I understand people are disappointed in the loss yesterday but, lets live in reality here. This team lost it's starting PG a month before March and had to go with a freshmen who did quite well, had no production basically from the 5 spot, had very limited perimeter shooting and made it to the elite 8. So again this was probably one of Pitino's best coaching jobs so I for one was amazed at the run they made. Congrats to the coaches and kids on the team.
Seriously?
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I think this team had a very, very good year. We simply didn't have the consistent depth and experience to go much farther. That and the issues with Chris Jones made for a very challenging year. Plus, even though we all think of Rozier as a very experienced player, we have to remember he was still a sophomore and with a freshman PG, it crunch situations, they did not have the leadership experience to continue to run the offense in the way that it is needed. It's easy for inexperienced players to try to go 1-1 and make poor decisions at crunch time. I think that's what happened in the 2nd half.
OF course, If we had stuck to our offense OR if we had happened to have stayed hot we probably would have won (or if we had made or FTs, etc).
Bottom line though, I am proud of this team, what they went through and how much they achieved. Remember, Siva and Gieng were SRs and Smith and Hancock were JRs when we won at all. Unless you have a phenom Frosh, it's really difficult to win it all with young players.
OF course, If we had stuck to our offense OR if we had happened to have stayed hot we probably would have won (or if we had made or FTs, etc).
Bottom line though, I am proud of this team, what they went through and how much they achieved. Remember, Siva and Gieng were SRs and Smith and Hancock were JRs when we won at all. Unless you have a phenom Frosh, it's really difficult to win it all with young players.
I thought Rick did a great job this year.
He squeezed just about everything he could out of this team.
There are not a lot of teams that can lose 13ppg and a great defender like Chris Jones with a couple weeks left in the year and go to the E8.
It's an end of a great era and now I look forward to Rick's next round of guys develop.
He squeezed just about everything he could out of this team.
There are not a lot of teams that can lose 13ppg and a great defender like Chris Jones with a couple weeks left in the year and go to the E8.
It's an end of a great era and now I look forward to Rick's next round of guys develop.
Cards had an amazing season. Sure, to lose in overtime with the Final Four on the line is disappointing, but what a run!
They started off the year ranked 8th, had some turmoil, ended the year Ranked 17th. They finished a strong 4th in the ACC in their first year, secured a 4 seed, then make a strong run and fell just short of another Final Four.
Considering the offensive inconsistencies, the turmoil with the captain spot, the CJ situation, etc... I'd say it was a MIGHTY FINE JOB. I know they exceeded my expectations (Sweet 16).
They started off the year ranked 8th, had some turmoil, ended the year Ranked 17th. They finished a strong 4th in the ACC in their first year, secured a 4 seed, then make a strong run and fell just short of another Final Four.
Considering the offensive inconsistencies, the turmoil with the captain spot, the CJ situation, etc... I'd say it was a MIGHTY FINE JOB. I know they exceeded my expectations (Sweet 16).
Given the offensive funk the team was in much of the season, we should all be pleased with the final results.
Best of luck, Blackshear and Harrell!!
Best of luck, Blackshear and Harrell!!
Also, consider this. UL lost a total of 9 games, 7 regular season, 2 post season.
Of those 9 teams they lost to, 3 of them are in the Final Four. 8 of the 9 were in the NCAA field.
By any measure, not too shabby.
Of those 9 teams they lost to, 3 of them are in the Final Four. 8 of the 9 were in the NCAA field.
By any measure, not too shabby.
Frustrating (albeit very successful when you look at the big picture) regular season, exciting tournament run. Who can hate on 5 Elite 8's in 8 years? This team really rallied at the end and it was great to see Mr. Blackshear have that kind of game for his curtain call.
Before the post season started, I said that I would be pretty happy with a Sweet 16 for this team. They exceeded that by going to the Elite 8 and considering everything that happened this season- and the limitations of this team- it was one of Pitino's finest coaching jobs. I consider this a very good season. I wanted that Final Four but getting to the Elite 8 was pretty damn good.
The man is one of the absolute best at getting the most out of the kids he has. The issue I have is with recruiting. Can't keep players on the roster long enough. Senior night this year consisted of Blackshear. Where were guys like Nunez, Zach Price, etc?
Pitino loses a couple of players each year to transfer or dismissal. He said at his presser today that he expects two more to transfer shortly. (rumor is it's Gill and Aaron). Agou (sp?) is already gone.
So for those of you talking about how bright the future is because this team is so young need to look at recent history. If history keeps going like it has been recently, most of these young guys won't be around in a year or two.
Like I said, absolutely great coach with the players he has. His issue is the number of players he's signing that aren't staying which leaves gaping holes in the roster. Like not having an outside shooting threat, or any kind of scoring threat from the 5 spot this year.
Recruiting is 50% of the job. He's not doing real well at that half of the job right now.
This years team only had 4 legitimate scoring threats. Harrell (NBA), Rozier (NBA), Blackshear (graduated), Jones (dismissed). All of them are gone, plus 2-3 more are apparently leaving (agou and two more transfers). Where do you think the scoring and experience are coming from next year?
Pitino loses a couple of players each year to transfer or dismissal. He said at his presser today that he expects two more to transfer shortly. (rumor is it's Gill and Aaron). Agou (sp?) is already gone.
So for those of you talking about how bright the future is because this team is so young need to look at recent history. If history keeps going like it has been recently, most of these young guys won't be around in a year or two.
Like I said, absolutely great coach with the players he has. His issue is the number of players he's signing that aren't staying which leaves gaping holes in the roster. Like not having an outside shooting threat, or any kind of scoring threat from the 5 spot this year.
Recruiting is 50% of the job. He's not doing real well at that half of the job right now.
This years team only had 4 legitimate scoring threats. Harrell (NBA), Rozier (NBA), Blackshear (graduated), Jones (dismissed). All of them are gone, plus 2-3 more are apparently leaving (agou and two more transfers). Where do you think the scoring and experience are coming from next year?
So if we look @ recent history we should expect four more straight sweet 16s?
Seems ambitious!
You seem highly concerned and are failing to include the bottom line outcomes over the most recent history in order to support your agenda of disliking recruiting.
I would have loved to have read your posts about Russ Smith after his first 20 games, as well as your thoughts on Montrezl Harrell before he suited up. I'd imagine you didn't care for that recruiting either.
Yes, if history keeps going like it has been then UofL will keep being a top 10 program. Five E8s out of the last eight years is a large enough sample for me to tell you that your concerns are not warranted at this time.
Too bad we couldn't be like Texas and get our share of one and dones and win all those post season games they've won man!!!!
This run the last 4 years has bought Rick a lot of equity, and rightfully so.
Let's just let it play out and see what happens. We have people who constantly complain that we don't put anyone in the NBA, now we get our wish with 2 first rounders this year.
We've seen players improve greatly here during their time over the last several years. Let's give the kids still on the roster a chance to grow and get better over the off season.
Let's just let it play out and see what happens. We have people who constantly complain that we don't put anyone in the NBA, now we get our wish with 2 first rounders this year.
We've seen players improve greatly here during their time over the last several years. Let's give the kids still on the roster a chance to grow and get better over the off season.
I'm thinking more along the lines of 2005. Pitino made some early recruiting mistakes in his career here as well. 2005 was a final 4 year, then everyone left and bad recruiting left too many gaps to be filled by inexperienced players. We went to the NIT in 2006.
I ask again, where is the scoring going to come from next year? Where's the leadership going to come from? Mathiang averages more fouls than points per game. Same with Onauku. Who plays the 4? Harrell has been spectacular there. My guess is Johnson. He averaged about 4 min per game this year. Agou was supposed to be a 4, but he's gone now. SF? Blackshear is gone. Aaron was supposed to be the guy to take his spot, but he didn't play much at all and rumor has is he's transferring. SG? Mitchell looks like options A, B, and C. (rumor says Gill is transferring too). PG will be Snider who has blossomed nicely of late and will be a solid player, but where's his back up?
So in the experience department, your starting PG has a total of about 10 starts under his belt (in which he played well, but that's not a lot of experience). Your Center has started a lot of games, but averages more fouls than points per game. None of the rest of the team has any significant, let alone starting experience in college basketball.
I hope not, but it looks like a 2006 scenario could easily unfold again next season.
As far as Smith and Harrell....... Loved picking up Harrell. We got a steal on that one and I knew it right away. Thank you VT for firing Greenburg. Smith... Viewed him as a project. Clearly under rated as a 2 star, but got out of control too easy. I viewed him as a "might work out, might not" type of player. AND if you'll remember correctly, he almost left after his sophomore season as well. Was going to Manhattan with Masiello. So there's one for the "almost" category of players leaving.
I really do find it shocking that it doesn't seem to bother anyone else that we lose 2-3 players every year to transfer/dismissal. I don't mind losing them to the NBA, but I'm not counting NBA players in this discussion. Dieng, Harrell, Rozier: Bravo to them. Hope they make millions and live happily ever after.
Nobody was overly excited about the recruitment of Kuric, or the pickup of Chris Smith. And I see you telling me today you were stoked about Harrell but nobody had a clue what we were getting there either. Few even viewed Russ Smith as a project, they viewed him as a waste of a scholarship. Dieng was a blah pick-up, a throw in with Coleman.
The roster is getting completely made over. We will have 2-3 transfers. I wish them luck.
Snider will be the leader, as a soph.
2015 is about 24 hours from being completed. I'm not ready to get bent out of shape about next year yet. I want to see them play. Mitchell looks like a stud and we have the making of a nice young backcourt right there.
I trust the guy that has taken us to 5 of the last 8 E8s. He's earned the latitude.
This post was edited on 3/30 6:02 PM by Ipartiedwithhopgood
... And to add to the beauty of being a Card fan, while we wait to see what our HOF coach does with young talent next year in his quest for a 5th straight sweet 16 and fourth Final Four team of the last decade...
We can watch a Top Ten baseball team compete for a 3rd consecutive CWS trip and then a nationally ranked FB team who produces as much NFL talent as Alabama compete for a conference championship there. It is good to be a Cardinal
We can watch a Top Ten baseball team compete for a 3rd consecutive CWS trip and then a nationally ranked FB team who produces as much NFL talent as Alabama compete for a conference championship there. It is good to be a Cardinal
Yes, I was stoked about Harrell. kid had a big time motor and I thought hed be great in Rps system. I also liked picking up Kuric. To me the great teams need the kurics and the Luke Hancocks. guys that occasionally put up big numbers but are always steady and you can count on them at crunch time when they get to be upperclassman. the 2005 team also had it in Padgett.
I don't think you're following my point. I'm not questioning your ability to tell me what makes a good team, I'm sure you know what ingredients it takes to make a good team.
What I am questioning is...
You seem to be claiming you knew in advance before seeing guys play which unheralded player would work out here and who wouldn't. I mean no offense, but who are you, the world's top HS scout?
Everybody rolled their eyes when Russ Smith signed here. He was an undersized low rated PG from NY and we just went through 4 yrs of frustration w/ Sosa. Kuric was a nobody from Evansville that didn't get many offers. Dieng was a throw in for Coleman. Chris Smith was a favor for JR Smith. Hancock was a guy everybody hated early in his career he couldn't throw it in the ocean, and nobody was projecting FF MVP before he took a shot here. Harrell was an outcast from Va Tech that was not a highly rated player. Va Tech, not UNC. He was from UNC's back yard and they had zero interest. None. Zilch. Nada.
The reality is we never know who is going to work out and who isn't, and that's why complaining about recruiting for this program 24 hours after another E8 seems, well... it seems pretty shitty really.
The staff and program has earned a little more respect from its fans than that.
But you know, I'm not going to sit here and argue how you should feel. And if you want to sit there with a straight face and tell me you can see the future on all the previous, current, and future Cards, I will simply ask you for the next power ball numbers.
