Why do you have such a hard on about turning away talent?
Now with Toney, 4 Star Hyatt favoring Pitt too? Visiting soon, Capel on Fire
- Thread starter steel_curtain
- Start date
It's been awhile since highly talented players have been interested in Pitt- it's confusing some of the fans...
Chill out dude. Take a step back. 3 months ago everyone was hysterical because they thought it was going to take 3-5 years to become relevant again. Now you are worried because we will be lacking in one area this year. It’s a process. The bigs will come next year. But this year is looking light years better than anyone thought it would a short while ago.
Yes, I agree. I don't see any value in adding a big for 2018-2019 season who won't help immediately and will occupy a ship for 4-5 years.
But a decent rebounding big (grad transfer) who only ties up a ship for one year (or perhaps a JUCO who only ties up a ship for 2 years) could be the difference between a 12 to 15 win season and a 16 to 19 win season for 2018-2019. So, if such can be found I am for it.
Otherwise, IMO, Brown and Ilgomeh will have to be improved well beyond what fans are expecting if we are to avoid another below 0.500 season resulting--no matter how talented and deep we are at guard and wing and with playing a 4-guard style offense.
This team is going to turn out better than I would have ever expected, but they still aren’t a winner. I view this recruiting class like a draft. We take as many guys with upside as possible, results be damned, and figure out how to complement that to be a winner in 2019.
I couldn’t care less whether they are a “team” this year. Sleepy reiterated every game how high the spirits of the players were last year and how the chemistry was great, yet they lost 19 games in a row. That’s silly.
We need some badasses who want to put the ball in the hoop.
Why is anybody really worried about next year . Yes , these are far better recruits than we’re use to seeing and the futures never looked better for long term success , but these aren’t Dukes or Kentucky type recruits . No ones leaving for the NBA after next season . This is a process , let’s get as many talented kids in here and let them develop . Next yr will be better and the yr after that will be even better and so on ...
I would say very few big man grad transfers will move the needle that much. Any big worth his salt leaves early, and any dude not going to the NBA will be like Maia or Ododa. If I had the choice between a 4 star wing and a space eater underneath, I'd take the guy who has a possibility of being a star.
Not every really good team has an excellent 5 man. I am sure Capel can work around it for one year.
Results for the 2018-2019 season will be relevant. If that team demonstrates a significant W-L improvement it will help in recruiting the 2020 class (November 2019 LOI signees) since Capel will be able to sell a program that is rising rapidly. The lesser the improvement in 2018-19 the lesser will be Capel's ability to sell Pitt to that 2020 class.
As of now, there has been added increased depth in the backcourt and on the wing. However, much of it is young freshman and, talented or not, they most likely will only have a modest impact as freshmen on overall team results. Their best and biggest contributions will likely not happen until they are soph and juniors.
In the interim, this roster appears to remain extremely weak in talent needed for rebounding and defending the rim. IMO, that doesn't indicate to me that significant W-L improvement is likely without the addition of a big who can make an immediate defensive impact. If that can't happen, so be it. But it would be nice if an experienced transfer defensive big could be added to bridge the gap until better quality bigs can be added via high school recruiting. But, maybe Brown and Ilgomeh will make giant leaps forward and all will be well in the rebounding and rim defending area. We shall see what happens.
I have no idea whats available out there for grad transfer bigs, but Capel does. If he thinks a 4 star wing beats a low level grad transfer center, I can live with that. We'll see what happens.
You get it, Capel doesn't?
I know who I am betting on, and it's not the ninny wringing hands over getting another 4 star talent.
Tell you what - I will acknowledge how wise you are when Capel puts Hyatt on this year's team.
You want Hyatt - Are you sure Capel does?
Is that fair enough for you? The #45 player reportedly wants to come here. You feel Capel has to want him. Should almost certainly happen. Lets see.
Or..maybe the last ride goes to the nearest thing to a big.
Last edited:
And just about every other season, even some of our best ones. The Howland/Dixon era scoring droughts in the middle of games-often in the second half-were legendary. Fortunately we were pretty good most years in causing similar problems for the opponent.
I'll let it ride with whatever coach thinks is best. I NEVER said he has to want him. My opinion is that you take a top player in the country over a low major schlub just because he is tall. I'm certainly not going to wring my hands that we are getting too many highly rated wings and guards at the expense of bringing in a 6'8" guy from Alcorn State for one year.
I agree on let's see, cheers to you.
There will be a ton of minutes available this season for any player who can walk and chew gum simultaneously. All of Capel’s best players will be in the backcourt and on the wing. Expect a lot of small lineups with Terrell Brown getting the bulk of time at the 5.
It would be close to a minor miracle for Capel to bring in a talented big who can contribute right away at his point. I’m not putting it past him, but I just don’t see any out there. That’s why he was looking at that 6’9 stiff from Canada the other day.
No clue. Pitt's pretty crowded at the wing right now. But that doesn't change my position. I'd rather see Pitt take a 4* guy like Hyatt under the assumption that he'll straighten out his shooting than take a flyer on some grad transfer big man who averaged 5 and 5 against poor competition.
There are a lot of arguments against you, gary2:
- we were 0-19 so take BPA (only one I really would make)
- there is no such thing as too many wings these days
- Capel prefers a 4 out offense anyway
I am less sold in the 2019 record matters thing, as long as we can win about 4 conference games, it sells the trending up from 0 well enough.
That said, I'd be fine with taking a solid grad transfer big IF they were a legitimate rim defender -- but does that guy even exist? We've lacked a legit rim defender for something like four years, which is a problem. Hopefully it can be somewhat minimize that weakness by having guards play better perimeter defense to stop so much penetration to start with.
- we were 0-19 so take BPA (only one I really would make)
- there is no such thing as too many wings these days
- Capel prefers a 4 out offense anyway
I am less sold in the 2019 record matters thing, as long as we can win about 4 conference games, it sells the trending up from 0 well enough.
That said, I'd be fine with taking a solid grad transfer big IF they were a legitimate rim defender -- but does that guy even exist? We've lacked a legit rim defender for something like four years, which is a problem. Hopefully it can be somewhat minimize that weakness by having guards play better perimeter defense to stop so much penetration to start with.
I understand why people on the other side of this issue feel the way they do - I do admit to be somewhat surprised about how some people seem to be coming on so strongly against my position.
I think having multiple high level recruits (in your first class) with any of those players hardly playing is not helpful to future recruiting.
Does it help recruiting if a Toney or a Hyatt hardly plays? Does it help recruiting if Johnson hardly plays?
I believe Capel said he wants to win now. Even if we play the style some have argued we will, I find it hard to argue that a physical big would not be more useful than whatever wing loses the battle for playing time.
I don't think in 2018 basketball there is a such thing as a log jam for wings and guards? Maybe I'm wrong.
I am very glad to see we finally have some guards (at least I think we do).
Agree, after Dixon failing to get guards for such a long time, and Stallings not doing much better, this is like a breath of fresh air. Very excited!
You don’t want your coach to say anything else now do you ?
Pitt hasn’t signed any can’t miss guys , there’s no guarantee that any of these guys will be superstars .
I want to see guys that have the athletic ability to play with the conference big boys , but I don’t expect them to be ready to beat the Dukes of the world their first year . Adding a mediocre grad transfer won’t really help .
Pitts best hope for the inside play is that Brown , Peace and Chewy improve .
Unless these guys are vastly overrated they’ll see plenty of PT .
If Capel is going after high end recruits, I hardly doubt they are worried about how much PT prior recruits have gotten. Just like top recruits generally dont worry about who they will be competing with for PT because they all believe in their ability to get PT.
Similar threads
