As guys announce for the Draft and recruiting heads toward the finish line, it's important to keep in mind that this year was an anomaly. Like in 2010, this year was essentially the collection of two separately recruited rosters.
Cal expected the twins and Willie to leave last spring. They didn't. Obviously that was a fantastic problem to have, but it was the driving necessity behind the innovation of the platoon idea. Cal had 10 guys who needed minutes, he had to do something.
Please do not mistake this year's roster for the standard needed going forward. Cal has said countless times that he only usually plays 6-7 guys, and that this year was the exception. Despite that, I sense a growing movement among posts on this board and other places online that the cupboard will somehow be bare next season. That isn't the case.
Things are likely to return to "normal," next season. A team with "only" 7-8 talented players does not mean we're weak, or down, or rebuilding, or heading to the NIT.
Our roster will have weaknesses. It will not be two-deep with NBA talent at each position, nor will it have someone at all five spots who is athletic, a great shooter, a great defender, a great passer, a lottery talent, a senior leader and a 4.0 student. Those rosters don't exist, and even the most talented collection of players in modern history this season did not actually "fit" as a balanced team with all the pieces needed for a championship.
Next season, no team will have all of those pieces either. Whoever wins the 2016 title will have flaws, just like Duke had no big man depth and played terrible defense this year. In the end, grab as much talent as you can, coach them as best you can, let the team grow, players grow, and each individual figure out what his role is on the team and how to be the best version of himself, and see where it takes you.
So far, those results have been fantastic. Sure, we "should have" won it all in 2010, 2014 and 2015. We should have won it all every year for the last century. But whether we do or don't cut down the nets in 2016, don't be so preoccupied with what you think we're lacking or where we struggle that you forget to enjoy what is sure to be another incredible season on this ridiculous trip we're on as fans.
We don't have to be perfect, we just have to be the best team for six games in March, and I'll bet when October rolls around that Cal will like his team--again.
Cal expected the twins and Willie to leave last spring. They didn't. Obviously that was a fantastic problem to have, but it was the driving necessity behind the innovation of the platoon idea. Cal had 10 guys who needed minutes, he had to do something.
Please do not mistake this year's roster for the standard needed going forward. Cal has said countless times that he only usually plays 6-7 guys, and that this year was the exception. Despite that, I sense a growing movement among posts on this board and other places online that the cupboard will somehow be bare next season. That isn't the case.
Things are likely to return to "normal," next season. A team with "only" 7-8 talented players does not mean we're weak, or down, or rebuilding, or heading to the NIT.
Our roster will have weaknesses. It will not be two-deep with NBA talent at each position, nor will it have someone at all five spots who is athletic, a great shooter, a great defender, a great passer, a lottery talent, a senior leader and a 4.0 student. Those rosters don't exist, and even the most talented collection of players in modern history this season did not actually "fit" as a balanced team with all the pieces needed for a championship.
Next season, no team will have all of those pieces either. Whoever wins the 2016 title will have flaws, just like Duke had no big man depth and played terrible defense this year. In the end, grab as much talent as you can, coach them as best you can, let the team grow, players grow, and each individual figure out what his role is on the team and how to be the best version of himself, and see where it takes you.
So far, those results have been fantastic. Sure, we "should have" won it all in 2010, 2014 and 2015. We should have won it all every year for the last century. But whether we do or don't cut down the nets in 2016, don't be so preoccupied with what you think we're lacking or where we struggle that you forget to enjoy what is sure to be another incredible season on this ridiculous trip we're on as fans.
We don't have to be perfect, we just have to be the best team for six games in March, and I'll bet when October rolls around that Cal will like his team--again.
