Our recruiting system has done a great job at recruiting guards. We are very bad at recruiting frontcourt players. We have some incredibly talented players, but it's ridiculous that we have a guard, as our game tipoff opponent.
We need a center
- Thread starter TBSpyder
- Start date
We should recruit overseas. Some skilled big guys over there and you aren't going up against the same competition compared to stateside.
Big men over there are far more fundamentally sound than the AAU products in the US. Should definitely give it a look.
We had an international pipeline for a while (Duinker, Martel) but it's gone cold. I don't know if it was McGeehan who had connections outside of the U.S. (his Campbell team has one Spanish guy, but nothing else), but this group doesn't do it much anymore.
I have been saying for years we should recruit more overseas players. The ones we have had since Bucknor have not been so great (Duinker, Smithen, etc.). Martel was OK, but he took a long time to develop. Saint Mary's has a great pipeline to Australia, has for a long time, and now has a top 25 ranking to show for it. Plus Patty Mills is tearing it up in the NBA with the Spurs.
We really should look overseas for players.
We really should look overseas for players.
Solly and Cayo are both non-US. I doubt we would find a one-year option overseas though, we would likely be bringing in an 18yo who wouldn't offer much different than grant.
Solly is really an American, and Cayo is a walk-on who I don't think was actually recruited, I believe he approached us. I think casting a wider net is just another way to improve what has been generally dismal recruiting over the past 5+ years (with very few exceptions).
We have a center for the next 4 years. His name is Grant Golden.
Cayo a walk on that approached us?? Is this crazy talk or is my sarcasm meter off tonight?
I have it on good authority that Coach Mooney ' s degree is from NJIT, and MolivaManiac ' s all time favorite player is Daon Merritt.
If any starter gets hurt, we could be screwed. I'm not opposed to signing another center, of course, just saying that we do have one on the roster.
This is our concern for next season and moving forward. Unfortunately - I think we take a step back next season because of this lack of depth. We lose Cline and ShawnDre. Based on what we have seen from Buckingham and Sherod and even Fore, the void by ShawnDre will be easier to fill. I dont think scoring will be an issue, but just overall ball handling might be a concern early on. But with Cline leaving - we have no one behind him. Do you play Paul? But he has not played since he stepped on campus. Grant - we don't know how he will return from his medical issue and even what type of player he is. And even with those 2 guys - its only 2 guys, 2 very inexperienced big men. Teams will pound us inside more than ever and take advantage. We will likely play small, but even that probably will not be enough.
Um, TJ was no slouch at Niagara, that's for sure. Had a great freshman year, and I think the majority were excited to have him:
The native of West Plano, Texas, earned all-rookie honors as freshman in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last season, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. He also made 40 3-pointers.
My hope for next year is we can get a solid to good interior grad transfer. I think that would really shore up our roster. If you watch Solly's highlights, he looks like a wing player to me, with pretty good ball handling, and potentially a good 3 point threat. As noted, with our roster he likely has to play a good bit of 4. Maybe we can sign Bryce Golden early, anyone thought about that? Coach K has done this a few times, of course he totally screwed the last kid over. That obviously wouldn't happen with Bryce, and not sure the requirements needed to go early, but that would put the Golden boys together for 4 years. It seems like Bryce has been playing h.s. ball for about 10 years now. Get looking into this Momma Golden.
We do need a healthy Grant next year in any case, or we will have some problems inside I think. If he can come back with no issues, I do think it is good he got a little taste of D1 ball, and it will help him adjust next year.
I do like the versatility of Buck, and I think Solly. I feel like those guys both can be slotted in at multiple positions.
The native of West Plano, Texas, earned all-rookie honors as freshman in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last season, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. He also made 40 3-pointers.
My hope for next year is we can get a solid to good interior grad transfer. I think that would really shore up our roster. If you watch Solly's highlights, he looks like a wing player to me, with pretty good ball handling, and potentially a good 3 point threat. As noted, with our roster he likely has to play a good bit of 4. Maybe we can sign Bryce Golden early, anyone thought about that? Coach K has done this a few times, of course he totally screwed the last kid over. That obviously wouldn't happen with Bryce, and not sure the requirements needed to go early, but that would put the Golden boys together for 4 years. It seems like Bryce has been playing h.s. ball for about 10 years now. Get looking into this Momma Golden.
We do need a healthy Grant next year in any case, or we will have some problems inside I think. If he can come back with no issues, I do think it is good he got a little taste of D1 ball, and it will help him adjust next year.
I do like the versatility of Buck, and I think Solly. I feel like those guys both can be slotted in at multiple positions.
Grant will likely be a great "TJ" replacement, but I would love to see an additional person his height or close to it who can be substituted for him with expectations to play close to his level or put in at the same time to complement him to better match up with the other team or create a mismatch. His brother would be ideal. I'd love to see them play together. Just think how much we'd be improved if we had that this year. We'd be Golden.
I am not down on this year - I think even with the loss to VCU, we are on the bubble for the NCAA tourney, and the rest of this month will determine what post-season tourney we will be playing in - NCAA, NIT, or CBI.
But you always have to have an eye on the future - and the VCU game showed an issue I think we all knew existed, but were hesitant to point out - we have very NO depth with our big men. Cline is great player - and no one would expect someone to fill his shoes immediatley. But look at the VCU Game. We played 8 guys in that game. Fore, ShawnDre, and Bukingham played 37, 39, and 39 minutes. Kwesi and Wood played and they are the only guys over 6-4 besides Cline, and guess what - all three (Kwesi, Wood, and Cline) will be gone next season. So unless we expect a frosh to step in and light it up or Paul and/or Grant to do the same - we will be very undermanned and inexperienced down low.
Our guards will be good, but they can only do so much. And Mooney's best teams have a big man who can shoot from 3 and pass very well from the high post.
But you always have to have an eye on the future - and the VCU game showed an issue I think we all knew existed, but were hesitant to point out - we have very NO depth with our big men. Cline is great player - and no one would expect someone to fill his shoes immediatley. But look at the VCU Game. We played 8 guys in that game. Fore, ShawnDre, and Bukingham played 37, 39, and 39 minutes. Kwesi and Wood played and they are the only guys over 6-4 besides Cline, and guess what - all three (Kwesi, Wood, and Cline) will be gone next season. So unless we expect a frosh to step in and light it up or Paul and/or Grant to do the same - we will be very undermanned and inexperienced down low.
Our guards will be good, but they can only do so much. And Mooney's best teams have a big man who can shoot from 3 and pass very well from the high post.
love international player's games, they fit here but after reading the sport illustrated article last year on american college basketball and international players, not sure how to effectively get involved in that mess. there are some sketchy brokers who seem to control it and if the story is true, not sure if we should be playing in, at least, that dirty pool. need to find another avenue and not play games with con men.
Clearly we are not on the "actual" bubble as an at-large team, but if you mean we are on the bubble in the sense that we could make it, I agree. But it has to come in Pittsburgh, unless maybe we win out and lose in the title game or something like that.
The posters on this board are smarter than you give them credit for. The general consensus when we signed TJ was on of excitement. We knew he was all rookie in the MAAC and had already shown he could be play D-1 hoops. I'm not sure who wouldn't be excited about getting a player who was an all rookie player from any conference. This board certainly was.
Now, the real irony is coming on here and hyping players whose other offers include Mississippi Valley State and American.
But your alternative rememberance of this fits so well with your worldview on here. Also ironic.
If we had better players we would be a better team, certainly. Next year we seem to be thinnest at the 4/5 so if we had to choose one position where another player is most needed it would be center. Does that mean we will not be able to compete at the top of the A10 or get an at large bid without another center next year? No, not at all.
Fun fact: over the past 2 years, of the 6 teams going to the NCAA tournament from the A10, none of the starters on those teams was over 6'7! We will have 6 players on the roster next year who are at least 6'7 (according to their listed heights, some of which may be off for the incoming freshmen).
Fun fact: over the past 2 years, of the 6 teams going to the NCAA tournament from the A10, none of the starters on those teams was over 6'7! We will have 6 players on the roster next year who are at least 6'7 (according to their listed heights, some of which may be off for the incoming freshmen).
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If we had played just our first 12 games and everyone else played their schedule to date we would be RPI 210
If we had played just our 10 A-10 games and everyone else played their schedule to date we would be RPI 40
That is night and day. But unfortunately lands us at RPI 108. We need to win 12 more games to get an at-large.
As to next season, Grant is better than TJ. TJ .said so.
If we had played just our 10 A-10 games and everyone else played their schedule to date we would be RPI 40
That is night and day. But unfortunately lands us at RPI 108. We need to win 12 more games to get an at-large.
As to next season, Grant is better than TJ. TJ .said so.
Heck we almost beat the best 2 teams in the league with 4 munchkins and a white center with a sprained shoulder. If we had any bench at all we would rule the world.
i say it all the time, but you don't want to listen. I'm not saying everything is perfect, but i don't believe its a quagmire (your word). What drives me crazy, is we lose a hard fought game (which you agree on) and then the default mode is next year will suck too. Everyone assumes that when next year comes, that no one on the team has improved, players develop over the summer, etc.
I am getting up in years, I don't remember what I did yesterday, but the phrase "general consensus" "one of excitement" was not what I remember. But we'll agree to disagree on that one, and unfortunately I don't believe the threads from 3 years ago still exist.
I don't hype recruits. I wait until I actually watch them play a college game to pass judgment.
I remember multiple camps.
Some were:
What he did in the MAAC he can do in the A-10
No the best player in MAAC is worse than the worst player in the A-10
But I have seen him practice, and I am a better judge than any recruiter, and I say he is great
But everyone who plays their first year for the spiders plays the same that first year
Win the tourney or no NCAAs, it's as simple as that. We might make the NIT if we make it to the conference finals, but there's no way we're getting an at-large. The A-10 is weak, and we're 105 in KenPom.
I seem to remember most on this board begging Mooney to start Cline his first year, and he didn't start til probably half way through his first year.
Don't believe we need a center having Grant next year. Needed is enough front court physical presence surrounding him. CM's teams for the most part have always lacked that during his tenure here.
Finesse has work for CM adequately in A10 play but it has it's limits especially when playing P5/6 schools. Still bothers me thinking about how the team was toyed with by St Mary's inside presence in that tourney game and if I remember right they didn't lose by that much.
Finesse has work for CM adequately in A10 play but it has it's limits especially when playing P5/6 schools. Still bothers me thinking about how the team was toyed with by St Mary's inside presence in that tourney game and if I remember right they didn't lose by that much.
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