GumbyDamnit! wrote:Experience and development.
When this conference started many (hater) posters predicted that the gap between the FB P5 programs--who could pull in the best H.S. players every year--and the Big East would widen. "The BE can't compete long term," the naysayers said.
I think many coaches are starting to see how to build winning teams for March. Step 1: make sure you have older players who can physically impose their will and have the mental toughness developed over several years of being in the same system. Step 2: Build a program culture and demand that all players to buy into it.
Last year's FF - Older, experienced teams. Only one kid in the FF was a one and done.
This year's FF - Older, experienced teams. Don't think there is one kid, on any of these teams, who is one and done.
Is getting top end talent Top 20 talent a bad thing? Certainly not. But coaches should use it to fill short term gaps or help push a team over the hump. The goal should be to recruit solid/balanced classes and create a culture that stresses hard work and team. Get guys that aren't expecting to step on the floor and lead the team in scoring in year one solely because they think they are pros in waiting. Get high character guys--Delagado, Hart, Chrabacz, Blueitt--that have talent but aren't expecting to leave after a year. Surround them with a handful of other kids who want to play the game like they do. This is the recipe IMO. Develop your stars, don't just pluck them off a McD's AA tree.
I am very encouraged at what we are building. We've got great BB traditions already. We've got excellent coaches just entering their prime. We've got players who are learning how to play the game the right way. Future for the conference is very bright.
Brunson is "1 of them McD/Jordan AA's" you are criticising.BEHomer wrote:They can trot out high school all star team all they want. I like my chances with Brunson's and Bluiett's of the world.
GumbyDamnit! wrote:Not saying it's easy GTMO, just that it is prescription to counter the teams--UK, Duke, Zona, KU--that can trot out 5 star players from the depths of their bench. Gonzaga - older, developed stars leading that team. South Carolina--AA senior and tough system defense. UNC: returned 6-7 returning upper class men. Oregon: def older and experienced. Nova last year. OKL last year. UNC last year.
And lest ye forget that CU's best shot at a FF was prior to a star Sr PG blowing out his knee. The Jays this year fit my description: upper class laden with a Sr star and some quality youth sprinkled in. So no need to sing Kumbaya but I simply think that if we intend to be the top conference we need to worry less about the recruiting class rank and more about recruits that are program fits. And for every Brunson I'll raise you a Bridges, DiVincenzo and Hart. Each modestly ranked coming out of HS. But simply the right fit for the program, who stick around 4 years and become as good if not better than the one and dones.
Baldwin, Ponds, Howard, DiVincenzo, Diallo, TJ and QG at X. Good players now but will all be monsters when they are Jr's and Sr's. Sprinkle in some A+ transfers (as the BE has done very well) and a stud frosh every now and again and you've got a team that can compete with anyone.
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