Well all of those options seem pretty bad to me (just one personās opinion) so Iām very glad we brought in a back up who actually plays PG.
I think itās one of those things where the upside is considerably higher if it works out - but thereās too much risk to not have the safer backup plan.
Most underrated team in college basketball:
Assuming the roster is now final, I have to say Iām a bit disappointed with this offseason. I thought we had a chance to build a final four contender, but for whatever reason(s) we didnāt. Maybe thatās more of an issue with my expectations than anything else. I do like that we added some multi-year guys, but wouldāve preferred we went all-in on this year given our retention. I expect us to be good (hopefully very good) but not great. Putting this in writing now before Preseason Awesomeness Disease takes over (shoutout Cavs Corner).
Question for the group:
- Chance
- Sam
- Thijs
- Johann
- Other (reply with your vote)
I can totally see this stanceā¦ but I also view this more as a standard human response to not getting shiny new toys. UVA did the unthinkable and achieved 100% retention for those that could return. That essentially left one starting spot to the public eye, but perhaps not to Coach Odomās eye. In the new NIL/transfer era, it is impossible not to think of the players that are coming back are at the same production levelā¦ even the bench players as we have seen in offseason discussions. Sure every player wonāt become betterā¦ but all of them not getting better? I think Coach Odom did a great job.
Are we no longer contending for a Final Four next year?
I donāt see any reason why we couldnāt make a FF if we remain relatively healthy. We certainly have a S16 level team. At that point, if you shoot well and draw some solid matchups, you have a great shot at the FF. I just think the notion that landing someone like Juke Harris makes us a FF team but not landing him means weāre not a FF team is incorrect.
Iād say there are probably 12-15 teams who at least have a decent chance at making a FF, and I think weāre in that 12-15.
Michigan and Duke have ruined peoples perception of what a contender is in the NIL era. Not every team has to be made entirely of guys at the top of some arbitrary ranking to contend. Stg some of yall wouldāve rather lost dudes like Sam and Johann if it meant getting shiny new toys.
There is literally no one out there that says that but okay hammer away on that strawman
For me, a notable part of Odomās presser was that he noted we lost to teams with NBA talent.
The best way to beat teams with NBA talent is with your own NBA talent.
The worst way is all the other ways (which, to be clear, are often successful!).
Do we have NBA talent? Perhaps, if some guys make leaps (and chance could be all American and not NBA caliber, given size)
Unfortunately our backcourt seems ex ante entirely devoid of NBA talent. The front court may have a guy or two.
Iām going to venture that we are better than last year and the top of the field is worse. Lacking a first round talent limits our ceiling.
Good amount of multi year guys and character/vibes seem high. Class act coach who also won 30 games in his first year.
Good to be a Hoo.
I do think itās possible we may be overlooking the value of having a core group of guys here in the summer/preseeason. There was an interview with Barksdale on 247 and he mentioned how much better Thijsās English got since last year. I imagine he and Johann especially had a bit of an adjustment on and off the court. Now Thijs seems to be on a mission ready to dominate.
Where does Torvik get euro data from now?
This update seems to have broken Torvik
Wowā¦when I just glanced at that and saw Duke and us 1-2, I assumed it was just the ACC. Didnāt realize that was nationally.