Houston - feels like their identity has been the javier Francis, Jwan Robertâs, Reggie Chaney types. Whoâs playing that role besides Tugler? Maybe more of a sweet 16 team?
Louisville- also seem solid but not natty good.
Tho in general, talent will be down with covid 5th year mostly over, so itâs hard to ballpark. Plus Iâm a hater. I didnât think Florida had enough talent last year, and look at them.
Iâd also add UConn into your broader category with Karaban and Ball back.
Well said. With baseball out of the tourney, this is probably the slowest time of the year for news. De Ridderâs recruitment being a âblackboxâ like you said is not helping matters. With him in the boat, weâd at least feel some finality around the roster.
I think talent is actually up with more upperclassmen staying in school because itâs a better financial proposition than a two-way NBA contract. A guy like 5th year Beekman would stick around for 2 mil+ over a potential 500k in the League (that will still be there for him the following year).
Texas always has and always be a football state first, with spring ball being second. Basketball is growing in popularity almost like baseball.
Hope our ties payboff
If de Ridder is coming and getting big time NIL deal, it has to be done by July 1, correct? Assume the preference is that heâd be here for summer session in a few weeks, but not sure how realistic that is at this point.
Still, 15-20 NBA talent level guys in college at relevant programs more than makes up for maybe a few hundred sub NBA talent level extra year guys, only a fraction of whom were plus contributors at relevant programs. Not to mention any 6th+ year guys and extra Europeans this season.
Maybe itâs all a wash or youâre right that talent may be down overall, but it wouldnât be by as much as you might expect or imagine.
I referenced a way-too-early top 25 list while making this and started talking myself out of Louisville as I was working on it but decided to keep them up there. I really like their team, but no Khalifa does present a dramatically different ceiling.
On UConn- yeah youâre right, definitely in that second group. I do need to see Hurley prove he isnât a Klingan merchant.
The NBA regular season product is crap pretty much. Too many games, players are going through the motions until the final 5 mins, ⌠itâs just so obviously a choreographed entertainment product. Playoffs are different but I donât have a rooting interest since Jordan retired.
Chart is waaaay too small on my phone. Donât know if GrĂźnloh is factored in here. De Ridder of course is not since heâs not final. If internationals are factored in fair to assume weâd jump to blue with de Ridder
