Roster Management

[Thecycle27]

The NCAA tournament is the ultimate equalizer. Success or failure leads to irrational or hasty decisions by players, coaches and administrations. This reality will always push key players into the portal. The net effect is talent is being spread out. The other factor is team chemistry is impacted positively or negatively. Player evaluation has never been more important from a skill and personality perspective.

Based off Payne’s comments and how college basketball is trending he has to find the following.

1) Shot makers
2) Shot creators.
3) Defensive minded kids.

Villanova-Houston-Arkansas are good examples. That is why they are consistently good. They have guys that defend and make shots or create for others.

Transfers offer great insight into a players game. Many have talked about Donte Allen. He doesn’t fit the mold. He is a shot maker that is it. He doesn’t defend and doesn’t create for others. He would be a gamble. Terrance Sharp on the other hand can defend and make shots plus he is a great athlete. He is exactly what you want in a transfer.

Based off this I think Williamson, Withers, Locke and Cross won’t be back. They just don’t fit especially defensively. Ellis, Curry and Rose better figure out how to defend. Athletically they have the ability but didn’t show it last year.

 

[Knucklehank1]

The NCAA tournament is the ultimate equalizer. Success or failure leads to irrational or hasty decisions by players, coaches and administrations. This reality will always push key players into the portal. The net effect is talent is being spread out. The other factor is team chemistry is impacted positively or negatively. Player evaluation has never been more important from a skill and personality perspective.

Based off Payne’s comments and how college basketball is trending he has to find the following.

1) Shot makers
2) Shot creators.
3) Defensive minded kids.

Villanova-Houston-Arkansas are good examples. That is why they are consistently good. They have guys that defend and make shots or create for others.

Transfers offer great insight into a players game. Many have talked about Donte Allen. He doesn’t fit the mold. He is a shot maker that is it. He doesn’t defend and doesn’t create for others. He would be a gamble. Terrance Sharp on the other hand can defend and make shots plus he is a great athlete. He is exactly what you want in a transfer.

Based off this I think Williamson, Withers, Locke and Cross won’t be back. They just don’t fit especially defensively. Ellis, Curry and Rose better figure out how to defend. Athletically they have the ability but didn’t show it last year.

Good post. This year’s Louisville team shows what bad roster management can bring. Even if the transfers in had shot at their historical averages, the plain truth is that they were horrid at creating shots and were terrible at on the ball defense. Teams like Furman and DePaul had guys that were more athletic and dynamic than our best guys.

 

[shadow force]

Yes, after watching this team and the struggles they had, a big change in personnel is needed. Cards need more height/length, better talent all around, good shooters, good handles, etc.

Just an overall upgrade in talent and athleticism is severely needed. Also need one or two guys that can just go get you a bucket in crunch time or when the shot clock is almost done.

 

[Thecycle27]

The purge is starting. In this case this is good for the player and Louisville. You have Williamson and Davis today. There will be more. None of which will surprise me.

 

[2330859]

Yes, good OP. I would add that it is about those coaches as much as it about the player’s skill set. Jay Wright‘s developing Gillespie is a good example of what 4 years under Villanova coaching can mean. Kelvin Sampson and Musselman are examples of coaches who teach their respective systems with emphasis on defensive intensity. Some kids need that level of authority to perform at that level. Bruce Pearl is another coach who fits the OP model, on both sides …. he recruits kids that have the athleticism to execute his system, but willing to play under his intensity.

Conversely, Calipari has enjoyed that same level of talent and athleticism, but struggles with getting his kids to play with consistent intensity throughout a full season. Beating UNC handily in Vegas, and the Jayhawks in Kansas showed just how talented and capable of playing intense half court defense at times, only to lose that intensity just as quickly over the course of the season. Neither Auburn, LSU, Arkansas or Tennessee have the same level of talent as UK, but they out coached Calipari and exhibited greater defensive intensity.

I suspect KP knows this, and can learn from his experience at UK to motivate consistent intensity with his kids.

 

[Thecycle27]

There are different ways to build a program. Both can produce great results but one is sustainable and the other isn’t.

Villanova/Houston get good players plus they don’t lose through transfer/NBA. Good players in a good system are going to be consistently good. Built to last through a shifting lands

UK-Duke best players that young. It can lead to some strange and fantastic years. Extremely unstable situations because this plan requires elite players. Coach K has been able to keep bringing in top 1-2 classes. Cal is in a conundrum. He isn’t raking in elite young guys. Now he is playing in the transfer portal. Sounds like he is running off current players that led to a 2 seed.

The best of both worlds is a couple of key additions to a solid roster.