Roster Construction Thus Far

Keeping fingers crossed that Coach Golden and staff are keeping tabs on Christian Anderson, Jr. from Oak Hill Academy. He averaged 21.5 ppg and 46% on 3's this past season. Had been committed to Michigan since his sophomore season, and de-committed after the firing of Juwan Howard. Although slight, he is a lights out shooter who could provide instant offense off the bench. Haven't read anything about where he has visited since backing off his Michigan pledge. We recently lost Lorenzo Cason to Michigan (he had previously committed to Dusty May at FAU).

 

In fairness Clayton, Martin and Richard all shot much better from 3 the year before and have higher career 3 pt shooting percentages than what they had last year. If each of them just got back to their average we would be a very good 3 pt shooting team and if each of them matched their career high for a season in 3 pt% we have 3 starters that shoot over 40% from 3. I don’t disagree we may be less consistent from a points per game stand point. We do have the chance though to win games defensively and to be more explosive.

 

One area we may improve next season is our ability to have big spurts where we make big runs. With runs you need stops which we should get at a higher level and we have the potential to be a very good 3 point shooting team. Spurts really impact winning. While I do see some flaws with our current roster, I think we are intriguing and have a chance to be a team no one wants to play. We should be tough and if we shoot it like we are capable of we will be a handful.

 

I'm cool with it. There's only one basketball on the floor to shoot at any given time.

 

Shoot sorry! Yes I misrepresented that...those were their overall FG% numbers. I'll edit!

Yes if we look at their effective shooting % it's not as bad, as long as they can get to the FT line. My concern is that we become a 3-pt heavy shooting team and all 3 can be streaky. Martin was 0-6 from 3 in their tournament loss to Northwestern for example, Clayton can be a bit of a chucker at times and Richard can be very hot and or very cold. I really hope they don't collectively rely on jacking up shots and our frontcourt players can bring a lot more offensively, we'll need that balance

Very much agree with your cliff notes about getting to the line and involving others

 

Yes if we can be a lot more consistent on defense we seem to have a team built for fast breaks and "spurtability"
I'd still love to see us add a longer, athletic wing

 

yes would love to see them revert to their career averages, we'll see

 

When I watch players like Franz Wagner (6'10) and Wembanyama (7'4) bring up the basketball like guards, I think of all the international talent out there. Guys who play in very organized systems at a young age and who can handle the ball, shoot, know sound fundamentals, etc...that the overseas market is still so untapped in today's NCAA. We're an American school so it's understandable that aside from Condo and Kublickas (the German Consonant before and now with Chinyelu, though through the portal) it makes sense that all our players are American and we focus on the transfer portal for player "acquisitions" - but, there are so many good players around the world now that would love to get a shot at making the NBA and playing and hopefully excelling in the SEC would be a great platform for them. WIth the NIL they can now come get that opportunity AND get paid - not to mention if they were part of a pro system overseas there's no more concern over eligibility.

Yes, guys like Chinyelu were born overseas and often players like that come to the US for high school, so that they can get exposure and recruited to Div 1 schools (also he was part of the NBA Academy Africa, so had that exposure), but there are still so many good players that either mature late or for other reasons don't get recognized over here that it's worth it to start targeting more of them. This transfer portal market - both in losing players to the market and getting players from the market - is obviously the main traders' market now, but I wonder if that really needs to be the case for everyone. Rather than all chase the same talent, and in most cases having to try and outbid for top talent, why not chase players in a different market? A market where as the Gators brand playing in the SEC we may have an advantage versus minor league pro teams that get the player little exposure to the NBA

That elusive 6'8 '3 and D' wing or do it all lengthy player that the NBA covets might be easier to get elsewhere. The NBA must have at least 40-50 guys over 6'8 and over that can do it all now. Each team has at least 1-2. Jokic, Doncic, Embiid, Giannis...the top 4 players in the league are international players. Each one offers a very unique skillset, unlike anyone else in the league. Wembanyama is next in that line. Wagner led his team to the World Championships. Point is, there are so many great international players now that maybe we should be looking more closely at the rest of the planet than just in our domestic backyard. I know we have to some degree, and that's great, but perhaps that's a path we could use for our last 1-2 roster spots. Take a chance on a couple overseas guys. Maybe we find another Condo, or better. Who knows, but worth a scholarship to take a chance to strike gold

 

I would like to see us add one more solid offensive guard/forward to solidify our squad, preferably one that can shoot the 3.

 

I would like a quick as lightning pg who can shoot and defend. Doesn’t have to be the greatest pg on earth, but can make a fast break almost every time he gets the ball. He most have a great handle/dribble. And decent ft shooter.
To add to this guard maybe a good size (6’6” to 6’9”) wing who has decent ability to shoot and handle the ball. If somehow the wing is tall, 6’ 9” or 6’10”, he flex to power forward if needed.

I know, I am not asking much. LOL

 

so you're just asking for two future NBA starters

 

Still a lot of players in the portal that would fit the bill. Having watch UCONN go back to back, I am sure they will get a full thirteen contributors that can defend and score. That’s why we don’t need to be at disadvantages at any position with depth.

 

When you look at our 2014 team that won 38 games and made the Final Four, and study the guys individually, you think, "This is pretty good talent but it isn't Final Four talent." Those guys just bought into the system, embraced their roles, and played multiple years together so that they were all exactly on the same page, on both ends of the floor. Good team defense doesn't happen overnight. There's a lot to be said for doing what you can to keep guys in the program.

 

I agree, but the injury bug has gotten us the last two years under the boards. I don’t have any contacts with the staff but I will welcome any new guys they pull for next year. I like being prepared for the SEC and tournament wars. Seasons are getting longer, a full compliment allows early season playing time and working with the team to get better, even if they don’t crack the first nine players.