2025-2026 Season

fwiw :))) he's highly reputable. As strange as this prediction does look.
Torvik is very helpful for gauging high level preseason expectations of teams, and then helpful after a sturdy sample size.

The thing it can't account for is guys playing new positions and new roles -- of course a computer program will spit out no one averaging more than 2 assists per game. But we know that is basically impossible and incongruous with being a top 8 team.
 
Torvik is very helpful for gauging high level preseason expectations of teams, and then helpful after a sturdy sample size.

The thing it can't account for is guys playing new positions and new roles -- of course a computer program will spit out no one averaging more than 2 assists per game. But we know that is basically impossible and incongruous with being a top 8 team.
incongruous!?! quit showing off
 
I’m thinking his pace and conditioning might make him a real problem for the opposition. He appears to be in much better shape than expected.
What has gone unsaid in all of this conversation is that if Zuby (lock) Hopkins (lock) and Mitchell (probable) start up front then if Darling starts at the point two of the following guys are coming off the bench: Sanon, Jackson, Sellers.

My personal suspicion is that Sanon and Jackson start and Darling comes off the bench but that Darling's minutes eat significantly into Jackson's. Which may pose a chemistry issue to keep an eye on. I am sure there will be many lineup combinations (and lots of 3-guard looks) and lots of guys will get minutes. But after awhile the averages will tell the tale.

And in truth if Darling is a capable ball-handler I think Pitino will have no choice. If I were an opponent like (say) U Conn, I would press the bejeebers out of a team that has no real point guard. And I don't think U Conn will be the only one.

Hopefully there will be a lot of attention paid on how to break a press with a minimum of dribbling because I would think most opponents would think ball pressure is a strategy to deploy against us for a number of reasons (limit time in the front-court, take advantage of lack of ball-security depth, etc).
 
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What has gone unsaid in all of this conversation is that if Zuby (lock) Hopkins (lock) and Mitchell (probable) start up front then if Darling starts at the point two of the following guys are coming off the bench: Sanon, Jackson, Sellers.

My personal suspicion is that Sanon and Jackson start and Darling comes off the bench but that Darling's minutes eat significantly into Jackson's. Which may pose a chemistry issue to keep an eye on. I am sure there will be many lineup combinations (and lots of 3-guard looks) and lots of guys will get minutes. But after awhile the averages will tell the tale.

And in truth if Darling is a capable ball-handler I think Pitino will have no choice. If I were an opponent like (say) U Conn, I would press the bejeebers out of a team that has no real point guard. And I don't think U Conn will be the only one.

Hopefully there will be a lot of attention paid on how to break a press with a minimum of dribbling because I would think most opponents would think ball pressure is a strategy to deploy against us for a number of reasons (limit time in the front-court, take advantage of lack of ball-security depth, etc).

I don't think Jackson has anything to worry about with minutes. We just don't have a ton of ball-handling in the backcourt. He basically has to be in every lineup or we have to have 3 guards on the floor.

Mitchell very clearly has sub-par offensive perimeter skills for a 3. For him to be at the 3, I think Darling has to be on the court -- and probably Jackson as well.

Jackson-Sanon-Mitchell 1-3 is not even close to enough ball-handling. We aren't even in the ballpark there.
 
I don't think Jackson has anything to worry about with minutes. We just don't have a ton of ball-handling in the backcourt. He basically has to be in every lineup or we have to have 3 guards on the floor.

Mitchell very clearly has sub-par offensive perimeter skills for a 3. For him to be at the 3, I think Darling has to be on the court -- and probably Jackson as well.

Jackson-Sanon-Mitchell 1-3 is not even close to enough ball-handling. We aren't even in the ballpark there.
Don't sleep on Sellers. Not saying he's an upper echelon ball handler by any means, but he's on par with the guys not named Darling.

Also wonder where Lefty figures into this. I know the Greek team stuff is a good thing for the most part, but this is the second consecutive summer not being with the team.
 
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