Freeman healthy, eligible and starting...
Sanders returning and in shape to play 32 minutes a game
Nigel Johnson and Mike Williams properly slotted in roles.
Add a piece that isn't currently on radar
Add another starting caliber player as a 5th year transfer.
If we are 331st in again in total defense and allow 80+ points to every B1G team, then yes, we will win 7 games.
If we improve to 150th or 100th in total defense (which is really coaching and mindset, then we will be at .500.
It still comes down to not comparing RU to Buzz Williams and athletes at the caliber of what is at Virginia Tech...that's a much tougher conference and a Top 10-15 coach in Buzz Williams.
It also still comes down to coaching and RU with 8 players, including Robert Lumpkins as a 5th year transfer won 14 to 15 games in Mike Rice's first year based on coaching defense, proper scouting and game planning of opponents, self-scouting and proper defensive drills and hard nosed defensive first players in Dane Miller, Mike Coburn and James Beatty.....not to be confused with the offensive skills sets of Sanders, Johnson and potentially another piece added.
If the 2nd verbal materializes as expected and we get a defensive presence on the wing and paint that can alter shots, I don't see any reason why we cannot compete with Minnesota, Illinois, Penn State and Nebraska at the bottom of the league....RU should squeeze out 3 to 5 wins in conference.
I don't know if we will get all the pieces in place but someone I lean on has some concerns about the initial conditioning, strength and stamina of the current team. There is a LOT of self improvement that others have noted about our strength and conditioning and whether players should be winded after a few trips down the court.
Most of RU's issues are self-inflicted vs a lack of talent....it was lack of defense and coaching and of course there will be doubts.....RU will be a consensus last place selection by the media, fans and coaching polls. But that was pretty much what happened during Rice's first year. If we are dialed in and do all the little things that good coaching provides, our defensive stats go way up and our offense, while not free-wheeling, should be the same PPG as last year.
Wake won a couple of ACC games and St. Johns I believe won one or two conference games...I don't know what our schedule looks like but I find it hard to believe we won't improve under Pikiell. With normal coaching and no suspensions/injuries to Freeman and Sanders, RU wins 11 games last year. I don't see this as a jump from 7 to 14-15 wins....I see it as 11 to 14 or 15.....it's a huge leap, but if Mike Rice did it, with less talent offensively, I see no reason why this roster if healthy and another 2 pieces added that are defensive-focused, can't do the same.
On the other hand, don't claim that I'm saying RU can be .500 if you flush out Sanders or Freeman and don't add any tangible pieces this spring. Obviously you need to add to the roster and keep the health of the roster in place. Same thing goes for Ash in football.....the lack of results from strength and conditioning is alarmingly positive and the results will show on the field....better off-season, better preparation and better coaching (attention to detail) means better results.
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