let's talk '19

[ProfessorFate]

Zeke Nnaji has officially signed his NLI.

https://kstp.com/sports/hopkins-basketb ... a/5320553/" target="_blank

Excellent news! Thanks, Choo.

By the way, that's a sweet t-shirt he's wearing. Gonna have to find me one.

[SunnyAZ]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXlsw9nalB/" target="_blank

hopefully that means he is coming back

[Jefe]

I like his motor!

[dovecanyoncat]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXlsw9nalB/

hopefully that means he is coming back

Can we just get Nike to build his uni with the right leg 12" shorter and save the kid some in-game focus?

[NYCat]

Backup option for Hazzard I believe.

Wouldn't mind him at all tbh.

Idk, doesn't seem to be a good shooter

http://njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2018-19/di ... onmack7sni" target="_blank

31.6mpg
19.1ppg -- 45.6%/33.7%/64.6%
5.9rpg
7.6apg

Those numbers aren't transferring to major division basketball, neither are the shooting splits. They'll surely be worse. If we're getting a guard/ball handler he better be a >40% from 3. Although 6'3 > 5'10

[Beachcat97]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXlsw9nalB/

hopefully that means he is coming back

I've heard nothing to suggest otherwise.

[YoDeFoe]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXlsw9nalB/

hopefully that means he is coming back

He's clearly returning.

[Chicat]

I like his motor!

I do too. Just needs to break the habit of bringing the ball down to his waist before going up with it.

[ChooChooCat]

I like his motor!

I do too. Just needs to break the habit of bringing the ball down to his waist before going up with it.

As long as he doesnt do 12 pump fakes before he shoots it I'll take it at this point.

[NYCat]

Looks like Duke is going to swoop in late and steal Cassius Stanley from everyone.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Looks like Duke is going to swoop in late and steal Cassius Stanley from everyone.

Duke does that a lot. Because of the brotherhood, I'm sure, not the dirty business other schools are involved in.

Right, Dickie V?

[NYCat]

At least we can get Boogie Ellis as a domino of the brotherhood though. Tre Jones returning and RJ Hampton on deck in 2020.

[Beachcat97]

At least we can get Boogie Ellis as a domino of the brotherhood though. Tre Jones returning and RJ Hampton on deck in 2020.

Are we still in the mix for Boogie?

And they can have Stanley. Not too impressed with him.

[catgrad97]

Looks like Duke is going to swoop in late and steal Cassius Stanley from everyone.

Duke does that a lot. Because of the brotherhood, I'm sure, not the dirty business other schools are involved in.

Right, Dickie V?

Thankfully, that has been zero guarantor of tournament success.

If K couldn't do it with Zion, what makes anyone certain he'll do it with Stanley?

And bigger question here: Why would he want to, at this point in his career, so much?

He's accomplished every conceivable thing a NCAA coach would want to. You have to wonder why he keeps pressing harder to drive this kind of Midnight Theft without a succession plan in place or any evidence he's delegating day-to-day operations to anyone else.

I see K as having a lot to hide he can't let go of, in a sort of vampiric lust for the whole sordid monster he's fostered in college hoops.

[YoDeFoe]

At least we can get Boogie Ellis as a domino of the brotherhood though. Tre Jones returning and RJ Hampton on deck in 2020.

You mean after a transfer? He's certainly not coming here this season. We also got cut when he went from his top eight to final five.

[NYCat]

At least we can get Boogie Ellis as a domino of the brotherhood though. Tre Jones returning and RJ Hampton on deck in 2020.

Are we still in the mix for Boogie?

And they can have Stanley. Not too impressed with him.

Boogie is already committed this year to Duke. I'm thinking as a transfer in a year or two, Arizona could've landed him if Mannion didn't reclassify.

Coach K stealing Stanley & Hurt from Kansas is funny though.

[ChooChooCat]

Who's the last kid from California to actually have success at Duke?

Both Boogie and Cassius are on transfer watch.

[84Cat]

Who's the last kid from California to actually have success at Duke?

Both Boogie and Cassius are on transfer watch.

DeMarcus Nelson?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Looks like Duke is going to swoop in late and steal Cassius Stanley from everyone.

Duke does that a lot. Because of the brotherhood, I'm sure, not the dirty business other schools are involved in.

Right, Dickie V?

Thankfully, that has been zero guarantor of tournament success.

If K couldn't do it with Zion, what makes anyone certain he'll do it with Stanley?

And bigger question here: Why would he want to, at this point in his career, so much?

He's accomplished every conceivable thing a NCAA coach would want to. You have to wonder why he keeps pressing harder to drive this kind of Midnight Theft without a succession plan in place or any evidence he's delegating day-to-day operations to anyone else.

I see K as having a lot to hide he can't let go of, in a sort of vampiric lust for the whole sordid monster he's fostered in college hoops.

The tourney is heavily luck. Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

I think K sold his soul around 2009, after the string of early upsets for Duke. His recruiting changed, the one and dones started flowing in, and the entire tenor of the program changed. Duke was never known as a pro factory, and now it might have eclipsed Kentucky.

[baycat93]

I think K sold his soul around 2009, after the string of early upsets for Duke. His recruiting changed, the one and dones started flowing in, and the entire tenor of the program changed. Duke was never known as a pro factory, and now it might have eclipsed Kentucky.

His recruiting changed not coincidentally when Capel came back in 2011.

[goslingswagg]

At least we can get Boogie Ellis as a domino of the brotherhood though. Tre Jones returning and RJ Hampton on deck in 2020.

I had seen Hampton likely going elsewhere (KU or Memphis) as of now and reclassifying into the 2019 class...you guys seeing differently?

[NYCat]

At least we can get Boogie Ellis as a domino of the brotherhood though. Tre Jones returning and RJ Hampton on deck in 2020.

I had seen Hampton likely going elsewhere (KU or Memphis) as of now and reclassifying into the 2019 class...you guys seeing differently?

Nah you're right, I forgot about reclassifying

[NYCat]

“We’ve had Kentucky reach out, Arizona, Cal, Oregon, Baylor, Miami, Pitt, Ohio State, Louisiana-Lafayette, my old college,” the elder Brown said. “St. Mary’s, there’s quite a few people reaching out.”

“Kentucky was there from the beginning, and they’ve been reaching out and Sean Miller from Arizona,” he added. “They are showing a lot of interest.”

After examining the interested parties the next step will be to set up official visits. Brown told 247Sports that they have discussed potential visits with Kentucky and Arizona, but Brown was adamant that there isn’t anything imminent.

“Every day I’m hearing from someone new,” he said. “Something could be happening in the next two or three weeks, there’s just nothing set in stone right now."

Kentucky apparently wants both Blackshear from VTech and Brown.

[Newportcat]

I like his motor!

I do too. Just needs to break the habit of bringing the ball down to his waist before going up with it.

As long as he doesnt do 12 pump fakes before he shoots it I'll take it at this point.

I am always hestitant to get too excited from watching these type of highlight videos...

Screw it, totally lying, I really really really like zeke. Looks like a combo of Michael Jordan and Karl Malone.

Fluid, athletic, and has a nice looking shot. Praying he stays a couple years as he needs to put on weight and was exactly the type of player this class needed

Miller is an unreal recruiter

[ChooChooCat]

If Brown picks Kentucky he will absolutely be Marcus Lee 2.0.

[SunnyAZ]

Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

maybe but I didn't think they had a chance to win it this year. I had them losing to VT before the tourney started. they sucked at shooting. I think I saw something that no team had ever won the title with a 3PT% as bad as them this year.

[U.P. Zona Fan]

Looks like Duke is going to swoop in late and steal Cassius Stanley from everyone.

Duke does that a lot. Because of the brotherhood, I'm sure, not the dirty business other schools are involved in.

Right, Dickie V?

Thankfully, that has been zero guarantor of tournament success.

If K couldn't do it with Zion, what makes anyone certain he'll do it with Stanley?

And bigger question here: Why would he want to, at this point in his career, so much?

He's accomplished every conceivable thing a NCAA coach would want to. You have to wonder why he keeps pressing harder to drive this kind of Midnight Theft without a succession plan in place or any evidence he's delegating day-to-day operations to anyone else.

I see K as having a lot to hide he can't let go of, in a sort of vampiric lust for the whole sordid monster he's fostered in college hoops.

The tourney is heavily luck. Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

I think K sold his soul around 2009, after the string of early upsets for Duke. His recruiting changed, the one and dones started flowing in, and the entire tenor of the program changed. Duke was never known as a pro factory, and now it might have eclipsed Kentucky.

Just my opinion but I did not think duke was the best team, they had the most talent but I would say that the best team won the tourney, MSU was a great team also ttu.

[YoDeFoe]

Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

maybe but I didn't think they had a chance to win it this year. I had them losing to VT before the tourney started. they sucked at shooting. I think I saw something that no team had ever won the title with a 3PT% as bad as them this year.

Bodes poorly for our team this season.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

maybe but I didn't think they had a chance to win it this year. I had them losing to VT before the tourney started. they sucked at shooting. I think I saw something that no team had ever won the title with a 3PT% as bad as them this year.

Bodes poorly for our team this season.

Dunno. Nico and BWill are good shooters. Green is developing, but not a bricklayer. The rest of the perimeter rotation is sort of in flux.

[zonagrad]

Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

maybe but I didn't think they had a chance to win it this year. I had them losing to VT before the tourney started. they sucked at shooting. I think I saw something that no team had ever won the title with a 3PT% as bad as them this year.

Bodes poorly for our team this season.

Why? Mannion is a good shooter. Williams will certainly be improved from his freshman year. Green has a decent stroke. And if Randolph returns, his playing time will be dependent quite a bit on his shooting ability. Miller will have more options in the upcoming season.

With a point guard able to facilitate and get people the ball in areas to succeed -- that helps shooting percentage. A lot.

[Beachcat97]

I'll be impressed if Calipari poaches Brown. We've recruited him much longer, and Miller would seem to have an advantage.

[goslingswagg]

don't forget about Gettings....very good shooter too.

[YoDeFoe]

Maybe I'm hungover from the disappointment of this past season - my hopes for our returning players to grow and emerge dashed on the rocks of reality.

Nico I believe in.
BWill I hope stays healthy and looks like his late season self.
Green I hope brings his senior season outside shooting to the next level.
Gettings I hope brings his solid outside shooting from the Ivy to the Pac.
Randolph/DD/Smith/Barcello... well who knows.

We won't be Duke with Cam and RJ jacking 13 threes between them a game and hitting only 31%.

But will we be UVA with their top three shooters hitting ~250 threes at a 42% clip? Or Auburn, with their three hitting ~300 at a 39% clip?

I wonder. I worry.

Last season our top 3 hit 120 at 36%. The season prior was 150 makes at 38%. The season with Lauri - our best season in four years - was 150 makes on 40% (and as a team hit 244 on 39%). We lost to Xavier with Rawle going 0-3 from deep with a broken hand, Lauri going an uncharacteristic 1-6, and Trier going hero for a meager 3-10.

I don't think we'll ever make the promised land without a three point shooting team.

I hope Nico takes 250 threes. I hope BWill takes 200. I hope Green takes 150. I hope Gettings takes 100. And I hope as a team we hit 38% or more. Otherwise we're playing yesterday's game and we'll get buried by a team that shoots.

[zonagrad]

don't forget about Gettings....very good shooter too.

True. He's been overlooked in the big picture. I'm skeptical (as I assume are others) because transfers from mid-majors or small schools haven't shown a propensity to compete and succeed at a high level. If Gettings can be a serviceable role player who can't knock down shots and not be a defensive liability, then it's a big win.

[zonagrad]

Maybe I'm hungover from the disappointment of this past season - my hopes for our returning players to grow and emerge dashed on the rocks of reality.

Nico I believe in.
BWill I hope stays healthy and looks like his late season self.
Green I hope brings his senior season outside shooting to the next level.
Gettings I hope brings his solid outside shooting from the Ivy to the Pac.
Randolph/DD/Smith/Barcello... well who knows.

We won't be Duke with Cam and RJ jacking 13 threes between them a game and hitting only 31%.

But will we be UVA with their top three shooters hitting ~250 threes at a 42% clip? Or Auburn, with their three hitting ~300 at a 39% clip?

I wonder. I worry.

Last season our top 3 hit 120 at 36%. The season prior was 150 makes at 38%. The season with Lauri - our best season in four years - was 150 makes on 40% (and as a team hit 244 on 39%). We lost to Xavier with Rawle going 0-3 from deep with a broken hand, Lauri going an uncharacteristic 1-6, and Trier going hero for a meager 3-10.

I don't think we'll ever make the promised land without a three point shooting team.

I hope Nico takes 250 threes. I hope BWill takes 200. I hope Green takes 150. I hope Gettings takes 100. And I hope as a team we hit 38% or more. Otherwise we're playing yesterday's game and we'll get buried by a team that shoots.

You're not alone.

Even if you've only played pickup ball, there's nothing worse than having a guy on your team who THINKS he can shoot but can't. Much better to have a guy who knows his limitations and doesn't shoot you out of games. Arizona had a lot of that last season with Randolph and Smith. We'd be tied at the half and those guys would go a combined 0-7 from 3 and the game would be over.

[YoDeFoe]

You're not alone.

Even if you've only played pickup ball, there's nothing worse than having a guy on your team who THINKS he can shoot but can't. Much better to have a guy who knows his limitations and doesn't shoot you out of games. Arizona had a lot of that last season with Randolph and Smith. We'd be tied at the half and those guys would go a combined 0-7 from 3 and the game would be over.

And further... nothing worse than the other team draining threes to bury you while yours clank off the iron. Texas Tech likely felt that, when UVA went 46% from deep while they went 33%. Nothing like a well timed three to put a dagger through the other team's heart.

[NYCat]

don't forget about Gettings....very good shooter too.

If we manage to land Brown, I don't think I'd want him to receive a waiver to play immediately. He'd be more valuable on next year's team playing C alongside a senior Lee. This year Nnaji is more valuable at C imo if Gettings is a capable high major 3pt shooter and player.

I'll be impressed if Calipari poaches Brown. We've recruited him much longer, and Miller would seem to have an advantage.

Brown himself said Calipari has been recruiting him since the beginning. Brown was a UCLA lock for a while and Shareef committed early. Only jumped on Brown late

[SunnyAZ]

Duke was probably the best overall team with Zion this year. The tournament is not about that, though. Being a great team is maybe half the battle.

maybe but I didn't think they had a chance to win it this year. I had them losing to VT before the tourney started. they sucked at shooting. I think I saw something that no team had ever won the title with a 3PT% as bad as them this year.

Bodes poorly for our team this season.

their best shooter shot 33% and as a team they were at 30% (and people weren't even guarding Jones, Zion, Delaurier, White or Goldwire at the 3PT line so they were wide open shots). No way we will be that bad. Nico, BWill, Green, Gettings (I think he starts for spacing purposes), Chase is a pretty good shooting starting 5 (assuming Bwill gets better and takes less pullup threes next year).

Seriously like 70% of Duke's team was taking dare shots at the 3PT line and people thought they had a chance to win the title. And no way will we be close to that lol

[SunnyAZ]

also nico is playing in the jordan brand classic tomorrow. live stream on twitter at 3pm apparently. I think it is more of an allstar type vibe so probably not a lot to get out of it

[ChooChooCat]

I'll be impressed if Calipari poaches Brown. We've recruited him much longer, and Miller would seem to have an advantage.

Calipari did recruit him last year. Either way if he chooses Kentucky he'd be recruited over immediately, hence my Marcus Lee comparison.

[azcat49]

Choo, I like Brown and want him bad but it appears he kind of underwhelmed at Nevada. What’s the story there?

[goslingswagg]

don't forget about Gettings....very good shooter too.

If we manage to land Brown, I don't think I'd want him to receive a waiver to play immediately. He'd be more valuable on next year's team playing C alongside a senior Lee. This year Nnaji is more valuable at C imo if Gettings is a capable high major 3pt shooter and player.

I'll be impressed if Calipari poaches Brown. We've recruited him much longer, and Miller would seem to have an advantage.

I agree wholeheartedly with your point re: Brown sitting next year. No need for him to play this next year imo.

[ChooChooCat]

Choo, I like Brown and want him bad but it appears he kind of underwhelmed at Nevada. What’s the story there?

Musselman runs a very tight rotation (even tighter than Miller) and he was behind numerous seniors.

[azcat34]

Hazzard on campus

[Chicat]

Goddamn it. I was hoping to see us play at ‘Rado next year.

[Beachcat97]

The 18 game schedule blows. Why not drop a couple of the meaningless OOC games to make room for a couple more Pac games?

[zonagrad]

I wonder how those coaches' meeting went during the Final Four. I mean, a good portion of the conference needs to step up its OOC scheduling, Arizona included.

Pac 12 teams are involved in a lot of tourneys in November. Oregon is in Battle 4 Atlantis with UNC, Gonzaga, Michigan and Iowa St. Pretty good field.

USC plays TCU in Dallas and also LSU.
UCLA faces Kentucky.

Utah faces Kentucky in Vegas.

And at the Phil Knight Classic, Oregon faces Memphis and Oregon St. vs. Oklahoma.

https://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2018 ... anksgiving" target="_blank

Pac 12 really needs to win some of these games.

[NYCat]

Now that Duke landed Matthew Hurt & Cassius Stanley, they have the #1 recruiting class. So if we lose in the first weekend it won't be as disappointing.

[Beachcat97]

Now that Duke landed Matthew Hurt & Cassius Stanley, they have the #1 recruiting class. So if we lose in the first weekend it won't be as disappointing.

Call me crazy, but I like our class more.

Also, how many times has Duke had the #1 class and not reached the FF? Plenty.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Now that Duke landed Matthew Hurt & Cassius Stanley, they have the #1 recruiting class. So if we lose in the first weekend it won't be as disappointing.

Funny how Duke slides in to land recruits like that at the last second. That Brotherhood, man.