2 PGs back, 2 to go… ‘Riq & Powers on the clock

SBP

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Feb 5, 2003
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Odds? Both? I think Powers sees his 2 guard minutes increase drastically now that Zrno gone, that has to be a difference maker.
 
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MCKnight

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Oct 25, 2012
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Don’t we think that the remaining players have all agreed to stay, and are just being announced one each day as sort of a marketing job? I bet we hear Powers tomorrow, Buchanan the next day, and last Francis.

good core returning, maybe Mark grows into a legit starter level, and Francis we know can produce. Others are depth. but portal front court additions or lack there of, will make or break the season.
 
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RAC93

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Aug 11, 2023
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Odds? Both? I think Powers sees his 2 guard minutes increase drastically now that Zrno gone, that has to be a difference maker.
You may be right. I keep wondering if we’re going to pick up a 3 point shooting wing, but if they get a PG, they now have Francis, Davis, Mark, Duarte, a new PG from portal, and Powers if he returns. That is a lot of guards/wings, throw in Buchanan (I don’t consider him as a guard) but he is a wing player (I see him as more of a forward/wing). I keep wondering who is the shooter, thinking if Powers returns that the plan is for him to be the 3 point specialist??? I personally think they need an established experienced guy to fill this role but can’t picture more guards added, especially if they’re adding a point guard already.
 

Mholinko

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Apr 25, 2023
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Richie reported they are looking for a STARTING PG

makes me think someone isn’t coming back as they already signed Duarte and if everyone else comes back we’ll have 6 guards? Seems like too many
 
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seansherm

Heisman
Feb 20, 2009
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Richie reported they are looking for a STARTING PG

makes me think someone isn’t coming back as they already signed Duarte and if everyone else comes back we’ll have 6 guards? Seems like too many
I doubt they are looking for a starting level PG now, they probably over paid to keep Lino.
 
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PSAL_Hoops

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Feb 18, 2008
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I doubt they are looking for a starting level PG now, they probably over paid to keep Lino.

“Overpaid” is relative. We probably discovered that it would cost us $1.5M or more to buy a Noah F type and it’s not even a sure thing that player would be better than Lino next season making the step up. The mistake was thinking we’d have a chance of landing someone close to a slam dunk at that position for under 2M.
 
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richthedentist

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Aug 2, 2001
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You may be right. I keep wondering if we’re going to pick up a 3 point shooting wing, but if they get a PG, they now have Francis, Davis, Mark, Duarte, a new PG from portal, and Powers if he returns. That is a lot of guards/wings, throw in Buchanan (I don’t consider him as a guard) but he is a wing player (I see him as more of a forward/wing). I keep wondering who is the shooter, thinking if Powers returns that the plan is for him to be the 3 point specialist??? I personally think they need an established experienced guy to fill this role but can’t picture more guards added, especially if they’re adding a point guard already.
I've been thinking about that for years now!! Who is the shooter as we have not had one and rarely have one in Pikell's tenure; He flat out doesn't believe in offense and of course doesn't coach offense and nothing is goingto change with no coaching changes
 
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PSAL_Hoops

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I've been thinking about that for years now!! Who is the shooter as we have not had one and rarely have one in Pikell's tenure; He flat out doesn't believe in offense and of course doesn't coach offense and nothing is goingto change with no coaching changes

Don’t forget about Wooten. Kid had an awesome senior year and is an excellent shooter known for D. I know it’s not great to rely on a frosh, but of all positions, his is one that frosh are most likely to be able to step right into. Plus Powers will hopefully develop some also. Remember - powers came in last year with a scouting report that said “project on D”. Wooten is the opposite. Also - Buchanan isn’t an “awful” shooter either. If we can pick up another wing / SF shooter at the end, great, but we’re not in awful shape with this the way we are on center and PF where we literally have nothing except Ware who checks into only 6 games in garbage time.
 

Shelby65

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Apr 1, 2008
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This is shaping up to be another backcourt sh*tshow. Don’t be fooled by occasional steals. The microguards can’t defend on the ball consistently and they routinely get abused on the boards. And Mark/Davis don’t score nearly enough to outweigh the defense deficiency.

The frontcourt doesn’t look promising either but at least there’s hope since more pieces will be added. The backcourt redux is already a bust even if Francis returns.
 
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PSAL_Hoops

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This is shaping up to be another backcourt sh*tshow. Don’t be fooled by occasional steals. The microguards can’t defend on the ball consistently and they routinely get abused on the boards. And Mark/Davis don’t score nearly enough to outweigh the defense deficiency.

The frontcourt doesn’t look promising either but at least there’s hope since more pieces will be added. The backcourt redux is already a bust even if Francis returns.

You have it reversed. We’re finding out that even a center like Ogbole would probably cost us $2M in open market. We’re likely keeping our prior backcourt in order to definitively avoid having to play backcourt players in the frontcourt. I’m not optimistic that won’t ultimately be the outcome anyway. I fear we’ll be welcoming 2 unknown Euros to play the 4 and 5 who might ultimately be beat out by Powers, Wooten and Buchanan for PT in the frontcourt - replacing Dortch and Ogbole. Maybe Ware will earn a few minutes or Maker if we add someone like him. I really hope I’m wrong but this isn’t looking great right now
 

Shelby65

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Apr 1, 2008
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Why does keeping three microguards prevent anything except more $ for a frontcourt ? Only 2 will start. Why pay for the third if Buchanan and Powers and Wooten can play there too?
 

PSAL_Hoops

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Feb 18, 2008
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Why does keeping three microguards prevent anything except more $ for a frontcourt ? Only 2 will start. Why pay for the third if Buchanan and Powers and Wooten can play there too?

Because retaining the players you previously had is almost always cheaper than replacing them in the open market and we absolutely need to have 2 primary ball handlers on the roster. We can’t afford to buy the PG everyone thought we were getting and Pike must’ve realized this at some point. We have zero front court players. A good PG was always a pipe dream. We were never convincing anyone truly elite to transfer in at that position. Not with the current state of RU basketball.