Good point. I'll say that Jon has to find the right blend of talent with good experience mixed in too. For example, let's say Stewart returns. A fair question we can ask is how ready is he to contribute on a title hunting team given he played so little for much of the season? Power too.
If both stay for next season I think it says they are at Duke to compete . I really like Stewart and Power just needs to add to his game . Really would like both to come back .
Agreed. You NEVER say no to the best talent, even if the majority of that comes from the HS ranks. No way we should say no to #1 classes, but we need to sprinkle some quality vets in each year, even if they are just above average older guys off the bench.
my apologies, i will try to be more irrational in the future lol
There is almost 300 players in the portal . Out of the top 60 how many play in the NCAA tourney when they transfer ? Out of the top 20 how many play in the sweet 16 , elite 8 or final four ? A lot forget that the players at UCONN transferred there because of the starting capability after playing at a lesser college . Hurley used the portal like recruiting high school kids because they have played at the college level . I will say could UCONN pull in the top five recruiting class every year they aren’t getting the same portal players . It’s the luck of the draw . UCONN only lost two players from their previous championship team prior to this year . Some are really over thinking the portal . The Covid year ( basically two seasons ) is over . The 2024 recruits on forward have literally gotten to play and practice regularly. See how many stay at UCONN after this championship. You will not get top recruits and portal players unless you have ample playing time and NIL for them . Give me the top recruits . To me portal players leave chasing two things . NIL money and playing time . That’s it .
They’ve won 6 in 25 years. Impressive for sure. How many times have they missed the tournament? 6 more? Imagine if that happened at Duke. The world would end and you’d be begging for these recruits.
Could have sworn I read where Conor said this was the final year for the Covid year .
Power and Stewart are still basically freshman..with the amount or lack thereof, experience they got this year. So sophomore by class but really just new players. We need players with mins in games at this level.
. In four decades (40 years!) Duke has only missed TWO NCAA Tournaments! That is called a “program”, and it’s something that has made me understand and admire Dean Smith more. When I used to get into debates with Carolina fans eons ago, they would always bring up how it was the consistency of the Carolina program that set it apart. I get that more now having gotten older and realizing the work involved to keep your team part of the national conversation every single year.Yeah, we don't know yet who's staying. If Proctor and Foster both return, that will definitely help. But right now it looks like we're going to be really young and inexperienced on the front line. That's also including if Power and Stewart both return. All we really know for sure about them is Power has a solid shot, and Stewart can jump out of a gym.
The minutes might be there for someone good. But, we know Power isn’t a guard, and he came in highly rated, and he’s one of what, five guys (counting Stewart) 6-8 or taller?
