We need to really face reality...Ahmed, Yakwe and Owens are just not good enough to be successful in the Big East. They are at best players you see in the MACC conference. We will never compete with Villanova, with other top level programs if we continue with players like them. We need size inside, both at center and at forward. Not just height but big guys like you see in the Big Ten and other leagues. Our guards are excellent on offense, but must be taught to play defense. They played very little defense last year. Defense must be played as a team, not as an individual. Someone on the staff must teach this team how to play good defense. If these problems are not addressed, the program will continue to flounder and not be successful.
Yakwe, Ahmed and Owens not BE players? Come on, that's just silly.
I basically agree with TAC in that the upper echelon of both the Big East and Power 5 college basketball is composed of better talent in the first 5 players than Yakwe and Owens. Bashir Ahmed is a wild card in that he rarely plays under control but is very talented. Everything else he said has been said many times before here by many posters regarding a doughnut in the middle, lack of defense and now, a high turnover in players which could lead to very few classes with junior and senior players who have played together for 3 years.
Dear 72
Have you read the title of this thread ?
It is entitled Some Positives.
Paultzman clearly pointed out where we missed out in recruiting and then went on to point out a few bright spots to a long suffering fan base.
You then misinterpreted another fans post who said three of our players are MAAC level players and went on how the top teams in the Big East have more talent. We know that that is why they are in the upper echelon and we are not, aside from having an experienced coaching staff.
My point is can you please refrain from turning every post into a Mullin,team, player bash ?
If you wish to start a thread entitled Some Negatives or Glaring Deficiencies or whatever please feel free to do so but I would ask that you please refrain from repeating the same unhappiness in each and every thread.
Some of us have noticed that the staff has gotten 3 very good commitments in the last 5 weeks and prefer to focus on the positive.
Dear Redmennorth,
What did I misinterpret?
When TAC said "They are at best players you see in the MACC conference."
Is agreeing with a poster now cause to publicly call me out?
Where did I bash anyone other than point out the obvious and what was repeated in this very thread by others?
I am well aware of the title of the thread! You were conspicuously absent in retort when it veered into comparing Lavin's and Mullin's recruiting classes.
As for "Some positives", I wholly agreed with Paultzman on his views and that included his very opening statement.
It bears repeating for you:
"
Yeah, not getting an additional interior grad transfer was disappointing, but not end of the world. It would also be nice to have added some college coaching experience on the bench, but perhaps that happens. If not, so be it. Would also like to see roster turnover reduced."
My agreement with Paultzman is not bashing Mullin as you seem to go out of your way to imply.
Also, I just randomly selected opinions in this thread that had the intent on tempering the positives, none of which you publicly criticized. Again, for your reference:
"
Continue to be confounded by staff construction, especially seeming lack of flexibility to address what seem like obvious needs."
" I don't know if its next year as I am still concerned with our post/interior play. We also cannot afford loses to some of the mid major programs who have given us fits either."
 "Steve Lavin was a clunkhead and self promoter. Steve Lavin' first year was head and shoulders over anything Mullin has done here."
" All I said was his first recruiting class of Pointer, Harkless, Sampson, Garret and Harrison blows away anything we have seen since Fran was recruiting. I like Mullin and thought Lavin was a knucklehead but you have to give credit where credit is due.
In fact though not a recruiting expert by any means, Ponds is Mullin's only recruit on par with Pointer, Harrison, Garrett, Harkless, Sampson and Jordan who were all top 100 ESPN guys."
As for player bashing, please don't confuse me with Fun. I have met most of the players and some even know my handle here. That I am blunt is my trademark. I have personally told Amar he needs to be more aggressive inside. I told Mussini I loved his dedication but to lift more weights and get stronger. I hinted to Slick that playing defense is part of playing basketball.
My only conclusion is that you harbor some kind of fondness for me.
If that is the case please PM me to discuss as you have always been, imo, one of the best and fairest mods on redmen.com.
