Doesnât that make it harder to win? I actually think, if our NIL budget is as advertised, we are in better shape than we used to be when we know we wouldnât pay when it was cheating
I think being in the premier hoops conference made Tonyâs job of getting to the top of the game a bit of a clearer path. I think being a distant 5 or so now makes Odomâs job of doing the same tougher. But I know this is a minority view
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Itâs not a bad situation, but you are right that now with ACC behind the SEC, BIG 10 and Big 12, you have to convince recruits that UVa is the right place to display their talent. As a team itâs an easier path to the top four in the conference, but a harder road to national elite.
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I agree in the sense that Iâm more pessimistic about Odomâs likely success than I was when we had CTB at the helm, but thatâs a very high bar. In terms of success relative to the rest of the ACC I feel good, though Iâll admit thatâs a fairly low bar these days.
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Yeah, and just to be clear, what Tony did from 14-19 was amazing. Donât want what Iâm saying (âclearer pathâ) to be misconstrued as âeasy.â
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I was a big Richard Pitino fan and would have been excited about him but letâs not pretend he has a spotless resume either. If thereâs a concern about Odom, itâs that he hasnât stayed long enough at USU or VCU to see what his ceiling is. But itâs pretty clear he knows how to construct a roster and win a bunch of games, at minimum.
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UMBC 2 Years Pre-Odom - 4-26 (2-14 America East)
UMBC 1 Year Pre-Odom - 7-25 (3-13)
.215
âŚ
UMBC Odom Year 1 - 21-13 (9-7 America East)
UMBC Odom Year 2 - 25-11 (12-4), NCAA 2nd round
UMBC Odom Year 3 - 21-13 (11-5)
UMBC Odom Year 4 - 16-17 (8-8), covid
UMBC Odom Year 5 - 14-6 (10-4)
.618 â .403 improvement
Utah State 2 Years Pre-Odom - 26-8 (12-6 Mountain West), covid
Utah State 1 Year Pre-Odom - 20-9 (13-4), NCAA 1st round
.730
âŚ
Utah State Odom Year 1 - 18-16 (8-10 Mountain West), NIT 1st round
Utah State Odom Year 2 - 26-9 (13-5), NCAA 1st round
.638 â .092 dip
VCU 2 Years Pre-Odom - 22-10 (14-4 A10)
VCU 1 Year Pre-Odom - 27-8 (15-3), NCAA 1st round
.731
âŚ
VCU Odom Year 1 - 24-14 (11-7 A10), NIT quarterfinals
VCU Odom Year 2 - 28-7 (15-3), NCAA 1st round
.712 â .019 dip
Longwood 2 Years Pre-Aldrich - 6-24 (3-15 Big South)
Longwood 1 Year Pre-Aldrich - 7-26 (3-15)
.206
âŚ
Longwood Aldrich Year 1 - 16-18 (5-11 Big South)
Longwood Aldrich Year 2 - 14-18 (9-9)
Longwood Aldrich Year 3 - 12-17 (10-10)
Longwood Aldrich Year 4 - 26-7 (15-1), NCAA 1st round
Longwood Aldrich Year 5 - 20-12 (12-6)
Longwood Aldrich Year 6 - 21-14 (6-10), NCAA 1st round
Longwood Aldrich Year 7 - 18-14 (7-9)
.559 â .353 improvement
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Who would you have liked Odom to target as an AHC?
Maybe was those two guys plan/ dream. Aldrich happy in Farmville VA coaching LWood while Ryan climbed in the ranks. UVa open up and they have their perfect scenario to coach together again in the ACC
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So basically Aldrich is the coach and Odom is the figurehead?
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Thatâs my read on it, Fresh. And I donât underestimate the power of âdream jobâ for a talented coach with a good track record. I think this is probably my top reason for excitement.
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Odom â head coach and defensive coordinator
Aldrich â offensive coordinator
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One of my favorite Odom attributes is that he seems to have inspired some loyalty. Guys whoâve had choices have stuck around (not 100%, but pretty good) and heâs had multiple guys make some fairly unorthodox geographic moves with him.
Tbh, thatâs part of what scares me in general â seeing GTâs two guys portal and seeing another young, talented ND guy portal. (I know they might come back)
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Gotta be excited. Whats the use otherwise. I personally am not sold or think is any sort of homerun is all
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Real question because I canât remember anything beyond about 12 hours these days⌠@DFresh11 who was your preferred pick once Ron was out?
I can totally respect that. Iâm not sure itâs a homerun, either. I do think itâs about the best we could have done in this moment, given Byington wasnât going to move and Shaka wonât move and wonât use the portal. (Not sure either of those two are markedly better than Odom, anyway.)
So, maybe not a homerun, but itâs a solidly-hit RBI double for me.
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My hope is that during todayâs presser, Odom comes right out and says âthis is how weâre going to playâ and then lays out some system guidelines, like weâre gonna run, weâre gonna hit the offensive boards, weâre gonna play pressure man-to-man defense, whatever. That would move the needle for me. So ready to start digging into the Xs and Os (or letting @Cuts_from_The_Corner dig into the Xs and Os so I can gleefully read and repost).
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My hope is that he announces signing Nate Ament, Cooper Flagg, and Donovan Dent. But some good style talk would be good too.
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Reminds me of this: Inside Vision: Introductory Press Conferences
Within coaching and grassroots basketball circles â and by âcirclesâ we mean either group texts or literal circles of people chatting in the lobby at Final Four â there is a constant joke that is half-serious: whenever any coach or program is recruiting a player, or interviewing for a job, or being introduced at a press conference, they ALL say how they love to PLAY FAST.
And the 2021 sequel: The Introductory Press Conference - by Jordan Sperber
Chris Beard took a page out of Croninâs book in his presser, ignoring the style of play question altogether.
Iâll be really clear here: our style of play and our philosophy is one thing: Winning. And weâre going to do what it takes to win.
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I hope he says we are going to put together the best group of players possible and then put in schemes to make them the most successful they can be. Iâm not sure I want a coach trying to shoehorn players into a rigid scheme. Although it worked well for a few years prior to the free agency world, I donât think it will work today.
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