Home Jersey

100% true story I sat next to Jeremiah April and Tim Priller on the first day of Psych 101. We introduced ourselves. Jeremiah asked me if I could share my notes with him. Tim told him to take his own. I said "You guys are on the basketball team right?" Jeremiah said "Yeah, but if basketball doesn't work out I'm going to move to Colorado and become a Rastafarian." Colorado had just started legal recreational marijuana sales. Tim looked mortified, we all awkwardly laughed, and I only sat near them again once all semester.

I don't disagree some aspects of their path being favorable (a few matchups, scouting intel on SDSU from Bobby Hurley who played them a lot). But seeds don't tell the whole story - and in a single game elimination tournament - neither do conference standings, necessarily. In a win or go home scenario - where anything can happen - the roster and coaching staff are what IMO you truly need to look at. In terms of measuring how good of a season any given team had, absolutely agree conference standings and player stats are the main inputs. But in the tournament, those "glimpses" of player potential and coaching abilities of a staff can't be discounted. It doesn't show up on paper all the time but when it makes an impact in any given tournament game, it can end your season. Iona: Coached by Pitino, a legend, was a common upset pick. St. Mary's: We've seen what this program is capable of. Just because they're WCC doesn't make them any less of a threat. Arkansas: This was one of the most talented rosters in the nation. Yes they underperformed during the regular season. They did beat the #1 seed Kansas - they were clearly a capable team Gonzaga: Few is a future HOF coach, Timme was a 3 time all-American. 31-6 team. Arguably elite program in the modern era. If not Elite, firmly in the "very, very, very good" category. Miami: Ended our season. We saw what their backcourt is capable of when they get hot. San Diego State: 32-7 team. Yes, clearly less talented/capable but a very tough squad. They won their conference and made it all the way to the NCAA championship. I acknowledge this could be considered an "easy" game, but SDSU clearly knows how to win. I am a huge Hurley fan - grew up going to St. Anthony's and St. Benedict's games. Those are the experiences that made me love basketball. Danny Hurley built a squad this year and they kicked @$$ in the tournament. Nobody outside of the Big East beat them this year. When they were focused, they were the best team in CBB and many said as much before their January slump. Not saying you are spreading this view - but the narrative this was an "easy" path for UConn - is 110% going to motivate their team next year and depending on their roster turnover this offseason, could easily fuel another run. Dan Hurley famously said after a loss to Villanova that teams better get them now, because they were coming. Fast forward a bit and they are there. If you know anything about the Hurley coaching legacy, you won't be surprised at all if they stay here for a long, long time.

If it's Shedrick or no big man, I'd obviously want Shedrick. Do I think there are likely better players at his position for us to pursue? Yes. The difference between him and a guy like Ware would be astronomical IMO

Would be nice if Bates did us a solid and transferred to Mizzou, maybe that makes Love a little more likely? Lol

Dang. Suppose in that case, I'd like to see us add 2 guards, 1 wing, and 1 shot blocking big. If we get the right portal players, then have Banks, Galloway, and Reneau take big steps forward in the offseason, who knows what can happen. Also wouldn't be shocked if Jakai plays himself into 10-15 mins a game by the end of the year.

And 5 scholarships left, correct? 2 more guards who can shoot/penetrate and handle the ball 2 more wings who can defend the perimeter and slash or shoot 1 rim protecting big What else should we wish/pray for? Lol Maybe 3 guards and 1 wing?

No offense taken IRL I agree, good time to start fresh for all parties

Maybe not the thread for this, but have to say... as someone who grew up playing college hoops 2k8, our offseason scholarship situation has me anxiously excited lol. We will learn a lot about what the staff/program is capable of/willing to do, this offseason

I definitely see that kind of lineup getting a lot of run. Still think we need to add a rim protector though. Not sure if Sparks fits that bill? Still happy we've added him, think he will be a nice rotation player.

Agree. I think a good scenario (maybe not best case, maybe not most realistic) would be: Starters: PG: XJ SG: TG (I am assuming he takes another step forward developmentally this offseason and played hard this year) SF: PORTAL PF: Reneau C: PORTAL Bench: PORTAL (SG), Banks (SF), PORTAL (PF/C), Cupps/Newton/Gunn splitting minutes. Maybe Newton takes a redshirt? I'd like to see those portal players be filled with: Battle, Graham Ike, Ledlum, and either Jace Carter or Quincy Olivari. I think the odds we get 3-5 guys who are currently on our radar are probably pretty low, given the competition and need to prioritize/timing of it all. These are fairly uncharted waters (fair to say?) for any college coach/program. Tough situation for Woodson to navigate, but I do think his NBA connections will be helpful. More than ever, college sports are a business. I hope we have the right people in the administration / behind the scenes with NIL, setting the program up for success. Season to season teams can look totally different, so hard to project. I think this offseason will show us a lot about what Woodson is capable of/realistically aspiring for his tenure to amount to. Hoping for the best, prepping for the worst...

My ideal short list from this bunch, I think... How many scholarships do we have again?

What am I missing... was Bates arrested at some point or something?

Sampson/the 1 seed losing by roughly the same margin to this Miami team is kinda nice to see, I guess.

I know there is a lot of talk about Woodson's play style changing to be more guard/perimeter oriented, which I think would be a good move. That said, next year we'll have: X, Galloway, Gunn, Cupps, Newton, Bates (?) ... so agree it will be a different picture for a portal PG I could see picking up one more combo guard in the transfer portal but would prefer we prioritize some wings and at least 1 big man who can protect the rim

UCLA UConn is going to be a great game (if I didn't just jinx UCLA)

Yeah... same for Kopp and Trey. Hell, Race could make a couple too while we're at it. Haha

This would be a great game for JHS to have one like he had at Purdue. Just sayin'.

I don't love the match up for us, but it's not exactly David vs. Goliath. We're going to have the best player on the court. That's huge. Let's get it done tonight Hoosiers!

That would be a quick way to go to the bottom of the conference... for a decade, at least. Painter is about as good as its gonna get in West Lafayette.

I think perimeter D is going to be especially key for us in this game. Match up wise, their guards concern me. Hope we control the boards, play through TJD, and have great games from everyone - but particularly - JHS, Trey and Kopp. If Bates has a good game, I think we're in it to the end, at least. Pretty much trust our front court to do what we them to. Have total trust in Woodson at this point in the year, I liked his sub patterns/timing for timeout/demeanor on the sidelines a lot yesterday.

Loyer said that FDU didn't make him uncomfortable at all really. Yikes

Yeah, TJD (obviously) and Race getting the bulk of the run in the front court with Malik getting a solid amount of minutes feels pretty solid in the front court. It would be nice if Geronimo could give them a spell for a handful of minutes again in R2, but not sure if he has earned the trust to do that. Seems he and Reneau are always good for at least 1 or 2 head scratchers a game. But Malik is a pretty good 3rd big. I hope Bates can just see the ball go through the hoop a few times early on vs. Miami and start to get going. We didn't shoot well at all as a team today, so I'll take a pretty dominant win... knowing we can play a lot better, too. I'm cautiously optimistic but need to look more into Miami tomorrow

TJD decided he was not going out like Edey.

Posting now that the game is solidly in hand... wow, pretty ideal first round! If we rebound like we did in the second half and Race/Trace play like this, sky is the limit. It will be significantly tougher from here on out but I think we can all be fairly pleased with what we saw tonight. Hope the game plan for Miami is rock solid and we stay laser focused. I will not be posting during a game for the rest of the season considering things seem to go way better that way on the court lol

Purdue lost and I didn't post until the game was decided... Out of superstition, I'm going dark until the end of our game. Let's goooo Hooooooosiers!!!!