Rumors are that we already “keeping tabs” on another big guy already who will be in the portal. Don’t know whom nor what but we are already working the portal.
Around College Basketball
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
Zed Key would not shock me
L J S A
Well-known member
You can be sure that Pitino’s staff are keeping tabs on many potential portal players.
Zed Key..down 20 lbs...on way to the Pitino required 8% bodyfat ?
I was going to respond to Paultz mentioning Zed’s Soriano type body transformation. I would have taken him before that so yeah, totally on board if he decided to come next year and slide into the Ledlum slot.
From what I’ve heard this is more like a “done deal”. Don’t know who but heard rumblings. Would love Zed Key. He’d fit great imo. That said he’s already a senior no? We need some younger blood up front with Maker.
I think Pitino would have taken him because of his ranking and potential but knew he didn’t fit well.
I personally can’t stand under-skilled, smaller 4’s when you can find a Luis with actual guard skills an inch shorter. Why mess around with BG types? You can find 6’7 legit wings every year.
One year of a big man to replace Joel to go along with Zuby, Drissa and Maker and another wild card (decommitted prospect, grad or portal) would be fine.
Zed Key has been heavily rumored since Pitino took over. He’d fit very nicely IMO. On top of that you’d want a center similar to the kid that transferred from North Texas to Xavier. It would be wise to expert nothing from Maker as a true freshman and be pleasantly surprised with anything he gives beyond 5 fouls.
We need more than “fine” to replace Soriano and Ledlum or we will get totally smoked up front. Zuby isn’t in the conversation right now as far as impact bigs. We need a LOT more to compete and win big. I’m sure Pitino knows this. We are gonna need a stud C and a PF imo in next years class whether in portal or HS. We won’t compete otherwise imo. Not at the level we want to compete and a Pitino (and the fans) wanting to win right away and make waves. I don’t think people realize how rare a guy even like Soriano is. They don’t grow on trees.
Your definition of fine and mine are evidently not the same.
Rick Pitino has been to 7 Final Fours. Name me the big guy on any one of those teams that was better than "fine". Marty Conlon? Nazr Muhammad? Gorgui Dieng?
In his system you don't need stud bigs. "Fine" is fine. Zed and an improved Zuby with Maker/Drissa giving you 10-12 minutes off the bench would be more than enough. Another solid big wouldn't hurt but to say without a stud we wont compete is a little over the top IMHO.
In fairness, I will say I'm higher on Zuby than most around here. I expect him to make major strides this year into next. That dude has stuff you can't teach: elite athleticism and non-stop motor. He runs the floor like a f***ing gazelle. You can teach guys like him to shoot. You can't teach them to want every damn rebound or to run the floor like Obi Toppin. They either have that or they don't and he has it.
L J S A
Well-known member
I think we land two super seniors and Ejiofor backs both up, with Maker getting beat on in practice and spot duty in games. Then you hope for Ejiofor and Maker to be 100 percent ready in 2025-26.
The last two guys you mentioned in that paragraph had long NBA careers. They were more than fine as all around players.
They are trees !