25-26 Season

Don’t think we’ll ever see the top defensive team in the country again. Appears this team will be able to shoot and score like a normal top 10 team and play solid D, but 30 seconds of switching everything and harassing teams into shot clock violations was something that could only occur with last season’s roster.

Kadary and Scott’s defense can’t be replaced, but there are other ways to win games, and shooting better and outscoring teams can work too.
 
paultzman said:
You can sometimes replace a guy’s offensive stats, but it is difficult to do so defensively. Kadary, Smith and Scott were incredibly impactful, generating deflections, steals, rebounds and stops. As we add some players w well deserved scoring accolades, staff will have their work cut out for them maintaining the integrity of a great defense while adding scoring fire power. This is tricky, but Pitino will get it done, but initially it may be a work in progress.
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Obviously have confidence in the staff to make it happen.

None of us had any clue as to how well this group could play defense. But it did not start out that way. Lethargic early season, and Kadary was getting some heat for being out of shape and possibly never reaching his potential.
 
paultzman said:
You can sometimes replace a guy’s offensive stats, but it is difficult to do so defensively. Kadary, Smith and Scott were incredibly impactful, generating deflections, steals, rebounds and stops. As we add some players w well deserved scoring accolades, staff will have their work cut out for them maintaining the integrity of a great defense while adding scoring fire power. This is tricky, but Pitino will get it done, but initially it may be a work in progress.
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Think the defense will look different. Hopkins is not as switchable as Scott and Luis were. And you aren't finding another Kadary.

Do not expect to be a top 3 or maybe even top 5 defense next year. On the other hand I do expect offensive improvement, which should make up for any defensive dropoff from a metrics standpoint
 
lawmanfan said:
Think the defense will look different. Hopkins is not as switchable as Scott and Luis were. And you aren't finding another Kadary.

Do not expect to be a top 3 or maybe even top 5 defense next year. On the other hand I do expect offensive improvement, which should make up for any defensive dropoff from a metrics standpoint
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We will be (unfavorably) comparing every future team's defense to this one. As much as we enjoyed watching it this year, we will come to appreciate it even more in the future. Truly a once in a lifetime group. Like you said, hopefully hitting ten 3's every game will make up for a few messed up pick and roll coverages.
 
lycidas said:
Don’t think we’ll ever see the top defensive team in the country again. Appears this team will be able to shoot and score like a normal top 10 team and play solid D, but 30 seconds of switching everything and harassing teams into shot clock violations was something that could only occur with last season’s roster.

Kadary and Scott’s defense can’t be replaced, but there are other ways to win games, and shooting better and outscoring teams can work too.
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Scott was a tremendous defender, but he didn't rebound well. You add 3-4 defensive rebounds from Hopkins and that adds up. Scott was also good for a few silly fouls very first half and nearly one foul on a three pt shooter every three halves of basketball.

There is room to improve in some areas. Prey will be better. Vince was terrible, and I don't think he will be next year. Wilcher should be stronger. Ayo has so much to build on compared to this point last year and could really become one of the premier defenders in the league.
 
MugCostanza said:
4. Backup PG / Combo. I don't trust Sim/Lefty/Glover to be the backup to whoever our starting PG is gonna be.
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I don’t disagree, but if we add a starting PG and Sim returns, it’s hard to see 4th guard getting more than 10 minutes. Seems a hard sell to a transfer. I thought a HS recruit would have been a good fit, but RP knows best. I’m sure he has a plan.
 
KG44 said:
I don’t disagree, but if we add a starting PG and Sim returns, it’s hard to see 4th guard getting more than 10 minutes. Seems a hard sell to a transfer. I thought a HS recruit would have been a good fit, but RP knows best. I’m sure he has a plan.
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Injuries? Foul trouble? Breaks from pressing/trapping defense.
 
KG44 said:
I don’t disagree, but if we add a starting PG and Sim returns, it’s hard to see 4th guard getting more than 10 minutes. Seems a hard sell to a transfer. I thought a HS recruit would have been a good fit, but RP knows best. I’m sure he has a plan.
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Depth will be harder to find than star players methinks. You need a kid unafraid of competition like RJ was when he signed two years ago. Might have to overpay and likely will have to wait until after the portal deadline so we don't chase anyone out.
 
Marillac2 said:
Depth will be harder to find than star players methinks. You need a kid unafraid of competition like RJ was when he signed two years ago. Might have to overpay and likely will have to wait until after the portal deadline so we don't chase anyone out.
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Agreed. Perhaps Euros and former highly rated HS players who had limited success in college and have 2-3 years left, like Zuby and Vince were (repeating myself).
 
tnice said:
We will be (unfavorably) comparing every future team's defense to this one. As much as we enjoyed watching it this year, we will come to appreciate it even more in the future. Truly a once in a lifetime group. Like you said, hopefully hitting ten 3's every game will make up for a few messed up pick and roll coverages.
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In some ways it's better not to play with that kind of defensive style which was physical with lots of contact. Come NCAA tourney, refs call things differently than the Big East crews called them. If we were able to keep Kadary and Sim on the court vs. Arkansas, I feel top to bottom would have been an entirely different game. The refs took our main weapons away, including defensive style.
 
I think Wilcher can become a steady backup PG. I think we’ll bring in two more guards - a primary point and a shooter type like Sellers.
 
mattc said:
I think Wilcher can become a steady backup PG. I think we’ll bring in two more guards - a primary point and a shooter type like Sellers.
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I guess it is possible, but his assist level was not great. I think it wise to accept Sim is an off guard. Can he pinch hit in at the point at times? Perhaps, but I think we need a backup regularly.
 
paultzman said:
I guess it is possible, but his assist level was not great. I think it wise to accept Sim is an off guard. Can he pinch hit in at the point at times? Perhaps, but I think we need a backup regularly.
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I think we have room for two more guards. Primary point and then a shooter. don’t see us going after two point guards plus a shooter to pair with the 4 guards we already have on the roster. Unless someone like glover leaves
 
mattc said:
I think we have room for two more guards. Primary point and then a shooter. don’t see us going after two point guards plus a shooter to pair with the 4 guards we already have on the roster. Unless someone like glover leaves
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Some combo guards play the point better than others, so yes flexibility w right ones could work imo.

Funny, I have had recent conversations w posters here and a solid local talent advisor re wisdom of having lead guard Malachi Smith on board. Like his brother, Scoonie, who played at Dayton, MS is a talented, team first winner. I defer to staff of course.
 
paultzman said:
I guess it is possible, but his assist level was not great. I think it wise to accept Sim is an off guard. Can he pinch hit in at the point at times? Perhaps, but I think we need a backup regularly.
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Not to mention if we have only one true point what happens god forbid he goes down with an injury? Combo guard as backup point needs to be very good at point if no true back up.
 
Marillac2 said:
Scott was a tremendous defender, but he didn't rebound well. You add 3-4 defensive rebounds from Hopkins and that adds up. Scott was also good for a few silly fouls very first half and nearly one foul on a three pt shooter every three halves of basketball.

There is room to improve in some areas. Prey will be better. Vince was terrible, and I don't think he will be next year. Wilcher should be stronger. Ayo has so much to build on compared to this point last year and could really become one of the premier defenders in the league.
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The Marillication on Vince has begun. Marillac will be a fan by Vincegiving
 
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