JF brings up an interesting point I think is worth elaborating on. The product that we are currently watching stinks. What’s so odd about it is it goes directly against everything JC preaches to fans and anyone who listens. The last two years JC has repeated the mantra that he wants his teams to take high percentage shots based on data his coaching staff is constantly churning out. He has also said he wants his team to take close to 50% of their shots from 3. And then this year he said he wants his teams to take shots early in the shot clock to increase the number of possessions they have per game.

Last year, at the end of the year, the team finally appeared to be implementing some of this. And while we still weren’t great, it was a marked improvement from what we were doing earlier in the season.

This year, when Bishop wasn’t on the floor, you saw stretches of this offense as well. The game against Navy when we made that big comeback is a perfect example.

Now the issue I see here is that JC is bringing in better talent that does not at all fit his style of play (kind of like Shaka at UT - none of the Top 100 players he was bringing in wanted to play Havoc). In the coming years JC may bring in better and better players but he is either going to have to get them to buy in or learn to coach a completely different style of play.

Last edited by Buff&BlueBandit (3/10/2021 6:13 pm)

Jamison Battle currently rated 8th best available transfer by ESPN's Jeff Borzello: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/30820857/college-basketball-transfer-rankings-2021-22

GW0509 wrote:

Jamison Battle currently rated 8th best available transfer by ESPN's Jeff Borzello: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/30820857/college-basketball-transfer-rankings-2021-22

Not saying he's not the 8th best transfer available currently but a couple of things ...

1. Jeff Borzello's player analyses often leave much to be desired.
2. There will be a flood of transfers starting early next week from the Power 5 conferences that will likely impact these rankings.

jf wrote:

If we saw a proven transfer, established scorer (and bonus-- coachable high character guy) like Jamison, we would be all over him.
We just lost 1/3 of the Big Three building blocks providing what little hope we could hang onto for the future.
 Can't be spun. There's no way this isn't a huge loss.

If we had guys like jf in the foxhole in WWII, we'd all be speaking German. At least those of us who would survive.

What would you have us do jf? Just quit?

Last edited by GWRising (3/12/2021 12:47 pm)

@GW Rising, still think a weekend announcement is a possibility?

Big hit to UMass.  Mitchell was first team all-conference this season.  Similar to Battle it seems like Mitchell doesn't believe being a big fish in a small pond is good for long-term job prospects.

Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello 
UMass star big man Tre Mitchell is expected to transfer, sources told ESPN. First-team All-Atlantic 10 selection this season averaged 18.8 points and 7.2 rebounds this season.

There are rumors that assistant coach Tony Bergeron may be on the move too which would be brutal for Matt McCall.  Bergeron is the former coach of Woodstock Academy which basically became the AAA team for UMass (there were 8 former Woodstock players on last season's team!).  McCall could find himself on the hot seat very quickly if he can't diversify his recruiting.

Once again, retention has become almost as important a task for A-10 coaches as recruiting/coaching is.

Daily Collegian Sports[/url] [url=https://twitter.com/MDC_Sports]@MDC_Sports·19m 
Sources tell the Collegian three to five more players will join Tre Mitchell in the transfer portal. @JosephAliberti1 has the report. https://t.co/qPX162tToE?amp=1

"If all five players were to leave, Minutemen head coach Matt McCall would be left with three scholarship athletes heading into the 2021 recruiting offseason period, losing four of their five starters to graduation and the transfer portal."


 

Did I miss something or???

https://twitter.com/VerbalCommits/status/1371647605101391873

George Washington F Javier Langarica (RS SR) has entered the transfer portal. Grad transfer. http://verbalcommits.com/players/javier-langarica

Mass exodus at Penn State. Team was 11-14, but actually had 6 wins over tourney teams (Maryland twice, VCU, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, and WIsconsin). 

4 starters are now in the portal:

- Isaiah Brockington.  Former St Bonnies player. Very talented, athletic wing, can probably go anywhere he wants.

- Myreon Jones.  Excellent three point shooter. Could be a role player if he transfers up or a featured guy if he goes down, maybe a 2nd or 3rd option if he goes lateral.

- John Harrar.  Big center who has gotten better every year. If Big10 relaxes the rules about sitting if you transfer in conference, I could see him staying in the league.

- Jamari Wheeler.  He was nominally the point guard, initiated the offense.  But not a pick and roll type. More of a bring it up the court, dish to a wing, and wait for a catch and shoot and opportunity type. I’m guessing he transfers down from the Big10. 

And one very intriguing name, senior big man Trent Buttrick. He was backup to Harrar so not a ton of time. But he has size and can hit a three.  Not an overly athletic type, but he has some skills and is big. I could see him being an under the radar guy who will make an impact at a school like GW (A10 level) or low major.