Reality check about one-year eligible transfers.....

[thebadby2]

Lots of talk about them on this board, if we can only get this guy, that guy, etc. The truth is we need players, and the one and done guys would help-but only marginally. These hired guns can really help a team that already has all the pieces in place, but they can't make a struggling team that's missing a a lot of pieces into a legit contender. It's hard for one of these guys to come into the Pitt program and figure out everything that they will be asked to do, especially defensively, in our system.

We need players-guards and bigs-in the worst way, so I really do hope we get a couple on these guys. I think Thorne is the most important remaining target we have and would provide instant help. Even if we get him and a backcourt transfer like Nwamu, I think the best we can hope for is that we go from a borderline NCAA tourney qualifier to a low middle seed with second round potential.

 

[NTOP]

Sorta disagree... if a team is MISSING a 'piece". like a big, it

would be great to fill it for a year, and prevents guys playing out of position. Besides, the whole idea of playing in a particular system is overrated. It's still just hoops. Ballers ball. It can backfire if the new guy is a problem child, but that should be obvious by his 4th or 5th year.
It can be a blessing for a decent player who's been recruited over...real motivation. We have 3 slots...maybe more. Go get 'em!

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Originally posted by thebadby2:
Lots of talk about them on this board, if we can only get this guy, that guy, etc. The truth is we need players, and the one and done guys would help-but only marginally. These hired guns can really help a team that already has all the pieces in place, but they can't make a struggling team that's missing a a lot of pieces into a legit contender. It's hard for one of these guys to come into the Pitt program and figure out everything that they will be asked to do, especially defensively, in our system.

We need players-guards and bigs-in the worst way, so I really do hope we get a couple on these guys. I think Thorne is the most important remaining target we have and would provide instant help. Even if we get him and a backcourt transfer like Nwamu, I think the best we can hope for is that we go from a borderline NCAA tourney qualifier to a low middle seed with second round potential.

My thoughts are:

Without Nwamu and Thorne: NIT (or CBI considering how hard it is to make the NIT now)
With just Nwamu: NIT or First Four in Dayton
With Nwamu and Thorne: fairly comfortable 9 or 10 seed

We need a SG who can get his own shot and a center to allow Young to play smaller. Nwamu and Thorne may not be the greatest players but they are good enough to push us over the top and into the NCAA Tournament. The bad news is Kentucky has offered Thorne a scholarship so it may not be realistic for us to get him. And with UNLV offering Nwamu, that makes me really nervous. They do a lot of shady things to get transfers into that program.

 

[thebadby2]

Re: Sorta disagree... if a team is MISSING a 'piece". like a big, it

I do think Thorne would be a difference maker for us. A solid big man who can do the dirty work that's required of the 5 man. he won't need to score much to give us a ton of help.

But we need backcourt scorers and ballhandlers just as badly. IMO one piece of the puzzle won't be enough to make too much of a difference. For whatever reason, it's not often that players assimilate easily into Jamie's way of doing things. Last transfer I can think of that was ready to play Jamie Ball the minute he got here was Dixon.

I am hoping that the guy nobody;s talking about--Wilson--is the kind of player I think he is. There are minutes ready for him right away if so.

 

[NTOP]

I like Wilson's size...we need more on the perimeter.

Everything's up in the air with DJ gone. It'll be interesting, but the "core" guys are pretty decent. Should be improved a bit as juniors. I thought JD's comment about knowing what the roster would be by "August or September" was telling. Sounded as if summer classes were important. Things have really changed...I'm sure travel budgets have skyrocketed.

 

[pittzap]

Re: I like Wilson's size...we need more on the perimeter.

We need a big who can clog up the middle to stop the drive, rebound, and alter shots (maybe even block a few). We gave up way too many wide open looks in the paint this year. If he scores, great. Thorne could really help with this.

Nwame could help fill a void at the two and also give us a player to get to the hoop who can also shoot the three a little bit. If you thought Durand was a good three point shooter, Nwame has ~ the same 3P shooting percentage. Durand wasn't the sharpshooter some thought he was, but Nwame can also get to the rim.

 

[NTOP]

DJ was OK...but had no fear. Had improved a good bit on "D".

Nwame is coming from a lower-level, but good program. We sure need some help at SG....DJ was more of a SF, IMHO.