The most important lesson we've learned from this whole conversation is that Murph is always right. Disagree with me at your own risk!
I think it is the same problem with MW. He has talent but does not know how to get the maximum out of it. UGA was playing a lot better earlier in the season.
TG has done a great job assembling talent at all positions..he did great with the portal and also with the freshman. He will get better as a bench coach but if he keeps bringing a solid group of players like he did this year...he will be successful.
For all of MWs in game flaws, the biggest one not talked about was roster construction. He never seemed to have the right combination of players for his system, or sufficient depth. Nor did he get guys who were good at the things needed to win consistently. Dirty work guys. CC was the one real exception. In one year TG overhauled the roster almost completely and got exactly what he needed.
Thanks, Brent. I appreciate your response. I disagree with it, but appreciate it. The tenor of your post was that CTG was in over his head and that CTG doesn't know how to maximize this roster. You made that clear. Hoops is an emotional sport and you are particularly invested. Even more so, you were particularly invested in the last guy. IMO, those feelings were a source of misguided concerns for the new guy. It's all good and I'll stop pressing the issue here.
I prefer to think of it as doing what Dan Hurley did in the portal, lol. Golden had a much better idea what he needed heading into this offseason. A combination of multiple scoring guards, especially those with higher usage rates, and multiple bigs, with great length and rebounding ability, in an offense that pushes the tempo to get extra possessions and shots, along with extra rebounds and thus more shots and possessions. We still aren't where he wants to be in terms of shooting, and he obviously wants to bring in some big ticket prep stars (missed on a couple this year), but this season is a clear indication that he knows what he wants and has a pretty good idea how to get there.
I think you cherry picked my post. I’m at yet another soccer game, but when I have a moment… I will provide the portions omitted. I think those portions convey my overall point. There is no “even more so” to my fan hood. I have no investment in a coach that would come remotely close to overriding my investment in the program. I spend a lot of time and money supporting the program…. And even more mental/emotional energy! And I have little to spare in any category! Lol! I assure you…. anything I post here reflects my true opinion, and not some agenda-driven commentary related to investment in a prior coach. Yes- I have and had concerns that “at this moment” Golden is “in over his head” and that his ability to assemble talent may surpass his ability to coach it. There were similar concerns about White… and I often vehemently argued Florida as a “place you let a high upside coach learn on the job”. That was my philosophy then and now. What has changed, however, is the entire college athletic landscape. And thus the conundrum … a coach who can assemble talent now must win with said talent... fast. Roster turnover is immediate and expensive… so the “honeymoon” stage is fleeting, if at all. Those were and are my concerns. Have they lessened since the post? Yes. I think it could have been disastrous had this team missed the tourney. We seem much more on track. I honestly think this is a Sweet 16 roster. And one that is playing close that level. And so… as I said - Golden may prove my concerns moot. I certainly hope so.
For who? Edited: I assume you were talking about Pullin from the comment in the presser as I know the team didn’t go 38 minutes without a turnover lol
Ok- that was a long post, and I responded to each segment. I presume you believe I am wrong in my concern about Golden being “in over his head and not knowing “how to maximize this roster”. As I have said- those concerns could be proven moot, and I certainly hope so. Save any more goochers from you… we are trending that way! But it is disingenuous to pretend such concerns were unfounded. At the time of the post, this team was 0-6 in Q1 games, had just lost to UT by 19 points and was hovering on the wrong side of the bubble. In addition, Coach Golden was sitting on a cumulative Q1 record of 2-19 at Florida. My concerns “at the moment” - were both real and justifiable. I guess … maybe….you could argue them as premature. I’m not sure you could call em “wrong” or “misguided”.
Your concerns about the team as a whole were not unfounded. Your concerns about CTG personally being in over his head and lacking roster know how do seem to have been unfounded. If CTG was in over his head and lacking roster know how, then he certainly has a come a long way in a short time since or he never was in over his head and lacking roster know how. The real concern is that other programs lure CTG away in the future because he's a brilliant young coach, recruiter, talent evaluator, and knows how to assemble and manage a roster. He also has done a great job figuring out this particular team's lineup including managing Kugel's sophomore slump which has had to be delicate internally. You have already conceded that your concerns are being proven "moot" or no longer subject to debate. Lastly, I appreciate your commentary and insight on the board and am not concerned about your faculties to do so.
Maybe… though I thought… and still think…opposite. From day 1, I have believed TG did an incredible job putting together a skilled and balanced team. This, imo, is a Sweet 16 roster. And it reflects what I articulated in my post as his strengths - talent acquisition; navigating portal/NIL. Yet, at the time of the post, the team was on the wrong side of the bubble and was winless versus Q1 opposition. Golden was 2-19 in such contests. Has he come a long way quickly? Maybe. I still don’t think his strength is as a bench coach…. YET. But as I once argued for White… if we are winning while he grows as a coach, that is a fantastic equation for Florida basketball. And an equation that overrides and renders moot my concerns. Note: it doesn’t render them “wrong”, “misguided” or “unfounded”, but moot. If we win despite my concerns, my concerns don’t matter. That’s what I am hoping takes place! Finally - thanks for the kind words!
