Dont we only lose two contributing players though? Important ones I know, but that happens every season. IF guys stick this team will be very good next year if Todd can fill the PG slot.
Yes, Pullin & Samuel are the only regular players who can't come back. The key for Coach Golden is keeping the guys we've got and finding a couple more high quality players in the portal who fit areas of need. We do have a 6'5" 4-star shooting guard from Orlando signed (Isaiah Brown) and a supposed solid commit from a 7'6" 3-star center from Canada by way of IMG Academy (Olivier Rioux), but not sure how much either will be ready for next season. If we don't lose any guys to the portal, the team has an excellent group coming back and should be really good again. Pullin & Samuel, however, are major components of this year's team.
The comparisons between this year's team and the 2016-17 Elite 8 team are appropriate, IMO. If John Egbunu hadn't gone down to injury 24 games into the season, they probably would have made the Final 4 and possibly challenged for the national title. This year's team is a better rebounding team and a higher scoring team. The E8 team played better defense. There is more frontcourt depth on this year's team, but one problem we've had this year is letting leads slip away in the last 8 minutes. Last night our guys showed a killer instinct and put Bama away. That team with KeVaughan Allen, Canyon Berry, Devin Robinson, Chris Chiozza, Kasey Hill, Justin Leon & Kevarius Hayes was really good, 27-9 overall, 14-4 in the SEC. I love this year's team and the way Coach Golden has let them run, playing to their strengths. They can beat any team in the country when they play up to their potential, but they've lost some games they should have won. It will be interesting to see if they can finish off the season Saturday with a win in Nashville, win a couple of games in the SECT and make a run in the Big Dance. Match-ups are important in a 1-game elimination format and they're going to have to prove they can beat a good zone defense. No doubt the talent is there.
And THIS is a key for a deep run. Clayton and Pullin showing out. That will raise everyone's game and take pressure off others. Need a bit of luck.
Yea, again as I stated ealier, I eraded that put of my mind after we beat them in 2017 with the shot heard around the world from Cheeze. What a dagger that was. Im still looking cor revenge against UCONN