Next year

[Notsince1985]

The NIT sucks balls, so I don't give a rats *** about it.

Next year, assuming Sheldon comes back, which he should, we're going to have to figure out how everyone gets on the court, and how everyone gets to touch the basketball.

PG: Rodriguez (I still think he can be good, if he plays under control and defers to Sheldon with the game on the line)
SG: McClellan (I think he can be one of the best players in the ACC next year)
SF: Reed (I think he will end up being one of our best players, and our 2nd leading scorer next year)
PF: Murphy (Lead Okie State in rebounds as a sophomore)
C: Jekiri (If he improves on a 9 ppg and 10 reb per game as a junior, which he should with Murphy next to him, look out)
---------------------
Bench
Lecomte (Inconsistent, but when on, a very good backup PG)
Newton/Palmer/Burnett (How L rotates these 3 is going to be very interesting. Burnett showed late in the season and ACCT that he can score)
Cruz-Uceda (I think with a full offseason and everything, he will be a very solid player. He showed flashes and can be deadly in the pick and pop game).
Sherman (Same as C-U)

That's 11 deep right there. I said this a couple of days ago, but this season reminded me a lot of 2011-2012. We beat Duke at Duke, seemed a lock for the tournament, and then blew some games down the stretch and just missed the tournament. Then, 2012-2013 happened. I really think next year can be, if not as amazing as 2012-2013, very, very good.

 

[Angry Ibis]

Sounds about right.

But there will still be those criticizing Coach L for not stealing Kentucky recruits just to be *****.

 

[RBhurricane87]

We will be very very good next year with the addition of Murphy

 

[Scotty3173]

Next year they are a legit Final 4 contender.

But the fact remains that they cannot leave anything up to the NCAA. Just look at two years ago...ACC reg season and tourney champs, split the season series with Duke, and Duke gets the no. 1 seed. And then this crap show this year with Georgia, UCLA, Ole Miss, etc., etc. Just like UNLV during the Tark days...the NCAA has a chip on their shoulder with the U and you have to earn everything. After all, the committee on corruption corrupted themselves to try to prove that the U was corrupt.

 

[AustinCane86]

Might make sense to RS Anthony Lawrence

 

[rex karz]

It would be wonderful that when this team takes a lead it quits playing like its behind and in a farking panic to score. Why we start tossing 3 point bombs with 24 seconds on the shot clock or charge into a crowded lane with 24 seconds on the shot clock and not take the time to work it into our big man or set up a play is a great mystery to me.

The minute we methodically crawled back and took the lead against ND it became a Keystone Cops pie throwing contest on the offensive side. I just dont get the lack of situational awareness and discipline of this squad.

 

[bacane]

Well said. Please explain how this year Duke wins neither the ACC regular season or conference title yet is a 1 seed? And nobody seems bothered by it.

Next year they are a legit Final 4 contender.

But the fact remains that they cannot leave anything up to the NCAA. Just look at two years ago...ACC reg season and tourney champs, split the season series with Duke, and Duke gets the no. 1 seed. And then this crap show this year with Georgia, UCLA, Ole Miss, etc., etc. Just like UNLV during the Tark days...the NCAA has a chip on their shoulder with the U and you have to earn everything. After all, the committee on corruption corrupted themselves to try to prove that the U was corrupt.

 

[GoldenShowertheGators]

Well said. Please explain how this year Duke wins neither the ACC regular season or conference title yet is a 1 seed? And nobody seems bothered by it.

I work with ND grad who can't stop *****ing about it.

 

[wherrera8]

Sounds about right.

But there will still be those criticizing Coach L for not stealing Kentucky recruits just to be ****s.

Stealing Kentucky recruits? Lol. You're talking about the absolute best recruiter in college basketball and I would even say all college sports. Callipari is a Don - not like an Al Golden don, but a Don.

People who complain we should be stealing Kentucky recruits need to temper expectations and be realistic. Coach L wins with any type of player. He just needs to bring in consistent classes of guys who can learn his system and who he can coach. The 2013 team didn't have a single player that would have made it to Kentucky. Not even Larkin. Larkin developed a lot while he was here.

 

[Scotty3173]

I am probably stepping into something that I might regret...but, obviously no matter what the NCAA says, they view programs in a variety of different ways. Miami and the old UNLV are viewed as renegades where other programs like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, etc. are the golden children.

As far as Notre Dame goes, the only thing that I can think of is that the NCAA views them as 1A still behind Duke. I heard one person say that the season sweep of UNC and the road win at Wisconsin were major factors for Duke getting a no. 1. I think that the snub of the U two seasons ago was much more glaring.

The main reason for the privileges that are given by the NCAA are the money that these programs make for them. Calipari is one of the biggest slimeballs in the game (every program that he has ever coached has been put on probation) but if it was announced that UK's fisrt tourney game was going to be played on Mars, 20,000 Wildcat fans would be waiting there for them when they arrived. And the fact still remains that UCLA still carries a lot of weight. I have read a few things on Jerry Tarkanian before and since his passing...and it has been said several times that John Wooden and the UCLA admin contacted the NCAA several times to put heat on the Tark at Long Beach St. and UNLV because UCLA felt that Tark was going to build west coast programs that would rival UCLA. It makes much more sense after knowing how UCLA and the NCAA operate in tandem to figure out why UCLA made the tourney this season. I also think that adding Georgia and Ole Miss was just blatant prejudice in favor of the SEC. Again those teams travel well and have huge fan bases. With that being said, we can't even fill the BUC for over half of the home games on the schedule.

 

[BWCD]

Next year will be all about if these guys can take this offseason and improve the weaknesses in their games.

Angel - Needs to work on consistency, shot selection, get healthy
Sheldon - Needs to work on consistencty, shot selection, become a defensive presence at the 2
Reed - Needs to work on asserting himself more offensively, maybe even work on some post moves to take advantage of smaller 3's
Jekiri - Needs to work on being more active, have better footwork, better court awareness, get more solid as an offensive player on the block
Lecomte - Keep getting stronger, be a floor general, find that alpha dog mentality
ICU - Needs a back to the bucket game, needs to work on quickness/speed/jumping ability, get try to gain more explosion overall...improving lateral quickness would make him less of a defensive liability
Newton - Develop an outside shot to go along with his finishing ability inside, become a smarter player who controls the offense at the PG spot
Palmer - Needs to be more consistent, reshape his body a little, play more under control, be more active defensively
Burnett - Again - consistency, get the mental part of the game down as he's very talented offensively, be more active defensively
Sherman - Needs a back to the bucket game, keep working on athleticism/quickness/speed...maybe develop more of a face-up drive game with his shooting ability

IF we can do all of those things, and Kamari Murphy is who we think he is...we can be a force to be reckoned with next year. Really, as a team, these guys need to try to play together as much as possible in the offseason, and work on becoming a well-oiled efficient machine offensively, and a physical/fast defense. Rebounding, passing, and offensive efficiency are things that killed us all season long.

All the pieces are there, it's up to the guys to put in the work, and for Coach L and his staff to pull those pieces together.

 

[Angry Ibis]

Sounds about right.

But there will still be those criticizing Coach L for not stealing Kentucky recruits just to be ****s.

Stealing Kentucky recruits? Lol. You're talking about the absolute best recruiter in college basketball and I would even say all college sports. Callipari is a Don - not like an Al Golden don, but a Don.

People who complain we should be stealing Kentucky recruits need to temper expectations and be realistic. Coach L wins with any type of player. He just needs to bring in consistent classes of guys who can learn his system and who he can coach. The 2013 team didn't have a single player that would have made it to Kentucky. Not even Larkin. Larkin developed a lot while he was here.

A few things:
- I'm well aware of all of this.
- I don't give a **** about Al Golden when I am watching or discussing Miami basketball.
- There are people actually asking about when Coach L is going to bring in a game changing big man like they grow on ******* trees.
- Those complaining don't really care about it, their expectation is to be ***** and whine about the team.

 

[Scotty3173]

Next year will be all about if these guys can take this offseason and improve the weaknesses in their games.

Angel - Needs to work on consistency, shot selection, get healthy
Sheldon - Needs to work on consistencty, shot selection, become a defensive presence at the 2
Reed - Needs to work on asserting himself more offensively, maybe even work on some post moves to take advantage of smaller 3's
Jekiri - Needs to work on being more active, have better footwork, better court awareness, get more solid as an offensive player on the block
Lecomte - Keep getting stronger, be a floor general, find that alpha dog mentality
ICU - Needs a back to the bucket game, needs to work on quickness/speed/jumping ability, get try to gain more explosion overall...improving lateral quickness would make him less of a defensive liability
Newton - Develop an outside shot to go along with his finishing ability inside, become a smarter player who controls the offense at the PG spot
Palmer - Needs to be more consistent, reshape his body a little, play more under control, be more active defensively
Burnett - Again - consistency, get the mental part of the game down as he's very talented offensively, be more active defensively
Sherman - Needs a back to the bucket game, keep working on athleticism/quickness/speed...maybe develop more of a face-up drive game with his shooting ability

IF we can do all of those things, and Kamari Murphy is who we think he is...we can be a force to be reckoned with next year. Really, as a team, these guys need to try to play together as much as possible in the offseason, and work on becoming a well-oiled efficient machine offensively, and a physical/fast defense. Rebounding, passing, and offensive efficiency are things that killed us all season long.

All the pieces are there, it's up to the guys to put in the work, and for Coach L and his staff to pull those pieces together.

Excellent post. Yes...Kamari Murphy will be huge inside...a legit power forward. They have the opportunity to be a top 10 team all year and serious Final 4 contender.

 

[wherrera8]

Sounds about right.

But there will still be those criticizing Coach L for not stealing Kentucky recruits just to be ****s.

Stealing Kentucky recruits? Lol. You're talking about the absolute best recruiter in college basketball and I would even say all college sports. Callipari is a Don - not like an Al Golden don, but a Don.

People who complain we should be stealing Kentucky recruits need to temper expectations and be realistic. Coach L wins with any type of player. He just needs to bring in consistent classes of guys who can learn his system and who he can coach. The 2013 team didn't have a single player that would have made it to Kentucky. Not even Larkin. Larkin developed a lot while he was here.

A few things:
- I'm well aware of all of this.
- I don't give a **** about Al Golden when I am watching or discussing Miami basketball.
- There are people actually asking about when Coach L is going to bring in a game changing big man like they grow on ****ing trees.
- Those complaining don't really care about it, their expectation is to be ****s and whine about the team.

I feel you. The Golden part was a joke.

 

[Angry Ibis]

Sounds about right.

But there will still be those criticizing Coach L for not stealing Kentucky recruits just to be ****s.

Stealing Kentucky recruits? Lol. You're talking about the absolute best recruiter in college basketball and I would even say all college sports. Callipari is a Don - not like an Al Golden don, but a Don.

People who complain we should be stealing Kentucky recruits need to temper expectations and be realistic. Coach L wins with any type of player. He just needs to bring in consistent classes of guys who can learn his system and who he can coach. The 2013 team didn't have a single player that would have made it to Kentucky. Not even Larkin. Larkin developed a lot while he was here.

A few things:
- I'm well aware of all of this.
- I don't give a **** about Al Golden when I am watching or discussing Miami basketball.
- There are people actually asking about when Coach L is going to bring in a game changing big man like they grow on ****ing trees.
- Those complaining don't really care about it, their expectation is to be ****s and whine about the team.

I feel you. The Golden part was a joke.

All good my man. Coach Cal gets it done. Players seem to love him and he puts together big time squads. Also seems to have learned the importance of free throw shooting from his time at Memphis when it cost him the ship.

 

[wherrera8]

Sounds about right.

But there will still be those criticizing Coach L for not stealing Kentucky recruits just to be ****s.

Stealing Kentucky recruits? Lol. You're talking about the absolute best recruiter in college basketball and I would even say all college sports. Callipari is a Don - not like an Al Golden don, but a Don.

People who complain we should be stealing Kentucky recruits need to temper expectations and be realistic. Coach L wins with any type of player. He just needs to bring in consistent classes of guys who can learn his system and who he can coach. The 2013 team didn't have a single player that would have made it to Kentucky. Not even Larkin. Larkin developed a lot while he was here.

A few things:
- I'm well aware of all of this.
- I don't give a **** about Al Golden when I am watching or discussing Miami basketball.
- There are people actually asking about when Coach L is going to bring in a game changing big man like they grow on ****ing trees.
- Those complaining don't really care about it, their expectation is to be ****s and whine about the team.

I feel you. The Golden part was a joke.

All good my man. Coach Cal gets it done. Players seem to love him and he puts together big time squads. Also seems to have learned the importance of free throw shooting from his time at Memphis when it cost him the ship.

Yup. Sheldon himself said it that he found us because he was watching us practice in 2013 for a tournament game and loved how much fun the players were having in practice. Players adore him. Students do too.

 

[Scotty3173]

The NIT sucks balls, so I don't give a rats *** about it.

I view it a little differently. They should go in with the attitude that they are going to blow out every team, every game that they play. Go in with a chip on their shoulder kind of like the football team years ago when the Bowl Committee sent them to the Cotton Bowl.

Crush everyone and then leave with two big middle fingers fully extended.

 

[RaiseCane]

I agree with much of what has been said in this thread. I think with everyone but Joe Thomas back, guys having the experience playing together, physical/mental development of this year's freshmen, and adding in Kamari Murphy, we should be a serious contender in the ACC. I think that how far we go will really depend on the development of a few guys:

Jekiri - the improvements he's made each year have been remarkable. In his first year of playing, he was a liability on both sides. This year, his defense was excellent and he improved his jump shot and free throws. To get to the next level, we need him to work on his back to the basket game. We need to be able to throw it down inside to get points in close games and not have to rely on jump shots from our guards. Jekiri needs to spend all summer working on his post game as well as his finishing around the rim. The coaches need to have him practice going up strong with the ball in traffic. Too many times, he was tentative around the rim, getting shots blocked when he should have been going strong.

Rodriguez - We saw what happened to this team when he went through his slump. He's the leader of this team and we need him to be more consistent with his play. He definitely has hero ball tendencies, which can be great when he's on but a disaster when he's off. With the talent on the team, and the development of the young guys, we shouldn't need him to do that as much. He needs to work on finishing around the rim as well, as he had too many drives into the lane that ended in him throwing up wild layups or resulting in turnovers.

McClellan - He has the potential to be a top notch college scorer, a guy that should be our go to at the end of shot clocks and games. I felt that too many games this year, he didn't assert himself enough and deferred to Angel. He's explosive enough to get into the lane more often instead of settling for jump shots. If he asserts himself more (like he did when Angel was out), I think he'll make the game much easier for everyone else.

 

[Fightinibis]

I am probably stepping into something that I might regret...but, obviously no matter what the NCAA says, they view programs in a variety of different ways. Miami and the old UNLV are viewed as renegades where other programs like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, etc. are the golden children.

As far as Notre Dame goes, the only thing that I can think of is that the NCAA views them as 1A still behind Duke. I heard one person say that the season sweep of UNC and the road win at Wisconsin were major factors for Duke getting a no. 1. I think that the snub of the U two seasons ago was much more glaring.

The main reason for the privileges that are given by the NCAA are the money that these programs make for them. Calipari is one of the biggest slimeballs in the game (every program that he has ever coached has been put on probation) but if it was announced that UK's fisrt tourney game was going to be played on Mars, 20,000 Wildcat fans would be waiting there for them when they arrived. And the fact still remains that UCLA still carries a lot of weight. I have read a few things on Jerry Tarkanian before and since his passing...and it has been said several times that John Wooden and the UCLA admin contacted the NCAA several times to put heat on the Tark at Long Beach St. and UNLV because UCLA felt that Tark was going to build west coast programs that would rival UCLA. It makes much more sense after knowing how UCLA and the NCAA operate in tandem to figure out why UCLA made the tourney this season. I also think that adding Georgia and Ole Miss was just blatant prejudice in favor of the SEC. Again those teams travel well and have huge fan bases. With that being said, we can't even fill the BUC for over half of the home games on the schedule.

****y V says Calipari is the most honest man on earth, so it must be so...lmfao.

 

[bacane]

And the his pal Jim Boeheim is equally as honest . . . and Rick Pitino is a good Catholic boy who was totally corrupted by a cougar atop a Lousiville restaurant table.

I am probably stepping into something that I might regret...but, obviously no matter what the NCAA says, they view programs in a variety of different ways. Miami and the old UNLV are viewed as renegades where other programs like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, etc. are the golden children.

As far as Notre Dame goes, the only thing that I can think of is that the NCAA views them as 1A still behind Duke. I heard one person say that the season sweep of UNC and the road win at Wisconsin were major factors for Duke getting a no. 1. I think that the snub of the U two seasons ago was much more glaring.

The main reason for the privileges that are given by the NCAA are the money that these programs make for them. Calipari is one of the biggest slimeballs in the game (every program that he has ever coached has been put on probation) but if it was announced that UK's fisrt tourney game was going to be played on Mars, 20,000 Wildcat fans would be waiting there for them when they arrived. And the fact still remains that UCLA still carries a lot of weight. I have read a few things on Jerry Tarkanian before and since his passing...and it has been said several times that John Wooden and the UCLA admin contacted the NCAA several times to put heat on the Tark at Long Beach St. and UNLV because UCLA felt that Tark was going to build west coast programs that would rival UCLA. It makes much more sense after knowing how UCLA and the NCAA operate in tandem to figure out why UCLA made the tourney this season. I also think that adding Georgia and Ole Miss was just blatant prejudice in favor of the SEC. Again those teams travel well and have huge fan bases. With that being said, we can't even fill the BUC for over half of the home games on the schedule.

****y V says Calipari is the most honest man on earth, so it must be so...lmfao.