Article would be correct if Dylan Harper didn't essentially miss 4 of the last 8 B1G games (Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue and Michigan State).
To bypass recruiting Dylan Harper to take average 22 or 23 year old players is absurdly dumb.
Martini has been a huge disappointment IF you buy the experience or age factor.
Derek Simpson who fans in this thread could not wait to get off the roster, actually produced winning moments as a freshman and sophomore in spots and played above average defense. He is MILES better as a guard than JMike Davis or PJ Hayes on the ball or off the dribble on both ends.
If you had a reasonable forward via the portal that could have provided some bench minutes and playmaking with some rebounding, it "could have worked", if the staff just cut their losses and elevated Dylan Grant in Vegas or through December.
The backcourt has not delivered and Derkack played some solid minutes in spots this year. I would have liked to see Derkack in a more defined role as 1st guard off the bench, where he could have settled into a role. Instead, because Martini faltered and the staff refused to play Grant, we got burned in December vs Kennesaw State, Princeton and didn't bury teams like Seton Hall....and asked Derkack to be part Caleb McConnell and part Mawot Mag, while asking him to bring the ball up and start the offense.
4 losses without a Top player on any roster is going to be 4 losses. That's Braden Smith missing 4 games with Purdue against Indiana, MSU, and Wisconsin or pick any other teams best 1st team all conference player.
Has JWill played good basketball?? Not enough for sure....
Has Acuff breaking a foot, kinda the same thing as a bench player, like Dylan Harper missing most of 4 B1G games?? Sure looks like it.
There's 11 games left and there's really no excuses beyond Dylan Harper for me....not Ogbole being out, not JWill or JMike essentially being so ineffective, that the staff has to play Ace Bailey as a 3rd guard, instead of a forward. With some more quick decisions by the staff, things could be 12-8 or 13-7 if Dylan Harper is 100%.
As many mistakes or wild shots or drives Derkack takes, he at least showed today, that it mattered to him. He's likely to be here next year and with his younger brother sitting courtside as a class of 2026 Top 50 to 100 ranked player, let's move past these seniors like Martini and JWill, until they start playing and leading like seniors should.
Dylan Harper
Tyson Acuff
Ace Bailey
Dylan Grant
Lathan Sommerville
1st guard or wing off the bench Derkack
2nd guard off the bench- JWill
1st forward or back up big off the bench-Dortch
3rd guard JMike
2nd forward Martini
We aren't far away if Dylan Harper can get back on track. I'm pushing Dortch out there a lot more and let him learn on the job with the other freshman starters.
