Prospects for the 2018-19 season

[raleighpanther]

OK, let's move past whether Stallings should or shouldn't be back next year, and assume he will be back. Or have it the other way -- he's gone. Either way, we'll likely have the same or roughly the same players regardless of who the coach is. Assuming no great roster shake-up....

Pitt only loses Milligan, which is got to be seen as a plus. Kingsby is more skilled than Milligan. I know, that's not necessarily an endorsement of his skills, but it is a positive.

The bigger plus is on the front line. T. Brown is perhaps the one guy who I don't see improving with time. I think he is near his ceiling right now. He's simply too slow, both physically and mentally. And he has weak hands. Illegomah has miles to go, but he is quick, agile, and athletic. He's a project that may or may not ever pan out, but at least there is upside and reason to hope. I see little of either with Brown.

Adding Luther, Golden, and Ellison will make this a better team. I think with a healthy Luther, Pitt beats Syracuse both times this year. Luther's passing, and ability to hit a free throw line jumper in the middle of the zone would've been huge. It would've give us addition scoring inside, and open things up more from 3. Golden will bring a frontline toughness that this team is sorely lacking. And Ellison is quicker and more athletic than Wilson-Frame. Together, the front court gets a lot better, and the three additions will really help provide space for the guards to operate.

And, although the progress is uneven, and painfully slow at times, Carr, Davis, and Stewart should be better players come next year, and Kingsby gives them a fourth. This painful year of learning on the job could/should pay dividends.

This in NO WAY has anything to do with the coach. I'd like to know other's thought about the makeup of players next year. Prove me wrong -- prove that there are people on this board who can think about this team without launching into an immediate rant about Stallings.

 

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

The problem is even with those people improving were still not a tournament team....

And then you get into the discussion of after these guys having a year of improvement, how much higher is their ceiling to continue ie to improve. Imho, it’s not that much higher.... until we get some guys in here who are going to get us back into the tournament and back to being relevant we’re in for painful season.

And the only way I see that happening is if we pony up for an up and coming coach. We’d have to shell out enough money in order to get someone to come in and want to improve this dumpster fire

And this isn’t an anti-stallings post. I think he has good qualities as a coach (and not so good qualities as well) but we need new life into the program in order to recruit better talent. That’s just the cold hard fact of the matter

 

[Chescat]

OK, let's move past whether Stallings should or shouldn't be back next year, and assume he will be back. Or have it the other way -- he's gone. Either way, we'll likely have the same or roughly the same players regardless of who the coach is. Assuming no great roster shake-up....

Pitt only loses Milligan, which is got to be seen as a plus. Kingsby is more skilled than Milligan. I know, that's not necessarily an endorsement of his skills, but it is a positive.

The bigger plus is on the front line. T. Brown is perhaps the one guy who I don't see improving with time. I think he is near his ceiling right now. He's simply too slow, both physically and mentally. And he has weak hands. Illegomah has miles to go, but he is quick, agile, and athletic. He's a project that may or may not ever pan out, but at least there is upside and reason to hope. I see little of either with Brown.

Adding Luther, Golden, and Ellison will make this a better team. I think with a healthy Luther, Pitt beats Syracuse both times this year. Luther's passing, and ability to hit a free throw line jumper in the middle of the zone would've been huge. It would've give us addition scoring inside, and open things up more from 3. Golden will bring a frontline toughness that this team is sorely lacking. And Ellison is quicker and more athletic than Wilson-Frame. Together, the front court gets a lot better, and the three additions will really help provide space for the guards to operate.

And, although the progress is uneven, and painfully slow at times, Carr, Davis, and Stewart should be better players come next year, and Kingsby gives them a fourth. This painful year of learning on the job could/should pay dividends.

This in NO WAY has anything to do with the coach. I'd like to know other's thought about the makeup of players next year. Prove me wrong -- prove that there are people on this board who can think about this team without launching into an immediate rant about Stallings.

Ok since you asked and I'll assume Stallings is back. If that's the case, I would agree with almost everything you said. IF Luther returns healthy that alone would make us better. Ellison will improve the off guard position and our other players should improve. The two recruits should also help, but probably minimally.
That team would IMHO win 2 maybe 3 games max against this present year's competition in the ACC. Gotta remember, the other ACC teams won't be standing still, and more than likely
will out recruit us again.
Where I disagree a bit is with Browne. Your description of him is accurate, but IMHO
he has the tools to improve with a viable strength improvement program and much
time spent in the gym. He also could spend time at a "big man's: camp working on
aggressiveness and post moves.
With all that said, we ain't going anywhere without a legit PG and Big man. If somehow
Stalling pulled that out of the hat we become somewhat viable, as all our other players would be role players to those two. Even with all that, I also agree with the previous poster
that we are still no tournament team. What it would do is prove that Stallings can at least get this train rolling in the right direction. Sadly though, there is no indication right now of that happening.

 

[tps48]

OK, let's move past whether Stallings should or shouldn't be back next year, and assume he will be back. Or have it the other way -- he's gone. Either way, we'll likely have the same or roughly the same players regardless of who the coach is. Assuming no great roster shake-up....

Pitt only loses Milligan, which is got to be seen as a plus. Kingsby is more skilled than Milligan. I know, that's not necessarily an endorsement of his skills, but it is a positive.

The bigger plus is on the front line. T. Brown is perhaps the one guy who I don't see improving with time. I think he is near his ceiling right now. He's simply too slow, both physically and mentally. And he has weak hands. Illegomah has miles to go, but he is quick, agile, and athletic. He's a project that may or may not ever pan out, but at least there is upside and reason to hope. I see little of either with Brown.

Adding Luther, Golden, and Ellison will make this a better team. I think with a healthy Luther, Pitt beats Syracuse both times this year. Luther's passing, and ability to hit a free throw line jumper in the middle of the zone would've been huge. It would've give us addition scoring inside, and open things up more from 3. Golden will bring a frontline toughness that this team is sorely lacking. And Ellison is quicker and more athletic than Wilson-Frame. Together, the front court gets a lot better, and the three additions will really help provide space for the guards to operate.

And, although the progress is uneven, and painfully slow at times, Carr, Davis, and Stewart should be better players come next year, and Kingsby gives them a fourth. This painful year of learning on the job could/should pay dividends.

This in NO WAY has anything to do with the coach. I'd like to know other's thought about the makeup of players next year. Prove me wrong -- prove that there are people on this board who can think about this team without launching into an immediate rant about Stallings.

It would be a miracle if this team wins 5 ACC games next year. 5-13 will not save Stallings if he is back.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

I think Brown could be a decent player if he had some gumption. He tends to not like contact and has no interest in battling with other bigs. I'm not sure you can fix that.

So they still lack a center and still lack a true point guard. Neither is getting addressed. I don't think the other guys are good enough to make up for what is lacking. They don't have any real athletic players except maybe Ellison. They don't rebound and they don't shoot well enough to not rebound.

Their ceiling is 4-5 ACC wins without a major influx of talent or maybe a different coaching philosophy.

 

[Chescat]

Browne is young. If he could mature, and get aggressive along with a solid weight and
strength program, I think he could be serviceable. However right now, he's the way you described him.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

OK, let's move past whether Stallings should or shouldn't be back next year, and assume he will be back. Or have it the other way -- he's gone. Either way, we'll likely have the same or roughly the same players regardless of who the coach is. Assuming no great roster shake-up....

Pitt only loses Milligan, which is got to be seen as a plus. Kingsby is more skilled than Milligan. I know, that's not necessarily an endorsement of his skills, but it is a positive.

The bigger plus is on the front line. T. Brown is perhaps the one guy who I don't see improving with time. I think he is near his ceiling right now. He's simply too slow, both physically and mentally. And he has weak hands. Illegomah has miles to go, but he is quick, agile, and athletic. He's a project that may or may not ever pan out, but at least there is upside and reason to hope. I see little of either with Brown.

Adding Luther, Golden, and Ellison will make this a better team. I think with a healthy Luther, Pitt beats Syracuse both times this year. Luther's passing, and ability to hit a free throw line jumper in the middle of the zone would've been huge. It would've give us addition scoring inside, and open things up more from 3. Golden will bring a frontline toughness that this team is sorely lacking. And Ellison is quicker and more athletic than Wilson-Frame. Together, the front court gets a lot better, and the three additions will really help provide space for the guards to operate.

And, although the progress is uneven, and painfully slow at times, Carr, Davis, and Stewart should be better players come next year, and Kingsby gives them a fourth. This painful year of learning on the job could/should pay dividends.

This in NO WAY has anything to do with the coach. I'd like to know other's thought about the makeup of players next year. Prove me wrong -- prove that there are people on this board who can think about this team without launching into an immediate rant about Stallings.

First of all--the assumption that Kingsby is better than Miligan is pure speculation -- not a known fact. Also, given Kingsby's reported drug related suspension in Jr College he may not be at Pitt next year.

None of the current players or the new recruits are more than than below average talent for an ACC team. They make this roster's ceiling lower 1/3 ACC at best. So, unless you are confidant KS will suddenly land 3-4 4-star players in 2018, Pitt will not make the NCAAs and probably never field a winning team as long as KS remains the coach.

 

[88Pitt88]

OK, let's move past whether Stallings should or shouldn't be back next year, and assume he will be back. Or have it the other way -- he's gone. Either way, we'll likely have the same or roughly the same players regardless of who the coach is. Assuming no great roster shake-up....

Pitt only loses Milligan, which is got to be seen as a plus. Kingsby is more skilled than Milligan. I know, that's not necessarily an endorsement of his skills, but it is a positive.

The bigger plus is on the front line. T. Brown is perhaps the one guy who I don't see improving with time. I think he is near his ceiling right now. He's simply too slow, both physically and mentally. And he has weak hands. Illegomah has miles to go, but he is quick, agile, and athletic. He's a project that may or may not ever pan out, but at least there is upside and reason to hope. I see little of either with Brown.

Adding Luther, Golden, and Ellison will make this a better team. I think with a healthy Luther, Pitt beats Syracuse both times this year. Luther's passing, and ability to hit a free throw line jumper in the middle of the zone would've been huge. It would've give us addition scoring inside, and open things up more from 3. Golden will bring a frontline toughness that this team is sorely lacking. And Ellison is quicker and more athletic than Wilson-Frame. Together, the front court gets a lot better, and the three additions will really help provide space for the guards to operate.

And, although the progress is uneven, and painfully slow at times, Carr, Davis, and Stewart should be better players come next year, and Kingsby gives them a fourth. This painful year of learning on the job could/should pay dividends.

This in NO WAY has anything to do with the coach. I'd like to know other's thought about the makeup of players next year. Prove me wrong -- prove that there are people on this board who can think about this team without launching into an immediate rant about Stallings.

Pretty much agree with your assessment with the exception of your opinion on Terrell Brown. I think Brown holds the key to Pitt's improvement. If he puts in the work, I think he becomes one of our better centers. It was no coincidence that the team had its best stretch of the season against Miami while running the offense through him. Good teams move the ball inside. He isn't a finisher yet, but just getting it into him and the defense collapsing down gives our other players more room to make plays. He had some nice pick'n rolls in that game as well. He still has alot to learn, but if he puts in the time, i think you are really going to like this kid when he is a junior. He could surprise us by working his tail off and come back a much better player as soon as next year.

 

[gary2]

Pretty much agree with your assessment with the exception of your opinion on Terrell Brown. I think Brown holds the key to Pitt's improvement. If he puts in the work, I think he becomes one of our better centers. It was no coincidence that the team had its best stretch of the season against Miami while running the offense through him. Good teams move the ball inside. He isn't a finisher yet, but just getting it into him and the defense collapsing down gives our other players more room to make plays. He had some nice pick'n rolls in that game as well. He still has alot to learn, but if he puts in the time, i think you are really going to like this kid when he is a junior. He could surprise us by working his tail off and come back a much better player as soon as next year.

Agree

 

[Atch]

I think Brown could be a decent player if he had some gumption. He tends to not like contact and has no interest in battling with other bigs. I'm not sure you can fix that.

So they still lack a center and still lack a true point guard. Neither is getting addressed. I don't think the other guys are good enough to make up for what is lacking. They don't have any real athletic players except maybe Ellison. They don't rebound and they don't shoot well enough to not rebound.

Their ceiling is 4-5 ACC wins without a major influx of talent or maybe a different coaching philosophy.

Beans Cook once said to Paul Hackett, "if this team wins nine games, I will swim the Monongahela." He would probably say the same thing about winning five games next year.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Pretty much agree with your assessment with the exception of your opinion on Terrell Brown. I think Brown holds the key to Pitt's improvement. If he puts in the work, I think he becomes one of our better centers. It was no coincidence that the team had its best stretch of the season against Miami while running the offense through him. Good teams move the ball inside. He isn't a finisher yet, but just getting it into him and the defense collapsing down gives our other players more room to make plays. He had some nice pick'n rolls in that game as well. He still has alot to learn, but if he puts in the time, i think you are really going to like this kid when he is a junior. He could surprise us by working his tail off and come back a much better player as soon as next year.

These kids come here to play bb not to take psych 101, they all have dreams of playing ball at the next level . They’ll work their asses off or they’ll be gone . I watched both Gary McGhee and Brad Wanamaker become very good players over their careers at Pitt and there’s no reason at this point in time not to think it can’t happen to any of these freshman .

 

[raleighpanther]

Wow, there are a lot of Brown lovers. Are you watching this UNC game tonight? He looks like he is totally stoned. Completely lost. Zero energy. I've coached bball for nearly 20 years, and I swear you can teach a kid to do just about anything...except, you can't teach a kid to care, or to play faster than his mind will allow.

 

[Chescat]

Wow, there are a lot of Brown lovers. Are you watching this UNC game tonight? He looks like he is totally stoned. Completely lost. Zero energy. I've coached bball for nearly 20 years, and I swear you can teach a kid to do just about anything...except, you can't teach a kid to care, or to play faster than his mind will allow.

I mentioned potential in an earlier post, but I also mention aggressiveness, which he totally lacks. The guy is an enigma, but he does have some
talent which shows every now and then. However watching so far, one
has to agree with your post.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

OK, let's move past whether Stallings should or shouldn't be back next year, and assume he will be back. Or have it the other way -- he's gone. Either way, we'll likely have the same or roughly the same players regardless of who the coach is. Assuming no great roster shake-up....

Pitt only loses Milligan, which is got to be seen as a plus. Kingsby is more skilled than Milligan. I know, that's not necessarily an endorsement of his skills, but it is a positive.

The bigger plus is on the front line. T. Brown is perhaps the one guy who I don't see improving with time. I think he is near his ceiling right now. He's simply too slow, both physically and mentally. And he has weak hands. Illegomah has miles to go, but he is quick, agile, and athletic. He's a project that may or may not ever pan out, but at least there is upside and reason to hope. I see little of either with Brown.

Adding Luther, Golden, and Ellison will make this a better team. I think with a healthy Luther, Pitt beats Syracuse both times this year. Luther's passing, and ability to hit a free throw line jumper in the middle of the zone would've been huge. It would've give us addition scoring inside, and open things up more from 3. Golden will bring a frontline toughness that this team is sorely lacking. And Ellison is quicker and more athletic than Wilson-Frame. Together, the front court gets a lot better, and the three additions will really help provide space for the guards to operate.

And, although the progress is uneven, and painfully slow at times, Carr, Davis, and Stewart should be better players come next year, and Kingsby gives them a fourth. This painful year of learning on the job could/should pay dividends.

This in NO WAY has anything to do with the coach. I'd like to know other's thought about the makeup of players next year. Prove me wrong -- prove that there are people on this board who can think about this team without launching into an immediate rant about Stallings.

I think Brown has potential to be a reliable ACC 5. I know this doesn't say anything, but he's the best freshman center we've had since Steven Adams.

Golden doesn't win us 1 extra game. He's Ryan Luther as a freshman.

This team is so far behind the rest of the league that we can be a much better team and go 2-16

 

[rmf05]

Brown should be given another year. Peace and George are gone. They were always reaches that we took a chance on. Didn't work out. Hopefully we can land a C and PG.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

Wow, there are a lot of Brown lovers. Are you watching this UNC game tonight? He looks like he is totally stoned. Completely lost. Zero energy. I've coached bball for nearly 20 years, and I swear you can teach a kid to do just about anything...except, you can't teach a kid to care, or to play faster than his mind will allow.

Well, I was being nice and saying he needed to play with more gumption. I think he'd be pretty good if he had a fire lit under his ass. It's hard to teach "want to" though.

 

[gary2]

I think Brown has potential to be a reliable ACC 5. I know this doesn't say anything, but he's the best freshman center we've had since Steven Adams.

Golden doesn't win us 1 extra game. He's Ryan Luther as a freshman.

This team is so far behind the rest of the league that we can be a much better team and go 2-16

I am not saying Golden puts up scoring or rebounding numbers, but he will set screens, box out, be tougher to back down, catch the ball and pass the ball. He is a strong and intelligent player. He will definitely help.

 

[gary2]

Brown should be given another year. Peace and George are gone. They were always reaches that we took a chance on. Didn't work out. Hopefully we can land a C and PG.

If you had to choose, do you keep Kene or Peace? For these purposes, you have to keep one.

 

[whirlybird optio]

If you had to choose, do you keep Kene or Peace? For these purposes, you have to keep one.

Peace.

 

[gary2]

Peace.

Agree - If Kene doesn't score, I don't want him.