Assume he’s moving on
https://twitter.com/CraigMeyerPG/status/1232043022998740993
https://twitter.com/CraigMeyerPG/status/1232043022998740993
Kene participating in Sr Day ceremony - UPDATE - Samson too
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So we have 1 open ship, and if Hamilton, Kene, and Samson move on, we have 4 available ships. We've got LOIs from 3 in 2020, which would give us 1 ship for Jeffress or Femi?
Yep. The widely expected situation seems to be playing out, with Hamilton, Kene, George, and the open slot. Three guys so far signed.
Best wishes to those guys. This is also good news for the future of the program.
It was really unfortunate for Kene and this Panther team that he was injured. He was a high energy player and a good hustler who would have been useful on this year's team.
Thank you, Kene Chukwuka!
Thank you, Kene Chukwuka!
Yeah I would have liked to see him in some 2 big lineups playing as a 4 with his energy and offensive rebounding, think it would have fit his skills better than playing an undersized 5.
He was that player that coaches wish their heart was inside a more talented player. His effort and energy was tremendous.
Good luck Kene!!
That's been the discussion for a good while now. The real question is if we want to take Femi and Jeffress, who else goes?
They need to let TB do it too and bring in another big too. Lol
I know TB has played his best ball of late but we seen his best so bring Adama Sonoga and lets get it.
I already know all the TB lovers hates this idea but that's why its my opinion!!!!!!!!!
I know TB has played his best ball of late but we seen his best so bring Adama Sonoga and lets get it.
I already know all the TB lovers hates this idea but that's why its my opinion!!!!!!!!!
1 of the "Big 4" wont be here. Johnson, McGowens, Toney, or Champagnie. Call me what you want but there were over 1000 transfers last year, an all-time high. When teams are losing or guys arent playing (Drumgoole), guys jump ship.
Take your own advice and Jump Ship, please!!
None of those 4 are transferring.
IMHO, Sonoga won't reclassify and also, if he does it won't be to come to PItt. I just do not see Capel adding a 4th big to the 2020 class--too big a crowd. I also truly doubt we do more than add either (but not both) of Jeffress or Odukale to complete the 2020 class. Just my 2 cents, though--no inside info.
If a high-level player like Sonoga wants to come, Capel certainly isnt going to say no. He will make room.
Hey,
I’m selling HOPE again and went to text you and your contact was gone. Can you text me?
Yeah I wonder if Femi is a backup offer in the event we don't get Jeffress or in the event someone unexpectedly leaves after the season. We need a PG but right now Capel seems focused on the front court. Really tough to figure out who would go if we landed both -- Murphy and Brown to me still seem the most likely since the incoming guys - Horton and the 3 bigs will impact their minutes the most.
I still think their is a role for Brown next year as a 15-20 minute guy while the freshman come along and play some two big lineups with Coulibaly too.
Murphy just seems like most likely to lose most of his minutes, just not sure if he would want to go to yet another school and if he could GT.
I hope you are right. As mediocre as Johnson and McGowens have been, I think they still have good potential though Capel would have to devise ways for them to play less together. They are the same player and dont play well together.
Interesting how Johnson and McGowens who almost all of us were so excited to have last season have become bad or at least "mediocre" in the minds of some. It is the result of unduly ratcheting-up expectations, IMO.
IMHO, the two haven't really done anything to warrant that change in opinions except by not becoming significantly improved outside shooters and by eliminating the forced dribble drive to the hoop. Three point shooting improvement was never in the cards especially on a team without inside scoring threats that cause defenses to sag and give the guards more and better open looks. Further, the move of the 3-point line farther out was expected to, and has, negatively effected all 3-point shooters--even the elite ones--but especially non-elite shooters.
As to forced dribble penetration turnovers--there really aren't other viable options, given the current roster lacking ACC-quality bigs who can score consistently inside. So the dribble drive to the hoop--forced at times is the only way with this roster to create scoring in the paint, foul shooting opportunities and put other teams players in foul trouble. Unfortunately, this year it is a necessity and nothing to blame XJ and Trey about.
IMHO, the two haven't really done anything to warrant that change in opinions except by not becoming significantly improved outside shooters and by eliminating the forced dribble drive to the hoop. Three point shooting improvement was never in the cards especially on a team without inside scoring threats that cause defenses to sag and give the guards more and better open looks. Further, the move of the 3-point line farther out was expected to, and has, negatively effected all 3-point shooters--even the elite ones--but especially non-elite shooters.
As to forced dribble penetration turnovers--there really aren't other viable options, given the current roster lacking ACC-quality bigs who can score consistently inside. So the dribble drive to the hoop--forced at times is the only way with this roster to create scoring in the paint, foul shooting opportunities and put other teams players in foul trouble. Unfortunately, this year it is a necessity and nothing to blame XJ and Trey about.
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I am in more in your camp, I think both of them (X/Trey) have improved year over year. I think their improvement has been more subtle, they are both better on-ball defenders than last year and are learning how to take more chances. I think they both have improved their passing and decision making. The lack of options and our poor shooting has impacted them more than anything. The games where we shoot well, they look great and their dribble penetration works, when we don't shoot well, teams pack the lane or play zone and they are more limited. Both of them have improved their assist to turnover ratios and both force the other teams to play fast and turn the ball over as evidenced by our 19th ranking in the country in Turnover margin. Their scoring will jump significantly next year if we can shoot the 3 better and have some post options.
I think you miss where I said let TB walk so it wouldn't be to many it would be the same number because he would replace a player.
Of course this not happening right now because TB is not walking on senior night but it could happen in the off season.
Of course this not happening right now because TB is not walking on senior night but it could happen in the off season.
Sure, anything is possible, of course. I just believe TB going is an extremely unlikely development.
We're not saying they haven't improved they just haven't improved enough to separate from one another. Like I said a week or 2 ago and even SMF reiterated what I said in his last post and that's they are the same player meaning they're both down hill players and they don't make people around them better and that's XJ job to do being the PG.
X has to learn those instincts because he doesn't internally have them like a true PG.
X has to learn those instincts because he doesn't internally have them like a true PG.
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I think some of it falls on the players around them too improving, how many times has Trey or X found an open player and they miss the shot, don't catch and shoot clean, pass on an open shot or just miss their pass. The scoring margin we are losing by now is so small that typically 1-2 possessions that we convert are the difference in winning and losing and putting it all on Trey and X is unfair as without them our defense doesn't go. It is a young team that is still developing and once they figure it out is going to be great.
You made good points and on the other side of it how many times have we seen them not pass it to wide open players and shoot up a crazy shot or just take a crazy shot because they haven't gotten a shot for a couple minutes. They will improve and if they both come back we need a really nice jump in their improvement next yr or we need a true PG to run the team to help make the other players better.
They dont play well together. They dont feed off each other. They dont create shots for each other. With Horton coming in, and possibly Jeffress, those 2 guys are going to get a lot of minutes and unless something changes, I think Johnson and McGowens wl have to be on the court at the same time less.
Worst graduating class in NCAA history. All sports, all divisions.
In the natural course of events with next year's increased depth all current starters should be seeing reduced minutes to a greater or lesser degree. It should be a function of that greater depth and quality of depth allowing more breather time--plus longer bench time when a player has early foul trouble.
Assuming that Horton is, as expected, the real deal as a 3-ball shooter he should take minutes from that of XJ, Trey and Murphy. That is to be expected.
Currently XJ, Trey and Murphy total 94.5 minutes PT per game. It breaks down as--
XJ = 33.5
Trey = 33.6
Murphy = 27.4
A wild guess that next season's minutes might look something like this--
XJ = 30
Trey = 30
Horton = 30
Murphy = 5*
* Mostly late game minutes for his FT shooting when protecting a lead? Or, when Horton has foul trouble?
Assuming that Horton is, as expected, the real deal as a 3-ball shooter he should take minutes from that of XJ, Trey and Murphy. That is to be expected.
Currently XJ, Trey and Murphy total 94.5 minutes PT per game. It breaks down as--
XJ = 33.5
Trey = 33.6
Murphy = 27.4
A wild guess that next season's minutes might look something like this--
XJ = 30
Trey = 30
Horton = 30
Murphy = 5*
* Mostly late game minutes for his FT shooting when protecting a lead? Or, when Horton has foul trouble?
If Murphy is on the roster next year, I think he's more in the ~10 range. JMO
Why do people act like this is a hard question. Murphy seems like such an obvious choice to me.
It’s not so much that there are TB lovers. It’s that we recognize it’s virtually impossible to bring in a bit that will provide enough value add to justify TB leaving.
I just don’t see the motivation for those guys to move on. They play tons of minutes and are improving (albeit not as fast as some want).
I see zero reason why Champagnie or Toney would transfer; they've both had good seasons and look to be a major part of the rotation for the next several years. Even though X and Trey have had frustrating seasons I also don't really see why they would transfer.
Also, I look forward to SMF's future post in a few months where he claims it was the "Big 5" and he always thought Murphy was the most likely to leave.
You mean you think that poster will change his story to suit his agenda so he can claim he was right?
You're kidding!
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