Get Ready for 25-26!

[Redenbacher]

I haven't seen Darling play. I'm betting you haven't seen Darling play. Most certainly neither of us has seen Darling play while coached by Pitino and with Zuby, Sanon, Sellers, and Hopkins as options to pass to. Maybe it would be wise to wait and see how he does before you go full Mean Gene?

You also may have missed that Liotopoulos made a lot of progress towards the end of the year, took care of the ball and did not hurt the team defensively (on a very good defensive team). Don't you think that he might make further progress going into next season?

Or, you can go cliff diving based on what may well prove to be totally unfounded concerns, up to you I guess.

You are correct, I have not seen Darling play. I am operating under the assumption that out of the gate, he’s not at the level of Richmond or Smith. Which is a very safe assumption IMO.

Winning early OOC games against top tier teams is critical. I simply don’t think the staff is going to leave the PG depth chart at where it is right now, it’s too risky. We’ll see.

 

[lawmanfan]

Status 4-25-25

Out Due to Graduation (3):
Kadary Richmond
Deivon Smith
Aaron Scott

Out Via the Portal (6):
RJ Luis (NBA/TBD)
Brady Dunlap (St. Louis)
Jaiden Glover (the other SJU)
Simeon Wilcher (Texas)
Vince Iwuchukwu (TBD)
Khaman Maker (DePaul)

Returning (4):
Zuby Ejofor
Ruben Prey
Lefteris Liotopoulos
Sadiku Ibine-Ayo

Additions (a/k/a #Megahaul) (7):
Bryce Hopkins (Providence)
Ian Jackson (UNC)
Oziyah Sellers (Stanford)
Joson Sanon (ASU)
Dillon Mitchell (Cincy)
Dylan Darling (Idaho St)
Imran Suljanovic (Eur)

Potential Openings (2):
C
PG or combo guard

 

[mattc]

You are correct, I have not seen Darling play. I am operating under the assumption that out of the gate, he’s not at the level of Richmond or Smith. Which is a very safe assumption IMO.

Winning early OOC games against top tier teams is critical. I simply don’t think the staff is going to leave the PG depth chart at where it is right now, it’s too risky. We’ll see.

We are not signing an additional 3rd string PG. We already have ten guys on the roster who expect to play. What's the pitch going to be? "Hey kid, you're not really going to see the floor, but would you mind coming here and we'll use you in case of an emergency?"

 

[Redenbacher]

We are not signing an additional 3rd string PG. We already have ten guys on the roster who expect to play. What's the pitch going to be? "Hey kid, you're not really going to see the floor, but would you mind coming here and we'll use you in case of an emergency?"

I’m not suggesting we sign an additional 3rd string PG. I am suggesting we sign a true PG starter or at worse, an additional second string PG. If Liotopoulos loses minutes as a potential PG backup in that scenario, so be it.

I’ll say no more on the topic, as I realize it’s all speculation and I could of course be very wrong.

 

[room112]

PG - Jackson (3)
SG - Sellers (1)
SF - Sanon (3)
PF - Hopkins (1)
C - Ejiofor (1)

G - Darling (2)
F - Mitchell (1)
G/F - Ayo (1)
F - Prey (3)
G - Lefty (3)
F - Suljanovic (4)
Open
Open
Open*
Open*

Still early, and a lot can change, but I'm curious if someone wants to give a shot to the minutes distribution. I'm seeing minimum 10 guys here who are deserving of minutes.

 

[mattc]

Still early, and a lot can change, but I'm curious if someone wants to give a shot to the minutes distribution. I'm seeing minimum 10 guys here who are deserving of minutes.

Zuby - 30
Jackson - 30
Hopkins - 25
Sanon - 25
Sellers - 25
Mitchell - 25
Darling - 15
Prey - 15
Lefty - 5
Ayo - 5
Imran - 0

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Still early, and a lot can change, but I'm curious if someone wants to give a shot to the minutes distribution. I'm seeing minimum 10 guys here who are deserving of minutes.

Always fun even if pointless

1-3 I think you can allocate 110ish minutes (30 minutes with 3 guards/wings)
4-5 I think you can allocate 90 minutes (10 minutes with 3 bigs)

1-3 110 Minutes
Jackson - 30
Sellers - 25
Sanon -25
Darling - 14
Lefty - 8
Ayo - 8

4-5 90 Minutes
Hopkins - 25
Ejiofor - 30
Mitchell - 25
Prey - 10

 

[classof2010]

Biggest thing is how they gel. I’d love for the team to win Players Tournament in Vegas. Winning that early could really set the table.

 

[Mean Gene]

I’m not suggesting we sign an additional 3rd string PG. I am suggesting we sign a true PG starter or at worse, an additional second string PG. If Liotopoulos loses minutes as a potential PG backup in that scenario, so be it.

I’ll say no more on the topic, as I realize it’s all speculation and I could of course be very wrong.

If what we have is good enough for Pitino and staff then it’s good enough for me. We’ve had a fabulous offseason so far!!! I couldn’t be happier.

 

[dk423]

Biggest thing is how they gel. I’d love for the team to win Players Tournament in Vegas. Winning that early could really set the table.

I'm pumped we're in it. I think we need a really really strong OOC to get a number one seed and just as importantly, have the team develop chemistry.

Those three (? or four?) games + Ole Miss is a solid start. I'd like to add three more tough games against ranked opponents, add a tricky mid-major, and buy games from there.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

I'm pumped we're in it. I think we need a really really strong OOC to get a number one seed and just as importantly, have the team develop chemistry.

Those three (? or four?) games + Ole Miss is a solid start. I'd like to add three more tough games against ranked opponents, add a tricky mid-major, and buy games from there.

I’m waiting for there to be some issue with the tournament. I’ve yet to see anything that provides a glimpse to how it will be set up.

 

[dk423]

I’m waiting for there to be some issue with the tournament. I’ve yet to see anything that provides a glimpse to how it will be set up.

I find the whole thing confusing. The only thing they said is there would be pool play. So wouldn't that be 3 games already? I don't know how you then get a championship round without expanding to at least 5.

 

[Marillac2]

Always fun even if pointless

1-3 I think you can allocate 110ish minutes (30 minutes with 3 guards/wings)
4-5 I think you can allocate 90 minutes (10 minutes with 3 bigs)

1-3 110 Minutes
Jackson - 30
Sellers - 25
Sanon -25
Darling - 14
Lefty - 8
Ayo - 8

4-5 90 Minutes
Hopkins - 25
Ejiofor - 30
Mitchell - 25
Prey - 10

I agree almost across the board. I'd say maybe drop Mitchell a few -- there are just going to be games he can't be on the floor at the end and others where we need offense. Jackson feels like a good candidate for the 2 and sit rule as well, so that could open up some minutes. I'd probably bump Prey up a little as well.

I could see Sellers and Sanon spending some time in the dog house for defense too. West coast basketball is a little softer.

 

[espken]

I find the whole thing confusing. The only thing they said is there would be pool play. So wouldn't that be 3 games already? I don't know how you then get a championship round without expanding to at least 5.

May have to follow the 2017 Phil Knight NIke Tournament format which had 16 teams. Players ERA currently has 18 teams. Playing 4 games in one week would be compromising injury. Easy solution, just kick out Rutgers and St. Joseph’s.

Phil Knight Invitational - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[rehobie]

Lots of talk of getting another point guard. I don’t think we need one.

Talk of Jackson and Sanon having NBA potential. If true they should certainly be able to get the ball to half court. Then we run that weave where everyone gets a touch. At this point we are operating without a point guard. Many times Zuby ends up with the ball. The third guard, Darling, will be used sparingly. This is positionless basketball which is currently in vogue.

 

[Marillac2]

Lots of talk of getting another point guard. I don’t think we need one.

Talk of Jackson and Sanon having NBA potential. If true they should certainly be able to get the ball to half court. Then we run that weave where everyone gets a touch. At this point we are operating without a point guard. Many times Zuby ends up with the ball. The third guard, Darling, will be used sparingly. This is positionless basketball which is currently in vogue.

I kind of the like the sink or swim mentality we took with Zuby after we missed on Cliff. Same kind of goes here...give two NBA caliber talents the full focus and reps to develop as ball-handlers. Vince was brought in as the safety net for Zuby and Darling (and Lefty) are the safety net for our current guards.

I think it's wise to only look at Sanon as a shooter now, but his overall potential is extremely high if he can develop his handle, passing, and defense.