I believe based on what we have coming back and coming in, we deserve every bit of our #2 in the Pac 12 and preseason #14 selections.
I believe there is significant upside to both of those predictions.
We do have a few questions:
1.) Can Tyrone Wallace get the most out of this team offensively given the plethora of weapons at his disposal or is he a shooting guard that needs the ball in his hands?
2.) Will we be able to handle good big men and strong frontlines? Okoroh is an interesting piece as is Rooks but neither are both way plus players. Rabb can get pushed around and other than those three we have undersized fours in Domingo, Davis and Brown
3.) How big is the drop off with our bench? Can Domingo go from Mr. Practice to Mr. Games? Is Singer more than a defensive stopper? Can KO and KR contribute solid minutes?
4.) Are we going to be a good defensive team or a great one? D is Cuonzo's calling card and focus. Yet we have two frosh who usually take time to figure out team D concepts and in Mathews and Bird, two players who have yet to be plus one on one defenders. Without KO in the middle can we stop good post players?
5.) This team is built for the tourney with the possible exception of great PG play. Athletically we have a high ceiling, the frosh will get better, Wallace and Brown can break anyone down, our defensive upside is high - all the ingredients for the tourney. Yet, can we get it done in the regular season? Offensive sets will not be super crisp with CMs system, FT shooting is a big question mark and Wallace can put his head down too often down the stretch of close games.
I feel really good that Bird is going to take a big step forward this season. I also like KO to improve a lot as well as Rabb to improve between October and March. I believe Brown is a P12 POY candidate and perhaps the favorite. I think Mathews becomes very consistent on offense. I have worries about Wallace making the easy and smart play. I worry about Domingo playing offense when the lights go on. I fear our FT shooting will be abysmal. I see a lot of success forcing TOs and running and less success when teams slow us down. I don't know whether CM has the defensive team concepts to make us elite night in and night out. I'll make a side wager that Chauca has a solid year in limited minutes.
I believe Brown is gone after this year and Rabb stays. Bird will stay as well as made obvious by his need for more strength and better handles. I think we have a good/not great regular season and then get hot in the Pac12 and NCAAs.
I believe there is significant upside to both of those predictions.
We do have a few questions:
1.) Can Tyrone Wallace get the most out of this team offensively given the plethora of weapons at his disposal or is he a shooting guard that needs the ball in his hands?
2.) Will we be able to handle good big men and strong frontlines? Okoroh is an interesting piece as is Rooks but neither are both way plus players. Rabb can get pushed around and other than those three we have undersized fours in Domingo, Davis and Brown
3.) How big is the drop off with our bench? Can Domingo go from Mr. Practice to Mr. Games? Is Singer more than a defensive stopper? Can KO and KR contribute solid minutes?
4.) Are we going to be a good defensive team or a great one? D is Cuonzo's calling card and focus. Yet we have two frosh who usually take time to figure out team D concepts and in Mathews and Bird, two players who have yet to be plus one on one defenders. Without KO in the middle can we stop good post players?
5.) This team is built for the tourney with the possible exception of great PG play. Athletically we have a high ceiling, the frosh will get better, Wallace and Brown can break anyone down, our defensive upside is high - all the ingredients for the tourney. Yet, can we get it done in the regular season? Offensive sets will not be super crisp with CMs system, FT shooting is a big question mark and Wallace can put his head down too often down the stretch of close games.
I feel really good that Bird is going to take a big step forward this season. I also like KO to improve a lot as well as Rabb to improve between October and March. I believe Brown is a P12 POY candidate and perhaps the favorite. I think Mathews becomes very consistent on offense. I have worries about Wallace making the easy and smart play. I worry about Domingo playing offense when the lights go on. I fear our FT shooting will be abysmal. I see a lot of success forcing TOs and running and less success when teams slow us down. I don't know whether CM has the defensive team concepts to make us elite night in and night out. I'll make a side wager that Chauca has a solid year in limited minutes.
I believe Brown is gone after this year and Rabb stays. Bird will stay as well as made obvious by his need for more strength and better handles. I think we have a good/not great regular season and then get hot in the Pac12 and NCAAs.
