Nobody knows how things will shake out, but damn if people can’t just enjoy the process/getting our highest ranked player in god knows how long. Just weird to me that people try to come on here and shit all over things to prove how much ball knowledge they have.
Get Ready for 25-26!
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
I think a level headed way of looking at this transition is;
1. We had big holes and numbers to fill and are on our way to doing that w quality additions.
2. Chemistry which comes w so many changes is always a challenge.
3. The program captured national attention and that has continued to do so in off season.
4. It is fair to have concerns about PG tandem, but let’s see what we add.
5. National Championships are not won in May, but imo far better to have ingredients that may have imperfections, but also very good potential.
6. Pitino’s can coach, feels Ian can cut it at PG and no sense worrying about it all summer. He added the length he craves and upgraded the shooting. Can he find the sweet spot where we defend to an adequate level and are a legit scoring threat?
7. I’m not a blind faith Pitino guy, but hard to bet against him, considering where he has taken the program in two years.
With Mitchell on board, one could make a colorable argument that we have the best defensive front court in the nation -- which is insane since we don't have a traditional center/shot-blocker.
Then you throw in two filthy shooters like Sanon and Sellers...a top 10 at worst talent in the country in Jackson. Offense-defense substitutions abound.
We're obviously going to add a PG that can play 15-20 minutes minimally and then 1-2 Euros to top off the roster. I'd expect one to either provide insurance at PG or at least be able to chip in with secondary ball-handling and passing out of the 3 spot along with Lefty.
Chemistry will be a concern for every team in the country. It helps having guys like Zuby and Ayo who put the team first and a kid like Mitchell who is not going to look to dominate the ball.
And roster isn’t even complete yet. Why not enjoy the offseason?
Not just you... but see it come up a bit... " I dont have blind faith in Rick" type statement.... how?
He is a Living Coaching Legend... has had success as Every stop in his journey (sans Celtics)... who are "blind faith" coaches?
-Wooden / Dean / K / Roy ....? Rick has to be close if not on the list...
If there was anyone to have blind faith in this day in age... man, Rick has to pretty effin close lol
People seem to forget that hit two huge buzzer beaters at the end of games this year.
We can talk about chemistry all we want, and that is fair. However, no one knows how teams will gel.
Who here can honestly say they forecasted the team would be as close as they were? We all love Kadary, but there were rumors of him being lazy and selfish.
While it turned out to be the opposite, it didn’t start off that way. Pitino called out Kadary for not being in shape. Then people here were complaining that Kadary never dives for a loose balls, and could never work with Deivon because both need the ball in their hands.
Kadary received plenty of criticism and was singled out as the main reason for the team’s lackluster performances early last season.
I would temper the chemistry concerns for the time being. There will be time for that later.
I would rather enjoy the build up of the roster. We just received a portal commitment from a former 5 star NYC player and it almost feels as if we lost a former 5 star NYC player.
Who here can honestly say they forecasted the team would be as close as they were? We all love Kadary, but there were rumors of him being lazy and selfish.
While it turned out to be the opposite, it didn’t start off that way. Pitino called out Kadary for not being in shape. Then people here were complaining that Kadary never dives for a loose balls, and could never work with Deivon because both need the ball in their hands.
Kadary received plenty of criticism and was singled out as the main reason for the team’s lackluster performances early last season.
I would temper the chemistry concerns for the time being. There will be time for that later.
I would rather enjoy the build up of the roster. We just received a portal commitment from a former 5 star NYC player and it almost feels as if we lost a former 5 star NYC player.
Two quick thoughts about the point guard situation:
1. A lot of folks around here still seem to view the PG position like we're in the Bob Cousy/Mo Cheeks era of basketball and the PG is "setting guys up". To my eyes, the PG has the ball in his hands less these days than at any time I can remember, especially in Pitino's offense and belief in positionless basketball. Anyone can bring the ball up, the PG basically starts the offense. The pick and roll/pop game can be played by any position 1-3, not just the PG. In this world, taking a guy like Jackson and making him the quote-unquote PG is not as risky as it may have been 20 years ago IMO
2. As to those lamenting our two amazing departing PGs and the awesome chemistry of last year's team, might I remind you that early last year Kadary was struggling mightily, and the chemistry- in general and between the two PGs- was so amazing that one of them got suspended for throwing a tantrum over his usage and the difficulty the two of them had in figuring out their roles. It speaks well of both of them that by the end they worked it out, but a LOT of that credit goes to CRP and staff. Of course nothing is guaranteed but so far CRP has shown not only an ability to coach them, but pick them. Highly doubt anyone coming here is a me-first guy and if they are that will be dealt with swiftly and severely. The last thing I'm worried about is how all the pieces are going to fit together.
1. A lot of folks around here still seem to view the PG position like we're in the Bob Cousy/Mo Cheeks era of basketball and the PG is "setting guys up". To my eyes, the PG has the ball in his hands less these days than at any time I can remember, especially in Pitino's offense and belief in positionless basketball. Anyone can bring the ball up, the PG basically starts the offense. The pick and roll/pop game can be played by any position 1-3, not just the PG. In this world, taking a guy like Jackson and making him the quote-unquote PG is not as risky as it may have been 20 years ago IMO
2. As to those lamenting our two amazing departing PGs and the awesome chemistry of last year's team, might I remind you that early last year Kadary was struggling mightily, and the chemistry- in general and between the two PGs- was so amazing that one of them got suspended for throwing a tantrum over his usage and the difficulty the two of them had in figuring out their roles. It speaks well of both of them that by the end they worked it out, but a LOT of that credit goes to CRP and staff. Of course nothing is guaranteed but so far CRP has shown not only an ability to coach them, but pick them. Highly doubt anyone coming here is a me-first guy and if they are that will be dealt with swiftly and severely. The last thing I'm worried about is how all the pieces are going to fit together.
To be fair staff went after Lee, a more traditional type PG, extremely hard. He was their first choice PG. Ian was seen as more of a wildly talented off guard, small forward guy who could also play point in manner Sim did depending on the situation.
Just putting this in proper and fair perspective.
Phenomenal marketing. No other school/arena partnership in the country can compete with this type of visibility.
First attempt at minute distribution - strictly going Guards/Forwards:
3 Guard slots - 120 minutes
-Jackson: 30
-Joson: 30
-Sellers: 25
-Lefty: 15
-Bryce/Mitchell: 15
- ____ : 5
2 Forwards: 80 minutes
-Zuby: 30
-BHop: 20
-Mitchell: 20
-Prey: 10
m
You forgot Ayo who will definitely get rotation PT.
hopefully he forgives me... I'll do better on my 10th attempt in October lol
I don't look at this as starters/bench, I look at it as variety of lineups that can be used either for matchup purposes or in rotation.
If size is needed: Zuby, Hopkins, Mitchell, Sanon, Jackson
If speed is needed: Zuby, Mitchell, Sanon, Sellers, Jackson
If scoring is needed: Zuby, Hopkins, Sanon, Sellers, Jackson
And the use of Prey, Liotopoulos, Sulejanovic and Ayo can be deployed while keeping multiple high-level starters on the floor.
For instance:
Prey, Hopkins, Mitchell, Sanon, Jackson
Zuby, Mitchell, Liotopoulos, Sellers, Jackson
Etc. etc.
Obviously the key missing element remains a PG to supplement Jackson, who is in every one of the above lineups.
And if we somehow land Fland then that scrambles all of the above but really just adds even more flexibility.
In short: We are a wagon.
If size is needed: Zuby, Hopkins, Mitchell, Sanon, Jackson
If speed is needed: Zuby, Mitchell, Sanon, Sellers, Jackson
If scoring is needed: Zuby, Hopkins, Sanon, Sellers, Jackson
And the use of Prey, Liotopoulos, Sulejanovic and Ayo can be deployed while keeping multiple high-level starters on the floor.
For instance:
Prey, Hopkins, Mitchell, Sanon, Jackson
Zuby, Mitchell, Liotopoulos, Sellers, Jackson
Etc. etc.
Obviously the key missing element remains a PG to supplement Jackson, who is in every one of the above lineups.
And if we somehow land Fland then that scrambles all of the above but really just adds even more flexibility.
In short: We are a wagon.
classof2010
Well-known member
The practices will be intense