Scenario: The transfer portal is cancelled and every player has to go back to the team they played for freshman year:

[RU_fan435]

How would we be with this team as our current roster? (Minus Jaden Jones who didn’t transfer and left the team to go pro)

PG: Dylan Harper
SG: Derek Simpson
SF: Mawot Mag
PF: Ace Bailey
C: Cliff Omoruyi

Bench:
PGs: J Mike/Jalen Miller
SF: Oskar Palmquist
PF: Gavin Griffiths
C: Lathan Sommerville

Reserves:
Dean Reiber
Antwone Wolfolk
Antonio Chol

 

[RUChoppin]

You forgot Grant and Dortch, and Ogbole was a Juco pickup (unless those aren't allowed either). Palmquist didn't transfer to use his extra covid year, he graduated and went pro.

Biggest questions with this group, to me, would guard depth + chemistry issues.

Also, if Mag were here he would have been the PF, and Bailey would have been the SF. Griffins is also more of an SF.

 

[RUJMM78]

Changing the players on the Titanic isn't going to stop the ship from sinking.The half court offense stinks and the coaching staff is unwilling to change.

 

[ejgonz]

How would we be with this team as our current roster? (Minus Jaden Jones who didn’t transfer and left the team to go pro)

PG: Dylan Harper
SG: Derek Simpson
SF: Mawot Mag
PF: Ace Bailey
C: Cliff Omoruyi

Bench:
PGs: J Mike/Jalen Miller
SF: Oskar Palmquist
PF: Gavin Griffiths
C: Lathan Sommerville

Reserves:
Dean Reiber
Antwone Wolfolk
Antonio Chol

That’s a much better defensive and rebounding team. If GG developed he would be the shooter that the team would need. That team would probably be an NCAA bubble team at least.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

That’s a much better defensive and rebounding team. If GG developed he would be the shooter that the team would need. That team would probably be an NCAA bubble team at least.

Of course it would. Just Cliff would change everything

 

[zappaa]

Of course it would. Just Cliff would change everything

Both Cliff and Myles were lauded by opposing coaches for their ability to protect the rim and alter offenses.
They were our identity even with their offensive shortcomings.
Even Big shaq was a defensive force.
We got nothing now.
You want to know the worth of your players, ask the opposing coaches and players.
It’s the difference between being hard and miserable to play against vs easy to play against.

 

[fluoxetine]

Changing the players on the Titanic isn't going to stop the ship from sinking.The half court offense stinks and the coaching staff is unwilling to change.

Weirdly we've had different results with different players and the same coach before. What an odd post.

 

[Shelby65]

Changing the players on the Titanic isn't going to stop the ship from sinking.The half court offense stinks and the coaching staff is unwilling to change.

Again I disagree with the premise. The iso offense you see is the best approach with the roster. Pike’s not stupid in terms of Xs and Os. His failure is with roster construction.

People here say he doesn’t know offense, only defense. Absurd. To coach defense at a high level you also have to know other offenses in and out. He knows what other teams run and also knows our players are incapable of most other offenses. Our offense suits the collective 9-10 deep skill set best, minimal as it is.

Our bigs play 6 inches smaller than they are and can’t dribble, catch or shoot. You think they can do what Crowl or Kaufman-Wren can in a structured offense ? You think Derkack can do what Loyer does ? You think Davis can run an offense LOL ? Hayes couldn’t get open even if the other team only had three players in the game.

Sure, the roster stinks but the offense you see is truly the best strategy with the players he brings here.

We wouldn’t score 40 points a game if our players ran what some opponents do.

Different offenses require different skills. Same reason many top college players aren’t pro prospects. Different skills required.

No matter how good Harper (when healthy) and Bailey (when his shots fall, which isn’t always), it’s not enough to make up for the roster mostly full of overmatched hacks who can’t do much of anything useful at this level.