals are not the best indicator of defensive ability. St. John’s was 37th in the country in steals. Uconn was 197th and nobody had more than 1.1 steals per game. Alleyne is an excellent positional defender with very good footwork. He’ll likely double his steals with Pitino’s system requiring him to take chances and jump passing lanes. I thought Shamorie had otherworldly instincts and a nose for the ball on defense, but Alleyne stays in front of his man better. Jordan Hawkins had less steals per minute as well.

The low FG% of Alleyne is a result of his inability to create easy shots off the drive. He looks good inside when the ball is delivered to him and he can finish or take a single dribble and finish. Maybe Pitino can help him add a few go to moves? It’s a weakness in his game.

Dingle needs space. Who do you think gives that to him? A pair of kids that are best driving to the basket or a career 37% 3 or shooter who shot 40.8% on 4.7 attempts per game the last time he had two small guards that could get into the lane? The answer seems clear to me.

Jenkins will rest 10-12 mpg and Dingle 6-10. That’s when you’ll see Taylor. Luis will get some time then too and also at the 4…probably some starts there.
Jenkins is the guy making the largest jump and he put up solid numbers against top competition but it was slightly less than his overall stats. He is definitely good enough to play at this level and pre Dingle I fully expected him to be the primary ball handler. There’s only 3 proven ready to go guards on the roster and one is an old school SG who plays off ball. I’d assume you split up the two ball handlers so you can have 40 minutes of those two controlling things. Alleyne doesn’t have the positional flexibility like Jenkins, Luis, and Taylor, ideally he’s at the “2” with a secondary ball handler somewhere else. That’s where Luis comes in he can handle pretty well for his height and still provide the size needed on the wing, hes a must start imo. Taylor is more of a forward than Luis he will be the one getting time at the “4”, could also help mitigate his shooting issues. Dingle/Alleyne/Luis/Taylor/Soriano looks like a legit power conference team that has no issues guarding anyone in Pitinos high pressure D. Maybe a legit starting level guy who offers more size than Taylor would probably bump him down to a competition with Luis. Exciting times for sure, NY is finally good in sports again across the board. Except for my Yankees they need to get it together but it’s still early.🤞
 
RJ Luis, who has one year of college ball at UMASS is not coming into the Big East and starting over Alleyne who has 92 career starts - all in P5 conferences - and just won a national championship.

Glenn Taylor, who is a slashing wing and not a good 3-point shooter is also not staring over arguably our best 3-point shooter. Dingle and Jenkins need someone to drive and dish to who can knock down an outside jumper - that’s not Taylor’s game.

I’ve yet to read a reasonable argument as to why both these players should start over Alleyne, other than some hangup that we must start one of them because Alleyne is not a SF and you must start one PG, one SG, one SF, one PF, one C.
The days of a rigid system requiring teams to have a designated PG, SG, SF, PF and C are over. Many teams have been extremely successful playing with 3 guards, others play a "four out, one in" system and some have even gone "positionless".

A smart and creative coach has lots of options at his disposal. Having a HOF coach like Pitino makes me feel very comfortable to believe that he has assembled the players that he has for a reason and can envision a system that will allow them to flourish.

In Rick I trust!!! The man has proven again and again that he knows what he is doing!!
 
So, you obviously expect him to do better than what he did last year on uconn right? And the only sample size we have of him in the BE says otherwise. That’s my whole damn point, that it’s not obvious he’s our best choice. I’ve talked about his time at Vtech. It’s all part of the discussion.

Didn’t you say before that Taylor would have played more than him at uconn?

The ACC is as good or better than the Big East, and he started for three years and won an ACC championship. It’s not like he did that in the CAA.

He didn’t do as well at Uconn because there was a lottery pick with his almost exact game and another projected first rounder at his position. You take Hawkins away and he’s getting 30 mins there.

I said Taylor has the highest NBA potential to me…even over Dingle. Luis is right there. I like both of those players a lot, but I don’t see it being next year. I think they’ll average 28-36 minutes combined which is nothing to sneeze at.
 
Jenkins is the guy making the largest jump and he put up solid numbers against top competition but it was slightly less than his overall stats. He is definitely good enough to play at this level and pre Dingle I fully expected him to be the primary ball handler. There’s only 3 proven ready to go guards on the roster and one is an old school SG who plays off ball. I’d assume you split up the two ball handlers so you can have 40 minutes of those two controlling things. Alleyne doesn’t have the positional flexibility like Jenkins, Luis, and Taylor, ideally he’s at the “2” with a secondary ball handler somewhere else. That’s where Luis comes in he can handle pretty well for his height and still provide the size needed on the wing, hes a must start imo. Taylor is more of a forward than Luis he will be the one getting time at the “4”, could also help mitigate his shooting issues. Dingle/Alleyne/Luis/Taylor/Soriano looks like a legit power conference team that has no issues guarding anyone in Pitinos high pressure D. Maybe a legit starting level guy who offers more size than Taylor would probably bump him down to a competition with Luis. Exciting times for sure, NY is finally good in sports again across the board. Except for my Yankees they need to get it together but it’s still early.🤞

Jenkins is the closest thing we have to a PG and only one of two guys that can play point. He also has two years under Pitino (one redshirt). I think his minutes are pretty safe even with the step up in competition.

When he’s out, things can get creative. I’d assume you go Dingle and Taylor for sure, but you could bring in a bunch of other guys too.
 
Jenkins is the closest thing we have to a PG and only one of two guys that can play point. He also has two years under Pitino (one redshirt). I think his minutes are pretty safe even with the step up in competition.

When he’s out, things can get creative. I’d assume you go Dingle and Taylor for sure, but you could bring in a bunch of other guys too.
Don’t think Jenkins has two years with Rick he played at Odessa CC the year between pacific.
 
Don’t think Jenkins has two years with Rick he played at Odessa CC the year between pacific.

You are correct. What a bizarre move for a junior who already had success at a decent D-1 level to go to JUCO to play with freshmen and sophomores. I just assumed the gap was an Iona redshirt.
 
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