I think there was something there with Thomas but he got on to the wrong side of the Moon rotation. I would've liked to see him get more minutes over Tyne and the games where Johnston forgot to shoot.
I truly believe you could give Mooney a 10 mil Nil budget and the results
- Thread starter Arachnid
- Start date
I think there was something there with Thomas but he got on to the wrong side of the Moon rotation. I would've liked to see him get more minutes over Tyne and the games where Johnston forgot to shoot.
Just wondering because you named 4 guys that either redshirted or played very little on a 5-14 A-10 team.
MrTbone
All A-10 player
Yeah, I’ve not seen enough of any of them to rule them out. I actually thought Harper showed some flashes when he got in. Seemed athletic and confident, we need more of that, not less.
I think your rationale historically has been that if they redshirt or don’t get time, they aren’t good enough. That presumes that CM is a) a good evaluator of talent and b) uses guys in proper roles. There’s very little evidence that either of these conditions are true.
So until I see them OR I see guys who I know are A10 level players, I don’t have much reason to punt on them.
Kneepad McKinney
Bench player
I actually think Jaylen Robinson oozes potential. Utilized correctly, he's a double-double. Of course, we utilized him in the worst way possible -- as an undersized 5 that has his back to the basket at the foul line and is only permitted to pass the ball on the perimeter and then run back for defense as we shoot the ball. But someone who plays a style like Rick Pitino would get a double double out of J-Rob.
It's infuriating.
It's infuriating.
*23*
Assistant coach
I agree about JRob. It's the inflexibility of Mooney again. Pre-season - I had a mantra - get JROB on the court, make it work. He didn't do it. We saw flashes. I get some folks were saying he was a tweener and undersized interior, not enough foot speed to guar a 2/3. BUT, we saw guys like Terry Connoly and Kenny Wood same size develop and thrive under Tarrant, with a little more skill but not the athelticism of JRob.
I hope he is back. And I hope we have a new coach (keeping that 15% retirment dream of VT alive
).
I hope he is back. And I hope we have a new coach (keeping that 15% retirment dream of VT alive
).brooklyn brownstone
Starter
regarding JRob, he showed flashes of potential and also a propensity for ugly turnovers and an inability to not collect fouls in bunches.
However, comparing him to someone like Walz, who was unplayable as a freshman - 47 total minutes, 9 turnovers, 9 points - would seem to indicate a higher ceiling if he can find a jumper/FT form that is serviceable, understand defensive (non-fouling) positioning and especially be allowed to play in transition and with freedom off the bounce. He's a great example of a guy who should be in nonstop pick and rolls and not in Moon's back to basket 5 spot. He utilized his strength and bulk very well against taller players in tons of instances this season.
Not ready to say he's a world beater but he's a keeper if you can properly develop him as a coach. Which of course is the issue.
However, comparing him to someone like Walz, who was unplayable as a freshman - 47 total minutes, 9 turnovers, 9 points - would seem to indicate a higher ceiling if he can find a jumper/FT form that is serviceable, understand defensive (non-fouling) positioning and especially be allowed to play in transition and with freedom off the bounce. He's a great example of a guy who should be in nonstop pick and rolls and not in Moon's back to basket 5 spot. He utilized his strength and bulk very well against taller players in tons of instances this season.
Not ready to say he's a world beater but he's a keeper if you can properly develop him as a coach. Which of course is the issue.
JRob improved drastically on turnovers and fouls by the end of the year. Sort of a staggering change in foul rate and turnover rate actually. He needs to take a few big steps on offense still, especially with FT shooting. The potential is there
Kneepad McKinney
Bench player
Well, he stopped with the turnovers because Mooney castrated him on offense. I would have preferred to have lived with some additional turnovers to see him develop as an aggressive driver to the hoop and offensive rebounder. Which of course is the issue (as brooklyn said)
I can agree with those that say JRob is worth a look next season, but that would have to be with a different coach. So far, under Mooney, he has redshirted on a 5-14 A-10 team, and played 10 mpg on a 5-14 A-10 team. The 2nd half of the season would have been a good time to see what he can do with 20 mpg, but we didn't want to change our 4 guard lineup that won 2 of its last 14 games. My goodness, we have a clueless coaching staff.
I hear you. The 2nd half of the season would have been a good time to up their minutes and take a better look at them, but we decided to stay with the same 4 guard lineup that won 2 of its last 14 games. Sigh.
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MrTbone
All A-10 player
Yeah, absolute fail on the coaching staff, particularly considering Hardt seemingly had already made up his mind that CM would be back. If you know there’s not much to gain and you aren’t going to lose your job, see what you have in the youth.
But hey, let’s be inflexible and not try anything different.
I am always a best guys play guy, but at some point, after yet another loss with bad offense and bad defense, maybe it is worth giving a couple other guys a longer look, especially freshmen who have already gotten some minutes. Really inexcusable how little Harper and JRob played. If they were good enough to be part of the rotation and play a litttle, then my goodness, give them a couple games at least where they played a lot.
MrTbone
All A-10 player
Yeah, I bet no one here doesn’t buy into the best guys play thesis. Makes sense.
Our best player this year was a freshman, and he didn’t start. Let that sink in.
At some point, you have to question how competent the coaching staff is at evaluating and using players.
