Some posters and I were discussing our team's potential next year at the last home game and we all had some interesting takes on what our projected line-up and potential record could be next year WITH a new coach. A coach that can actually coach and have his systems in place. If Hewitt is around next year then we will have another 3 win year in the A-10, if that. One poster here thinks we have the potential to go 10-6 in the A-10 next year. This is with a new coach in place and no one transfers and with Mayimba on the active roster.
The A-10 will be much better next year all around compared to this year. vcu will be good, Rhode Island will be scary good and both teams will probably crack the Top 25. It also seems these teams like Dayton, UMASS, GW, Richmond, St. Joes (Bembry is only a Sophomore!), and St. Bonny will be improved and reloaded. Too much talent for us to knock off with no proven scorers in our backcourt. Teams will double Thompson and make our Guards beat them.
Therefore, with all of these elements in place, I see us being a little better next year but not much. 10-6 in the A-10 is a bit too many wins in my mind. I see us winning 6-7 games if all of the following items happen:
With another year with proper instruction from good coaches I think Thompson, Holloway, Moore, Porter, and Jackson all will be better on both sides of the ball. Another year learning with and from each other and learning their likes and dislikes and creating team chemistry will only help these guys. However, the problems I see us facing is the lack of a pure shooter and scorer. Our backcourt cannot consistently score. We need to ask ourselves.... Can Holloway finally deliver consistent scoring and learn to pass the ball? Can Moore consistently score 15 points a game and play defense? The lack of a pure 3 point threat and shooter is going to doom us yet again next year.
The question marks:
Jenkins - We have no idea if Jenkins will regress even more or if he will thrive under a new coach and finally learn not to travel with the ball and take controlled shots. He is an X factor when he wants to be.
Gilbert - Granted he even stays, he will be a true Freshman. He will need to learn a brand new system and will he even be a big scoring threat right away??? The odds are not very likely.
Jackson - Seems he will be our next 3 point threat outside of Holloway. He is shooting 31% from the floor and behind the arc. He definetely needs to work on his shot and with proper coaching there is no way but up for this kid.
Lockett/Mayimba - Have no idea what we are going to get with these guys. Lockett is known for his Defense rather than his scoring ability. Mayimba is supposed to be a do it all type of offensive threat, but can he deliver and learn what shots to take and when not to take them?
Our next coaching staff will need to work miracles on the recruiting front and need to learn we need to recruit shooters and scorers in this league and then Coach the hell out of them to play defense. If we can recruit some shooters in the next couple years then we can start to turn around our nucleus.
Based off that, here is where I see our starting lineup going in to next season:
PG - Moore, Tate/CJ Jackson
SG - Holloway, Lockett, Gilbert
G/F - I. Jackson, Mayimba
F - Jenkins, Marko/Royal
C - Thompson, Porter
Looking at this lineup they have some work to do to produce 70+ points a game. The X factor is to see if Jenkins continues to develop and if he will be an offensive threat at the 4. If not, the coaches can implement Porter/Marko at the 4 and just go big or move Mayimba over to the 4. I think Mayimba is a true 3 and plays exactly like Jenkins.... more of a face-up, drive to the basket guy rather than post up in the paint kinda guy.
I think it is going to be a train wreck trying to get Mayimba, Lockett, Jackson, Marko, and Jenkins enough playing time and seeing where they fit in exactly to these coaches schemes and currently seems as if it is going to be a clusterfuuck. I don't see Royal being any part of relevant in our system next year unless one of these guys gets injured or leaves.
The A-10 will be much better next year all around compared to this year. vcu will be good, Rhode Island will be scary good and both teams will probably crack the Top 25. It also seems these teams like Dayton, UMASS, GW, Richmond, St. Joes (Bembry is only a Sophomore!), and St. Bonny will be improved and reloaded. Too much talent for us to knock off with no proven scorers in our backcourt. Teams will double Thompson and make our Guards beat them.
Therefore, with all of these elements in place, I see us being a little better next year but not much. 10-6 in the A-10 is a bit too many wins in my mind. I see us winning 6-7 games if all of the following items happen:
With another year with proper instruction from good coaches I think Thompson, Holloway, Moore, Porter, and Jackson all will be better on both sides of the ball. Another year learning with and from each other and learning their likes and dislikes and creating team chemistry will only help these guys. However, the problems I see us facing is the lack of a pure shooter and scorer. Our backcourt cannot consistently score. We need to ask ourselves.... Can Holloway finally deliver consistent scoring and learn to pass the ball? Can Moore consistently score 15 points a game and play defense? The lack of a pure 3 point threat and shooter is going to doom us yet again next year.
The question marks:
Jenkins - We have no idea if Jenkins will regress even more or if he will thrive under a new coach and finally learn not to travel with the ball and take controlled shots. He is an X factor when he wants to be.
Gilbert - Granted he even stays, he will be a true Freshman. He will need to learn a brand new system and will he even be a big scoring threat right away??? The odds are not very likely.
Jackson - Seems he will be our next 3 point threat outside of Holloway. He is shooting 31% from the floor and behind the arc. He definetely needs to work on his shot and with proper coaching there is no way but up for this kid.
Lockett/Mayimba - Have no idea what we are going to get with these guys. Lockett is known for his Defense rather than his scoring ability. Mayimba is supposed to be a do it all type of offensive threat, but can he deliver and learn what shots to take and when not to take them?
Our next coaching staff will need to work miracles on the recruiting front and need to learn we need to recruit shooters and scorers in this league and then Coach the hell out of them to play defense. If we can recruit some shooters in the next couple years then we can start to turn around our nucleus.
Based off that, here is where I see our starting lineup going in to next season:
PG - Moore, Tate/CJ Jackson
SG - Holloway, Lockett, Gilbert
G/F - I. Jackson, Mayimba
F - Jenkins, Marko/Royal
C - Thompson, Porter
Looking at this lineup they have some work to do to produce 70+ points a game. The X factor is to see if Jenkins continues to develop and if he will be an offensive threat at the 4. If not, the coaches can implement Porter/Marko at the 4 and just go big or move Mayimba over to the 4. I think Mayimba is a true 3 and plays exactly like Jenkins.... more of a face-up, drive to the basket guy rather than post up in the paint kinda guy.
I think it is going to be a train wreck trying to get Mayimba, Lockett, Jackson, Marko, and Jenkins enough playing time and seeing where they fit in exactly to these coaches schemes and currently seems as if it is going to be a clusterfuuck. I don't see Royal being any part of relevant in our system next year unless one of these guys gets injured or leaves.
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