I'll say up front - as a disclaimer - the portal can be a bit of a crapshoot. I thought all the guys we landed had some good potential, whether it was misses on the evaluation, or misses on the coaching them up not sure. One thing I do know, is that Mooney put very very little value on defense. Instead focusing on best shooting team ever and offense.
Thinking about this, if we did the following, could have had a really good A10 team:
1) Retain Dji. Yes I know sman, its hard to compete with the allure of the SEC and the $ SEC. But never got the impression that Dji was a moon favorite (again not enough offense and too much defense). If I was Mooney, I put a hard push on to Dji's dad. Try to get PQ to match or come close to LSU offer. Let dad know Dji is going to be encouraged and pushed to score the ball and be a featured guy. Not getting Dji gutted our defense, hurt playmaking, and lost a number one glue guy in A10. HE WAS NOT VALUED ENOUGH. Bring the arguments, the proof is in the pudding as they say.
2) Chris Manon. We were in on this guy but did not land him, he went to Vanderbilt and put up modest numbers (similar to Grant Huffman) I think his offensive numbers for us would have been closer to that of when he played for Cornell. Some similarities to Dji in that a do everything on the court guy, super athlete.
3) Beagle - Did not have a super year here, but still think was a good pick up. Bigs harder to come by in the portal and in general, so not displeased.
4) Dusan - saw this guy play in prep school. Very impressive skill set at that time for a 6'8 guy. But even then was a bit of a huge ball stopper, and his four years in college did not seem to change his game. All offense and no defense, and no ball movement. Dji returning and Manon in the fold (even though dont play same position) replace the need for him.
5) GWIII and AP - I think these were good shots at guys with potential. But AP does not have the overall game of Dji or Mannon. Think he better served as a PF off the bench, teach him to play some interior D. GWIII I'm still not convinced he was getting enough PT. Really would have liked to see him get a stretch of games with 15+ minutes before he was injured.
I know folks are going to say we couldn't get Dji or Manon, but that is BS. That is where a dynamic coach can come in and pull resources, use a Kenny Atkinson, got get the damn NIL and sell the player. Not Mooney though.
Now we have a "competitive" team with my players, and we don't red shirt the freshman. We get them minutes.
We have something like this:
Starters
Guards/Wings - Hunt, Manon, Dji
Center - Walz (put him in there day one getting 30 minutes and maybe he figures it out sooner instead of doubting himself splitting with Beagle)
Forward - Open competition with JRob, AP, Beagle, Soulis
Let Bryson compete for minutes. Roche as shooter off bench.
That is my reboot. I could have thrown out far fetched scenarios, but this is one that could have happened with the right attitude and energy from Mooney.
Thinking about this, if we did the following, could have had a really good A10 team:
1) Retain Dji. Yes I know sman, its hard to compete with the allure of the SEC and the $ SEC. But never got the impression that Dji was a moon favorite (again not enough offense and too much defense). If I was Mooney, I put a hard push on to Dji's dad. Try to get PQ to match or come close to LSU offer. Let dad know Dji is going to be encouraged and pushed to score the ball and be a featured guy. Not getting Dji gutted our defense, hurt playmaking, and lost a number one glue guy in A10. HE WAS NOT VALUED ENOUGH. Bring the arguments, the proof is in the pudding as they say.
2) Chris Manon. We were in on this guy but did not land him, he went to Vanderbilt and put up modest numbers (similar to Grant Huffman) I think his offensive numbers for us would have been closer to that of when he played for Cornell. Some similarities to Dji in that a do everything on the court guy, super athlete.
3) Beagle - Did not have a super year here, but still think was a good pick up. Bigs harder to come by in the portal and in general, so not displeased.
4) Dusan - saw this guy play in prep school. Very impressive skill set at that time for a 6'8 guy. But even then was a bit of a huge ball stopper, and his four years in college did not seem to change his game. All offense and no defense, and no ball movement. Dji returning and Manon in the fold (even though dont play same position) replace the need for him.
5) GWIII and AP - I think these were good shots at guys with potential. But AP does not have the overall game of Dji or Mannon. Think he better served as a PF off the bench, teach him to play some interior D. GWIII I'm still not convinced he was getting enough PT. Really would have liked to see him get a stretch of games with 15+ minutes before he was injured.
I know folks are going to say we couldn't get Dji or Manon, but that is BS. That is where a dynamic coach can come in and pull resources, use a Kenny Atkinson, got get the damn NIL and sell the player. Not Mooney though.
Now we have a "competitive" team with my players, and we don't red shirt the freshman. We get them minutes.
We have something like this:
Starters
Guards/Wings - Hunt, Manon, Dji
Center - Walz (put him in there day one getting 30 minutes and maybe he figures it out sooner instead of doubting himself splitting with Beagle)
Forward - Open competition with JRob, AP, Beagle, Soulis
Let Bryson compete for minutes. Roche as shooter off bench.
That is my reboot. I could have thrown out far fetched scenarios, but this is one that could have happened with the right attitude and energy from Mooney.
