THIS Season (formerly Next Season)

So is our backcourt of Sheed and Durand any worse than top half of the league? Think its actually more like top 3-4.
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I think the back court is Jordan and Mvouika at this point with Johnson at the three, Williams at the four, and Obekpa at the five. Four quality high-major starters. I'd feel better with Mvouika as a backup.

I have full confidence in the staff to find a high-major starter in the back court before school starts. Ellison is probably better suited for coming off the bench his first season, but it would be great to be wrong about that.

We could run out an absolutely huge lineup with Jordan-Johnson-Williams-Alibegovic-Obekpa. Wouldn't lose too many boards with that roster, but Williams has to prove he can guard the three.
 
you have got to be kidding me... that is not a reasonable answer. He is 6'6" and has never played PG in college or in the last few years.
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Right now, that's the only reasonable answer. Hopefully, soneone else is brought in. Barring foul trouble, all we need is someone to give us 5-7 minutes as the backup.

Btw, unlike many on this board, I think Rysheed is a good pg and he will continue to play there. He is not gonna be moved to the 2.
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Jordan averaged just under 31mins/game last year. So you want him to play more time, all the while being the opponents focal point on defense? I just don't think that's realistic. We will need the backup to give us a solid 10-12mins/game at least, otherwise I can see Jordan getting extremely tired at the season goes on.
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I think fatigue is overrated with these college kids. There are so many stoppages and they are in such great shape. We played last year with basically 6 guys and Sheed was fine. I'm sure we'll have more depth once the staff is done recruiting.

I expect a breakout year from Sheed regardless of how teams decide to defend him. He no longer has to defer to Harrison and Greene. With Williams, Johnson, and possibly Ellison there will be options on the wings to kick the ball to if teams trap or double him. We just need another ball handler so he doesn't always have to bring the ball up. I'm sure we'll get one.
 
So is our backcourt of Sheed and Durand any worse than top half of the league? Think its actually more like top 3-4.
Click to expand...


I think the back court is Jordan and Mvouika at this point with Johnson at the three, Williams at the four, and Obekpa at the five. Four quality high-major starters. I'd feel better with Mvouika as a backup.

I have full confidence in the staff to find a high-major starter in the back court before school starts. Ellison is probably better suited for coming off the bench his first season, but it would be great to be wrong about that.

We could run out an absolutely huge lineup with Jordan-Johnson-Williams-Alibegovic-Obekpa. Wouldn't lose too many boards with that roster, but Williams has to prove he can guard the three.
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Think Durand is our starting 2 today. If info is correct and Ellison joins than think he will start with them in DJ kinda role. Mostly sf, some pg, but not really a sg is the feel I get.
 
So is our backcourt of Sheed and Durand any worse than top half of the league? Think its actually more like top 3-4.
Click to expand...


I think the back court is Jordan and Mvouika at this point with Johnson at the three, Williams at the four, and Obekpa at the five. Four quality high-major starters. I'd feel better with Mvouika as a backup.

I have full confidence in the staff to find a high-major starter in the back court before school starts. Ellison is probably better suited for coming off the bench his first season, but it would be great to be wrong about that.

We could run out an absolutely huge lineup with Jordan-Johnson-Williams-Alibegovic-Obekpa. Wouldn't lose too many boards with that roster, but Williams has to prove he can guard the three.
Click to expand...

Think Durand is our starting 2 today. If info is correct and Ellison joins than think he will start with them in DJ kinda role. Mostly sf, some pg, but not really a sg is the feel I get.
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The DJ Kennedy comparisons are hard to ignore. Probably a little less rugged but a little more refined.

Durand can definitely player either spot and is the better spot up shooter. Malik has a good shot, but a slow release. He'll be very good form there in time. Smart kid and good slasher. Point-forward type. Again, I just don't like relying on freshmen, but we'll know right away if he's ready. Kennedy was.
 
What a job this staff has done in a month with one assistant coach tied behind our backs. Feeling better and better about next season.
Let's Go Redmen!
 
Starting lineup?

Jordan
Obekpa
Johnson
Mvouika
Williams
 
I look at what our coaching staff did without one assistant in 30 days,and I am totally amazed. Then thinking forward, I think, give this coach a full compliment of assistants and time to develop relationships with the kids, and their coaches, and we will be looking at some results that even the most ardent followers could not envision. Being a Redmen fan is crazy fun. Happy days are here again.
 
I look at what our coaching staff did without one assistant in 30 days,and I am totally amazed. Then thinking forward, I think, give this coach a full compliment of assistants and time to develop relationships with the kids, and their coaches, and we will be looking at some results that even the most ardent followers could not envision. Being a Redmen fan is crazy fun. Happy days are here again.
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I agree Frank. The team that this staff will put on the floor next season will be so much better than anything Lavin would have put out even with Sampson. Still two more schollies to fill also.
 
Being overlooked is how good Ellison, Durand, Williams and all of our wing players will be next year going against Terry Larrier everyday in practice.
 
Zags
@AdamZagoria: 'We're not done yet.' St. John's asst @mabde33 to The 4 Quarters Podcast on St. John's recruiting. Have 2 ships left.
 
Today's U Blog: 2014-15 Recap/2015-16 Look Ahead

"Simply put, the Johnnies will go as far as Jordan and Obekpa can take them. Mullin’s first squad will likely struggle in the Big East next year as they get acclimated to each other. But the future could be bright if Mullin and his staff can strike it rich on the recruiting trail. This is a year of transition and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament may be too difficult to accomplish."

 
Today's U Blog: 2014-15 Recap/2015-16 Look Ahead

"Simply put, the Johnnies will go as far as Jordan and Obekpa can take them. Mullin’s first squad will likely struggle in the Big East next year as they get acclimated to each other. But the future could be bright if Mullin and his staff can strike it rich on the recruiting trail. This is a year of transition and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament may be too difficult to accomplish."

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I get why someone would think that this will be a year of transition, but I do not think we will struggle in a weaker than usual Big East. This is a huge transition year for everyone top to bottom--average loss of 2-3 starters per team.

We have two NBA draft prospects as upperclassmen. We have a kid, Johnson, that would have been the focal point of a solid Pitt team last year. Those three guys will all play very good defense. Williams is a very talented offense player that will have no problem getting to double-figures in scoring. One more guy to step up (Ellison or Mvouika) is all that is needed to give us one of the top four starting fives in the league.

This team has shooting ability, depth, size, and experience--albeit not playing together. Our starting five could include a senior that averaged 20 mpg his career, a fifth year senior, a junior that averaged 30 mpg his first two years, a redshirt soph JUCO transfer, and another fifth year senior.

I'm actually more worried about 2016 if the grad transfer rule is amended and we don't land Larrier.
 
Today's U Blog: 2014-15 Recap/2015-16 Look Ahead

"Simply put, the Johnnies will go as far as Jordan and Obekpa can take them. Mullin’s first squad will likely struggle in the Big East next year as they get acclimated to each other. But the future could be bright if Mullin and his staff can strike it rich on the recruiting trail. This is a year of transition and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament may be too difficult to accomplish."

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I would be surprised if the NCAA changed the rule as it would then be tantamount to punishing a kid for graduating.
I get why someone would think that this will be a year of transition, but I do not think we will struggle in a weaker than usual Big East. This is a huge transition year for everyone top to bottom--average loss of 2-3 starters per team.

We have two NBA draft prospects as upperclassmen. We have a kid, Johnson, that would have been the focal point of a solid Pitt team last year. Those three guys will all play very good defense. Williams is a very talented offense player that will have no problem getting to double-figures in scoring. One more guy to step up (Ellison or Mvouika) is all that is needed to give us one of the top four starting fives in the league.

This team has shooting ability, depth, size, and experience--albeit not playing together. Our starting five could include a senior that averaged 20 mpg his career, a fifth year senior, a junior that averaged 30 mpg his first two years, a redshirt soph JUCO transfer, and another fifth year senior.

I'm actually more worried about 2016 if the grad transfer rule is amended and we don't land Larrier.
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I would be surprised if the NCAA changed the rule as it would then be tantamount to punishing a kid for graduating.
 
I've got a feeling that our team will be better than most people predict. I have lots of faith in Coach Mullin and his staff, regardless of the huge turnover in players. Look for lots of mistakes in the early part of the season-players and staff as well. But I think Coach will be able to get all to buy in to his philosophy of team-1st.
:cheer:
 
I've got a feeling that our team will be better than most people predict. I have lots of faith in Coach Mullin and his staff, regardless of the huge turnover in players. Look for lots of mistakes in the early part of the season-players and staff as well. But I think Coach will be able to get all to buy in to his philosophy of team-1st.
:cheer:
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I agree Knight. Especially if we get Rowan and a another serviceable big man from somewhere. If we do that and Lovett and Sima are eligible I think we be very good come February.
 
I think you guys are underestimating experience. Average seniors beat up talented freshmen all the time in the Big East because they are bigger and more experienced. Our two best seasons in recent memory .. 2010 and 2014 are proof of that.
 
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