So you are happy when we get a high ranked player.. But not so happy when we get a Darrick or Felix type kid?? How do you know who will be good or not good? Have you seen them play? Highlight clips doesn't count. I never made any predictions about next years record etc.. What exactly are you unhappy about?
Phillip Nolan, C - UCONN
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So you are happy when we get a high ranked player.. But not so happy when we get a Darrick or Felix type kid?? How do you know who will be good or not good? Have you seen them play? Highlight clips doesn't count. I never made any predictions about next years record etc.. What exactly are you unhappy about?
boo haarvey
Active member
And you guys think Chandler will be the next Patrick Ewing b/c of the five times you've seen him play, right? In truth, few of us on this Board have seen these players. I recognize that a few of us are "experts", but most of us just go by what the recruiting agencies tell us and what we read.
Let's look at the facts. We are losing Mo and replacing him with Jakarr. I've never seen Sampson play, but have heard good things about him. I would think -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- in a perfect world, this would be an even trade next year, but likely Sampson won't have the same impact as a Freshman as Mo had. In addition to Sampson, we are gaining Sanchez (did not avg. 10 ppg in JC but from all accts appears to be a solid skilled player), Balaumu (sp?) (atheletic, but very raw -- likely not an immediate impact player), Wood, Bourgault (best case scenario a good role player) and Branch (less than 6 ppg as a freshman) for half a season.
Take off your fan glasses and tell me whether, based on these players coming in and the cast that we had last year, is it fair to expect a deep run in the tournament next year?
redstorm80
Well-known member
How are we not looking great? It have been a great spring in recruiting for us, what kind of expectations did you have?
All you are saying is Sanchez is likely.. And Balamou is likely .. But the only thing that is likely is you are saying that posters are saying that we will make a deep tourney run or that posters are saying Chandler will be the next Patrick Ewing ( which incidentally I haven't seen any poster do). At this point it's likely that you are debating with yourself. Once again.. What will make you happy??
boo haarvey
Active member
I am not happy or unhappy. I just think we need to temper expectations. We were spoiled with a great recuriting class last year, but suffered a number of unfortunate setbacks. I know this will really set everybody off, but on paper, outside of Sampson (who we signed the year before), this looks like a Norm Roberts class. When Lavin is tweeting that this is possibly his best class ever and others on this Board are defending it to the hilt, I think it's fair to present another more tempered view.
You wrongly criticize me for making predictions, but that is what we all do. Anything can happen once the season begins, but clearly there is a fair correlation between what one reads about an incoming class and their performance. For instance, you did not have to watch any of Kentucky's Freshman this year play in highschool to know that they were going to make an enormous impact.
In short, I hope these kids coming in do great things. If they stick around for a couple of years and some additional pieces are added, who knows. But to expect that a team that barely won ten games and lost arguably their best player and clearly their most versatile is going to suddenly turn into a final four contender with the group of kids coming in strikes me as unrealistic. Even with a top recuriting class that would be a pipe dream.
Most posters are not predicting a deep tourny run, but a tourney appearance. There is a big difference. I do agree that at least one of our players should be a true Center and I have called that our missing piece. I am hoping Chandler works out. If he does I believe a run in the tourney is possible. I also believe w each passing year we will get better and better and expect deep tourny runs in the future not just appearances.
Moose
Well-known member
I actually watch our recruits play. No I'm not a basketball coach but I actually make an effort, take time out of my life to watch them play, in person, games streamed or highlights, and also talk to people who do see them if I can't. Michael Chandler was one of the Top 5 centers in 2011 class. He is an offensive center which is something STJ hasn't had since well before I was a fan of this program.
Moe is great. But lets be honest. His numbers were inflated in many ways by the fact he was playing so many minutes and getting so many shots. The flip side is many of his numbers were also lacking because of this (ie bad shot selection because of limited options). The shoe fits both ways. We aren't just replacing Moe with Jakarr. We're adding more with Sanchez as well. And another dimension to our team in hitting the open jumper which we didn't have with Marco. And a legit PG in Branch who can penetrate and create and not dribble the ball in a holding pattern for 30 seconds.
Justin Brownlee averaged 11ppg as well in JUCO. How did that work out for us. If anything it shows Sanchez plays within the game. He wasn't picked to represent his native country by accident. If you know anything about Monroe their starting backcourt chucked every shot they could.
My fan glasses. I love that line. Should I not be a fan of the program. Should I by cynical 24/7 like you and Bobre of the world? Where have I predicted a deep run? Where have I said I booked my tickets to wherever the FF is this year? I think your discounting how much the 6 returners have gained from playing so much as freshman, its something we as fans have never seen before. Our biggest issue last year was depth. Fixing depth will help rebounding, and foul trouble, and shot selection, and a host of other issues that you might nitpick from this game or that game last year.
I just don't understand what fans of this program expected? Did people think we would get 6 Top 100 players again? Wasn't happening. But role playing holes were plugged, classes evened out a bit.
*Last note I'm on record on this site or the other saying that I think if we DONT make the tournament next year, its a failure. So take my fan glasses and digest that.
rawdognyc
Well-known member
I completely agree with your last couple of lines. I too expect them to at least get 8 more wins than they did as a team this year with a bunch of freshman and a first year D1 Juco. They have no excuse this coming year (injuries and qualifying issues aside) to not win 8-10 more games this year. They have all the pieces they need...and in by no means am i saying all the pieces they need to win the NCAA's for the knobs that will try to use those words against me in one of their upcoming asinine posts. My prediction is about 22 w's this coming year and round of 32, possibly 16
Season of Glass
Member
We have to go out and prove it on the court first. Nothing is guaranteed.
The team is still fairly young and there's a lot of great teams in the Big East. At least we'll have depth. I think we continue to improve off this past season but real success comes in 2013-14.
D'Angelo is our only proven returning scorer and think he's going to have a huge year. (He averaged 20 ppg in his last 14 games)
Nolan proved to be as flaky as his track record indicated committing to UCONN without having visited the school. Chandler could prove to be as equally unpredictable.
The team is still fairly young and there's a lot of great teams in the Big East. At least we'll have depth. I think we continue to improve off this past season but real success comes in 2013-14.
D'Angelo is our only proven returning scorer and think he's going to have a huge year. (He averaged 20 ppg in his last 14 games)
Nolan proved to be as flaky as his track record indicated committing to UCONN without having visited the school. Chandler could prove to be as equally unpredictable.
You recruit to obtain the best talent you can and then to fill holes Coach is doing great Yes I also think we will make it to the NCAA A.Factor we are missing is chemistry You can have a less talented team that just plays together and beats better teams I hope we get Chandler or another center if not I am fine where we are going
t
Coach Lavin said this might be his best class. I doubt he pays attention to rankings, he more likely than not is talking about how he filled so many gaps and needs in one class.
We needed a true point guard - Boom, Jamal Branch, #52 in his class, best defensive PG in the COUNTRY and a natural, according to Dunlap, in the pick-and-roll
We needed shooters badly - Bourgault and Hooper (and Wood)
We needed another big time scorer - Darrick Wood
We needed to replace Mo - Jakarr Sampson
We needed another versatile big to play 4/5 in the zone - Orlando Sanchez (who Lavin Loves)
We needed athletic depth - Balamou (throw Wood, Sampson, Sanchez in here as well)
Now we need a big man - Coach has that worked out
We have a system in place and coach targeted guys that fit in that system. He has been incredibly confident througout and rightfully so. Our lack of a pg and depth were crippling last year. That won't be the case for a long, long time if ever again under Lavin, and this class is the reason why.
We needed a true point guard - Boom, Jamal Branch, #52 in his class, best defensive PG in the COUNTRY and a natural, according to Dunlap, in the pick-and-roll
We needed shooters badly - Bourgault and Hooper (and Wood)
We needed another big time scorer - Darrick Wood
We needed to replace Mo - Jakarr Sampson
We needed another versatile big to play 4/5 in the zone - Orlando Sanchez (who Lavin Loves)
We needed athletic depth - Balamou (throw Wood, Sampson, Sanchez in here as well)
Now we need a big man - Coach has that worked out
We have a system in place and coach targeted guys that fit in that system. He has been incredibly confident througout and rightfully so. Our lack of a pg and depth were crippling last year. That won't be the case for a long, long time if ever again under Lavin, and this class is the reason why.
Not from BOO HOO Harvey he will always find what to complain about ad nauseum.
Class of 72
Active member
Reports are that Nolan has yet to qualify. If true, a good loss.
A front court of Sanchez, Gift, Sampson and Garrett will be very competitive with most Big East teams but another big is mandatory. We will have excellent depth at the 1, 2 and 3 positions with great quickness. Green, 3 Lo, Branch and Wood are all quick on quick. I am excited!!
A front court of Sanchez, Gift, Sampson and Garrett will be very competitive with most Big East teams but another big is mandatory. We will have excellent depth at the 1, 2 and 3 positions with great quickness. Green, 3 Lo, Branch and Wood are all quick on quick. I am excited!!
I really don't get how anyone who watched this team, which looked very very good at times this year, despite holes and lack of depth could not think that this year's team will be much better. It is really beyond understanding. The new depth alone, combined with the maturity and experience of the returning players will make a world of difference. that's not to mention the true point guard coming in, and more size, shooting etc. A real big (ie 6'10" or better) would bring this team to another dimension, but with the guys we have in now, a 20 win season is really not a stretch, and a good possibility.
Not to see that is putting blinders on. Some here claim that those of us who are optimistic have blinders on, but I think they are the ones who are failing to objectively analyze the situation.
Not to see that is putting blinders on. Some here claim that those of us who are optimistic have blinders on, but I think they are the ones who are failing to objectively analyze the situation.
boo haarvey
Active member
Marillac you have the gifts of a true spin doctor. Team Romney should gobble you up. Great post. Branch who was a reserve last year at a&m and will miss two months for us is the best defensive pg in the COUNTRY all caps. When lavin said this could be his best class he wasn't referring to the talent of the players coming in, he was referring to the holes he was plugging. And the depth ... No matter that Hooper isn't playing. Branch is out until end of december. And reports are that wood is no sure thing. As for chandler, he is coming NCAA be damned.
Spin or no spin, you are going to be the one left at the end of the season having to defend your dozens of annoying and assanine posts constantly doubting Lavin, this staff, these kids, and the blue print that was drawn up to achieve success. Get ready for your usual "Nobody is happier than me. I'm glad they did well, but [insert abitrary new concern]" post.
I've predicted the last 7-8 season win totals either on the head or within a few games. I say we win 20 regardless of who we add to what we already have.