Realistic Outlook for Next Season

[MakingPlays]

This off-season hasn't looked like anyone expected, it would have been nice to return a good portion of the roster that finished 4th place in the Big East, with the new transfer rule it just wasn't in the cards, and I can understand the frustration, I've been there myself, this new rule IMO is hurting college basketball, but that's another topic.

When the off-season started if someone asked what would be the worst thing that could happen.  Most would have said Julian declaring for the draft and staying or Posh transferring.  Next season was always riding on those 2 guys returning and improving everything else was just icing on the cake, and all signs at this moment point to both of those guys returning.  Julian isn't on a single draft board and very likely won't be invited to combine, so at this moment it's likely he returns to school, he has everything to gain by returning for another season and improving, he's one of those guys that can actually improve his stock dramatically with another year.

And assuming Julian is back, you then have Posh and Wusu who are both still on the roster.  There's been debate on just how important Wusu is, and the answer to that is very important, he was always among the last 5 on the court to close games, very often he would actually be the guy they would run isolation plays for to get easy buckets attacking the rim.  Him, Posh, and Julian were probably the only 3 that were always in the closing lineup, the other two guys varied depending on who was having a good game at the time.  

So, looking at next season, Julian could very well be Big East POY.  John Fanta actually said he thinks both Julian and Posh will compete for big east POY next year.  Unless both Gillipse and Earl-Robinson return there's not going to be a team in the Big East that has a better duo, those two guys alone will have the Johnnies projected in pre-season top 5 of the Big East.  Then you look at the rest of the current roster, Wusu will assume a bigger role, my guess is he'll be the 6th man and still be a closer, his minutes will probably go up to around 25 MPG.  Stef Smith, IMO, will be a solid starter at the two guard spot. Then you have Pinzon who I think will probably be the 7th man in the rotation and have a "Wusu like" freshman season, I think CMA will use him at several different spots playing him at the 1, 2, and 3.  All the staff needs to do this off-season is find 2 more quality players.  They need a starting center and a wing, that can either start or be a solid back-up and they can move Wusu in the starting lineup.  If they can do that, the other 2 remaining spots they can really go in any direction.

Suppose julian chooses to transfer to Duke or Villanova?

 

Well he can't transfer to Villanova, so there's that.

 

[monte]

This off-season hasn't looked like anyone expected, it would have been nice to return a good portion of the roster that finished 4th place in the Big East, with the new transfer rule it just wasn't in the cards, and I can understand the frustration, I've been there myself, this new rule IMO is hurting college basketball, but that's another topic.

When the off-season started if someone asked what would be the worst thing that could happen.  Most would have said Julian declaring for the draft and staying or Posh transferring.  Next season was always riding on those 2 guys returning and improving everything else was just icing on the cake, and all signs at this moment point to both of those guys returning.  Julian isn't on a single draft board and very likely won't be invited to combine, so at this moment it's likely he returns to school, he has everything to gain by returning for another season and improving, he's one of those guys that can actually improve his stock dramatically with another year.

And assuming Julian is back, you then have Posh and Wusu who are both still on the roster.  There's been debate on just how important Wusu is, and the answer to that is very important, he was always among the last 5 on the court to close games, very often he would actually be the guy they would run isolation plays for to get easy buckets attacking the rim.  Him, Posh, and Julian were probably the only 3 that were always in the closing lineup, the other two guys varied depending on who was having a good game at the time.  

So, looking at next season, Julian could very well be Big East POY.  John Fanta actually said he thinks both Julian and Posh will compete for big east POY next year.  Unless both Gillipse and Earl-Robinson return there's not going to be a team in the Big East that has a better duo, those two guys alone will have the Johnnies projected in pre-season top 5 of the Big East.  Then you look at the rest of the current roster, Wusu will assume a bigger role, my guess is he'll be the 6th man and still be a closer, his minutes will probably go up to around 25 MPG.  Stef Smith, IMO, will be a solid starter at the two guard spot. Then you have Pinzon who I think will probably be the 7th man in the rotation and have a "Wusu like" freshman season, I think CMA will use him at several different spots playing him at the 1, 2, and 3.  All the staff needs to do this off-season is find 2 more quality players.  They need a starting center and a wing, that can either start or be a solid back-up and they can move Wusu in the starting lineup.  If they can do that, the other 2 remaining spots they can really go in any direction.

Suppose julian chooses to transfer to Duke or Villanova?


Not Iona? /media/kunena/emoticons/wink.png
 

 

[bucketshardy]

I try my best to be optimistic regarding this team....however hard that sometimes (most of the time) is. Yet, these past two years, with Cragg/CMA and staff installed, it felt we had strong experienced leadership with direction. With that feeling, its obviously strange to see so many players, who seemingly seemed to like the "Family" atmosphere CMA advertises and preaches. I don't know many strong families that have so many people leave....lol

Keeping with the optimism- one can look at this situation as opportunity. We had guys last year that couldnt quite get over the hurdle, maybe these voids will allow the staff to bring in players that can get over the hurdle and reach the post-season?

Keeping with reality.... we have a ton of unknown. Our star testing the draft, 3 returning players (one of which only practiced with the team), 3 freshmen, 2 transfers as of now... And I am not naive enough not* to think that teams arent reaching out and selling their programs to the Champagnies' - with all that goes on behind the scenes in college bball, what team wouldn't want the set of twins. Those two can have the pick of any program and deserve/warrant 60 mpg at ANY school. 

What we should feel confident in.... whoever CMA has on the floor next year.... those guys will be giving it their all out there and be fun to root for.

 

[Spocky Ramone]

Angst

 

[Mullins Revenge]

if Champy comes back, our ceiling will be what we did this year.  4th or 5th place in the big east and miss the tourney.

if Champy doesnt return, we will be 7th or 8th in the big east.

Lets be honest, there are no big time transfers coming here.  The Stef Smiths are the ceiling of what we can get here.

 

[lawmanfan]

In your view, are "the Stef Smiths" better or worse than "the Marcellus Earlingtons"?

 

[Money]

In your view, are "the Stef Smiths" better or worse than "the Marcellus Earlingtons"?

Not to answer question posed to someone else.  But couldn't help it.

Earlington being recruited by Bryant
Smith being recruited by St. John's

Pretty obvious to most objective people!

 

[MJDinkins]

if Champy comes back, our ceiling will be what we did this year.  4th or 5th place in the big east and miss the tourney.

if Champy doesnt return, we will be 7th or 8th in the big east.

Lets be honest, there are no big time transfers coming here.  The Stef Smiths are the ceiling of what we can get here.

 

[MakingPlays]

In your view, are "the Stef Smiths" better or worse than "the Marcellus Earlingtons"?

Not to answer question posed to someone else.  But couldn't help it.

Earlington being recruited by Bryant
Smith being recruited by St. John's

Pretty obvious to most objective people!

Good point.  Smith was recruited by several high majors, he was a really good pick-up IMO.  The list of schools recruiting Wheeler was also better than Earlington's current list of suitors.  

The thing about Earlington, he's a 6'6 power forward and his athleticism for his size is below average at the high major level.  That doesn't translate well to being a big contributor on a high major team.  CMA's system and going small ball with him and Champ allowed him opportunities to get on the floor that most other high major schools aren't going to give him.  Now, at the mid-major level with his strength him playing PF he should be able to dominate, then he can shoot as well, that's going to make him pretty good stretch 4 at the mid-major level.

 

 

[monte]

In your view, are "the Stef Smiths" better or worse than "the Marcellus Earlingtons"?

Not to answer question posed to someone else.  But couldn't help it.

Earlington being recruited by Bryant
Smith being recruited by St. John's

Pretty obvious to most objective people!

Good point.  Smith was recruited by several high majors, he was a really good pick-up IMO.  The list of schools recruiting Wheeler was also better than Earlington's current list of suitors.  

The thing about Earlington, he's a 6'6 power forward and his athleticism for his size is below average at the high major level.  That doesn't translate well to being a big contributor on a high major team.  CMA's system and going small ball with him and Champ allowed him opportunities to get on the floor that most other high major schools aren't going to give him.  Now, at the mid-major level with his strength him playing PF he should be able to dominate, then he can shoot as well, that's going to make him pretty good stretch 4 at the mid-major level.

As I mentioned in another thread, if Earl goes the mid-major rout, then he likely becomes the focus of opposing defenses. Then he doesn't get nearly as many pen looks from 3 and as many garbage baskets down low.
I think our system was/is perfect for his skill sets. My sense is that averages no more than 10 + 5 at a mid major.  I honestly don't see a huge jump in production as a result of his move to a lower level conference. 


 

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

I am of the opinion that CMA playing Wusu at crunch time in manygames was a impetus for Williams and Earlington to transfer out .  Wusu has potential in front of him but , him playing while Williams and Earlington watched was often disastrous . The Butler game and others  . I thought he kind of faded as the BE season took over . Lots of turnovers , fouls , especially wild charges , poor foul shooting and too many 3’s . In other words , he played like a freshman over his head .  Did  CMA favor him ? For sure . 

 

[Amaseinyourface]

In your view, are "the Stef Smiths" better or worse than "the Marcellus Earlingtons"?

Not to answer question posed to someone else.  But couldn't help it.

Earlington being recruited by Bryant
Smith being recruited by St. John's

Pretty obvious to most objective people!

Good point.  Smith was recruited by several high majors, he was a really good pick-up IMO.  The list of schools recruiting Wheeler was also better than Earlington's current list of suitors.  

The thing about Earlington, he's a 6'6 power forward and his athleticism for his size is below average at the high major level.  That doesn't translate well to being a big contributor on a high major team.  CMA's system and going small ball with him and Champ allowed him opportunities to get on the floor that most other high major schools aren't going to give him.  Now, at the mid-major level with his strength him playing PF he should be able to dominate, then he can shoot as well, that's going to make him pretty good stretch 4 at the mid-major level.

As I mentioned in another thread, if Earl goes the mid-major rout, then he likely becomes the focus of opposing defenses. Then he doesn't get nearly as many pen looks from 3 and as many garbage baskets down low.
I think our system was/is perfect for his skill sets. My sense is that averages no more than 10 + 5 at a mid major.  I honestly don't see a huge jump in production as a result of his move to a lower level conference. 




 

Idk. All depends where obviously but Earlington produces in limited minutes and is the antithesis of bashful. The combination of what making plays said with a lot of minutes and I think those numbers are low.  But I was also higher on ME than most. 

 

[JohnnyFan]

In your view, are "the Stef Smiths" better or worse than "the Marcellus Earlingtons"?

Not to answer question posed to someone else.  But couldn't help it.

Earlington being recruited by Bryant
Smith being recruited by St. John's

Pretty obvious to most objective people!

Good point.  Smith was recruited by several high majors, he was a really good pick-up IMO.  The list of schools recruiting Wheeler was also better than Earlington's current list of suitors.  

The thing about Earlington, he's a 6'6 power forward and his athleticism for his size is below average at the high major level.  That doesn't translate well to being a big contributor on a high major team.  CMA's system and going small ball with him and Champ allowed him opportunities to get on the floor that most other high major schools aren't going to give him.  Now, at the mid-major level with his strength him playing PF he should be able to dominate, then he can shoot as well, that's going to make him pretty good stretch 4 at the mid-major level.


 

All really good points on Earlington.  Oddly, although he was a PF, we will have to replace his three point shooting.  Marcellus drove many daggers into our opponents with timely threes (shooting it at 38%).  He also had a knack for drawing offensive charges.

 

[room112]

I am of the opinion that CMA playing Wusu at crunch time in manygames was a impetus for Williams and Earlington to transfer out .  Wusu has potential in front of him but , him playing while Williams and Earlington watched was often disastrous . The Butler game and others  . I thought he kind of faded as the BE season took over . Lots of turnovers , fouls , especially wild charges , poor foul shooting and too many 3’s . In other words , he played like a freshman over his head .  Did  CMA favor him ? For sure . 

Wusu also did a lot of really good things down the stretch. For all we know, CMA knew Williams and Earlington were on the way out. After all, those were not players he recruited. Wusu was. 

 

[QueensBall]

if Champy comes back, our ceiling will be what we did this year.  4th or 5th place in the big east and miss the tourney.

if Champy doesnt return, we will be 7th or 8th in the big east.

Lets be honest, there are no big time transfers coming here.  The Stef Smiths are the ceiling of what we can get here.

I think people may be over-looking Stef Smith. I remember watching him and Anthony Lamb a couple of seasons ago (the year Lamb really broke out) push Louisville and lose a close game where those 2 guys were the entire offense. They each had probably btwn 25-30 pts and nobody else on Vermont scored more than a couple buckets. Then during the NCAA tournament I put a few bucks on them to upset Florida State when they were a 13 seed and they lost but kept it close and he had another good game in a big spot. That's when he was a sophmore. The next time I watched a game he played was last season when they beat us and he again had a good game. I was surprised and happy to find out we were getting him. I realize he's coming from the America East and I'm not a Vermont fan so I'm sure he had some stinkers I'm not aware of but this guy has played well every time I've seen him against a high major. I think he's going to find a way to be a very solid contributor here.

 

[Wolfie]

Nothing has changed in the past few days imo to have a good sense of what next season will be like. We've lost 8 players to transfer--some key / most marginal and have added 2 transfers in this wild west T-year, with 1 JUCO, and 3 freshmen.
I think and hope Julian returns and Posh, Smith and Wusu provide additional proven talent.
But, at this point, I don't see us a factor in the Conference next season. Nova, UCONN, Creighton, Xavier, Provid4ence, the Hall look stronger , Marquette with Shaka will likely be better, and we may be on par with G*town and Butler, with DePaul in the cellar.
The one good factor is the Staff knows this better than any of us and will bust butt to improve the roster before the '21-'22 Tip-Off, but right now things look cloudy to me.
 

 

[paultzman]

Nothing has changed in the past few days imo to have a good sense of what next season will be like. We've lost 8 players to transfer--some key / most marginal and have added 2 transfers in this wild west T-year, with 1 JUCO, and 3 freshmen.
I think and hope Julian returns and Posh, Smith and Wusu provide additional proven talent.
But, at this point, I don't see us a factor in the Conference next season. Nova, UCONN, Creighton, Xavier, Provid4ence, the Hall look stronger , Marquette with Shaka will likely be better, and we may be on par with G*town and Butler, with DePaul in the cellar.
The one good factor is the Staff knows this better than any of us and will bust butt to improve the roster before the '21-'22 Tip-Off, but right now things look cloudy to me.


 

[attachment=2065]C0ABAE0F-008D-46DC-9D87-1C79DCB78147.jpeg[/attachment]

 

[Redzing1969]

Why should anyone program bash when it ain’t even close to over!Its only April and every program has similar problems.

 

[monte]

Nothing has changed in the past few days imo to have a good sense of what next season will be like. We've lost 8 players to transfer--some key / most marginal and have added 2 transfers in this wild west T-year, with 1 JUCO, and 3 freshmen.
I think and hope Julian returns and Posh, Smith and Wusu provide additional proven talent.
But, at this point, I don't see us a factor in the Conference next season. Nova, UCONN, Creighton, Xavier, Provid4ence, the Hall look stronger , Marquette with Shaka will likely be better, and we may be on par with G*town and Butler, with DePaul in the cellar.
The one good factor is the Staff knows this better than any of us and will bust butt to improve the roster before the '21-'22 Tip-Off, but right now things look cloudy to me.



 

[attachment=2065]C0ABAE0F-008D-46DC-9D87-1C79DCB78147.jpeg[/attachment]

Not when the fat lady sings? 

 

[Money]

Nothing has changed in the past few days imo to have a good sense of what next season will be like. We've lost 8 players to transfer--some key / most marginal and have added 2 transfers in this wild west T-year, with 1 JUCO, and 3 freshmen.
I think and hope Julian returns and Posh, Smith and Wusu provide additional proven talent.
But, at this point, I don't see us a factor in the Conference next season. Nova, UCONN, Creighton, Xavier, Provid4ence, the Hall look stronger , Marquette with Shaka will likely be better, and we may be on par with G*town and Butler, with DePaul in the cellar.
The one good factor is the Staff knows this better than any of us and will bust butt to improve the roster before the '21-'22 Tip-Off, but right now things look cloudy to me.




 

[attachment=2065]C0ABAE0F-008D-46DC-9D87-1C79DCB78147.jpeg[/attachment]

Not when the fat lady sings? 

We must have quite a few fat lady's that post here! No disrespect to fat lady's /media/kunena/emoticons/cool.png