Are we in better shape than last year?

ghostzapper

ghostzapper

Well-known member
2023 $upporter
The question here is coming into 2018 are we better off than at this point last off-season?

It seems that with the signings we made this week we now have used our 13 scholarships up and have a plan in place going forward. Last year after we signed Sid Wilson and Brian Trimble we were in a similar spot. At that time going forward the concern was more about the frontcourt than the backcourt. This is likely even a greater concern today than last year.

Last year we had three of the thirteen players sitting out and ten players scheduled to be available for fall of 2017. This year we have two of the thirteen players sitting out and eleven players scheduled to be available for fall of 2018. Comparing the two groups (some of which is like comparing apples to oranges or trying to put a round peg into a square hole) it is probably reasonable to say that with natural improvement that the four returning players (Ponds, Simon, Clark and Trimble) should be better than last year. Additionally the hope is that Keita will be able to bring some similar and different things to the table to negate the loss of Owens somewhat. The same thing could be said for Figueroa in regards to replacing Ahmed. Dixon hopefully will fill the guard spot that we hoped Lovett would have manned all season. He may not be as talented as Lovett but at least Dixon should be present for the whole year. Of course Sid Wilson never wound up coming here, but Josh Roberts does seem to be on course to be here. Roberts is not rated as the same level of talent as Wilson and his game is less perimeter oriented but he is hopefully going to be able to give us some minutes on the interior to backup Keita. Yakwe and Alibegovic were peripheral pieces last season that contributed very occasionally and I suspect that Diakite and Earlington will be their logical replacements. Our other eligible player Greg Williams will supplement our guard rotation and is our highest rated incoming freshman and should contribute on both ends of the court.

Last year we had three players sitting out in the waiting (Keita, Dixon and Diakite) and this year we have two (Caraher and Wright).

It seemed clear that our biggest weakness going in to last year was our interior depth. With most of our roster losses going forward from the summer of 2017 being frontcourt players (Owens, Ahmed, Alibegovic, Yakwe and Wilson with Lovett being the only guard) the interior depth is even a bigger issue now. On a positive note the four returning players and the staff have dealt with this situation before and that experience should be helpful for the upcoming season.

2017 --- 2018
Ahmed SF --- Figueroa SF
Alibegovic F --- Earlingon F
Yakwe F --- Diakite F
Owens F --- Keita F
Wilson F --- Roberts F
Lovett G --- Dixon G
Trimble G --- Trimble G
Clark F --- Clark F
Simon G --- Simon G
Ponds G --- Ponds G
Dixon G RS --- Williams G
Keita F RS --- Wright G RS
Diakite F RS --- Caraher SF RS
 
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Thanks ghost. Nice post. Good thoughts. I view LJ as a distinct upgrade over Ahmed--but we shall see.
I think you mean Eli Wright--not 'Mitchell'.
Davion converted to the 'baptist' brand of the faith at Baylor!
 
[quote="Tom in Salem" post=282100]5 games better.[/quote]

Funny, Tom. That's my guess also. Could be fewer--doubt it though.
In hypothetical land, very possible maybe 1-2 more wins also.
But for that to happen, everything would have to be swimmingly 'perfect'.
We shall see.
Let's go Johnnies.
 
Chicago Days wrote: Thanks ghost. Nice post. Good thoughts. I view LJ as a distinct upgrade over Ahmed--but we shall see.
I think you mean Eli Wright--not 'Mitchell'.
Davion converted to the 'baptist' brand of the faith at Baylor!

Thanks Chicago. Yes Eli Wright not Mitchell. I am not sure where my head was. I went back and corrected that in the original post.
 
Yes, on paper we're in a better spot than last year.

Forget Lovett. We replace Ahmed-Owens with Figueroa-Keita in the starting lineup.

Our bench was a joke last year. It was Trimble, and then cameos by Alibegovic and Yakwe. Now we have Dixon, Trimble and the four freshman (counting Diakite).
 
[quote="Chicago Days" post=282102][quote="Tom in Salem" post=282100]5 games better.[/quote]

Funny, Tom. That's my guess also. Could be fewer--doubt it though.
In hypothetical land, very possible maybe 1-2 more wins also.
But for that to happen, everything would have to be swimmingly 'perfect'.
We shall see.
Let's go Johnnies.[/quote]

Conference is down also.
Not getting two #1 seeds this year.
Wouldn't be surprised if Xavier doesn't even dance this time.
Mack picked the right time to bolt.
 
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I think we are improved and I think we will add a BIG before the season.
 
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Better. There is zero excuse not to make NCAA tournament even though I’m freaking out over another year no big man grad or juco
 
Down year for big east coming up. 21 or 22 wins or that’s all she wrote on this chapter
 
[quote="Tom in Salem" post=282107][quote="Chicago Days" post=282102][quote="Tom in Salem" post=282100]5 games better.[/quote]

Funny, Tom. That's my guess also. Could be fewer--doubt it though.
In hypothetical land, very possible maybe 1-2 more wins also.
But for that to happen, everything would have to be swimmingly 'perfect'.
We shall see.
Let's go Johnnies.[/quote]

Conference is down also.
Not getting two #1 seeds this year.
Wouldn't be surprised if Xavier doesn't even dance this time.
Mack picked the right time to bolt.[/quote]

Agreed Tom. This is such a crucial year for us on several levels. The fact that the Big East should be down this year can only help us. Normally, I want the Big East to be as strong as possible but selfishly, I want a few programs to regress (Hall, X, Butler maybe?), so that we can make the leap to the upper half of the conference. Maybe that can lead to stronger recruiting for 2019 and beyond.
 
Agree with Tom’s +5, mortal injuries not included,

Suspect this group,even without additional big man, will also impress a recruit or two waiting until Spring 19 to declare. The change in staffing results in immediate dividends as well. :)

Just having some fun
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=282116]Agree with Tom’s +5, mortal injuries not included :)

Suspect this group,even without additional big man, will also impress a recruit or two waiting until Spring 19 to declare. The change in staffing results in immediate dividends as well. :)[/quote]
As Marv would say YES! AND IT COUNTS! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
 
Let's be honest, most of us have not seen some of the players being talked about. Sure this site needs something to talk about but it is really hard to actually assess if we are in better shape than last year. Until a couple of days ago I (and I would suspect many here) had not only never heard of LJ Figueroa (just an example) I surely have not seen him play. Today some posters have him in the starting five.
First, I'll wait until October to see who actually arrives and is eligible. Second, we might want to see them play a little. Just might want to wait a bit, that's all I'm saying.
 
Wrong thread, but the Femi kid announced his final 4 of Georgetown, DePaul, Butler and Hofstra. Unless we turned up something really bad in due diligence, an absolutely travesty that we aren't on this list, and even more so if rumors of our HC not even being at the meeting with him are true. Doesn't negate everything else positive that is happening necessarily, but a really, really bad look.
 
I know you guys may call me crazy, But I think this team will make the sweet sixteen at a minimum. At best final four, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in the elite eight.
 
[quote="Sju grad 13" post=282120]I know you guys may call me crazy, But I think this team will make the sweet sixteen at a minimum. At best final four, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in the elite eight.[/quote]

Correct , you are crazy.
 
[quote="Sju grad 13" post=282120]I know you guys may call me crazy, But I think this team will make the sweet sixteen at a minimum. At best final four, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in the elite eight.[/quote]

Conceivable, we're in for an unexpected serendipitous 'ride'. Everything would have to hum in serene mode, with no serious or long injuries, because--as per usual--there's no depth in the front court.
And no question Ponds has to stay healthy all year, as well as he and Simon have to play smarter and more in control--at least finishing many of their drives.
But, if the kids are in sync, this should be a high-octane offense, with great speed, shooting accuracy, and the hands of pickpockets.
They could achieve a helluva year.
We shall see.
 
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[quote="Sju grad 13" post=282120]I know you guys may call me crazy, But I think this team will make the sweet sixteen at a minimum. At best final four, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in the elite eight.[/quote]

 
[quote="Paultzman" post=282116]Agree with Tom’s +5, mortal injuries not included,

Suspect this group,even without additional big man, will also impress a recruit or two waiting until Spring 19 to declare. The change in staffing results in immediate dividends as well. :)

Just having some fun[/quote]

Okay Paultz, I'll bite. So, you're kidding about the staff change?
 
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