How much improvement would you expect from the possible returns next year? I realized we, as a fan base, don't have quite as much recent experiance watching multiyear player development and I'm not sure I'd know quite what to expect. Guess I'd hope we can start where we finished more than expecting big strides in personal development over the summer. Any predictions for a break out, star kind of year from a returning roll player?
What difference would a year make?
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If we had a lot of returnees it would be very similar to 2014-2015. I'm not saying we would be as good as 2015 I'm just saying 2014 was an 8 seed that got better once tournament rolled around so I would expect us to be top 10 most if not all of next year.
If most return, I expect to beat duke, have way fewer sec losss, a solid 3 seed or better and then a final 4 birth and then see what happens.
I think that is me being reasonable but there are so many variables...
I think that is me being reasonable but there are so many variables...
A year would make a huge difference as they wouldn't be thinking so much about what Cal wants to do and instead just doing it as it takes most of the 1st year to break bad habits. I think we'd be unreal next year if Knox and Shai returned.
Agree. We’d go from the least experienced team Cal has has to one of his most experienced.
Agree on all points but I was thinking more about what individual differences we might see. I'd love to see a big jump from one of the centers but would be very happy to see guys like PJ and Gabriel just pick up where they left off. Or maybe a surprise jump in production from someone. All the talk of the Nova guys and their experiance has me thinking about what exactly changes from year to year that is so critical in the guys that have been around a while. Maybe its just more about understanding the system than individual growth and development.
I remember this version of WCS.
^This version returned and became this version:
^This version returned and became this version:
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Great. So 10% lower than this season.
Aaron's face in the dunk picture lolI remember this version of WCS.
This version returned and became this version.
A
anon_013cn8yrfncx2
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Most potential improvement at the 5. Would expect Nick and SKJ to be much better.
Expect Gabriel to continue improving especially in consistency.
I'm sure PJ will be told he needs at least a mid-range jump shot and hopefully he dedicates himself to that. He's never going to be a low post player in the league.
JV has a tremendous opportunity to improve his shooting. Hopefully surgery recovery time won't be extended.
I think everyone will be better off by playing against better players in practice. They won't be scrimmaging against Brad and Johnny David, something that had to slow development this past year.
Expect Gabriel to continue improving especially in consistency.
I'm sure PJ will be told he needs at least a mid-range jump shot and hopefully he dedicates himself to that. He's never going to be a low post player in the league.
JV has a tremendous opportunity to improve his shooting. Hopefully surgery recovery time won't be extended.
I think everyone will be better off by playing against better players in practice. They won't be scrimmaging against Brad and Johnny David, something that had to slow development this past year.
if you look at percentage only...(There is more to basketball then that)
but in general shooting % noticeably improves over one year spam.
IF you look at VIllanova like many fans here love them.... Guys like M. Bridge had terrible shooting % his freshman year and improved it noticeably every year.
But for me, it's about starters adding skills to expand their games. I hope they work their *** off and make it true.
but in general shooting % noticeably improves over one year spam.
IF you look at VIllanova like many fans here love them.... Guys like M. Bridge had terrible shooting % his freshman year and improved it noticeably every year.
But for me, it's about starters adding skills to expand their games. I hope they work their *** off and make it true.
Everything I have seen and heard is these kids took the loss to KSt bad and are extremely motivated to come back and win a title.
This is a top class and we could see them return which would be huge.
Growth between Freshmen and Sophmores are usually big
Think WCS or the Harrisons
This is a top class and we could see them return which would be huge.
Growth between Freshmen and Sophmores are usually big
Think WCS or the Harrisons
I really believe Knox can become a great player. Most 2nd year players came back because the draft wasn't an option. Willie is the best example of a 1 year difference. And besides if Knox plays like he is capable of he could be a top 5-10 pick and have a shot at winning a title.
I don't think Shai can really help his stock (he's already close to top 10) but having him back would be huge. Some players could just want to win a title and I believe it's a weaker guard class next year.
I don't think Shai can really help his stock (he's already close to top 10) but having him back would be huge. Some players could just want to win a title and I believe it's a weaker guard class next year.
Just for comparison to other players
Deandre Liggins (3 pt): 23.5% - 31.8% - 39.1%
Darius Miller (3 pt): 33.3% - 33.6% - 44.3% - 37.6%
Derek Willis (3 pt): 16.7% - 33.3% - 44.2% - 37.7%
Dominique Hawkins (3 pt): 12.5% - 23.8% - 27.6% - 34.4%
You can take two things out of this. First 3 point % all improved...second if your first name starts with D, your 3 point % goes up.
anyways, joking aside
IB: 13.5% - 28.8%
WG: 31.7% - 39.6%
I am sure there are more...and if you looked at some major 3 shooters recently they all have similar trends like this. only time you really see a dip is when you have major high percentage one year and next year you have high 30s. (basically they took the summer off from shooting...)
Those are just 3 point shooting percentage. I believe if you look at FT for our bigs, their % also improve.
Deandre Liggins (3 pt): 23.5% - 31.8% - 39.1%
Darius Miller (3 pt): 33.3% - 33.6% - 44.3% - 37.6%
Derek Willis (3 pt): 16.7% - 33.3% - 44.2% - 37.7%
Dominique Hawkins (3 pt): 12.5% - 23.8% - 27.6% - 34.4%
You can take two things out of this. First 3 point % all improved...second if your first name starts with D, your 3 point % goes up.
anyways, joking aside
IB: 13.5% - 28.8%
WG: 31.7% - 39.6%
I am sure there are more...and if you looked at some major 3 shooters recently they all have similar trends like this. only time you really see a dip is when you have major high percentage one year and next year you have high 30s. (basically they took the summer off from shooting...)
Those are just 3 point shooting percentage. I believe if you look at FT for our bigs, their % also improve.
We would be favored to win it all.
Knox develop a post/ mid range game. Grow stronger and more confident, show he can defend and play to a top 5 draft pick.
Shai, increases range, decision making. Increase speed and finishing thru contact. Be the best pg in 2019 draft.
Hami focuses focuses solely on defense and rebounding. Better shot selection and ft. Grow more confident in his handle and drives more. Learns to finish thru contact. Plays consistent enough to be in first round.
If those three come backand win national title all draft spots will improve...
Can be a special year, if those three return be treated like miles bridges and shows maturity...helps in our recruiting.
Knox develop a post/ mid range game. Grow stronger and more confident, show he can defend and play to a top 5 draft pick.
Shai, increases range, decision making. Increase speed and finishing thru contact. Be the best pg in 2019 draft.
Hami focuses focuses solely on defense and rebounding. Better shot selection and ft. Grow more confident in his handle and drives more. Learns to finish thru contact. Plays consistent enough to be in first round.
If those three come backand win national title all draft spots will improve...
Can be a special year, if those three return be treated like miles bridges and shows maturity...helps in our recruiting.
Isn't it pretty much common knowledge players make their biggest strides going from freshmen to sophomores? I'd say pretty freaking big.
All about getting the freshman here ASAP and gearing up for the Bahamas trip. This team will be a good month or two ahead going into fall practice.
That’s what we always hear “the biggest improvement in a players development is the freshman to sophomore year”. Let’s hope it’s true and we have a lot of them next year.
just getting this hand fixed would have to help that correct me if wrong but I seem to remember him shooting better at the start of season
If I'm really breaking down bit by bit what is being asked, it'd look like this.
-Knox to get more consistent and drive to the basket more. he started to come off a curl from about 15 feet out on either baseline towards the end of the season and scored closer to the basket. I'd imagine we'd see that more often with a more consistent 3 point shot.
-Washington would gain weight but still keep mobility while consistently displaying a jumper at the free throw line as well as just getting better shooting free throws. He showed dominance in the paint, again, at the end of the season but pulling a Patrick Patterson and displaying range would help his draft stock. He was 235 to start the season then supposedly dropped 15 pounds to improve his play. We need him strong though so I'd guess he gets back to 230ish while maintaining energy.
-Richards needs a total overhaul. I give him a D- for last year. We need bare minimum C+ out of him everynight with a few B games thrown in.
-SKJ work on defensive awareness and continuing to bring energy and heart. The stats will follow.
-Vanderbilt already has the rebounding down. Defense comes with consistent time on the court and while he tried to do too much in the beginning, he settled in and was a real force up until he got hurt again. He needs to work on the basics of finishing around the rim and develop some sort of decent jumper. Not that we'd ever need/want him shooting jumpshots during the game when we got so many other shooters, but the ability to feel the ball leave your hand, slide off your palm, and roll off your finger tips and being comfortable with that affects all aspects; touch around the rim, hook shots, free throws, etc. Get that finger roll touch down and finish strong.
-Green would hopefully improve his overall PG skills. Shooting is fine, defense is developing, but we need him being a true leader, not just making blanket statements like "I want to be the best defender." Go out and prove it.
I would say the biggest asset to having experienced players returning is you should have to spend less time in practice on minor things and more time on what coach wants. You have vets who can help the incoming freshmen understand this is what coach is looking for etc.
Cal has been saying all season that each time this team goes through something, it's for the first time. That's a really difficult and painful way to make progress, when there's no one above you to help put what just happened into perspective. So, now we have all these freshman wins, losses, injuries, lapses in effort, lapses in judgment, lapses in concentration, failures to execute, dumb fouls, missed assignments, lack of communication. What valuable experience! Add in the now-sophomore talent (the physical and emotional development which occurred this year) plus the fact that our three incoming freshmen will NOT be like deer in the headlights because they will have peer mentors. I am feeling A-OK with this "Two and Done" thing.
To build a little on what Catzman said;
Knox-I think he learned how much effort was required to play at the college level in the last 1/3rd of the year,I think he matured late in the year and began to expand and use his skills more fully.He will get stronger as well
Washington- He will play to his strengths and add skills to his game,maybe avoid foul trouble a bit better and become a better rebounder
Vanderbilt- It comes down to if he can stay healthy enough to play a whole season and develop a shot that he can make 50% of the time from 10-15 feet
SKJ- is what he is the big question being will Cal have enough confidence and trust to play him,I think it is a combination of on and off court things that will dictate that(not that he is a bad kid but he does or doesn't do something that Cal doesn't like)
Richards-Probably has the most room for improvement of anyone,but there are so many areas where he needs to improve it is hard to know where to start.
Green- He will understand the college game better and that understanding will help make up for his lack of size and athletic ability.Better anticipation will allow him to get where he needs to be on the court a step quicker because he will see things develop more quickly.
In order for the team to get as good as most here think they can be Richards and SKJ have to make the biggest transformation and make much more of a contribution to the team.
Knox-I think he learned how much effort was required to play at the college level in the last 1/3rd of the year,I think he matured late in the year and began to expand and use his skills more fully.He will get stronger as well
Washington- He will play to his strengths and add skills to his game,maybe avoid foul trouble a bit better and become a better rebounder
Vanderbilt- It comes down to if he can stay healthy enough to play a whole season and develop a shot that he can make 50% of the time from 10-15 feet
SKJ- is what he is the big question being will Cal have enough confidence and trust to play him,I think it is a combination of on and off court things that will dictate that(not that he is a bad kid but he does or doesn't do something that Cal doesn't like)
Richards-Probably has the most room for improvement of anyone,but there are so many areas where he needs to improve it is hard to know where to start.
Green- He will understand the college game better and that understanding will help make up for his lack of size and athletic ability.Better anticipation will allow him to get where he needs to be on the court a step quicker because he will see things develop more quickly.
In order for the team to get as good as most here think they can be Richards and SKJ have to make the biggest transformation and make much more of a contribution to the team.
We heard all year if we had outside shooter on this team it would open everything up. If we get the same team back and add the 3 guards who can shoot plus our 8 freshman take the next step it could be scary for other teams. The shooting opens up the inside and allows Shai to get to the tin at will. No more packing it in and hoping we take jump shots. Returning these guys and adding the missing shooters plus Baker makes this a completely different team.
For one thing we won't be in January and have Cal still figuring out how guys should play. Having several pieces of the puzzle already in place should be huge. By the time the tourney gets here we should be a more stable consistent team overall and less likely to fall to a team we shouldn't.