Then like honest question, why do you spend so much time here? Even Reece coming back doesn’t elicit a response from you but you immediately harp on this one move as a harbinger for more transfers. You’re entitled to your opinions but when they’re never anything but devil’s advocate negativity, I have to wonder why you invest so much time in something you claerly don’t enjoy
11 Likes
People act like 25+ wins and top 4 seeds just grow on trees, and organically happen if you roll out top 100 underclassmen. If we went that route, the board would lose its mind mid February when we were flirting with .500 play.
The vets matter, and transfer vets have been critical to our high level success. They buy in to role, and raise the floor.
7 Likes
just happy ctb avoided two year transfers who were progress stoppers.Either they are good long term or they just provide a stop gap.
2 Likes
At what point did I say I don’t enjoy this? I love UVA basketball. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be here
What I really love is when UVA basketball is really really good. And I’m complaining because I think we’re making decisions that are negatively impacting our ability to be really really good.
4 Likes
I don’t think adding Jacob Groves to round out a very thin and inexperienced front court is what would ever hold us back from being “really really good” again, but I guess if I squint hard enough MAYBE I can see why you would think that in terms of long term outlook. But I’m also of the belief that this team can be good enough for a run
3 Likes
To be fair it wasn’t just SDSU, FAU and Miami weren’t full of lottery picks either.
The mention of the previous final 4 is a good point; how strong guard play dictates march. And we have a solid foundation now with Reece and McKneely. And if Rohde Gertrude and Dante can give us anything else that’s money.
7 Likes
I think we’re in a much healthier spot in terms of roster construction than we’ve had since 2019. We’re finally free’d from the Reece/KC logjam at guard and non-shooting front court logjam. I’m glad we avoided frontcourt transfers with 2/3 years remaining this cycle (jayden types). We have tons of minutes opening up for 2024 as well so I hope that keeps guys patient and happy. We’re also finally free of this covid extra year BS which has been a roster construction nightmare for a lot of teams.
6 Likes
Then you should be thrilled with Groves addition because it allows uva to have more than 3 bigs and it allows more potential pt for bond and gertrude and less potential pt for Taine.
5 Likes
This is a huge point. We are bringing back an all american quality point guard to run the show. If McKneely makes the leap like we expect and Rohde or Bond are above average starters then we are looking at a very dangerous team. Guard play is everything in March and the whole outlook has changed now with Reece coming back and (God willing) is fully healthy
10 Likes
Likelihood of making the ACC-season rotation:
Tier 1 (definitely big minutes): Reece, McKneely, Dunn, Minor
Tier 2 (probably in the rotation): Groves*, Bond, Rohde, Harris
Tier 3 (less surprising if they don’t make the cut**): Murray, Gertrude, Buchanan
Tier 4 (bench): A-Rob, How
*Groves could be Tier 1-A (he’ll play), but he’s not on the Reece/Dunn level of “big-minute” certainty
**They sit if: Murray gets leapfrogged; Elijah still gimpy; Buchanan not ready on D (or redshirted)
Lot of unknowns in those middle two tiers. Any one of those guys could shine or stumble.
15 Likes
I think this nails it.
1 Like
I remember arguing with @Galileo24 about #PointGodtrude . I think Gertrude has shown the vision, I think @Galileo24 doubts his handle is tight enough to play point guard at the moment
I really think learning from Reece could be huge. I think Gertrude at point guard would be incredible because I think what makes him special is what he can do with the ball in his hands. And what he can do on the other side of the ball in defending other point guards.
I would go all in on Gertrude as the next pg addition as opposed to adding a 2024 pg (also because it frees up a spot to take another wing 
)
Also pitching Gertrude that vision can help keep him engaged and focused if and when things do get tough.
15 Likes
agree spend the time finding another big wing in the pipeline assuming dunn is likely to go pro, which is does.
1 Like
However, before we had Groves we only had Dunn, Minor and Buchanan. Now that we have Groves we have a good 4-some between the 4 and 5 positions, hopefully with Dunn and him able to shoot it a bit. I personally don’t think Dunn will be playing at the 3 spot in college, but *may play at that spot in the NBA if he develops more. I think Groves was a good get.
So this leaves the back court/wing spots open for competition.
1 Like
Yeah the game has changed too where positions assignments are really about who you can guard vs where you fit offensively. I think he is a combo 4 all the way next year regardless of how he develops his shot/handle over the summer.
4 Likes
To engage with the rotation question a little more, I think the relevant TB seasons to compare this one to if you go by returning minutes are 2012-13, 2016-17, 2019-20, 2021-22. I’m not really sure which season fits the best for expectations for next season. In 2012-13, lots of guys got chances before it narrowed down to 7 by the end of conference play. In 2016-17 the back end was totally in flux all the way into the tournament. 2019-20 and 2021-22 had smaller rotations earlier (would need to double check the box scores).
2 Likes
Groves is BVP-lite and you can’t change my mind about it.
Not a great defender. Not a great rebounder. A streaky 3 point shooter with overall career numbers that don’t indicate the sharpshooter that all are labeling him as right now.
In our offense, I view as taking minutes but more importantly shots. Just like BVP, Groves will be lead threes jacker.
2 Likes
Is he an adequate passer like BVP?
3 Likes
You love a great UVa team, like the 2019 team. That version, or close. I get that…
I love the team, too. But more than just the results. I love the journeys of the individuals to mesh to become that great team. I don’t get too bent out of shape about stuff along the way that doesn’t fit my perception of what the team should be…
11 Likes
Groves has had 2 years of better 3 point shooting than BVP had his 5 year career. Not saying he’s fantastic or an overall better player than BVP, but he’s a better shooter.
6 Likes