Jump to content

Teryor

Full Members
  • Posts

    1980
  • Joined

Posts posted by Teryor

  1. Just now, ShowMeALoss said:

    What makes Ivey a great coaching hire? It seems like a big leap of faith. Would we even consider him if he weren't a former player here? I think we will be back clamoring for his dismissal in about 2 years.

    Considered a rising star in the NBA coaching ranks, all former UT NBA players love him and vouch for him. As has been mentioned many times, this would be the only college job he'd consider similar to Juwan Howard at Michigan. We have absolutely nothing to go off of given he's an assistant but it's reasonable to expect he'd be a plus recruiter and he's been around good coaches to learn under like Donovan and the overall staff in Brooklyn.

    • Hook 'Em 2
  2. Just now, Machinator said:

    (Inside Texas) Coaching Hot Board: Basketball Edition
     

      Hide contents

    Shaka Smart is off to Marquette and currently there appears to be three realistic choices to replace him.

    This isn't a speculation board. These are the names IT has been mentioning and continues to hear as the top choices.

    HC Chris Beard, Texas Tech: We've called him the 'Urban Meyer' of the search, but that was just our way of saying he appears to be the top choice. We view Beard as more attainable than Meyer, and in a world that never experienced Covid, he might already be the head man in Austin. That's if you believe Covid saved Smart's job last year (it likely did). There's mutual interest between Beard and UT, but IT is also hearing Indiana and even Arizona, if the Wildcats move on from Sean Miller, could also pursue him. Both Indiana and Arizona would have a cheaper buyout to pay. On April 1st that number would be $2m for the Hoosiers and Wildcats and $4m for the Horns. Beard likes to re-up his contract frequently so you'd have to wonder if he'd use Indiana or Arizona to drive the price too high for Texas.

    If Beard wants the job, he'll be the next head coach almost assuredly.

    HC Dana Altman, Oregon: Altman led the Ducks to a #1 overall seed in 2016 but lost to OU in the Elite Eight. A year later he atoned by taking a 3-seed Ducks team to the Final Four. Before Oregon, he spent over 15 years at Creighon. He has the Ducks in the Sweet Sixteen currently, as they prepare to take on Pac 12 rival USC. His name has circulated behind the scenes for some time at Texas. Though we don't believe money is a huge factor, he would be considerably more affordable than Beard.

    AC Royal Ivey, Brooklyn Nets: IT has been mentioning Ivey because the push from his NBA contemporaries is being listened to by Chris Del Conte. He's not just paying TJ Ford, Kevin Durant, et al, lip service. Sources IT talks to believes Ivey has future NBA head coach upside. There's a good chance he'll at least interview.

    We'll add more names if it's merited.

     

    Ya Indiana would have to pay a buyout that's 2 mil less...but they also just paid 10-11 mil to get off of Archie

  3. 2 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

    Is beard’s resume any better than shaka’s was when we hired him?  That’s a mostly serious question, as I know little about beard other than his one deep tourney run in 2019 that went one game further than Shaka’s one deep tourney run. 

    Chris Beard is a damn good coach who plays a brand of basketball that sucks ass to watch, but will win games. I am sure he'll have a lot of success if we hire him, but it'll be frustrating watching the type of game he wants played 30+ times a year instead of just a few.

    • Hook 'Em 2
  4. I'll give CDC his props for getting this done without having us have to pay a buyout. I know he isn't perfect, but this is basically his year of hires that will determine his rep here and how long he's in Austin.

  5. 6 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

    Transfer season is starting to get going for CBB and will really move once the tournament’s done. We need to move on from Shaka and do it quickly, so the new coach has time to bring in 3-4 transfers to salvage the tire fire of a 2021 roster Shaka’s put together. 

    There's literally been over 100 players that have entered the portal in the last 24 hours, it's wild

  6. 1 hour ago, shadow_operative said:

    Andy Enfield, USC

     

    Fran McCaffery, Iowa*

     

    Tad Boyle, Colorado*

     

    Greg Gard, Wisconsin*

     

    Mike White, Florida

     

    Buzz Williams, Texas A&M, and yes i'm 100% serious 
     

    *would likely never seriously consider leaving their current gig, and would simply leverage any smoke or fire into a raise and extension. 

    I'm shocked you like Enfield when the Mobley family saved his career single handedly. He was headed towards the exact same path as Shaka until all 3 of them made their way to his campus.

    • Hook 'Em 4
  7. 6 minutes ago, Mdhorn said:

    What about someone like Mark Turgeon?  Maryland is at odds with keeping him, or according to local news there's some doubts.  I'm of the opinion that college basketball is one of the most difficult things to predict and even the great coaches don't win all that much, considering the talent level they can accumulate.  So maybe, it's finding the right situation/combination at the right time.  I still think Texas is a great place because the state has talent and some players in the NBA.    

    Maryland is in literally the exact same situation Texas is in. Coach who has NBA talent almost every year (Huerter, Fernando, Jaylen Smith the last few) and never goes anywhere in March. Some fans are annoyed they won a game because it's tougher to get rid of him since this was supposed to be a down year anyways. Their win against UConn this week was the first time he had beat a single digit seed. They've been to the Sweet 16 once in his 10 years, beating a 13 and a 12. So technically better than Shaka in the postseason, but mostly because it's REALLY hard to be worse.

    • Hook 'Em 3
  8. Will need to get acquainted with some of these names 

    College basketball player tracker: Ranking the 35 best available transfers and high school recruits


    By Brian Bennett and Sam Vecenie

    https://theathletic.com/2469325/2021/03/23/college-basketball-player-tracker-ranking-the-35-best-available-transfers-and-high-school-recruits/?source=rss

    Spoiler

    Maybe your team had a bad season in 2020-21. Or maybe it enjoyed success but will lose several key players as a result. Either way, there’s good news: It has never been easier, or at least faster, to restock the roster with talent.

    Hundreds of players are already in the transfer portal, and that number will probably keep rising over the next few months. The NCAA is still expected to approve the one-time transfer waiver, meaning a player who hasn’t already transferred will be immediately eligible at his new school. There has never been more freedom of movement in college basketball. Of course, some top high school players remain on the market as well.

    The hard part is keeping up with all of this. That’s why The Athletic has created our top 35 best available players tracker. We’re ranking the top uncommitted transfers and prep prospects, and we’ll constantly update this list as chess pieces come on and off the board. Note we are not including high school players we don’t expect to see in a college uniform, such as five-stars Jaden Hardy and Michael Foster. Recruits who could potentially reclassify into the Class of 2021 won’t be included until they announce such plans. We’ll change as those situations warrant. College players here are listed by the class in which they’ll participate in the 2021-22 season.

    Without further ado …

    1. Chet Holmgren, 7-foot big/wing, Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis 

    With all the proven, experienced players available, we lead off with a high schooler? Yeah, because he’s not just any high schooler. Holmgren might be the top prep player in the country regardless of class. (He ranked No. 2 in our most recent edition of The Athletic 40, and that might have been too low.) A 7-footer with a guard’s skills, a 3-point touch and elite shot-blocking ability, he’s a unicorn who could quickly change any team’s fortunes. His recruitment has been hard to read, but Gonzaga and Ohio State have been among the teams most frequently linked to Holmgren.

    2. Patrick Baldwin Jr., 6-9 wing/forward, Hamilton High, Sussex, Wis.

    Baldwin is one of the best teenage shooting prospects to come around in a long time. His game is smooth and polished, which is why he has been consistently ranked as a top-five player in the class since he was a sophomore. His feel for the game is superb, and at this size he can play on the wing or in the frontcourt. He’s going to average a ton of points and knock down a crazy number of shots because he has such an easy, well-balanced release. He’s a likely lottery pick. His father is the coach at Milwaukee, which is seen as the favorite. But Duke is also in the mix.

    3. Hunter Sallis, 6-5 combo guard, Millard North High, Omaha, Neb.

    At 6-5 with the ability to play either guard spot, Hallis is an explosive finisher, a shot-maker and a deft passer. He has drawn comparisons to Tyrese Halliburton because of his all-around skill set. He needs to add strength and certainly hasn’t faced the same competition as others on this list. But given the direction the game is headed, his skill set is in high demand. Gonzaga appears to be the leader for his services, and if the Zags land both him and Holmgren, look out.

    4. Marcus Carr, 6-2 guard, senior, Minnesota

    Transfer portal watchers jump out of their seats when they see a name such as Carr pop up. He is the premier lead guard transfer on the market, a point guard who has already made the All-Big Ten team and was on the 20-name late-season watch list for the Wooden Award. He is a superb playmaker who can get his own shot and create for his teammates. He was top 10 in the country in assists per game last year at 6.5, then this year upped his scoring to 19.4 points per game as Minnesota needed a lead scoring threat. He’s a clutch shot-maker and a tough-nosed point guard who would make just about any team better. Carr plans to enter the NBA Draft without an agent and use the transfer market as a backup plan.


    Kessler is a former five-star prospect. (Bob Donnan / USA Today)
    5. Walker Kessler, 7-1 center, sophomore, North Carolina

    The former five-star recruit surprised a lot of people when he decided to join a crowded frontcourt in Chapel Hill. Perhaps then it shouldn’t be a big surprise he’s leaving after one year of limited playing time. Kessler averaged just 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds with the Tar Heels but showed off his skills late in the season, especially with 20 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 24 minutes during a comeback win over Florida State. He’ll play more than 8.8 minutes per game at his next stop, and his production could soar.

    6. TyTy Washington, 6-3 point guard, Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz.

    Washington decommitted from Creighton earlier this month and has drawn interest from Kansas, Arizona, Oregon and UCLA, among others. He has improved his stock considerably since the summer with his fearlessness in traffic, playmaking and finishing skills. He should be a good defender with his size and mentality. Compass Prep was ranked as the No. 1 high school team in the country this year, largely on the back of Washington running the show. The only question is his range on the perimeter shot, but he should be a multi-year collegiate starter if he lasts in college that long.

    7. Tre Mitchell, 6-9 big, junior, UMass

    Mitchell was supposed to be the recruit who put the Minutemen back on the map, and he certainly did his part. He was the Atlantic 10 rookie of the year in 2020, and he put up these eye-popping numbers as a sophomore: 18.8 points, 7.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.2 steals and 37.5 percent 3-point accuracy. He added the 3-point ball to his repertoire, but mostly he’s an ambidextrous finisher around the basket who excels on the block. Has the upside of an all-league high-major player.

    8. Earl Timberlake, 6-6 forward, sophomore, Miami (Fla.)

    Timberlake was seen as a potential one-and-done entering his freshman season at Miami following a standout career at Maryland powerhouse DeMatha. However, he never looked right physically as he struggled through an ankle injury to start the year, then a shoulder injury ended his season after only seven games. When he is right, he’s a power lefty wing who is probably best as a four-man in college. He can get his own bucket, finish at the rim, rebound, and defend well. He needs to get the shoulder healthy, though, because he needs a strong offseason working on his jumper after connecting on just 28.6 percent behind the arc at Miami.

    9. Trevor Keels, 6-4 combo guard, Paul VI Catholic High, Fairfax, Va.

    Keels’ final four — Duke, Kentucky , Villanova and Virginia — reads like an actual Final Four, so that should tell you how valued he is. Strong and long for a guard, he also brings a competitive nature and a good feel for the game. He’s set to announce his college choice on April 4. Villanova looks like the team to beat.

    10. Efton Reid, 7-0 center, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

    Reid has been in the range of a four/five-star recruit for a couple of years. Offensively, he has a lot of the skills teams look for out of modern bigs. He can be a stretch big with great hands who shoots from distance, but also posts inside and finishes over both shoulders. His footwork around the basket has a lot of potential too. He also has some potential as a passer on post kick-outs. His size gives him some rim protection skill. Having said that, he’s not a particularly high-level athlete away from the rim, and the team he signs with will need to work with him there. It’s worth noting he is draft-eligible in 2021, but he should probably go to school unless he’s comfortable being a second-round pick. (His upside is beyond that.) A number of schools are involved, including LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Virginia.

    11. Justin Powell, 6-6 guard, sophomore, Auburn

    Powell was one of the freshman darlings of the early season after breakout performances against Saint Joseph’s, Texas Southern, Memphis, and South Alabama. However, he struggled against Gonzaga, and scored 18 points in his final four games before missing nearly the entire 2021 portion of the calendar because of concussion issues. He’s one of the tougher evaluations for coaches in the transfer portal this spring. Is he a potential difference-making, all-league player? Is he just a floor-spacing starter with solid ball skills? Or is he more the three-star prospect whose recruitment didn’t really heat up until his senior year in high school? Powell is from Prospect, Ky., and Kentucky needs shooters, so Wildcats fans will be watching this one closely.

    12. Kellan Grady, 6-4 guard, super senior, Davidson

    This is a big one. Long on NBA radars after a breakout freshman season, Grady enters the transfer portal on the back of four straight seasons averaging at least 17 points per game, and three straight All-Atlantic 10 seasons — including a first-team berth in 2021. He’s more off guard than lead, but he’s a smooth shooter who can space the floor and create on his own at just about any level. This is one of the clearest high-major kids in the portal, a starter almost wherever he goes. It wouldn’t be stunning to see him as an all-league guy wherever he ends up, making him a real difference-maker in the portal. He’s also mighty impressive off the court.


    Burnett left Lubbock early, but he has real skills. (Michael C. Johnson / USA Today)
    13. Nimari Burnett, 6-5 guard, sophomore, Texas Tech

    Burnett was the first McDonald’s All-American to sign with Texas Tech, but he lasted all of 12 games in Lubbock and didn’t make much of an impact. He was buried in the rotation and shot just 28 percent from the floor while missing 19 of 23 3-point attempts. The attributes that made him a blue-chipper — powerful frame, good vision — are still there. It’s just going to take another team to unlock it.

    14. Charles Bediako, 6-11 center, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

    Bediako and Reid, teammates at IMG, are more of an eye-of-the-beholder situation. If you’re looking for more of an NBA prospect, Bediako is the guy. If you’re looking for more of a polished offensive player who can help you immediately in college, Reid is the guy. Given that this is a college list, we ranked Reid higher, but don’t sleep on Bediako. He’s a terrific defensive prospect due to his mobility and length around the rim. But it’s going to take some time in college. Alabama is seen as the most likely suitor, but Michigan is also in the mix.

    15. Tyson Walker, 6-0 guard, junior, Northeastern

    Walker was the consummate scoring guard at Northeastern, a threat to put the ball in the bucket every time he touched it. He’s a terrific pull-up shooter, having hit at a 47.9 effective field goal percentage on such shots per Synergy this year on his way to averaging 18.8 points. But he’s much more than that. He’s also a pretty smart passer who was tops in the Colonial Athletic Association this season in assist rate. And he won the CAA Defensive Player of the Year award. Walker is a no-brainer high-major prospect who could easily start at point at a lot of places.

    16. Brandin Podziemski, 6-5 wing, St. John’s Northwestern Academies, Delafield, Wis.

    Podziemski is the late riser of this recruiting class. He put up video game numbers in Wisconsin, averaging 35 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game, while shooting 60 percent from the field and well over 40 percent from 3. He’s a monster shooter, but has a ton of feel. He parlayed that performance into Wisconsin Mr. Basketball this year, and has received a lot of offers, including Illinois, Kentucky, Miami, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. Not half bad for a kid who was ranked outside of the national top 250 when his senior year started.

    17. Myreon Jones, 6-3 guard, senior, Penn State

    Jones ranked third in the Big Ten this season in 3s made per game (2.4) and shot 39.5 percent from deep. He was even better in conference play, connecting on 41 percent on 3s. That alone should make him a hot commodity and a guy new Nittany Lions coach Micah Shrewsberry needs to re-recruit. He also owns 48 Big Ten starts, so whatever team he plays for next season will benefit from his experience and toughness.

    18. Wesley Cardet, 6-6 wing, West Oaks Academy, Orlando

    Cardet is a Team Breakdown kid with offers from a plethora of high-majors. It’s a who’s who of schools in the South, but it extends beyond that. Possessing a college-ready frame, Cardet is a powerful wing who plays a guard-based perimeter game that can attack with strength and force off the bounce in addition to knocking down shots from 3. He was also known to be an extremely high-level defender in high school. This is the kind of player whom college teams are always hunting for. It’s unclear where he’ll end up, but he should be a priority for a number of schools.

    19. Xavier Johnson, 6-3 guard, senior, Pittsburgh

    Johnson had a stellar freshman season that put him on the radar of NBA teams, but he hasn’t quite been able to build upon that success over the last two years. He has gotten better as a scorer, possessing better footwork and finishing ability around the rim and improved shooting mechanics. But he’s still not quite trustworthy from distance, and he still makes horrible decisions at times with the ball. Johnson is a tough guard out of the DMV area, and plenty of high-major teams could use a starting guard like him due to his ability to get separation and make plays for both himself and teammates. He averaged more than 14 points and 5.7 assists this year. He’ll be very popular.

    20. Bobby Pettiford, 6-1 guard, South Granville School, Durham, N.C.

    Pettiford just went back onto the market last week after Louisville fired assistant coach Dino Gaudio. That’s who recruited him, so Pettiford decided to look around. Pettiford is a terrific athlete with real speed and bounce at his size, and he has a nose for the bucket. He’s also a hard-nosed defender who doesn’t give an inch at the point of attack. Don’t be surprised to see schools in the South look at him.

    21. Jamison Battle, 6-7 wing, junior, George Washington

    Battle is one of the premier shooters on the market. He averaged 17.3 points per game this year, but the team also weirdly iced him out at times and didn’t look his way. At 6-7, he can shoot over the top of defenders. And if you put him on a better team, he’s probably going to get even more clean looks from the corners and wings. There is some concern about his foot speed on defense, but it’s hard to look past Battle as a top option if you’re trying to find a three/four shooter with size. He has said he’s looking to go somewhere where he can win after George Washington struggled to get out of the A-10 basement.

    22. Fatts Russell, 5-11 point guard, super senior, Rhode Island

    Russell has been pretty much synonymous with Rhode Island since he made key plays as a freshman in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, so it was a bit surprising to see his name in the portal. He was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 and all-defensive team selection in 2020 when he averaged 18.8 points, 4.6 assists and 2.9 steals while shooting a career-best 35.7 percent from deep. His numbers went down this season, but he was still a third-team all-league pick. Russell has played in 119 games with 83 starts; the red flags are that he is a high-usage guy with a shaky shot. His career field goal percentage is just 35.6 percent.


    Toney improved as a shooter during his time at Pitt. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
    23. Au’diese Toney, 6-6 wing, senior, Pittsburgh

    High-major programs are lining up to court Toney, who averaged 14.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists while playing 35 minutes a night in the ACC. He also showed improvement on his shot, connecting on 34 percent of his 3s after being under 30 percent in his first two seasons. He was never really featured in the offense and was known as a strong defender. The departure of Toney and Johnson within a 48-hour period dealt a blow to Jeff Capel’s rebuilding efforts.

    24. A.J. Bramah, 6-7 forward, junior, Robert Morris

    In 2019-20, Bramah was the best player on a Robert Morris team that won the NEC tournament and was set to return to the NCAA Tournament if not for the cancellation of the season. Then in 2020-21, he came back for his sophomore season and averaged 21 points and 10.3 rebounds in a tougher conference after the Colonials moved up to the Horizon League. He decided to leave in February, though, and looks like he’ll be looking more at the high mid-major level this year, as his final three are Nevada, St. Bonaventure and Western Kentucky. He’d star at all three of those places.

    25. Seth Lundy, 6-6 wing, junior, Penn State

    Solidly built at 220 pounds, Lundy can finish through contact and is aggressive attacking the rim. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds and had a couple of wow performances: 26 points at Ohio State and 31 points and eight boards in a regular-season-ending win at Maryland. If he can unlock an inconsistent outside shot — and his 79 percent career free-throw mark suggests more is possible — he could be a real asset.

    26. C.J. Felder, 6-7 wing/forward, junior, Boston College

    Felder had a solid two seasons at Boston College, but those around the program believe he has more upside than anyone who has departed with the changeover. Why? At 6-foot-7 with long arms and a strong 225-pound frame, Felder oozes upside and he works really hard. He entered college extremely raw and needed time to develop. He has started hitting some 3s in addition to being a solid cutter, a strong rebounder and a ridiculous shot-blocker for his size. He’s a definite high-major guy if he wants to be, and should develop into a good starter.

    27. Jay Heath, 6-3 guard, junior, Boston College

    Heath is a walking bucket who has finished in the top 20 of scoring in each of his two seasons in the ACC. He can get to his pull-up with ease and knock down shots from distance while still creating. He could stand to improve as a playmaker for his teammates, though, as he’d be best off playing some point. Originally from Washington D.C., he should expect teams in that area in need of a combo guard to blow up his phone, given his proven high-major scoring prowess.

    28. Marvin Johnson, 6-6 wing, super senior, Eastern Illinois

    A former junior college player out of Coffeyville CC, Johnson blossomed into a tremendous all-around player at Eastern Illinois over the last two years. He’s a strong driver and playmaker, he defends well and he can score. He averaged nearly 15 points, five rebounds and five assists on his way to first-team All-OVC honors. Arkansas is recruiting him, but he might end up more in the high-mid-major realm. The key for Johnson will be showing he can consistently knock down shots to open up the floor.

    29. Tyler Kolek, 6-3 guard, sophomore, George Mason

    Kolek won the Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year award after averaging 11 points and shooting 36 percent from 3 on high volume. A former New England Preparatory Scholastic Athletic Council player of the year, this smooth-shooting lefty should draw interest from some of the New England schools to come home.

    30. Phlandrous Fleming, 6-4 guard, super senior, Charleston Southern

    This one is all about toughness and experience. Fleming is an undersized wing who has been remarkably productive on bad Charleston Southern teams the last two years. This year he averaged 20.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals. He’s tough and physical, capable of pulling up from distance as well as driving with power to the rim. Additionally, Fleming is a two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year, using that strength and quickness to hound opponents. He’s probably more of a role player offensively at the high-major level, but his defensive prowess gives him a real chance to be an impact starter in the right spot.


    Durham can play a role for a high-major team. (Aaron Doster / USA Today)
    31. Al Durham Jr., 6-4 guard, super senior, Indiana

    This is a pure 3-and-D threat if he stays at the high-major level. A three-year starter at Indiana, Durham has a proven track record that he can knock down shots and do so while playing well within a strong team concept. He seems to go about things the right way. He’s best off-ball, but he can also play at the two as a secondary playmaker next to a lead guard. You don’t want him driving to the rim, but he makes good decisions, defends well within the scheme and hits shots. It’s easy to find a fit for those guys.

    32. Austin Butler, 6-6 wing, super senior, Holy Cross

    As one of the authors here is from Pittsburgh, we have a soft spot in our heart for the Latrobe-born Butler. The 6-6 wing morphed into a monster wing this year for Holy Cross, dropping 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds per game while shooting an absurd 45.8 percent from 3. I’d be fascinated to see him at the high-major level, as I think his mix of shooting and toughness could help someone as a role player.

    33. David Collins, 6-4 guard, super senior, South Florida

    Collins started 96 games in four years for the Bulls and averaged double digits in scoring every season. He never really made the leap to superstar after scoring 15.7 points, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals as a sophomore, and his shooting stroke has come and gone. But he has been a rock-solid starter in the AAC for a long time, and a lot of teams could use somebody like that.

    34. Greg Parham, 6-4 guard, super senior, VMI

    Teams looking for a bucket-getter would be wise to call (or Zoom with) Parham. He finished third in the Southern Conference in scoring (18.4 points per game) and led the league in 3-point percentage (43.5, which was the eighth-best in the country). He wasn’t just a gunner either, as he chipped in four assists per game. He did enjoy a high-usage rate, but at his size he should be able to get his shot off at the high-major level, if he chooses to go that route.

    35. John Harrar, 6-9 forward, super senior, Penn State

    There’s no secret what Harrar brings to the table. He’s a banger and a rebounder, especially on the offensive glass where his 16.1 rate ranked top 10 in the country. The 240-pounder averaged 8.8 rebounds in the Big Ten this season and had 17-point showings against Wisconsin and Michigan State. As a frontcourt depth piece, he’s extremely attractive. Don’t be surprised if he stays in the Big Ten, where his skill set would come in particularly handy.

     

  9. 1 minute ago, Bevo said:

    So your theory is that Kentucky doesn't scrutinize Calipari?

    They absolutely do, but the success that he's had obviously overwhelms one shitty season and Shaka doesn't have any of that goodwill which is why we are where we are. They can look past winning being the end all be all for him when he normally has the talent to overwhelm teams into the 2nd weekend and beyond. I think Cal also learned a hard lesson this year on the ratio needed of upperclassmen to one and dones where he didn't have the senior leadership and steadiness this year to right the ship when the freshmen struggled. 

  10. 1 hour ago, texifornia said:

    Nah, the Shaka experience is never winning an NCAA tournament game with a revolving door of first round big men.

    Great for those guys, sucks for us as fans.

    Bizarrely, Shaka has a bit of the Calipari rep it feels like where Cal will misuse players, almost all fall short of expectations, then they have the opportunity to turn it around in the NBA with a clean slate. Cal has been transparent about his #1 priority being getting kids into the league, the cycle continues, which is why despite an absolute embarrassment of a season there's little scrutiny on him. I'd say Shaka in general even does a better job of boosting kids stock over the course of the year compared to Cal as they get draft looks.  

  11. 16 minutes ago, Machinator said:

    Hamm played his ass off. He also fouled too much and didn't have many discernable basketball skills. Better coaching would have helped.

    He was incredibly frustrating to watch this year, I don't think I need to post his fouls/36 numbers as those who watched were aware. Does it help to have experience on the team? Absolutely. I'm not bummed to see him go though, better coaching helping is kind of the through line of every player in Shaka's tenure. I appreciate him busting his ass for this team, even if doing so put us in the penalty very quickly in a lot of cases.

  12. 1 minute ago, BornOrange said:

    Losing to Abilene Christian is cause enough to fire him.

    I don't want to be the last one standing in a coaching musical chairs game because we were trying to be cute in saving some money.

    Any school dumb enough to hire Shaka is going to hire him cheap because they know we are stuck with those two years at $7M. See Charlie Strong at USF.

     

    Obviously you want to get your guy but there's nothing stopping us from contacting coaches right now (besides the whole tourney going on) even with Shaka in place. You don't have to pull an Indiana where they just fire Archie Miller, publicly humiliate themselves striking out on their 1st option, and are left with seemingly bad options. This requires discretion though, which Texas has never been the best at.

  13. 1 hour ago, closetojumping said:

    The loss is irrelevant, really. Shaka Smart is a born loser with a penchant for sales. That loss meant nothing to him and he’s therefore going to act with impunity afterwards. It’s all normal. Crystal Conte is dickless so that isn’t an issue for Smart. Yeah, just business as usual. I’m at the point where I’m expecting the standard annual propaganda to come out that recruits X, Y, and Z will stop considering Texas is Smart gets fired. 

    Which isn't close to as big a deal as last year. We have a very good class, but Daimion Collins would have been the one that could actually throw his weight around in these matters so long term might be better we didn't get him.

  14. 1 hour ago, longhornmatt said:

    Altman, Musselman and Moser all are better coaches.  Beilein would be great, and I agree he makes the most sense since he’s clearly available.   It doesn’t even have to be limited to the big names or guys making a run this year, though.  Guys like Tad Boyle and others at his level are better coaches.  

    I really don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say Shaka was only the 9th best coach in the 10 team Big 12 during his time here (Prohm really screwed the pooch at ISU, although you could argue Shaka was the worst since Prohm at least won tournament games at the beginning).   You could pick a coaching name at random from any of the good basketball conferences and the odds are it would be a significant upgrade.  

    Those are obvious names, Mark Schmidt out of Saint Bonny has impressed me, those guys are almost always in the tourney and play way above their talent level, and there's something with Boston College not hiring him despite him being a local guy that should have gotten that job. Maybe he's holding out for something better? I also really like Paul Mills out of Oral Roberts. He's coaxed a couple high level players out of a school that literally has no business having any talent there whatsoever and has a fun modern offense. I don't think we go far enough down the list for them to factor but they should get looks.

  15. 2 minutes ago, bullzak said:

     

    Take a look at the teams that make Sweet Sixteen and you will usually see a ton of that. 

    What? The only team that consistently plays like that in the Sweet Sixteen so far is Loyola with their mini-Jokic. Basically every other team that's made it so far, the guards are the focal points of their teams.

    • Hook 'Em 1
    • Fuck You 1
  16. 1 minute ago, Machinator said:

    Just like football (and seemingly every other sport), the game has evolved in favor of offense. Coaches like Bennett (I know we aren't getting him) and Beard field efficient offenses, but my preference is for a coach who's elite in offense and developing guards with competent defense over the reverse. Those teams are also more exciting to watch, even when they're not winning big.

    I think Leonard Hamilton at FSU has a fantastic formula that is very sustainable and is really appealing to recruits that want to make it to the NBA. Big, long athletic wings that can switch everything on defense and that have developable skills on offense. I am definitely on the offense 1st train of thought though, besides playing shit teams it felt like we had 5 minute stretches in literally every game going without a field goal/point. 

    2 minutes ago, BradInATX said:

    Is there another Wright that you're talking about?

    image.png.7edd8813a06bd4b3f21818b184309b10.png

     

    Yes, the Jay Wright who turns down offers to interview for NBA jobs because he's at his dream job, that Jay Wright is going to come to Texas?

    • Fuck You 1
  17. Harris on Tuihalamaka

     

    Spoiler

    MISSION HILLS, Calif. — As Texas' recruiting efforts in the state of California continue to expand, a major target in the Golden State that remains one of the biggest prospects left on the 2022 board is Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany four-star linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka.

    As his spring season has swung into full gear, he's been putting his energy and focus on the field, but a heated recruitment off the field continues to hold a big presence.

    "The experience is a little off," Tuihalamaka said about the spring season. "Everyone thought that the chances of having a season was very low so it's surprising to us, but we're definitely excited and grateful for the moment."

    Tuihalamaka has been in heavy contact with his top five schools of Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Stanford and Arizona State as well as USC where he was previously committed to. At Texas, he stays in communication with linebackers coach Jeff Choate and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski routinely.

    "Great guy, I definitely love his energy," he said about Choate. "He has a great background where he was able to coach both sides of the ball. Also with Coach K at Washington, I definitely love both of them. I like their scheme and formation and how they see me in there."

    He also stays in communication with Steve Sarkisian and has appreciated his family vibe during his recruitment.

    "I talk to Coach Sark once a week," Tuihalamaka said. "Definitely a great guy, Cali vibe with him. He also talks to my parents which is another thing I love about him, he's family-oriented. For sure, I'm gonna go out there to take an official visit so I'm excited to see them."

    When visits open up, Tuihalamaka plans to get out to each of his top five schools to see whatever catches his attention before making a decision.

    "Whatever catches my eye," he said. "Whatever me and my family can see myself growing as a person as well as a student-athlete. There's nothing prioritized. It's more so a family a decision and where I can come in and start, get a great education and a great platform for myself to get to the next level."

    At 6-foot-1.5, 238 pounds, Tuihalamaka is the No. 68 overall ranked recruit in the country for the class of 2022, according to 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 3 inside linebacker in the country and the No. 8 recruit in the state of California.

     

    • Hook 'Em 3
  18. 9 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

    92K in line. Seems doubtful >20k fail to buy but I will hang around regardless.

    I think somewhere between ~20-30% fail to buy based on a couple drops I've seen. Someone has to be tracking it more concretely but the All-Star drop felt like it had the least amount of failures to buy, maybe because you had to have 3 moments just to have the chance. 

×
×
  • Create New...