David Cox

[reef]

Yup he will have them top 3 Big East from here on out good extension by them

[Joe95]

Cox should be fired for letting Tyler Kolek leave RI and go to another A10 school. Kid is going to be a problem for years to come.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Barring any unforeseen roster changes (probably unlikely) and assuming AB misses the first part of the season, the starting lineup to open 2021 may look like:
Ish - PG
Martin- CG
DJ - SF
Walker - PF
Makhel - C

I can see Carey, if he improves, starting at CG moving Martin to SF, not sure what Tres brings
Also depending on Makhi's recovery he can start at PF moving Walker to SF and DJ off the bench.

Hopefully we are able to add a quality guard in the offseason.
If JH ends up leaving, Ileri and Samb may contribute at either forward spot and we will have another opening for possibly a big.

If Shep decides to return that will fill a major hole.

Again comparing our roster to the rest of the A10 as it stands now, looking at a 7-8 place finish next season.
May even be a little optimistic considering we finished 10th this year and losing our top 2 scorers.

Your assumption that everybody will likely return....well I'll be surprised if they all do.

Your prediction of a 7th or 8th place A10 finish is great! Can't wait!

But you are probably right, unless some major talent is brought in.

Again, with Cox as coach, it's very questionable we'll be better.

We're going to have to start over when he's replaced, but that's the reality...at least there would be hope for the future.

Is there a guy on the team, right now, where you'd bet your paycheck that he'll be back next year?

[reef]

My guess would be Malik Martin is that guy

[rambone 78]

And that's because of Hassan.

Dan's last few years, his teams were like family.

Under Cox, they're strangers.

[NYGFan_Section208]

My guess would be Malik Martin is that guy

I think I might go with Harris...

[McRam]

My guess would be Malik Martin is that guy

I think I might go with Harris...

Thinking that Harris is in the more likely to leave group,,, If Harris believes the Mitchells are staying, he would get a lot more minutes a step down for the next two years. Of course, if the twins leave----------

[Brian Forster]

I've watched the following coaches lose their teams over the years:-Baron,Cox,Fleming,Stowers & Keith.

Have talent and wilt over course of the season. Wilt might be too passive a word. They really don't do anything at a certain point.

I can't see the teams coming back once that happens.

[rambone 78]

I've watched the following coaches lose their teams over the years:-Baron,Cox,Fleming,Stowers & Keith.

Have talent and wilt over course of the season. Wilt might be too passive a word. They really don't do anything at a certain point.

I can't see the teams coming back once that happens.

This is a good point.

Tendencies don't change unless/until the coaching staff changes.

That's something else to look for when the next hire happens...someone whose teams usually finish strong.

[NYGFan_Section208]

I've watched the following coaches lose their teams over the years:-Baron,Cox,Fleming,Stowers & Keith.

Have talent and wilt over course of the season. Wilt might be too passive a word. They really don't do anything at a certain point.

I can't see the teams coming back once that happens.

This is a good point.

Tendencies don't change unless/until the coaching staff changes.

That's something else to look for when the next hire happens...someone whose teams usually finish strong.

Or, at least, suck less at the end of the year than at the beginning of the year?

[McRam]

Teams that have top notch coaching seem to always finish better than they started the year. It is not unfair to conclude that teams that are deteriorating as the season goes on, are simply not improving as the competition is!!

[rambone 78]

And we've been so lucky to have Baron and Cox, the poster boys for late season swoons.

[eli#10]

Cox should be fired for letting Tyler Kolek leave RI and go to another A10 school. Kid is going to be a problem for years to come.

I saw the beginning of their game today and Kolek started but was taken out of the game in less than two minutes after getting beat pretty badly on defense.

[Blue Man]

Cox should be fired for letting Tyler Kolek leave RI and go to another A10 school. Kid is going to be a problem for years to come.

I saw the beginning of their game today and Kolek started but was taken out of the game in less than two minutes after getting beat pretty badly on defense.

A freshman being coached? They can do that??

[ramster]

Anyone have access to today’s projo article? It looks like someone there has been reading this message board.

Does URI extend coach David Cox, or move on?

By Bill Koch / The Providence Journal

It should be a relatively straightforward professional decision for University of Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn at the close of the 2021-22 season.

Offer a contract extension to men’s basketball coach David Cox or fire him.

Fully back the hire you made to follow Dan Hurley or admit your mistake and start over.

More:Dayton 84, URI 72: Flyers dump Rams from A-10 tournament

The hope, of course, was Cox would have sealed this choice for Bjorn by now. That his job performance would have rendered his initial five-year deal inadequate and forced a raise in salary, additional program enhancements and a further commitment to move forward deep into the 2020s.

That just hasn’t been the case.

Any momentum built by back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018 has been squandered. The Rams finished with a sub-.500 record both overall and in Atlantic 10 play for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign. Dan Hurley was two seasons into a rebuild at that point – Cox inherited a far superior product

The final on-court link to that special time in URI basketball history took his leave Thursday evening. Fatts Russell exited a conference tournament loss to Dayton with 20.7 seconds left, embraced by Cox and his teammates as he went to the bench at Siegel Center. The Rams wilted over the final 11 minutes in an 84-72 defeat and missed out on a fourth straight appearance in the semifinals.

URI dropped seven of its final eight games in 2020-21, hardly the trademark of a program on the correct trajectory. The Rams submitted their three worst defensive performances against George Washington, Duquesne and the Flyers, powerless to stop their opponents when it was required most.There was a time not long ago when even one such effort would have caught URI fans by surprise.

Cox is 49-39 though three seasons, an overall record that can be divided into three distinct sections. The middle portion was by far the best, a 24-6 run that included a strong finish to his 2018-19 debut and a rise to what could have been NCAA Tournament position to begin 2019-20. The start and most recent games of Cox’s tenure have resulted in a frustrating 25-33 mark, including a fade into last March and a third year that in hindsight was in trouble before it ever really started.

The Rams have suffered through the kind of roster turnover over the last 15 months that might be expected to coincide with a coaching change or be found at a league struggler. Transfers out like Tyrese Martin and Jacob Toppin have chipped away at URI’s talent base and taken some cohesion from the product on the floor. Marcus Santos-Silva left VCU for Texas Tech, but a quick scan of programs atop the conference – St. Bonaventure, Davidson, Saint Louis – shows a host of stars who figured to have more attractive options elsewhere deciding to stay put.

Kyle Lofton, Osun Osunniyi, Bones Hyland, Kellan Grady, Jordan Goodwin, Hasahn French, Javonte Perkins – all would have thrilled a Power 5 or Big East coach by putting their services back on the open market. Jared Terrell, E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin would have done the same had they opted to leave URI at any point. Assembling a championship-caliber roster outside the sport’s bluebloods starts from within, a reality the Rams must emphasize again in the coming years.

High-profile departures serve as a reminder of the significant deficiencies still attached to the URI job, and it’s ultimately here where Cox deserves the greatest amount of latitude. Lack of a practice facility, a shallow staff salary pool and commercial flights – in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, no less – put the Rams behind some programs with which they would like to directly compete. Hurley is the only URI coach among the last four to reach March Madness – the last five at VCU have done so, and each of them won or shared a regular season or conference tournament championship in the process.

Kingston simply isn’t a place – barring gross professional or personal misconduct, of course – where a head coach with Cox’s record rightfully should be hired and fired within three years. And in terms of representing the university at large, Cox is a good person who has led the Rams through the dual challenges of the pandemic and the ongoing push for social justice. He is a role model for the predominantly young Black men in his program who use the sport as a vehicle for their education and potential professional futures.

Commendable as that is, it only goes so far. College basketball, for all of its academic window dressing and disingenuous references to student-athletes, is big business. There is a reason the sport soldiered on this winter and will stage an NCAA Tournament later this month – about $700 million worth of reasons.

URI closed 17-15 five years ago despite Matthews suffering a season-ending knee injury on the opening night. The Rams finished at .500 in league play. That seemed to set something of a new floor for the program – there would be no more drastic dips like those experienced by Jim Baron or even someone more accomplished like Al Skinner.

This season changed that calculus, and not for the better.  

bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25

[ramster]

Anyone have access to today’s projo article? It looks like someone there has been reading this message board.

Does URI extend coach David Cox, or move on?

By Bill Koch / The Providence Journal

It should be a relatively straightforward professional decision for University of Rhode Island athletic director Thorr Bjorn at the close of the 2021-22 season.

Offer a contract extension to men’s basketball coach David Cox or fire him.

Fully back the hire you made to follow Dan Hurley or admit your mistake and start over.

More:Dayton 84, URI 72: Flyers dump Rams from A-10 tournament

The hope, of course, was Cox would have sealed this choice for Bjorn by now. That his job performance would have rendered his initial five-year deal inadequate and forced a raise in salary, additional program enhancements and a further commitment to move forward deep into the 2020s.

That just hasn’t been the case.

Any momentum built by back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018 has been squandered. The Rams finished with a sub-.500 record both overall and in Atlantic 10 play for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign. Dan Hurley was two seasons into a rebuild at that point – Cox inherited a far superior product

The final on-court link to that special time in URI basketball history took his leave Thursday evening. Fatts Russell exited a conference tournament loss to Dayton with 20.7 seconds left, embraced by Cox and his teammates as he went to the bench at Siegel Center. The Rams wilted over the final 11 minutes in an 84-72 defeat and missed out on a fourth straight appearance in the semifinals.

URI dropped seven of its final eight games in 2020-21, hardly the trademark of a program on the correct trajectory. The Rams submitted their three worst defensive performances against George Washington, Duquesne and the Flyers, powerless to stop their opponents when it was required most.There was a time not long ago when even one such effort would have caught URI fans by surprise.

Cox is 49-39 though three seasons, an overall record that can be divided into three distinct sections. The middle portion was by far the best, a 24-6 run that included a strong finish to his 2018-19 debut and a rise to what could have been NCAA Tournament position to begin 2019-20. The start and most recent games of Cox’s tenure have resulted in a frustrating 25-33 mark, including a fade into last March and a third year that in hindsight was in trouble before it ever really started.

The Rams have suffered through the kind of roster turnover over the last 15 months that might be expected to coincide with a coaching change or be found at a league struggler. Transfers out like Tyrese Martin and Jacob Toppin have chipped away at URI’s talent base and taken some cohesion from the product on the floor. Marcus Santos-Silva left VCU for Texas Tech, but a quick scan of programs atop the conference – St. Bonaventure, Davidson, Saint Louis – shows a host of stars who figured to have more attractive options elsewhere deciding to stay put.

Kyle Lofton, Osun Osunniyi, Bones Hyland, Kellan Grady, Jordan Goodwin, Hasahn French, Javonte Perkins – all would have thrilled a Power 5 or Big East coach by putting their services back on the open market. Jared Terrell, E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin would have done the same had they opted to leave URI at any point. Assembling a championship-caliber roster outside the sport’s bluebloods starts from within, a reality the Rams must emphasize again in the coming years.

High-profile departures serve as a reminder of the significant deficiencies still attached to the URI job, and it’s ultimately here where Cox deserves the greatest amount of latitude. Lack of a practice facility, a shallow staff salary pool and commercial flights – in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, no less – put the Rams behind some programs with which they would like to directly compete. Hurley is the only URI coach among the last four to reach March Madness – the last five at VCU have done so, and each of them won or shared a regular season or conference tournament championship in the process.

Kingston simply isn’t a place – barring gross professional or personal misconduct, of course – where a head coach with Cox’s record rightfully should be hired and fired within three years. And in terms of representing the university at large, Cox is a good person who has led the Rams through the dual challenges of the pandemic and the ongoing push for social justice. He is a role model for the predominantly young Black men in his program who use the sport as a vehicle for their education and potential professional futures.

Commendable as that is, it only goes so far. College basketball, for all of its academic window dressing and disingenuous references to student-athletes, is big business. There is a reason the sport soldiered on this winter and will stage an NCAA Tournament later this month – about $700 million worth of reasons.

URI closed 17-15 five years ago despite Matthews suffering a season-ending knee injury on the opening night. The Rams finished at .500 in league play. That seemed to set something of a new floor for the program – there would be no more drastic dips like those experienced by Jim Baron or even someone more accomplished like Al Skinner.

This season changed that calculus, and not for the better.  

bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25

Questions for David Cox:

Any momentum built by back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018 has been squandered. The Rams finished with a sub-.500 record both overall and in Atlantic 10 play for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign. Dan Hurley was two seasons into a rebuild at that point – Cox inherited a far superior product

Q1. Some would say that you inherited a far superior product than Dan Hurley did in his 1st year getting Jeff Dowtin, Cyril Langevine and Fatts Russell. Do you agree with that statement?
Q2. How would you grade your performance this year and cumulative for the past 3 years? A,B,C,D,E or I.

The Rams submitted their three worst defensive performances against George Washington, Duquesne and the Flyers, powerless to stop their opponents when it was required most.

Q3. In the NCAA Tournament vs Creighton and Oregon, Hassan Martin was hurt, yet this was not well known or publicized since Dan Hurley and staff did not want to let the opposition know of the injury for fear of being exploited. Was that similar thinking for Fatts Russell this season and especially for the past 4 games?
Q4. The past 4 games we had trouble containing PGs Jalen Crutcher (2 games), James Bishop and Tavian Dunn-Martin. Last game vs Dayton you played some zone defense. It appeared Fatts was laying back on defense, not his usual self in defending his man. Was this laying back, playing "free safety" type defense more because of Fatts' injuries? a team strategy? not having Sheppard for the Dayton game? or just basically not very good defense?
Q5. Russell played 38.3 mpg the last 4 games. With all of his injuries, why play him so many minutes?
Q6. Why have Russell still in games when the outcome has already been decided whether we were so far ahead or so far behind? Some say you are letting Fatts improve his stats for assists, steals, points per game, getting a triple-double. Why not sit him out to rest and heal?
Q7. Past 4 games Russell had 30 assists or 7.5 apg. Previous 19 games Russell averaged only 3.2 apg. Was this a conscious change of strategy?
Q8. Past 4 games Russell hit only (3-18) 3PFG for 16.7% compared to 25% previous 19 games. Many of his attempts were not close or short of the rim. Some 3PFG attempts were for 30' with plenty of time on the shot clock. His FTs were (28-42) for 68.3% last 4 games vs (99-118) 83.9% in previous 19 games. How much do you think his injuries contributed to this? Do you think fatigue caught uo to him? Again, should he have played fewer minutes? Who decides how many minutes he plays each game?

Transfers out like Tyrese Martin and Jacob Toppin have chipped away at URI’s talent base and taken some cohesion from the product on the floor. Marcus Santos-Silva left VCU for Texas Tech, but a quick scan of programs atop the conference – St. Bonaventure, Davidson, Saint Louis – shows a host of stars who figured to have more attractive options elsewhere deciding to stay put.

Q9. Marcus Santos-Silva left VCU for Texas Tech but graduated in 3 years and was immediately eligible to play as a Grad Transfer. VCU, Dayton, St Louis (in fact has Francis Okoro transferring into SLU from Oregon), St Bonaventure and Richmond did not get hit losing starters. URI lost Tyrese Martin to UCONN and Jacob Toppin to Kentucky. Why do you think that happened at URI and not at those other A10 schools?
Q10. Some fans believe Jacob Toppin should have received more playing time last season. He was not expected to play this season at Kentucky but Calipari submitted a waiver for him. Last game he played a season high 30 minutes, game high 3 steals, Jacob is now 1st man off the bench. Some URI fans say they were very excited about Toppin and couldn't wait to see him play next season while also saying Jacob wanted more playing time at URI last season. Looking back do you think you should have accelerated Toppin's progress? Played him more minutes? Is there anything different you would have done, looking back, to try to have retained both Martin and Toppin?

Lack of a practice facility, a shallow staff salary pool and commercial flights – in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, no less – put the Rams behind some programs with which they would like to directly compete.

Q11. What is the status of the Practice Facility? When will the official announcement be made? When is the ribbon cutting planned?

[rambone 78]

Where's the F?

[ramster]

Where's the F?

E is same as F

[rambone 78]

ramster, Cox's loyalty to Fatts was off the charts, even though it hurt the team many times.

Like I've said, it's over and done with. Time to let it go.

Just like this disaster of a season.

Of course, we don't have much to look forward to either, but that's another story.

[NC_Ram]

Great article by Bill. Spot on! Thanks for posting RFNA

[PeteRI]

Great job Ramster! Thorr should ask Cox ALL of the questions you had in your post.

And yes, Bill knocked it out of the park with his article. For a guy known for extreme gentility that piece was an indictment of Cox's performance.

[Rhody15]

Where's the F?

E is same as F

I don’t know about any one you, but I associate E with excellent.

Everyone knows what an F means.

[ramster]

Great job Ramster! Thorr should ask Cox ALL of the questions you had in your post.

And yes, Bill knocked it out of the park with his article. For a guy known for extreme gentility that piece was an indictment of Cox's performance.

Thanks Pete,
I also think Morey from WPRI TV started the tough questioning off with the interview he did recently. He asked tough questions.

[Jersey77]

Great job Ramster! Thorr should ask Cox ALL of the questions you had in your post.

And yes, Bill knocked it out of the park with his article. For a guy known for extreme gentility that piece was an indictment of Cox's performance.

Thanks Pete,
I also think Morey from WPRI TV started the tough questioning off with the interview he did recently. He asked tough questions.

Yes, there does need to be accountability and bottom line Cox will be judged on wins/losses, no one should get a free ride.

The fans do want to hear Cox answer the tough questions after all they will fill the seats, tune in, and the state pays his salary.

It did really bother me the way he seemed to diss Morey, that was a very bad look.

[PeteRI]

Great job Ramster! Thorr should ask Cox ALL of the questions you had in your post.

And yes, Bill knocked it out of the park with his article. For a guy known for extreme gentility that piece was an indictment of Cox's performance.

Thanks Pete,
I also think Morey from WPRI TV started the tough questioning off with the interview he did recently. He asked tough questions.

Yes, there does need to be accountability and bottom line Cox will be judged on wins/losses, no one should get a free ride.

The fans do want to hear Cox answer the tough questions after all they will fill the seats, tune in, and the state pays his salary.

It did really bother me the way he seemed to diss Morey, that was a very bad look.

His surly responses to legitimate questions was painful to watch.

[DeanDome88]

Thanks Pete,
I also think Morey from WPRI TV started the tough questioning off with the interview he did recently. He asked tough questions.

Yes, there does need to be accountability and bottom line Cox will be judged on wins/losses, no one should get a free ride.

The fans do want to hear Cox answer the tough questions after all they will fill the seats, tune in, and the state pays his salary.

It did really bother me the way he seemed to diss Morey, that was a very bad look.

His surly responses to legitimate questions was painful to watch.

I thought it was painful back when Bobby Knight dissed reporters but at least he had a track record of success.

[ace]

Barring any unforeseen roster changes (probably unlikely) and assuming AB misses the first part of the season, the starting lineup to open 2021 may look like:
Ish - PG
Martin- CG
DJ - SF
Walker - PF
Makhel - C

I can see Carey, if he improves, starting at CG moving Martin to SF, not sure what Tres brings
Also depending on Makhi's recovery he can start at PF moving Walker to SF and DJ off the bench.

Hopefully we are able to add a quality guard in the offseason.
If JH ends up leaving, Ileri and Samb may contribute at either forward spot and we will have another opening for possibly a big.

If Shep decides to return that will fill a major hole.

Again comparing our roster to the rest of the A10 as it stands now, looking at a 7-8 place finish next season.
May even be a little optimistic considering we finished 10th this year and losing our top 2 scorers.

Your assumption that everybody will likely return....well I'll be surprised if they all do.

Your prediction of a 7th or 8th place A10 finish is great! Can't wait!

But you are probably right, unless some major talent is brought in.

Again, with Cox as coach, it's very questionable we'll be better.

We're going to have to start over when he's replaced, but that's the reality...at least there would be hope for the future.

Is there a guy on the team, right now, where you'd bet your paycheck that he'll be back next year?

Makhi and Makhel, but the reaction and response from their mom if the coach didn’t would be quite something...

I expect almost everyone to be back, which I guess is a good first step?

[rambone 78]

The twins will be starting together without a doubt.

[DeanDome88]

The twins will be starting together without a doubt.

Why would Walker lose his starting spot? The twins also need to show they can stay out of foul trouble.

[Jersey77]

The twins will be starting together without a doubt.

Why would Walker lose his starting spot? The twins also need to show they can stay out of foul trouble.

Depends on how well Makhi's recovers, but not sure he starts, that would move Walker to SF and DJ off the bench.

[URI2006_Andy]

Makhel, Makhi, and Walker (and even Harris) are all talented and I like them all. The problem is they all play the same position.

You look at StB, there’s a reason they have 4 guys between 6-3 and 6-6 in their lineup. Not an accident. You win with 4 big guards and 1 rim protector. Just the way basketball is now. Maybe Cox can come up with a creative way to win with 2 or 3 bigs in at the same time. Or, maybe one of the bigs can turn into a point forward. But, until then, I’m not optimistic about next season.

[rambone 78]

So many here keep talking about players and talent when it comes to next year.

It's the COACHING that is the problem! Everything stems from this!

Doesn't matter who starts or plays or where they play or who is recruited.

If the coach can't coach, it's all a moot point.

I am NOT optimistic about next season as long as Cox remains.

[section(105)]

So many here keep talking about players and talent when it comes to next year.

It's the COACHING that is the problem! Everything stems from this!

Doesn't matter who starts or plays or where they play or who is recruited.

If the coach can't coach, it's all a moot point.

I am NOT optimistic about next season as long as Cox remains.

.......yes, coaching involves being an educator, teacher of fundamentals, ya know raising the hoops IQ......honestly on the defensive side of court, I see this aspect of current coaching lacking(yes a reoccurring theme of mine)and I am as guilty as others of buying into the perceived rated/touting level of talent.....

[NYGFan_Section208]

Makhel, Makhi, and Walker (and even Harris) are all talented and I like them all. The problem is they all play the same position.

You look at StB, there’s a reason they have 4 guys between 6-3 and 6-6 in their lineup. Not an accident. You win with 4 big guards and 1 rim protector. Just the way basketball is now. Maybe Cox can come up with a creative way to win with 2 or 3 bigs in at the same time. Or, maybe one of the bigs can turn into a point forward. But, until then, I’m not optimistic about next season.

Maybe with four big guards and a rim protector, it's not as necessary, but it seems like if you're going to play 2 or 3 bigs …you maybe need a point guard?

[URI2006_Andy]

Makhel, Makhi, and Walker (and even Harris) are all talented and I like them all. The problem is they all play the same position.

You look at StB, there’s a reason they have 4 guys between 6-3 and 6-6 in their lineup. Not an accident. You win with 4 big guards and 1 rim protector. Just the way basketball is now. Maybe Cox can come up with a creative way to win with 2 or 3 bigs in at the same time. Or, maybe one of the bigs can turn into a point forward. But, until then, I’m not optimistic about next season.

Maybe with four big guards and a rim protector, it's not as necessary, but it seems like if you're going to play 2 or 3 bigs …you maybe need a point guard?

Need something. I don’t have a solution. But, I know you don’t win trying to score in the post and having a PF who is susceptible to a smaller quicker Guard beating him off the dribble and off screens. (That’s why I think an analytics team would help. You can run all the numbers on what types of lineups work, then figure out why after)

[NYGFan_Section208]

Makhel, Makhi, and Walker (and even Harris) are all talented and I like them all. The problem is they all play the same position.

You look at StB, there’s a reason they have 4 guys between 6-3 and 6-6 in their lineup. Not an accident. You win with 4 big guards and 1 rim protector. Just the way basketball is now. Maybe Cox can come up with a creative way to win with 2 or 3 bigs in at the same time. Or, maybe one of the bigs can turn into a point forward. But, until then, I’m not optimistic about next season.

Maybe with four big guards and a rim protector, it's not as necessary, but it seems like if you're going to play 2 or 3 bigs …you maybe need a point guard?

Need something. I don’t have a solution. But, I know you don’t win trying to score in the post and having a PF who is susceptible to a smaller quicker Guard beating him off the dribble and off screens. (That’s why I think an analytics team would help. You can run all the numbers on what types of lineups work, then figure out why after)

You just can't play positionless basketball if you have 2 or 3 guys playing the big 'position' and no PG.... Analytics would be interesting. Clearly there's an expert on the board here somewhere?

[Jersey77]

So many here keep talking about players and talent when it comes to next year.

It's the COACHING that is the problem! Everything stems from this!

Doesn't matter who starts or plays or where they play or who is recruited.

If the coach can't coach, it's all a moot point.

I am NOT optimistic about next season as long as Cox remains.

78' regardless of who is coaching this team, we won't be in the A10 title conversation next season.

Unless there is a drastic improvement in our player's performances and Cox is able to find quality replacements for Fatts, Shep, and now AB, we will continue to struggle next season.

[URI2006_Andy]

Yes, if someone could answer what the Team’s +/- was when playing 4 guards this year vs the Teams +/- when playing 2 bigs, that would be telling. Particularly, against the good teams.

[Billyboy78]

BTW, who is our backup PG next year? Ummm.....there isn't one. Teams are going to press the shit out of us next year. Ish is the only reliable ball handler on the team. He isn't breaking a press by himself.

[phipsiGD'11]

Playing the twins at the same time could work on defense if we went to a zone.
I don't think it works on offense, at least not in our "system" (all know why that is in quotations).

If I were Walker, I'd take 1000 three point shots a day. He develops an outside shot and is able to make that part of his game, and he takes another gigantic step forward.

[reef]

Makhel, Makhi, and Walker (and even Harris) are all talented and I like them all. The problem is they all play the same position.

You look at StB, there’s a reason they have 4 guys between 6-3 and 6-6 in their lineup. Not an accident. You win with 4 big guards and 1 rim protector. Just the way basketball is now. Maybe Cox can come up with a creative way to win with 2 or 3 bigs in at the same time. Or, maybe one of the bigs can turn into a point forward. But, until then, I’m not optimistic about next season.

That’s the recipe Bona found great point guard in Lofton rim protector with Osi and other guys who just drain 3s and drive and make shots , we are miles away from them

[rhodylaw]

Playing the twins at the same time could work on defense if we went to a zone.
I don't think it works on offense, at least not in our "system" (all know why that is in quotations).

If I were Walker, I'd take 1000 three point shots a day. He develops an outside shot and is able to make that part of his game, and he takes another gigantic step forward.

I think you are spot on with Walker - needs to develop a consistent outside shot to play more of a stretch 4. DJ needs to continue to bulk and develop an inside game. More guys who can play inside and out is key to the style Cox wants to play. St. Bonna gets the same result by playing big guards, it’s the same trick we did with DH. They will be exposed in the NCAA tournament. It gets you through the A10 but they won’t be able to keep up with a top 25 team that has length.

DJ and Antoine personal development this summer and the further growth of the Mitchells will determine this team’s outcome next year. Ish will get them the ball.

[URI2006_Andy]

Playing the twins at the same time could work on defense if we went to a zone.
I don't think it works on offense, at least not in our "system" (all know why that is in quotations).

If I were Walker, I'd take 1000 three point shots a day. He develops an outside shot and is able to make that part of his game, and he takes another gigantic step forward.

I think you are spot on with Walker - needs to develop a consistent outside shot to play more of a stretch 4. DJ needs to continue to bulk and develop an inside game. More guys who can play inside and out is key to the style Cox wants to play. St. Bonna gets the same result by playing big guards, it’s the same trick we did with DH. They will be exposed in the NCAA tournament. It gets you through the A10 but they won’t be able to keep up with a top 25 team that has length.

DJ and Antoine personal development this summer and the further growth of the Mitchells will determine this team’s outcome next year. Ish will get them the ball.

Agree about Walker too.

There are a lot of top 25 teams that play 4 guards. Texas Tech, Alabama come to mind. I don’t think it’s length that exposes the A-10 teams. I think it’s just the top 10 teams have 1 or 2 NBA players in their lineup. The good A-10 teams (and most of the bigger conferences teams) don’t have that.

[Jersey77]

Playing the twins at the same time could work on defense if we went to a zone.
I don't think it works on offense, at least not in our "system" (all know why that is in quotations).

If I were Walker, I'd take 1000 three point shots a day. He develops an outside shot and is able to make that part of his game, and he takes another gigantic step forward.

I think you are spot on with Walker - needs to develop a consistent outside shot to play more of a stretch 4. DJ needs to continue to bulk and develop an inside game. More guys who can play inside and out is key to the style Cox wants to play. St. Bonna gets the same result by playing big guards, it’s the same trick we did with DH. They will be exposed in the NCAA tournament. It gets you through the A10 but they won’t be able to keep up with a top 25 team that has length.

DJ and Antoine personal development this summer and the further growth of the Mitchells will determine this team’s outcome next year. Ish will get them the ball.

My biggest concern is who will share the ball handling duties with Ish and we need consistent shooters and zone breakers.

[rambone 78]

Jimmy Baron was a great shooter as we all know, but there were many games where he couldn't get open, because his coach couldn't figure out a half court offense that could get him open.

So it's more than just having good shooters. An offense that just stands around, doesn't get guys open.

[Jersey77]

Jimmy Baron was a great shooter as we all know, but there were many games where he couldn't get open, because his coach couldn't figure out a half court offense that could get him open.

So it's more than just having good shooters. An offense that just stands around, doesn't get guys open.

Yes, the offense needs to move, setting picks, creating space, our offense gets stagnant with too much dribbling.

But so many times when we do get open shots and many teams dare us, we throw up bricks.
I lose count at how many uncontested shots we miss and not just 3's.

[rambone 78]

Talent, talent, talent.

We really don't have that much.

Teams dare us, because we can't shoot.

We need an inside out game, which we don't have.

[reef]

Somehow we are going to need a transfer or grad transfer that comes in and can average between 12 and 15 a night or we may struggle to get to .500 next year

[theblueram]

If Ish leaves, we don't have a point guard.

[rhodylaw]

Playing the twins at the same time could work on defense if we went to a zone.
I don't think it works on offense, at least not in our "system" (all know why that is in quotations).

If I were Walker, I'd take 1000 three point shots a day. He develops an outside shot and is able to make that part of his game, and he takes another gigantic step forward.

I think you are spot on with Walker - needs to develop a consistent outside shot to play more of a stretch 4. DJ needs to continue to bulk and develop an inside game. More guys who can play inside and out is key to the style Cox wants to play. St. Bonna gets the same result by playing big guards, it’s the same trick we did with DH. They will be exposed in the NCAA tournament. It gets you through the A10 but they won’t be able to keep up with a top 25 team that has length.

DJ and Antoine personal development this summer and the further growth of the Mitchells will determine this team’s outcome next year. Ish will get them the ball.

Agree about Walker too.

There are a lot of top 25 teams that play 4 guards. Texas Tech, Alabama come to mind. I don’t think it’s length that exposes the A-10 teams. I think it’s just the top 10 teams have 1 or 2 NBA players in their lineup. The good A-10 teams (and most of the bigger conferences teams) don’t have that.

There aren’t a lot that win in the NCAA tourney. Other than Villanova it will be slim pickings. As others have pointed out before Villanova had “guards” playing who were 6-6 that year. Look at Alabama, other than Jq there are no players under 6-5 that play. It’s basically wing players. We need more out of our wing players and need them to be able to play inside and out. That is what these “guard” driven teams have. They have big guards who can play inside as well. DJ has great potential (maybe the most of any player on the team with his length and smooth shot), Antoine needs to hit a lot more threes, and Makhi is kind of an unknown still (I think he has the potential to play that way more than Makhel who is a more traditional 5).