This ACC schedule was just too brutal

[PittMBA]

ND at home to finish the season is our first and only home game against a bottom 1/3 league team. All of our games against bottom 1/3 teams have been on the road. Our home games have been against decidedly better teams. Just a brutal schedule for a bad team.

We might win 3 more league games next season by simply having a more balanced schedule.

 

[Pittnerski]

At least we didn’t have to play duke unc uva twice

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Next year's schedule is much easier as we get some bad teams at home

Home (in order of difficulty)
UVa
UNC
Lou
Syr
FSU
Clem
Miami
GT
Wake
BC

Clemson has all seniors and Miami loses D Wade (I mean Anthony Lawrence) and Shaq (I mean Izundu). We should have 5 wins right off the bat. Unfortunately, those will probably be the only games we will be favored in.

Road
Duke
UNC
Lou
Syr
NC State
VT
FSU
ND
Miami
GT

Really, really tough road schedule. Could go 0-10 there to extend the road losing streak to 30+ but I'd guess something like 6-14 overall.

 

[Delpanther]

Capel should follow the rebuilding template used by the Nevada coach to quicken the rebuild, build a foundation which will give him a shot at the top quality recruits and ensure the fan base doesn't completely disappear.

 

[Jeffburgh]

I have been noting the schedule from the start of ACC play. But in retrospect, the gaping hole at C, and mental and at times physical fatigue of the freshman, which has led to the FT shooting (which was pdg the first third of the season) spinning out, etc. they might have won one or two more games at most - would be better, yeah.

But, here is hoping that HCJC can do enough of a retool of the roster to take advantage of the schedule flipping next year and have a big jump in wins.

However, Khadim Sy is a M U S T get. Absolutely must get. Not saying he is great, or whatever. But the ceiling regardless of schedule, regardless of improvement by the freshman, regardless of what HCJC adds anywhere else, is 6 ACC wins tops if he has to roll Brown and Kene out there 40 minutes a game.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

At least we didn’t have to play duke unc uva twice

Yeah but with the state of the program, one of our home/homes should have been against a bottom rung team. That was unfair. Yes, we didn't get Duke/UNC/UVa, but we should have gotten BC or Wake or GT instead of say NC State.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I have been noting the schedule from the start of ACC play. But in retrospect, the gaping hole at C, and mental and at times physical fatigue of the freshman, which has led to the FT shooting (which was pdg the first third of the season) spinning out, etc. they might have won one or two more games at most - would be better, yeah.

But, here is hoping that HCJC can do enough of a retool of the roster to take advantage of the schedule flipping next year and have a big jump in wins.

However, Khadim Sy is a M U S T get. Absolutely must get. Not saying he is great, or whatever. But the ceiling regardless of schedule, regardless of improvement by the freshman, regardless of what HCJC adds anywhere else, is 6 ACC wins tops if he has to roll Brown and Kene out there 40 minutes a game.

There's no way Brown or Kene will be the starting Center next year. Almost any grad transfer/JUCO will beat them out. However that doesnt mean it will be some massive upgrade depending on who it is. Both are NEC-level bigs. I agree on Sy. He is the #1 JUCO big man and is maybe worth 2-3 wins irregardless of any other roster moves. 17 and 9 in high level JUCO translates to about 11 and 8 here.

 

[88Pitt88]

It is maddening for me and those like me who go to a handful of games a year and watch alot more P5 basketball on TV that Pitt does not have at least one ACC level center. Whether at a game or watching on TV, every P5 team has at least one big man that they can trust to catch and finish. Some teams rotate as many as three. Additionally, each of these players can adequately use their bodies too seal off and rebound effectively.

This is what we are missing. I was a believer in Terrell Brown, as he had some pretty decent games early in the ACC season. Since then, he has regressed badly. I thought by the time he was a junior he might be impactful. After the last so many games, I am certain he has no ACC future. Capel has to recruit over he and Kene. If Capel is such a great recruiter, he should have addressed this already.

I remember how hard people were on Stallings for not recruiting a point guard when he came, as at the time that was our biggest need. With Capel's connections, he should have landed at least one servicable big. I don't care if he had to go to Africa himself, there is no excuse to have to play ACC basketball for another year with Brown and Kene. We don't need a Zion Williamson to win another 5-6 games. We just need a competent big, one who can dunk a ball without gettting blocked or not jump high enough to perform the task. One who can block out and catch the ball when it comes to him. One who can be active on defense and block some shots. I have seen nearly every P5 team have at least one of these guys. Capel has no excuse. We had better not be playing ACC basketball next year with Brown and Kene as our top two bigs. Until we have new bigs, we really don't have evidence of a rebuild in progress.

 

[Jeffburgh]

It is maddening for me and those like me who go to a handful of games a year and watch alot more P5 basketball on TV that Pitt does not have at least one ACC level center. Whether at a game or watching on TV, every P5 team has at least one big man that they can trust to catch and finish. Some teams rotate as many as three. Additionally, each of these players can adequately use their bodies too seal off and rebound effectively.

This is what we are missing. I was a believer in Terrell Brown, as he had some pretty decent games early in the ACC season. Since then, he has regressed badly. I thought by the time he was a junior he might be impactful. After the last so many games, I am certain he has no ACC future. Capel has to recruit over he and Kene. If Capel is such a great recruiter, he should have addressed this already.

I remember how hard people were on Stallings for not recruiting a point guard when he came, as at the time that was our biggest need. With Capel's connections, he should have landed at least one servicable big. I don't care if he had to go to Africa himself, there is no excuse to have to play ACC basketball for another year with Brown and Kene. We don't need a Zion Williamson to win another 5-6 games. We just need a competent big, one who can dunk a ball without gettting blocked or not jump high enough to perform the task. One who can block out and catch the ball when it comes to him. One who can be active on defense and block some shots. I have seen nearly every P5 team have at least one of these guys. Capel has no excuse. We had better not be playing ACC basketball next year with Brown and Kene as our top two bigs. Until we have new bigs, we really don't have evidence of a rebuild in progress.

Its a fair criticism - the biggest recruiting failure to this point was at C, missing on some many and kids he really prioritized.

I was holding out hope for Brown, and he could still help some.

But, he just cannot move his feet, and it hurts him defensively and offensively. That is why people don't get how easily he dunks in warm ups vs games, because in warms ups it is simply a direct run to the basket, but if he has to pivot or move in any way prior to going to the basket he can't get his feet under him, and despite all that length gets rejected by ACC caliber big men.

Defensively, he is scared to death to try to come out when his man is on the perimeter, because of getting beat, and he gets beat, and the one thing people don't get is he can't control the boards because he is stuck in one place because he is so slow to react and again, can't move his feet.

And, his hands ... dear lord.

 

[Protes]

The way I see it is we only have one ACC level starter returning next year, and that is Xavier Johnson.

That's it.

No one else on this roster has shown they are at that level. Not McGowens and not Toney. Both of them have a lot of work to do.

In fact, while bigs are the priority, I wouldn't mind seeing a really good point guard brought in for next year. Then you could move X off of the point and Trey could come off the bench.

Don't get me wrong, I think Johnson is adequate at the point, but I also think he really has to improve on being more of a floor general if he stays there.

 

[Pitt79]

They just need a huge infusion of TALENT, right now! I hope Capel has more go to plans for next year. Look at Miami, they where 12-16 coming in yesterday, not much better than 12-17, but the physical talent just seemed better, as with almost very game this season. I give a guy like Kene credit for hanging tough, scoring 10 points in an ACC game, but he looks like he should be playing for like W&J or something based on his athleticism level.

 

[bolk1337]

Its a fair criticism - the biggest recruiting failure to this point was at C, missing on some many and kids he really prioritized.

I was holding out hope for Brown, and he could still help some.

But, he just cannot move his feet, and it hurts him defensively and offensively. That is why people don't get how easily he dunks in warm ups vs games, because in warms ups it is simply a direct run to the basket, but if he has to pivot or move in any way prior to going to the basket he can't get his feet under him, and despite all that length gets rejected by ACC caliber big men.

Defensively, he is scared to death to try to come out when his man is on the perimeter, because of getting beat, and he gets beat, and the one thing people don't get is he can't control the boards because he is stuck in one place because he is so slow to react and again, can't move his feet.

And, his hands ... dear lord.

My thoughts as well, he needs to take some dancing lessons to get his feet moving. Defensively his feet are always a problem.