He's a career 60% FT shooter, which isn't good but isn't awful either. His freshman year he was 64% and that dipped a bit last year to 58%.
I think his unorthodox/ugly form is what makes his FT's less appealing.
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I think his unorthodox/ugly form is what makes his FT's less appealing.
Not that you're claiming otherwise, but that's A-OK. There's nowhere to go but down in terms of defense. But this season's team was at least one scoring threat/floor spacer short. The staff seems to have exclusively targeted guys who would be, at the least, slight offensive upgrades across the board, and oh by the way all still seem capable of playing at least decent defense. They jumped from what, in the low 100s in offensive efficiency in '22-'23 to 52? I'm hopeful about a jump next season if they bat 1.000 or close to it in the portal.
Just think it is important to do better in the non conference this year to position the team for a better shot at the final four. It was a major complaint by many this past year concerning ISU on the committee. In the end ISU did not perform up to its seeding.
NC State was final four capable this past year, so someone could say just making the NCAA tournament and being their caliber is good enough to be final four capable. I think we can and need to be better than that low bar. Need to be better than an eleven seed this year. We prove that by making some noise in the non conference, and then in the Big 12.
Hope you are correct.
Ward and Jones ability to defend on the perimeter played a huge role in our defense success. Not certain how Jackson will adapt to this - just do not know.
Dead period ends Thursday (4.11) at noon, I know Kyle visited Fred but have any other visits been announced?
We will have plenty of opportunities for resume wins in Maui and the Big East challenge. Maui teams are Dayton, Colorado. Memphis, UNC, Michigan State, Uconn and Auburn.
With the exception of Milan, love that our likely rotation early, consists of all upperclassmen. Should give us a big advantage in those early out of conference games.
If any of those freshman are able to break into the roation going to mean they are special.
TJ has done great in his first 3 years, in terms of chemistry. I hope it continues this year, but it's a bit different situation. 4 big minutes players are already in place, plus Watson, who I think we all hope makes a jump and forces himself to be played. Now bring in 5 transfers (if Kyle and Hadley both join), 4 of whom are expecting big roles. And 2 outstanding incoming freshmen. Managing that roster seems trickier.
But that's what he gets paid for.
Eyeballing a bracket...
UConn
Memphis
Auburn
Colorado
Carolina
Michigan State
Iowa State
Dayton
I'm curious how that will be bracketed. UConn obviously will be #1, UNC likely as #2 ... ISU ought to be 3 ... then there's a little jumble after that in 4-5-6//6-7-8
Is King better defensively? I've never watched Hadley. But King wasn't always in the best position defensively and a little slow footed on the perimeter. Now King was tough as hell and strong. Probably a better interior presence than Hadley.
It’s not bracketed that way. Generally fairly random other than probably having UNC and Uconn on opposite sides. I suspect that people are going to be fairly surprised by our pre-season ranking next year. We will be in the Top 7 and likely the Top 5.
I realized it isn't officially seeded. Big names are going to get advantages for some slots -- but I sense placement tends to reflect previous season result / current season expectation to some extent.
I would assume ISU and Colorado will be on opposite sides of the bracket since they are now in the same conference.
I’d say he would have them playing to their abilities with that recruiting would be insane
