I loved CC’s game with the limited exception that he should have been getting the ball out more often to open spot-up shooters. No one on the team wanted to win more than CC, and he kicked ass against Walker Kessler twice in one season.
This was one area he improved vastly from last year, although schematically it still seemed like getting crisp ball movenent off double teams was not taught at all. But my impression was that Castleton himself developed a better feel for when to kick it back out, whereas the prior year he was going to try and power through no matter what (often losing the ball or turning it over in the process… this year was much better). Unfortunately as the offense didn’t seem to focus much on ball movement or forcing the defense into rotations, double teams on Castleton didn’t result in open 3’s as often as they otherwise should have, even when he’d make a good decision to pass it back out, the 2nd and 3rd pass weren’t there.
That sucks. Was hoping he’d stick for that extra year, but I guess we’ll see what Golden can do in the portal. It just creates one more spot of “need”. We are ok at the wings it seems with Reeves, Lane, Aberdeen, Kennedy (assuming those guys stick that isn’t bad depth). But now Golden really needs to hit a home-run with a PG type in the portal. It’s possible he can recruit over Appleby. Obviously what we need at the 4/5 depends largely on Castleton, but assuming he goes we will need something inside (similar to PG, we surely need a starter quality player and probably a quality rotational big as well).
Now that he is leaving I will reveal that my source was his cousin. He spoke to him often. They are close.
I think Pinson regressed while at LSU. He should have stayed at Missouri. I also wonder if any of the LSU players are tainted by Wade?
Appleby's cousin says he was first contacted by Arkansas. This could be a draw for him, but he also realizes he would be behind a lot of guards that are already on the team. He tells me Appleby still hasn't 100% decided to leave Florida. He is seeing what is out there and then making a decision.
UF Transfer Portal Roundup: Big visit weekend shaping up Looks like Will Richard of Belmont and Terry Robert of Bradley are visiting this weekend